Record number of West Bank outposts set up in 2023, says Israeli NGO

Israeli settlers established a record number of wildcat outposts in the occupied West Bank in 2023, a watchdog said on Thursday.

Twenty-six settlements not recognised by the Israeli government were established last year, including around 10 since the war on the Gaza Strip broke out on 7 October, the Israeli group Peace Now said in a report.

The report linked the spike to the arrival in government of far-right figures. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to power in December 2022 in a coalition with far-right and ultra-orthodox parties.

Since then, Israeli authorities have allowed "settlers to establish outposts unhindered", Peace Now said.

"Under the Netanyahu government, we have witnessed unprecedented support for settlements."

Peace Now said 2023 saw the highest number of wildcat outposts - those established without the approval of the Israeli authorities - since the phenomenon began in 1996. 

The previous record, 23, was in 2002 during the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, it said.

Reporting by AFP