Knesset readies for annexation of West Bank

The Israeli government approved the "Economic Plan for 2025 – Structural Changes" (Arrangements Law) on October 31, 2024, which contains several measures that deepen Israeli control over the Occupied Territories (West Bank, East Jerusalem) under the guise of economic reforms. The law includes four major annexation-related initiatives:

First, the government plans to construct two Israeli power plants in the West Bank and allocate 2,000 dunams for solar fields. Rather than allowing Palestinians to develop their own energy infrastructure, these facilities will increase Palestinian dependence on Israeli electricity while supplying power to Israel. Israel is considering several potential sites for power plants, including the Jabal Al Muktam area west of Ramallah, the planned industrial area Bustani Hefetz near Tulkarm, the planned industrial area Nahal Raba south of Qalqilya, the Tarkumiya area west of Hebron, the Nabi Musa area south of Jericho, and the Mehola area in the northern Jordan Valley — all areas which have been the targets of settler pogroms. Developing resources at the expense of indigenous communities is a critical feature of all settler-colonial regimes.

Second, the law establishes metropolitan transport authorities designed to incorporate settlement areas, particularly around Jerusalem. While this raises legal complexities, the government is exploring ways to manage settlement transportation through service agreements with the Civil Administration.

Third, while the law strengthens land payment collection within Israel, it notably excludes settlements where residents typically pay nothing for land use — which makes it substantially cheaper to live and develop communities in the West Bank.

Lastly, the law significantly increases medical student quotas, with a substantial portion potentially benefiting Ariel University in the West Bank, which is another policy aimed at accelerating zionist development of Palestinian lands by incentivizing population transfer.

This law fits into the larger matrix of government policy, which is explicitly built to erase the indigenous communities of Palestine. The rate of home demolitions across East Jerusalem and the West Bank over the last year reinforces this fact.

Despite waging wars across Gaza, Lebanon, and the broader Middle East in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and Iran, the Israeli military has maintained a consistent pattern of demolition operations targeting Palestinian structures over the past year. Across East Jerusalem and the West Bank alone, the Israeli military has destroyed 1,752 structures and displaced 4,537 Palestinians from their homes. Children bore the heaviest burden of these demolitions, with 1,877 children forced from their homes — representing 41% of all displaced persons. The military conducted these operations at a rate of roughly 1.5 operations per day, displacing an average of 12 Palestinians daily.

While the pace of demolitions has fluctuated slightly over different time periods, the last 90 days was marked by an intensification of displacement, with the daily average jumping to 18 Palestinians losing their homes — notably higher than the yearly average.

The Israeli military has conducted 478 demolition operations in the current year, resulting in the destruction of 1,491 structures and the displacement of 3,795 Palestinians. These figures already represent a significant portion of the previous year's totals, indicating that the pace of demolitions has remained steady or potentially increased.

The impact on civilians is particularly stark when examining the family composition of those displaced. For every structure destroyed in the past year, approximately 2.6 Palestinians lost their homes, with children consistently representing the largest segment of those affected.

As the zionist movement positions itself to formally annex the West Bank, we can fully expect that additional laws, policies, and procedures will be put in place by the Israeli government to expedite the elimination of native communities and resources.

It’s critical that over the next year solidarity groups abroad enact campaigns at limiting the zionist movement in real ways — most critically, their ability to finance the take over of lands through charitable networks such as the Jewish National Fund, Regavim, and the Hebron Fund. Some campaigns have already found success.

Demolition summary

November 14, 2024 | West Bank, Area C, Yatma

The Israeli military demolished a two-story residential building in Yatma village, south of Nablus. The families were given only 15 minutes to evacuate, resulting in most possessions being buried under rubble. Two Palestinian families, including eight people with two children and a newly married couple, were displaced. The building, constructed of reinforced concrete with each floor measuring 180 square meters, was demolished under the pretext of a lack of Israeli-issued building permits.

November 14, 2024 | West Bank, Area C, Al Walaja

The Israeli military demolished an under-construction residential structure, stone wall, and commercial shop in al-Walaja — one of the key areas around Jerusalem that the zionist movement is targeting. Two families comprising 14 people, including eight children, were affected by the demolition. The demolition also destroyed a parked car and uprooted six trees.

November 13, 2024 | West Bank, Area C, Beit Ummar

Israeli forces demolished two residential houses, an agricultural room, pool, shade structure, stone wall, and confiscated an agricultural container. Five families, totaling 31 people including 13 children, were affected. The partial demolition of a three-story building caused cracks in a nearby family home. Agricultural tools and water tanks were also destroyed.

November 13, 2024 | West Bank, Area C, Kardala

The Israeli military demolished a 130m² under-construction residential structure, affecting a family of eight, including three children. The house, built in 2023, had received a stop-work order and final demolition order despite attempts to obtain a building permit.

November 13, 2024 | East Jerusalem, Silwan

The Israeli Jerusalem municipality demolished a residential building housing the Al Bustan-Silwan Association community center. One household of three, including a pregnant woman and child, was displaced, and another household of six was affected. The demolition disrupted services for approximately 1,000 community members and was part of an ongoing Israeli settlement expansion project.