Occupation approves establishment of shooting ranges in 31 settlement sites

The Israeli occupation authorities approved a plan allowing the establishment of shooting ranges and weapons training in 31 settlement sites in the West Bank and Jerusalem, according to the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission.

The Israeli occupation authorities approved a plan allowing the establishment of shooting ranges and weapons training in 31 settlement sites in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem. The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission said in a statement on Tuesday that the plan includes 29 settlements and settlement outposts and two industrial zones, distributed across the governorates of Ramallah and al-Bireh, Jerusalem, Nablus, Jericho and the Jordan Valley. The commission explained that the plan includes the "Maccabim" industrial zone established on the lands of Safa village west of Ramallah, and "Tel Miriam" known as "Sha'ar Binyamin" on the lands of Jerusalem Governorate, noting that its geographical scope extends from south of Nablus and the vicinity of Jerusalem to the eastern areas towards Jericho and the Jordan Valley. The plan lists shooting ranges among the permitted uses in lands designated for buildings, public institutions, tourist, commercial and industrial facilities, as well as sports, entertainment and craft facilities. The commission indicated that this step is an extension of previous Israeli trends, as a 2022 government list included nine licensed shooting ranges in West Bank settlements.