The Israeli Occupation Authorities approve colonial expansion and construction plans on 688 dunums of Palestinian lands by the beginning of 2021 

The Israeli Occupation Authorities approved, during January 2021, 12 urban master plans for settlements illegally founded on lands from occupied West Bank. The plans target a total area of 688 dunums of Palestinian confiscated lands.

The so-called Israel Sub-Committee for Settlement Affairs submitted  through media outlets 12  advertisements concerning the licensing\validation of master plans for settlements. Also, the ads included plans deposited for objection within a two-month period from issuing date.

According to the analysis of plans by Land Research Center, the objective behind such a procedure is to change the status and use of target lands form agricultural and natural reserves to construction sites, roads, open area and others.

Amongst the biggest plans, Emanueal settlement, illegally founded on lands ftom Qalqiliya governorate, had the master plan number (120\7) deposited for objection within a 60-day deadline on January 05, 2021. The plan targets an area of 320 dunums from the lands of Deir Istya and Amateen villages, more specifically within the natural basins number two, three and four.

The text of advertisement for this plan indicated that the objective is to transform the status of the target lands from agricultural and natural reserves to industrial, commercial and public institutions. According to LRC’s analysis, the plan intends to expand the industrial area located to the east of the target settlement.

Shila settlement, illegally founded on lands from Ramallah governorate, had the master plan number (205\22) advertised for “Validation of license” The plan targets an area of 134.2 dunums from the natural basin number 12 of Jalud village lands and the natural basin number of 3 of Turmusayya village lands. It also indicates the construction of 161 colonial residential units in the area.

The master plan number 114\2\4\2 was advertised to indicate the expansion of Bracha settlement illegally founded on lands from Nablus governorate. The plan targets a total area of 88.6 dunums from the natural basin number 15 of the Palestinian Burin village.

Another advertisement gave “license\validation” for expanding the settlements of Ma’ale Adumim, Ma’ale Shamron, and Nevi Daneil. Additionally, the ad indicated the depositing of new master plans for the settlements of Bedo’il, Karni Shamron, Efrat, Barkan, Sh’are Tikfah.

The following table summarize information about the settlements with new master plans: 

Source: Department of Monitoring Israeli Violations- Land Research Center-2021