The Israeli government has formally approved the creation of 34 new settlements in Judea-Samaria (Judea-Samaria), in a decision made by the security cabinet at a closed meeting about two weeks ago
This is the largest number of settlements authorized at one time by any Israeli government in recent history.
With this, the total number of approvals since the current government took office in 2022 reaches 103.
The measure includes both the construction of new settlements and the regularization of outposts that were previously considered illegal.
Many of these settlements are located in isolated areas of northern Judea-Samaria, amidst Palestinian population centers, but within Area C, where Israel has full control.
The stated objective is to significantly increase the Israeli presence in the region, facilitating and accelerating the approval processes through the Civil Administration.
Furthermore, the government is expediting the installation of basic infrastructure, such as water and electricity, for these new locations-and even for settlements already approved.
Energy Minister Eli Cohen called the decision “historic” and stated that it will ensure the new homes have electricity and running water, applying sovereignty “in law and in practice.” Yossi Dagan, leader of the Samaria Regional Council, highlighted that the plan is part of a larger vision to bring one million Israelis to the Samaria region by 2050.
This expansion represents a significant shift: between the Oslo Accords in 1993 and the beginning of the current government, only six new settlements had been formally approved in 30 years.
Now, the number of authorized settlements could reach 235 if all plans go ahead.
During the meeting, the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Eyal Zamir, expressed concern that the creation of these settlements could further overburden the army, which would need to provide additional protection.
Israeli groups opposed to the settlements, such as Peace Now, criticized the decision, arguing that it undermines security, increases the burden on the armed forces, and hinders any possibility of resolving the conflict.
Other organizations, such as Yesh Din, accused the government of moving forward with a plan that, according to them, leads to the isolation of Palestinian communities.
The approval occurred without initial public announcement and was revealed by the Israeli press.
The measure reinforces the government’s policy of strengthening Israeli control over Judea and Samaria at a time of regional tensions.
Published in 04/10/2026 08h57
Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption.
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