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14 Dec 2025·Source: The Hindu
2 min
International RelationsPolity & GovernanceNEWS

West Bank Settlements Expand, Fueling Tensions: UN Report

UPSC-PrelimsSSC
West Bank Settlements Expand, Fueling Tensions: UN Report

Photo by Sid Mahale

त्वरित संशोधन

1.

Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank is at its highest level since 2017.

2.

Plans for nearly 47,390 housing units were advanced, approved, or tendered in 2025.

3.

Approximately 500,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank, along with about three million Palestinian residents.

4.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the expansion.

महत्वपूर्ण तिथियां

1967 - Israel occupied and annexed East Jerusalem

महत्वपूर्ण संख्याएं

47,390 housing units500,000 Israeli settlers3 million Palestinian residents

दृश्य सामग्री

परीक्षा के दृष्टिकोण

1.

International Law and Human Rights

2.

Geopolitics of the Middle East

3.

UN Resolutions and International Diplomacy

विस्तृत सारांश देखें

सारांश

The UN reports that Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank is at its highest level since 2017. In 2025, plans for nearly 47,390 housing units were advanced, approved, or tendered, compared with some 26,170 in 2024. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the expansion, stating it fuels tensions, impedes Palestinian access to land, and threatens the viability of a Palestinian State. This issue is relevant to international law, human rights, and geopolitical stability.

पृष्ठभूमि

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a long-standing dispute over land and self-determination. Key historical events include the Balfour Declaration, the creation of Israel in 1948, and the Six-Day War in 1967, which led to Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. UN resolutions have consistently called for a two-state solution.

नवीनतम घटनाक्रम

The recent UN report highlights a significant increase in Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank. This expansion is viewed by the international community as a violation of international law and an obstacle to peace. The report details the advancement, approval, or tendering of plans for a large number of housing units in 2025, significantly exceeding the previous year's figures.

बहुविकल्पीय प्रश्न (MCQ)

1. Consider the following statements regarding the legality of Israeli settlements in the West Bank under international law: 1. The Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits an occupying power from transferring parts of its own civilian population into occupied territory. 2. Israel argues that the West Bank is not 'occupied territory' but 'disputed territory,' thus the Fourth Geneva Convention does not apply. 3. The International Court of Justice has ruled that the construction of the security wall in the West Bank, including settlements, is contrary to international law. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • A.1 and 2 only
  • B.2 and 3 only
  • C.1 and 3 only
  • D.1, 2 and 3
उत्तर देखें

सही उत्तर: D

All three statements are correct. The Fourth Geneva Convention applies, Israel disputes this, and the ICJ has ruled against the settlements.

2. In the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which of the following best describes the term 'Area C' of the West Bank as defined by the Oslo Accords?

  • A.Areas under full Palestinian Authority control, including security and civil matters.
  • B.Areas under joint Israeli-Palestinian control for security, with Palestinian Authority control over civil matters.
  • C.Areas under full Israeli control, including security and civil matters, comprising approximately 60% of the West Bank.
  • D.Areas designated for future Palestinian statehood, with a gradual transfer of control from Israel to the Palestinian Authority.
उत्तर देखें

सही उत्तर: C

Area C is under full Israeli control, including security and civil administration.

3. Assertion (A): The expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank is considered a violation of international law by the United Nations. Reason (R): Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits an occupying power from transferring its own population into occupied territory. In the context of the above statements, which of the following is correct?

  • A.Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
  • B.Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
  • C.A is true, but R is false.
  • D.A is false, but R is true.
उत्तर देखें

सही उत्तर: A

Both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason correctly explains why the settlement expansion is considered a violation.

4. Which of the following statements is NOT correct regarding the recent UN report on West Bank settlements?

  • A.The report indicates that settlement expansion is at its highest level since 2017.
  • B.The report mentions a significant increase in planned housing units in 2025 compared to 2024.
  • C.The UN Secretary-General condemned the settlement expansion, stating it fuels tensions.
  • D.The report concludes that settlement expansion has no impact on Palestinian access to land.
उत्तर देखें

सही उत्तर: D

The report explicitly states that settlement expansion impedes Palestinian access to land.