Welcome to FMEP’s Weekly Settlement Report, covering everything you need to know about Israeli settlement activity this week.
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**The regular FMEP Settlement & Annexation report is on break, and is planned to return around the first week of August. In the meantime, we are pleased to offer you links to the main settlement-related stories of the past week**
July 21, 2022
1. Settlers Announce, Fundraise for, & Carry Out Plans to Break Israeli Law
4. Grab Bag
5. EU Sounds the Alarm Re: Settlements
6. Bonus Read
Settlers Announce, Fundraise for, & Carry Out Plans to Break Israeli Law
The Settlers Trumpeted Their Plans [also see coverage in past editions of FMEP’s Settlement & Annexation Report]
- How a Jewish Settler Group Raised Millions to Set Up Illegal Outposts (Haaretz 7/21/22) [“The Nachala settler organization announced that it would set up three West Bank outposts on Wednesday. Even though this is illegal, it raised five million shekels for the operation in three days through affiliated groups, a money transfer app and a Chabad crowdfunding platform”]
The Israeli Government Responded Weakly & Too Late
- Gantz, IDF warn settler activists against ‘illegal’ bid to form West Bank outposts (Times of Israel 7/19/22)
- Gantz warns settlers against illegal outpost construction (Jerusalem Post 7/19/22)
- Twitter thread from journalist Neri Zilber 7/19/22: “Official IDF announcement: “’The establishment of outposts in Judea & Samaria that is not in accordance with the processes and approvals required by law and against the law – is illegal and prohibited…Following the announcement by the political echelon, the IDF, the Israel Police, the Border Police and the security forces are preparing for roads, checkpoints, and key points in the Judea and Samaria area to maintain security and law and order.’…”
The Settlers Did **Exactly What They Said They Would Do**
- Settlers seeking to build a settlement outpost set up tents on Palestinian-owned land east of Hebron (WAFA 7/21/22)
- Israeli settlers break into Palestinian land west of Ramallah to set up colonial outpost (WAFA 7/21/22)
- Settlers declare 6 new outposts, clash with authorities (Israel Hayom 7/21/22)
- Thousands of Jewish activists flock to West Bank to build outposts (i24 News 7/21/22)
- Thousands of settler activists create mayhem in West Bank campaign (Times of Israel 7/20/22)
- Settlers Camp Out in Six Locations Across the West Bank, Planning to Establish New Outposts (Haaretz 7/20/22)
- Police, army gear up for clashes as settler group to try set up 3 illegal outposts (Times of Israel 7/20/22)
- Settlers set up tents on Palestinian land east of Hebron, a prelude for takeover (WAFA 7/20/22)
- Settlers gather in the north of West Bank in preparation to establish illegal outpost (WAFA 7/20/22)
- Settlers attempt to establish illegal outposts on West Bank (YNet 7/20/22)
- Settlement Movement Readies to Erect Series of New West Bank Outposts on Wednesday (Haaretz 7/19/22)
The Aftermath: Land Grab, Palestinians’ Fears, Politicians’ Praise
- 5 arrested in clashes as cops try to block settlers from building West Bank outposts (Times of Israel 7/21/22)Palestinians fear revenge attacks after settler outposts removal (Al Jazeera 7/21/22)
- Hundreds remain at new illegal outpost as forces dismantle other settler encampments (Times of Israel 7/21/22) [“According to the Nachala settlement activist group, which conducted the operation, close to a thousand people were present at a hilltop just northeast of the Kiryat Arba settlement in the southern West Bank, consisting of 700 youths and 55 families. Nachala circulated pictures and videos Thursday morning from the new outpost, dubbed Givat Netanel, showing numerous activists at the site alongside several tents and dozens of sleeping bags. Activists could also be seen clearing land on the hilltop, building crude stone walls and marking out pathways…MKs Orit Strock and Simcha Rothman from the far-right Religious Zionism party arrived at the new outpost on Thursday morning to lend their support to the initiative…Numerous other right-wing MKs from Likud and the Religious Zionism party also expressed their support as the operation unfolded. And on Thursday morning, World Zionist Organization Chairman and acting chair of the Jewish Agency Yaakov Hagoel expressed admiration and support for settlement activity in general, crediting historic pre-state settlement for the renewal of Jewish life in Israel.”]
- Israeli Forces Evacuate Short-lived Outposts Set Up by West Bank Settler Movement (Haaretz 7/21/22) [“Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked took to Twitter to criticize what she said was a violent evacuation of the makeshift outposts. ‘The police should save their energy to eradicate real crime in the country,’ Shaked wrote. ‘The wonderful youth who have mobilized to settle this country are a real inspiration.’“]
- Security forces begin to evacuate 6 new West Bank settler encampments (Jerusalem Post 7/21/22)
- Religious Zionism MK gives full backing to new illegal outposts (Times of Israel 7/20/22)
Masafer Yatta
- Israeli settlers assault sheep shepherds south of Hebron (WAFA 7/21/22)
- One week in Masafer Yatta (Times of Israel – blogs 7/17/22)
- Israel demolished homes and agricultural property in South Hebron Hills (B’Tselem 7/17/22)
- Several Palestinians suffocate by tear gas fired by Israeli forces in Masafer Yatta area (WAFA 7/17/22)
- Six Palestinian workers injured while chased by Israeli forces south of Hebron (WAFA 7/16/22)
- A Joyless Holiday in the South Hebron Hills Amid an Israeli Army Training Exercise (Haaretz 7/16/22)
- The Plight of Palestinians in Masafer Yatta (MSNBC video report 7/15/22)
Around the West Bank
- Israel to expel Palestinians from their dwellings east of Jerusalem (WAFA 7/21/22)
- B’Tselem Twitter thread (including video) 7/20/22: “On Monday afternoon, dozens of settlers escorted by soldiers set fire to Palestinian olive groves in the Surif area. The settlers threw stones at Palestinians who had gathered in the area, and the latter threw stones back. The soldiers fired stun grenades and tear gas at Palestinians who came out to defend their lands. Settler violence = State violence.”
