Israeli settlement timeline

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Settler population by year in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem and Golan Heights 1972-2007 IsraeliSettlementGrowthLineGraph.png
Settler population by year in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem and Golan Heights 1972-2007

This is a timeline of the development of and controversy over Israeli settlements. As of January 30, 2022 the West Bank settlement population was 490,493 and the settler population in the Golan Heights was almost 27,000 and in East Jerusalem the settler population was around 220,000. [3] [4] [5]

Contents

1967

1972

1975

1977

1978

August

1979

March

1980

1981

December

1983

1985

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

September

2001

2002

2003

April

2004

2005

March

August

2006

2007

November

December

2008

March

November

December

2009

January

June

August

September

November

December

2010

March

2011

February

2017


As of January 1, 2017 the West Bank settlement population was 420,899. [34]

2020

In 2020 the settler population in East Jerusalem was around 220,000. [35]

2021

In 2021 the settler population in the Golan Heights was almost 27,000 [4]

2022

As of January 30, 2022 the West Bank settlement population was 490,493. [36]

The Israeli government’s Coalition Agreement of December 1, 2022 between incoming prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party and the far-right, ultra-nationalist Religious Zionism party of Bezalel Smotrich states that "the prime minister will work towards the formulation and promotion of a policy whereby sovereignty is applied to Judea and Samaria" (biblical names for the occupied West Bank). Smotrich would take up a new post of minister within the defense ministry, where he would oversee civil matters in the West Bank. Other commitments included legalization of dozens of unauthorized settlements and the provision of large funds for road building and public transport in the West Bank. [37] [38] To the concern of the US administration, Netanyahu made agreements with coalition partners to expand Israeli settlements and legalize dozens of Israeli outposts. [39]

2023

January

The new Israeli government told the Israeli High Court that the state would reverse its previous position that Israeli settlers leave Homesh, a yeshiva built on private Palestinian property, and that the government intends to change the Disengagement Law. The Palestinian landowners appealed to the court because they have been prevented from reaching their property due to settlers in the Israeli outpost blocking access. The State Attorney's Office said "the political echelon wishes to announce that, in accordance with the coalition agreements that were signed, it intends to act as soon as possible to amend the guidelines permitting Israelis to remain" and requested a further three months to submit another opinion. [40] [41]

In response to the decision to grant the government 90 days to explain its decision to reverse course on Homesh, the US said that "The Homesh outpost in the West Bank is illegal. It is illegal even under Israeli Law. Our call to refrain from unilateral steps certainly includes any decision to create a new settlement, to legalize outposts or allowing building of any kind deep in the West Bank, adjacent to Palestinian communities or on private Palestinian land." [42] [43]

February

Israel approved the legalization of nine illegal settler outposts. A US spokesman said "We strongly oppose expansion of settlements, and we're deeply concerned by reports about a process to legalize outposts that are illegal under Israeli law. We are seeking more information from the Israeli government on what has actually been decided." The Palestinian Authority condemned the decision as crossing "all red lines". [44] [45] [46] [47]

At a UNSC meeting of 20 February, the Council issued a formal statement condemning Israel's plan for settlement expansion on Palestinian territory. It was the first action the United States has permitted against Israel in six years. The statement said "The Security Council reiterates that continuing Israeli settlement activities are dangerously imperiling the viability of the two-State solution based on the 1967 lines" and "The Security Council expresses deep concern and dismay with Israel's announcement on February 12." The UAE did not push a draft resolution to a vote "given the positive talks between the parties." Netanyahu's office condemned the formal statement saying "The statement should not have been made and the United States should not have joined it." [48] [49]

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich took charge of most of the Civil Administration, obtaining broad authority over civilian issues in the West Bank. Israeli peace groups condemned the move as de jure annexation of occupied territories. [50] [51] Rights lawyer Michael Sfard tweeted that the action "entails de jure annexation of the West Bank". [52] [53]

Daniel Kurtzer, former US ambassador to Israel, accused the government of breaking a written agreement with Washington by legalising a "group of hardline nationalist and religious settlements" and called on the Biden administration to prevent Israel's "creeping annexation" of the West Bank. [54]

