Despite the acknowledgment of the so-called Israel Land Administration that people of Bardala and Tubas own around 1250 dunums of Qaaoun plain, the Israeli occupation still takes over these lands and procrastinates in leaving them for their legal owners. At the same time, the Israeli occupation allows colonists of Mirav colony near the green line to take advantage and plant the lands.
The story began in 1967 when the Israeli occupation seized 1250 dunums of Qaaoun located along the Truce Line of 1949. The nature and richness of the place made Qaaoun a target to the Israelis who announced it a closed military zone for military practices for being on the borderlines.
At the beginning of 1978, Mirav kibbutz seized the lands of Qaaoun, planted them and rented the lands from the Israel Land Administration that year. Later, officers of the Israel Land Administration accompanying a big force of the Israeli army raided the plain, forced its residents out, and confiscated it in midday. There was no prior warnings or orders. The confiscation and eviction took place under military force.
In 2002, the Israeli occupation built the Apartheid Wall and annexed most the plain to Mirav kibbutz. The Israeli occupation did not open any agricultural gates that could able farmers to have access to their confiscated lands.
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Pictures 1+2: Qaaoun plain
The Israeli occupation hinders the return of land to its legitimate owners: " The legal consultant in Tubas affirmed to an LRC observer that," We held meetings with the Israeli authorities for 2 years to return the lands to their owners but we received nothing from the Civil Administration except for procrastination. After few mothers, we decided to go to an Israeli court though we know their bias against us. The Civil Administration denied renting the plain to anybody and suggested following the case up with the Israel Land Administration."
He added, " We hired a lawyer and the Israel Land Administration informed him that the plain was rented to Mirav kibbutz by mistake and that they told the kibbutz they cancelled the contract and the lands should return to their Palestinian owners." Until today and despite the ruling, the Israeli occupation still procrastinates in giving back the lands to their legitimate owners in Tubas and Bardala. The occupation also puts obstacles on the road to retaining the lands such as security reasons, the Apartheid Wall and its tracks etc etc.
Israel does not abide to International laws:
These actions have been condemned over and over by the International community and all human rights conventions, some of which are listed below:
- 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 indicated that: Extensive destruction and appropriation of property not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly, is a grave breach of the Convention.
- Also under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted and proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) of, December 10, 1948, Article 17 reads: ‘No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.’ Which means it bans Israel from destroying or confiscating the property of the Palestinians at any case.
