Israel Approves 126 Housing Units for Reestablished Sa-Nur Settlement in Northern West Bank

Israel's Higher Planning Committee approves 126 new homes in Sa-Nur, reversing the 2005 evacuation policy in the northern West Bank.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 29, 2026, 5:45 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Times of Israel

Government Greenlights Expansion for Resettled Outpost

The Higher Planning Committee of the Civil Administration, operating under the Ministry of Defense, officially approved construction plans for 126 housing units in Sa-Nur this week. The decision provides a permanent structural framework for the settlement, which was reoccupied by Israeli residents just last week following a government authorization issued in May 2025. Currently, 16 families are residing in prefabricated structures on the site, awaiting the formal development of these permanent residential facilities in the northern West Bank.

Reversing the Legacy of the 2005 Disengagement

Sa-Nur holds significant historical weight as one of the four northern West Bank settlements evacuated during the 2005 Disengagement Plan, a policy originally designed to reduce the Israeli security footprint and facilitate Palestinian territorial continuity. By reestablishing a presence in this isolated sector, the current administration is effectively dismantling the geographical constraints set over twenty years ago. Among the returning residents is Yossi Dagan, chairman of the Samaria District Council, who was among those forcibly removed from the location during the initial 2005 evacuation.

Strategic Influence of the Settlement Administration

The approval process was heavily influenced by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also serves as a minister within the Defense Ministry with oversight of the Settlements Administration. This unique administrative structure places the Civil Administration under civilian leadership answerable to Smotrich, granting him effective control over planning and development in the region. Following the committee's decision, Smotrich characterized the approval as a definitive signal of Israel’s intent to maintain a permanent and growing presence in the Samaria region.