RAMALLAH, July 14, 2026 (WAFA) – The Jerusalem Governorate has warned of the implications of the Israeli authorities' decision to upgrade the Givat Ze'ev settlement, built on Palestinian land northwest of Jerusalem, from a local council to a city.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the governorate said the move should not be viewed as a mere administrative or organizational measure, but rather as part of a systematic Israeli policy aimed at expanding the settlement project and consolidating control over Palestinian land, particularly around Jerusalem.
It said granting the settlement city status would effectively expand its administrative powers, increase government funding, accelerate planning and construction procedures, and pave the way for new settlement neighborhoods, infrastructure development, and the attraction of more settlers—further entrenching what it described as a new settlement reality at the expense of Palestinian land and rights.
It pointed out that this step is particularly dangerous given the strategic location of the Givat Ze'ev settlement, which forms part of the colonial ring surrounding Jerusalem. It contributes to strengthening the connection between the settlement blocs north of the city, negatively impacting Palestinian geographical contiguity between Jerusalem and Ramallah, and deepening Jerusalem's isolation from its Palestinian surroundings.
It added that the decision comes as part of a continuous series of Israeli measures that include expanding settlements, expediting the approval of construction plans, legalizing settlement outposts, and increasing financial support allocated to them.
"This is all part of a policy aimed at imposing new realities on the ground and undermining the chances of reaching a political solution based on international law."
The governorate affirmed that all settlements established in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, are illegal under international law and UN resolutions, and that any measures aimed at strengthening or expanding them do not grant them any legal legitimacy. Rather, they constitute a flagrant violation of international law and the rights of the Palestinian people.
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