After the catastrophe of 1967, the Israeli occupation transformed an area of 400,000 dunums on the border next to the Jordan River into closed military zones. In 1969, the aforementioned area was planted with landmines to prevent any fighters and those who were expelled out of Palestine pass to the West Bank from Jordan.
The Israeli government in 2006 passed a decision to dismantle the landmines from a vast area of those lands as per the peace treaty with Jordan. Shockingly, more than 5000 dunums were “illegally” sold to Israeli investment companies through a deal between Israel Civil Administration and the Council of Settlements in the Palestinian Jordan Valley (Al Ghoor) area. The fraud incident was made done through forged document.
After dismantling the landmines during 2006, the Israeli occupation allowed colonists to initiate the implementation of huge investment projects that aim at supporting the agricultural sector in Israel. Ironically, Palestinians were still denied access to their lands that were claimed closed military zone by the occupation.
As a result, owners of the lands filed a case in Israel Supreme Court to restore their properties. The court passed a decision in 2012 acknowledging the Palestinian ownership of the lands in the area.
Despite the decision, the Israeli court could not take any action against Mehola colonists who took over more than 800 dunums adjacent to the Jordan River.
Photos 1+2: the border line with a view of lands taken by Mehola colonists
A plan to take over the Palestinian Jordan Valley (Al-Ghoor):
It should be marked that Al Ghoor area is a major target for the occupation since it is located on the border line with Jordan and that it is considered the eastern border of Israel. Thus, the occupation invested all its efforts to serve a plan that aims at taking over the area and spreading colonies around the place. Noteworthy, the place accommodates 20 agricultural colonies that are given more privilege than those in the West Bank. Not only the occupation transformed half of Al Ghoor area into military zones but it also targeted the Bedouin communities with forcible displacement and demolition.
Land Research Center sees that land illegal selling and fraud is a breach of all international laws and covenants including:
- Article one of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights stated:
“All peoples may, for their own ends, freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources without prejudice to any obligations arising out of international economic co-operation, based upon the principle of mutual benefit, and international law. In no case may a people be deprived of its own means of subsistence”
- . Article 17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:
- Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
- No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.
Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC
