loading

War and Annexation: How the Israeli Government Changed the West Bank During the First Year of War

 Download the full report as PDF

After a year of war in Gaza and nearly two years under an extreme right-wing, pro-settler government, the Israeli government’s policy in the occupied West Bank has become fully apparent: annexing the West Bank and shrinking Palestinian space in Area C. 

This policy is being carried out through the establishment of a record number of illegal outposts, a sharp increase in the quantity and intensity of settler violence—described by the head of the General Security Service (Shin Bet) as Jewish terrorism—closures of roads and highways, and unprecedented measures to legalize and fund illegal outposts. At the same time, the government is completing an administrative infrastructure for the annexation of the West Bank, by transferring powers from the Civil Administration, a military body, to the newly created Settlement Administration, a civil and political administration under the direct authority and control of Minister Smotrich.

Current Situation in the West Bank Under Netanyahu’s Government Since 10/7/23

Settlements and Outposts:

– At least 43 new outposts have been established, most of which are agricultural outposts (“farms”) focused on land takeover and the systematic expulsion of Palestinians from the area. The number of new outposts is unprecedented. For instance, from 1996 until early 2023, fewer than 7 outposts were established per year on average.

– Numerous unauthorized new roads have been constructed, with a total length estimated at dozens of kilometers, to facilitate the establishment of new outposts and take control of additional land.

– The Higher Planning Council advanced plans for 8,681 housing units in settlements.

– 24,193 dunams were declared as “state land,” amounting to approximately half of all the land declared as state land since the Oslo agreement (1993)  to date.

– The cabinet decided to establish five new settlements: Evyatar, Givat Assaf, Sde Efrayim, Adorayim, and the Nahal Heletz settlement. All five are currently illegal outposts which will now become official settlements.

– Three outposts were designated as “neighborhoods” of existing settlements through plan approvals by the Higher Planning Council: Machane Gadi, Kedem Arava, and Givat Chanan.

– 70 illegal outposts were recognized as eligible for funding and infrastructure. Minister Smotrich instructed government ministries and other authorities to begin funding these 70 illegal outposts, as well as construct public buildings in them, and connect them to water, electricity, and other utilities.

– New settlements in Hebron—settlers have entered a house in Hebron that they claim to have purchased from Palestinians. Their entry was made possible after they received a “transaction permit” from entities subordinate to Minister Smotrich. Additionally, a plan to establish a new settlement enclave in Hebron with 234 housing units north of Kiryat Arba has been deposited for public review.

Funding and Budgets:

– The government doubled the budget of the Ministry of Settlement and the funds allocated to the Settlement Division, adding 302 million shekels.

– 7 billion shekels were allocated for roads in the settlements. According to Minister Smotrich, the Ministry of Finance has reached an agreement with the Ministry of Transportation on a five-year plan totaling 7 billion shekels for intercity roads between the settlements.

The Hawara Bypass Road: Over 300 million shekels for a nearly empty road.

409 million shekels were allocated for unique projects in the settlements, despite a broad cut in the state budget. The allocation includes funding for projects such as the preservation of antiquities in the West Bank, the restoration of Sebastia Park, strengthening the Old City Basin (a tourism settlement in East Jerusalem), and projects related to the Elad organization in Silwan.

– Funding for illegal outposts and farms – 75 million shekels have been allocated to illegal outposts, including approximately 39 million shekels for illegal shepherding farms, some of which are involved in settler violence. This is the first time that the government is directly funding illegal outposts through government ministries.

Annexation Moves:

– Powers related to settlements have been transferred from the military to a civil officer under Minister Smotrich. The minister appointed a settler to the position known as the “Civilian Deputy” to the head of the Civil Administration, essentially making him the governor of the settlements. Despite the position’s title, The Civilian Deputy is directly accountable to Minister Smotrich and not to the head of the Civil Administration. The authority of the Civilian Deputy involves a wide range of powers concerning settlements, infrastructure, lands, and much more. For further details, see: “The Quiet Overhaul” (by Ofek, Yesh Din, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, Breaking the Silence).

– A new legal advisory unit was established and manned in the Ministry of Defense under Minister Smotrich, taking responsibilities previously held by the military through the Civil Administration 

– The government took over enforcement powers in parts of Area B, which are supposed to be under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority. Following cabinet instructions, the Central Command chief signed orders that contradict the Oslo agreements by granting him the authority to demolish Palestinian homes in an area known as “the Agreed-Upon Reserve,” which is under the Palestinian Authority’s control. Subsequently, the Supervision Unit issued demolition orders in these areas.

Reduction of Palestinian Living Space:

– Settler Violence: Human rights organizations have documented at least 1,360 incidents of violence by settlers against Palestinians; at least 10 Palestinians have been killed by settlers (OCHA data as of 16/09/24).

– Displacement: At least 277 Palestinian families (approximately 1,630 individuals) have been forcibly displaced from their homes due to settler violence, including at least 19 entire Palestinian communities (according to OCHA and B’Tselem).

– Restricted Access to Agricultural Land: Palestinians are being denied access to hundreds of thousands of dunams of agricultural land. The military and settlers prevent Palestinians from cultivating large areas around settlements, employing hundreds of physical blocks, earth mounds, and iron gates established by the IDF or settlers, as well as evictions carried out by settlers or soldiers, often reserve soldiers residing in the settlements as part of the West Bank “regional defense” battalions.

