Canada and 13 other countries issued a joint statement Wednesday condemning the Israeli security cabinet's approval of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank. The approval increases the number of settlements in the West Bank by nearly 50 per cent during the current far-right government’s tenure. In 2022, there were 141 across the West Bank. Smotrich’s office said the cabinet approval came on Dec. 11 and that the development had been classified until Sunday. “The continued settlement expansion is contrary to international law and puts at risk the 20 Point Peace Plan.

Source: CBC News December 24, 2025 20:12 UTC