Welcome to FMEP’s Weekly Settlement & Annexation Report. To subscribe to this report, please click here.
February 27, 2026
- ANNEXATION: U.S. Offers Consular Services in Settlement, More
- WEST BANK SETTLEMENTS & OUTPOSTS: Smotrich to “Relocate” Seam Zone Village, New Bypass Road, Outpost Rebuilt Near Mukhmas, Eliyahu Raises Israeli Flag on Jordan Valley Peak, New Outpost Phenomenon Near Barrier, More
- SETTLER & STATE TERRORISM: Firey Attack on Masafer Yatta, More
ANNEXATION
In First – US To Offer Consular Services in Settlement
The United States Embassy in Jerusalem announced that it will be hosting one-day consular services inside of the Efrat settlement – marking the first time the U.S. will conduct official consular services in a settlement. The announcement further promised to schedule consular services in the Beitar Illit settlement in the coming months.The move is a significant show of support for Israel’s sovereignty over the settlements which under international law are illegal civilian settlements inside of an occupied territory. The move is tantamount to recognizing Israel’s annexation of West Bank land. A U.S. Embassy spokesperson told the New York Times that the policy of the government vis a vis settlements has not changed.
Israeli annexationists praised the announcement. MK Yuli Edelstein, former Speaker of the Knesset, called it ““a blessed step of tremendous importance” and said the move:
“adds to the international legitimacy of our right to the regions of our homeland in Judea and Samaria.”
Israeli human rights lawyer Michael Sfard said:
“This cannot be construed in any way other than as a political statement of legitimization of Israeli settlements in the West Bank.”
News & Analysis on Annexation
- “Smotrich: Jerusalem will ‘never’ cede control of Judea and Samaria” (JNS, 2/24/2026)
- “4 Questions for an Expert: Israel’s De Facto Annexation of the West Bank” (IMEU, 2/25/2026)
- “Israel’s Perfect Storm: The West Bank Has Been Sacrificed for Trump’s Gaza Plan” (Haaretz, 2/23/2026) Hagar Shezaf writes: “Anyone with eyes knows it’s foolish to think that the annexation of the West Bank will happen through a declaration. The government’s actions are making annexation a reality, and it’s happening now, out in the open.”
WEST BANK
Smotrich, Katz Advancing Plan to Relocate – AKA Ethnically Cleanse – Palestinian Village in Seam Zone
The Israeli government informed the High Court that it is advancing a long-stalled plan to “relocate” 430 residents of the Palestinian village of Arab al-Ramadin al-Junabi, a village which has lived on its land since the 1950s. The government argues the relocation plan is in the best interest of the community, which due to its location in the so-called “Seam Zone” (in the West Bank but on the Israeli side of the Separation Barrier which was built by Israel in 2002), is cut off from receiving infrastructure services from the PA and remains unserviced by Israel. Now, the village is trapped in poverty and lacking approved planning guides, though the village has worked with planning professionals at Bimkom to advance a Master Plan which Israel has rejected. Israel – which has created this situation to coerce its residents to leave – is now using it as a weapon against Arab al-Ramadin al-Junabi to carry out a court-approved ethnic cleansing.
New Settler Bypass Road Expands Apartheid Road Matrix
Peace Now reports that Israel has kicked off construction on a new settler-only bypass road – known as the Road 45 of the “Quarries Road” – that will connect settlements east and north of Ramallah more seamlessly to the Qalandiya Underpass and on to East Jerusalem, avoiding Palestinians, security checks at the Qalandiya checkpoint, and the constant traffic near the Hizma checkpoint. Beyond providing settlers a Palestinian-free path to Jerusalem, the road also creates more capacity for settlement growth in these areas.
Peace Now said in a statement:
“Peace Now: While roads inside Israel are collapsing and unable to cope with the traffic load, the government is pouring enormous budgets into a small minority of settlers in grandiose projects that Israel will ultimately be forced to evacuate. The belief that bypass roads around Palestinian villages will erase the political, diplomatic, and security problem known as the settlement enterprise is a dangerous, costly, and violent illusion. The theft of hundreds of dunams for expensive roads that serve so few, only highlights the injustice and absurdity of government policy. Israel does not need more roads that bypass Palestinians, but rather ways to reach a political solution with them.”
Settlers Rebuild Outpost Near Mukhmas
The Times of Israel reports settlers rebuilt an illegal outpost near the village of Mukhmas, which has been violently and repeatedly terrorized by settlers (under IDF supervision) recently resulting in the murder of a 19-year old Palestinian American just last week. The outpost, called “Kol Mevaser,” is located in Area B of the West Bank, underscoring the total erosion of the Oslo framework. Though the IDF has repeatedly dismantled the outpost, settlers still manage to bring in heavy construction equipment to rebuild.
