Settlement Advancements Continue Under the Radar in Jerusalem and the West Bank

Israel has discreetly progressed with settlement plans in Jerusalem and the West Bank, sidestepping major announcements that could provoke the Biden administration. These projects, while incremental, lay the groundwork for significant future developments.

A local planning committee in Jerusalem recently approved land expropriations for the Givat Hamatos settlement, which could further isolate Palestinian communities in the southern West Bank. The committee also moved forward with plans for 470 new homes in Pisgat Zeev, an existing East Jerusalem settlement, and set a hearing for a 9,000-home project in Atarot this December.

Critics argue that these settlements, particularly in sensitive areas like E1, risk bisecting the West Bank, making a two-state solution nearly impossible. Despite this, Israeli officials describe these moves as routine, asserting no substantial changes to prior plans.

Settlement expansion has long been a contentious issue. Although President Biden’s administration opposes unilateral actions that hinder peace, it has largely avoided direct confrontation with Israel over this matter, prioritising other global challenges. This restrained response has enabled Israel to proceed with little immediate international pushback, complicating prospects for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Some observers warn that ongoing settlement growth undermines any potential for a viable Palestinian state, leaving millions of Palestinians under permanent Israeli control. Critics assert this trajectory could entrench unequal rights and deepen existing tensions in the region.