Editing Israeli settlement (section)

== Settlement expansion ==
===Pre Resolution 2334===
On 19 June 2011, ''[[Haaretz]]'' reported that the Israeli cabinet voted to revoke Defense Minister [[Ehud Barak]]'s authority to veto new settlement construction in the West Bank, by transferring this authority from the Agriculture Ministry, headed by Barak ally [[Orit Noked]], to the Prime Minister's office.<ref>{{cite web |last=Heruti |first=Tali |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/cabinet-votes-to-curtail-barak-s-power-to-veto-west-bank-settlement-construction-1.368517 |title=Cabinet Votes to Curtail Barak's Power to Veto West Bank Settlement Construction |work=Haaretz |date=2011-06-19 |access-date=2016-06-10 |archive-date=22 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622113655/http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/cabinet-votes-to-curtail-barak-s-power-to-veto-west-bank-settlement-construction-1.368517 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2009, newly elected Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] said: "I have no intention of building new settlements in the West Bank... But like all the governments there have been until now, I will have to meet the needs of natural growth in the population. I will not be able to choke the settlements."<ref name=expand>[https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090126/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_palestinians Netanyahu would let West Bank settlements expand] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205101253/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090126/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_palestinians |date=5 February 2009 }}. By Mark Levie. [[Yahoo! News]]. Published 26 January 2009.</ref> On 15 October 2009, he said the settlement row with the United States had been resolved.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1121965.html|title=Netanyahu: Israel and U.S. have resolved settlements row|access-date=19 October 2009|archive-date=20 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091020112434/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1121965.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2012, four illegal outposts were retroactively legalized by the Israeli government.<ref>Peace Now, 1 August 2012 [http://peacenow.org.il/eng/Nofei-Nehemia ''The Government Secretly Approved another Outpost: Nofei Nehemia''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011230611/http://peacenow.org.il/eng/Nofei-Nehemia |date=11 October 2013 }}</ref> In June 2012, the Netanyahu government announced a plan to build 851 homes in five settlements: 300 units in [[Beit El#Ulpana lawsuits|Beit El]] and 551 units in other settlements.<ref name=PeaceNow_090513>Peace Now, 11 June 2012, [http://peacenow.org.il/eng/851newhomes ''The Compensation Package for the Settlers: 851 Units to Undermine the Two States Solution''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012044046/http://peacenow.org.il/eng/851newhomes |date=12 October 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/06/20126711518558607.html|title=Israel to build more West Bank homes|date=7 June 2012|publisher=Al Jazeera|access-date=7 June 2012|archive-date=7 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607183410/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/06/20126711518558607.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Amid peace negotiations that showed little signs of progress, Israel issued on 3 November 2013, tenders for 1,700 new homes for Jewish settlers. The plots were offered in nine settlements in areas Israel says it intends to keep in any peace deal with the Palestinians.<ref>[http://forward.com/articles/186796/israel-approves-construction-of--new-settlemen/ Israel Approves Construction of 1,700 New Settlement Homes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105033112/http://forward.com/articles/186796/israel-approves-construction-of--new-settlemen/ |date=5 November 2013 }}. Reuters, 3 November 2013</ref> On 12 November, Peace Now revealed that the Construction and Housing Ministry had issued tenders for 24,000 more settler homes in the West Bank, including 4,000 in East Jerusalem.<ref>[http://forward.com/articles/187496/israel-plans--new-homes-for-jewish-settlers/#ixzz2kSmksaEr Israel Plans 24,000 New Homes for Jewish Settlers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203003408/http://forward.com/articles/187496/israel-plans--new-homes-for-jewish-settlers/#ixzz2kSmksaEr |date=3 December 2013 }}. Reuters, 12 November 2013</ref> 2,500 units were planned in Ma'aleh Adumim, some 9,000 in the [[Gush Etzion]] Region, and circa 12,000 in the [[Binyamin Region]], including 1,200 homes in the [[E1 (Jerusalem)|E1 area]] in addition to 3,000 homes in previously frozen E1 projects.