Israel increased restrictions over the movement of people and goods in the occupied West Bank
On the 27th of October 2014, the head of the Israeli Civil administration in the occupied West Bank, David Menachem, issued a military order titled ('Order Regarding Closed Zones (Judea and Samaria), (No. 34) 5727-1967, 'Update of crossing points'), (Amendment No. 34) , 5775-2014, which stipulates the addition of Hilya Crossing point (Al Jab’a) to the list of crossing points which were announced about in 2006 via the military order titled ('Order Regarding Closed Zones (Judea and Samaria), (No. 34) 5727-1967, 'Announcement regarding the designation of crossing points') which designated 10 Israeli crossing points between the occupied West Bank and Israel in an attempt to impose more restrictions on the movement of Palestinians and goods between the occupied West Bank and Israel, and vice versa. The crossings as listed in the previously issued military order are Rachel in Bethlehem; Tarqumyia crossing in Hebron; Sha'ar Ephraim in Tulkarem; Shu'fat refugee camp in Jerusalem, Metar south of Hebron Governorate, inside the Green Line), Hasidim and Atarot in Jerusalem, Maccabim in Ramallah, Iyal in Qalqilyia, Rihan and Hagalboa' in Jenin. The military order was put into effect during the first half of February 2006. See Photo 1
As for the military order titled (('Order Regarding Closed Zones (Judea and Samaria), (No. 34) 5727-1967, 'Update of crossing points'), (Amendment No. 34) , 5775-2014,)), Palestinians in the West Bank will be allowed to move across Al Jab’a crossing point to Israel and enter the area (the West Bank) from Israel; while forbids Israelis[1] from entering the occupied West Bank. See Copy of the military order in English
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Israeli Defense Army (('Order Regarding Closed Zones (Judea and Samaria), (No. 34) 5727-1967, In accordance with my powers in accordance with Clause 1.B in the Order regarding Closed Zones (Judea and Samaria) (No. 34) 5727-1967, (hereinafter, the “Order”), I hereby announce the following: Definitions 1- in this Amendment “Announcement” – Announcement regarding crossing points (Judea and Samaria), 2006, signed on Tuesday ( 3 January 2006) “Crossing Points” – The location allocated in the map attached to this announcement “Hilya Crossing point (Al Jab’a)” – a crossing point appears in the map attached to the amendment and signed by me Amendment 2- Hilya Crossing point (Al Jab’a) shall be added to the list of crossing points Validity 3- This order shall be valid since the day on which it is signed Name 4- Order Regarding Closed Zones (Judea and Samaria), (No. 34) 5727-1967, 'Update of crossing points'), (Amendment No. 34) , 5775-2014 5 November 2014
David Menachem, Brigadier General Head of Civil Administration |
Photo 2 & Photo 3: (('Order Regarding Closed Zones (Judea and Samaria), (No. 34) 5727-1967
'Update of crossing points'), (Amendment No. 34) , 5775-2014
Earlier on October 5, 2014, the head of the Israeli Civil Administration in the occupied West Bank, David Menachem, issued another military order which stipulates the transfer of control of six crossing points that Israel constructed in the occupied West Bank to the Israeli Airports Authority, including Al Jab’a crossing point. The other targeted crossing points are Iyal crossing west of Qalqilyia city and Hagalbou crossing north of Jenin city and Al Baq’a crossing in the Jordan Valley and Hashmona’im crossing north of Ramallah city and Eliaho crossing (replacing checkpoint No. 109) in Qalqilyia. See Photo 4
Al Jab’a village land declared as “State Land”
On the 31st of August, 2014, the Israeli Civil Administration has declared the seizure of about 4000 dunums of land of Bethlehem and Hebron Governorate by declaring them “State Land”. The military order was issued by the so-called “The Custodian of Absentee property & Israel Land Authority of Judea and Samaria ” attached to the Israeli Ministry of Defense/Civil Administration , Yousi Sigal, on the 25th of August 2014 and seizes 3799 dunums from five Palestinian villages in Hebron and Bethlehem Governorates, Wadi Fukin, Husan, Nahalin, Surif and Jab’a. Note that the land declared by Israel as “State Land” in the village surrounds Al Jab'a crossing point from all directions. See Map 1
Map 1: The location of Al Jab'a crossing point
To conclude
The new Israeli amendment to the status of Al Jab’a crossing point is just one of the obvious examples of the de-facto policies pursued by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory to impose more restrictions on the mobility of Palestinians. Israel also strives to implement such policies at the expense of Palestinian rights while providing its people with the necessary tools to sustain their livelihood in the country;
[1] The Israeli army has defined 'Israeli' as 'Israeli citizen, whose place of residence in the area and who is an Israeli citizen or has the right to immigrate to Israel in accordance with the law of the right to return, 5710-1950, as it is enforced in Israel, in addition to [persons] who are not residents in the area, but possess a valid permit to enter Israel.'
Prepared by:
The Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem
