Israel Seeks to Fragment the West Bank as It Has in Gaza

Alsharq Tribune- Saied Ahmed 

Palestinian and Israeli sources have confirmed that Israel is making a concerted push to revive the defunct “Village Leagues” project—an initiative from the 1970s that sought to divide Palestinian areas in the West Bank into isolated cantons under Israeli control. The plan, which was fiercely opposed by Palestinians at the time, is now being reintroduced as part of Israel’s post-war vision for Gaza, sources say.

According to these sources, the initiative is being promoted by senior Israeli officials, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also holds a key role in the Defense Ministry and oversees the Civil Administration in the West Bank. Israel is also reportedly lobbying for support from the United States, several European nations, and regional Arab powers.

A former Israeli general involved in administering the occupied territories said the project, much like in 1978 during Prime Minister Menachem Begin’s tenure, enjoys no support among Palestinians today.

“Back then, Palestinians rejected the Village Leagues outright. Some of their leaders were even targeted and assassinated,” the general said. “Ironically, the Israeli right also opposed the initiative—especially when it began morphing into a political movement calling for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. They feared it might pave the way for a Palestinian state and instead pushed for expanding settlements.”

“Settlements were built in large numbers,” he continued. “At the same time, reports of widespread corruption among league leaders surfaced, further undermining their credibility. Eventually, the Israeli government dismantled the project.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has linked his ambitions in Gaza to US President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal for “voluntary migration.” In response to American demands for a clear “day after” plan for Gaza, Netanyahu has floated a modern-day version of the Village Leagues concept—though still tied to his insistence on a decisive military victory in Gaza and the West Bank, and a long-term Israeli military presence in the Strip.

Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party has signaled support for this strategy, including plans to establish settlements inside Gaza.