Ramallah — Al Bayan, agencies
The West Bank is witnessing an unprecedented acceleration of de facto annexation and settlement expansion aimed at entirely reshaping the region's geography. Under new settlement plans penetrating deep into the West Bank, the Israeli government has announced the allocation of 8.5 billion shekels (approximately $2.8 billion) to expand West Bank settlements and build thousands of settlement units.
Israel also approved, roughly one month ago, the allocation of $370 million to establish 34 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, but kept the decision secret to avoid American anger, according to Israeli media.
The government signed a framework agreement to expand illegal settlements in the West Bank, including the construction of 12,000 new residential units and major infrastructure projects.
Israeli Channel 14 described the agreement as a "giant" step aimed at expanding settlements and "changing the face of the region."
The agreement was signed at an official ceremony attended by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the Director General of the Israel Land Authority Yehuda Eliyahu, and the Head of the Samaria Regional Council Yossi Dagan, who oversees many Israeli settlements in the northern West Bank.
The newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth also reported yesterday that the Israeli cabinet's security and political affairs inner cabinet (the Cabinet) approved the allocation of a budget worth 1.3 billion shekels (approximately $370 million) to establish new settlements on Palestinian land in the West Bank.
The newspaper added that the approval was granted roughly one month ago, but the decision was kept secret "to avoid embarrassing the Americans."
It noted that the budget also aims to establish new neighbourhoods in dozens of settlements that were approved by ministerial decisions during the current government's term, alongside developing the infrastructure needed to begin settlement construction, in parallel with the continuation of existing development projects.
The newspaper stated: "This decision represents the completion of a series of decisions approved in recent months, which included funding for roads, planning work, and security measures for the new settlements."
The newspaper did not specify the locations where Israel intends to establish the new settlements. In April, the private Israeli channel Israel 24 reported that the cabinet had "secretly" approved the establishment of 34 settlements in the West Bank.
It noted that the decision was kept under wraps "to avoid American pressure, and against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump's rejection of annexing the West Bank." Since the formation of Netanyahu's government in late 2022, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has witnessed a notable acceleration and expansion of settlement activity, despite the United Nations considering these territories occupied Palestinian land.