Israel Reopens Kadim Settlement After 20 Years as New Generation of Settlers Returns to Northern West Bank Amid Growing Fears Among Palestinians

A new generation of Israeli settlers has returned to Kadim in the occupied West Bank, 20 years after the settlement was evacuated by a previous Israeli government. Around 30 families arrived at the former settlement near Jenin, backed by senior members of Israel’s current government, as the country moves to expand its settlement presence across the northern West Bank.

Kadim was one of four Israeli settlements in the area dismantled in 2005 as part of then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s unilateral disengagement plan. The policy also saw Israel withdraw its settlers and military forces from the Gaza Strip. The four northern West Bank settlements were considered isolated and expensive to protect, and Israelis were subsequently prohibited from returning to them.

Israel’s current government has since overturned that restriction. Kadim is now the last of the four settlements to reopen, following the return of settlers to Ganim, Sanur and Homesh.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, one of the Israeli government’s strongest supporters of settlement expansion, attended the reopening ceremony alongside other senior politicians. He described the return as correcting what he called the “crime” of the 2005 evacuation and said settlers had reclaimed the area.

For Palestinians living nearby, however, the return has created anxiety about their land, homes and freedom of movement. Residents interviewed by the BBC described increasing pressure around their communities, including reports of settlers filming Palestinian families, shining powerful lights into homes and attempting to enter properties.

The reopening of Kadim is part of a much wider settlement drive. According to Peace Now, more than 100 new settlements have been approved across the West Bank since Israel’s current government came to power in late 2022, including 19 in the northern part of the territory.

The expansion is also happening alongside increased Israeli military activity around Jenin. Two new military bases are being constructed in the area, while the Israeli military has confirmed the construction of an outpost near Jenin Refugee Camp, saying it was required for operational purposes.

The developments have raised concerns among Palestinian officials that the combination of settlements, military infrastructure and new roads could reshape the area and further restrict Palestinian movement.

Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are considered illegal under international law by the United Nations and most of the international community. Israel disputes this position and argues that Jews have historical, religious and legal rights to the territory.

The return to Kadim therefore carries significance beyond the arrival of several dozen families. It represents the reversal of a policy that had kept the area free of Israeli settlements for two decades and comes as Israel’s government pursues a broader expansion of settlements across the West Bank.