Haaretz: The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that settlement projects in the northern West Bank are being implemented at a very rapid pace.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, "a revolution is underway in the northern West Bank, where colonists are working to realize their dreams in settlements that were evacuated 20 years ago."
The report highlighted the "disengagement" plan executed by the government of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in the summer of 2005, which encompassed the evacuation of settlements and army bases in the Gaza Strip, along with four settlements in the northern West Bank. This plan is now being reversed, with the settlement project moving forward quickly, resulting in the displacement of tens of thousands of Palestinians from their lands with support from the Israeli occupation army.
Haaretz also cited military sources stating that senior Israeli officials believe these developments may lead to escalating tensions and potentially spark broader conflict in the region. The newspaper noted that colonist representatives within the government are achieving political gains, as the military has allowed and supported many ongoing initiatives. This "revolution" began to accelerate immediately after the formation of the far-right Israeli government, with the events of October 7, 2023, further intensifying it.
The current government under Netanyahu is pursuing accelerated settlement expansion policies, including land confiscation and the creation of new realities on the ground. The international community considers settlements in the occupied territories illegal and a hindrance to the two-state solution.