New Israeli aggression against Qalqilia

December 10, 2001

Introduction

In the morning of October 20th , 2001, the inhabitants of the peaceful city of Qalqilia woke up amidst sounds of fire shootings and roaring of Israeli tanks which were storming the city center in a new military operation aimed at re-occupying it. The city is classified as zone A which is completely under the Palestinian authority according to Oslo agreements. The Israeli actual re- occupation of the city lasted until November 5th, 2001. Then, the Israeli occupation forces left the city and tightened their siege around it.

Once the Occupation forces left, the size of damage inflicted on the city became apparent. The municipality of Qalqilia pointed to the following losses and violations caused by the attacking forces in Zone A:

Losses in roads, bridges and sewage are estimated at 432 000 US $;
Losses in water networks are estimated at 43 000 US $;
Losses in electricity networks and traffic lights are estimated at 681 000 US $;
Damage done to houses, private and public buildings are estimated at 75 000 US $.

The total amount of direct financial losses as a result of this aggression against Qalqilia is estimated at 1.2 Million dollar. This amount excludes other losses caused by the halt of businesses, closure of markets and destruction of foodstuffs and agricultural goods, which are estimated at 4 million dollars.

Background to Qalqilia governorate

It is located on the green line north west of the West Bank. Among Palestinian governorates, it has the smallest area – 163 KM2 . The population of this governorate are 82 000 inhabitants, 40 000 of whom live in the city and the remaining number live in the country side in zones B and C.

The city itself is the only area classified as zone A with a total area of only 3.5 square kilometers. The city is surrounded with fertile valleys and enjoys an abundance of water, therefore, it is known for orange and guava groves, in addition to vegetable fields, see map.

Israeli violations in Qalqailia

Qalqilia's close location to the Mediterranean -only 14 aerial km – has made it the focal point of Israeli political and military decision-makers. Accordingly, the Israeli occupation, since its early days, started to encircle this Palestinian population center with settlements from all sides. To achieve this goal, the following violations have taken place:

1. The construction of the Israeli settlements partially or totally built on Qalqilia land as follows:

Number	Name of Settlement	Date of foundation	Seized area in dunums
1	Kedumim	1975	699
2	Kedumim Ellit	1982	590
3	Immanuel	1981	549
4	Karne Shomron	1977	691
5	Neve Oranim	1991	153
6	Ginnot Shomron	1985	484
7	Maale Shomron	1980	295
8	Oranit	1983	730
9	Shaare Tikva	1983	914
10	Etz Efrayim	1982	170
11	Elkana	1977	830
12	Yerhav	1991	514
13	Alfei Menashe	1981	1160
14	Tsofim & Tsuregal	1990	261
15	Nirit	1984	194
Total			8234

Source: Soil & Maps Dept. – Land Research Center- Arab Studies Society/ Jerusalem.

The six settlements above are built on land confiscated from both Qalqilia and Salfit governorates. The total area of settlements built on Qalqilia land is 5436 dunums, while the remaining 2798 dunums are taken from Salfit district.

The total area of Qalqilia city is 3500 dunums which means that the total area of Israeli settlements is much bigger than the city itself.
The area of the Israeli settlements built on Qalqilia land exceeds half of the total area of all Palestinian towns and villages in Qalqilia district which is estimated at 9882 dunums.

2. The construction of a cement wall with the height of 2-3 meters to separate between the city of Qalqilia and the Palestinian villages of Taiba and Muthaleth inside the green line.

3. The establishment of Ariel colonial block on Qalqilia and Salfit land which is considered the biggest block in the West Bank Gaza Strip.

4. The construction of a new bypass road on Qalqilia land under the name of Trans Samaria 2 which is located south of the already built Trans Samaria 1 linking between the Jordan valley and the Mediterranean. The Palestinians are not allowed to use these two roads which reflects the racist policy of the Israeli entity.

The Trans Samaria 1 bypass road created a half circle starting in Taiba village to the west of Qalailia up to Tsofim settlement in the north east of the city. Trans Samaria 2 created another half circle to the south east of the city. The two roads meet to close the circle, and consequently, isolate the city of Qalqilia from is countryside.

Violations committed in Qalqilia as a result of the latest aggression:

1. Violations against roads:

Item	Unit	Quantity	Unit price in US $	Total price in US $
Water drainage tunnels	Meter	500	70	35
Rain fall trenches	No.	25	100	2500
Sewage systems	No.	80	300	24000
Road sides	M2	2500	15	37500
Destruction of Asphalt	M2	30000	10	300000
Rubbish containers ( big size- 4 m3)	No.	5	500	2500
Rubbish containers ( medium size- 1 m3)	No.	25	300	7500
Red tiles umbrellas	M2	40	45	1800
Street trees and their irrigation systems				6500
Cleaning of and lifting rubble by municipality				15000
Total	432300

Source Qalqilia Municipality

2. Violations against running water systems:

Item	Unit	Quantity	Unit price in US $	Total price in US $
Destruction of water network ( 4 inches) in Khalet Yassin	Meter	300	25	7500
Destruction of water network (2 inches) in Khalet Al- Ra'i	Meter	250	17.5	4375
Destruction of water network (2 inches) in Khalet Jaljulia	Meter	350	17.5	6125
Destruction of water network ( 2 inches) at the city's northern entrance	Meter	200	17.5	3500
Destruction of pipes ( 14 inches)	Meter	100	45	4500
Destruction of pipes (12 inches)	Meter	100	40	4000
Destruction of pipes ( 6 inches)	Meter	250	30	7500
Destruction of pipes (4 inches)	Meter	150	15	2250
Total in US $	43250

Source Qalqilia Municipality

3. Violations against electricity networks:

Item	Unit	Quantity	Unit price in US $	Total price in US $
Destruction of generators (400 KW)	No.	5	12000	60000
Destruction of high pressure wires (95mm)	Meter	3000	3	9000
Destruction of high pressure wires (50mm)	Meter	2500	2	5000
Destruction of high pressure cups				3000
Destruction of low pressure poles	No.	70	200	14000
Destruction of low pressure wires (95mm)	Meter	4000	2	8000
Destruction of low pressure wires (50mm)	Meter	5000	1.5	7500
Destruction of ABC low pressure cables (95mm))	Meter	2500	15	37500
Destruction of ABC low pressure cables (50 mm)	Meter	1500	10	15000
Destruction of Low pressure distribution keyboards	No.	4	1600	6400
Destruction of street light poles	No.	30	300	9000
Destruction of street lambs	No.	75	150	11250
Destruction of high pressure converter	No.	1	1500	1500
Destruction of high pressure poles	No.	1	1000	1000
Destruction of road signs	No.	4	2500	10000
Destruction of underground cables (240 mm)	Meter	200	40	8000
Total in US $				206150
Over all total In US $				681700