<ref>[http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Netanyahu-halts-E1-housing-tenders-amid-plans-for-24000-new-units-in-West-Bank-east-Jlem-331505 Netanyahu instructs housing minister to 'reconsider' plans for 24,000 units beyond Green Line] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131123132908/http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Netanyahu-halts-E1-housing-tenders-amid-plans-for-24000-new-units-in-West-Bank-east-Jlem-331505 |date=23 November 2013 }}. ''Jerusalem Post'', 13 November 2013</ref> Circa 15,000 homes of the 24,000 plan would be east of the [[Israeli West Bank barrier|West Bank Barrier]] and create the first new settlement blocs for two decades, and the first blocs ever outside the Barrier, far inside the West Bank.<ref>[http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Potential-West-Bank-housing-plans-would-create-first-settlement-blocs-outside-barrier-route-331695 Potential settlement plans would create first blocs outside barrier route] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131123132906/http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Potential-West-Bank-housing-plans-would-create-first-settlement-blocs-outside-barrier-route-331695 |date=23 November 2013 }}. Tovah Lazaroff, ''Jerusalem Post'', 14 November 2013</ref>

As stated before, the Israeli government (as of 2015) has a program of residential subsidies in which Israeli settlers receive about double that given to Israelis in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. As well, settlers in isolated areas receive three times the Israeli national average. From the beginning of 2009 to the end of 2013, the Israeli settlement population as a whole increased by a rate of over 4% per year. A ''New York Times'' article in 2015 stated that said building had been "at the heart of mounting European criticism of Israel."<ref name=Rudoren />

===Resolution 2334 and quarterly reports===
[[United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334]] "Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council every three months on the implementation of the provisions of the present resolution;"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/webcast/pdfs/SRES2334-2016.pdf/|title=Resolution 2334 (2016) Adopted by the Security Council at its 7853rd meeting, on 23 December 2016|date=2016-12-16|website=UN|access-date=2019-09-20|archive-date=8 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908101439/https://www.un.org/webcast/pdfs/SRES2334-2016.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Erakat2019">{{cite book|author=Noura Erakat|title=Justice for Some: Law and the Question of Palestine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2yozugEACAAJ|year=2019|publisher=Stanford University Press|page=252|isbn=978-0-8047-9825-9}}</ref>
In the first of these reports, delivered verbally at a security council meeting on 24 March 2017, [[United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process]], [[Nickolay Mladenov]], noted that Resolution 2334 called on Israel to take steps to cease all settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, that "no such steps have been taken during the reporting period" and that instead, there had been a marked increase in statements, announcements and decisions related to construction and expansion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/press/en/2017/sc12765.doc.htm/|title=Israel Markedly Increased Settlement Construction, Decisions in Last Three Months, Middle East Special Coordinator Tells Security Council|date=2017-03-24|website=UN|access-date=2019-09-20|archive-date=21 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921112555/https://www.un.org/press/en/2017/sc12765.doc.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/s_pv_7908.pdf|title=Security Council Seventy-second year 7908th meeting Friday, 24 March 2017, 3 p.m. New York|date=2017-03-24|website=UN|access-date=2019-09-20|archive-date=2 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502150437/https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/s_pv_7908.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Adem2019">{{cite book|author=Seada Hussein Adem|title=Palestine and the International Criminal Court|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1m2QDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA144|year=2019|publisher=Springer|page=144|isbn=978-94-6265-291-0}}</ref>

===Regularization and outpost method===
{{see also|Regulation Law|Israeli outpost}}
