Smotrich Uses His Power in Civil Administration to cover up fraudulent Land-Sale Deals

Settlement Weekly Report 20 – 26 Sept. 2025
By: Madeeha Al-A’raj
The ‘National Bureau for Defending Land and Resisting Settlements stated in its latest weekly report , that according to Haaretz Newspaper, the Israeli Occupation Far-right FM and Minister of Settlement Affairs in the Army Ministry, Bezalel Smotrich is tightening his grip on the Israeli Civil Administration that controls the life of the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Lately, Smotrich pressed a Tomer Karmi, who was responsible for registering and regularizing land ownership in Area C, a sensitive position in the Civil Administration, to leave his position due to a disagreement between him and the Smotrich’s gang in the Army Ministry ‘regarding the approval of land deals in the West Bank’. According to source, Karmi had been a dedicated and professional worker in his field for years. However, since the establishment of the Settlement Administration within the Civil Administration, Smotrich has begun to interfere in his professional decisions.
The Settlement Administration was established following the coalition agreements between PM Netanyahu and Smotrich in 2022, and its primary mission is to regularize and expand settlements. This administration has been given broad powers previously held by the army minister, such as, enforcing the law on building violations by Palestinians and Israelis and legalizing settlement outposts. Haaretz added, the main dispute between Karmi and the Settlement Administration relates to a land deal concluded by the Hemnuta Company affiliated with the Jewish National Fund ‘JNF’, over the land on which the Elazar settlement was established in the Bethlehem Governorate in 2018. The deal involves 290 dunams that the ‘JNF’ claims to have purchased from a Palestinian woman.
Karmi refused to approve the deal, citing serious deficiencies and inconsistencies in the documents, including contradictory powers of attorney ‘meaning forgery’ and doubts about the legal status of the original landowners ‘also forgery’. In turn, the Settlement Administration claimed that Karmi exceeded his authority and emphasized that the only body authorized to adjudicate the deal was the Civil Administration s Initial Registration Committee. The ‘JNF’ in turn accused Karmi of unjustified obstruction, asserting that the purchase had been approved by the Israeli Ministry of Army and that the delay had harmed its interests.
As the dispute escalated, the legal file was withdrawn from the Attorney General for Judea and Samaria i.e. (the West Bank) known for his cautious stance on settlements, and transferred to the ministry s legal advisor, Moshe Frucht, a former researcher at the right-wing Kohelet Forum. This company ‘Hamnuta’ is affiliated with the Jewish National Fund ‘Keren Kayemet le-Israel’, and is seizing Palestinian land through illegal and devious means. It prevents any of its employees from speaking to the media and is not obligated to issue any reports about its activities and the list of properties in its possession.
The Karmi s position was raised by the Legal Advisor for the ‘Judea and Samaria’ (West Bank) region in the Military Prosecution, in the response submitted by the legal advisor to the proceedings held in March 2024, Karmi s reasons for the refusal were explained, including the fact that the purchase tax formula submitted didn’t include the names of all the landowners and the extent of the rights of the original landowner, who transferred the land to his heirs. Another loophole he pointed out was that the landowner s authorization from 1982 was presented in contradictory terms, and no evidence was presented that the original authorizers, who were also Palestinians, were alive when the authorization was signed.
In Sep. last year, Karmi s representation in the case of the legal advisor for what the occupation authorities call ‘Judea and Samaria’ in the Military Prosecution was transferred to the ministry s legal advisor in accordance with coalition agreements. One of Smotrich s demands was to confiscate the legal advice the Civil Administration receives from the Office of the Legal Advisor for Judea and Samaria, the body that provides legal advice that takes into account international law.
For the settlers, the legal advisor for Judea and Samaria is seen as a body that consistently thwarts their efforts. The department currently providing legal advice within the Defense Ministry, which replaces the legal advisor in the Civil Administration, is headed by Moshe Frucht, a former researcher at the Kehelet Forum ‘the controversial think tank that plays a prominent role in advancing the extremist policies of the Netanyahu government, and whose researchers have been working for years to develop plans to undermine the judicial system, espoused by the Israeli right’. Sources told Haaretz that transferring the legal advice to him has brought about a clear change in the quality of legal advice provided by the Civil Administration.
