Jerusalem / Said Amouri / Anadolu

- The Hebrew Channel 7: Implementation of the first phase of the new settlements will begin in the coming months

- Jerusalem Governorate: The plans are a dangerous escalation to tighten control over Palestinian lands, fragment the West Bank, isolate Jerusalem, and undermine opportunities for establishing a geographically contiguous Palestinian state.

The Israeli mini-cabinet (the Cabinet) approved on Thursday a plan to establish 13 new settlements in the central occupied West Bank, while the Palestinian Jerusalem Governorate warned of 'fragmenting the West Bank and isolating Jerusalem, undermining opportunities for establishing a geographically contiguous Palestinian state.'

The private Hebrew Channel 7 reported that the Cabinet approved the establishment of 13 new settlements in the 'Benjamin' region, with preparations to start the first phase in the coming months.

It added that the Benjamin Regional Council is working to launch the 'first batch' of settlements, which includes between 4 and 6 new sites, with investments estimated at millions of shekels.

For its part, the Palestinian Jerusalem Governorate warned in a statement about the repercussions of the decision, considering it part of a policy aimed at expanding settlements and isolating Jerusalem from its Palestinian surroundings.

The governorate said the plan is part of a 'broader scheme to impose new geographic facts on the ground,' especially in areas northwest of Jerusalem and west of Ramallah and Al-Bireh Governorate, in addition to the eastern slopes toward the Palestinian Jordan Valley.

It added that the first phase of the project will begin in the coming months, including the establishment of between 4 and 6 new settlements, along with converting a number of existing settlement outposts into formal settlements backed by infrastructure and government funding.

The Jerusalem Governorate pointed out that the acceleration of settlement projects in recent months is linked to internal political considerations in Israel, especially with the approaching elections.

It stressed that these plans represent a 'dangerous escalation' aimed at tightening control over Palestinian lands, fragmenting the West Bank, and isolating Jerusalem, thereby undermining opportunities for establishing a geographically contiguous Palestinian state.

The governorate emphasized that these measures 'constitute a violation of international law and international legitimacy resolutions.'

It called on the international community to intervene to stop settlement policies.

On Wednesday, the Palestinian Center for Israeli Studies (MADAR) said that settlement outposts have seen an unprecedented jump in recent years, with the average number of new outposts rising from 8 per year between 2012 and 2022 to 32 outposts in 2023, then 62 outposts in 2024, reaching 86 outposts during 2025.