Last month marked 21 years since Israel completed its disengagement from the Gaza Strip, which included the evacuation of all Israeli settlements in the area. Alongside Gaza, Israel also removed four settlements in the northern West Bank as part of the same policy. At the time, then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon envisaged this step as the beginning of a broader disengagement from parts of the West Bank. However, Sharon’s plans were halted after he suffered a severe stroke several months later, and the policy was never pursued further.

Since then, settlement activity in the West Bank has increased significantly, contributing to a complex and contentious political landscape. Under the current Israeli government, all four settlements removed from the northern West Bank have now been reestablished, a move seen by some observers as a symbolic act asserting control over these areas.

The original rationale for disengagement aimed to reduce tensions with the Palestinian population by retaining major settlement blocs near Israeli urban centers while withdrawing from less strategic or highly populated Palestinian areas. This approach was intended to leave some political space for a potential two-state solution. In contrast, the current government appears to prioritize expanding settlement presence even in densely populated Palestinian regions, particularly near cities such as Jenin and Nablus.

Human rights organizations report a surge in settlement approvals under the current administration. Israel’s Peace Now reports the authorization of 101 new settlements since the government took office. This tally includes previously unauthorized outposts that have been legalized and formerly designated settlement neighborhoods granted independent status, along with newly established settlements. Critics argue that this trajectory aims to undermine the feasibility of an independent Palestinian state and to move toward formal annexation of parts of the West Bank.

The expansion of settlements into primarily Palestinian-populated areas has led to increased friction, including heightened military deployment ostensibly to protect settlers. Observers note that this dynamic contributes to greater instability and instigates violence from both sides. Settler-related violence and land confiscations have reportedly increased, while legislation has been enacted to solidify Israeli control over disputed territories. Palestinian residents often confront restrictions and actions that exacerbate hardships on the ground.

The government’s approach has drawn sharp criticism from Palestinian groups and international observers, who describe this as a deliberate effort to provoke unrest and impose harsher measures in response. Some argue that the strategy is intended to pressure Palestinians into “voluntary migration,” thereby diminishing Palestinian claims to self-determination.

With tensions escalating, analysts warn that developments in the northern West Bank risk sparking further violence and regional instability. Many call on the international community to intervene or mediate to prevent a deepening humanitarian and political crisis. The experience of recent years underscores the potential consequences of allowing the situation in the West Bank to deteriorate unchecked, with significant human and political costs.