The Har Hebron Regional Council has announced plans to establish two new communities and six agricultural farms in the southern Hebron Hills following Friday's deadly terrorist attack near Hebron, in which two IDF soldiers were killed. The initiative, which includes eight new settlement sites across the region, is being advanced with the support of the Defense Ministry's Settlement Administration and the Amana settlement movement. The council said the plan is intended to strengthen Israel's presence in the area, establish territorial continuity, protect state land, and improve security along roads and in open areas.
The two planned communities are Magad, located between Negohot and Eshkolot, and Nofei Gulot, between Otniel and Afeka. Six agricultural farms are also planned at locations throughout the regional council. Mitzpe Tzur Farm will be established near Telem, close to the site of Friday's attack. Noi Farm is planned between Karmei Yehuda and Adora, while Lev Amit Farm will be located between the new community of Makeda and Adora. Three additional farms will be established in other parts of the region: Eshel Farm between Negohot and Eshkolot, near the planned community of Magad; Lema'an Achai Farm between Otniel and Shima; and Mitzpe Or Farm between Carmel and a nature reserve in the Judean Desert.
Har Hebron Regional Council head Eliram Azulai said, "Terrorism seeks to destroy lives, spread fear, and undermine our hold on our homeland, but our historic and Zionist response is being written on the ground. We will not retreat or give in," Azulai said. "Out of the immense pain and grief over the loss of our heroic soldiers, we choose life and deepen our roots. The establishment of two communities and six farms sends a clear message: We are here to stay, build, and grow," he added.
Arutz Sheva reports a plan for eight new settlement sites in the southern Hebron Hills and never tells its reader that the land is occupied West Bank or that the ICJ has found the settlements illegal and the occupation unlawful. The headline calls the settlements "towns" and "farms", and the outlet calls them "communities" in its own voice.
Hedges the documented record
Severe
“The initiative, which includes eight new settlement sites across the region, is being advanced with the support of the Defense Ministry's Settlement Administration and the Amana settlement movement.”
Why this matters
The sentence reports eight new settlement sites, backed by a state body and a settler movement, as ordinary planning news. It gives no word on their legal status.
The impression it gives
A reader takes the new settlements as a lawful local development decision.
The context
The International Court of Justice found Israel's settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law and its occupation unlawful. The article turns on new settlements and never says either.
How we know
On the recordThe International Court of Justice's July 2024 advisory opinion found Israel's settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal under international law.icj-cij.org (opens in a new tab)
On the recordThe International Court of Justice's July 2024 advisory opinion found Israel's occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem unlawful.icj-cij.org (opens in a new tab)
Checked against the whole articleIt never uses the words “illegal”, “unlawful”, “international law” and “occupation”.
The article places the plan in "the southern Hebron Hills" and never names the occupied West Bank.
The impression it gives
A reader is not told that the land where the settlements will go is occupied Palestinian territory.
The context
The southern Hebron Hills lie in the occupied West Bank, an occupation the ICJ has ruled unlawful. The words occupied and West Bank appear nowhere in the article.
How we know
On the recordThe International Court of Justice's July 2024 advisory opinion found Israel's occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem unlawful.icj-cij.org (opens in a new tab)
Checked against the whole articleIt never uses the words “occupied” and “West Bank”.
The Har Hebron Regional Council announced plans for eight new settlement sites in the occupied West Bank. The International Court of Justice has found the settlements illegal under international law and the occupation unlawful.
Uses the occupation's words
Serious
“Two towns and six farms”
Why this matters
The headline calls the planned settlements "towns" and "farms".
The impression it gives
A reader of the headline thinks of ordinary villages and agriculture, not settlements on occupied land.
The context
The article's own body calls them settlement sites. The ICJ has found such settlements illegal.
How we know
Elsewhere in the article“includes eight new settlement sites across the region”
On the recordThe International Court of Justice's July 2024 advisory opinion found Israel's settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal under international law.icj-cij.org (opens in a new tab)
In its own voice the outlet calls the two planned settlements "communities".
The impression it gives
A reader takes them for neutral residential places.
The context
The next sentence shows they are settlement sites advanced with the Settlement Administration and the Amana settlement movement.
How we know
Elsewhere in the article“the Amana settlement movement”
On the recordThe International Court of Justice's July 2024 advisory opinion found Israel's settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal under international law.icj-cij.org (opens in a new tab)