Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich instructed the Settlement Administration to expedite the establishment of the Shalem settlement, approved by the cabinet, located near the site of a recent terror attack near Itamar in Samaria, according to Channel 12. He also directed the Civil Administration to advance mapping and demolition of illegal construction in the area, citing the need to strengthen governance and security.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich issued directives on Thursday afternoon in response to a terror attack near the settlement of Itamar in Samaria, according to Channel 12. Smotrich instructed the Settlement Administration to accelerate the establishment of the Shalem settlement, which was previously approved by the political-security cabinet and is located near the attack site. Separately, he ordered the Civil Administration to begin mapping and demolishing illegal construction in the area, describing the move as intended to strengthen governance and security.
The directives come amid an ongoing push by Smotrich to expand Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria. The Zioneer has previously reported on the cabinet's approval of Shalem as part of a broader settlement drive, as well as on Smotrich's warnings against international efforts to reverse these gains. The terror attack that triggered the latest instructions occurred earlier Thursday; details of the incident remain under investigation.
3 developments
- DevelopingParatrooper wounded in Samaria stabbing attack in light condition; Smotrich orders expedited settlement and demolitions
- DevelopingSmotrich visits fire-hit Havat Gilad, orders immediate property tax review
- DevelopingSmotrich repeats call to demolish buildings in Beirut's Dahiyeh today
- DevelopingSmotrich warns of EU-backed plot to reverse West Bank settlement drive
Source and signal
- Internal intake