Israel Approves Major Settlement Road Plan to Divide West Bank

Watan-In line with its goal of severing geographic connectivity between Palestinian cities and villages in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, the Israeli Security and Political Affairs Cabinet (the Cabinet) approved on Saturday evening a plan proposed by Defense Minister Israel Katz to link occupied Jerusalem with Israeli settlements by constructing new roads around the Ma’ale Adumim settlement.

In a statement released by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office on Sunday, the approved decision was described as a “historic step” that enhances the security and well-being of the area’s residents. The plan aims to connect settlements in the E1 area, completing the geographic separation between the northern and southern parts of the West Bank.

Under the plan, the occupation authorities will build two main roads. The first will connect the Palestinian villages of Al-Eizariya and Al-Za’im, designated for Palestinian vehicles traveling through the Ma’ale Adumim bloc, allegedly to ease traffic congestion on Route 1 and at the Za’im checkpoint—one of hundreds of Israeli checkpoints that restrict Palestinians’ freedom of movement.

Bypass Road to Cement Control

The second road is the “Alternative Route 80”, a new bypass road east of Ma’ale Adumim that will connect Al-Eizariya to the area near Khan al-Ahmar, east of occupied Jerusalem.

The purpose of this second road is to link settlements in the Bethlehem, Jericho, and Jordan Valley areas, further strengthening Israeli control and dominance over key routes in the West Bank. According to the statement, the road will serve as an alternative to Route 1. The occupation authorities claim that the decision to construct these roads stems from “security considerations,” with the statement citing “security conditions resulting from the Iron Swords War” as justification. The construction of “Alternative Route 80” will be overseen by the commander of Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank.

Funding Roads, Expanding Settlements

According to the statement, building this road will not affect settlement expansion, as the plan allegedly preserves land allocated for the Mishmar Yehuda settlement, approved in a previous government decision.

As for funding, it will come from an off-budget fund under the so-called “Civil Administration.” The fund has allocated 335 million shekels for the road between Al-Eizariya and Al-Za’im, and another 10 million shekels for planning the Alternative Route 80. The Israeli Ministry of Transportation will provide the necessary funding to settlement authorities for execution.

In a related development, the Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee is set to discuss six settlement projects on Monday aimed at expanding or establishing new settlements in occupied Jerusalem, totaling 2,200 new settlement housing units.

This was highlighted by the NGO Ir Amim, which monitors settlement activities in Jerusalem. The group described the number of plans scheduled for discussion in a single session as “exceptional,” warning that this marks a new phase in the expansion of settlements in East Jerusalem.

According to the details, four of the six plans relate to expanding settlements within Palestinian neighborhoods, while the remaining two involve building entirely new settlements. Since the beginning of this year alone, Israeli authorities have promoted 11,575 settlement units in Jerusalem, including some previously frozen plans now being revived.

The six settlement plans include:

• Givat Shaked-East in Beit Safafa

• Neve Rachel in Sur Baher

• Expansion of Nof Zion and Nof Zahav in Jabal al-Mukabber

• Expansion of North Gilo and Har Hatzofim in Mount Scopus