The 2017 [[Regulation Law|Settlement Regularization in "Judea and Samaria" Law]] permits backdated legalization of outposts constructed on private Palestinian land. Following a petition challenging its legality, on June 9, 2020, Israel's Supreme Court struck down the law that had retroactively legalized about 4,000 settler homes built on privately owned Palestinian land.<ref>{{cite news|title=Israel's Supreme Court strikes down law legalising settlements on private Palestinian land|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-palestinians-settlements/israels-top-court-strikes-down-law-legalising-settlements-on-private-palestinian-land-idUSKBN23G2MI|publisher=Reuters|date=June 9, 2020|access-date=June 10, 2020|archive-date=11 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611115455/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-palestinians-settlements/israels-top-court-strikes-down-law-legalising-settlements-on-private-palestinian-land-idUSKBN23G2MI|url-status=live}}</ref> The Israeli Attorney General has stated that existing laws already allow legalization of Israeli constructions on private Palestinian land in the West Bank.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/A_73_45717.pdf/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216104802/https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/A_73_45717.pdf|archive-date=16 February 2022|title=Situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 Note by the Secretary-General|date=2018-10-22|website=reliefweb|access-date=2019-09-20}}</ref> The Israeli Attorney General, [[Avichai Mandelblit]], has updated the High Court on his official approval of the use of a legal tactic permitting the de facto legalization of roughly 2,000 illegally built Israeli homes throughout the West Bank.{{efn|group=upper-alpha|The Regularization law, opposed by Mandelblit, would allow the state to expropriate private Palestinian land where some 4,000 illegal settler homes have been built, provided that they were established "in good faith" or had government support, and that the Palestinian owners receive 125 percent financial compensation for the land.}} The legal mechanism is known as "market regulation" and relies on the notion that wildcat Israeli homes built on private Palestinian land were done so in good faith.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/ag-urges-court-to-strike-regulation-law-given-new-ways-to-legalize-outposts//|title=AG urges court to strike Regulation Law, points to new ways to legalize outposts|date=2018-12-18|website=The Times of Israel|access-date=2019-09-20|archive-date=21 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921124456/https://www.timesofisrael.com/ag-urges-court-to-strike-regulation-law-given-new-ways-to-legalize-outposts//|url-status=live}}</ref>

In a report of 22 July 2019, PeaceNow notes that after a gap of 6 years when there were no new outposts, establishment of new outposts recommenced in 2012, with 32 of the current 126 outposts set up to date. 2 outposts were subject to eviction, 15 were legalized and at least 35 are in process of legalization.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://peacenow.org.il/en/return-of-the-outpost-method|title=Return of the Outpost Method 32 new unauthorized settlements under the Netanyahu government|date=2019-07-22|website=PeaceNow|access-date=2019-09-20|archive-date=10 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610014422/https://peacenow.org.il/en/return-of-the-outpost-method|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://972mag.com/outposts-peace-now-report/143492//|title=Resource: Tracking Israel's support for illegal outposts|date=2019-09-20|website=trocaire|access-date=2019-09-20|archive-date=22 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922121234/https://972mag.com/outposts-peace-now-report/143492//|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium.MAGAZINE-at-least-16-israeli-unauthorized-west-bank-outposts-established-since-2017-1.7546752|title=At Least 16 Israeli Unauthorized West Bank Outposts Established Since 2017|date=2019-07-22|website=Haaretz|access-date=2019-09-20|archive-date=22 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922013837/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium.MAGAZINE-at-least-16-israeli-unauthorized-west-bank-outposts-established-since-2017-1.7546752|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Updates and related matters===
The Israeli government announced in 2019 that it has made monetary grants available for the construction of hotels in Area C of the West Bank.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Israel-to-provide-grants-for-hotels-in-West-bank-settlements-588282|title=ISRAEL TO OFFER GRANTS TO BUILD HOTELS IN WEST BANK SETTLEMENTS|author=Tovah Lazaroff|date=30 April 2019|access-date=13 May 2019|archive-date=13 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513194432/https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Israel-to-provide-grants-for-hotels-in-West-bank-settlements-588282|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to [[Peace Now]], approvals for building in Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem expanded by 60% between 2017, when Donald Trump became US president, and 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.apnews.com/98e4ad57e0784e05b9fdde2e0ffd7439|title=New data shows Israeli settlement surge in east Jerusalem|date=2019-09-12|website=AP|access-date=2019-09-13|archive-date=13 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913182134/https://apnews.com/98e4ad57e0784e05b9fdde2e0ffd7439|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 9 July 2021, Michael Lynk, U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, addressing a session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, said "I conclude that the Israeli settlements do amount to a war crime," and  "I submit to you that this finding compels the international community...to make it clear to Israel that its illegal occupation, and its defiance of international law and international opinion, can and will no longer be cost-free." Israel, which does not recognize Lynk's mandate, boycotted the session.