TEL AVIV, December 8, 2025 (WAFA) – Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced a government plan to allocate 2.7 billion shekels to establish 17 new colonies in the West Bank over the next five years and to develop colonial infrastructure in several areas.

According to the plan, 1.1 billion shekels will be allocated to strengthen existing colonies and establish new ones. Of this, 660 million shekels will go to the 17 colonies recently approved by the government, and 338 million shekels will be used to develop 36 colonies and outposts currently under planning. This development will include infrastructure such as water, sewage, and electricity, as well as public buildings like religious centers, schools, and clubs.

The government will also allocate 300 million shekels to the new colonies, including 160 million shekels as an establishment grant and 140 million shekels for planning purposes. Additionally, the plan includes the construction of "absorption warehouses" containing approximately 20 caravans for families, thus paving the way for future colonial expansion.

The plan also includes allocating 434 million shekels to existing colonies for infrastructure rehabilitation, 300 million to colonies' councils in the West Bank, 140 million for roadblocks, and 150 million for bus protection over three years.

Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz is expected to allocate additional budgets to bolster security in new colonies, including smart fences, cameras, and military equipment depots.

The plan addresses strategies to strengthen Israeli control beyond the 1948 borders by developing colonies, constructing roads, relocating military bases, and establishing administrative and military control over targeted areas, amounting to the de facto annexation of the West Bank.

It also stipulates allocating 225 million shekels to establish a special "land registry" unit for the West Bank, transferring land registration from the "Civil Administration" to it. This will affect approximately half a million colonies and aims to regulate some 60,000 dunams by 2030.

The newspaper Yediot Aharonot reported that the plan includes relocating three military bases to the northern West Bank, most notably moving the headquarters of the "Menashe" Brigade to the area of ​​the former "Shanur" colony, a move described as dramatic and intended to strengthen the military and colonial grip on the region.

K.T