This report considers the issue of Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). Immediately after Israel occupied these lands in 1967, authorities began formulating and implementing projects to settle the area, with the intent of creating a range of political, social, and economic circumstances that could impact its geography and demography. Issues addressed include the legal nature of Palestine and the legal rules that govern it; the effects of settlement on the OPT; their legal justifications; evaluation of Israel's settlement policy in light of international humanitarian law; and the responsibilities of Israel and third-party states.