Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Minister Israel Katz officially reopened the Sa-Nur settlement in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, nearly 21 years after its 2005 evacuation. Finance Minister Smotrich declared the event a "historic correction to the criminal expulsion," according to AFP, directly linking the move to a repudiation of the concept of a Palestinian state. This action introduces 126 new housing units and sees 16 families immediately relocate to the site.
The reopening on Sunday marked a significant reversal of Israel’s 2005 disengagement policy, which had seen settlers removed from Sa-Nur and three other West Bank settlements, alongside a broader withdrawal from Gaza. This latest development follows years of persistent efforts by settler groups to return to the area, culminating in government approval earlier this year. The decision establishes a tangible precedent for re-occupying previously evacuated sites, a shift with clear strategic implications.
Sixteen families have already moved into the northern West Bank settlement, situated south of Jenin. Israeli authorities have formally approved 126 new housing units for the site, providing the infrastructure for substantial expansion. The move comes after a March 2023 amendment to the disengagement law by the Knesset, which effectively nullified the prohibition on Israeli settlers from residing in the former settlements of Sa-Nur, Homesh, Ganim, and Kadim. "On this exciting day, we celebrate a historic correction to the criminal expulsion," Finance Minister Smotrich stated during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
His remarks, reported by AFP, extended beyond the immediate event, asserting that Israeli authorities were also "burying the idea of a Palestinian state." This is not merely rhetoric. It is a declaration of intent. Minister Israel Katz joined Smotrich at the event.
Their presence underscored the high-level government backing for the re-establishment. Yossi Dagan, who leads the West Bank Settlements Council, was among those forced to leave Sa-Nur in 2005. He described his return as a "personal closing of a circle." He added, with resolve, "We have returned to stay."
These statements and actions align with a broader trend of settlement expansion under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Since his right-wing coalition formed after the 2022 election, the pace of approvals has accelerated. Around 700,000 settlers currently reside in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The math does not add up for a two-state solution when land continues to be annexed. International law generally regards Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank as illegal. The United Nations and most international bodies consider these settlements to be obstacles to peace, undermining the viability of a future Palestinian state.
Despite consistent international condemnation, Israel has continued to expand its presence. Here is what they are not telling you: These actions chip away at diplomatic solutions, one house at a time. This recent approval of Sa-Nur is not an isolated incident.
Last May, Finance Minister Smotrich, himself a settler, announced plans for 22 new settlements across the West Bank, including Sa-Nur and Homesh. In December, Ganim and Kadim were officially recognized as settlements by the government, having previously been considered illegal outposts. The pattern is clear.
Follow the leverage, not the rhetoric. Rights groups have reported a significant increase in settlement approvals and settler violence since October 7, 2023. This period has seen a marked escalation in tensions across the West Bank.
On April 11, a Palestinian was shot and killed by Israeli settlers in Deir Jarir, near Ramallah. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported that March was one of the deadliest months on record for settler violence in the West Bank. These incidents are not coincidental; they are part of an intensifying dynamic.
Last month alone, 34 new settlements received approval. This brings the total number of settlements approved since the current government took office to 104, according to figures from the Israeli organization Peace Now. The rapid pace of these approvals indicates a deliberate policy choice.
It directly challenges any notion of a future Palestinian state by altering facts on the ground. **Why It Matters**
The re-establishment of Sa-Nur carries substantial geopolitical weight. It effectively reverses a key component of Israel's disengagement policy, signaling a broader intent to solidify control over the West Bank. This move directly undermines international efforts to secure a two-state solution, a framework long considered the primary path to lasting peace in the region.
For Palestinians, these actions represent further encroachment on their territory and a deepening of the occupation, exacerbating daily life through increased restrictions and violence. It also complicates any future negotiations, as the physical expansion of settlements reduces the contiguous land available for a viable Palestinian state, making a two-state outcome increasingly difficult to envision. **Key Takeaways**
- Israeli ministers formally reopened the Sa-Nur settlement, evacuated in 2005, approving 126 new housing units. - Finance Minister Smotrich explicitly linked the reopening to "burying the idea of a Palestinian state," indicating a clear policy shift. - The move follows a March 2023 Knesset amendment reversing parts of the 2005 disengagement law for four West Bank settlements. - Settlement expansion and violence have accelerated since October 7, 2023, with 104 settlements approved since the current government took office. The international community now faces a clear challenge to its long-standing position on the illegality of settlements. Reactions from global powers will shape the diplomatic landscape in the coming months.
Observers will watch for any shifts in U.S. policy, particularly regarding aid and diplomatic pressure. The ongoing expansion will likely fuel further unrest in the West Bank, demanding attention from security forces and human rights organizations. The coming weeks will reveal if this latest move sparks renewed international condemnation or if it is absorbed into the existing, escalating reality on the ground.
Key Takeaways
— - Israeli ministers formally reopened the Sa-Nur settlement, evacuated in 2005, approving 126 new housing units.
— - Finance Minister Smotrich explicitly linked the reopening to "burying the idea of a Palestinian state," indicating a clear policy shift.
— - The move follows a March 2023 Knesset amendment reversing parts of the 2005 disengagement law for four West Bank settlements.
— - Settlement expansion and violence have accelerated since October 7, 2023, with 104 settlements approved since the current government took office.
Source: Al Jazeera