Israel to advance plans for 2,430 settler homes, approve four outposts
The Civil Administration is set to advance plans for at least 2,430 settler homes and to authorize four new outposts as neighborhoods of existing settlements, Peace Now said on Friday.
The Higher Planning Council for Judea and Samaria meets four times a year to approve settler housing projects. On Monday and Tuesday, the council will hold its second meeting on the topic this year.
Last week, the security cabinet gave initial approval for the construction of 700 homes for Palestinians in Area C of the West Bank, which is under Israeli military and civilian rule.
It also approved a plan for 6,000 settler housing units. No details of the plans were publicized, and it is presumed that they must now go through the regular Civil Administration planning process. It is unclear if the homes set to be advanced next week were part of the security cabinet decision.
No meeting has been scheduled to advance the planning of the 700 Palestinian homes.
Palestinians have held that settlements and settler building are a stumbling block to peace because they are located in areas the Palestinians hold should be within the borders of their future state.
Israel and the administration of US President Donald Trump have dismissed such claims. But it is unclear if Trump’s peace plan will support Israel’s position that all settlements should be included within Israel’s sovereign borders.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Efrat and swore that as long as he is in office, no settler or settlement will be uprooted.
Settlers have long argued that much more settlement construction is needed and they have further called on Netanyahu to apply sovereignty to Area C.
Hagit Ofran of the left-wing NGO Peace Now said continued settlement prevents any possibility of a two-state solution.
“The plans show that the policy of the government is to prevent any chance for peace and to advance the annexation of the West Bank,” Ofran said.
The list of the number of homes that will likely be advanced is: 354 in Nili; 346 in Beit El; 215 in Asfar; 207 in Bracha; 194 in Ganei Modi’in; 168 in Talmon; 132 in Kfar Adumim; 98 in Ma’aleh Amos; 96 in Kiryat Netafim; 94 in Beit Hagai; 94 in Mehola; 80 in Yakir; 70 in Shim’a; 66 in Efrat; 61 in Alon Shvut; 51 in Shiloh; 29 in Otniel; 27 in Maskiot; 19 in Peduel; 18 in Ma’aleh Adumim; and 11 in Enav.
The four outposts to be approved as neighborhoods of existing settlements are Ibei Hanahal, Givat Sal’it, Haroe Haivri and Brosh.