March

Israel repealed a 2005 law whereby four Israeli settlements, Homesh, Sa-Nur, Ganim and Kadim, were dismantled as part of the Israeli disengagement from Gaza. The move was condemned by the PA and the EU, the latter calling for the revocation of the new law. Critics, including some of the Israeli opposition and NGOs supporting Palestinian rights, denounced the move as a prelude to annexation of the West Bank. [55] [56] [57] [58] The US, in addition to denouncing the move, [59] also summoned the Israeli ambassador to express concern. [60]

May

With Israeli government approval, Israeli settlers relocated a yeshiva established on private Palestinian land in Homesh, to a nearby spot designated state-owned land. The relocation was carried out despite international opposition, including repeatedly from the U.S., and the opposition of the Israeli attorney general. [61] [62] [63] [64] [65]

June

Israel shortened the procedure of approving settlement construction and gave Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich the authority to approve one of the stages, changing the system operating for the last 27 years. The United States said it was "deeply troubled" by the Israeli plans that explicitly violate previous commitments made by Israel to the Biden administration. "The United States is deeply troubled by the Israeli government’s reported decision to advance planning for over 4,000 settlement units in the West Bank. We are similarly concerned by reports of changes to Israel’s system of settlement administration that expedite the planning and approvals of settlements". Tor Wennesland, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process urged a halt and reversal of the decisions and said "I am deeply concerned by the Israeli Government’s decision yesterday to alter settlement planning procedures that have been in place since 1996, which is expected to expedite settlement expansion. I am also alarmed by the anticipated advancement next week of over 4,000 settlement housing units by Israeli planning authorities". The Israeli press reported that the US has informed Israel that the Negev forum on regional cooperation will be postponed as a result of the Israeli moves. [66] [67] [68] [69] [70]

The US criticized Israel’s advancement of plans for 5,700 new homes in Jewish settlements and said it was "an obstacle to peace". [71] [72] [73] [74]

July

In its first six months, construction of 13,000 housing units in settlements, almost triple the amount advanced in the whole of 2022. [75] [76]

In a CNN interview on 9 July 2023, US President Joe Biden said that extreme cabinet ministers in the coalition that back settling "anywhere they want" in the West Bank are "part of the problem" in the conflict. [77] [78]

December

On December 4, the Lower Aqueduct plan for 1792 housing units was approved in an expedited process, marking the first major new East Jerusalem settlement plan in East Jerusalem since Givat HaMatos in 2012. [79] [80]

2024

After Palestinian gunmen killed one Israeli and injured five Israelis near Ma'ale Adumim, Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in February 2024 announced a "settlement response" after speaking to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as "any harm to us will lead to more construction and more development and more of our hold all over the country", with 2,350 more homes in Ma'ale Adumim and 300 more homes in Kedar being arranged for approval, as well as 700 more homes in Efrat slated to be built. [81] American Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized the announcement, stating that new Israeli settlements are "inconsistent with international law" and "counter-productive to reaching an enduring peace", risking "Israel’s security". [81] Israel's government in early March 2024 fully approved 694 more settler homes for Efrat, and additionally progressed the approval of 2,452 more settler homes in Ma'ale Adumim and 330 more settler homes in Kedar, reported Haaretz . [82] [83]

