Jerusalem Expansion into West Bank: First Time Since 1967

In a move signaling a significant shift in Israeli policy, the government is advancing plans for a new settlement that will effectively expand Jerusalem’s boundaries beyond the 1967 Green Line for the first time since the Six-Day War. The development, while officially presented as an expansion of the Adam settlement, is widely seen as a de facto annexation of land in the West Bank.

Details of the Expansion

The plan centers around the construction of hundreds of housing units on land currently located a distance from the Adam settlement (likewise known as Geva Binyamin) in the Binyamin region. Although not directly connected to Adam, the new construction would create territorial continuity with Jerusalem’s Neve Yaakov neighborhood, effectively extending the capital’s reach. The proposed settlement will be built on approximately 500 dunams of land situated between the Palestinian towns of Hizma and Al-Ram. The government has committed to investing NIS 120 million (approximately $39 million USD) in infrastructure for the project.

Political Reactions and Concerns

The move has drawn criticism from various quarters. Peace Now, an organization that campaigns against settlements, asserts that this constitutes a “backdoor annexation” and an unprecedented expansion of Jerusalem. They argue that the new settlement will function as a Jerusalem neighborhood despite being officially designated as part of Adam. Democratic MK Gilad Kariv condemned the plan as an “unprecedented act of annexation” that could escalate tensions in the West Bank. Conversely, Israel Ganz, head of the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council, lauded the development as the “realization of the settlement vision” for the region.

Historical Context

Following Israel’s capture of East Jerusalem and the West Bank during the 1967 Six-Day War, Knesset legislation expanded Jerusalem’s municipal boundaries. All subsequent Israeli construction in East Jerusalem has been considered settlements by most of the international community. Prior to this recent development, expansions have occurred within those established boundaries. This new plan marks the first time since 1967 that Jerusalem is expanding beyond them. Smotrich has reshaped the government’s approach to settlement construction in the West Bank, replacing lengthy bureaucratic procedures with expedited approval channels .

Mateh Binyamin Regional Council

The Mateh Binyamin Regional Council governs 47 Israeli settlements and outposts in the West Bank, spanning from the Jordan Valley to the Samarian foothills .

Timeline and Next Steps

While a development agreement has been signed, the plan still requires final approval from the Civil Administration’s Higher Planning Committee, a process that could seize up to two years. Yet, the Housing Ministry has already begun marketing 500 housing units for the first phase of development.