News from Peace Now's (Israel) Settlement Watch:

On Wednesday, September 28th, two plans were promoted by the Civil Administration's Higher Planning Committee (HPC): one plan for a new settlement east of Shilo (approved for depositing), most likely meant for the settlers of the illegal outpost o Amona, and another for a new industrial zone west of Ramallah (approved for validation). see details below.

Peace Now: "While world leaders are gathering to commemorate Shimon Peres and his path to peace, the Israeli government is creating another obstacle for the two state solution by establishing a new settlement in the heart of the West Bank. The government's decision to reward settlers who stole private Palestinian lands will make the rest of Israel's law-abiding citizens pay a heavy political price."

1. Approval for depositing of a plan for a new settlement east of Shiloh. 98 housing units were approved for depositing, which are part of a larger plan for 300 housing units (The 202 remaining units have not yet been promoted). The lands are lands of the village of Jalud that were declared as "state lands." 

The Israeli Government is likely to argue that it is "only" an expansion of an existing settlement, however, it is located approx. 1 km from Shvut Rachel (which is an outpost that was recently approved as an official settlement, located 1 km from Shiloh. both the new plan and Shvut Rachel are officially considered "neighborhoods" of Shilo but in fact are independent settlements).

Based on previous publications, we estimate that this is the plan for the settlers of the illegal outpost of Amona, that are expected be evicted by the 26th of December 2016 according to the High Court's ruling. It is likely that this will be a part of the "compensation deal" for the settlers - who lost Amona but we given a whole new settlement with a potential for 300 units.   

The HPC will now publish an ad announcing the depositing of the plan and then will allow the public time to file objections. After the objections will be heard, the HPC may convene to approve the plan for validation. This is not likely to be completed by December, meaning that the Israeli government might ask the court for a postponement of the fulfilment of the verdict on Amona, or, alternatively, will build them a temporary site through "fast track" approvals.

2.  Approval for validation of a new industrial area, west of Ramallah, close to the Green Line. (see attached below). This is the final approval required. After the bureaucratic procedures are completed, the plan will be published as valid and two weeks later construction permits can be issued. 

The new industrial zone can be considered as another kind of settlement as the Israeli government will be encouraging investors to build their factories in this area, which is potentially highly attractive for industries because of its close proximity to both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.