One year of the Bennett-Lapid government
"The government of unequivocal annexation."
Jerusalem24 – Peace Now recently published a report showing that despite its explicit commitment to a status quo in all matters related to the occupation, the year-old coalition not only has continued the policies set by the previous Netanyahu governments but also entrenched the settlement project, and furthered the dispossession and oppression of Palestinians in the occupied territories.
Plans were approved for 7,292 housing units under Bennett’s government compared to 5,784 under Netanyahu’s, a 26% increase. A 62% increase in the actual construction of settlement units was also documented under Bennett.
Six new illegal outposts have also been founded in the past year: Givat Hadegel in the south Hebron hills, Karnei Re’em in the Salfit area, Mevo’ot Jericho Farm north of Jericho, Julius Farm in the northern Jordan Valley, and the Ohavey-Ya outpost west of Bethlehem.
The Bennett-Lapid coalition has been called upon several times concerning the issue of displacement of Palestinian families in East Jerusalem. The Supreme Court sought the Attorney General’s position on the issue, and in fact gave the government a convenient opportunity to assist in preventing the massive expropriation. The government however preferred not to intervene and even supported the evictions.
The coalition also expanded the policy of displacing Palestinians and pushing them into constrained enclaves in Areas A and B of the West Bank. In Area C, as of 6 June 2022, the Civil Administration had demolished 639 Palestinian-owned structures, causing 604 people to lose their home. This marks a 35% increase in demolitions compared to the Netanyahu years (474 structures per annum).
In East Jerusalem, 189 structures were demolished leading 450 Palestinians to become homeless, a 59% increase over Netanyanhu. In addition, the past year has seen attempts to displace entire communities in Humsa and in Ras Al-Tin in the Jordan Valley, and in Masafer Yatta in the south Hebron Hills.
To read the full report click here.
