First time since 1980s: New secular community to be founded in Binyamin
Following Cabinet decision, Binyamin Regional Council advances founding of 'Natof,' the first secular community in the area since the 1980s
Assessment
A cabinet decision has led the Binyamin Regional Council to begin establishing Natof, the first secular community in the area since the 1980s. This move reshapes the demographic character of a region historically associated with religious settlements. The key question is how this community will integrate into existing local governance and infrastructure, and whether it signals a broader policy shift toward diversifying settlement populations in the West Bank.