In
Israeli law, an
outpost (,
Ma'ahaz lit. "a handhold") is an unauthorized or illegal
Israeli settlement within the
West Bank, constructed without the required authorization from the
Israeli government in contravention of Israeli statutes regulating planning and construction. In Israeli law, outposts are distinguished from settlements authorized by the Israeli government. This distinction between illegal outposts and "legal" settlements is not endorsed by international law, which considers both a violation of the norms, governing
belligerent occupations, applicable to the West Bank. The Israeli government disputes this interpretation.