Israel declares 182 dunams in Bethlehem and Hebron as state land

Israeli authorities have declared 182.81 dunams of Palestinian land in the towns of Battir, Sa'ir, and ash-Shuyukh as ‘state land’. The decision, signed by the Civil Administration’s official for government and abandoned property, aims to facilitate the establishment of the ‘Bar Kochba’ and ‘Bnei Kedem’ settlements.

The first declaration covers 64.06 dunams in Battir, located in the Bethlehem governorate. This area is part of the ‘Bar Kochba’ project, which originated from the ‘Nahal Hilts’ plan and the ‘Naveh Ori’ agricultural outpost. The Israeli government had previously approved the establishment of a settlement at this site in June 2024.

The second declaration involves 118.75 dunams in the Sa'ir and ash-Shuyukh areas within the Hebron governorate. This land is designated for the ‘Bnei Kedem’ project. Formerly an outpost seeking legalization as part of the ‘Mitzad/Asfar’ settlement, the Israeli Cabinet approved its conversion into an independent settlement in December 2025.

The Wall and Settlement Against the Barrier organization stated that these measures represent a systematic process of expanding settlement control, transforming field presence into institutionalized control, and fragmenting Palestinian geography.