The plan, initiated by Ministers Israel Katz, Orit Strock, and Bezalel Smotrich, which has remained under the radar until now, is designed to address the growing threat of infiltrations and weapons smuggling from the eastern border while combining military and settlement approaches as a comprehensive response to all security challenges. The plan was first discussed at the Israel Hayom Security Conference, in partnership with the HaShomer HaChadash organization.

Defense Minister Israel Katz, during a tour of the eastern border, said that the security fence construction he has led on the Israel-Jordan border is a critical strategic step against Iranian attempts to turn the eastern border into another terror front. "I see a direct connection between thwarting terror infrastructure in refugee camps in Judea and Samaria and building this fence. This is a strategic move that will strengthen national security and our hold in the Jordan Valley, ensuring Israel's sovereignty for years to come – and will be a blow to Iran's attempts to turn the eastern border into a terror front," Katz said.

The plan is divided into two parts – a five-year comprehensive section preceded by a pilot program to be completed by the end of this year. The pilot will initiate the establishment of Nahal settlement outposts, pre-military academies, service year programs, Tzabar groups, Ofek programs, hesder yeshivas, and higher yeshivas for the ultra-Orthodox community.

Settlement and National Missions Minister Orit Strock will oversee the civilian component, with her ministry coordinating the allocation of academies, yeshivas, service frameworks, and settlement groups to create a continuous settlement presence along the border. This will work alongside the establishment of agricultural farms similar to initiatives in Judea and Samaria through grazing permits, each managing an average of about 4,000 dunams (988 acres) of grazing areas and cultivation fields in settlement regions and border areas. The ministry will also establish student villages using portable structures alongside these farms and academies.

Among the innovative aspects of the plan, ultra-Orthodox yeshivas combining religious studies with border protection will be established in a new model. As part of this ambitious initiative designed to address decades of gaps in Israel's approach to its porous eastern border, existing border communities will be reinforced through "interim housing" intended for new residents who participate in local rapid response teams and their families.

The interim housing and land will be made available to families for a transition period until permanent settlement. This program will prioritize families of reserve soldiers. In parallel, the defense minister will direct the IDF to examine the possibility of reestablishing Nahal outposts.

A special ministerial team will lead implementation and oversight of the decision, headed by the prime minister alongside the defense minister, finance minister, settlement and national missions minister, diaspora minister, interior minister, and agriculture and food security minister. They will be supported by a professional team of relevant ministry directors-general.

Settlement and National Missions Minister Orit Strock said, "The understanding that where there is settlement there is security, and vice versa, is one of the main lessons of the October 7 massacre. Therefore, the sobering reality regarding the need to strengthen Israel's eastern border must be practically expressed through settlement reinforcement, both demographically and geographically."

"Settlements, academies, and agricultural farms – all these will be part of our eastern security backbone. I am pleased that this joint initiative, mine and the defense minister's, is moving forward. I thank him for the excellent cooperation, along with the finance minister and the prime minister's military secretary. Together we will make every effort for implementation to be quick and efficient, bringing blessing to the region and the entire State of Israel."

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said, "The decision approved by the Cabinet to strengthen Israel's eastern border is a historic decision and a first-rate Zionist mission. I am proud to be among the leaders of this initiative and to fund it already in the coming year with 50 million shekels ($14.1 million). This is a strategic step to strengthen sovereignty, security, and our hold in the Land of Israel. The eastern border is Israel's longest border, and today's Cabinet decision is a welcomed historic conceptual change that will tighten border security and strengthen Zionism, agriculture, and the entire State of Israel."

During Monday's discussion, the funding was increased to 80 million shekels ($22.56 million) to be transferred to the Settlement and National Missions Ministry.

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Last week, dozens of activists, public figures and local officials affiliated with the Right convened at Jerusalem's Ramada Hotel for an extraordinary conference organized by the Yesha Council. While Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's comments about Gaza's future dominated headlines, the real transformation was taking shape behind the scenes: the formulation of a comprehensive settlement plan that has begun to materialize.

