In a country where land ownership is so fraught, some rare clarity: Israel's Supreme Court has ruled that the Jewish settler outpost of Ulpana, in the West Bank, was illegally built on privately owned Palestinian land. The government has promised to dismantle the 30-house settlement by 1 May.

Except that now, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has set up a special committee to find ways of stopping the outpost from being torn down. At the same time, his government has moved to legalise three controversial West Bank settlements: the first time since 1990, according to opponents, that an Israeli administration has so brazenly tried to legitimise settlements on Palestinian land.

In one sense, it's a familiar story – and Netanyahu certainly has form on land grabs. During his time in government, activists say, some 45,000 new settlers have moved to the West Bank – a 16% increase.

But the timing of this latest move tells us something even more stark. With the peace process abjectly stalled, and continued Jewish settlement of Palestinian territories widely seen as the biggest impediment to peace (even by vocal supporters of Israel), Netanyahu's move seems to be a final rejection of peace and reconciliation.

Further reading: To learn more about Israel's settlement projects in the West Bank visit the site of the courageous Israeli NGO B'Tselem – they have a settlement channel.