DaysofPal – Israeli occupation forces (IOF) have approved a new plan to construct 1,300 housing units in the illegal Gush Etzion settlement bloc, located south of Jerusalem, a move widely seen as part of Israel’s ongoing effort to entrench its control over the occupied Palestinian territory.
According to the Israeli Channel 14, the new housing project will be built in the so-called “Russian Hill” area south of the settlement of Alon Shvut, and will include not only residential buildings but also schools, public facilities, parks, and a large commercial district designed to serve nearby settlements.
Israeli analysts have described it as the largest construction plan in the area in years.
In stark contrast, the Jerusalem Governorate reported that Israeli occupation issued 30 demolition and stop-construction notices to Palestinian homeowners in the neighborhoods of Issawiya and Al-Za’im, east of occupied Jerusalem, which is a clear indication of the ongoing policy of expansion for settlers and displacement for Palestinians.
The expansion announcement comes amid a surge in settler violence across the occupied West Bank.
In recent days, settlers attacked Palestinian vehicles in Deir Nizam, north of Ramallah, and set fire to agricultural lands in Turmus Ayya’s valley area, destroying dozens of ancient olive trees, a vital source of livelihood for local farmers.
Earlier in October, the Israeli Knesset passed preliminary readings of draft laws aimed at formally extending Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank and the Ma’ale Adumim settlement, according to Channel 12.
Despite warnings from international actors and initial hesitation by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the measures received majority support in the preliminary vote.
The bill was introduced by Avi Maoz, head of the far-right Noam party, who openly rejected Netanyahu’s request to delay its submission.
This move follows a July 2025 Knesset resolution that symbolically endorsed the imposition of Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank, passing with 71 votes, a step that, while not legally binding, signaled growing momentum toward formal annexation.
Human rights groups and international observers have condemned the new settlement plan, warning that it constitutes a clear violation of international law and further undermines the prospects for a two-state solution.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=68930
