Government announces 11 new West Bank settlements, recognizes 8 outposts and neighborhoods

The government formally announces that 11 new settlements will be established in the West Bank, along with the legalization or recognition of eight illegal outposts and settlement “neighborhoods” as official settlements.

The new settlements spanning the length and breadth of the West Bank were detailed in a resolution proposed by Defense Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and approved by the security cabinet on December 12, but were only formally announced today.

Smotrich said the announcement was aimed at blocking a Palestinian state.

Two of the settlements had been evacuated as part of the 2005 Disengagement plan, .

The newly recognized settlements are Kida, Esh Kodesh, Givat Harel, Mishol, Kochav Hashachar-North, Nof Gilad, Ganim, Kadim, Shalem, Har Bezek, Reihanit, Rosh Ha’ayin-East, Tammun, P’nei Kedem, Yatziv, Ya’ar El Keren, Allenby, Yitav-West and Nahal Doron.

Ganim and Kadim were evacuated under the terms of the 2005 Disengagement, in which Israel withdrew unilaterally from Gaza and four four settlements in the northern Samaria district of the West Bank. The other two, Homesh and Sa Nur, were formally reestablished in May this year.

The government passed legislation in March 2023 annulling the clauses of the legislation that led to the evacuation of those four settlements, paving the way for their reestablishment.

The security cabinet approved a decision to split off the neighborhood of Givat Harel from Givat Haroeh in February 2023.

“After twenty years, we are righting a painful injustice and returning Ganim and Kadim to the settlement map, alongside other important settlements throughout Judea and Samaria,” says Smotrich in announcing the new settlements.

“We are stopping the establishment of a Palestinian terrorist state on the ground. We will continue to develop, build and settle in the land of our ancestors, with faith in the righteousness of the path,” he says.