Jerusalem, December 17, 2025 – Israeli authorities are expected to advance plans to construct 9,000 new housing units in the Atarot neighborhood on the site of the abandoned Qalandiya airport in occupied East Jerusalem, according to advocacy group Peace Now. The move, critics say, threatens the prospect of a contiguous Palestinian state and risks further escalating tensions in the region.

Expansion Plans and Strategic Objectives

The proposed settlement, reminiscent of the controversial E1 plan, aims to establish an Israeli enclave within a densely populated Palestinian area. The development would stretch from Ramallah in the West Bank through Kafr Aqab, Qalandiya refugee camp, ar-Ram, Beit Hanina, and Bir Nabala, effectively cutting off Palestinian communities from one another.

“This is a destructive plan that, if implemented, would prevent any possibility of connecting East Jerusalem with the surrounding Palestinian areas and would, in practice, hinder the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel,” Peace Now stated.

The Atarot project would be built on land largely designated as “state land” by Israeli authorities, bypassing the need for approval from Palestinian landowners. The District Planning and Building Committee is set to discuss and potentially approve the project’s outlines this Wednesday.

Political and Historical Context

The far-right government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pursued aggressive settlement expansion, which many international observers view as undermining peace negotiations and the feasibility of a two-state solution. Peace Now highlighted that the plan’s bureaucratic preparation began in early 2020 but faced objections from Israel’s Environmental Protection and Health ministries and previous U.S. administrations.

Israel has been advancing numerous projects in the West Bank alongside ongoing military operations in Gaza, which have resulted in tens of thousands of casualties since October 2023. The expansion of Atarot forms part of a broader strategy, critics say, to consolidate Israeli control over occupied territories.

Demolitions and Settler Violence

Israeli forces continue to conduct raids across the West Bank, demolishing Palestinian homes and issuing permits to settlers. Recent operations in Biddu, northwest of East Jerusalem, targeted structures deemed lacking permits. In the central West Bank, settlers—often backed by Israeli military units—have burned Palestinian vehicles and vandalized property with racist graffiti in villages such as Ein Yabrud.

Authorities in the Nur Shams refugee camp announced plans to demolish 25 residential buildings this week, reflecting a continuing pattern of displacement and restrictions on Palestinian housing development.

International Response and Legal Concerns

The expansion of settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank has drawn widespread international criticism. The United Nations, the European Union, and numerous human rights organizations have condemned Israeli settlement activity as illegal under international law and an obstacle to a lasting peace agreement.

Experts warn that continued settlement construction, coupled with demolition campaigns and annexation efforts, risks making a viable Palestinian state increasingly unlikely.

Implications for the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

The Atarot settlement project underscores the growing challenges to the two-state solution, as Israel consolidates control over strategic areas in East Jerusalem. Analysts suggest that these developments may further inflame tensions, disrupt Palestinian communities, and complicate future negotiations over borders and sovereignty.

As the plan moves toward potential approval, the international community continues to call for restraint, dialogue, and adherence to international law to prevent further escalation and support the prospects of a negotiated peace.