Two new Israeli settlements, Makeda and Karmei Yehudah, have been officially inaugurated in the southern West Bank, with several cabinet ministers in attendance. These settlements are already inhabited by residents. Additionally, residents are preparing to move into two further settlements in the same southern West Bank region: Meged and Maale Einav. The inaugurations signal a continued expansion of Israeli settlements in the area. The Times of Israel first reported on the event. This development is likely to draw international criticism, as the settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. This move underscores ongoing tensions and the complex political landscape in the West Bank.