According to Haaretz, after Karmi s representation was transferred to the Army Ministry s legal advisor, Smotrich s Settlement Administration worked to ensure the deal went through, on March 5, the long-awaited approval for the deal was obtained. Hemnuta submitted a request for preliminary registration of the plot in its name, and on August 12, the Civil Administration received a statement stating that the file had been opened, enabling the company to complete the registration of the plot in its name at the Land Registry as quickly as possible.
The fraudulent deals to seize Palestinian land and property go in parallel with the occupation authorities escalation of settlement expansion measures on the one hand, and arrangements that carry signs of annexation on the other. Last week, the Jerusalem Governorate witnessed a series of occupation arrangements and measures, which entail significant risks. Recently, the Jerusalem Governorate warned of an Israeli escalation targeting the villages of Beit Iksa, Nabi Samwil, and the Khalayleh Neighborhood northwest of the city, through measures to isolate them and impose ID cards and travel permits on their residents. The Governorate considered that these steps transform these villages into closed areas under the complete control of the occupation authorities through a series of security and administrative measures, and represent an undeclared de facto annexation and a flagrant violation of international law.
The Governorate added, the three villages fall within the 1967 borders and are classified under the Oslo Accords as Areas B and C. They are administratively managed by the Palestinian National Authority through official municipal councils. However, the occupation authorities treat them as if they were subject to Israeli sovereignty in a step that constitutes an undeclared de facto annexation and falls within the ‘Greater Jerusalem’ project aimed at ‘emptying the city’s surroundings of its original inhabitants.’ It explained that the village of Beit Iksa, with a population of About 1,400, and an area of 9,000 dunams, suffers from a tight siege and a ban on urban expansion, which has led to a decline in population growth.
In the Nabi Samwil village, which has an area of 3,500 dunams, only 1,050 dunams remain for the residents after most of the land was confiscated for settlement purposes. About 400 Palestinians live there ‘under the threat of demolition and a ban on construction.’ As for the Khalayleh Neighborhood, it indicated that it includes about 400 Palestinians in a residential area of 4,000 dunums, surrounded by 4 Israeli settlements that completely threaten its existence.
In the meantime, last Saturday, the occupation authorities distributed new seizure orders for citizens lands in the Anata town, northeast of occupied Jerusalem, for the benefit of the occupation municipality, with the aim of establishing parking lots and widening the roads leading to the Ma ale Adumim Settlement. The Jerusalem Governorate stated that the occupation distributed the orders to landowners in the town, with the aim of establishing parking lots and widening the roads leading to the Ma ale Adumim settlement. The area of land that the occupation intends to seize is 140 dunams, extending from the Shuafat Refugee Camp checkpoint, passing through the Ma ale Adumim Settlement, to the camp east of Anata. These lands are private property, with the aim of completing the ‘E1’ colonial project.
Earlier this month, the Jerusalem Governorate warned of the occupation government signing a ‘ceiling’ agreement with the Ma ale Adumim settlement municipality, which includes the allocation of NIS 3 billion for infrastructure projects in preparation for the construction of more than 7,600 settlement units, including 3,400 units in the ‘E1 area’ east of occupied Jerusalem. It pointed out that this agreement aims to accelerate colonial construction and promote settlement plans by linking Ma ale Adumim to the Mishor Adumim industrial zone and the recently approved projects in E1.
During the signing ceremony of the agreement in the Ma ale Adumim settlement, Israeli PM Netanyahu said, ‘There will be no Palestinian State. This place is ours.’ Adding, ‘Ma ale Adumim is part of our land, and there will be more of it.’ He continued, ‘What is happening here today is a historic step, because we are beginning to double the size of the city. In 5 years, there will be 70,000 people here. This is a huge change. What we are doing here is realizing a vision.’
In the northern West Bank, the Karnei Shomron Settlement’s council announced the establishment of a new settlement outpost north of St. 55 in the West Bank, as part of a further expansion of the settlement. This move was seen as a response to the announcement by Britain, Australia, Canada, Portugal, and other Western countries that they recognized the State of Palestine. Channel 14 quoted council head Yehonatan Kuznitz as saying, ‘The future of settlement is decided on the ground, not in the diplomatic corridors of foreign countries.’ Stressing that ‘this step is the first in a series of upcoming measures to strengthen sovereignty and settlement in the heart of Samaria (the West Bank). He added, ‘While distant countries are busy making empty statements, here we are busy building and working, settlement is expanding, sovereignty is becoming a reality, and the message is clear, ‘We don’t talk, we act.’
