West Bank: German funding and new settlement plans expand Israeli control

Investigations and recent government approvals indicate expanding Israeli control over the West Bank and East Jerusalem. A report by German student solidarity organizations, including Not In Our Name and Academic Opposition, alleges that the German government surreptitiously funded academic research that facilitates settlement expansion.

Between 2017 and 2021, Berlin reportedly provided over €1.8 million to a consortium led by the Technical University of Berlin, alongside the universities of Göttingen and Würzburg. The MedWater project developed a tool to model the impact of water well placement. This technology was subsequently transferred to Israel’s national water company, aiding in identifying locations for new wells in territories where Palestinian water sources are frequently demolished.

Simultaneously, the Israeli government has granted final approval for a new settlement plan in the E1 area of the West Bank, east of Jerusalem. The plan includes tenders for approximately 1,200 housing units. Analysts note that development in E1 would effectively bisect the West Bank, separating Ramallah from Bethlehem and isolating East Jerusalem from the rest of the territory. While nearly two dozen Western nations have condemned the move, Israeli officials, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have signaled intent to continue settlement expansion.