The settlement pioneers will establish their community in Tevetz, a newly designated settlement built on the former Al-Malih base site. Military planners consider this location strategically vital, positioned adjacent to what Israeli forces term the "triangle of villages" – Taצmun, Tubas and Taysir. Israeli sees this corridor as a primary route through which Iran smuggles military equipment via Jordan into northern Samaria, facilitating subsequent terrorist operations within Israel proper.

The Settlement and National Missions Ministry, headed by Minister Orit Malka Strock, has been coordinating the project alongside the Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Ministry under Minister Amichai Chikli. The Amana movement provides institutional support, having championed the initiative from its earliest stages.

Movement leadership emphasizes that this represents the initial phase of an ambitious expansion plan targeting additional settlement cores nationwide. Their vision integrates substantive reserve military service with practical Zionist implementation and comprehensive national responsibility.

Maj. (Res.) Gilad Ach, who chairs the Miluaimanikim Dor Hanitzachon movement, characterized the development as historically significant. "This represents a historic day in the chronicles of Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel," Ach stated. "Several months ago our movement launched this settlement project where reservists return to settle in regions where they conducted combat operations, and through partnership with regional councils we are preparing to establish four new reservist settlements this summer while strengthening approximately 20 existing settlements along the state's borders in the north, surrounding areas and in the valley."

"Reserve fighters have demonstrated their profound commitment to the state and the people, and none are more deserving than them to spearhead the next generation of settlement and revitalize the Zionist movement," Ach continued. "This governmental action transmits a direct message to Israel's enemies that for every murder we will bring additional life and construction forever."

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that a series of recent deadly attacks against Israelis has been funded and encouraged by Iran, just hours before Israeli forces arrested two Palestinian suspects over their involvement in the deadly shooting on Monday, in which one Israeli was killed and another suffered serious wounds.

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"We are in the midst of a terror attack. This terror attack is encouraged, guided, funded by Iran and its satellite states," Netanyahu said in broadcast remarks.

Video: The drive-by shooting occurred in the Mt. Hebron area / Free usage under Israeli copyright law (Section 27A)

He spoke in the West Bank at a site of the attack, visiting with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Hours earlier Batsheva Nigri was shot dead by suspected Palestinian terrorists in front of her 12-year-old daughter after they had hitched a ride with a third Israeli, who was wounded in the attack. In the funeral late Monday, the daughter eulogized her mother, saying, "I just want to give you one last hug." She added, "I know you are watching over me, even though I can't see you. We left Jerusalem, and then I heard shots, and I saw that you were no longer responsive; I shouted, I didn't know what to do and called the medics and told them to come fast." The girl, who was not injured in the attack, concluded, "You always had an open heart; please continue to watch over us from above."

The terrorists shot the three while driving near their car in the Mount Hebron area, on Route 60, the major road running north-to-south in Judea and Samaria.

Israel, he said, would employ measures to settle the score with the attackers and those who sent them, from near or far.

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Former director of the Shin Bet Security Agency Avi Dichter brushed off Tuesday the use by the United States of the term "terror attack" to condemn the killing of a 19-year-old Palestinian in the town of Burqa, as a court ruled one of the Jewish settlers held as suspects be released to house arrest.

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"We strongly condemn the terror attack by Israeli extremist settlers," the US State Department's Near East Bureau said on Saturday, in its first application of the term in the context of settler violence.

Video: Anti-judicial reform protests outside the home of Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter. Credit: Yaniv Zohar

Israeli police arrested the two settlers on Friday, with lawyers saying it was a self-defense shooting by one of them at a much larger group of rock throwers.

Police initially accused the settlers of "deliberate or depraved-indifference homicide" with a racist motivation, but Dichter – now Agriculture Minister – argued that culpability for the Burqa death was far from clear.

"I wouldn't advise treating the US definition as a precise professional definition. At the end of the day, they are not drawing on intelligence, but on media reports," he said. "Everything gets poured into media reports – things that are correct, things that are wrong, tendentious, and other things. At the end of the day, what is important as far as we are concerned is what happened there."

