Colonists Ravage a Piece of Agricultural Land and Install a Caravan on it in Kisan village- Bethlehem governorate

January 28, 2014

Violation: Ravaging a 4-dunum agricultural land to expand an outpost

Location: Kisan village- Bethlehem governorate

Date: 28/01/2014

Perpetrators: Colonists of Ibei Hanachal

Victims: People of Kisan

Details:

On January 01, 2014, a group of Ibei Hanachal colonists, under the protection of the Israeli army, took on ravaging an agricultural land that exceeds 4 dunums in area in order to install a caravan on it in preparation to expanding the outpost of Ibei Hanachal. That move made people of Kisan angry. A group of the people headed to where colonists were and talked to them. The colonists did not speak properly to the citizen residents.

The caravan that was installed by radical colonists in Kisan- Bethlehem

Head of Kisan village council, Mr. Hussein Ghazal, stated to an LRC observer that: "Colonists attack people of Kisan on a regular basis and in different ways. One of which is that colonists release their dogs and direct them at the farmers. Colonists also throw stones at passersby heading home." Ghazal added, "This is our village where we were born and raised. It is our duty to protect it. It is our identity."

It should be remarked that Kisan is only meters away from the main road used by colonists to go from/ to Maale Amos and Ibei Hanachal.

Kisan

Located 18km south of Bethlehem, Kisan village is surrounded by Tuqu' (north), Sa'ir (west), the Dead Sea (east), Arab ar Rashayda/ Sa'ir/ Al Buweib (south). Kisan has a population of 560 people (till 2012). It has a total area of 133,278 dunums- 88,7 of which are built-up area.

The Israeli occupation confiscated 2201 dunums of Kisan lands to build the following colonies:

-Maale Amos which was built in 1981 and devoured 320dunums of Kisan. It is inhabited by 299 colonists.
-Mizpe Shalem which was built in 1971 and confiscated 396 dunums. 193 colonists live in that colony.
-Mizpe Shalem B which was built in 1980 and stole 58 dunums.
-Ibei Hanachal outpost which confiscated 166 dunums of Kisan.

Israeli Bypass road number 90 devoured more than 1000 dunums.

According to Oslo Accords, 11% of Kisan is considered nature reserve while 40% is under Area B (PA is in charge of civil matters with Israel responsible for security). However, most of the village lands (49%) is under Area C (Israel maintains full security and administrative control). Here are the area in dunums: