Israeli Farms Guard Over 1 Million Dunams in West Bank

A new map released by the Union of Farms reveals that agricultural settlements in the West Bank, Jordan Valley, and Judean Desert are currently safeguarding over 1.1 million dunams (approximately 271,800 acres) through grazing and farming. This figure is significantly larger than the approximately 200,000 dunams occupied by built-up settlements and cities in the region, meaning that for every dunam of built settlement, farms are protecting nearly six additional dunams.

The map illustrates a widespread presence of Jewish communities, land cultivation, and state land preservation efforts spanning from the Jordan Valley and northern Samaria to southern Mount Hebron and the Judean Desert.

Despite these achievements, the Union of Farms stated that the work is not yet complete. They highlighted that over one million dunams in Area C of the West Bank require expanded agricultural and grazing presence to prevent foreign encroachment and solidify Israeli control. In the past year, new farms have been established, herds expanded, infrastructure developed, and security measures strengthened.

The union also noted that over 23,000 supporters nationwide regularly contribute to the Farms Fund, enabling continued operations. The organization emphasized the historical significance of agriculture in establishing settlements, quoting, "Where the Jewish plow passes, there our border will pass." They described the map as evidence of an agricultural and settlement revolution, demonstrating agriculture's power to shape the landscape and preserve the land.