West Bank Settlements Expand, Fueling Tensions: UN Report
Photo by Sid Mahale
Quick Revision
Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank is at its highest level since 2017.
Plans for nearly 47,390 housing units were advanced, approved, or tendered in 2025.
Approximately 500,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank, along with about three million Palestinian residents.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the expansion.
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International Law and Human Rights
Geopolitics of the Middle East
UN Resolutions and International Diplomacy
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Practice Questions (MCQs)
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
Show Answer
Answer: 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.
Show Answer
Answer: 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.
Show Answer
Answer: 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.
Show Answer
Answer: D
The report explicitly states that settlement expansion impedes Palestinian access to land.