How settlers are seizing more of the West Bank

JVL Introduction

This thorough investigation by journalists from +972 and Local Call records the ways in which Jewish Israeli settlers, having gained control of virtually all of the 61% of the West Bank designated as Area C in the Oslo Accords, with full Israeli control (that was supposed to have ended by the year 2000), are now taking over parts of Area B – and even Area A. The settlers use planning, harassment and violence mostly with impunity. The image above shows the control as allocated temporarily under Oslo where signatories also agreed that there would be a Palestinian State by the year 2000.

This example illustrates an alarming pattern. “In 2023, residents of the Abu Najah community were expelled from Ein Samia, where they had lived for decades. They relocated to the outskirts of the nearby village of Al-Mughayyir, building concrete homes and animal pens, thinking that the Area B designation would offer some protection from further displacement. For a time, it did.

But in 2025, everything changed. …Settlers established Shlisha Farm, one of several outposts positioned to besiege the village. …(and) began entering the community — grazing their sheep…and threatening residents. In February 2026, the Israeli army declared the area a closed military zone, ordering residents to leave and detaining two solidarity activists. Without the presence of activists, residents were left entirely exposed to further settler attacks.”

One outpost has already been set up in Area A, ostensibly under full Palestinian control for security as well as for civilian matters. “Since October 7, settlers have worked in tandem with the Israeli army to expel at least 76 entire Palestinian communities, while settlers have simultaneously established 152 new outposts”. (Outposts are illegal even under Israeli law, while all Settlements in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and The Golan Heights) are illegal in international law. Amnesty have argued that Global impunity is fueling Israel’s annexation in the West Bank. 

Smotrich is clear and makes no secret of the aim to: “…erase the lines, the demarcations, and the letters. We will settle our land in all its parts.” (my emphasis Ed)

LL

This article was originally published by +972 The Landline on Tue 24 Mar 2026. Read the original here.