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January 16, 2026
- Greater Jerusalem: Atarot, Sheikh Jarrah/Um Haroun, “Sovereignty Road”, UNRWA
- Settlement & Outpost Construction: 5 New Settlement Licenses Approved
- Settler Terrorism: Ras Ein al-Auja, Al-Mughayyir
Greater Jerusalem: Atarot, Sheikh Jarrah, Sovereignty Road, UNRWA
Atarot
Peace Now (link) and Ir Amim (link) report the Israeli District Planning Committee met on January 12th to advance a plan for the construction of the Atarot settlement, located on the northern tip of east Jerusalem. Though the plan was eligible to be deposited for public review, the committee asked for amendments to the plan, and will schedule another hearing to once again consider depositing the plan.
The plan for the Atarot settlement, which has existed since 2007, calls for a huge new settlement on the site of the defunct Qalandiya Airport, located on a sliver of land between Ramallah and Jerusalem. In its current form, the plan provides for up to 9,000 residential units for ultra-Orthodox Jews (assuming, conservatively, an average family size of 6, this means housing for 54,000 people), as well as synagogues, ritual baths (mikvehs), commercial properties, offices and work spaces, a hotel, and a water reservoir. If built, the Atarot settlement will effectively be an Israeli city surrounded by Palestinian East Jerusalem neighborhoods on three sides and Ramallah to its north. Geopolitically, it will have a similar impact to E-1 in terms of dismembering the West Bank and cutting it off from Jerusalem. For more on the Atarot settlement plan, please see here.
Sheikh Jarrah – “Nahalat Shimon” Plan
In addition to its consideration of the Atarot plan, the Jerusalem District Planning Committee also discussed an “urban renewal” project that outlines the construction of a new settlement enclave in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, requiring the demolition of the Um Haroun Palestinian section of Sheikh Jarrah. The Committee discussed the plan, but decided to hold another, yet unscheduled, meeting for further consideration.
Palestinians in Umm Haroun have spent years in legal battles against Israeli settlers (backed by the Israeli courts) to remain in their homes, and now – making an end run around the legal cases – the Israeli government is pursuing the demolition of 40 homes in Um Haroun. See Ir Amim’s comprehensive July 2025 report on Sheikh Jarah, including the Nahalat Shimon plan, here.
Apartheid Road
Israel announced that it will soon begin construction on a new section of the so-called “Sovereignty Road” between Elazariya and A-Az’ayem. Peace Now estimates that the road will close the entire area of Ma’ale Adumim and the E1 area to Palestinians, some 3% of the West Bank, and de facto annex the area to Israel. The “Sovereignty Road” is designed to seal and divert Palestinian traffic around the area where Israel intends to build the E-1 settlement just east of Jerusalem.
UNRWA
Israel is moving towards the total closure of UNRWA operations in Jerusalem. See reporting:
- “The UN Footprint in Occupied East Jerusalem is Shrinking Fast” (UNRWA, 1/14/26)
- “East Jerusalem: Forced shutdown of UN clinic signals escalating disregard for international law” (United Nations, 1/14/26)
- “Israel shutters UNRWA health clinic in Jerusalem’s Old City for 30 days” (The Times of Israel, 1/15/26)
- “Palestinian UNRWA Vocational Training Center Faces Closure by Israel” (Haaretz, 1/16/26)
More News and Anlysis from Jerusalem
- “For Hundreds of Palestinians, a 2-kilometer Jerusalem Commute Takes Three Hours” (Haaretz, 1/11/26)
- “‘A race against time’: Jerusalem’s Silwan faces escalating Israeli expulsions” (Middle East Eye, 1/12/26)
West Bank Settlement & Outpost Construction
Israel Grants Licenses to Five Settlements
On January 14th the Israeli government approved licenses to five settlements that have recently been granted authorization. The settlements are: Homesh, Yondif, Jibot, Betron, and Kedem Arava. Except for Homesh, the newly licensed settlements are all currently existing outposts. With a license, the settlements are officially recognized as legal under Israeli law and can be fully integrated into Israel’s domestic planning and services. In a post on X about the licenses, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said, the move is a step towards his goal “to crush the idea of a Palestinian state.”
Settler Terrorism
Confirming what seems obvious, Haaretz reports that settler violence against Palestinians rose dramatically in 2025, by 25% compared to 2024, and increase that the IDF ties directly to the rapid expansion of settlement farms in the two years since October 2023.
Ras Ein al-Auja
The bedouin community of Ras Ein al-Auja, in the Jordan Valley, has been displaced at the hands of violent settlers backed by the IDF. Over 100 residents were forced to dismantle their homes and flee the area, where settlers recently established an outpost which has been used as a base for violent attacks on Ras Ein al-Auja.
Al Mugghayir
On January 16th Israeli forces shot and killed a 14-year old Palestinian, Mohammed Naasan, during a military raid on the village of Al-Mughayyir, located near Ramallah. Earlier that same day settlers invaded under IDF protection, land belonging to Al-Mughayyir. Settlers have repeatedly raided Mughayyir in recent weeks.