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-settlements-amount-war-crime-un-rights-expert-2021-07-09/|title=Israeli settlements amount to war crime – U.N. rights expert|date=9 July 2021|website=Reuters|access-date=9 July 2021|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709171223/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-settlements-amount-war-crime-un-rights-expert-2021-07-09/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israeli-settlements-amount-to-war-crime-un-rights-official-says-1.9985923|title=Israeli settlements amount to war crime, UN rights official says|newspaper=Haaretz|access-date=9 July 2021|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709172519/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israeli-settlements-amount-to-war-crime-un-rights-official-says-1.9985923|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=27291&LangID=E|title=OHCHR &#124; Occupied Palestinian Territory: Israeli settlements should be classified as war crimes, says UN expert|website=www.ohchr.org|access-date=9 July 2021|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190001/https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=27291&LangID=E|url-status=live}}</ref>

A new Israeli government, formed on 13 June 2021, declared a "status quo" in the settlements policy. According to [[Peace Now]], as of 28 October this has not been the case. On October 24, 2021, tenders were published for 1,355 housing units plus another 83 in [[Givat HaMatos]] and on 27 October 2021, approval was given for 3,000 housing units including in settlements deep inside the West Bank.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://peacenow.org.il/en/a-government-of-change-for-the-worse|title=A Government of Change (for the worse)|date=28 October 2021|website=Peace Now|access-date=4 November 2021|archive-date=3 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211103131818/https://peacenow.org.il/en/a-government-of-change-for-the-worse|url-status=live}}</ref> These developments were condemned by the U.S.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-u-s-gives-harshest-public-rebuke-yet-on-israeli-settlement-plans-1.10328186|title = U.S. Gives Harshest Public Rebuke Yet on Israeli Settlement Plans|newspaper = Haaretz|access-date = 4 November 2021|archive-date = 26 October 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211026194912/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-u-s-gives-harshest-public-rebuke-yet-on-israeli-settlement-plans-1.10328186|url-status = live}}</ref> as well as by the United Kingdom, Russia and 12 European countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/british-minister-condemns-israeli-west-bank-housing-plan-683354|title=Russia, UK, top EU nations issue rebuke on settlement plans|website=The Jerusalem Post &#124; JPost.com|date=28 October 2021|access-date=4 November 2021|archive-date=4 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104185010/https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/british-minister-condemns-israeli-west-bank-housing-plan-683354|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/unispal/document/statement-by-eu-spokesperson-on-further-settlement-expansion-non-un-document/|title=Statement by EU Spokesperson on Further Settlement Expansion (Non-UN Document)|first=Christopher|last=Heaney|access-date=4 November 2021|archive-date=4 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104190513/https://www.un.org/unispal/document/statement-by-eu-spokesperson-on-further-settlement-expansion-non-un-document/|url-status=live}}</ref> while UN experts, Michael Lynk, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967 and Mr. Balakrishnan Rajagopal (United States of America), UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing said that settlement expansion should be treated as a "presumptive war crime".