The Israeli Occupation Colonies in the West Bank are witnessing accelerating process of land grab and receiving numerous caravans to be used for colonial expansion purposes and creating facts that can hardly be changed. This escalation by the colonists is occurring concurrently with the restart of the permanent solution peace talks. However, the Israeli actions reflect their mentality that rejects any peace effort.
Also, it reveals the Israeli Policy towards devouring more Plaestinian lands under various pretexts including military zones, colonial expansions, opening roads, etc. The by-pass roads are not only used to devour land but also to isolate Palestinian villages which they surround.
To the East of Hebron:
Al Baq’a neighborhood, which has been an Israeli target for years, had faced another assault on September 2, 2010.
The Israeli Occupation Army took over a three-storey building, a property of Mr. Salem al salaymah, and sheltered 17 people. The Israelis turned the house into a watch tower.
They also took over ‘Abed Shabana’s house in Bani Na’im and used it for the same purpose. The same day witnessed the capture of land that belonged to Mr. ‘Ata Jabir.
Kiryat Arba colonists placed the corner stone of a new colonial compound in that land and they put a sign saying: ”Neve Hebron” Settlement. The targeted area is estimated to be tens of dunums in area.
The Israeli Occupation Army have also re-closed Beit ‘Einon road block which was open on August 15, 2010, after 8 years of closure. Moreover, the Palestinians are suffering from extreme movement restrictions. The Israeli Army placed a number of cement blocks on various towns and villages entrances, causing drastic traffic jams. The closed Rabud, As Samu’ triangle, Bani Na’im entrance, and many others.
It must be noted that “Alon Moreh” colony, which is built over the Palestinian villages of Deir al Hatab, Salim, and ‘Azmout, is expanding rapidly.
The colony is expanding randomly and it is now connected to a number of colonial nucleuses through a road network opened over Palestinian lands.
The colony covers huge areas and its boundaries are unknown.
According to Mr. Abdul Kareem Husein, Deir al Hatab Village council Head, a number of Israeli trucks were seen bringing a number of caravans into the colony.
Alon Moreh Colony was established in 1979 and is inhabited by 1097 colonists residing over 1214 dunums of built-up area.
It has been causing catastrophic damage to the nearby Palestinian villages. Its name is directly connected to land confiscation, to destruction, brutality, and man slaughter; in addition to the huge environmental damages.
To the East of Qalqiliya:
More precisely, the Israeli Occupation colony of “Hifat Gil’ad” near Amatin village. The colony was established with the beginning of the second Intifada (uprising). It was established by the sons of Gil’ad Zohar, the chief of colonists in Northern West Bank. It is believed that they belong to a group of radial and extremist Jews who seek cleansing the West Bank from the non-Jews inhabitants.
During September 3 and 4, 2010, tens of caravans have been added to the colony which is considered a step towards expanding the colony’s area despite the lawsuits in the Israeli Supreme Court.
It must be noted that the Palestinians have been suffering from daily aggressions since the establishment of the colony. Even the animals have not been spared.
To the East of Nablus:
Qaryut village is a living witness of the Palestinian continuous suffering. 35% of the village total area was confiscated for the sake of Israeli colonial expansion. The village is now surrounded by three Israeli colonies, Shilo (south), Eli (west), and Huevel Rahel (east and south). That in addition to the by-pass roads connecting the colonies and rendering more than 60% of the village lands unreachable.
On September 3, 2010, a group of Israeli colonists protected by Israeli occupation soldiers confiscated 130 dunums of land in Al Murjan area located to the south of the village. It must be known that Qaryut villagers are not allowed to reach the area for “security” reasons which allows the colonists to manipulate it as they wish.
To the West of Salfit:
On September 4, 2010, the Israeli Occupation Army prevented the Palestinians from reaching Beer ‘Ammar area in Qarawat Bani Hassan.
A total of 400 dunums are classified unreachable for the Palestinians. They [the Palestinians] speculate that it is a step towards allowing the colonists to take over the area.
Beer ‘Ammar is one of the natural springs in Qarawat Bani Hassan village and more than 30 farmers benefit from its water. It is obvious that the Israelis are trying to fool the International Community by expressing their wish to have peace through the “direct peace talks”.
At the same time, the Israelis are devouring more Palestinian lands and defying, as usual, all the previous agreements and the international conventions and laws. It is apparent that the Israelis are only trying to polish their disturbed image around the world and to buy the time they need to put unchangeable facts on the ground. A list of the Israeli Violations since the beginning of the “direct peace talks” on September 2, 3, and 4, 2010:
|
Date
|
Governorate
|
Location
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Violation
|
Violators
|
victims
|
|
2/9/2010
|
Hebron
|
Al Baq’a
|
Taking over a three-storey-building that shelters 17 people and turning it into a watch tower
|
The Israeli Occupation Army
|
Salem al salaymah
|
|
2/9/2010
|
Hebron
|
Al Baq’a
|
Capturing land and placing the corner stone for a new colony
|
Kiryat Arba colonists
|
‘Ata Jaber
|
|
2/9/2010
|
Hebron
|
Bani Na’im
|
Taking over a house roof and turning it into a military point
|
The Israeli Occupation Army
|
‘Abed Shabana
|
|
2/9/2010
|
Hebron
|
Beit ‘Einon
|
Reclosure of the town entrance, it had been opened for 15 days only
|
The Israeli Occupation Army
|
Beit ‘Einon villagers
|
|
2/9/2010
|
Hebron
|
Bani Na’im
|
Closing aljalajel entrance using rocks and closing the main entrance using barbered wire
|
The Israeli Occupation Army
|
Bani Na’im villagers
|
|
2/9/2010
|
Nablus
|
Deir al Hatab, Salem, ‘Azmout
|
Adding caravans to Alon Moreh
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Alon Moreh colonists
|
Inhabitants
|
|
2/9/2010
|
Hebron
|
Wadi al Shajna, Rabud, al Fawwar, As Samu’
|
Israeli soldiers obstruct movement in these crossroads
|
The Israeli Occupation Army
|
Villagers
|
|
3,4/9/2010
|
Qalqiliya
|
Amatin
|
Adding more caravans to the colony in order to attract colonists
|
Hifat Gil’ad colonists
|
Villagers of Amatin
|
|
3,4/9/2010
|
Nablus
|
Qaryut
|
Confiscating 130 dunums
|
Shilo, Eli, and Heuvel Rahel colonists
|
Tens of farmers
|
|
4/9/2010
|
Salfit
|
Qarawat Bani Hassan
|
Israeli soldiers prevented the Palestinians from reaching their land, more than 400 dunums
|
The Israeli Occupation Army and Karni shamron colonists
|
Tens of farmers
|
Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC
The Land Research Center
LRC
