West Bank Violence Surged After Israel Repealed Disengagement Law
Following the Israeli Knesset's March 2023 repeal of the Disengagement Law as it applied to northern Samaria, the number of attacks in the West Bank saw a significant increase. According to data from the Shin Bet security agency, 3,436 attacks were recorded in 2023, a rise of 31.5% compared to 2022. The repeal allowed Israelis to re-enter and reside in northern Samaria, though it did not grant them building or land ownership rights, with some land designated for re-established settlements still registered to Palestinian residents, complicating construction.
The re-establishment of four settlements, Homesh, Sa-Nur, Ganim, and Kadim, in northern Samaria after the law's repeal required additional security efforts from the IDF, including escorting residents through Palestinian villages. This contradicts claims by government ministers that re-establishing settlements would enhance security and prevent terrorism. Instead, the article argues, the new settlements have negatively impacted security.
The Disengagement Law, originally enacted in 2005, prohibited Israeli presence in Gaza and parts of northern Samaria. While still in effect for Gaza, the amendment specifically removed these restrictions for northern Samaria, leading to the rebuilding of the evacuated settlements. However, the process was complex due to land ownership issues, with some areas built on private Palestinian land, necessitating new land allocations and planning.
The Shin Bet attributes the rise in attacks in 2023 not directly to the settlement policy but to the strengthening of Hamas, particularly under the influence of Salah al-Arouri, and increased arms smuggling from Iran. While the repeal of the Disengagement Law did not necessarily cause the surge in terror, it demonstrably failed to improve security in the West Bank, contrary to government assertions.
Comparisons for 2024 and 2025 are complicated by the ongoing war and changes in attack measurement. However, the number of "significant" attacks in the West Bank and Jerusalem area remained higher in 2024 (231) than in 2022 (204), even after the repeal. The establishment of a yeshiva in Homesh, which proceeded against security officials' advice and required IDF protection, further illustrates how the new settlements have demanded, rather than reduced, security resources.
