Misbar Tracks Construction of New Israeli Settlement on Mount Ebal Using Satellite Imagery

As part of a push to establish a new geographic reality in the northern occupied West Bank, dozens of settler families began moving on Thursday, July 16, into the newly established Israeli settlement on Mount Ebal, overlooking the city of Nablus.

The settlement was inaugurated by Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, along with several Israeli Knesset members. Dagan said the settlement is expected to eventually accommodate around 600 Israeli families, describing it as a “significant step” toward expanding settlement presence in the northern West Bank.

Footage shared by settlers showed the transfer of furniture and supplies into caravans (mobile homes) installed at the site. Such structures are commonly used as the initial stage in establishing new settlements, allowing for gradual expansion and the consolidation of a permanent presence on the ground before being replaced by permanent buildings.

In this report, Misbar’s team at Al-Araby TV uses satellite imagery to trace the timeline of the settlement’s establishment on Mount Ebal, track its geographic expansion, and document the arrival of settler families nearly one year after construction began.

Mount Ebal Settlement: A New Chapter in West Bank Settlement Expansion

The Mount Ebal settlement is part of a broader settlement plan that includes 22 new settlements and outposts, whose establishment in the West Bank was secretly approved by Israel’s security cabinet following a decision by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz in May 2025.

The decision also includes the reestablishment of the Homesh and Sanur settlements, which were previously dismantled as part of Israel’s 2005 disengagement plan from the Gaza Strip.

The move comes as part of the so-called “One Million in Samaria” settlement plan, launched by the Samaria Regional Council under Yossi Dagan in cooperation with former Israeli Construction and Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf. The plan aims to bring at least 1,150,500 additional settlers to the northern and central West Bank by 2050.

The plan includes the establishment of 13 new settlements, the construction of around 40,000 housing units, and the reconstruction of settlements evacuated under the disengagement law, including the establishment of a new outpost atop Mount Ebal.

Satellite Imagery Tracks Yearlong Construction of Mount Ebal Settlement

On March 11, 2026, the establishment of the Mount Ebal settlement was revealed for the first time following what was described as a “secret and complex” overnight operation. The operation involved transporting and installing caravans, along with field preparations that included paving access roads and leveling the land to connect the site to essential infrastructure networks.

The settlement was established under the direct supervision of the Northern West Bank settlement council and the settlement movement Amana, with approval from the commander of the Israeli army’s Central Command after six months of planning and logistical coordination.

The field operation and military backing coincided with a promotional campaign by settler groups promoting biblical narratives that claim the existence of “Joshua bin Nun’s altar” in the area. These claims have been used by such groups to attach religious significance to the site, justify taking control of the historic location, and transform it into a permanent settlement and tourism attraction.

The settlement holds strategic importance due to its elevated location atop Mount Ebal, overlooking large parts of Nablus and surrounding towns and villages. The location provides the Israeli military with broad visual and security oversight of several areas in the northern West Bank, while also facilitating connections between existing settlements in the area.

Satellite imagery captured by the Sentinel-2 satellite and analyzed by Misbar’s team shows that construction of the settlement began days after Israel’s security cabinet approved a plan to establish 22 new settlements and outposts in the West Bank.

A review of satellite imagery from recent months shows ongoing land leveling and expansion work at the settlement, along with the construction of dirt roads connecting it to surrounding routes.

Images captured on March 17, 2026, show white clusters believed to be mobile homes (caravans), matching Israeli media reports that the structures were transported to the site on March 11.

The latest satellite image, captured on July 15, 2026, one day before the settlement’s inauguration, shows that road construction and caravan installation had been completed. The image corresponds with an aerial image of the site taken in July, which shows at least 18 closely arranged mobile homes, along with paved asphalt roads.

According to the area measurement tool in Sentinel-2, the settlement covers approximately 120 dunams (0.12 square kilometers). This area includes the full geographic extent of the outpost, including the caravans, paved roads, and dirt roads built around it.

Israel Unveils 8.5 Billion Shekel Plan to Expand Settlements in the West Bank

The Israeli government recently signed its first framework agreement to expand settlements in the West Bank, a move described by the Israeli right as “historic.” The agreement was signed in the presence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and Yossi Dagan, head of a council representing settlements in the northern West Bank.

The agreement, with an estimated budget of 8.5 billion shekels, aims to advance infrastructure projects and expand settlements in the area. It allocates approximately 1.5 billion shekels for strategic infrastructure projects and 7 billion shekels for developing public facilities and upgrading existing settlements, in addition to the construction of around 12,000 new housing units.

Read More

Satellite Images Reveal U.S. Buildup of Aerial Refueling Aircraft at Ramon Airport

How Republika Srpska Uses Israel-Linked Lobbying Networks in Washington