Forget a map, this is how Palestinians are navigating unpredictable West Bank roads

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared his commitment to continue building settlements in the West Bank, despite growing international criticism. The prime minister, who is approaching a crucial election in October, leads a far-right government that has rapidly approved the expansion and construction of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.

These settlements, often consisting of a few mobile homes or makeshift structures, are deemed illegal under both international and Israeli law, yet their approval and legitimacy have significantly increased in recent years.

According to Netanyahu, Israel aims to establish "de facto sovereignty" in the West Bank. Speaking at an event for settlers, he stated, "We cannot ignore the numbers: 104 communities that we established and legalized together, and 160 farms, with more to come." He emphasized that the settlers are "fulfilling the vision of the Land of Israel, and this is our land," and that the government is "preparing the ground for a very large wave of immigration" in the future.

However, Netanyahu's statements come amid mounting international outrage over settlement expansion. In recent weeks, European leaders have condemned a major Israeli settlement project that could divide the West Bank, threatening the territorial integrity of a future Palestinian state. Israel has been occupying the West Bank since 1967, with over 500,000 Israelis currently living in settlements there.

The territory is home to approximately three million Palestinians. Netanyahu's government, which includes ministers advocating for the territory's annexation, is accelerating construction efforts ahead of the October 27 elections. Violence against Palestinians by Israeli settlers has surged since the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas from the Gaza Strip.