The New Dark Age

Thursday, 9 April 2026 — The Cradle

Israel’s security cabinet has approved, in secret, the construction of 34 new settlements in the occupied West Bank during the US-Israeli war on Iran, according to i24 News and other Israeli media reports.

According to the Times of Israel, the approval took place in a meeting two weeks ago.

Some of the approved sites are located within Palestinian “enclaves” in the northern West Bank and in remote areas rarely accessed even by the Israeli military. The move marks one of the largest single approvals of settlements, bringing the total number of newly approved settlements in recent decisions to 103.

Israeli army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir reportedly attended the meeting and did not openly oppose the decision but raised concerns over manpower shortages, suggesting a phased implementation. His position was reportedly not adopted, and the plan was passed. The decision was also kept confidential to avoid potential US pressure during the war.

Among the settlements approved are “Noa” and “Emek Dotan,” to be built within Palestinian areas between Zones A and B in the northern West Bank, linking existing settlements. A controversial clause reportedly allows for the construction of water and electricity infrastructure even before legalizing the land status, meaning infrastructure would be established prior to formal approval under Israeli law.

The Colonization & Wall Resistance Commission condemned the move, saying Israel is planning to establish 34 new settlement sites in a “highly dangerous escalation” in the expansion of settlements on Palestinian land. It said the decision represents an attempt to impose irreversible facts on the ground, fragment Palestinian geography, isolate communities, and entrench creeping annexation, in direct violation of international law, which considers settlements illegal.