Settlement Timeline
Settlement Report | Vol. 7 No. 1 | January-February 1997- Clinton Administration Sharpens Focus on Settlements
- Settlers Demand More Tangible Support From Netanyahu
- To Our Readers
- Letter
- Settlement Timeline
- Short Takes
- U.S. Government Policy on Israeli Settlement in the Occupied Territories -- 1967-1996
- Peace Now Report Shows More Than 4,000 Units Under Construction in West Bank Settlements
- Back Panel Quote
November 17, 1996
Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai approves a $37 million project that includes the construction of 1,200 units at the settlement of Emanuel, southwest of Nablus. One hundred fifty units are unfrozen immediately. The second stage will see 500 units constructed, followed by a third stage of 700 units.
November 24
Traffic jams are caused at Gaza's Netzarim junction by Palestinian vehicles to force a change in an Israeli decision of November 1994 to close the road to Palestinian vehicles. Settlers are confined to Netzarim during the action.
November 25
Israeli forces move additional troops and tanks to the Nahal Oz area, just outside the Gaza Strip.
November 26
Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Yasser Arafat meets for 90 minutes with a delegation of ten settlers. Discussion focuses on joint business development opportunities and Hebron. Yesha (Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria, and the Gaza Strip) denounces the meeting.
December 2
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approves construction of 350 units and occupation of 100 previously "frozen" units in Jordan Valley settlements during a meeting with their settlers.
December 5
Israeli government spokesman David Bar Ilan says that permits have been given to occupy 100 empty units at the West Bank settlement of Kedumim. He denies other reports that approval had been given to construct 700 new units, but explains that licenses had been requested for 100 new units.
December 8
The Jerusalem District Planning Commission approves the construction of 132 units on 14 dunams in East Jerusalem's Ras al-Amud neighborhood. Ministerial approval is required for construction to begin.
December 11
Two Israeli residents of the West Bank settlement of Beit El are killed in a drive-by shooting near the settlement.
December 13
The Netanyahu cabinet approves the restoration of unspecified levels of benefits and subsidies to settlers and to manufacturing, industrial, and commercial enterprises locating in settlements, which will now enjoy "A"-level national priority area status. The Rabin government had earlier canceled or reduced some of these incentives.
December 18
Settlers from Beit El lay symbolic claim to a location east of their existing West Bank settlement on Artis Hill. The proposed new settlement--Maoz Tzur--is named after settlers killed on December 11.
December 24
Netanyahu promises to present any agreement on the army redeployment in Hebron to the cabinet before signing.
December 25
Netanyahu cabinet holds its first meeting on final status issues.
Netanyahu decides not to support the approval of construction of 6,500 planned units at Har Homa in East Jerusalem.
December 26
Settlers from Netzarim lay a cornerstone of Netzarim B adjacent to the existing settlement, where they plan to construct 160 units. No new construction had been approved by the government, however.
Arafat tells legislators that former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin assured him that the Hebron redeployment would lead eventually to the transfer of Hebron settlers to the nearby settlement of Kiryat Arba.
December 31
Israeli Finance Minister Dan Meridor announces that tens of millions of shekels are to be allocated for settlement expansion in the Golan Heights and Jordan Valley, including construction of 300 units in the Golan.
January 1, 1997
An off-duty Israeli soldier wounds six Palestinians in a shooting attack in Hebron.
January 2
Seven mobile homes are placed at Maoz Tzur.
January 5
The mobile homes are removed from Maoz Tzur as part of an understanding with Defense Minister Mordechai to enlarge the settlement of Beit El.
January 17
Israel redeploys its troops in the West Bank city of Hebron. The Israel Defense forces will continue to devote significant resources to protect the city's some 450 settlers.
Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai approves a $37 million project that includes the construction of 1,200 units at the settlement of Emanuel, southwest of Nablus. One hundred fifty units are unfrozen immediately. The second stage will see 500 units constructed, followed by a third stage of 700 units.
November 24
Traffic jams are caused at Gaza's Netzarim junction by Palestinian vehicles to force a change in an Israeli decision of November 1994 to close the road to Palestinian vehicles. Settlers are confined to Netzarim during the action.
November 25
Israeli forces move additional troops and tanks to the Nahal Oz area, just outside the Gaza Strip.
November 26
Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Yasser Arafat meets for 90 minutes with a delegation of ten settlers. Discussion focuses on joint business development opportunities and Hebron. Yesha (Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria, and the Gaza Strip) denounces the meeting.
December 2
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approves construction of 350 units and occupation of 100 previously "frozen" units in Jordan Valley settlements during a meeting with their settlers.
December 5
Israeli government spokesman David Bar Ilan says that permits have been given to occupy 100 empty units at the West Bank settlement of Kedumim. He denies other reports that approval had been given to construct 700 new units, but explains that licenses had been requested for 100 new units.
December 8
The Jerusalem District Planning Commission approves the construction of 132 units on 14 dunams in East Jerusalem's Ras al-Amud neighborhood. Ministerial approval is required for construction to begin.
December 11
Two Israeli residents of the West Bank settlement of Beit El are killed in a drive-by shooting near the settlement.
December 13
The Netanyahu cabinet approves the restoration of unspecified levels of benefits and subsidies to settlers and to manufacturing, industrial, and commercial enterprises locating in settlements, which will now enjoy "A"-level national priority area status. The Rabin government had earlier canceled or reduced some of these incentives.
December 18
Settlers from Beit El lay symbolic claim to a location east of their existing West Bank settlement on Artis Hill. The proposed new settlement--Maoz Tzur--is named after settlers killed on December 11.
December 24
Netanyahu promises to present any agreement on the army redeployment in Hebron to the cabinet before signing.
December 25
Netanyahu cabinet holds its first meeting on final status issues.
Netanyahu decides not to support the approval of construction of 6,500 planned units at Har Homa in East Jerusalem.
December 26
Settlers from Netzarim lay a cornerstone of Netzarim B adjacent to the existing settlement, where they plan to construct 160 units. No new construction had been approved by the government, however.
Arafat tells legislators that former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin assured him that the Hebron redeployment would lead eventually to the transfer of Hebron settlers to the nearby settlement of Kiryat Arba.
December 31
Israeli Finance Minister Dan Meridor announces that tens of millions of shekels are to be allocated for settlement expansion in the Golan Heights and Jordan Valley, including construction of 300 units in the Golan.
January 1, 1997
An off-duty Israeli soldier wounds six Palestinians in a shooting attack in Hebron.
January 2
Seven mobile homes are placed at Maoz Tzur.
January 5
The mobile homes are removed from Maoz Tzur as part of an understanding with Defense Minister Mordechai to enlarge the settlement of Beit El.
January 17
Israel redeploys its troops in the West Bank city of Hebron. The Israel Defense forces will continue to devote significant resources to protect the city's some 450 settlers.