The settlement and settler activities don’t obscure the state of tension and anxiety within settler councils across the West Bank. Against the backof recent international recognition of the State of Palestine and statements by President Donald Trump, in which he affirmed that his administration wouldn’t allow Israel to annex the occupied West Bank, settler councils have considered sending a delegation to New York for an urgent meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of his upcoming meeting with Trump.
The delegation is expected to include a number of settler leaders, including: Chairman of the Yesha Council and Chairman of the Binyamin Council, Yisrael Gantz, Chairman of the Samaria Council Yossi Dagan, Chairman of the Ariel settlement Yair Shtbon, Chairman of the Oranit Council´-or-Biron Zomer, Chairman of the South Hebron Settlements Council Eliram Azulai, Chairman of the Kedumim settlement Uziel Witik, and Chairman of the Kiryat Sefer settlement Dudi Shefler, along with -dir-ector of the Yesha Council Omer Rahamim, in a mission they call a ‘national one’ calling on Netanyahu to ignore the America’s position and move forward with his annexation plans and the imposition of sovereignty.
On another level, recent press reports have revealed the recruitment of Israeli educational programs, most notably the ‘Makhina Program’, which is designed for Jewish students from countries around the world, who have completed high school and are offered enrollment in a program ranging from 9 months to a year, often in settlements in the occupied West Bank, with a focus on young Jews from Europe and North America to join the program, which includes educational and military training in settlements in the occupied West Bank and their integration into the system of values of the occupying state and the apartheid system, foremost among which is the army.
Many countries turn a blind eye to their citizens’ participation in such programs by lifting restrictions that would make any citizen legally liable for hate speech´-or-violations of International Humanitarian Law. These restrictions are applied to a large and exaggerated extent against Muslims, especially after the attacks of Sep. 11, 2001. But when it comes to Israel, we rarely see Western governments in particular taking real measures to monitor their citizens, large numbers of whom have now been found to have joined the Israeli army, fighting with it in the ongoing war of extermination in the Gaza Strip, in its occupation of Palestinian land, and in supporting settler activity and violence.
A quick perusal on the organizers of the program, including the Bnei Akiva settler movement, reveals that Rabbi Ari Haber is one of the program s coordinators. Haber s FB page reveals that he lives in the settlement of Efrat in the occupied West Bank that was established in 1980 on the lands of the villages of Al-Khader and Artas, located south of Bethlehem’.
Haber is known for his extremist views supporting the war of extermination in the Gaza Strip. This is evident in a message he posted on his FB account, in which he criticizes the positions of Jewish rabbis in the USA, who object to Israel s actions in the Gaza Strip. He said, ‘Rabbis in the diaspora have no right to rebuke Israel. By choosing to remain in exile, they are prolonging it.’
As for the boycott, especially regarding settlement goods, the Palestinian Boycott National Committee (BNC) announced last Monday the success of its campaign against the French retail chain Carrefour, forcing it to completely exit the markets of Bahrain and Kuwait after incurring huge financial losses and significant damage to its reputation. Carrefour s net profits fell by 50% in 2024 compared to 2023, while the profits of its partner, the Emirati Majid Al Futtaim Group, fell by 47% due to a decline in consumer confidence, as a result of widespread popular campaigns that included Jordan, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and even the UAE.
The global campaign to boycott Carrefour was launched in Dec. 2022, after it was revealed that the Israeli company s branches were -dir-ectly involved in supporting the Israeli army by providing gift packages and food baskets to occupation soldiers, and launching fundraising campaigns for their benefit. Carrefour Israel has also concluded agreements with Israeli technology companies and banks implicated in war crimes, which has strengthened popular calls for a boycotting it globally and in the Arab world.
List of Israeli Assaults over the Last Week Documented by the National Bureau:
Jerusalem:

- Demolishing the Aljawi family s house in the Bab Hatta Neighborhood in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem, in response to a lawsuit filed by settlers against Aljawi 2 years ago, claiming that his house overlooks their land. The Central Court issued a ruling to demolish the house, and the occupation municipality imposed a building fine on the family of nis 70,000.
