China tells Israel to stop 'forced establishment' of West Bank settlements

Israeli settlements are communities built by Israeli authorities, companies, or residents in the West Bank, which Israel captured in 1967. Palestinians regard the territory as part of a future independent state. China’s phrase “forced establishment” describes settlement construction as an imposed process rather than an agreed development. The wording signals Beijing’s view that Israel should stop creating facts on the ground.

The article does not provide a detailed definition of settlements or explain the exact projects Wang meant. It reports that he told Israel to stop the “forced establishment” of settlements and reverse its actions. In practical terms, reversing actions could mean halting construction, expansion, or related measures, although the article does not specify which steps.

The dispute matters because settlements affect land, movement, security, and the shape of any future Palestinian state. China says a two-state solution is the “correct direction.” It also wants the parties to return to dialogue and seek a political solution, while Israel emphasizes regional peace alongside threats from Iran and its proxies.

Wang Yi asked Israel to stop the “forced establishment” of settlements in the West Bank and to reverse its actions. He also described the Palestinian question as “the greatest historical injustice of this century.” The request reflects China’s long-standing support for the Palestinian cause and its backing for a two-state solution.

Wang made the comments in a face-to-face meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. The meeting took place on the sidelines of a conference in Azerbaijan on Thursday. Herzog later said their discussion focused on relations between Israel and China and the wider Middle East situation.

The exchange shows sharply different priorities. Wang stressed settlements, Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe, Palestinian unity, and a political solution. Herzog emphasized Israel’s desire for regional peace but also cited security threats, especially Iran and its “terror proxies.” China said the immediate priority was fully opening access to Gaza and returning the parties to dialogue.

Current figures vary because sources count settlements differently. A commonly used estimate is about 140 to 150 officially recognized Israeli settlements in the West Bank, alongside numerous smaller outposts. Including East Jerusalem, roughly 700,000 Israeli settlers live beyond the internationally recognized pre-1967 boundary. The article itself does not provide these figures, so these are established estimates rather than numbers from the source.

The population has increased greatly over time. In the early 1970s, only several thousand Israeli settlers lived in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. By the 1990s, the number had reached well over 100,000, and it continued rising in later decades. Different organizations produce different totals because they may include East Jerusalem, unauthorized outposts, or only officially recognized settlements.

This growth matters politically and geographically. More residents require roads, services, security arrangements, and land access. China’s call to stop settlement establishment responds to the continuing expansion. Palestinians and many governments argue that this makes a continuous Palestinian state harder to create, while Israel disputes some legal and political interpretations.

The West Bank was controlled by Jordan after the 1948 war that followed Israel’s establishment. Israel captured it from Jordan during the 1967 Six-Day War and has exercised military control there since, although the territory’s final status remains unresolved. The article does not provide this history, so this account uses established historical knowledge.

Both peoples connect the area to their identity. Jews cite ancient kingdoms, religious sites, and centuries-old historical links, often referring to parts of the West Bank by biblical names. Palestinians point to generations of residence, family ties, political identity, and their claim that the West Bank should form part of an independent Palestinian state. These historical narratives overlap rather than providing a mutually accepted settlement.

That overlap helps explain why settlements are so contentious. Israel describes security and historical considerations as important, while Palestinians see settlement growth as undermining their territorial and political future. China’s support for a two-state solution reflects the international diplomatic framework that would seek to accommodate both national claims.

The legal dispute centers on the status of the West Bank and the duties of an occupying power. Many governments, the United Nations, and other international bodies consider Israeli settlements unlawful under the Fourth Geneva Convention, especially its prohibition on an occupying power transferring parts of its civilian population into occupied territory. The article does not explain this legal reasoning, so this answer adds established international-law context.

Israel rejects that interpretation. Israeli governments have argued that the West Bank is disputed rather than simply occupied, and that the convention was not intended to govern this situation in the way critics claim. Supporters of settlements also cite Jewish historical ties and security concerns. These arguments have not produced a legal consensus acceptable to all parties.

The disagreement has practical consequences. Settlement policy affects diplomacy, possible borders, and negotiations over a future Palestinian state. China called for Israel to stop establishing settlements and reverse its actions. The broader international position has generally favored negotiations leading to two states, while settlement expansion continues to complicate that objective.

A continuous state needs connected territory, reliable transport, and control over its borders and resources. When settlements expand across the West Bank, they can divide Palestinian communities and restrict the space available for development. Roads, security zones, and related infrastructure may further separate towns. The article does not detail these effects, so this explanation uses established geographic and political analysis.

The key mechanism is fragmentation. Settlement blocks can create separate Palestinian enclaves or require routes running around Israeli communities. Negotiators then face harder questions about borders, access, security, and whether proposed Palestinian areas would be territorially connected. Even if land is later exchanged or settlements removed, reaching agreement becomes more difficult as populations and infrastructure grow.

This is why China’s demand to halt settlement establishment connects to its support for a two-state solution. The article says Beijing wants the parties to return to dialogue and seek a political solution. Yet Gaza’s humanitarian crisis and stalled ceasefire negotiations show that broader conflict conditions also stand in the way.

China says a two-state solution is the “correct direction” and has long supported the Palestinian cause. It also presents itself as able to work with the international community and bring opposing parties back to dialogue. This approach gives Beijing a diplomatic role in a conflict where it is not Israel’s main military ally and where it seeks influence across the Middle East.

Its mediation record supports that claim. In 2023, Beijing brokered an agreement restoring diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia after years of hostility. In 2024, it helped rival Palestinian factions agree to an interim national reconciliation government for the West Bank and Gaza, although that plan was never implemented. China also maintains close ties with Iran and buys most of its oil.

These relationships give China access to actors that distrust one another, but they also create competing perceptions of its neutrality. Wang called for Gaza access, an end to settlement expansion, and a political solution. Herzog instead highlighted Israel’s security threats, especially Iran and its proxies.