Al-Azhar headquarters in Cairo
In a statement on Tuesday, the observatory said it was following reports published by the Hebrew-language outlet Srugim indicating that Israeli authorities are preparing to rebuild the Sanur settlement, nearly 20 years after it was evacuated under Israel's Disengagement Plan.
The observatory said the reported move comes within the broader framework of expanding Israeli settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territories, following political and grassroots efforts led by settlers and backed by prominent Israeli figures.
According to the report, an initial phase would involve relocating around 16 families to the site, with plans for further expansion during the summer.
Preparations have reportedly already begun, including the installation of mobile housing units and basic infrastructure such as water, transport, and services, while work continues on electricity networks and road construction.
The relocation is expected to take place on 19 April.
The initiative is reportedly being led by Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, who was among those evacuated from the settlement in 2005. He has described the planned return as a “historical correction.”
The project is also said to enjoy backing from senior Israeli officials, including far-right ministers such as Bezalel Smotrich and Israel Katz, who have advocated expanding Israeli sovereignty and re-establishing a presence in the northern West Bank.
The observatory warned that such steps could amount to de facto annexation of parts of the West Bank, undermining the viability of an independent Palestinian state and imposing new demographic realities through the expansion of settlement outposts.
It added that these developments risk further inflaming tensions on the ground, potentially leading to renewed instability in the West Bank amid continued Palestinian grievances over land confiscation and settlement expansion.
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