- Israel legalises settlement outpost, expands it with 114 new housing units (Middle East Monitor 7/19/22) [“Israeli occupation authorities today legalised the illegal Mitzpe Dani settlement outpost built east of Ramallah and approved a plan to add 114 new housing units to it on an area of 150 dunums (37 acres).”]
Grab Bag
- Ben Shapiro to CPAC Israel: ‘Don’t Freeze Settlements Interminably’ (Jewish Press 7/20/22)
- Rabbis Call Out West Bank Winery Over LGBTQ Event Violating ‘Jewish Family Values’ (Haaretz 7/20/22)
- Palestinian Bedouins in the E-1 Corridor: A Critique of Donor Aid (Al Shabaka 7/18/22)
- Palestine urges US pressure on Israel to stop fresh settlement plans (Middle East Monitor 7/18/22)
- Biden says he wants a two-state solution. Why is he silent on Israeli settlements? Vox 7/14/22)
- Israel legalises settlement outpost, expands it with 114 new housing units (Middle East Monitor 7/19/22) [“Israeli occupation authorities today legalised the illegal Mitzpe Dani settlement outpost built east of Ramallah and approved a plan to add 114 new housing units to it on an area of 150 dunums (37 acres).”]
EU Sounds the Alarm re: Settlements
- EU sounds alarm over Israel’s ‘continuously increasing settlement expansion’ (Times of Israel 7/21/22)
- 2021 Report on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem Reporting period -January – December 2021 (pdf) (Office of the European Union Representative, West Bank and Gaza Strip, UNRWA)
Summary:
In comparison to the previous year, 2021 experienced an even higher rate of settlement units advancements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem (22,030), enforcing the trend of a continuously increasing settlement expansion on occupied Palestinian territories. Adding to the exponentially high figures in 2021 were particularly the advancement of settlement units in occupied East Jerusalem, which more than doubled compared to the previous year, from 6,288 housing units to 14,894.
This trend of deepening settlement projects through plans and tenders occurred despite the announcement by the new Israeli government, which started its tenure on 13 June 2021, that it would be committed to a status quo when it comes to occupation-related matters.
The advancement, in 2021, in particular of three settlements – E1, Atarot and Lower Aqueduct – is a serious cause of concern. The settlements, if constructed, would disconnect East Jerusalemites from major West Bank urban areas, such as Hebron and Ramallah, and would thus have serious implications on Palestinian urban continuity and pose a serious threat to a viable two-state solution.
Other trends and developments contributing to settlement expansion in the reporting period included advancements of infrastructure and road projects as well as the establishment of new illegal so called outpost farms. The rise in settlement expansion plans by the Israeli authorities was also accompanied by a worrisome trend of rising settler violence in the oPt.
As outlined in several statements by the EEAS Spokesperson on new settlements announcements in 2021, the EU has repeatedly called on Israel to end all settlement activity, and to dismantle outposts erected since March 2001. It remains the EU’s firm position that settlements are illegal under international law. Israel’s decision to advance plans for the approval and construction of almost new settlement units in 2021, i.a. for Givat Hamatos and Har Homa, further undermines the prospects of a viable two-state solution.
Bonus Read
End-of-Mission Statement of the UN Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices (UN Human Rights Council 7/15/22)
Settlement-related excerpts:
“The Special Committee’s visit took place in the context of increasing settler violence and Israeli security force violence against Palestinians, arbitrary arrests and detention, and restrictions on the freedom of expression and movement, as well as a deepening culture of impunity. The Special Committee was briefed that in the first half of 2022, Israeli forces killed 60 Palestinians in the West Bank in the context of law enforcement operations, compared to 41 in the same period in 2021. Israel continues to hold the bodies of 325 Palestinians, denying families burials and closure. Settler violence has continued to increase at an alarming rate. 575 incidents of settler violence resulting in Palestinian deaths, injury and/or property damage were reported between 1 June 2021 and 31 May 2022, compared to 430 in the previous year. Perpetrators are very rarely held accountable. Gross violations of Palestinian human rights, including the right to self-determination, are the result of discriminatory and systematic policies and practices negatively impacting almost every aspect of Palestinian life.”
“Illegal Israeli settlements have also continued to expand, resulting in demolitions of Palestinian-owned structures and displacement of the Palestinian residents, notwithstanding UN Security Council resolution 2334 condemning such practices. The Special Committee was informed that Israel has established or allowed the establishment of 279 settlements, outposts or satellite neighbourhoods in the West Bank, facilitating settlement population growth to approximately 700,000. Israeli and international settler organisations actively promote settlements and recruit prospective settlers, and are offered tax incentives. New settlement housing units continue to proliferate, and in May 2022, Israeli authorities advanced plans for the construction of more than 4,000 settlement housing units in Area C. The expansion of settlements has resulted in a commensurate increase in the demolition of Palestinian structures. The Special Committee was briefed that since the beginning of 2022, 387 Palestinian structures, including 68 donor-funded structures, were demolished, displacing 496 Palestinians. Only five percent of construction plans submitted by Palestinians in Area C are reportedly approved by the Israeli authorities. The Special Committee was also informed that in addition to settlement housing units, private land owned by Palestinians is often seized for the purpose of building infrastructure, such as roads, highways and walls, to connect settlements, or creating natural reserves or national parks. As reiterated by the Secretary-General, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Security Council and other UN bodies, settlement activities are a flagrant violation of international law and must immediately cease.”