Israel Secretly Approves Destructive Settlement Plans Targeting northern West Bank

By: Madeeha Al-A’raj
The National Bureau for Defending Land and Resisting Settlements stated in its latest weekly report , that on 15 May, 2025, a shooting attack took place near the ‘Bruchin’ settlement, west of the city of Salfeet, which resulted in the death of a settler and the injury of another with minor injuries. The occupation forces imposed a security cordon on the area and began searching for the perpetrator. They closed the entrances to the ‘Bruchin and Peduel settlements and neighboring settlements’, and also closed a section of St. 446. At the same time, over the two weeks, they invaded the Bruqin and Kafr ad-Dik towns, accompanied by widespread destruction, abuse of citizens, and the conversion of their homes into military barracks.
Scores of settler bulldozed and destroyed large areas of land planted with olives and grains. Israeli PM Netanyahu described the shooting as horrific and vowed to hold the perpetrators and their aides accountable. National Security Minister, Ben-Gvir, meanwhile, reiterated his racist rhetoric: ‘I have said before, and unfortunately I must repeat: The settlers’ right to life trumps the right of Palestinian Authority residents to move freely.’ He called on Netanyahu to instruct the army to immediately and permanently -restore- all military checkpoints and to fulfill his commitment to advance legislation to impose the death penalty on security prisoners.
More seriously, the event unraveled a comprehensive settlement plan that Israel Hayom had previously exposed in 2023. The plan was developed by professionals in the Samaria Settlements Council, headed by the far-right, fascist Likud settler Yossi Dagan, along with external experts, including engineers, architects, geographers, and consultants.
The plan seeks to bring at least 1,150,500 settlement residents to specific areas in the northern West Bank by 2050. The plan includes expanding several settlements, transforming them into cities, returning to areas evacuated during the 2005 disengagement, establishing major industrial zones and a regional hospital, extending train lines to the center and north of the country, expanding roads, and even examining the possibility of establishing an airport.
As part of the establishment of these cities, 180,000 housing units will be added to the Dagan Regional Council, in addition to the resumption of settlement in the settlements of Sanur and Homesh, which were evacuated during the disengagement. About 10,000 housing units will be built in the center of what is called Samaria, 40,000 housing units will be added in the north, and 8,000 housing units will be added to the settlements of the mountain range´-or-the areas overlooking the Jordan Valley.
According to the newspaper, new settlement outposts will also be established on Mount Ebal ‘the mountain north of the city of Nablus’, which, according to legend and the ‘Samaria Settlements Council’, is of biblical historical significance.
The occupation authorities are considering responding to the Bruchin attack with a major plan to establish 13 cities and 5 industrial zones in the northern West Bank, which is entering its first phase, Israel Hayom learned at the temporary office of the head of the so-called Samaria Council, Yossi Dagan, which was set up at the site of the attack. Construction and Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf and Dagan announced from the scene a budget of NIS 30,000,000 and the immediate launch of urban planning that, they claim, will dramatically change the face of the region.
The planning funding will be provided by the Construction and Housing Ministry, with the assistance of FM Smotrich and Religious Zionism MK Zvi Sukkot. The Samaria Regional Council teams had been working on the plan for a long time and finally agreed on it in the temporary tent of Dagan s office. Dagan said, ‘The response to the murder of Tzala Gaz is construction. Terrorism is trying to expel us, and we are responding with growth - we are establishing cities, building industrial zones, and making Samaria flourish.’ He continued, ‘I congratulate Minister Goldkanoff on his moral and courageous decision to invest nis 30,000,000 in planning settlement points (13 cities and 5 industrial zones) as part of the ‘Samaria for a Million’ plan.
Minister Goldkanoff explained that ‘in the face of those who want to annihilate us, the clear and unequivocal answer is to strengthen settlements and consolidate our control in the Land of Israel in general and in Judea and Samaria in particular.’
The same was confirmed by the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, which revealed last Tuesday evening that the Israeli cabinet secretly approved the construction of 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank. The newspaper indicated that the decision includes the re-establishment of the Homesh and Sa-Nur settlements, which were previously dismantled as part of the disengagement plan from the Gaza Strip. The newspaper added that the proposal was approved at the initiative of Army Minister Yisrael Katz and the extremist FM Smotrich.