Police guard

Jerusalem District Court heard arguments that the suspects – one of whom had been hospitalized, with a police guard, for a head wound – should be freed pending possible prosecution.

It ruled one should be released to house arrest while the other will be kept in remand in hospital.

"Their act was to save lives – their lives and others' lives," defense lawyer Nati Rom told reporters.

The State Department appeared disinclined on Monday to elaborate on its sharpened censure over the Burqa killing.

"The thinking is that it was a terror attack, and we are concerned about it, and that's why we called it that," spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters.

"We have made quite clear our concerns, but I would note that the government of Israel has made an arrest in this case and is seeking to hold the perpetrator accountable, and that's an appropriate action."

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The United Nations rights office has updated a list of companies doing business with Israeli settlements, removing 15 companies from the database that were no longer involved, a spokesperson said on Friday.

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The long-awaited update was limited in scope due to budget restrictions and was only able to review the original list of 112 companies, UN human rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told a press briefing.

There was no immediate comment from Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the previous version, as did Washington which has long protested the "disproportionate attention" given to Israel by the Geneva-based council.

The database was mandated by the UN Human Rights Council in 2016 but was not released until 2020. Most of the firms it named were domiciled in Israel but it also included international firms listed in the United States, Britain and France, among others.

Most of the firms named in the database when it was set up were domiciled in Israel but it also included international firms listed in the United States, Britain, and France, among others.

Packaged food maker General Mills was one of only two international firms removed from the list. Among those that remained were online travel sites Booking.com BKNG.O and Expedia EXPE.O and home-rental company Airbnb ABNB.O.

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The Israeli government has recently marked a milestone, having approved the highest-ever number of homes to be constructed in Judea and Samaria.

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According to data obtained by Israel Hayom, since coming to power a mere half a year ago, the government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved the building of 13,000 settlement homes, almost double the previous record set during the Trump era. 

Moreover, earlier this week, the government announced its decision to cut red tape to make it easier to obtain permits to build Jewish settlements. 

The main driving force behind the initiative is Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also serves as a minister in the Defense Ministry and as such, plays an important role in overseeing civilian life in Judea and Samaria via the latter ministry's Civil Administration.

"These are crazy numbers," a source familiar with the matter said with regard to the construction plans, adding that Smotrich did a lot of work behind the scenes. 

On Sunday Smotrich said, "The construction boom in Judea and Samaria and all parts of our country continues. As we promised, today we are advancing the construction of thousands more new units.

"Judea and Samaria residents cease to be second-class citizens and the natural development in settlements is reflected in construction and expansion," he said.

Opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz criticized the move, saying Israel was "already in a crisis with the US," which opposes settlement construction.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced during a Cabinet meeting Sunday a decision to make it easier to obtain permits to build inside Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.

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At the same time, it was announced that the Civil Administration's Higher Planning Committee is set to meet on June 26, in order to approve 4,560 new housing units in communities throughout the region.

The Cabinet also transferred most of the authority to approve such construction to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also serves as a minister in the Defense Ministry and thus plays an important role in overseeing civilian life in Judea and Samaria via the latter ministry's Civil Administration.

"The construction boom in Judea and Samaria and in all parts of our country continues. As we promised, today we are advancing the construction of thousands more new units in Judea and Samaria," Smotrich said Sunday. "Judea and Samaria residents cease to be second-class citizens and the natural development in settlements is reflected in construction and expansion."

The US State Department said it was "deeply troubled" by the move, and called on Israel to return to dialogue aimed at de-escalation.

"As has been longstanding policy, the United States opposes such unilateral actions that make a two-state solution more difficult to achieve and are an obstacle to peace," department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.

Since entering office in January, Netanyahu's Coalition has approved over 7,000 new housing units in Judea and Samaria. It also amended a law to clear the way for Israelis to return to four settlements that had previously been evacuated.

