At a time when international media attention has focused on Israel’s military assault on Gaza, and the humanitarian crisis unfolding there, a major new development that will impact millions of Palestinians has been announced for the West Bank. 

The Israeli government has approved 22 new Jewish settlements for the occupied territory in what will be the biggest expansion there for decades. More than 700,000 Jews already live in settlements spread across the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The West Bank is also home to more than three million Palestinians who reside under Israeli military rule while the Palestinian Authority governs limited areas.

The settlements are widely regarded as illegal under international law although Israel disputes this.

Joining the discussion: 

• Mustafa Barghouti is a medical doctor and President of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society and Founder and Leader of the Palestinian National Initiative.   
• Sara Yael Hirschhorn is an historian at the University of Haifa and a fellow of the Jewish People Policy Institute. 
• Michael Lynk is Professor Emeritus of Law at Western University, and former Special Rapporteur for the Human Rights situation in the Palestinian Territories.