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 14, 2022
1. Settlements/Annexation/Apartheid & the Biden visit
Settlements/Annexation/Apartheid & the Biden Visit
Jerusalem
- Despite Lapid’s promise, the 2000 units in East Jerusalem are promoted during President Biden’s visit (Peace Now 7/13/22)
- Israel Advances Plans for Over 1900 New Housing Units in East Jerusalem (Ir Amim 7/14/22)
- Ahead of Biden visit, Israel delays hearing on construction in East Jerusalem (Times of Israel 7/12/22) [“The projects for housing in Jewish neighborhoods scheduled to come before the Jerusalem District Planning and Construction would have seen one new neighborhood built in Givat Shaked and another between Har Homa and Givat Hamatos, totaling roughly 2,000 homes.” and “Following reports that the project was being removed from the committee’s agenda, Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked stressed that it was simply being briefly delayed by a week, not canceled.”]
West Bank (general)
- Israeli settlers uproot hundreds of olive saplings west of Nablus (WAFA 7/14/22)
- Israel Okays West Bank Construction for Palestinians Ahead of Biden’s Visit (Haaretz 7/12/22)
- Israel advances Palestinian development in Area C on eve of Biden visit (Jerusalem Post 7/12/22) [“‘Approval of six zoning plans for Palestinians in the Judea and Samaria area,’ stated the Office of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories.”]
- On the eve of Biden’s visit, two new settlements in East Jerusalem are being promoted (Peace Now 7/12/22)
Outposts
- World Zionist Organization to Invest $8.5 Millions of State Funds for West Bank Outpost Legalizations (Haaretz 7/12/22) [“In recent weeks, the World Zionist Organization Settlement Division has mapped dozens of outposts to determine where improvements in security can be made, and where help in planning is required ahead of legalizing them”]
- Settler group plans to erect 28 new outposts after Biden visit (Israel Hayom 7/11/22) [“Nachala movement is preparing the logistics and handing out kits to groups of settler activists who will take to strategic hilltops in Area C. Nachala chairwoman Daniella Weiss: The people are behind us.”]
Masafer Yatta
- IDF Pauses Training in Masafer Yatta During Biden’s Visit, Week After Bullet Hits Palestinian Home (Haaretz 7/14/22) [“Training could restart as soon as next week, the Israeli military tells the High Court of Justice”]
- By staying silent on Masafer Yatta, Biden is green lighting forced population transfer (+972 Magazine 7/10/22)
The Settlers
- Judea and Samaria leaders weigh in on Biden’s Israel visit (Jewish News Syndicate 7/12/22)
- Settlers fear Biden visit may strengthen Palestinian hold on Area C (Jerusalem Post 7/11/22)
Target: The Ramallah Area
- Biggest official Israeli land heist in West Bank to expand illegal settlements north of Ramallah – official (WAFA 7/13/22) [“He pointed out that this step is the largest land grab intended to expand the colonial settlements and outposts that surround the villages and came as per a military order, which the Israeli occupation authorities issued on April 14 but did not disclose until after the deadline for objections to the order has expired at the end of May.”]
- How to Chase Palestinians Off Their Land (Haaretz 7/12/22) [“With clubs and threats, residents of 10 Israeli shepherd outposts north of Ramallah are chasing Palestinians off their land. The pattern repeats itself: attacking Palestinians and then claiming they were attacked first”]
- Settlers uproot around 450 trees belonging to Palestinian residents in Ramallah-area towns (WAFA 7/11/22)
Target: Masafer Yatta
- Palestinians Ask Israel’s Top Court to Halt Army Training Near Contested Villages After Bullet Hits House (Haaretz 7/13/22) [“In addition, residents claim that as part of the training exercise the army brought in heavy equipment that damaged plowed farm fields. They also said the army had closed roads without notifying residents in advance, causing severe restrictions on travel in the area.”]
- Classified document reveals IDF ‘firing zones’ built to give land to settlers (+972 Magazine 7/11/22)
Around the West Bank
- Erdoğan urges Israeli PM to avoid new settlements and preserve status quo of Masjid al-Aqsa (Hurriyet Daily News 7/11/22)
- Israeli military forces suppress protest against Israel’s seizure of Palestinian land east of Hebron (WAFA 7/11/22)
- Beleaguered head of key settlement umbrella group announces resignation (Times of Israel 7/10/22) [“Yesha Council chief David Elhayani’s popularity has been low within West Bank settlers’ political leadership, due to his support for Netanyahu rival Sa’ar’s New Hope party”] Also see: Settler Group Leader Resigns, Cites ‘Political Developments’ and New Election (Haaretz 7/10/22)