Israel to expand ‘enormous tourism potential’ in occupied West Bank

ISLAMABAD: The Israeli government on Sunday realized the “enormous tourism potential in Judea and Samaria," commonly referred to as the West Bank which has been illegally occupied by Tel Aviv since 1967, and decided to expand further into the territory, a week after Israel cabinet approved 13 new settlements.

The plan, worth $9 million, will expand the hotel industry in occupied West Bank and include funding for hotel planning and grants to encourage the construction, expansion and conversion of lodging facilities, Israeli newspaper the Haaretz reported.

Tourism Minister Haim Katz said that the government "will lead a comprehensive process that combines planning, infrastructure development, the creation of a land inventory for hotels and a dedicated track to encourage the construction of hotels." 

Initiative would help "realize the enormous tourism potential in Judea and Samaria," he said. 

Cabinet approves 13 new settlements in occupied West Bank

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has increased expansion into West Bank with the Security Cabinet approving 13 new settlements in the central occupied West Bank.

Israel's Channel 7 reported that the government had approved the construction of the new illegal settlements in the “Binyamin” regional area, with the implementation of the first phase expected to begin in the coming months.

According to Palestinian Wafa news agency, the Jerusalem Governorate warned of the approval, saying that the move aimed at expanding illegal settlement activity, reshaping the geography of the central occupied West Bank, and further isolating Jerusalem from its Palestinian surroundings.

In a statement, the governorate said the decision reflects a broader Israeli policy of accelerating settlement expansion and land seizure, particularly during election periods, when, it said, Palestinian land and lives become part of Israeli political competition.

Unprecedented expansion

According to the Palestinian Center for Israeli Studies (Madar), Israeli settlement outposts expanded at an unprecedented pace in recent years, with the annual average rising from eight between 2012 and 2022 to 32 in 2023, 62 in 2024 and 86 during 2025.

The expansion has been funded by the state with Israeli government allocating $7.5 million in 2023 and $20 million in 2024.

Crime against humanity have increased against Palestinians with Israel last month diverting water used by Palestinian farmers, seizing an archaeological site in the Jordan Valley and filling an ancient pool to turn it into a tourist attraction. 

In a report published by Israeli Human Rights organization B'Tselem, the Israeli government killed 1,086 Palestinians in the West Bank since the Israeli bombardment of Gaza started on October 7, out of which 241 were children and teenagers. 

Palestinian ministry says Israeli forces kill teen in West Bank

Separately, the Palestinian health ministry said Israeli forces fatally shot a 16-year-old boy in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, the second reported killing of a Palestinian teenager within a week.

Two other boys, both aged 14, were injured in the incident at the Qalandia refugee camp near Ramallah, the ministry said.

"Sixteen year old Waleed Nidal Waleed Abu Sneineh was pronounced dead after being shot by Israeli forces," the ministry said.

"Two other children sustained gunshot wounds to... lower limbs in the same incident."

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.