9 new Israeli settlements and 65 new outposts in the Palestinian Territories between 2002 and 2004

9 new Israeli settlements and 65 new outposts in the Palestinian Territories between 2002 and 2004

A recent Satellite image analysis conducted by the GIS unit (Geographical Information system) unit at the Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem shows that Israel managed during the last two years (2002-2004) to establish 9 new settlements in the Occupied Palestinian territories. The new settlements were established in the West Bank on an area of 739 dunums (185 acres), in addition to 65 outposts scattered throughout the West Bank districts. See Table 1

 

Table 1: distribution of Israeli settlements in the West Bank by Palestinian governorates

District

NAME

Area in Dumums

Ramallah

East of Al Bireh

20

Ramallah

East Kohav Yakov

55

Nablus

Kedumim Zefon

46

Ramallah

Talmon

54

Ramallah

Hallamish

39

Ramallah

Ofra

366

Ramallah

Maale Mikhmas

40

Bethlehem

Efrat

19

Nablus

New Settlement Infrastructure, extension of Arial

100

Total Area

Source: ARIJ-GIS-Database- 2003/2004

739

 

 

Most of the new Israeli outposts that have been newly established in the years between 2002 and 2004 are concentrated in the central and southern parts of the West Bank, mostly in Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem and Hebron governorates. See Table 2 and map of Settlements

Table 2: Distribution of the new outposts in the West Bank Governorates

 

District

Outpost Name

Year

Tubas

North Maskiyyot

2004

Jenin

Sar Nur

2004

Salfit

Southwest Elkana

2004

 

West Nofim

2004

Qalqilya

South Immanuel

2004

 

West Maale Shomron

2002-2004

Jericho

South of Massua

2002-2004

 

West Niran

2004

 

North Maale Efrayim

2002-2004

 

East of Niran

2002-2004

 

Southeast Mizpe Yeriho

2002-2004

Ramallah

East Maale Levon

2004

 

North of Turms Ayya

2004

 

North Givat Zeev

2004

 

South of Nahliel

2002-2004

 

North Maale Mikhmas

2004

 

North Maale Mikhmas

2002-2004

 

East Modin Illit

2002-2004

 

North Modin Illit

2004

 

East Beit Horon

2002-2004

 

Northwest Bet Arye

2004

 

North Ateret

2002-2004

 

Southeast Ateret

2002-2004

 

East Ofra new site

2004

 

Southwest Ofra

2002-2004

 

South Ofra

2004

Hebron

North Beit Ain

2000-2004

 

West Negohot

2004

 

West Eshkolot

2004

 

North Sinsaneh

2004

 

East Tene (Maale Omarim)

2000-2004

 

North Shima

2004

 

West Mezadot Yehuda

2004

 

East Mezadot Yehuda

2004

 

West Susiya

2004

 

Northwest Susiya

2000-2004

 

North Mezadot Yehuda

2000-2004

 

North Mezadot Yehuda (Beit Yattir)

2000-2004

 

North Mezadot Yehuda (Beit Yattir)

2000-2004

 

East Susiya

2004

 

Southeast Maon

2004

 

West Ma'ale Havar

2004

 

West Hagai

2000-2004

 

West Kfar Etzion

2004

 

West Beit 'Ain

2004

Bethlehem

North Neve Daniyel

2004

 

North Efrat

2004

 

South Nokdim

2004

 

Southeast Nokdim

2000-2004

 

East Arab Al-Rash

2004

 

South Mshoki Dargot

2004

 

Unknown

2004

 

East El David (Kfar Eldad)

2004

Jerusalem

South Kalya

2004

 

South Allon Shevut

2002-2004

 

East Neveh Brat

2000-2003

 

East Kfar Adumim

2000-2004

 

Southwest Kfar Adumim

2000-2004

 

North Givat Zeev

2004

 

East Elisawiya

2004

Nablus

Elon Moreh

2002

 

Elon Moreh

2002

 

Yizhar

2004

 

southeast Itamar

2004

 

South of Yizhar

2004

                      Source: ARIJ-GIS-Database- 2003/2004

 

 

 

The area of the Israeli settlements including the new ones have reached an area of 177766 dunums, which means an increase of 9054.52 dunums compared to the settlement area in year 2002. See Table 3.

 

Table 3: Settlement area expansion in the last three years in the West Bank

Settlement area in 2001

140402.00

Settlement Area in 2002

168711.48

Settlement area in 2003

177766.00

Increase in Settlement Area (2002-2003)

9054.52

Source: ARIJ-GIS-Database- 2003/2004

 

It can be observed from table 2 that in Hebron governorate a total of 19 new outposts were established during the last two years. Majority of the new outposts is found close to the originally established ones, such as Hagai, Negohot, Beit Ain, Susiya and Sinsaneh settlements in Hebron; and surround Hebron from all its directions.

 

Ramallah governorate occupies the first place with regard to the number of new settlements in the period between 2002 and 2004, while it occupies the second place with regard to the number of new established outposts. A total of 6 new settlements that occupy an area of 574 dunums are found close to the Israeli settlements of Halmish, Maale Mikhmas, Kochav Yacov, Talmon and Ofra; thus surrounding Ramallah governorate from its northern, northwestern and eastern sides. Meanwhile, the number of new outposts registered in Ramallah governorate was 15 and are found close to Maale Mikhmas, Modin Illit, Ateret and Ofra settlements.

 

Nablus governorate witnessed a new settlement expansion of 146 dunums in two new settlements that are found close to Arial and Kidumim Zifon settlements, in addition to 5 new outposts that are also found during the same period and are considered as extensions to  Yitzhar, Itamar and Elon Moreh settlements. The report also shows that Bethlehem governorate comes in the third place with regard to the number of newly constructed settlements and outposts. An area of 19 dunums was observed to be the new expansion of Efrat settlement in the south, in addition to the 8 new outposts that were observed through the Satellite image analysis.

 

In Jerusalem Governorate, the images show that 7 new outposts were established and are concentrated in areas close to Giva't Za'ev (Northwest) and Kfar Adumim (northeast) settlements which puts Jerusalem in the fourth place with regard to the number of newly established outposts in the Palestinian Territories. The northern districts, such as Qalqiliyia, Salfit, Tubas and Jenin witnessed an increase of 4 new Israeli outposts during the same period. In total, a number of 65 new Israeli outposts were established in the Palestinian Territories between 2002 and 2004, in addition to 9 new Israeli settlements that were established in Ramallah, Nablus, and Bethlehem and occupy an area of 739 dunums, out of which, 6 settlements were originally considered as outposts in the analysis conducted during the year 2002 and were later transformed into permanent settlements in 2004. These six settlements occupy an area of 619 dunums.

 

The analysis shows that the Israeli Government is going on with its colonization plans in the Palestinian Territories. The Israeli settlements continue to grow in the West Bank and Gaza Strip despite the Road Map which indicates that 'Israel must dismantle all indiscriminate outposts put up since March 1, 2001 and freezes all settlement activity'.  

 

In reality, the Israeli government has encouraged the settlement construction in the West Bank and Gaza Strip which reflects Israel's Prime Minister personal commitment towards Israel as quoted from the Israeli TV Channel 1 in June 23, 2003: 'settlement building isn't part of the road map, it's my personal commitment.'

 

It became an evident that Israel through its massive Israeli colonization activities in the West Bank aims at creating facts on the ground which will decrease the possibility to reach a permanent solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

 

 

 

 

Prepared by:
The Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem

 

 

Categories: Settlements