- Notifying the family of Naji Amro of the confiscation and demolition of his home in the Al-Qubeiba town, northwest of Jerusalem.
- Ordering Citizen Abdul Moh’d Al-Amas to demolish his house in the Sur Baher town, southeast of occupied Jerusalem under the pretext of lacking a permit.
Hebron:
- Carrying out provocative tours in the villages and communities of Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, using motorcycles and vehicles. This was accompanied by a widespread deployment of settler shepherds in the area, in an attempt to provoke clashes with citizens. Settlers continue excavation and expansion work in the new settlement outpost established on citizens lands in the Huwara area, east of Yatta.
- Releasing their livestock into farmers lands in the Sa ir town, damaging areas of agricultural crops.
- Seizing a one-room house and its surroundings, belonging to citizen Akka Abdul Majeed Al-Ja bari in the Al-Ja bari neighborhood in the city of Hebron, and raised the flags of the Israeli occupation.
- Burning the vehicle of citizen Obaida Abdul Hadi Issa Dris in Khalat Al-Natsh, and fled, while others set up a tent on citizens lands east of the Igwin area in the town of As-Samu, south of Hebron.
- Attacking Palestinians in the Masafer Yatta area and the town of Yatta. Local and medical sources reported that 3 Palestinian citizens, including two women, were injured in the attack, namely: Yousef Hatem Makhamreh and his mother Khawla Makhamreh, while her son Hatem was arrested. The family of Moh’d Abdul Jabareen in the Sha’b al-Batm area of Masafer Yatta was also subjected to a similar attack, which resulted in the injury of citizen Shaimaa al-Jabareen, who was transferred to the hospital.
Bethlehem:
- Attacking citizens homes in the Kisan wilderness, in the Um Ruitina area, with stones and sticks. Citizens confronted them.
- Bulldozing 300 dunams of land in the Husan village, in the Manazil area.
Ramallah:
- Attacking an ambulance with stones in the Sinjil town, while it was in the Jabal al-Batin area south of the town, shattering its windows and causing damage. The ambulance crew escaped unharmed. In the al-Haraiq area east of the town, settlers attacked the family of elderly Sadeq Ma ali Farakhneh and his children while they were near their home, causing them bruises and wounds.
- Storming the Deir Jarir village, firing live ammunition in the area, and stole flocks of sheep from the villagers, causing significant losses to families who depend on these flocks as their main source of livelihood, and smashed a vehicle in the village.
- Killing a 20-year-old Saeed Murad Na san in the Al-Mughayyir village.
Nablus:
- Demolishing a house belonging to Abbas Mufleh Haj Moh’d in the Furush Beit Dajan village, with an area estimated at 100m2. Meanwhile, settlers attacked the Al-Shakara Neighborhood in the village of Duma and removed water meters, causing water to be cut off from the residential areas in the neighborhood. They also damaged the tires of a vehicle belonging to Izzat Dawabsheh.
- Attacking a vehicle belonging to Moh’d Yasser Sanobar in the village of Yatma, south of Nablus, as it passed near a newly established settlement outpost on Atara lands. They damaged it by smashing its windows. Settlers also provocatively drove their vehicles around the homes of residents of the Shakara community, east of Duma, south of Nablus, causing tension and fear among residents.
- Calling for a return to the Joseph Tomb, demanding the ‘ethnic cleansing’ of the town of Balata al-Balad and the occupation of the city. They considered that controlling these sites represents a ‘correction of the historical shame’ since Israel left Joseph’s Tomb 25 years ago.
Jordan Valley:
- Releasing their sheep among the homes of citizens in the Shalal Al-Auja, north of Jericho, while others began fencing off lands in the Atoof village, southeast of Tubas, and in the Al-Tha la area, they prevented farmers from accessing their nearby agricultural lands.
- Attacking Raed Subaih s vehicle with stones near Al-Farisiya, smashing its windows. Settlers also stole a residential tent and agricultural equipment in the Al-Jubiya area near Al-Sakout in the northern Jordan Valley. Settlers also continued to plow citizens lands in Khirbet Al-Farisiya in the northern Jordan Valley, with the aim of seizing them.
- Establishing a new settlement outpost in the Al-Sakout area in the northern Jordan Valley, bringing cows and sheep to it.

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