The Canadian government has publicly condemned the ongoing expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, declaring them illegal under international law and warning that they undermine prospects for peace and stability. The statement drew an immediate counter-attack from Israel's Foreign Ministry, which accused Canada of emboldening terrorism by focusing on settlements rather than what it called Palestinian violence. The exchange comes as the UN reports an alarming surge in settler attacks on Palestinian communities, with roughly 190 incidents recorded per month in early 2026 — a pace that could see nearly 2,000 attacks by year's end, surpassing last year's total.