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Israeli Settlers Return to Sa-Nur Site in Northern West Bank
Israeli settlers have returned to the site of Sa-Nur, a settlement dismantled in 2005 during Israel's withdrawal from parts of the West Bank and Gaza. The re-establishment forms part of a surge in new settlement approvals under the current right-wing government.
May 11, 8:45 AM·2m read2 sources
AJ
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Israeli settlers have moved into approximately ten prefabricated white bungalows, each roughly 90 square meters, at the site of Sa-Nur in the northern West Bank. The location was evacuated by the Israeli government in 2005 along with three other small settlements in the area and all Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip.
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” He told the outlet he believes the land is Jewish, pointing from his window to surrounding houses and olive groves belonging to what he called Arab villages. The same resident stated, “I don’t want people to think I’m special. My personal story doesn’t matter.
Construction activity has continued at the hilltop site, with workers repairing electricity poles and bulldozers moving earth. Children’s bicycles, laundry, and household items were visible outside the homes. A far-right minister attended an official reopening ceremony last month.
Settlement approvals have risen from three between 2013 and 2022 to 54 in 2025 and 34 so far in 2026, according to the Israeli NGO Peace Now. More than 500,000 Israelis now live in settlements, outposts and related infrastructure across the West Bank, a territory that is also home to roughly three million Palestinians.
The Israeli army maintains checkpoints and oversight in the area, including a dirt road leading to the site. Residents at Sa-Nur generally limit contact with foreign media, viewing coverage as hostile, though AFP gained rare access. One resident recounted an instance in which young Palestinians helped him when his vehicle was stuck in traffic and rejected the idea that local Palestinians were hostile.