Likud MK Avihai Boaron's initiative has seen several prominent settlement leaders and well-known right-wing public figures gathered to develop a realistic yet ambitious plan for the West Bank in the coming years. Their goal: to create an operational strategy ready for implementation during a potential Trump administration. The high-level meeting brought together Yesha Council Chairman Israel Gantz, its CEO, Omer Rachamim, Shaar Shomron Regional Council Head Avi Roeh (who previously chaired the Yesha Council), and the heads of various local councils.

"We are at a critical juncture – a window of opportunity that we can utilize either wisely or squander," MK Boaron said. "Taking the foolish path would merely result in 700,000 residents and additional housing units four years from now. The wise approach would establish conditions to make Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley inseparable from Israel – not just by creating demographic facts on the ground, but by fundamentally transforming the region's administrative framework."

One of the plan's most significant aspects addresses future territorial control. While sovereignty features prominently, the officials focused their discussions on practical implementation rather than declarative statements. They propose "returning to the pre-Oslo [Accords] decision point, before we began to lose direction" – effectively suggesting the dissolution of the Palestinian Authority.

The first phase involves expanding local council authority to encompass entire regional council areas. Unlike other regional councils in Israel, West Bank authorities currently have jurisdiction only over settlement areas. Extending jurisdictional boundaries to include interconnecting areas would significantly strengthen these authorities' administrative capabilities.

The proposal also addresses governance of Arab villages in Area C, which technically fall under full Israeli control but effectively operate under Palestinian civil administration or, in some cases, with minimal oversight. Council heads proposed removing Palestinian Authority management from these villages, implementing comprehensive urban development plans, and creating employment opportunities for Arab residents under Israeli jurisdiction.

The officials also outlined a broader vision for the entire territory, prominently featuring the dissolution of the Palestinian Authority in favor of Arab municipal authorities – effectively transforming Israel's role into a federal–style administration. "The two-state solution must be permanently removed from consideration through clear political directives," states MK Boaron.

"Instead, the Arab population in the West Bank would be under self-governing municipal authorities. These would receive and pay for services from Israel, with residents holding status similar to Jerusalem's Arab residents. Their national orientation would mirror the pre-1967 arrangement under Jordanian administration."

"We cannot risk allowing terror organizations to operate freely – it could result in an October 7-style attack at much closer range, from Hebron to Arad (about 25 miles) or from Qalqilya to Kfar Saba (less than 7 miles). The world's largest Jewish population center is vulnerable. This situation must end, starting with the dissolution of the centralized Palestinian government in favor of regionally managed authorities under federal oversight," Boaron said.

The plan calls for massive infrastructure investment. Several months ago, Israel Hayom revealed Energy Minister Eli Cohen's plan, co-developed with MK Boaron, to establish power stations throughout the West Bank. Recently, Cohen announced construction of the first power station in the western Judea region, along with Israel's largest solar field in the Jordan Valley.

Local authority heads envision transforming Judea and Samaria into an energy and industrial powerhouse, fully integrated with Israel's economy. "Our goal is to make the West Bank, particularly the Jordan Valley, Israel's primary power generation hub," said one official. This vision requires comprehensive transportation infrastructure, including upgrading Route 60 and Route 90, plus establishing an extensive railway network throughout the region.

"We must fundamentally change the operating system," MK Boaron told Israel Hayom. "This means applying Israeli law, establishing government ministry presence in the territory, and building comprehensive energy, gas, and transportation infrastructure. We'll create industrial, commercial, and transportation zones, while taking control of open spaces to be managed by Israel – not just for construction but for natural resources, archaeological sites, and more. It should become an inseparable part of sovereign Israel. Just as the Galilee is part of Israel, so too should Binyamin be; as the Negev is Israel, so too should the Valley be; and as the Shfela is Israel, so too should Mount Hebron be."

The settlement expansion component features prominently in the plan. Officials propose establishing three or four new cities, including dedicated communities for Druze and ultra-Orthodox populations. These would cater to ideologically motivated residents willing to relocate in significant numbers. "This demographic shift would fundamentally alter the region's character, ultimately leading to sovereignty," a senior official involved in the planning noted.