In late March 2024, Minister Smotrich declared that the Israeli government had newly seized 10 km2 of land in the West Bank, "promoting settlement through hard work and in a strategic manner all over the country". [84] Some of the seized land were in the Jordan Valley, and some were between the Israeli settlements Ma'ale Adumim and Kedar. [84] Settlement watchdog group Peace Now claimed that this land seizure was the largest by the Israeli government since the Oslo Accords of 1993. [84] The European Union confirmed that in the past year Israel had advanced the most West Bank settlements in decades. [85]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 "Israeli Settler Population 1972-2006". Foundation for Middle East Peace. Archived from the original on November 18, 2008. Retrieved 2010-03-15.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 "Population by year in West Bank settlements". B'Tselem. Archived from the original on February 23, 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-14.
  3. "Ben Caspit: "The Settlers Won"". West Bank Jewish Population Stats . 2017-05-21. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  4. 1 2 "Israel plans to quadruple settler population in Golan Heights". Middle East Eye . 2021-10-11. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  5. "Jerusalem's Changing Demographics: An Overview from the Jerusalem Statistical Yearbook". Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs . 2020-06-07.
  6. United Nations Security Council Resolution 446, United Nations, 1979-03-22, archived from the original on 2014-04-13, retrieved 2015-12-07
  7. Nunez, Sandy. "Warring Communities Separated By Wall". ABCNEWS.
  8. The roadmap, Full text, BBC News 30-04-2003
  9. Urquhart, Conal (2004-08-06). "Israel flouts road map with new settlement". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2010-05-05.
  10. "Israel confirms settlement growth". BBC. 2005-03-21. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
    • John Ashley Soames Grenville (2005). A History of the World from the 20th to the 21st Century. Routledge. p. 937. ISBN   978-0-415-28955-9. Ariel Sharon with the backing of President Bush embarked on unilateral solutions in 2004. He wishes to persuade Israelis to withdraw from Gaza and to accept the removal of some 7000 settlers.
    • "What next for Gaza and West Bank?". BBC. 2005-08-30. Retrieved 2010-01-05. Most Israelis support the pullout, but some feel the government has given in to Palestinian militant groups, and worry that further withdrawals will follow. Palestinian critics point out that Gaza will remain under Israeli control, and that they are being denied a political say in the disengagement process.
    • Yearbook of the United Nations 2005. United Nations Publications. 2007. p. 514. ISBN   978-92-1-100967-5. The Israeli Government was preparing to implement an unprecedented initiative: the disengagement of all Israeli civilians and forces from the Gaza Strip and the dismantling of four settlements in the northern West Bank.[ permanent dead link ]
    • Yael Yishai (1987). Land Or Peace. Hoover Press. p. 58. ISBN   978-0-8179-8521-9. During 1982 Israel's government stuck to its territorial policy in word and deed. All the settlements in Sinai were evacuated in accordance with the Camp David Accords, but settlement activity in the other territories continued uninterrupted. A few days after the final withdrawal from Sinai had been completed, Begin announced that he would introduce a resolution barring future governments from dismantling settlements, even as a result of peace negotiations.
    • "Instead, he chose total disengagement from Gaza and the dismantlement of four settlements in northern Samaria." Zvi Shtauber, Yiftah Shapir. The Middle East Strategic Balance 2005-2006, Sussex Academic Press, 2007, p. 123.
    • "Prior to forming his new coalition with the Labor Party, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon strong-armed members of his Likud cabinet to support Labor's idea of unilateral withdrawal from Gaza and four settlements in northern Samaria." Getz, Leonard. "Likudniks Against Sharon: Rebels or Loyalists?", The Jewish Exponent , 01-13-2005.
    • "Understandably so: in the end, the Gaza withdrawal took all of six days while the pullout from four settlements in northern Samaria was accomplished in a single day." Zelnick, Robert. Israel's Unilaterialism: Beyond Gaza, Hoover Press, 2006, p. 157.
    • "The four West Bank settlements that Israel is evacuating are all located in the biblical Land of Israel — territory that observant Jews believe was promised to the Jewish people in the Old Testament. The area of the West Bank, known as northern Samaria, was inhabited by the tribe of Menashe, one of the 10 tribes of Israel that were forced into exile." "Biblical significance of West Bank settlements", International Herald Tribune , August 23, 2005.
    • "Others not only support comprehensive talks but call for abandonment of Israel's plan to disengage from Gaza and four settlements in northern Samaria." Sofaer, Abraham D. "Disengagement First" Archived 2009-01-24 at the Wayback Machine , Hoover Digest 2005 No. 1, Hoover Institution .
