The Israeli government has allocated $20.5 million to bolster security for small, unauthorized Jewish farms in the occupied West Bank, with the intention of developing these outposts into formal settlements. This revelation comes from documents uncovered by the anti-settlement group Peace Now.
According to Peace Now, Israel’s pro-settler administration has discreetly funneled funds into these unauthorised outposts, distinct from the over 100 officially recognized settlements. Some of these outposts have been associated with settler violence against Palestinians and are reportedly sanctioned by the U.S.
Palestinians and the international community widely consider all settlements illegal or illegitimate, arguing that they undermine prospects for a two-state solution.
The Ministry of Settlements and National Mission, led by a far-right settler leader, confirmed the allocation of 75 million shekels ($20.5 million) last year for security enhancements for what are termed “young settlements” — a reference to unauthorized Jewish farms and outposts. This funding, approved in December while Israel’s focus was on the Gaza conflict, has been used for various security measures including vehicles, drones, cameras, generators, electric gates, fences, and new roads.
Peace Now estimates that around 500 people live on these small unauthorized farms, with an additional 25,000 residing in larger outposts. Although these outposts lack official authorization, they often receive implicit support before eventually being retroactively legalized.
Hagit Ofran, director of Peace Now’s “settlement watch” program, stated that this funding represents the first time the Israeli government has openly channeled money to these outposts. Rights groups argue that these remote farms contribute significantly to violence and the displacement of Palestinians.
In recent developments, Israel has legalized five formerly unauthorized settlements and conducted its largest land grab in the West Bank in three decades, designating a significant area as state land for new construction. Palestinians have reported a surge in violence linked to these outposts since the escalation of conflict with Hamas in October 2023.
The International Court of Justice recently declared Israel’s presence in Palestinian territories as unlawful and called for an immediate halt to settlement construction. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected this nonbinding opinion, asserting that the territories are part of the Jewish people’s historic homeland.
Israel captured the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza in the 1967 Middle East war. It has since settled over 500,000 Jews in the West Bank and more than 200,000 in East Jerusalem, which it claims as part of its capital.
Netanyahu’s far-right government, heavily influenced by West Bank settlers and pro-settler politicians, has placed Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in a new position within the Defense Ministry to oversee settlement construction and development.
The United States, Britain, and the European Union have imposed sanctions on 13 hard-line Israeli settlers, as well as two affiliated outposts and four groups, over accusations of attacks and harassment against Palestinians. These sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans, though their effectiveness has been limited.
Orit Strock, Minister of Settlements and National Mission, defended the funding, stating it was coordinated with the Defense Ministry and adhered to all laws. She emphasized the importance of strengthening settlements despite international criticism.
The budget, approved in December, predates the sanctions. The government has not disclosed the specific farms and outposts that received funding, leaving it unclear whether any of the sanctioned entities benefited. However, Peace Now suggests that some of the funded outposts likely include those recently sanctioned.
U.S. officials, including President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have expressed concerns about the increase in settler violence against Palestinians. Israel’s former top general in the West Bank has also highlighted these concerns in recent statements. Israel contends that it is addressing such violence and views the sanctions as unwarranted.