The proposal also includes elevating strategically positioned settlements to city status through funded government initiatives. Targeted locations include Maale Efraim (31 miles from Jerusalem), Nachliel, Eli, Kiryat Arba (just outside Hebron), and Efrat (6 miles south of Jerusalem). Planners unanimously agree that the Trump administration should be utilized for an intensive four-year development surge.

The farms project, designed to protect Area C territories, occupies a central role in the strategic plan. Local authority heads and public figures advocate for significant expansion of the agricultural enterprise, proposing hundreds of additional farms to safeguard state lands, supported by a robust legal framework. As one public figure succinctly stated, "Maximum territory, minimum people."

"We must ensure that American policy doesn't simply resume from where the Deal of the Century left off, which effectively sought to constrain settlement growth," explains MK Boaron. "That approach would have resulted in Israel losing effective control in the West Bank. The equation must be reversed – all open space and Israeli–developed areas should come under Israeli sovereignty. We need to apply Israeli law to these territories and begin actively managing them to maintain effective control. This isn't just a theoretical framework – it's an implementation plan that we will actively advance in the coming years."

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The US Treasury Department expanded its sanctions program targeting Israeli settlers on Monday, adding three individuals and multiple organizations to its Specially Designated Nationals list overseen by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. This latest round of sanctions follows a presidential executive order signed by President Joe Biden earlier this year targeting certain Israeli settlers.

The new designations include Shabtay Kushlevsky, affiliated with the Hashomer Yosh organization; Itamar Yehuda Levi, a resident of the Susya settlement connected to the Eyal Hari Yehuda company; and Zohar Saba from the Mevo'ot Yericho settlement.

The Treasury Department's action also encompasses Amana, an organization founded in 1979 by the Settlement Movement of Gush Emunim Central Cooperative Association Ltd, along with its subsidiary companies: Binyanei Bar Amana and Eyal Hari Yehuda.

Under these sanctions, all US-based assets belonging to the designated individuals and organizations will be frozen. American citizens and companies will be prohibited from engaging in any business transactions with them.

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A landmark bill introduced in the US Congress seeks to redefine the terminology used for the contested territories between Israel and Jordan. Republican Congresswoman Claudia Tenney is spearheading the "Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act" that would officially refer to the area commonly referred to as the West Bank as "Judea and Samaria," underscoring its historical significance to the Jewish people.

Now more than ever, the US must stand firmly against efforts to delegitimize Israel, and that includes reaffirming the Jewish people's legal and historical claim to Judea and Samaria.

The RECOGNIZING Judea and Samaria Act requires all official U.S. documents and materials to…

— Rep. Claudia Tenney (@RepTenney) February 29, 2024

Tenney explained her intent to promote legislation that would recognize the region as "the historic homeland of the Jewish people." The bill is currently gathering support and signatures from House members and is expected to be formally introduced soon.

Recently, Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, led a delegation to Washington, partly to secure funding for security enhancements in Samaria and for settlement projects. During his visit, Dagan met with Tenney, the New York representative pushing this unprecedented resolution, and they agreed to collaborate on advancing the proposal.

Video: Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, and US Republican Representative Claudia Tenney (Credit: Samaria Regional Council)

In their discussion, Tenney emphasized the importance of Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria. "Greetings from the US to the wonderful people who live in Samaria," she told Dagan. "I have supported you and I will continue to support you. My bill will require that we refer to Judea and Samaria as the region that is the historic homeland of the Jewish people, not the 'West Bank.' We will continue to fight for your historical roots and relevance. May God bless all of you. We're thinking of you and praying for Israel."

Following their meeting, Dagan reached out to congressional members with strong ties to Samaria, seeking their support in passing the proposal. He stated, "One of the major challenges facing Israel and Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria is the terminology used. The name 'West Bank,' coined by global opinion leaders, politicians, and journalists, implies that the area rightfully belongs to Jordan.

