Israeli authorities have seized 464,400 square meters of Palestinian land in the town of Sinjil, located north of the Ramallah and Al-Bireh governorate in the occupied West Bank, according to the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission. The plot has been reclassified as “state land,” which Israel will use to develop the illegal outpost of Givat Haroeh, established in 1998, as well as the nearby settlements of Shilo and Maale Levona.
Corridor plan to isolate Palestinian communities
The commission warned of an Israeli plan aimed at creating a continuous geographical corridor connecting these settlements, effectively isolating Palestinian communities. The plan, reported by the Palestine News Agency, threatens to fragment the Palestinian territory and further restrict movement for residents of Sinjil and surrounding areas.
Sinjil, along with the Israeli settlements, is situated alongside Road 60, a major north-south artery running through the occupied West Bank. The town is believed to have been established during the Crusades in 1103, when it was known as the Citadel of Saint Gilles. Today, it is home to approximately 16,000 residents.
Attacks on Sinjil and neighboring towns
Israeli settlers have repeatedly attacked Sinjil and other neighboring towns, including Turmus Ayya. These attacks have included stone-throwing, vandalism, and intimidation, contributing to a climate of fear among Palestinian communities.
The majority of United Nations member states condemn Israel’s land grab and settlement-building policies in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, territories occupied since June 1967. Despite international opposition, the Israeli government is unilaterally advancing a de facto annexation of the area through laws and military orders that strip powers from the Palestinian Authority.
Road 60 renaming ceremony
Last week, a section of Road 60 near Hebron, from Bnei Naim to Al-Arroub towns, was renamed Tanach (Bible) Road during a ceremony attended by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This renaming is seen as part of efforts to assert Israeli sovereignty over the occupied territories.
There are currently 279 Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including 14 in East Jerusalem. These settlements are built either on private land taken from Palestinians or on public land previously owned by the Jordanian government, which ruled the area before 1967. Nearly 737,000 settlers live in these settlements, among 3.43 million Palestinians.
