Jerusalem: Israeli authorities are planning to examine the construction of 2,006 new colonial units in the West Bank, as revealed by the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission. The construction plans will be reviewed in two upcoming sessions of the “Higher Planning Council,” targeting eight settlements in the region, including several in Jerusalem.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA, the head of the commission, Minister Mu’ayyad Sha’ban, stated in a press release that the first session is scheduled for November 3rd. This session will review four small plans for the Givat Ze’ev settlement, which is constructed on Palestinian-owned land in the village of al-Jib within the Jerusalem Governorate.
The second session, planned for November 5th, will address more extensive plans for the Givat Ze’ev settlement in Jerusalem and other settlements such as Avnei Hefetz and Anav in the Tulkarm Governorate, Kfar Tapuach and Efrat in the Salfit Governorate, Rosh Tzurim in the Bethlehem Governorate, Mitzpe Yericho in the Jericho and Jordan Valley Governorate, and Ganei Modi’in in the Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate.
Minister Sha’ban highlighted that the plans call for the construction of 2,006 new settlement units on approximately 1,072 dunams of Palestinian land. The settlements, including Kfar Tapuach, Anav, Avnei Hefetz, and Mitzpe Yericho, have been marked for extensive expansion.
Sha’ban emphasized that these actions challenge international community norms and UN resolutions that criminalize such colonial settlement activities. He referenced General Assembly Resolution 24/10 (S), which urges the occupying power to end its illegal occupation, and Security Council Resolution 2334, which denies any legitimacy to the settlements.
He further detailed that since October 7th, planning authorities have reviewed 355 structural plans for the construction of 37,415 settlement units on 38,551 dunams of land, with 18,801 units approved and 18,614 new units submitted for approval. These plans are predominantly concentrated in the Jerusalem Governorate, followed by Bethlehem, Salfit, Ramallah and Al-Bireh, Qalqilya, and Nablus.