by Qassam Muaddi | Apr 20, 2026 | Article, Iran, Israel, Politics and Movements: International, Politics and Movements: US, Reprint, War, west bank
This story originally appeared in Mondoweiss on April 19, 2026. It is shared here with permission.
The Israeli cabinet approved the construction of 34 new West Bank settlements last week, bringing the total number approved by the ruling coalition led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu up to 103. The cabinet decision is the largest batch of new settlements approved in decades, breaking the record set by a previous landmark decision in June 2025, which approved 22 new settlements.
While the latest decision has been overshadowed by the regional conflagrations related to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, its timing indicates that Israel perceives a closing window for its ability to entrench its colonial project in its own backyard — the West Bank — in light of shifting realities that might see Iran emerging from the war intact and in a strengthened position regionally.
These developments come as Israel has reportedly been “coerced” to halt its onslaught against Lebanon by U.S. President Donald Trump, forcing it to accept a ceasefire with Hezbollah. Meanwhile, the very fact that the U.S. agreed to a temporary ceasefire with Iran was condemned by the entirety of the Israeli political establishment, both from within Netanyahu’s camp and from the Israeli opposition, who lambasted Netanyahu’s “failure” to overthrow the Iranian government.
While Israel will attempt to use the ceasefire in Lebanon to force the hand of the Lebanese government to accept the ongoing occupation of the southern part of the country, little military progress has been made against Hezbollah, which has reportedly rebuilt its military capabilities since it was bloodied by Israel in October 2024. Iran has also continued to show strength in the region through exerting control over the Straits of Hormuz,
by Mike Ludwig | Apr 10, 2026 | 2026 election, 2026 midterms, AIPAC, Dark Money, Democratic Party, Democrats, DNC, elections, Ethnic Cleansing, Gaza, Genocide, Israel, midterms, News, Palestine, west bank
Democratic Party leaders had a chance this week to push back against Israel’s violent expansionism and the Israel lobby’s massive political spending in the United States. Once again, Democrats chose instead to punt the issue despite plummeting public support for Israel, both among their base and the wider U.S. public, ahead of the midterms. At a meeting in New Orleans on April 9…
Source
by Sharon Zhang | Apr 7, 2026 | Children, Gaza, Genocide, Humanitarian Aid, Israel, News, State Department, west bank
A top Palestinian children’s rights group has announced that it has been forced to shut down due to Israel’s recent attacks and bans on human rights organizations, removing a critical voice shining light on Israel’s atrocities against children in Gaza and the West Bank. Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCIP) announced that it has ceased operations on Tuesday. “After 35 years of…
Source
by Isiah Holmes | Apr 3, 2026 | Detention, DHS, free speech, ICE, Milwaukee, News, Palestine, west bank, Wisconsin
A large and diverse crowd packed a community center on Milwaukee’s south side Thursday, calling for the release of Salah Sarsour, president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee. Sarsour, who is of Palestinian descent, was detained by federal immigration agents Monday morning. His supporters are calling Sarsour’s arrest an targeted act of political retaliation designed to chill opposition to the…
Source
by Theia Chatelle | Mar 28, 2026 | Gaza, Gaza strip, Israel, News, Palestine, west bank
Al-Funduqumiya, West Bank — On March 21, a Palestinian vehicle collided with an ATV near the village of Beit Imrin in the West Bank, killing the ATV driver. Had it not been for the fact that the driver of the ATV was 18-year-old Yehuda Sherman of the illegal Israeli outpost of Shuva Yisrael Farms, the incident would likely have been handled as an ordinary traffic accident. Instead…
Source
by Amy Goodman | Mar 24, 2026 | Benjamin Netanyahu, Gaza, Interview, Iran, Israel, negotiations, Palestine, west bank
“This is about how far Israel can extend its dominion, how much of a hard-power, dominant hegemon it can be in the region.” Daniel Levy of the U.S./Middle East Project says that U.S. involvement in the ongoing war on Iran is being driven by Israel’s expansionist ambitions in the Middle East. “Israel is still on the impunity high from its Gaza genocide, which has led us here.” Levy…
Source
