Smotrich Secures Settlement Authority in Defense Ministry Ahead of Potential Left-Wing Government

Before the upcoming elections, Finance Minister and Defense Ministry official Bezalel Smotrich has reinforced the settlement governance framework in the West Bank. On Wednesday, in coordination with the Defense Ministry and the Civil Service Commission, Smotrich announced that the Settlement Administration will be formally established as an official body within the Defense Ministry. Concurrently, the term of Hillel Rot, Deputy Head of the Civil Administration, was extended from four to six years.

The Settlement Administration was originally created in March 2023 as part of coalition agreements and has since become the leading authority on civilian matters in Judea and Samaria. Its responsibilities include advancing and approving settlement plans, determining locations for farms and communities, and addressing enforcement issues related to illegal construction.

Smotrich stated that this move aims to strengthen the settlements by emphasizing civilian life aspects in the West Bank, not just security, even after the elections. The decision is driven by concerns that a future left-wing government might dismantle the mechanisms Smotrich established and return powers to the Civil Administration. Formalizing the Settlement Administration within the Defense Ministry is intended to complicate such reversals and preserve recent structural changes. However, the arrangement is not entirely irreversible, as any future government could still alter the new framework, though it would be more challenging to do so.