Satellite Images Reveal New Israeli Settlement Outpost Under Construction in the Northern West Bank

As international attention remains focused on Israel's recent military confrontations on multiple fronts—from its war with Iran to the continuing escalation along the Lebanese border—the issue of Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank has largely faded from global headlines, despite ongoing and accelerating developments on the ground.

While military and security developments dominate international coverage, Israeli authorities and settlers continue creating new realities in the occupied Palestinian territories by expanding existing settlements and establishing new settlement outposts, in an effort to consolidate control over additional land and reshape the Palestinian geographic landscape.

Against this backdrop, Misbar's team at Al Araby TV analyzed satellite imagery that revealed a new Israeli settlement outpost under construction north of the Beit Horon settlement, west of Ramallah.

Geographic Location of the New Settlement Outpost

The new outpost is situated on elevated terrain north of Beit Horon, near the settlement bloc west of Ramallah Governorate, in an area overlooking open land that connects several settlement corridors in the western West Bank. The outpost, known as Ma'oz Tzur, is located at the coordinates 31°53'49.22"N, 35°07'13.96"E.

The outpost lies approximately two kilometers from Beit Horon and occupies a strategic position along the ridge extending between the Palestinian communities west of Ramallah, specifically Bil'in, Beit Ur al-Tahta, Beitunia, and Ein 'Arik, opposite the settlement bloc comprising Beit Horon, Dolev, and Talmon.

The strategic importance of the location stems from its position overlooking the dominant highlands and natural corridors connecting Palestinian villages, giving settlers the ability to monitor movement and exert control over the surrounding area. Establishing a permanent settlement outpost at this location also contributes to strengthening territorial continuity between Israeli settlements west of Ramallah by creating a new link connecting Beit Horon eastward with Dolev and Talmon to the north.

When and How Was the Outpost Established?

Analysis of satellite imagery shows that gradual settlement activity at the site began after June 29, 2025, with land leveling operations, the construction of access roads, and the opening of tracks leading to the location. During the following months, the project evolved into the construction of residential structures and permanent infrastructure in early 2026.

This pattern is consistent with the methods used to establish agricultural and pastoral settlement outposts that proliferated across the West Bank throughout 2025 and 2026. According to Peace Now, the site is identified as "Beit Horon North" or "Beit Karnaim Farm" and is classified as an agricultural settlement outpost established in 2025.

Satellite images captured between May 24 and July 28, 2025, reveal the first signs of activity at the site, including the construction of new dirt roads, land leveling across sections of the hills, the creation of access routes connecting the site to the existing road network, and the clearing of vegetation from parts of the area. 

These are considered typical indicators of the early stages of establishing new settlement outposts, which generally begin with preparing the terrain and ensuring access for heavy machinery.

Between August 19 and the end of 2025, satellite imagery reveals a noticeable expansion of the works, including the enlargement of the internal road network, the construction of operational and staging areas, the delineation of plots suitable for future construction, and increased engineering activity throughout the site.

This expansion coincided with an unprecedented wave of settlement outpost construction across the West Bank. According to Peace Now, 86 new settlement outposts were established during 2025, including dozens of agricultural and pastoral outposts.

Satellite images from early 2026 show the project entering a more advanced stage, with the appearance of new residential buildings, the construction of service infrastructure, the expansion of leveled areas designated for future development, and further growth of the internal road network.

The construction area now covers approximately 1.45 square kilometers, or 1,450 dunams, with a perimeter extending over four kilometers.

These developments indicate that the site has evolved from an emerging settlement point into a permanent residential settlement outpost.

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