Israeli ministers celebrate re-establishment of Sa-Nur West Bank settlement

Sa-Nur is 1 of 4 erstwhile settlements successful the West Bank approved by the Israeli authorities 2 decades aft settlers were evicted.

Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Israel Katz person attended the authoritative reopening of the Sa-Nur colony successful the occupied West Bank, astir 21 years aft the amerciable colony was evacuated successful 2005.

“On this breathtaking day, we observe a historical correction to the transgression expulsion,” Finance Minister Smotrich said successful his code astatine the ribbon-cutting ceremonial connected Sunday, the AFP quality bureau reported. He said Israeli authorities were besides “burying the thought of a Palestinian state”.

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Authorities person approved 126 lodging units successful the bluish West Bank settlement, southbound of Jenin, and 16 families person present moved in. 

Yossi Dagan, caput of the West Bank Settlements Council, was among those who near Sa-Nur successful 2005, and helium described moving backmost arsenic a “personal closing of a circle”, adding: “We person returned to stay.”

Reversing disengagement policy

The Sa-Nur colony was evicted arsenic portion of the disengagement argumentation that besides saw settlers removed from Gaza. Settlers person attempted to re-establish it implicit the years, and it is 1 of 4 erstwhile West Bank settlements to precocious beryllium approved by the Israeli government, successful usurpation of planetary law.

In March 2023, the Knesset passed an amendment to the disengagement instrumentality that prohibited Israeli settlers from staying successful the erstwhile settlements of Sa-Nur, Homesh, Ganim and Kadim. Last May, Smotrich, himself a settler, announced plans for 22 caller settlements successful the West Bank, including Sa-Nur and Homesh. In December, Ganim and Kadim were among a database of amerciable outposts recognised arsenic settlements by the government.

Israeli settlers spot an Israeli emblem atop a building, connected the time of the re-establishment of the colony of Sa-Nur, which was evacuated arsenic portion of Israel’s 2005 disengagement, successful Sa-Nur successful the Israeli-occupied West Bank, April 19, 2026 [Shir Torem/Reuters]

Around 700,000 settlers unrecorded successful the West Bank and East Jerusalem, with colony enlargement expanding nether the authorities of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, peculiarly since the enactment of his right-wing conjugation pursuing the 2022 election.

Rights groups accidental that colony approvals, on with settler violence, person further accelerated since October 7, 2023. A Palestinian was changeable and killed by Israeli settlers successful Deir Jarir, adjacent Ramallah, connected April 11, portion the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reports that March was 1 of the deadliest months of settler unit connected grounds successful the West Bank.

Last month, 34 caller settlements were approved, which, according to Israeli organisation Peace Now, brings the full fig of settlements approved since the enactment of the authorities to 104.