This brings to mind the same scenario after the attack that targeted four settlers at the Eli Junction, halfway between Nablus and Ramallah, on June 20, 2023. At the time, the Netanyahu government was filled with uproar and commotion over the incident and, according to its announcements, decided to respond to the attack by intensifying settlement construction and expanding it and its surroundings.
Netanyahu was, of course, lying when he justified his decision in June 2023 to build 1,000 new settlement units in the Eli settlement by claiming that he was responding to an armed Palestinian attack at the entrance to the settlement. According to his office, the decision came after an agreement on the matter reached by Netanyahu with Smotrich, and was not opposed by then- Yoav Gallant. Netanyahu knows he was lying and that the decision was not a response to the killing of the 4 settlers, but rather a pretext Netanyahu found suitable.
On the one hand, Netanyahu is using the decision to appease Smotrich and his fascist settler coalition, and on the other hand, it is an opportunity that serves as a pretext to remove the plan to expand the Eli settlement from his government’s drawers.
In 2014, Netanyahu’s government approved under the title of ‘administrative procedures’, the confiscation of private lands belonging to Palestinian citizens from the Sawiya, al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya, and Qaryut villages in the Nablus Governorate, as part of a plan to build 640 settlement units in that settlement. His steps faltered in the Israeli Supreme Court at the time after the Israeli organizations ‘B’Tselem and Bimkom’ submitted citizens’ petitions against the plan, which seized more than a thousand dunams, 24% of which were not registered as state land but rather privately owned land.
According to the ‘Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission’, the Occupation Authorities have begun paving settlement roads on the lands of the Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate to connect settlements at the expense of Palestinian villages in the area. The commission explained that the road being paved was the result of a military order issued by the occupying state in 1979 to seize the land allocated to it, pursuant to which it seized 2,178 dunums of citizens land for the purpose of paving the road that starts from the lands of the Rafat village near the Pisgat Ze ev settlement, and extends to the 1949 armistice line and the Modi in Illit settlement bloc.
The road will also create geographical contiguity between the Ofer Military Camp and the Givat Ze ev settlement, connecting with the settlement s road 443, which is designated exclusively for settlers, all the way to the 1948 lands. This will reduce the travel time for settlers, thus separating the two Palestinian villages of Kafr Ni ma and Bil in from the villages of Beit Ur al-Fuqa, al-Tahta, and Safa.
Not far from this road, the occupation authorities are working on implementing another settlement road that will connect the ‘Talmon settlement bloc’ west of Ramallah with the same road mentioned above, to connect a number of settlements west of Ramallah with settlements northwest of Jerusalem, which will reinforce the state of separation and geographical isolation of Palestinian villages in favor of the settlements and the movement of settlers on the roads.
A report by the Israeli Peace Now Movement published on 18 May, 2025 stated that between mid-2023 and mid-2024, settlers paved about 139 new roads, totaling 116.4 km in length, in addition to scores of kilometers of improved paths and existing -dir-t roads, across privately owned Palestinian land. Settlers used at least 25 roads, totaling 26.6 km in length, to establish new settlement outposts and at least 46 roads, totaling 40.3 km in length, to take control of vast new hills and areas, including within Area B, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority. The roads built by settlers are used to expel thousands of Palestinians from vast areas of the West Bank.
The Occupation Authorities usually confiscate Palestinian land under various pretexts, adapting laws that were in effect in Palestine prior to the occupation itself to serve their settlement project, including expropriation orders that are just one of these terms, along with other measures such as state lands and seizure and closure orders, under the pretext of military training and others. Under normal circumstances, expropriation orders usually grant the state the right to expropriate any plot of land if the public interest so requires, provided that appropriate compensation is provided to the landowners.
However, in the case of the occupying power in the Palestinian territories, expropriation orders under the pretext of ‘public interest’´-or-‘general interest’ take a different -dir-ection. These trends essentially serve the settlers and the settlement project, despite the clear text of Hague Regulations no. 43, which regulates the administration of the affairs of persons under occupation, including the development of their infrastructure and living conditions. Despite all of this, those orders issued by the occupation authorities are one of many means of controlling Palestinian land.
