Türkiye and the Levant

Israel’s far-right finance minister announced approval of contentious new settlement construction in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Thursday 14 August, which Palestinians and rights groups worry will scuttle plans for a future Palestinian state by effectively cutting the West Bank into two separate parts. The announcement, reported by international agencies, comes as many countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, France and Canada, said they would recognise a Palestinian state in September. “This reality finally buries the idea of a Palestinian state, because there is nothing to recognise and no one to recognise,” said Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich during a ceremony on Thursday.

Israel’s far-right finance minister announced approval of contentious new settlement construction in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Thursday 14 August, which Palestinians and rights groups worry will scuttle plans for a future Palestinian state by effectively cutting the West Bank into two separate parts. The announcement, reported by international agencies, comes as many countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, France and Canada, said they would recognise a Palestinian state in September. “This reality finally buries the idea of a Palestinian state, because there is nothing to recognise and no one to recognise,” said Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich during a ceremony on Thursday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is contemplating a complete military takeover of Gaza for the first time in two decades, media reported, and was to meet senior security officials on Tuesday 5 August to finalize a new strategy in the 22-month war. It was unclear, however, whether Netanyahu was foreseeing a prolonged occupation or a short-term operation aimed at dismantling Hamas and freeing Israeli hostages. Mediation between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas has collapsed despite intense international pressure for a ceasefire to ease hunger and appalling conditions in the besieged Palestinian enclave.

A new UN expert report to the Security Council released Wednesday (30 July) highlights the escalating threat posed by Islamic State (ISIS) and al‑Qaida affiliates across Africa, with risks also rising in Syria. The report claims that Africa has now become the centre of extremist activity as groups exploit weakened governance and regional instability. In Syria, the post‑Assad transition remains volatile. The report warns that both ISIS and al‑Qaida perceive Syria as a strategic base for international operations. Over 5,000 foreign fighters are believed to have participated in the December 2024 offensive in Damascus, raising fears of ideological spread and extremist infiltration across borders. The report also notes the dangers of online radicalisation. Groups such as ISIS continue to radicalise individuals and orchestrate attacks in Europe, America and beyond via secure messaging networks.