New Settlement Tunnel Project Threatens 1,500 Dunums of Palestinian Land in Abu Dis

A new underground tunnel project in the occupied East Jerusalem area is advancing what Palestinian sources describe as a coordinated expansion of Israeli settlements, with the potential to consume approximately 1,500 dunums of land in and around the Palestinian village of Abu Dis and threaten the displacement of up to 20 families.

The tunnel is part of what Israeli officials call the “Netsiv HaChayim” (Lifeline) project, referred to by Palestinian sources as the “Enclosure Road” initiative. According to reports from Palestinian news outlets, the tunnel is designed to connect and expand the settlements of Kedar and Ma’ale Adumim while isolating Palestinian population centers from the broader West Bank ^[1][2].

Abu Dis, a Palestinian village of approximately 12,251 residents according to 2017 census data, sits in an area that has been under Israeli military control and Palestinian civic administration since the 1995 Oslo II Accord. The village borders Jerusalem directly and has long been viewed by Palestinian authorities as a critical area for future urban expansion.

The tunnel project is advancing alongside the confiscation of 370.28 dunums of land from Abu Dis and the neighboring area of Sawa’ir specifically for the expansion of the Kedar and Ma’ale Adumim settlements ^[1][2]. Palestinian sources indicate the tunnel will also facilitate additional settlement construction, including a planned community called “Kdamot Zion” designed to accommodate approximately 460 residential units ^[1][2].

Palestinian officials characterize the project as part of a broader strategy to encircle Palestinian communities and deepen the geographic separation of East Jerusalem from the West Bank. One report noted that the tunnel’s route includes construction bans along its length, targeting eastern lands that represent “the last urban breathing space for Abu Dis residents” and deepening what officials describe as the isolation of Jerusalem from Palestinian territories ^[1][2].

The project was announced by Israeli authorities following a 45-day notification period issued by what Palestinian sources identify as the military prosecution ^[3]. The tunnel’s construction represents what international observers have documented as part of an expanded pattern of settlement development in the Jerusalem periphery. The United Nations has previously reported on Israeli settlement expansion in occupied Palestinian territory, including areas around East Jerusalem ^[4].

Amnesty International reported in September 2026 that Israel had escalated unlawful land seizure orders across the occupied West Bank, part of what the organization characterized as expanded annexation measures ^[5].

The specific impact on Abu Dis residents remains unclear, as Palestinian municipal authorities have not yet announced formal displacement notices or compensation negotiations. The project’s timeline and final scope have not been publicly disclosed by Israeli authorities.