Gaza Herald – Israeli authorities have established a new settlement named Shalim on the lands of Salem village east of Nablus in the northern West Bank. Yossi Dagan, head of the Northern West Bank Regional Council, officially opened the outpost as twelve families moved into their homes. This marks the ninth settlement established in the region in less than a year.
Dagan announced plans to build nineteen settlements in the northern West Bank to connect existing colonies. The new outpost sits on elevated terrain overlooking Salem, Beit Fureik, and Beit Dajan. It is located approximately 2.9 kilometers from Alon Moriah and near Route 555, placing it within the eastern Nablus settlement bloc alongside Eitam.
Jamal Jumaa, an expert on settlement affairs, stated that the outpost aims to displace residents and prevent access to agricultural land. He explained that these outposts encircle citizens within villages, stripping them of property and livelihoods. Jumaa noted that many settlements bear historical Palestinian names to create confusion regarding prior presence and erase cultural heritage.
He described the expansion as part of a strategic plan to annex the West Bank and fragment Palestinian communities. According to Jumaa, settlers are seizing land by force without legal justification, effectively stealing territory in broad daylight. He added that nearly one million dunams were appropriated over the past three years, representing roughly one-sixth of the total area.
The threat extends beyond Zone C, which comprises sixty-two percent of the West Bank, into Zone B areas. Jumaa warned that this systematic control targets olive groves, a primary source of income for farmers who lack alternative employment opportunities. The seasonal harvest remains critical for survival amid restricted movement and economic hardship.
Production from livestock herds is also under siege. More than eighty percent of animal production originates from Bedouin communities in the Jordan Valley and Masafer Yatta. Over twenty-five such groups have been displaced, further endangering plant and animal resources through land confiscation.
Hassan Milahat, general supervisor at Al-Badour Human Rights Organization, condemned the establishment of Shalim as an escalation targeting Palestinian rights. He urged immediate protection for Salem residents and accountability for officials responsible for violations. Milahat emphasized that the outpost increases risks to agricultural lands and threatens future access for local owners.
Salem covers approximately twelve thousand dunams, with eight thousand situated behind the separation barrier under strict military control. The continued construction of outposts isolates populations within enclaves comprising less than thirty percent of the West Bank’s surface area.
This report was produced in the Gaza Herald newsroom.
