Photo 3 & Photo 4: Israeli machinery during the installation of high voltage towers.
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The network of towers has destroyed additional parts of Palestinian farming lands. Hundreds of dunums were plowed to make the bases for the towers while additional dunums were leveled to make way for the construction materials and cranes to reach the location of the towers.
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The high voltage towers will, in effect, prevent Palestinians owning lands near the towers from reaching in fear of electrical shocks especially during the winter season.
Photo 5: The plowing of large tracks of lands for the installation of the electrical
towers in the area of Dhaher Al Baw’ in the city of Halhul.
b) Palestinian building:
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The installed towers will prevent Palestinians from building or adding new floors to their existing homes as multiple-stories are prohibited in the vicinity of the towers. As such, in the city of Halhul around 80 houses are affected by this restriction.
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Palestinian building will be prohibited 40 meters away from the base of the tower in all four directions.
Photo 6: The high voltage towers close to Palestinian houses in Beit Einoon
c) Health:
The electrical waves being emitted by the towers has a negative effect on the health of the population living in its vicinity. These waves are known to be causing cancer which will negatively impact the lives of hundreds of Palestinians. For example, in the city of Halhul there are 1,000 Palestinians living in the vicinity of these towers.
Dr. Ziad Abu Yousef, the Mayor of Halhul, expressed the following: ‘ The owners of damaged lands due to the towers came to my office. The Municipality carried out a visit to the affected locations. While we were at one of the locations Israeli soldiers approached us and told us to immediately vacate the location and to let the contractor continue his work. They have also mentioned that there is a military order authorizing the project. When, however, we requested a copy of the order, the soldiers refused to provide us with a copy. Some of the land owners tried to reach their lands, yet they were prevented by the occupation forces. The Municipality has appealed to a number of rights and land defense organizations and filed complaints with them in an effort to stop the land grab, yet to no avail.’
In turn, Mr. Abu Yousef demanded an immediate end to the violations and belligerent acts of the Israeli forces against Palestinians and their property. As a result of such acts, Palestinian farmers have access to small portions of their lands due to these acts and policies.
What Next?
At the time that Israeli occupation forces prevent Palestinian farmers from accessing and using their lands, it grabs these lands in order to create large scale projects and networks for the benefit of its colonist population in the West Bank.
The Land Research Center (LRC) condemns the Israeli occupation policies that aim at providing all services for the colonist population at the expense of the lands and property of the Palestinians as well as their future expansion. The LRC also calls upon the international community, specifically the European Union, to exert pressure on the Israeli occupation government to stop its destructive policies towards Palestinian farmers and their lands.
Prepared by:
The Land Research Center
LRC