"The authentic, biblical, and original name is 'Judea and Samaria' and for good reason. This is the land from which the people of Israel were exiled and to which we returned after two millennia. The promotion of the term 'West Bank' is partly an attempt to deny our rightful claim to the area and the unbreakable bond between the Jewish people and Judea and Samaria."

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On one of the West Bank's busiest highways, stone-throwing terrorism has spiked to a level of unprecedented danger for Israeli commuters, data shows.

Video: Security footage shows attack on settlers by rock throwers

Route 55 has become a prime target for Palestinian rioters, both against private vehicles but also on commuter buses. Rafael Cohen-Yigudaiev, a bus driver on the Kedumim-Kfar Saba line, told Israel Hayom about a horrifying incident during which a large stone was hurled at his bus, narrowly missing his wife.

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Cohen-Yigudaiev noted, "If I hadn't swerved in the nick of time, the stone would have struck the windshield, possibly injuring or even killing her. The shattered glass reached the back seats. We are traumatized. I urge people not to sit near specific windows; it's only a matter of time until someone gets hurt."

The rise in attacks comes as Palestinian assailants consider these buses – carrying dozens of unprotected passengers – as attractive targets, using heavy stones as they ambush vehicles at various locations.

The consequences of these attacks are alarming. Reports indicate that in the past year, 24 buses operated by the Tnufa public transit company, which serves Jerusalem and the Samaria region, have come under attack, with many of them 2 in the dozens – sustaining severe damage to the point that they had to be taken off the road. As of early September, four drivers had been injured in these attacks and granted medical leave.

Hannanal Dorani, the mayor of Kedumim, told Israel Hayom, "This road has become a target for stone-throwing attacks. There is hardly a day that goes by without a car or a bus being targeted. Luckily, most of the attacks result in damage to property." Dorani stressed that major intersections on Route 55 have become security hazards because they are built in such a way that they force vehicles to slow down, making them easy targets.

The severity of the situation has prompted local residents to take matters into their own hands. Aviad Gadot, a Kedumim resident and the organizer of the Torat Lechima organization that supports the formation of a civilian patrol unit, believes that the security forces' rules of engagement hamper their ability to address the situation effectively. He said, "When Jews are on the line, the IDF should be there."

However, Dorani opposes the civilian patrols, stating, "It would be wrong to establish a private militia. We must not take matters into our own hands. The army is strong and knows how to do the job, but we need to place joint pressure on the authorities to act as needed."

In response to the escalating crisis, the IDF said in a statement, "This is a private civilian initiative not coordinated with the IDF. The IDF operates using various means, both overt and covert, to address stone-throwing incidents and has apprehended dozens of suspects in recent months."

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Israeli police said Saturday that they arrested two Israeli settlers after they allegedly stormed a Palestinian village in the West Bank in a rampage that left one Palestinian dead.

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Armed settlers entered Burqa, a herding village east of the city of Ramallah, late Friday, shooting and allegedly killing 19-year-old Qusai Matan, Palestinian health officials said.

Israeli media reported that one of the arrested settlers used to work as an aide, who remained unnamed, for a lawmaker of the far-Right Otzma Yehudit party which is in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Coalition. It includes Itamar Ben-Gvir, a pro-settlement firebrand known for hardline positions against Palestinians.

The party couldn't be reached for comment.

Video: IDF forces hunt down terrorists in Judea and Samaria / Usage under Israel's Intellectual Property Law Section 27a

Police said they arrested two settlers after detaining five for questioning. The other settler who was arrested was hospitalized after sustaining injuries Friday night. Authorities did not elaborate on the charges.

The army said that Israeli settlers arrived in the area to herd sheep, leading to clashes between Israelis and Palestinians from the village. Both sides hurled rocks at each other, the army said, and Israelis fired at Palestinians, leaving Matai dead and four Palestinians and several Israelis injured by rocks.

The village was closed down and more Israeli troops were stationed in the area surrounding it.

Palestinian officials said the settlers also burned two cars in the village. They also called for the perpetrators to be punished.

The rampage drew criticism from the U.K. embassy in Israel, which wrote on social media that it was "appalled" by the settler attacks and called for accountability and justice for those involved.

