Violation: Notification of confiscation of 4 dunums of Nablus southern countryside
Location: Madama and Tell villages-Nablus governorate
Date: 11/02/2014
Perpetrators: The Israeli occupation army
Victims: A number of farmers from Tell and Madama
Details:
On Tuesday, February 11, 2014, the Israeli occupation Army High Commander in the West Bank issued a military order to confiscate four dunums of agricultural land of Tell and Madama villages, south of the West Bank city of Nablus.
According to the military order no. (14/4/T) that was signed by the Commander, the main target of the confiscation is for the Israeli army to continue seizing the land for military purposes, specifically for a military post.
The targeted land is located within natural block no. 3 of Tell lands and block no. 16 of Madama, in an area between the two villages known as "Khallet 'Oufer". The land belongs to: Awda Nassar and Nassar Nassar from Madama as well as Khaled Ishtiya and Mustafa Ishtiya from Tell.
- Enforcement of the fait accompli policy (Creating facts on the ground):
Head of Madama village council stated to an LRC field researcher that: "Since 2000 and in the outbreak of second intifada, Israeli soldiers have taken seized a piece of land overlooking Madama and Tell villages. The soldiers have been using the land as a military post where soldiers congregate and are deployed to nearby villages (Tell, Iraq Burin, Madama) and thus no less than 30 agricultural families from Tell and Madama are now banned from cultivating their lands surrounding the post."
The head of the council also added that: "At the beginning of this year, we coordinated with the village councils of Burin, Iraq Burin, and Tell to commence on rehabilitating a 4-dunum agricultural road that would be a linking point between different urban communities as the vital road would serve hundreds of agricultural dunums as well as provide farmers with access to their land, in support of their rights to it and their steadfastness. Alas, at the same time, the Israeli occupation army has put its hand on four dunums of Madama and Tell that were confiscated in 2000. We are worried as the planned road is adjacent to the notified area. Such a step by the Israeli occupation is meant to complicate life and destroy any development projects in the villages."
Madama is located to the southeast of Nablus and is surrounded by Iraq Burin and Till (north), Asira al Qibliya (west), Burin (east), and Urif (south).
According to 2014 population projections , Madama is inhabited by 2262 people. It has a total area of 3824 dunums, 190 of which are built-up area of the village.
The Israeli occupation confiscated 118 dunums for Yitzhar colony which was built on Madama lands in 1983. The colony is inhabited by 400 colonists.
The Israeli occupation is not only taking over land and water resources of the village, but they are also targeting Palestinians residing there through attacking them on almost a daily basis.
Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC
