Expansion of Yizhar military checkpoint is underway despite talks of peace

December 16, 2007

The Israeli occupation forces started to enlarge the Yizhar checkpoint, Nablus governorate, by confiscating and bulldozing about 20 dunums of land in its vicinity. The undergoing expansion encompasses the addition of more military watch towers, fences, cameras and other security equipment under the pretext of safeguarding Israeli settlers, particularity those who live in Yizhar and Bracha colonies.

(Photo 1 & Photo 2: expansion works to the right hand side of road 60 )

The Yizhar checkpoint is located on the main road number 60 linking between Nablus and Ramallah. It was set up at the outbreak of the current uprising in the year 2000 at the road junction leading to the colony of Yizhar to the west of road 60.

In addition to Yizhar checkpoint there are another two checkpoints on this vital artery road, which are: Hawara checkpoints at the distance of 2 km to the north of Yizhar; and, Za'tara ( Tapouh) checkpoint at the distance of about 6 km to the south of Yizhar.

The Yizhar checkpoint has badly affected the Palestinian movement in the area and further complicated the economic, social, educational and even health situations of the local people as it hinders and obstructs the movement of employees, workers, students and sick people in and out of Nablus governorate. Also, it has contributed towards the concentration and consolidation of the Israeli military grip and occupation over that area.

Introduction to Israeli colonies in the area

The colony of Yizhar was founded in the year 1983 over the lands of Palestinian farmers from the villages of Burin and Asira Al Qibliay to the south west of the city of Nablus. Ever since, it has horizontally and gradually expanded over dozens of dunums from the neighboring villages of Orif, Madama and Hawwara. By the end of 2005, Yizhar municipal boundaries were 1223 dunums of which 269 dunums as built up area (source: Foundation for Middle East Peace- Washington). See Map 1

The colony is located in basin number 8, namely in the areas of Al Marj, Jabel an Nada and at the top of the mountain adjacent to Salman Al Farisi hill top. Salman Al Farisi is a companion of prophet Mohammed and the hill top was named after him. See Photo 3

Table 1: Gradual increase of Yizhar setters by year

Year	No. of settlers
1983	64
1998	291
2004	534
2005	590

Yizhar is connected with other colonies:

As a means of facilitating Yizhar settlers' movement, tightening grip over Palestinian land and natural resources and facilitating provision of services the colony was linked to road No. 60 passing by the northern edge of the colony to serve two goals:

1. Connecting it with road No. 57 and 557 that lead to the colonies of Itimar, Bracha and Allon More to the north east of Yizhar in the main heartland mountainous region of the West Bank;

2. Connecting it with the Israeli proper passing by the cluster of Kaddumim colonies and Shave Shomron at the western slopes of the West Bank.

Table 1 : Israeli colonies in Nablus governorate

No.	Colony name	Date of Est.	2005 population	Built up and Municipal Area Dunum	Distance from green line Km	Principal Palestinian nearby locality
1	Elon Moreh	1979	1212	2419	22	Deir al Hatab, Salim and Azmut
2	Yzihar	1983	590	1492	16	Burin, Madama & Asira al Qibliya
3	Bracha	1982	1094	520	23.2	Burin & Kafr Qalil
4	Shavei Shomron	1977	606	936	13.3	Deir Sharaf & Sabastiya
5	Itamar	1984	651	7189	28	Yanun, 'Awarta, Rujib & Beit Furik
6	Mekhora	1973	120	682	26.4	Beit Furik
7	Ma'ale Efrayim	1970	1423	4778	34.4	Majdal Bani Fadel
8	Gittit	1973	191	1720	37	'Aqraba 7 Majdal Bani Fadel
9	Kfar Tapuach	1978	648	570	24	Yasuf
10	Migdalim	1984	150	361	32.7	Qusra & Jurish
11	Hamra	1971	132	3879	22.5	Beit Dajan
12	Eli	1984	2420	3206	23.5	As Sawiya
13	Shilo	1979	1945	3758	27.1	Turmus'ayya
14	Rehalim Shilo	1991	50	4.14	20	Yitma
Total			11232	31514.14	350.1

Source: Field Work and GIS unit at LRC

Foundation For Middle East Peace-Washington

Table 2: Total land area under Israeli control so far Nablus district

Item	Area km2	Percentage to total district area
Colonies (built up & municipal areas )	31.5	3.6
Outposts	20	2.2
Military camps (only built up area)	1.4	0.16
Bypass roads	6.4	0.74
Total land area	59.3	6.7

Sources:- Field Work and GIS unit at LRC- Foundation for Middle
East Peace-Washington

Huwwara checkpoint expanded:

Last September, the Israeli occupation authorities expanded the Huwwara checkpoint at the expense of 12 dunums of Palestinian near by Burin village's land. The latest expansion works included the addition of passage lanes, surveillance cameras and a parking lot for back to back transfer of commodities. See Photo 4 & Photo 5