Furthermore, the Occupation Authorities seized 35 dunums of citizens land in the Nablus and Qalqilya Governorates through 6 military orders under the name ‘seizure orders’ under the pretext of security and military purposes. The first order targeted an area of 2,224 dunums of land in the Burin village, specifically the areas of Al-Mudawara and Al-Sharidis, with the aim of erecting a military tower overlooking the main road. The second order targeted 4,821 dunums of land in Huwara in the Nablus Governorate, specifically the areas of Al-Najma Al-Qibliya and Al-Tul, with the aim of erecting a security fence adjacent to the road. The third order targeted 14,917 dunums of land in the Far ata, Jit, and Tal villages in the Qalqilya and Nablus Governorates, with the aim of establishing a buffer zone around the ‘Havat Gil at outpost’.
The fourth order targeted 2,374 dunams of Awarta land in the Nablus Governorate, with the aim of establishing a security road extending from the entrance to the Itamar settlement to the main road. The fifth targeted 7,311 dunams of land from the Qabalan and Beita villages in the Nablus Governorate, with the aim of establishing a buffer zone around the Avitar outpost’ on Mount Sabih. The sixth order targeted 4 dunams of land from the village of Deir Sharaf in the Nablus Governorate, with the aim of establishing a military tower near the ‘Shavei Shomron’ gate. Thus, the military orders issued by the occupation since the beginning of 2025 amount to 16 military orders for the purpose of seizing Palestinian land of which 4 led to the establishment of buffer zones around settlements, including: two around the ‘Nekodim and Efrat settlements’ in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc, specifically on Bethlehem lands, a third around the ‘Avitar outpost’ in the Nablus Governorate, the last around the ‘Havat Gilad outpost’ on Qalqilia lands.
List of Israeli Assaults over the Last Week Documented by the National Bureau:
Jerusalem:
- Forcing brothers Walid and Riyad Abu Diab to demolish parts of their homes in the Al-Bustan Neighborhood in the Silwan town under the pretext of building without a permit. They also forced citizen Ahmed Khalil Al-Abbasi to demolish an agricultural room and dismantle metal panels on his land in the Al-Murooj area in the Jabal Al-Mukaber town.
- Attacking the shrine and grave of Sheikh Ahmed Al-Dajani in the Ma man Allah Cemetery, removing the headstone, breaking the lock on the door of the shrine, and bringing furniture into it.
- Demolishing vehicle and bus wash for the 5th time in a row, belonging to citizen Hisham Dari, without allowing him to remove its contents, including equipment and machinery for cleaning vehicles at the eastern entrance to the Al-Issawiya town, despite the fact that he pays the municipality arnona tax at a commercial cost.
- Storming the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Sheikh Jarrah Nneighborhood, raising slogans calling for its ‘control and occupation’. The extremist intruders were led by MK Julia Malinovsky from the right-wing opposition party Yisrael Beiteinu. The attack was held on the anniversary of the occupation of East Jerusalem, according to the Hebrew calendar.
Hebron:
- Erecting a tent on private land on the eastern side of Tell Ma in, east of Yatta, raising fears among residents that they would seize the area and establish a settlement outpost there. Other settlers stole wheat and barley crops belonging to farmer Yousef Makhamreh and transported them to a settlement outpost on private land in the area.
- Burning the house of Moh’d Azzam Abu Hammad in Birin village, then the gas cylinder exploded due to the fire, causing extensive damage.
- Demolishing 6 tents and huts in the Al-Buwaib area, northeast of the Yatta town, belonging to the Palestinian families in the area. Others stole more than 30 sheep in the Masafer Yatta area, belonging to Ashraf Al-Amour from Khirbet Al-Rakeez.
- Uprooting about 100 fruitful olive trees and vandalized a fence surrounding the land belonging to Moh’d Ibrahim Al-Adra in the Hawara area, east of Yatta. Others attacked the village of Khallet Al-Dabaa and seized a cave inhabited by Abdullah Al-Dabbaseh, 62, and his family after they broke down the door of the cave and stole its contents.
Bethlehem:
- Injuring citizens in the Kisan Wilderness. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said that its crews dealt with 7 people with bruises as a result of the settlers’ attack on them.
