The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, declared on the 25th of November, 2009, the intention of his government to “freeze” the colonial activities in the West Bank (except Jerusalem) for a period of 10 months.
During the indicated period, Israeli occupation forces and its colonial arms have continued unabated their feverish attempts to colonize as much Palestinian lands as possible. These activities included the following:
1- Israeli Colonial Activities:
Currently, work is undergoing to establish 1520 colonial housing units in addition to 23 colonial structures. Most of the work is being carried out in the governorates of Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Moreover, in accordance with the following table, there are an additional 2066 colonial housing units that are ready to be constructed in the near future. Also, there are 37679 colonial units (especially in Ramallah and Qalqilia governorates) that are in the planning phase.
Table 1: Illustrates the continued colonial activities during the “freeze” per governorate
|
Governorate
|
No. of Colonies Witnessing Colonial Expansion
|
Colonial Units Constructed andor Under Construction(*)
|
No. of Colonial Units the Contracts of which are Ready to be Signed (**)
|
Number of Planned Colonial Units (**)
|
|
Jerusalem
|
11
|
700
|
392
|
3010
|
|
Ramallah
|
20
|
N.A
|
630
|
7929
|
|
Jenin
|
3
|
10
|
–
|
947
|
|
Qalqilia
|
8
|
156
|
250
|
7677
|
|
Tulkarem
|
4
|
N.A
|
–
|
1965
|
|
Salfeet
|
11
|
100
|
288
|
5547
|
|
Tubas
|
7
|
101
|
–
|
274
|
|
Nablus
|
10
|
130
|
30
|
568
|
|
Jericho
|
16
|
28
|
61
|
2207
|
|
Bethlehem
|
11
|
250
|
366
|
5301
|
|
Hebron
|
19
|
25
|
49
|
2254
|
|
TOTAL
|
120
|
1520
|
2066
|
37679
|
(*)Numbers are estimated as there are additional housing units under construction, yet being able to account for it is unattainable.
(**) Source: Peace Now.
2- Land Confiscation:
During the “freezing” period, 5906 dunums of Palestinian lands were confiscated for colonial purposes including:
-
3050 dunums of Tubas Governorate lands
-
1318 dunums of Jerusalem Governorate lands
-
727.5 dunums of Nablus Governorate lands.
-
526.5 dunums of Hebron Governorate lands.
-
193 dunums of Ramallah Governorate lands.
-
51 dunums of Bethlehem Governorate lands.
-
24 dunums of Salfeet Governorate lands.
-
16 dunums of Jenin Governorate lands.
3- Land Plowing:
During the “freezing” period, 920 dunums of Palestinian lands were plowed including:
-
704 dunums of Hebron Governorate lands.
-
105 dunums of Bethlehem Governorate lands.
-
78 dunums of Jerusalem Governorate lands.
-
13 dunums of Qalqilia Governorate lands.
-
10 dunums of Nablus Governorate lands.
-
10 dunums of Jenin Governorate lands.
4- Tree Uprooting and Burning:
Around 4411 trees were either uprooted or burnt during the “freezing” period including 1506 trees in Bethlehem Governorate and 1159 trees in Jerusalem Governorate.
5- Violations against Palestinian Structures:
During the same period, 280 Palestinian structures were demolished including 97 houses and 183 structures. Most of these demolitions took place in Tubas, Jerusalem, Hebron and Nablus. Moreover, 830 Palestinian houses and structures were issued Stop Work orders including 567 houses and 263 structures concentrated in Tubas, Hebron and Jerusalem governorates. Also, Israeli colonists and occupation forces occupied 13 Palestinian houses (10 in Jerusalem and 3 in Hebron).
6- Colonists’ Attacks:
Under the protection of Israeli occupation forces, Israeli colonists have carried out more than 363 attacks against Palestinians including 145 attacks on property and 218 attacks on individuals, sum of then was killed.
7- Preventing Agricultural Roads:
More than 10 Palestinian agricultural roads were prevented from being constructed andor rehabilitated in the West Bank while, at the same time, more than 28 roads serving Israeli colonist were allowed to proceed.
|
If these were the number of Israeli violations during the so-called “freezing period”, what would Israeli occupation authorities and colonists do after the period finishes?
When would the world understand that the Israeli leadership underestimates the minds of everyone and challenges the will of the international community as it seek to thwart all attempts at peaceful resolution of the conflict?
Will the world ever wake up …??!!!
|
Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC
The Land Research Center
LRC
