Israel set to approve 643 new settlement units, including Sa-Nur revival, signaling accelerated expansion across the occupied West Bank.
Key Developments
- Israeli planning body to discuss 643 settlement units across the West Bank on Wednesday.
- 126 units expected for final approval in Sa-Nur, a settlement evacuated in 2005.
- Move follows 2025 decision to lift restrictions on northern West Bank settlements.
- Total approved units in 2026 reaches 3,732, reflecting accelerated expansion policy.
Sa-Nur Settlement to Be Reestablished
The Israeli anti-settlement group Peace Now reported on Monday that Israel’s Higher Planning Council is set to convene on Wednesday, April 29, to advance plans for 643 housing units across the occupied West Bank.
According to Peace Now, the plans include 126 units slated for final approval in the Sa-Nur settlement, located in the Jenin governorate in the northern West Bank.
QNN reported that the move reflects a broader escalation in settlement activity, particularly in areas that have not seen a settler presence for years.
Sa-Nur was originally evacuated under Israel’s 2005 disengagement plan. However, Peace Now noted that a decision by the Israeli political-security cabinet in May 2025 paved the way for its reestablishment.
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This was made possible through legislative amendments to the Disengagement Law introduced by the current Israeli government, which removed restrictions on settlement presence in parts of the northern West Bank.
Peace Now stated that the accelerated approval process for Sa-Nur is “exceptional” and signals a clear government policy aimed at restoring settlements in previously evacuated areas.
Acceleration of Settlement Policy
According to Peace Now, the pace of settlement planning has increased significantly in recent months, with the Higher Planning Council now meeting weekly and approving hundreds of units at a time.
The organization said this marks a shift from previous years, when approvals were limited to a few large batches annually, often requiring defense minister authorization at each stage.
The changes, introduced in 2023, removed the need for such approvals, allowing for faster and less visible expansion.
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Peace Now reported that, including the upcoming plans, a total of 3,732 settlement units have been approved or advanced in 2026 alone.
QNN noted that the settler population has reached approximately 750,000 across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, spread over hundreds of settlements.
The expansion comes amid continued reports of attacks on Palestinians and their property, as well as broader concerns over demographic changes in the occupied territories.
(PC, QNN, Peace Now)
