Israeli media reported on Monday a new government plan involving a massive $730 million investment in the occupied West Bank over the next five years, aimed at expanding settlements and consolidating Israeli control over the region.
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The plan, approved with the support of several ministries, includes relocating military bases, expanding infrastructure in existing settlements, and allocating approximately $179 million to build 17 new settlements.
Right-wing Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich claimed that the West Bank serves as a security belt for Israel and expressed pride in pursuing policies that reject the division of Israel or the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Israeli reports indicate that the plan seeks to solidify a reality on the ground that would be difficult for any future government to reverse, reflecting a strategic approach to strengthening Israeli control over the occupied West Bank, amid growing international pressure to halt settlement expansion.
The move has drawn strong reactions from the Palestinian side, with the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs calling it a disregard for international law, while Hamas described it as an attempt to impose a new settlement reality on the ground.
These settlements are seen as a major obstacle to achieving a two-state solution, which is supported by most countries as a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The “Yellow Line” in Gaza
Separately, Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir announced that what is known as the “Yellow Line” in Gaza now constitutes a new border line for Israel, noting the army’s readiness for what he described as a “sudden war scenario.”
During an inspection and assessment tour in Gaza alongside Southern Command leader Yaniv Asur and other officials, Zamir told reserve soldiers that the Israeli army is working to eliminate threats on all fronts. He added that the Yellow Line represents a new boundary and a frontline defense for settlements.
Zamir continued: “The Israeli army has freedom of action here, both in the Southern Command and across sectors in general, and we will not allow Hamas to re-establish its presence. We control large parts of Gaza and hold the lines of control.”