– No Residential Building Permits for Palestinians: The Higher Planning Council has not approved any plans for residential buildings for Palestinians in Area C. Out of 110 appeals regarding rejected requests for permits or plans that were reviewed, 109 were denied. Out of 12 plans and permits that were discussed 9 were rejected and only 3 were approved: for the renovation of an agricultural structure, for the construction of an agricultural storage facility, and for a commercial center (in the Jenin area).

– Demolitions: A total of 901 Palestinian structures have been demolished by Israel in Area C due to a lack of building permits. Eight additional structures were demolished in Areas A and B (under security demolition orders). As a result, 892 Palestinians lost their homes. Additionally, 521 structures housing 2,659 Palestinians were destroyed in military operations, primarily in the Jenin and Tulkarem areas. OCHA data, as of 22/09/24.

 


Analysis: Increased Illegal Settler Activity in the West Bank Post-October 7, 2023

Immediately following  October 7, there was a marked increase in settler activities in the West Bank, including the establishment of many outposts and new road constructions, alongside a significant escalation in violence against Palestinians. In the initial months of the war in Gaza, the Settlement Watch Team of Peace Now documented the construction of dozens of new roads, extending over many kilometers. These roads serve not only to establish new settlement points but also to ease settlers’ access to large areas used by Palestinian shepherds and farmers, thus facilitating their expulsion.

Likewise, during the early days of the war, the Israeli military called up hundreds of settlers and assigned them to West Bank “Regional Defense” battalions, serving within the settlements themselves. Some of these individuals who were recruited also participated in the systematic expulsion of Palestinians in the area, often collaborating closely with the settlers residing in outposts.

Since October 7, Settlement Watch documented 43 new outposts that have been established, primarily farm outposts, staffed by hilltop youth involved in seizing land and expelling Palestinians. Settlement Watch has revealed that the Netanyahu government allocated 75 million shekels in 2024 for funding illegal outposts, with 39 million of that earmarked for illegal farms. Additionally, it has become clear that some of these funds are also designated for paving new roads. This is the first time that the government is directly funding illegal outposts through government ministries. 

In addition to financial support, violent outpost settlers also received political backing from the government. Minister Smotrich, who received responsibility for settlement issues from Netanyahu, enforces a policy of near-total cessation of outpost evacuations and law enforcement against settlers. Minister Ben-Gvir has pushed the police to ensure that acts of Jewish terrorism go largely unpunished, and despite the increase in settler violence, it was reported the number of arrests of suspects in Jewish terrorism in the occupied West Bank has decreased by half compared to the previous year.

The military’s decision to close dozens of entrances and exits to Palestinian villages and towns in Areas A and B, along with hundreds of blocks of dirt roads across the occupied West Bank, severely restricted Palestinian movement in Area C and facilitated free movement for settlers throughout the occupied West Bank. As a result of these roadblocks, Palestinian travel has become significantly longer, more costly, and considerably less frequent. A year after the war began, hundreds of entrances and exits remain closed, including many leading to Ramallah, Nablus, and Hebron, as well as other towns and cities. Major roads have been converted into settler-only routes, such as the “Liberman Road,” which bypasses Bethlehem from the east, and where all exits and entrances to Palestinian communities along the route are blocked.

A significant aspect of the changes observed in the past year stems from the establishment of the Settlement Administration and the Israeli government’s decision to prioritize the strengthening of settlements and outposts. Over the past year, the Israeli government initiated the legalization process for seven outposts, in addition to 14 that began the process of retroactive legalization in the year prior to this one. Concurrently, Minister Smotrich established an “expedited legalization process” for 70 outposts, allowing for budget allocations and the construction of public buildings in illegal outposts without undergoing legalization processes.

In conclusion, the war and the political agenda set by settlers to impose sovereignty in the occupied West Bank have created conditions that are being exploited for unprecedented settlement activities, leading to a rapid and unchecked annexation process.

The blocked entrance to the village of Ein Samia, northeast of Nablus

Blocking of the road to the Palestinian village of Yasuf by settlers, near the settlement of Tapuach

Infrastructure work east of the settlement of Itamar

A road breach by settlers on the lands of the village of Al-Dik

The farm outpost of Elchai, near Deir Sharaf

The outpost of Tekoa Vav

Download the list of declarations at the Civil Administrations reply to Peace Now's Freedom of Information request, December 2016.

Download the list of declarations by Peace Now, 23/12/24.

What is declaration of State Lands? - see here.

Source: Peace Now's count, 31/12/24.
Out of the outposts established: 2 outposts were evicted (Migron and Amona); 29 outposts were legalized (four as independent settlements and the rest as "neighborhoods" of existing settlements); at least 28 outposts are in the process of being legalized (plans promoted and/or a government resolution). The outposts phenomenon started mainly under Netanyahu as Prime Minister in 1996, and it was stopped in 2005. In 2012 the government of Netanyahu started to established illegal outposts again.

Number of housing units in plans for settlements, that have passed one of the planning stages (approval for deposit or approval for validation). In cases where a plan passes more than one stage in that year, it is counted only once; When a program goes through a stage in another year it is counted again, because the question is how many were promoted it in a year. Excluding Jerusalem. Updated: 26/12/24.
* In 2020, two plans that underwent the publication of a deposit (in E1) were also counted because it was a promotion after an 8-year freeze.