Israel Formalizes and Expands Karmi Oz Settlement by Over 1,100 Dunams in West Bank

After three decades, the Israeli settlement of Karmi Oz in the West Bank has been officially formalized and expanded by 1,152 dunams of state land, marking a significant development in the region. This move follows a December 2025 decision by the Israeli Security Cabinet and was announced on the program "The Open Studio" by Boaz Golan. The expansion will enable the construction of over 600 new housing units, with a first detailed plan already underway.

Alongside Karmi Oz, the settlements of Karmi Oz and Sahalav have received official settlement symbols from the Ministry of Interior, confirming their status as recognized communities. Sahalav, declared a new settlement in December 2025, is planned to develop into a new city spanning approximately 4,500 dunams. These steps conclude a long process involving the Civil Administration and the Settlement Administration at the Ministry of Defense, with Central Command Chief Avi Blot signing off on the jurisdictional boundaries.

Finance Minister and Minister of Defense Benny Gantz praised the move as a historic justice for the residents, emphasizing continued development and settlement in the area despite opposition. Minister Bezalel Smotrich also welcomed the decision, contrasting it with previous government plans to dismantle settlements and establish a Palestinian state, affirming a commitment to building across Israeli lands. The expansion and formalization efforts are part of a broader push to strengthen Israeli presence in Judea and Samaria, with 39 settlement symbols granted in the past six months.

This development is seen as a major step in fortifying Israeli settlements in the West Bank, directly responding to challenges against these communities and supporting future urban growth in the region.