Israeli ministers celebrate Sa-Nur settlement reopening, signaling policy shift

Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Israel Katz attended the reopening of the Sa-Nur settlement in the occupied West Bank, nearly 21 years after its evacuation in 2005. Smotrich stated, "On this exciting day, we celebrate a historic correction to the criminal expulsion," and declared that Israeli authorities were also "burying the idea of a Palestinian state." The government has approved 126 housing units in the settlement, with 16 families having moved in.

The re-establishment of Sa-Nur is part of a broader trend of settlement expansion under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition, which has seen increased approvals since the October 7, 2023, escalation of violence. Yossi Dagan, head of the West Bank Settlements Council, described his return to Sa-Nur as a "personal closing of a circle," emphasizing the permanence of the settlement's re-establishment. The Israeli government has recognized several illegal outposts as settlements, further complicating the prospects for a Palestinian state.

Power Read: The reopening of Sa-Nur enhances the leverage of the Israeli government and settler movement, signaling a definitive shift away from any negotiations for a Palestinian state. This move exposes the fragility of international law regarding settlements, as Israel continues to expand its presence in the West Bank. The approval of new settlements since the formation of the current government indicates a strategic play to solidify control over contested territories, while Palestinian authorities face increased challenges in asserting their claims.

What to watch: The upcoming decisions regarding further settlement expansions and their impact on Israeli-Palestinian relations will be crucial.