Prominent Israeli activist and settlement watchdog Rabbi Arik Ascheman notes that, in the area near to Kol Mevaser outpost, the “mother outpost” Nakhalat Tzvi continues to expand illegally.
Heritage Minister Raises Israeli Flag on Mount Sartaba
Israeli Heritage Minister Eliyahu raised an Israeli flag on the peak of Mount Sartaba, located in the Jordan Valley, saying it is “a symbolic step showing Israel “reoccupying” the West Bank and vowing to use it for religious observance.” Eliyahu said the act was part of a series of similar symbolic acts planned for across the West Bank.
Mount Sartaba is also known as Alexandrium – the site of the ancient Hasmonean fortress.
New Outpost Strategy Takes Advantage of Israeli Military Zones Near Barrier
Kerem Navot reports the emerging phenomenon of new outposts built along the Israeli security road that trods along the path of the West Bank separation barrier. There are currently 11 such outposts, accessible only via the Israeli security road not meant for civilian use.
Kerem Navot founder Dror Etkes told Haaretz,
“The establishment of a chain of illegal outposts along the barrier fence route, and the fact that large segments of the barrier route have become access roads to these outposts, indicate that since Avi Bluth became commander of the Central Command, the outposts project has transformed from one that takes place under the protection and with the cooperation of the military into an illegal project in which the military is directly involved, even financing part of it.”
Israel Systematically Denying Building Permits to Palestinians Living in Area C
Amira Haas reports for Haaretz ton the multifold mechanisms by which Israel has advanced its total control over the West Bank, expanded settlements, and displaced Palestinians. One such mechanism is systematic denial of building permits and subsequent demolitions of Palestinian homes. Haas reports that between 2009 and 2020 Israel:
- Issued building permits for 66 Palestinian buildings in Area C
- Issued building permits for 22,000 settlement units.
Haas continues:
“With construction permits effectively barred, thousands of Palestinian structures have been demolished—including 2,461 over the past two years alone—displacing about 2,500 people, data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs show. Israel’s security cabinet recently approved wide-ranging steps aimed at deepening Israeli control in the occupied West Bank and enabling further growth of settlements.”
More News & Analysis from the West Bank
- “In Area C, Faster Demolitions Clear the Way for Jewish Expansion” (Haaretz, 2/23/2026)
- “2025 was record year for settlement expansion, construction and planning, NGO finds” (The Times of Israel, 2/25/2026)
- [Reported on last week] “’We Won’t Wait for Approval’ Israeli Settlers Declare New West Bank Settlement Deep Inside Palestinian Hebron” (Haaretz, 12/22/2026)
SETTLER TERRORISM
Pogrom in Masafer Yatta, South Hebron Hills
In a nighttime attack on February 24th, a group of at least 20 settlers were caught on film setting fire to several homes and vehicles in the village of Susya, located in the Masafer Yatta region of the South Hebron Hills. There were reportedly children inside one of the homes set on fire. The settlers also wielded sticks and damaged property and spray painted hateful graffiti. Four people were treated for smoke inhalation by the Palestinian Red Crescent.
On the same night, Palestinian residents of villages close to Susya reported settlers had also carried out smaller scale violent attacks and let out heads of livestock.
More Reports of Settler Attacks
In addition to the attack on Masafer Yatta, settler attacks over the past week include:
- Tell: On Feb 23rd, settlers set a mosque on fire and spray painted “Revenge” and “Price Tag.”. Tell is located near Nablus in an area surrounded by violent settlements including Itamar and the Gideon’s Farm outpost, which was recently shortlisted for legalization by the Israeli government.
- al-Mughayyir: On Feb 21st, settlers descended on a home in the village of al-Mughayyir, and proceeded to beat the Palestinian family living there. When two men came to the aid of the family, settlers and IDF soldiers in the area opened fire, wounding two. The family, the Abu Naim family, has decided to abandon their home out of fear.
- Qusra: On February 27th, settlers attacked a group of Israeli activists in near the village of Qusra, located in the area of Nablus. Two were hospitalized with head injuries.
News & Analysis of State-Backed Settler Terrorism
- “State indicts 19-year-old for alleged revenge rampage in West Bank village after outpost evacuation” (Jerusalem Post, 2/25/2026)
- “US avoids condemning settler killing of Palestinian-American in armed West Bank attack” (The Times of Israel, 2/22/2026)
- “Settlers Drive a Palestinian Family Off Its Land” (New York Times, 2/24/2026)