On the 25th of September, 2010, the so-called “freeze” on colonial activities which has started (in theory) on the 25th of November, 2009, has officially ended. Yet, looking over the past 10 months, it is clear that the “freeze” was only a mirage that existed in the media outlets. On the ground, developments point to the fact that the colonial activities have continued unabated. For example, the Governorate of Hebron has witnessed construction work in 19 colonies and colonial outposts during the “freeze”. In addition, 25 colonial housing units were established while contracts to build additional units and new colonial neighborhoods were issued.
Moreover, Israeli occupation forces have confiscated 526.5 dunums during the said period for colonial purposes while 704 dunums were ploughed and 487 dunums were damaged. Even trees were not spared as 513 trees were damaged including 303 trees that were burnt and 210 trees cut down by saws used by the colonists in different parts of the Governorate. On another front, Israeli occupation forces have demolished 26 Palestinian structures while it issued Stop Work and demolition orders against another 171 Palestinian structures in the Governorate.
The Field Research Unit at the Land Research Center (LRC) has monitored the colonial activities in the Governorate of Hebron on the 29th of September, 2010. The result of the monitoring was the documentation of 9 locations in which colonial expansion is taking place at feverish rate while a new colonial outpost was declared under the name of Neve Hevron near Al Beqa, east of Hebron City.
The monitoring revealed that 83 colonial units (including mobile caravans and housing units) have reached the finishing stages while two colonial schools were declared; the corner stone of one school was inaugurated near the colony of Beit Romano in the heart of the Old City of Hebron while work on the second school has begun at the entrance of the colony of Meitariam in the northern direction of the colony of Shima. The planned school consists of 4 stories with an area not less than 1000 m2 with 30 school rooms planned.
According to the Palestinians living in the vicinity of colonies throughout the Governorate, the expansion of the colonies did not stop before or after the end of the so-called “freeze” on the colonial activities. Yet, the frequency of the colonial activity has increased in a ceremonial fashion as to reinforce the political position that aims at the creation of more “facts on the ground” to break up the Palestinian land in an effort to make the creation of the Palestinian State an impossibility.
The following colonies witnessed the most recent colonial construction:
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The colony of Karmel: The available colonial units were done with about a year ago. Six additional units were built during the “freeze” while currently additional preparatory work in being undertaken to prepare for further expansion eastwards.
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The colony of Ma’on: The colony is established on the lands of the village of Twani, south of Yatta. Five colonial units located south north of the colony were finished during the “freeze”. An additional 6 mobile caravans were placed during the said period and are currently inhabited by colonists.
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The outpost of Havot Ma’on: It is located 1 kilometer away from the colony of Ma’on. New caravans were placed there recently.
The following table lists the renewed colonial activity in the listed colonies between the 26th and 29th of September, 2010:
|
VillageTown
|
Location
|
Colony
|
Type of Building
|
No. of Colonial Units
|
Pic.
|
Notes
|
|
Beit Ummar
|
The southern end of the colony
|
Karmi Tsur
|
A 3-story building and the addition of 3 caravans
|
6
|
  |
The final finishing touches
|
|
Al Beqa, east of the City of Hebron
|
Northeast Al Beqa
|
Kharsina
|
4 buildings each consisting of 3 colonial apartments
|
12
|
Continued building that started during the “freeze”
|
|
|
Yatta
|
Umm Al Khair hamlet
|
Karmel
|
30 new residential units finished a year ago. 6 new units were added in August 2010.
|
36
|
  |
Final touches while colonists have already moved into the residential units.
|
|
Yatta
|
Shima North
|
Meitariam
|
A building consisting of 4 stories with an area no less than 1,000 m2.
|
Most probably it will become a school
|
 |
Continuing the final touches.
|
|
Dura
|
Tarrama Mountain
|
Military observation point.
|
A military tower and the addition of 5 caravans. Work is on-going.
|
5
|
 |
On-going
|
|
Yatta
|
Twani – northwest and western directions
|
Ma’on
|
Work on building 5 colonial housing units and the addition of 6 mobile caravans.
|
11
|
 |
On-going
|
|
Yatta
|
Twani
|
Havot Ma’on
|
Additional tents in the outpost
|
5
|
 |
|
|
Yatta
|
South of the village of Birkeh
|
Avigayl outpost
|
New caravans
|
6
|
 |
New additions
|
|
Hebron City
|
The Old City
|
Beit Romano
|
The cornerstone for a school dedicated
|
School
|
|
Initiation of the building process.
|
|
Qilqis
|
Beit Hagai
|
Center of the colony
|
Bases of building constructed
|
2
|
 |
Initiation of the building process
|
|
TOTAL
|
82
|
|
|
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Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC
The Land Research Center
LRC
