Israel's 'Greater Jerusalem' Plan Threatens West Bank Communities Like Khan al-Ahmar

The Israeli government's far-right faction is pushing forward with plans to annex the impoverished Bedouin community of Khan al-Ahmar and surrounding West Bank territories into what it envisions as "Greater Jerusalem." This ambitious project, known as E1, involves creating a vast settlement bloc that would effectively bisect the West Bank. The stated goal is to solidify Israeli control over the area, isolate Jerusalem from Palestinian territories, and obstruct the formation of a contiguous Palestinian state.

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The situation this time is completely different and very dangerous.

Residents of Khan al-Ahmar, who have long faced demolition orders, are increasingly worried about their future. Eid al-Jahalin, known as Abu Khamis and head of the Bedouin council, expressed deep concern, stating the situation is "completely different and very dangerous" compared to past threats. He noted that while Palestinians were united in their resistance in 2018, the current climate, particularly since the events of Oct. 7, has seen increased Israeli aggression and a scattered Palestinian response.

Abu Khamis described the West Bank as having transformed into a "state of settlers," where "killing, displacement and fire" consume the region. He fears that the demolition of Khan al-Ahmar would pave the way for the "most dangerous plan in the West Bank." International attention and pressure, which were significant in 2018, seem diminished now, adding to the residents' anxieties. The community, accustomed to confronting Israeli threats, finds this latest push particularly alarming due to the intensified political climate and the perceived lack of unified international backing.

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After Oct. 7, Israel became more aggressive, and the West Bank has been turned into a state of settlers. This is a state war against us, not a problem caused by individuals.

The E1 project is a critical component of a larger strategy to reshape the West Bank's landscape, strengthening the presence of settlements and altering the geopolitical reality on the ground. For Palestinians, it represents a significant blow to their aspirations for statehood and self-determination, further complicating efforts to achieve a lasting peace.

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In the West Bank, we now have a thousand Khan al-Ahmars: killing, displacement and fire consuming every part of the West Bank, while the Palestinian effort is scattered.