• Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz vows to construct a "Jewish Israeli state" in the West Bank.
• Israel announced the establishment of 22 new settlements, considered illegal under international law.
• Katz's comments serve as a direct challenge to French President Emmanuel Macron's support for Palestinian statehood.

Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, has asserted the intention to build a "Jewish Israeli state" in the occupied West Bank, following an official announcement of 22 new settlements deemed illegal by the international community. Katz stated, "This is a decisive response to the terrorist organisations... we will build the Jewish Israeli state here on the ground," during a visit to the Sa-Nur settlement outpost, raising significant concerns among global diplomatic circles regarding the future of the two-state solution as outlined by India Times and Le Monde.

Katz's remarks were a direct rebuttal to French President Emmanuel Macron's assertion that recognizing a Palestinian state is a "moral duty" and a "political necessity." He stressed that world powers may recognize a Palestinian state "on paper," while Israel continues its claims to the land, openly defying international law. This aligns with reports citing significant international condemnation of Israeli settlement expansion, which many see as obstructing the possibility of a peaceful resolution between Israelis and Palestinians AA and TRT.

The newly approved settlements include areas that were previously unrecognized as part of Israeli jurisdiction, stirring outrage among anti-settlement activists who argue that these moves violate international law. According to the peace advocacy group Peace Now, the expansion further complicates the viability of a two-state solution by intensifying the Israeli presence in the occupied territory, which has already seen 156 illegal settlements and more than 736,000 settlers AA and TRT.

As this situation unfolds, international organizations, including the United Nations, continue to warn that ongoing settlement expansion severely undermines efforts towards a long-term peace solution. The upcoming international conference, which aims to enhance pathways for recognizing Palestinian statehood, underscores the sharp contrast between Israel's recent settlement policies and the broader global diplomatic efforts to achieve peace in the region India Times and Le Monde.