Joe Inwood

Israel is accelerating settlement expansion across the occupied West Bank, including plans for about 1,200 homes in the strategically located E1 area east of Jerusalem. Critics warn that the development would divide the territory, isolate East Jerusalem and make a contiguous Palestinian state increasingly unviable. Construction has also expanded around existing settlements and unauthorized outposts, while new roads and a shift from military to civilian administration are strengthening Israeli control. The moves have drawn condemnation from the UN, European governments and the EU, while Israeli ministers including Bezalel Smotrich openly describe settlement growth as part of a strategy to prevent Palestinian statehood. The timing ahead of Israeli elections suggests both political calculation and an effort to create irreversible facts on the ground.

Israel is accelerating settlement construction and infrastructure development across the occupied West Bank, particularly through plans for about 1,200 homes in the strategically important E1 area east of Jerusalem. Critics, including the United Nations, European countries and Palestinian officials, warn that E1 would divide the West Bank, isolate East Jerusalem and make a viable Palestinian state increasingly difficult. Satellite analysis shows substantial expansion at existing settlements and outposts since 2022, while authority over the territory has shifted toward far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and settler violence against Palestinians has intensified. The construction push ahead of Israeli elections may both appeal to the governing coalition’s base and create permanent facts on the ground that future governments would struggle to reverse.

British-made drones supplied to Ukraine have reportedly been used for the first time to strike military and industrial targets inside mainland Russia, including refineries, warehouses and a Wildberries facility. A military source confirmed their use to the BBC, while Russia has previously alleged that drones using UK components attacked its territory. The UK Ministry of Defence says it will provide Ukraine with more than 150,000 drones this year, alongside other systems, as part of continued support against Russia’s invasion. Ukrainian authorities say attacks on logistics hubs are intended to disrupt supplies to the Russian army; Russia has reported large-scale drone attacks around Moscow and injuries to civilians.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, declaring that an armed attack on any one of the three countries will be treated as an attack on all. The pact aims to strengthen collective deterrence and defense cooperation, although it does not specify the obligations of each partner and Turkey described it as purely defensive. Saudi Arabia seeks greater protection amid attacks and maritime disruptions linked to the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran; Pakistan gains additional security backing amid tensions with India and a stronger diplomatic role; and Turkey could benefit through joint defense production, technology partnerships and military interoperability. Analysts say the agreement could increase the trio’s regional diplomatic and military weight, but Pakistan’s nuclear capability is not expected to form part of the arrangement.