Yair Lapid, the Opposition leader said that violent settler attacks in the West Bank endanger other settlers, describing most as "law-abiding civilians." He added that the attacks are emboldened by members of Netanyahu's coalition.

"The backing they receive from the most extreme coalition in the country's history is a political attack," he wrote on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Violence has spiraled in the northern West Bank with the rise of shooting attacks by Palestinian terrorists against Israelis.

At least 26 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks against Israelis so far this year.

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Yet, he stressed that the US-Israel relationship remains "ironclad," lauded American security commitments to the Jewish state, and said the Biden administration will continue to promote normalization between Israel and its Arab neighbors, particularly with Saudi Arabia.

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At the same time, he made clear the administration's displeasure with actions that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has taken.

"Settlement expansion clearly presents an obstacle to the horizon of hope we seek," Blinken said in a speech to the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee in Washington.

"Likewise, any move toward annexation of the West Bank, de facto or de jure, disruption of the historic status quo at the holy sites, the continuing demolitions of homes and the evictions of families that have lived in their homes for generations damage prospects for two states," he said.

Improving Israeli-Arab relations cannot replace a two-state solution with the Palestinians, he said.
"Integration and normalization efforts are not a substitute for progress between Israelis and Palestinians, and they should not come at its expense," Blinken said.

"Israel's deepened relationships with its partners can and should advance the well-being of the Palestinian people and the prospects of a two-state solution," he added.

Blinken will visit Saudi Arabia this week, in part to discuss prospects for the Saudis joining the so-called "Abraham Accords" that were completed during the Trump administration between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco.

"The United States has a real national security interest in promoting normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia," he said. "We believe we can and must play an integral role in advancing it. We have no illusions this could be done quickly or easily but we remain committed to working toward this outcome." Blinken also reaffirmed the Biden administration's determination not to allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.

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The United Nations Security Council is considering a draft resolution, seen by Reuters on Wednesday, that would demand Israel "immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory."

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The 15-member council is likely to vote on Monday on the text, drafted by the United Arab Emirates in coordination with the Palestinians, diplomats said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government on Sunday authorized nine Jewish settler outposts and announced mass construction of new homes in established settlements, prompting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to say he was "deeply troubled."

In December 2016 the Security Council demanded Israel stop building the settlements. It adopted a resolution after US President Barack Obama's administration abstained, a reversal of its practice to protect Israel from UN action through a veto.

The US mission to the United Nations and Israel's UN mission did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the draft resolution.

The text "reaffirms that the establishment by Israel of settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law."

It also condemns all attempts at annexation, including decisions and measures by Israel regarding settlements.

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Otzma Yehudit leader and the next national security minister, MK Itamar Ben-Gvir, plans to launch a new effort that could culminate with a boost to grant retroactive approval to unauthorized settlements in Judea and Samaria, Israel Hayom has learned. 

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According to the plan, under his new portfolio, Ben-Gvir plans to advance measures to expropriate land for developing infrastructure, as well as to allot hundreds of thousands of shekels to various unrecognized communities that have so far lacked official status The plan depends in part on having the necessary sign-off from the various other agencies outside his ministry. It also includes a boost to the staff in the Civil Administration, which administers civilian matters in Judea and Samaria on behalf of the Defense Ministry, to make the implementation go faster. 

The plan is a direct consequence of the newly announced agreement between Likud and Otzma Yehudit that guarantees the latter's support in the upcoming confidence vote to swear in Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister for the sixth time. The decision to grant the party overall responsibility for the approval process of unauthorized settlements has led to a backlash on the Right, with some accusing Netanyahu of handing over this prerogative to Ben-Gvir despite him lacking the required experience, in an apparent effort to avoid any meaningful progress on this hotly contested issue. 

Under the details of the plan obtained by Israel Hayom, the cabinet will pass a motion within 60 days of Netanyahu becoming prime minister. The motion would grant the necessary approval for 60 unauthorized communities in Judea and Samaria. 

