Gaza: The Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission said today that the Israeli occupation authorities have approved 18 new and amended colonial jurisdiction areas in the West Bank.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the Commission announced that the package includes jurisdiction areas for new colonies approved by the Israeli Cabinet. It also covers areas aimed at transforming existing colonial outposts into independent colonies, along with amendments and expansions to the jurisdiction areas of existing colonies and colonial councils.
The Commission explained that the approval of a jurisdiction area delineates the geographical space where a colony or colonial council exercises its administrative and municipal powers. Though the decision itself does not involve land expropriation or immediate construction permits, it lays the groundwork for future expansion by designating the land within the jurisdiction area as a planning reserve. This allows for the formulation of new structural and detailed plans, expansion of infrastructure like roads and utilities, and the integration of projects into government budgets, which eventually leads to tender issuance and construction commencement.
In terms of the impact on Palestinian-owned land, the Commission noted that incorporating such land into or surrounding it with colonial settlement jurisdictions increases planning and administrative pressure. While property rights are not automatically revoked, this situation greatly restricts Palestinian construction, agriculture, access, and development opportunities.
The Commission highlighted that this decision facilitates the future use of additional measures, including declaring land as "state land," expropriation, issuing seizure orders, or allocating land to colonial councils. It was emphasized that jurisdiction areas often extend far beyond the actual built-up area of a colony, indicating that the goal is not merely to regulate the current situation but to reserve land for future expansion at the expense of Palestinian-owned land and nearby villages.
Furthermore, the Commission indicated that this policy does not only increase the number of colonies but also alters the administrative geography of the West Bank. It connects existing colonies with new outposts and restricts further Palestinian urban and economic development.
The Commission stressed that the new decisions represent a shift in the colonial project from mere establishment and political recognition to administrative land demarcation. A Cabinet decision grants political status to a colonial settlement, while a jurisdiction order defines its spatial and administrative scope, which is then followed by plans, infrastructure projects, and budgets that transform it into a permanent entity.
Finally, the Commission stated that jurisdiction areas serve as a tool for administrative annexation and land appropriation, extending the powers of Israeli institutions over Palestinian land while maintaining the formal endorsement of the "military commander" as a cover for the process managed by Israeli ministries and colonial councils.