Israel Plans New West Bank Settlement 'Zivda' to Strengthen Strategic Border Area
A new settlement named "Zivda" is set to be established in the western Benjamin region of the West Bank in the coming months. Positioned between the Palestinian village of Ni'lin and the Adam military base, adjacent to the separation barrier and Route 443, this initiative follows a government security cabinet decision to expand settlements in Judea and Samaria. The Benjamin Regional Council emphasizes the settlement's strategic importance to reinforce Israeli presence along the seam line and protect a key transportation corridor connecting Jerusalem, Modiin, and central Israel.
The project is a collaborative effort involving the Settlement Division, the Settlement Brigade, and the Benjamin Development Company. The founding group, which includes reservists, officers, engineers, and high-tech professionals, recently held their initial planning meeting led by Deputy Council Head Hanna Itach. They expressed a commitment to maintaining a strong Israeli presence in the area, stating their desire to contribute to the land's security and Israeli identity.
This settlement is part of a broader plan to expand Israeli communities in strategic areas of Benjamin, with additional settlements expected to be established soon in both western and eastern parts of the region. Agricultural farm clusters along Route 446 are also planned to evolve into permanent settlements. Israel Gantz, head of the Benjamin Regional Council and chairman of the Yesha Council, described the move as historic, emphasizing that Israel's security depends not only on barriers but on families and communities establishing roots. He warned that without such settlements, the Palestinian Authority, supported by Iran, could continue to gain control over the area.
Settlement Minister Orit Strook highlighted that the establishment of new settlements is a key part of reversing the effects of three decades of Oslo Accords, restoring Israeli control over neglected lands, and creating a stronger political and security reality through settlement expansion, which she called a "protective wall of settlement."