<ref>{{cite web|url = https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/israel-settlement-expansion-should-be-treated-war-crime|title = Israel settlement expansion should be treated as 'presumptive war crime': UN experts| work=The New Arab |date = 4 November 2021|access-date = 4 November 2021|archive-date = 4 November 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211104185011/https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/israel-settlement-expansion-should-be-treated-war-crime|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=27758&LangID=E|title=OHCHR &#124; UN experts say Israeli settlement expansion 'tramples' on human rights law|website=www.ohchr.org|access-date=4 November 2021|archive-date=4 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104185012/https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=27758&LangID=E|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2023, the [[Thirty-seventh government of Israel|new Israeli government]] under Benjamin Netanyahu approved the legalization of nine illegal settler outposts in the West Bank.<ref>{{cite news |title=U.S. Announced Israeli Settlement Freeze, Netanyahu Rushed to Deny It |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-02-27/ty-article/.premium/u-s-announced-israeli-settlement-freeze-netanyahu-rushed-to-deny-it/00000186-926e-d064-afde-f7fed8d50000 |work=Haaretz |date=27 February 2023 |access-date=7 October 2023 |archive-date=7 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207180951/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-02-27/ty-article/.premium/u-s-announced-israeli-settlement-freeze-netanyahu-rushed-to-deny-it/00000186-926e-d064-afde-f7fed8d50000 |url-status=live }}</ref> Finance Minister [[Bezalel Smotrich]] took charge of most of the [[Israeli Civil Administration|Civil Administration]], obtaining broad authority over civilian issues in the West Bank.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/smotrich-handed-sweeping-powers-over-west-bank-control-over-settlement-planning/|title=Smotrich handed sweeping powers over West Bank, control over settlement planning|first=Jeremy|last=Sharon|work=The Times of Israel|date=23 February 2023|access-date=7 October 2023|archive-date=5 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105011524/https://www.timesofisrael.com/smotrich-handed-sweeping-powers-over-west-bank-control-over-settlement-planning/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/24/former-us-ambassador-accuses-israel-creeping-annexation-west-bank-israel-palestinians|title=Former US ambassador accuses Israel of 'creeping annexation' of the West Bank|first=Chris|last=McGreal|date=24 February 2023|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=7 October 2023|archive-date=24 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224143609/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/24/former-us-ambassador-accuses-israel-creeping-annexation-west-bank-israel-palestinians|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2023, Netanyahu's government repealed a 2005 law whereby four Israeli settlements, [[Homesh]], [[Sa-Nur]], [[Ganim]] and [[Kadim]], were dismantled as part of the [[Israeli disengagement from Gaza]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-03-21/ty-article/.premium/u-s-denounces-provocative-settlement-law-slams-smotrichs-comments-on-palestinians/00000187-0570-dde5-ab8f-277c93490000|title=U.S. Denounces 'Provocative' Settlement Law, Slams Smotrich's 'Dangerous' Comments on Palestinians|newspaper=Haaretz|access-date=7 October 2023|archive-date=8 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508074448/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-03-21/ty-article/.premium/u-s-denounces-provocative-settlement-law-slams-smotrichs-comments-on-palestinians/00000187-0570-dde5-ab8f-277c93490000|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2023, Israel shortened the procedure of approving settlement construction and gave Finance Minister Smotrich the authority to approve one of the stages, changing the system operating for the last 27 years.<ref>{{cite news |title=Israeli government takes major step toward West Bank annexation |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/06/20/israeli-government-takes-major-step-toward-west-bank-annexation_6034532_4.html |work=[[Le Monde]] |date=21 June 2023 |access-date=7 October 2023 |archive-date=8 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008061731/https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/06/20/israeli-government-takes-major-step-toward-west-bank-annexation_6034532_4.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In its first six months, construction of 13,000 housing units in settlements, almost triple the amount advanced in the whole of 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-hands-smotrich-full-authority-to-expand-existing-settlements/|title=Netanyahu hands Smotrich full authority to expand existing settlements|first=Jeremy|last=Sharon|website=www.timesofisrael.com|date=18 June 2023|access-date=7 October 2023|archive-date=13 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113063154/https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-hands-smotrich-full-authority-to-expand-existing-settlements/|url-status=live}}</ref>