Report: The Acceleration of Settlement Expands the Israeli Occupation Army's Presence in the West Bank

SadaNews - Amid the acceleration of settlement under the guise of war, and the establishment of dozens of new settlements and outposts in the West Bank in the past three years, mostly with government approval, the Israeli occupation army is restructuring its forces in the area to "secure" nearly double the inhabited areas inhabited by settlers, which includes expanding its military presence and increasing the number of battalions designated for so-called "security" missions.

The Israeli government has approved the establishment of 21 settlements, including the "Sanur" settlement, which was evacuated in 2005, alongside 19 other settlements still in the planning stages, since the beginning of the war on Gaza in October 2023.

The newspaper "Yedioth Ahronoth" noted today, Sunday, that the Israeli army has already begun field operations in the northwest of the West Bank, including the construction of new roads and military sites, with the aim of securing the reconstruction of settlements evacuated during the "disengagement" plan.

The report clarified that the occupation forces are currently working on creating a road that circles the Palestinian village of Silat al-Dhahr, north of Jenin, to establish a new military site that will protect the "Sanur" settlement, with similar preparations involving the "Homesh" settlement, and possibly "Kadim" and "Ganim," which were also evacuated as part of the separation plan from Gaza in 2005.

"Yedioth Ahronoth" considered that the re-establishment of the "Sanur" settlement would bring about a change in the way of life in northwest the West Bank during the year 2026.

The report indicates that the area extending from the vicinity of the "Kadumim" settlement to the small settlement enclave remaining in the northwestern corner of the West Bank has been closed to Israelis, with only a limited number of settlements remaining, including "Mavo Dotan" and "Reihan."

According to the report, these settlements have remained isolated in terms of access to the depths of the West Bank, as one can only reach "Mavo Dotan," for example, through the Wadi Ara area, which has practically separated this region from the rest of northern the West Bank.

The newspaper pointed out that these movements come in the context of what the report describes as a "quiet settlement revolution," attributed to the growing role of Finance Minister and minister responsible for settlement in the Ministry of Security, Bezalel Smotrich, in managing West Bank affairs.

In parallel with the expansion of settlements, the report mentioned that the army is enhancing its intelligence and technological capabilities in the northern West Bank, including observation towers, radars, and communication means, alongside changes in military deployment patterns.

According to estimates, the Israeli army intends to add one battalion in the first phase at least, under the pretext of "protecting the settlements being re-established," noting that the number of active "security" battalions currently in the West Bank is 23 battalions, compared to about 80 battalions during the second intifada.

The report indicated that the "Samaria" Brigade has seen a doubling in the number of settlements established under its control over the past three years, reaching nearly 40 settlements and outposts.

It mentioned that the Israeli army has shifted since October 7 to a mode of operation based on intense and continuous military activity within Palestinian areas, including areas classified as A, under the pretext of protecting settlers and traffic on the roads.

In the past period, there has been an expansion in the role of "alert and mobilization teams" within the settlements, composed of settlers themselves, who receive weapons and military equipment and operate under the supervision of local security officers.

"Yedioth Ahronoth" noted that the army has provided these teams, over the past two years, with automatic rifles, communication means, and additional military equipment, while exploring the possibility of supplying them with anti-tank missiles and hand grenades.

The occupation army is considering scenarios of broader escalation in the West Bank, including outbreaks of armed clashes, despite stating that there are currently no indications for that.

Source: Arab48