    • "In August 2005, Israel vacated the Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip--mainly in Gush Katif--as well as four settlements in northern Samaria." Inbari, Motti. "Fundamentalism in crisis - the response of the Gush Emunim rabbinical authorities to the theological dilemmas raised by Israel's Disengagement plan", Journal of Church and State, Autumn, 2007.
    • Tamir, Naftali (August 15, 2005). "Retreat with peace in mind". The Australian. Four settlements will be evacuated in the northern Samaria region of the West Bank.
  11. "Palestinian negotiators to urge settlement freeze during talks". Haaretz. 2007-11-12.
  12. "EU criticises Israel settler plan". BBC. 2007-12-10. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
  13. "Rice calls for Israel to halt settlement expansion". Reuters. 2008-03-31.
  14. Mitnick, Joshua (2008-11-28). "Israeli court rebukes state over illegal outposts". Christian Science Monitor . Retrieved 2010-03-13.
  15. "Remarks by the President on a New Beginning". whitehouse.gov . 2009-06-05. Retrieved 2010-03-12 via National Archives.
  16. "Barak authorizes construction of 300 new homes in West Bank". Haaretz. 2008-06-26. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
  17. "Report Slams Israeli Claim of Settlement Freeze". www.globalsecurity.org.
  18. "Israeli PM Says Settlement Building to Continue During Peace Talks". www.globalsecurity.org.
  19. "U.S.: We will be flexible on conditions for Mideast talks".
  20. "Sa'ar: Netanyahu saving Israel from global isolation".
  21. "Hamas Leader says Israeli Settlement Proposal "Dangerous"". www.globalsecurity.org.
  22. US raps Israeli settlement plan BBC News website 2009-11-18 Retrieved 2009-11-18
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Jewish settlers in West Bank building curb protest". BBC. 2009-12-09. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
  24. "Israeli minister: no real "freeze" on settlement". Reuters. 2009-12-11. Archived from the original on March 4, 2010. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
  25. "Kouchner: Gilo construction won't necessarily hinder peace talks". Ynet. 2009-11-18. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
  26. "Netanyahu questions Abbas's commitment to peace". Reuters. 2009-11-29. Archived from the original on 2011-08-11. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
  27. Schneider, Howard (2009-12-09). "E.U. moderates stance on Jerusalem". The Washington Post. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
  28. "Fatah-Hamas unity government: Israel condemns move". BBC News. 2012-02-07.
  29. Lyons, John (2010-03-11). "US condemns Israeli plan". The Australian . Retrieved 2010-03-12.
  30. "UN chief Ban Ki-moon demands Israel settlements halt". BBC. 2010-03-21. Retrieved 2010-03-21.
  31. McCarthy, Rory (2010-03-02). "Jerusalem mayor unveils demolition plan". The Guardian . London. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
  32. "Ben Caspit: "The Settlers Won"". Jewish News Syndicate . 2022-03-10. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  33. "Jerusalem's Changing Demographic: An Overview from the Jerusalem Statistical Yearbook". Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs . 2020-06-07. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  34. "Israeli settlement population up 16.5 percent in five years". West Bank Jewish Population Stats . 2017-05-21. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  35. Sharon, Jeremy. "Religious Zionism deal: West Bank sovereignty, settlement growth, discrimination law". www.timesofisrael.com.
  36. "End-of-mission statement by the UN Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices 16 June 2023 - occupied Palestinian territory | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. June 16, 2023.
  37. Magid, Jacob (31 December 2022). "Top Biden aide set to visit Israel amid fears over Netanyahu's plans for West Bank". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  38. "Top Court Stalls Israeli Gov't Plan to Repeal Disengagement Law Over West Bank Outpost". Haaretz.
  39. Sharon, Jeremy (2 January 2023). "High Court demands government explain refusal to demolish Homesh outpost". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  40. "U.S. Sets Red Line on Illegal West Bank Outpost, Setting Up Clash With Netanyahu". Haaretz.
  41. "US opposes Israeli plans to rebuild Homesh West Bank settlement". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 5 January 2023.
  42. Ravid, Barak (12 February 2023). "Israel legalizes 9 West Bank outposts despite U.S. objection". Axios.
  43. "Israel to authorise nine 'wild' West Bank settlements". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  44. "Israel legalises nine settler outposts in occupied West Bank". Al Jazeera. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  45. "Foreign ministry condemns Israeli cabinet's approval to legalize 9 settlement outpost in West Bank". WAFA.
  46. "PM's office slams UN statement against settlements, says US shouldn't have backed it". The Times of Israel. 20 February 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  47. "UN Security Council Condemns Israel's Legalizing of West Bank Outposts". Haaretz.
