Settlement and the future of the West Bank

There is no doubt that the unprecedented settlement attack taking place in the West Bank, especially in recent years under the current settlement government, has put the future of the West Bank in grave danger, and questions have become the dominant theme, for example; what comes after the siege of Palestinian cities (Areas A), and what comes after the establishment of dozens of new settlement outposts even in the heart of Palestinian residential areas, the latest of which was in the eastern region of Nablus, on the western outskirts of the town of Beit Furik, and thus east of the town of Rojib, which is only a few hundred meters away from Balata camp, and the new outpost near Khan al-Ahmar and what that means in terms of continuing to separate the south and center of the West Bank from Jerusalem.

The acceleration in building and expanding settlements in the West Bank is visible to the naked eye, as you walk through the streets of Palestinian cities and villages, where you can see construction and expansion in all settlements and throughout the West Bank, its mountains and the outskirts of these settlements, even without public announcements or tenders. What is announced has been completed or is on its way to being completed. All of this is happening while the aggression against Gaza continues in all the forms we see and hear about, as well as the ongoing aggression in the West Bank, currently concentrated in its north. There is military aggression in Gaza and the West Bank, organized Judaization in Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque, and announced and unannounced settlement projects in the West Bank, north, center and south, the goal of which is to besiege Palestinian population centers with settlements and military towers that are being built everywhere in the West Bank, under the pretext of protecting the settlers. Consequently, the Palestinian highlands have come under their control, and through them all our cities, camps and villages have come under their eyes around the clock. There is no doubt that after 20 years the geography of the West Bank will not be the same as before, because the settlers' ambitions exceed everything. They either burn our farms and prevent us from building, and whoever builds has his building demolished after he completes it. In recent years, a serious problem has emerged, which is pastoral settlement, which has begun to take a large-scale settlement trend. All the mountains and plains near the settlements have become their property, even if without a decision, and the Palestinian farmer who owns the land is prevented from entering or using it. This is happening in the north and south of the West Bank and in the northern Jordan Valley at an accelerating rate. The most important thing is that the settler shepherds of sheep and cows are armed with machine guns, and they enjoy surveillance and follow-up by the occupation's military towers spread throughout the heights of the West Bank.

The current situation and the coming future require a more serious stance by all parties, all institutions, all concerned parties, and all those interested, and they require true national unity among all components of the Palestinian people, far from any calculations here and there, because the matter threatens everyone.

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After 20 years, the geography of the West Bank will not be the same as before, because the settlers’ ambitions exceed everything. They either burn our farms and prevent us from building.