Israeli settlement activity ends two-state solution: Palestinian National Initiative leader

Israel's recent approval of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank has effectively eliminated the two-state solution, said Mustafa Barghouti, secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative.

Israel's security cabinet had approved the establishment of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, bringing the number of settlements legalized or approved over the past three years to 69, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on December 21.

The approvals cover both entirely new settlements and the retroactive authorization of settlements built without permits from Israeli authorities.

In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Barghouti noted that Israel's move has destroyed the last chance of establishing a Palestinian state.

"They have established 500 settlements or settler outposts, effectively eliminating any possibility of an independent Palestinian state, and they are transparent about it. Decisions have been made in the Israeli parliament to prevent the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, and this is being reinforced on the ground through settlement activities and expansions. The most dangerous thing happening is the destruction of the last chance for what is called a compromise based on what they call the two-state solution. The Israelis have rendered this impossible," he said.

Barghouti also called for Palestinian unity and the implementation of a strategy to resist Israeli violations.

"Israeli settlement expansion has effectively consumed more than 60 percent of the West Bank, and they continue to encroach further. The settlements that have been established are scattered throughout the West Bank, with the latest one, like the E1 settlement, practically fragmenting the territory. With all these settlements, there is no longer any Palestinian geographical contiguity in the West Bank, and in addition to that, there are about a thousand military outposts that further cut the area apart. Now in the West Bank there are about 850,000 illegal Israeli settlers, and they form settler gangs that engage in terrorism against the Palestinians and try to expel them from their homes and lands," he said.

Israeli settlement activity ends two-state solution: Palestinian National Initiative leader

China's top legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), has strengthened the record-filing and review work, with a focus on supporting the private economy.

A total of 2,309 regulations and judicial interpretations were filed with China's national legislature to be recorded and reviewed in 2025.

The figure was announced during 19th session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee, which was held from Monday to Saturday.

According to a report submitted to the session for deliberation by the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee on Monday on its 2025 record-filing and review work, the commission also received 6,705 review suggestions from Chinese citizens and organizations in 2025.

A key focus in the legislative review of regulatory documents this year is a comprehensive screening of existing regulations and rules to better support market vitality. Since the Private Economy Promotion Law took effect in May, the NPC Standing Committee has organized a nationwide review of existing regulatory documents, identifying over 1,400 that merit immediate revision or repeal.

Most of the problematic provisions were found in local-level rules that improperly set market access barriers or limited financing channels for private firms. Lawmakers say the majority of these clauses have already been amended or scrapped.

The move marks a concrete step toward building a unified national market that remains open, fair and transparent, underpinned by the rule of law, according to the legislature.

China's top legislature steps up legislative review to support private economy