  48. Sharon, Jeremy (23 February 2023). "Smotrich handed sweeping powers over West Bank, control over settlement planning". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  49. McGreal, Chris (24 February 2023). "Former US ambassador accuses Israel of 'creeping annexation' of the West Bank". The Guardian.
  50. @sfardm (23 February 2023). "Today the government of Israel has taken an action which entails de jure annexation of the West Bank" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  51. "Jimmy Carter's warning: Without peace, Israel must face 'apartheid'". WAPO.
  52. McGreal, Chris (February 24, 2023). "Former US ambassador accuses Israel of 'creeping annexation' of the West Bank". The Guardian.
  53. Shotter, James (21 March 2023). "Israel repeals law that ordered dismantling of four West Bank settlements". Financial Times. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  54. Ben Zion, Ilan (21 March 2023). "Israel repeals 2005 act on West Bank settlement pullout". AP News. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  55. "Israeli government lifts ban on return to West Bank settlements". Reuters. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  56. Foster, Anna; Gritten, David (21 March 2023). "Ban lifted on Israelis' return to evacuated West Bank settlements". BBC News. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  57. "U.S. Denounces 'Provocative' Settlement Law, Slams Smotrich's 'Dangerous' Comments on Palestinians". Haaretz.
  58. "In Rare Move, U.S. Summons Israeli Ambassador Over Settlement Legislation". Haaretz.
  59. Kubovich, Yaniv; Samuels, Ben (29 May 2023). "Despite International Uproar | Yeshiva in West Bank Outpost of Homesh Relocated Illegally Overnight, With Gov't Approval". Haaretz. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  60. Goldenberg, Tia (29 May 2023). "Jewish settlers erect religious school in evacuated West Bank outpost after Israel repeals ban". AP NEWS. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  61. "Eighty Israeli Soldiers for 30 Settlers: Inside Homesh's Revival" via Haaretz.
  62. "UK, EU Join U.S. in Strong Criticism of Israel's Relocation of West Bank Outpost of Homesh" via Haaretz.
  63. "How the Israeli Army Broke the Law by Capitulating to Settler Pressure on Homesh" via Haaretz.
  64. "U.S. 'Deeply Troubled' by Israeli Settlement Plans That Violate Commitment to Biden" via Haaretz.
  65. Kershner, Isabel (18 June 2023). "Israel Eases West Bank Settlement Rules, Clearing Way for New Homes". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  66. "US postpones Negev Summit over new Israel settlement plans". The New Arab. 19 June 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
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  68. "UN Special Coordinator concerned about Israel's decision to alter settlement planning". WAFA.
  69. Shotter, James (27 June 2023). "US hits at Israel's plans for more settler homes in West Bank". Financial Times. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
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  75. Magid, Jacob. "Biden: Israeli cabinet has some of most extreme members I've seen; Saudi deal far off". www.timesofisrael.com.
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  77. "Israel Approves Lower Aqueduct Plan - the First New Major Settlement Plan Approved in East Jerusalem in over a Decade".
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  79. 1 2 Frankel, Julia (24 February 2024). "Israel plans to build 3,300 new settlement homes. It says it's a response to a Palestinian attack". Associated Press . Retrieved 25 February 2024.
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The Israeli government’s Coalition Agreement of December 1, 2022 between incoming prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party and the far-right, ultra-nationalist Religious Zionism party of Bezalel Smotrich states that "the prime minister will work towards the formulation and promotion of a policy whereby sovereignty is applied to Judea and Samaria". Smotrich would take up a new post of minister within the defense ministry, where he would oversee civil matters in the West Bank. Other commitments included legalization of dozens of unauthorized settlements and the provision of large funds for road building and public transport in the West Bank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Proposed Israeli resettlement of the Gaza Strip</span> Proposed plans by some Israelis to resettle the Gaza Strip with Jewish Israelis

Israel had dismantled its settlements in Gaza in its unilateral withdrawal from the area in 2005, after 38 years of settlers living in the Gaza Strip, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that, "Israel has no intention of permanently occupying Gaza or displacing its civilian population," he further alleged that, "Israel is fighting Hamas terrorists, not the Palestinian population, and we are doing so in full compliance with international law". In the context of the Israel–Hamas war, some Israelis have proposed expulsion of or creating conditions leading to the exodus of Palestinians from the area and a new wave of resettlement of the Gaza Strip.

Far-right politics in Israel encompasses ideologies such as ultranationalism, Jewish supremacy, Jewish fascism, Jewish fundamentalism, Anti-Arabism, and ideological movements such as Neo-Zionism and Kahanism.