Settlements are widely seen as illegal under international law although Israel disagrees. The three unauthorised outposts that have now been legalised under Israeli law were described as new neighbourhoods of existing settlements.

Israel has approved its largest land seizure in the occupied West Bank in more than three decades, a settlement tracking group said Wednesday. The decision was denounced by activists, who said it would further increase tensions brought on by the war in Gaza and dash hopes for a Palestinian state and a two-state solution for peace.