Israel Resettles “Ganim” Settlement East of Jenin 21 Years After Its Evacuation

 

GHLands : Jenin – Israel began re-establishing the settlement of Ganim, east of Jenin, on Thursday, more than two decades after it was evacuated as part of the 2005 “Disengagement Plan.” The move comes amid a broader expansion of settlement activity in the northern occupied West Bank, alongside the demolition of Palestinian structures and the construction of roads linking settlements and newly established outposts.

According to an announcement by the Samaria Regional Council, around 30 settler families moved into the site on Thursday to take up permanent residence. A branch of a religious school affiliated with the Bnei David institutions is also expected to open at the site on Sunday.

Cooperation to Re-establish the Settlement

The re-establishment of Ganim is being carried out in cooperation between the Samaria Regional Council, the Amana settler movement, the Israeli Settlement Ministry and the Settlement Division.

Ganim was one of four settlements evacuated by Israel in the northern West Bank in 2005, alongside Kadim, Homesh and Sa-Nur, as part of the same disengagement process that also involved the evacuation of Israeli settlements from the Gaza Strip.

Return to Ganim After an Israeli Decision

The move follows an Israeli decision issued about a year ago allowing settlers to return to areas from which the four settlements had been evacuated.

The process has been promoted by Israeli Finance Minister and minister within the Defense Ministry Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz, as part of efforts to restore Israeli settlement presence in areas evacuated in 2005.

Settlement Expansion Accompanied by Demolitions and Road Construction

The re-establishment of Ganim is taking place alongside the demolition of Palestinian structures and the construction of roads intended to connect settlements and outposts across the northern West Bank.

The developments have raised concerns among Palestinians that the return to previously evacuated settlement sites forms part of a broader effort to expand settlements and create new realities on the ground, particularly in areas surrounding Jenin Governorate.