Israel Sees Resurgence in West Bank Settlement Construction

The establishment of new Israeli settlements in the West Bank is experiencing a significant surge, reminiscent of the late 1970s and early 1980s, according to a report. This renewed momentum is highlighted by the recent announcement of 370 dunams of state land designated for the new city of Mishmar Yehuda in the northeastern Gush Etzion region, bringing the total area planned for the city to approximately 3,750 dunams. The plan includes around 3,600 housing units, aimed at strengthening the Jerusalem periphery and providing housing for young couples.

This development follows a period of slowed settlement expansion after 1984, when a unity government under Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Shamir imposed quotas on new settlements. The article contrasts this with the "seven good years" of settlement expansion under the Begin and Shamir governments (1977-1984), during which over a hundred settlements were established. The current pace of establishment is evidenced by a list of at least 12 new settlements and the return of families to evacuated sites like Homesh and Sa-Nur within the past year.

The article credits the current wave of settlement activity to the influence of right-wing parties, particularly "Religious Zionism," and key figures like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Settlement Minister Orit Struk. It argues that without their pressure, the current government would not have advanced these initiatives. The report also notes the significant population growth in existing settlements, with the Gush Etzion Regional Council alone now home to over 30,000 people, and a total of approximately 130,000 Jews living between Hebron and Jerusalem.

The author expresses hope that the current momentum will not be halted by future elections, regardless of the political makeup of the next government. The article also references the establishment of the first Jewish settlement in the West Bank after the Six-Day War, Kibbutz Kfar Etzion, 59 years ago, and the role of the late activist Hanan Porat in its founding.