Israeli Farm Map Reveals Vast Land Control in West Bank

The umbrella organization of Israeli farms in the West Bank has released its first-ever map detailing the extensive areas under their control, highlighting over 1.1 million dunams (approximately 271,800 acres) managed through grazing and agriculture. This figure contrasts sharply with the approximately 200,000 dunams (about 49,400 acres) occupied by built-up settlements and towns in the region, as shown on the map.

One farm owner explained that for every dunam held by a permanent settlement, nearly six additional dunams are maintained by these agricultural farms. The map illustrates a network of farms spread across vast expanses, from the Jordan Valley and the Samarian mountains to southern Hebron and the Judean Desert, maintaining continuous agricultural presence and land stewardship.

The organization's guiding principle is "Where the Jewish plow passes, there our border will pass." Veteran participants in the farm project emphasize that living Hebrew agriculture solidifies the hold on the land, serving not only as a livelihood but as a crucial tool for land preservation, shaping the territory, and strengthening settlements for future generations.

The map's release follows a year of significant progress for the farm initiative, including the establishment of new farms, the strengthening of existing ones, herd expansion, infrastructure improvements, and enhanced security measures, all contributing to the growth of the land under agricultural management.

However, the map has drawn sharp criticism from Israeli peace organizations. Peace Now labeled it a "map of terror and annexation," asserting that these farms and outposts, with government backing and funding, have become "terror nests" that have seized land and violently displaced Palestinian communities. Standing Together echoed these sentiments, calling the farms and hills a "terrorist organization" acting as the executive arm of the government's policy of dispossession and terror against Palestinians, funded by taxpayers and making life hell for Palestinians while distancing Israelis from peace and security.