Violation: Embarking on building a new colony
Location: Dhahr Soboh, Kafr ad Dik- Salfit governorate
Date: 22 and 25 of May, 2014
Perpetrators: The Israeli occupation army
Victims: People of the villages and towns of Badia, Sarta, Bruqin and Kafr ad Dik
Details:
On May 22, 2014, the Israeli occupation army accompanying a group of colonists broke into Dhahr Soboh, north of Kafr ad Dik, west of the West Bank city of Salfit where they surveyed the area.
On May 25, colonists driving five bulldozers ravaged agricultural lands under the protection of the Israeli army. More than 80 dunums planted with 150 trees were totally razed for the sake of the new outpost that is going to be built on the lands of Kafr ad Dik and Badia. The targeted lands are surrounded with Bruchin and Ali Zahav colonies.
It should be marked that the process of ravaging and destroying agricultural lands is ongoing until the time of writing the report which might lead to a true crisis in the area.
Pictures of the ravaging operation in Dhahr Soboh/ Kafr ad Dik town
Dhahr Soboh is at the heart of the governorate of Salfit. It is on a mountain peak overlooking Kafr ad Dik, Badia, Deir Ballot, Rafat, Qarawat, and Sarta among others. It is also rife with olive trees which many families consider their source of income.
The area has always been targeted by the Israeli occupation, mainly because of its strategic geographic location. The area is strangled by Ali Zahav and Bedoel (from the west), Ariel, Barkan Industrial Zone and Bruchin (from the east).
The Israeli occupation is currently trying to devour as much agricultural land of Dhahr Soboh as possible for the construction of a new outpost in the area under the pretext that Dhahr Soboh is "state property" though Palestinians have all the deeds that prove their ownership.
It is worth mentioning that the Israeli occupation forces prepared for all that in advance. In 2011, it led a large-scale demolition operation in the area, leveling 13 agricultural cisterns among other structures in a bid to force Palestinians out. LRC prepared a study case about the assault back then. (Kindly check http://www.old.poica.org/details.php?Article=3366)
And in 2012, the Israeli occupation government approved the plans of the construction of a new outpost in Dhahr Soboh, without informing inhabitants and landowners. The Israeli occupation claimed it issued a military order about it while Palestinians in Salfit negate receiving any.
The Importance of Dhohr Soboh to Salfit:
Dhahr Soboh is 300 dunums of agricultural land planted with olive trees. It lies in the heart of Salfit and its land is considered futile. It has a number of water springs and hosts a number of Roman and Islamic monuments.
Dhahr Soboh provides a source of living to many families who consider farming their only profession. This is considered vital especially that Salfit governorate suffers from a high poverty rate and active colonial activity.
Kafr ad Dik [i]
Kafr ad Dik is located 15 km to the west of Salfit. It is surrounded by Bidya (north), Rafat and Deir Ballut (west), Bruqin and Sarta (east), and Bani Zaid villages (south).
Kafr ad Dik has a population of 4553 people, according to a 2007 census.
Its total area is 15529 dunums; however, it has been suffocated by bypasses and 3 Israeli colonies that lay over its lands.
This has further limited its expansion knowing that it had already had a 791-dunum organizational plan (built-up area); it also isolated the village from its surroundings.
The Israeli occupation confiscated 2477 dunums of Kafr ad Dik lands for the benefit of:
- Colonies devoured 1225 dunums, and they are:
|
Name of colony |
Year of construction |
Area of confiscated land/ dunum |
Number of colonists |
|
Har Eli Zahav |
|
|
|
|
Eli Zahav- Yoezer |
|
|
|
|
Bedoel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*Source: Field Research- Monitoring Israeli Violations Team- Land Research Centre (LRC).
- Bypasses stole 362 dunums
- The Apartheid Wall seized 890 dunums and isolated 8824 dunums and is expected to be 8905 long in Kafr ad Dik lands.
Lands of Kafr ad-Dik are categorized according to Oslo Accords into lands under Area B (15% of the lands) and lands under Area C (85% of the lands).
i] Source: Geographic Information System- Monitoring Israeli Violations Team- Land Research Center
Prepared by:
The Land Research Center
