Binyamin Regional Council Plans Major Expansion for Amichai Settlement

The Binyamin Regional Council is advancing plans to construct approximately 1,200 new housing units in the settlement of Amichai, located in the Shilo bloc of the West Bank. The expansion also includes public buildings, educational institutions, and infrastructure, aiming to more than triple the settlement's population to over 6,000 residents. Amichai was originally established for residents evacuated from Amona and marked a significant development as the first new settlement in the area in many years.

The council aims to transform Amichai into a major growth center within the Shilo bloc, creating a contiguous settlement area between Amichai and Shvut Rachel. This expansion is expected to bring thousands of new residents to the region, complementing ongoing regularization processes in the area. The council is working to expedite planning and secure final approvals for the project.

A key obstacle to the expansion is the presence of structures on the land designated for development, which the council states were built illegally. The council asserts that it had previously clarified that this land was reserved for Amichai's future growth. Efforts have been made over the years to reach understandings with residents of the nearby outpost of Geulat Zion, also known as Giv'at Geulat Zion, to allow the settlement expansion to proceed without conflict.