At the time, preparations are under way for the peace conference to be held next month in the U.S. city of Annapolis to boost the peace process in the region, Israel is sending messages to all concerned parties, that it will not give up its colonization activities in the West Bank and particularly in occupied East Jerusalem, even though the Israeli Prime Minister Olmert declared his government willingness to surrender some Arab parts of East Jerusalem to Palestinian's control.
New confiscation
On October 9, 2007, the Israeli Army issued a military order holding number (35/07/T), declaring the confiscation of 386 dunums of land from three Palestinian villages in East Jerusalem (At Tur, Al 'Eizariya and Abu Dis). The new military order came in parallel to previous military order # (19/07/T) issued on October 4, 2007. Both orders are to designate new routes for the Palestinians to travel between the southern parts of the West Bank and the northern and eastern parts. ) issued on October 4, 2007. Both orders are to designate new routes for the Palestinians to travel between the southern parts of the West Bank and the northern and eastern parts. ), declaring the confiscation of 386 dunums of land from three Palestinian villages in East Jerusalem (At Tur, Al 'Eizariya and Abu Dis). The new military order came in parallel to previous military order # () issued on October 4, 2007. Both orders are to designate new routes for the Palestinians to travel between the southern parts of the West Bank and the northern and eastern parts.
The analysis conducted by the Geo-informatics department at the Applied Research Institute Jerusalem (ARIJ) showed that the military order # (35/07/T) will extend in length for 4.6 Km starting from Al Container checkpoint northeast of Bethlehem city, passing through Abu Dis and Al 'Eizariya lands west of Ma'aleh Adumim settlement and then it continues to reach At Tur and Az Za'ayem communities. The road will pass through an underground tunnel leads to 'Anata and Hizma towns; to connect with an under construction road that runs parallel to the Israeli military base located east of 'Anata town. The new routes aim to prevent Palestinians from accessing bypass road (1) that runs near of Ma'aleh Adumim settlement to pave the way for the construction of the E 1 neighborhood across from Ma’ale Adumim, where 3,500 housing units are set to be built. The new construction will link Ma’ale Adumim settlements’ bloc with Jerusalem settlements and with Israel. Moreover, it would cut East Jerusalem off from the rest of the West Bank. The E-1 plan has been frozen since 2004, after the Bush administration and the international community voiced strong objections to it .See table 1 ) will extend in length for 4.6 Km starting from Al Container checkpoint northeast of Bethlehem city, passing through Abu Dis and Al 'Eizariya lands west of Ma'aleh Adumim settlement and then it continues to reach At Tur and Az Za'ayem communities. The road will pass through an underground tunnel leads to 'Anata and Hizma towns; to connect with an under construction road that runs parallel to the Israeli military base located east of 'Anata town. The new routes aim to prevent Palestinians from accessing bypass road (1) that runs near of Ma'aleh Adumim settlement to pave the way for the construction of the E 1 neighborhood across from Ma’ale Adumim, where 3,500 housing units are set to be built. The new construction will link Ma’ale Adumim settlements’ bloc with Jerusalem settlements and with Israel. Moreover, it would cut East Jerusalem off from the rest of the West Bank. The E-1 plan has been frozen since 2004, after the Bush administration and the international community voiced strong objections to it .See table 1
Table 1: detailed information of Military order n0 (35/07/T))
| Total confiscated Area(dunums) | Area of lands slated for confiscation | Block | Community |
| = | Ghabet Nazel , Ras Abu Sbateen | 8 | At Tur |
| = |
Thuheir Brouka Al Matma , Ras Al 'Eizariya , Sha'b Subhy , 'Arqoub Wajeh Al Deeb , Marah Al Zaytoon Al Houd , Al Halelt , 'Arq 'Azbar |
5
6
4 |
Al 'Eizariya |
| = |
Debr Al Qararet |
4 | Abu Dis |
Source: ARIJ Geo-Informatics Unit – 2007
Click here for detailed information of Military order No. (19/07/T)
It must be noted here that the new military orders issued by the Israeli Army came closely with the arrival of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the region in an effort to revive the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians and to prepare for upcoming Middle East peace meeting in Annapolis. However, Israel refused to discuss the future of the Israeli settlements in the West Bank, particularly in East Jerusalem, borders, and refugees, which are the main issues and the essence of the conflict. Click to See Map 1
Prepared by
The Applied Reserach Institute – Jerusalem
