Israel’s settler movement takes victory lap as a sparse outpost becomes a settlement within a month

Associated Press (AP)CenterEN 6 min read 100% complete by By JULIA FRANKELJanuary 21, 2026 at 09:23 AM

AI Summary

long article 6 min

On January 19, 2026, Israeli government ministers celebrated the inauguration of Yatziv, a newly recognized settlement in the occupied West Bank, adjacent to the Palestinian town of Beit Sahour. What was previously an unauthorized outpost called Shdema transformed into a fully recognized settlement within a month. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a key figure in Israeli settlement policy, stated the settlement would be permanent, rejecting the possibility of a Palestinian state. The event marked the culmination of a long campaign by settlers who had previously blocked the construction of a Palestinian children's hospital on the site. Smotrich, who has overseen settlement policy for three years, has pursued aggressive expansion, aiming to undermine the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

The Associated Press 40% Trump administration 40% Palestinian ×460% Israeli Government 60% Bezalel Smotrich ×370% Beit Sahour ×370% Israel ×270% West Bank ×480% Yatziv (Shdema) ×590%

Keywords

israeli settlements 100% west bank 90% yatziv settlement 90% settler movement 80% smotrich 70% palestinian state 70% occupied territory 60% beit sahour 60% inauguration ceremony 50%