• Fourteen countries, including Canada and Germany, condemned Israel's approval of new settlements.
• The nations argue these actions violate international law and threaten regional stability.
• Israel's government claims the settlements are necessary for security.
• Israeli officials stress the importance of Jewish presence in the region.
• The UN reported a significant increase in settlement expansion, reaching its highest level since 2017.

On December 24, fourteen nations including France, Britain, and Canada condemned Israel's approval of 19 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, stating that this move jeopardizes efforts to achieve peace. Their joint statement expressed clear opposition to "any form of annexation and to the expansion of settlement policies," and emphasized the need for Israel to reverse these decisions due to their potential to inflame tensions, especially in light of ongoing ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.

The participating countries, which include Denmark, Germany, and Italy, pointed out that such unilateral actions violate international law and threaten to destabilize the fragile situation on the ground. They reaffirmed their commitment to a "comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution," highlighting their support for Palestinian rights at this critical juncture, reports Al Jazeera and The Local.

Israeli officials, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, defended the decision, suggesting that it is aimed at preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state. Smotrich's comments about halting the creation of what he termed a "Palestinian terrorist state" reflect the contentious nature of the Israeli settlement policies, which he claims are essential for Israeli security, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.

Earlier this month, the United Nations reported an unprecedented increase in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, reaching levels not seen since at least 2017, thereby raising concerns over the viability of a two-state solution. This expansion significantly limits contiguous territory available for a potential future Palestinian state, enhancing the complexities in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, mentions Channel News Asia and The Local.