In response to the decision, the Palestinian Authority said it would boycott a meeting of the Joint Economic Committee with Israel scheduled for Monday. The Hamas terror group also condemned the move, saying it will "resist it by all means."

 JNS.org contributed to this report.

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An estimated 20,000 Israelis marched on Monday, along with seven ministers and 17 coalition lawmakers, to the West Bank settler outpost of Evyatar in protest of recent terror attacks.

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Among the marchers were National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich.

"We are here not to give in to terrorism, we do not give in to terrorism in Evyatar nor in Tel Aviv. If we give in to terrorism here, we will give into terrorism everywhere in Israel," Ben-Gvir told i24NEWS.

The marchers' aim was to re-establish the Evyatar outpost after it was forcibly evicted two years ago. The trek started from Tapuach Junction and traveled across West Bank roads in order to reach the outpost by foot. Over a hundred buses brought the participants to the meeting location, and inflatable bouncy houses were installed to entertain children.

Daniella Weiss, head of the Nehala Settlement Movement, told i24NEWS that "when the enemies see that we are not afraid, that we walk around with our children, with our grandchildren, our enemies know we are a strong nation, strong people, and that terror doesn't terrorize us."

Security officials reportedly were against the planned action in locations that have often been flashpoints for violence, according to Haaretz, but the government decided to let the march commence. Israeli security forces were claimed to already be "spread thin" by Palestinian attacks on multiple fronts.

The report also revealed that an entire army battalion was used to secure the event, rather than participating in the manhunt for the perpetrators of a deadly attack that claimed the lives of daughters Maya and Rina Dee and their mother in a terror attack in the Jordan Valley on Friday.

This article was first published by i24NEWS.

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Israeli policies risk triggering an "explosion of violence" in the West Bank, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday in a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Palestinian media reported.

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The Palestinian leader told his Russian counterpart that Israeli settlements, home demolitions and "settler terrorism" were among factors building up anger and resentment among Palestinians in the West Bank, the Wafa news agency said.

"The continuation of these Israeli measures will lead to an explosion of the situation," Wafa said Abbas told Putin.

Russia is a member of the Middle East Quartet of international mediators, along with the United Nations, the United States and European Union.

Abbas spoke with Putin two days after meeting with Defense Minister Benny Gantz at his home.

It was the first official visit to Israel by Abbas since 2010. Months earlier, Gantz had visited Abbas in Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian Authority.

i24NEWS contributed to this report. 

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Right-wing lawmakers expressed outrage Thursday against Public Security Minister Omer Barlev and the government, claiming that instead of fighting terrorism in Judea and Samaria they incited violence against Jewish settlers.

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The harsh criticism came against the backdrop of Thursday's deadly terrorist attack in which 25-year-old Yehuda Dimantman from the Homesh settlement was killed, and an earlier incident in which Barlev was criticized for discussing perceived settler violence against Palestinians in Judea and Samaria with a senior US diplomat.

"At the peak of a terror wave, the failed government of [Prime Minister Naftali] Bennett, [Foreign Minister Yair] Lapid, and Barlev are busy inciting against the settlers," the Likud said in a statement, demanding that Arab MK "Mansour Abbas and Ra'am condemn the Samaria terrorist attack in Arabic on their Facebook and Twitter accounts, without conditions and excuses. After they received 53 billion shekels from Bennett, this is the least they can do."

Likud MK Shlomo Karhi said, "Omer Barlev should resign now and stand trial, before more Jews are harmed and murdered because of his incitement."

Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben-Gvir also criticized the government, "When Defense Minister [Benny] Gantz follows a lax policy and minister Barlev slanders Israel and attacks the settlers shamelessly, the terrorists smell weakness, do not shy away and rear their heads. The lax policies of Barlev and Gantz and a government that relies on the Muslim Brotherhood lead to terrorist attacks. Barlev's words led to the attack. Words can kill."

Bennett vowed to 'settle the score' with the perpetrators, who managed to escape after the attack.