- Assaulting farmers in the Husan village, who were on their land and prevented them from working it. The settlers slaughtered a number of sheep with knives, and injured others by throwing stones at them. They also vandalized a number of vehicles. Moreover they assaulted the young man Hamza Mahmoud Kawazbeh (32 years old) by beating him, causing a fracture in his hand and bruises all over his body. In addition, a tent was burned in the wilderness.
Ramallah:
- Storming an agricultural room in the Al-Mughayir village, cut the barbed wire fence, and broke the locks on the gates surrounding an agricultural room located in the Khalayel area, south of the village, which belongs to Abdul Hafeez Abu Rahma, from the neighboring village of Abu Falah. Others set fire to 200 m2 lands between the villages of Al-Mughayyir and Abu Falah, in the Marj Sa i Plain area, under the protection of the occupation forces.
- Storming the Batn Al-Halawa area, north of the Sinjil town, and began working there. Noting that this area was recently established as a settlement outpost, located next to an army camp, and has been a closed military zone for about 2 years. Settlers also attacked citizens homes in the Turmusya town, and began paving a settlement road on the lands of Al-Mughayyir village, on lands belonging to citizens from the village, located in the eastern areas, about 500 meters away from the village homes.
- Attacking passersby s vehicles in the Ein Samia area, others attacked the Rammun village, burning several vehicles and spray-painting racist slogans on citizens homes. A settler also set up a tent near the ‘Eyoon Al-Haramiya Junction’, seized land planted with olive trees, brought dozens of livestock to the area, set up a tent, and raised the occupation flag in the area.
Nablus:
- Storming Yosif Tomb east of Nablus and performed Talmudic rituals, others attempted to set fire to a mosque in the Aqraba town atb night, they threw petroleum products at the door of the mosque and set it on fire, burning parts of the mosque s carpet and causing some material damage. They also wrote hostile graffiti on the mosque s walls. Citizens rushed to extinguish the fire and were able to prevent it from spreading inside the mosque.
- Setting fire to 40 dunams planted with wheat in the Sebastia town, others attacked beekeepers in Khirbet Tana, east of Beit Furik, expelling them from the lower spring and preventing them from filling water to irrigate the bee farms. Moreover, they set fire to lands planted with wheat in the Salem Plain, east of Nablus, destroyed a water pipeline that supplies the town s homes. It is about 800 meters long and has been in place for more than 40 years.
- Setting fire to homes and vehicles, targeted homes with stones, and burned and destroyed seven vehicles in Qariot village.
Salfeet:
- Setting up a number of mobile homes on lands in the Bruqin town under heavy protection from the occupation army, in a move aimed at establishing a new settlement outpost. The area is witnessing land leveling and uprooting of trees. At the same time, a group of settlers attacked the outskirts of the town and set fire to a number of homes, causing extensive material damage and the outbreak of large fires in the area. The occupation forces fired live bullets and tear gas canisters at the townspeople, who tried to confront the attack.
- Bulldozing lands in the southern part of the Sarta village, only about 200 meters from the citizens homes. Meanwhile, others set fire to lands in the northwestern area of the village of Haris, near the ‘Rafava settlement’. The fire spread to large areas before it was controlled and extinguished.
- Handing over 9 orders to stop work and construction on a number of homes and facilities in the areas of ‘Al-Buq’an and Al-Shiyab’ north of the Bruqin town, which are inhabited homes.
- Closing 3 side roads and destroyed the contents of an agricultural room in the western part of the Deir Ballut town.
Jordan Valley:
- Fencing off areas of Ein al-Hilweh land in the northern Jordan Valley, on the western side, a large percentage of this land is owned by citizens through the Land Registry. The settlers intend to erect a barbed wire fence in the area, similar to what they have done previously in other areas of Ein al-Hilweh, and to completely close it off, preventing citizens from accessing their lands and pastures.
- Storming repetedly the Arab al-Ka abneh Elementary School in the al-Mu arjat area, north of Jericho, under the protection of the occupation army, and terrorized students.
- Cutting off water pipes to families in the al-Auja Shalal community in the Arab al-Malihat community, near al-Mu arjat, settlers destroyed a citizen s property, including a sheep pen, they also destroyed a water tank used for drinking and livestock purposes, others besieged the al-Auja Shalal Bedouin community in an attempt to isolate it from its surroundings, in preparation for imposing complete control over the area.

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