Key Facts
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About
Regavim is an Israeli non-governmental organization (NGO) and non-profit that monitors land use in Israel and the West Bank, with a strong focus on land rights, settlement enforcement, and the protection of what it considers Israel's national lands. Founded as a pro-settler group, Regavim pursues legal actions in the Israeli court system against constructions lacking Israeli permits, particularly those undertaken by Palestinians or Bedouins. The organization describes itself as 'a public movement dedicated to the protection of Israel’s national lands and resources' and aims to 'restore the Zionist vision to its primary role in the Israeli policy process.' It advocates for the expansion of Jewish settlements while challenging Palestinian construction claims, often targeting unauthorized Palestinian structures and promoting Israeli settlement activities. Regavim's activities include mapping illegal constructions, filing petitions and lawsuits to enforce demolitions, and conducting aerial surveys to document land use violations. It has been involved in numerous high-profile cases in the West Bank, where it seeks to limit Palestinian development and bolster Israeli control over disputed territories. The NGO has close institutional ties to Bezalel Smotrich, who is a founding member, and receives financial support from him, reflecting its alignment with far-right settler ideologies and political figures in Israel's Religious Zionism movement. Critics accuse Regavim of exacerbating tensions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by selectively enforcing land laws against non-Jewish populations while ignoring or supporting similar violations by Israeli settlers. The organization has faced controversy for its role in promoting settlement expansion, which is considered illegal under international law by many governments and human rights groups. Despite this, Regavim maintains that its work upholds Israeli sovereignty and prevents the erosion of Jewish land rights.