Gantz also echoed this sentiment, tweeting the following statement: "I would like to express my condolences to the family of the terror victim killed in Judea and Samaria this evening, and wish a speedy recovery to those who suffered injuries in the attack. Security forces will catch the perpetrator.

"We will increase our vigilance and readiness to thwart terror in Judea and Samaria, and will continue to take any measures necessary in facing terror groups in the area," he said.

Condolences and wishes for a speedy recovery poured in from lawmakers.

Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked said, "Palestinian terrorism once again demonstrates that the war on the land of Israel has not ended and that the settlers of Judea and Samaria constitute a defensive wall of the State of Israel … The security forces will lay their hands on the heinous murderers who have not yet come to terms with a Jewish presence in the land of Israel."

Justice Minister Gideon Sa'ar said, "Jewish settlers in Judea and Samaria throughout the years have been the target of Palestinian violence and murder and sacrificed a heavy price to establish our hold in the heart of the country."

Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman tweeted, "Terrorism cannot be tolerated … We will spare no effort, time, and finances to thwart terrorism and arrest the terrorists. There is no coalition and opposition when it comes to the fight on terror, we will join hands to wage a powerful and uncompressing war [on terrorism]."

Barlev also posted on Twitter following the attack, "A tragic attack [happened] near Homesh this evening, Palestinian terrorism rears its ugly head again," Barlev tweeted. "My condolences to the family and the loved ones of the murdered yeshiva boy, and a speedy recovery to the wounded."

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Bereaved families launched a campaign on Wednesday demanding Public Security Minister Omer Barlev "apologize or resign" over remarks made to senior American diplomat Victoria Nuland about alleged settler violence and for comparing the "deadly Arab terrorism to some marginal events in the settlements."

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The campaign, co-launched with the Samaria Regional Council, will include roadside billboards. If Barlev refuses to apologize, the families will demand that Prime Minister Naftali Bennett dismiss him.

The public security minister had told Nuland that Israel was working to tackle the alleged settler violence and was taking steps to bolster police presence in Judea and Samaria. He also said that efforts were directed to provide clearer instructions to Israeli troops on how to deal with attacks by Jews on Palestinians.

Despite a storm of criticism from bereaved families, Knesset members, and even fellow coalition members, Barlev refused to apologize.

"I understand that it is really difficult for some of you to look in the mirror and face [the fact] that extreme settler violence [has become an issue] on the international stage, with foreign governments taking an interest," he tweeted on Tuesday. I recommend that those who have difficulty [understanding this] drink a glass of water.

"I will continue to fight Palestinian terrorism as if there is no extremist settler violence, and extremist settler violence as if there is no Palestinian terrorism," he said.

Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, said, "A public security minister who compares Arab terrorism to marginal events in the settlements should not remain in office. This is a failure in values. A person who refuses to apologize and belittles bereaved families must resign … We launched the campaign because this statement by the public security minister could lead to disparagement in the attacks against settlers in Samaria and could harm the security of the residents.

"The government of Israel, inform Barlev [that he must] either apologize or resign," Dagan said.

Among the bereaved families are Yael Shevach, the widow of Rabbi Raziel Shevach, who was murdered in 2018; Tohar Yosef, the eldest son of Evyatar Borovsky – a 31-year old father of five – who was killed in a terror attack in 2013; Miriam Ben-Gal, the widow of Rabbi Itamar Ben-Gal, who was stabbed to death in 2018; Tamar Ettinger, the widow of Rabbi Achiad Ettinger, who was killed in a terrorist attack in 2019; and Itsik Abutbul whose wife Hadas was shot and killed by Palestinian terrorists in 2001.

Also on Wednesday, the Palestinian Authority expressed support for Barlev's statement, calling it "a step in the right direction and first official recognition by Israel of crimes committed by Jewish gangs against Palestinians."

Nevertheless, it said, "It is not enough. We call on the centrist and left-wing ministers in the government to end their silence and declare that they condemn and oppose settler terrorism and attacks on Palestinians, which will help create trust-building measures between Palestinians and Israelis and help create a suitable atmosphere for resolving the conflict."

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