3 Stop-work Orders against Palestinian Farms in Amatin – Qalqiliya governoarte

Violation: 3 demolition orders for agricultural shacks.

Location: Al Huta, Amatin.

Date: September 8, 2011.

Perpetrators: the Israeli Occupation so-called Inspection Subcommittee.

 

On September 8, 2011, Israeli Inspection Subcommittee officers accompanied by Israeli soldiers broke into Amatin village and served 3 Palestinians 3 stop-work and demolition orders designated against their agricultural structures. The orders were issued on the pretext of no permit in area classified ‘C’ according to Oslo Agreement. The orders specified October 2, 2011 as the date for the hearing session to be held in Beit El Military Court in regard to the notified structures.

 

Victim	Area (m2)	Family members	Structure
Hakam Ghanem	60	7	Barn
Amin Suwwan	45	9	Barn
Ibrahim al Ra’i	150	6	Chicken farm
Total	255	22

 

So far, 9 similar orders designated against structures in the village are pending execution.

Prior to Oslo Agreements, the Israeli Government attempted to limit the built-up area of each Palestinian village in order to hinder future development.

 

It declared the open space around the village areas ‘C’ where the Palestinians are not allowed to expand despite their full ownership; thus, forcing the Palestinians to build “illegally” in order to cope with the natural growth needs rendering their structures under constant threat.

 

In Amatin, the designated built-up area is 610 dunums out of 10500 dunums, the village total area. This has forced 2900 people living in the village to consider expanding outside the organizational plan.

 

It is located 19 km to the south east of Qalqiliya. It is total area is around 10500 dunums, mostly agricultural lands. Amatin is inhabited by around 2900 Palestinians according to the village council latest statistics. Herding and agriculture are considered the main sources of income in the village.  Most of the village lands are planted with olives while around 3000 dunums are used for herding purposes. Moreover, 1200 dunums were confiscated by the Israelis.