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 occupied southern Hebron Hills and calls them towns and communities. It never says the land is occupied or that the settlements are illegal under international law. It closes on the council head's claim that settlers are here to stay, with nothing against it.
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 outlet names eight new settlement sites, backed by a ministry body and the Amana movement, as a routine state planning step. It gives no word on their legal status.
The impression it gives
A reader takes this as lawful planning that any state might carry out on its own territory.
The context
The ICJ found Israel's settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law and the occupation itself unlawful. The whole article turns on building settlements, yet it never says occupied, illegal or international law.
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”, “occupied”, “international law” and “unlawful”.
The Har Hebron Regional Council announced eight new settlement sites in the occupied West Bank, backed by the Defence Ministry's Settlement Administration and the Amana movement. The International Court of Justice has found such settlements illegal under international law.
Gives a contested claim the last word
Serious
“We are here to stay, build, and grow”
Why this matters
The article ends on the council head's claim of a permanent right to build, after he calls the area "our homeland", with nothing after it.
The impression it gives
A reader leaves believing settlement here is a settled and legitimate right.
The context
The ICJ found the settlements illegal and the occupation unlawful. The article gives no word of this anywhere, so the claim stands unanswered.
How we know
Elsewhere in the article“undermine our hold on our homeland”
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)
Azulai said settlers were "here to stay". The International Court of Justice has ruled the occupation unlawful and the settlements illegal.
Uses the occupation's words
Minor
“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 ordinary towns and farms are being built.
The context
The outlet's own body calls them settlement sites, advanced by a settlement movement in occupied territory. The headline drops that word.
How we know
Elsewhere in the article“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)
“two new communities and six agricultural farms in the southern Hebron Hills”
Why this matters
In its own voice the outlet calls the settlements communities and places them in the southern Hebron Hills, with no mention of the West Bank or occupation.
The impression it gives
A reader thinks these are new neighbourhoods inside Israel.
The context
The southern Hebron Hills lie in the occupied West Bank, and the outlet itself calls these sites settlements. The article never uses the words West Bank or occupied.
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 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem unlawful.icj-cij.org (opens in a new tab)
The outlet again calls a settlement a community, as if it were a settled neighbourhood.
The impression it gives
A reader takes Makeda as an established local town.
The context
Makeda sits among the settlements the article describes in occupied territory, which the ICJ found illegal.
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)
“Har Hebron Regional Council head Eliram Azulai said”
Why this matters
The only voice in the article is the settler council head, quoted over four sentences.
The impression it gives
A reader hears only the settlers' case for the new sites.
The context
No Palestinian voice appears, and Palestinians are not mentioned at all, though the sites are planned in occupied territory where they live.
How we know
On the recordReporting on Israel's assault on Gaza and on the Greens' Zionism motion has given Israeli, pro-Israel and Israeli-government sources far more space than Palestinian voices, who are quoted least when the story concerns them.newscord.org (opens in a new tab)
Checked against the whole articleIt never uses the words “Palestinian”.