The Northern West Bank Settlement Council has put forth a concerning proposal to establish a vast industrial zone in the northern West Bank, raising significant environmental concerns and posing a threat to endangered animal populations in the area.

As reported by The Marker newspaper, the planned industrial zone is intended to cover an extensive area of 2,700 dunams in the northern West Bank. It is alarming that this proposal includes the construction of environmentally polluting factories, not only in the West Bank but also near the town of Kafr Qassem inside the Green Line. Kafr Qassem's mayor, Adel Bdeir, has raised objections to the plan, as the factories are expected to utilize hazardous materials and produce polluting emissions.

Unfortunately, the presented plan appears to have disregarded any alternative solutions and has neglected to comply with Israeli law.

Yedioth Ahronoth reports that the initiative for the industrial zone is spearheaded by the Northern West Settlement Council, along with the Elkana settlement council and the Ornet settlement council. The proposed industrial zone is located in an area inhabited by a diverse range of wildlife, including a significant number of deer, mammals, birds, and other species, many of which are considered endangered.

Anas Abu Arqoub, a journalist specializing in Israeli affairs, affirms that the Israeli authorities seem determined to establish settlement industrial zones, which may include polluting factories in the West Bank, ostensibly to relocate pollution away from large Israeli residential communities. Three such zones have already been established, including "Atarot" in East Jerusalem near Beit Hanina and Kafr Aqab, "Volcano" near Salfit, and "Mishor Adumim" in the Jerusalem desert.

Israeli organizations have raised objections to the proposed industrial zone due to concerns for the well-being of the environment, animals, and the health of Israeli residents residing in the proximity of the "Ras al-Ain" area close to the zone. However, there appears to be a lack of attention to the fate of the nearby Palestinian villages in the vicinity of the planned industrial site.

In an investigation conducted by Haaretz newspaper, it was revealed that the "Atarot" industrial settlement area has the highest levels of pollution in Israel, with abnormal pollution measurements reaching 376% higher than permissible levels.