A specialized Israeli committee is slated to discuss the approval of two contentious settlement plans in Jerusalem, according to the Jerusalem Governorate, the highest Palestinian official representation in the occupied city. The plans, described as “dangerous,” are poised to further escalate tensions in the already volatile region.
The Israeli District Planning and Building Committee in Jerusalem is scheduled to deliberate on the approval of these settlement schemes. One of the plans targets the former Jerusalem International Airport site (Qalandia Airport), proposing the construction of approximately 9,000 settlement units north of Jerusalem. This project, sprawling across an estimated 1,243 dunams (approximately 307 acres), is feared to create a substantial colonial barrier, severing the geographical connection between Jerusalem and Ramallah.
This development poses a significant threat to the possibility of an independent Palestinian state with geographical contiguity. The discussion of this plan was initially scheduled for December 2025 but was postponed due to political considerations. Its reintroduction to the committee’s agenda signals a renewed push for its implementation.
Critically, the plan would further isolate Palestinian communities on either side of the separation barrier, effectively creating a human settlement blockade. It also aligns with the Israeli concept of “Greater Jerusalem,” which aims to annex approximately 10% of the West Bank, according to the Governorate.
In the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Jerusalem, the committee will also discuss the “Nahalat Shimon” plan, specifically targeting the Al-Naqa’ area. This plan involves the demolition of the neighborhood and the construction of a settlement spanning approximately 17 dunams, comprising 316 settlement units on the ruins of homes belonging to around 40 Palestinian families.
The Jerusalem Governorate has warned that the events unfolding in Sheikh Jarrah are not isolated incidents but rather part of a systematic policy aimed at reshaping the neighborhood demographically and architecturally. These actions are viewed as part of a broader effort to solidify Israeli control over Jerusalem and undermine Palestinian claims to the city.
Efforts are reportedly underway to connect these projects with settlement outposts in the eastern part of the city, further consolidating Israeli presence and fragmenting Palestinian communities.