The motion would instruct the various agencies in a host of ministries to ensure the necessary procedural requirements to finalize the status of those communities are met within 18 months. The government would also advance legislation to amend the law in a way that would allow those communities to connect to the national electricity grid and allot some 180 million shekels (some $65 million) per year for building and maintaining various infrastructure, including water and sewage systems, roads, electricity pylons, and roads. On top of that, the government will create a special budget to bolster security there, amounting to some 25 million shekels ($8 million) per year. 

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The UN Mideast envoy warned Tuesday that without quick and decisive action to address the key drivers of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict the region risks plunging into "another deadly escalation of violence."

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Tor Wennesland told the UN Security Council it was essential that the parties "calm things on the ground," reduce violence across the West Bank, avoid unilateral steps including new settlement construction, and solidify the May ceasefire that ended Operation Guardian of the Walls, which Israel fought against Hamas infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.

In addition, he called for urgent action to tackle the severe fiscal and economic crisis threatening the stability of Palestinian institutions in the West Bank. But he warned: "Even a full and immediate financial package may not be sufficient or come quickly enough – if at all – to help buffer the consequences of the current situation."

Wennesland told reporters afterward there was "broad consensus" among the 15 council members that to prevent a possible imminent conflict "there needs to be a pushback on activities in and around Jerusalem and the West Bank," financial stability for the Palestinian Authority so it can pay salaries, and a halt to settlement activity.

As the UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Wennesland represented the United Nations at the first in-person meeting in two years of envoys of the so-called Quartet of Mideast mediators on Nov. 18 in Norway's capital, Oslo.

A statement from the Quartet – the UN, US, Russia and the European Union – urged Israel and the Palestinians to address the ongoing violence, settlements, and "the untenable fiscal crisis within the Palestinian Authority." It welcomed steps announced by Israel "to reach out to the Palestinian Authority and assist with the fiscal crisis" but expressed deep concern at developments in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza.

Wennesland called Tuesday for a coordinated approach to "restore a political horizon that will help stop the endless cycle of crisis management and move back towards meaningful negotiations to end the [Israeli] occupation and resolve the conflict on the basis of UN resolutions, international law and previous agreements."

He said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres supported holding a Quartet meeting at ministerial level to focus on medium and longer-term issues to achieve a two-state solution, and he has spoken to the other members, but "we are not there yet." He added that the envoys are working very hard and are in weekly contact.

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Russia's deputy UN ambassador Dmitry Polyansky also warned of the risks of "large-scale hostilities" like the Israel-Hamas conflict in May and called on the international community to urgently ensure stability on the ground, provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, and create conditions for resuming peace negotiations.

He said the Quartet, which was established in 2002, is the only internationally recognized body to bring the Middle East peace process back on track. It has been criticized for its failure to get either Israel or the Palestinian Authority to change their policies and negotiate an end to their more than three decades-old conflict.

Polyansky said Russia has been pushing for a ministerial meeting of the Quartet which Moscow feels "is overdue, but not everyone from our partners is ready for such a move right now."

US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who recently visited Israel and the West Bank, told the Security Council that the Biden administration still strongly believes in a two-state solution "in which a Jewish and democratic Israel lives in peace alongside a sovereign, viable Palestinian state."

She reiterated US opposition to Israeli settlement expansion, saying "the practice has reached a critical juncture, and it is now undermining even the very viability of a negotiated two-state solution."

Thomas-Greenfield said Israel and the Palestinians "are locked in a spiral of distrust" that is preventing cooperation, and rebuilding "some degree of confidence in each other" is key to advancing toward peace.

She made no mention of the Quartet but said that in her meetings "both sides spoke of the need for confidence-building measures to break down the walls of distrust."

Trust-building needs to be worked out mainly between Israelis and Palestinians, the US ambassador said, but the Security Council can facilitate constructive steps by enforcing its resolutions "to constrain Iran's regional malign activities, nuclear threats, support for terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah."

Thomas-Greenfield said the council could also denounce incitement to violence by terrorist organizations or individuals and promote efforts to improve the lives of ordinary Palestinians by urging Israel to grant more work and building permits and facilitating humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to Gaza.

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