“To fortify Main Ramallah-Nablus Corridor” New Israeli colonial Bypass road on Jaloud village lands

On April 22, 2016, the village council of Jaloud in Nablus Governorate received a military order extending the expropriation of 3.11 dunums (3110 m2) . The new order holding No (17/13/T)– Extension- signed in February 24, 2016.

The order states to extend the confiscation of private Palestinian lands southeast of Jaloud village  for security purposes and mainly to construct a new colonial road to serve the Israeli settlers in the nearby settlements and outposts .

With regard to military order No. (17/13/T), the order was first issued back in November 20, 2013 and stated the confiscation of 3.11 dunums of land in Jaloud for security and military considerations.

The map attached with the expropriation order

Geopolitical Overview

An Analysis conducted by the Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem (ARIJ) of the issued military order and the attached maps, Israel wants to extend its control over the targeted land so that it complete the construction of  a section of bypass road used by the Israeli settlers moving between the illegal  Israeli settlement of Mitzpe Rahel (Shuvut Rahel) and its closest outposts of : Ahiya- ‘Adi Ad- Yeash Kodesh and  Kida. See the map below :

Map for the targeted land and military order

According to the military order, the proposed section of the bypass road will occupy an area of 3.1 dunums stretches 400 meter length ( 12 meter width) east to the illegal settlement outpost of Yeash Kodesh1 and southeast of Jaloud.  

Obviously, the Israeli step to build a section of a bypass road in the area aims for paving the way for fortifying the Israeli settlers existence in this strategic spot south of Nablus Governorate.

As a matter of fact and once Israel complete the construction of the bypass road network in the area , all of the Palestinian owners of the lands around and in between the road network and outpost will be deprived from moving, reaching and cultivating their own lands.

On the other hand the reason behind targeting that area in particular is its location within what Israel defines as  a“ settlement corridor” between Ramallah and Nablus Governorates. This corridor includes the settlements of Shilo, Mitzpe Rahel, Eli and Rechalim settlements in addition to a number of Israeli outposts in the area.

Nablus-Ramallah Main Corridor…. 20 Outposts Associated with 3 Settlements in 1 Corridor

The illegal settlements of Shevut Rachel (Mitzpe Rachel) , Eli and Shilo are located in the area defined by Israel as the "corridors area".

 In a geopolitical analysis for the (Eli, Shilo and Shuvut Rahel ) corridor we can find that 20 illegal outposts installed in the corridor associated with the 3 aforementioned settlements. Out of the 20 illegal outpost, we have 13 located outside the master plan area of Shilo , Eli and Shuvut Rahel settlements where they could be considered as a nuke for new future settlements

On the ground, Israel is trying to impose its control over the Israeli settlements and outposts  in the corridors area so that at the end, it will annex as many settlements and outposts as possible to its proper before reaching an agreement with the Palestinians and will negotiate over the evacuation of an insignificant number of Israeli settlements and settlers from the West Bank Territory.

The aforementioned settlements and outposts are located in the corridors areas which Israel seeks to control since it constitutes a geographical link between the Eastern Segregation Zone (ESZ)and the western segregation zone (WSZ).

More than that the aforementioned corridor constitute the main synthetic settlement corridor that interrupt the geographical contiguity between Nablus and Ramallah Governorates….while the establishment of an Israeli  network of controlled colonial roads and mainly in the corridors areas, came to serve the Israeli colonial and expansionist desires.

Jaloud is a Palestinian village located 25 lm south east of Nablus. The overall area of Jaloud is 16517 dunums of which 80 dunums only constitute the village’s built-up area. The village populated by 563 residents (PCBS 2016 Projections).

Jaloud is bordered by Qusra village and Migdalim Israeli settlement from the north, the illegal settlements of Shilo, Shuvut Rahel from the south, Qaryout village from the west, Duma from the east.

On March 27, 2014, what is so-called the “Higher Planning and Construction Council in the Israeli Civil Administration deposited two new  regional outline plans to confiscate about 500 dunums of private Palestinian lands from the villages of Qaryout and Jaloud east of Salfit Governorate for the interest of the illegal nearby settlement of Shilo.

For Jaloud, the outline plan was issued to confiscate 386 dunums from Jaloud village lands where the plan holding number RJ/5-16/205 – amendment 205-13/505 that targeted specifically parcels 3, 12, 13, Al Kahfash area. According to what was published in Al-Quds newspaper on March 27, 2014, the outline plan aims to amending the status of land use in area from agricultural purposes to be used for public use(cemetery, roads open areas, educational institutions and farms).

In an interview with ARIJ field workers, Abdullah Haj Mohammad, the head of Jaloud village council, indicated that the targeted 398 dunums lands are owned by the local residents of Jaloud and located in between the illegal settlement of Shilo and Shuvut Rahel. He also added that the Israeli settlers installed a new settlement outpost named “Habat Ha’adom nearby the outpost of Yeash Kodesh existed outpost on the village lands on January 2014.

Moreover and on November 2015, the Israeli Civil Administration (ICA) handed out several Palestinian families in Jalud Village military orders stating to halt the construction of their homes under the pretext of lacking valid build licenses.  The targeted Palestinian homes are located close to the Israeli outposts of Ahiya and Esh Kodesh that were illegally established on lands of Jalud village and administratively follow Shevut Rahel settlement in Nablus Governorate.  

Legalization of four Outpost Nearby Jaloud

Earlier in October 2015, the Israeli daily newspaper “Haaretz”, revealed that the Israeli Government intends to legalize four illegal outposts northeast of Ramallah Governorate and southeast of Nablus. According to the newspaper, the plan came as a response from the Israeli Supreme Court to “Yesh Din” -Israeli human rights organization- to evacuate the illegal settlement of ‘Adi ‘Ad east of the illegal settlement of Shilo which was built on private Palestinian land. Moreover , and in its response, the Israeli prosecution informed the court concerning the Israeli government intention to legalize the aforementioned outpost as well as three other outposts (Kida, Yeash Kodesh and Ahiya) that are located eastward to the settlement of Shilo. For more information about the legalization of the four aforementioned outpost refer to the previously written case study : “Towards Sustainable Occupation”, Four Illegal Outposts to be Legalized in the occupied West Bank.

To Sum up       

The Israeli confiscation and targeting of the Palestinian residents and their properties in all parts in the oPt are illegal and constitutes a grave breach of the International law rules and conventions:

• Article 2 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights reads that: 'Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it is independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.'
• Article 3 states that 'everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person'.
• Article 13 states also that '(1) everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.'
• Article 25 states that '(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.'
• According to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, Israel, as an occupying power is prohibited to demolish Palestinian houses as stated in Article 53 of the Convention which states that: 'Any destruction by the Occupying Power of real or personal property belonging individually or collectively to private persons, or to the State, or to other public authorities, or to social or cooperative organizations, is prohibited, except where such destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations. 
• Moreover and according to article XXXI of the 1995 Oslo agreement, Israel,is forbidden from building or planning to any project or settlements or any colonial expansion or any plan that lead to change the status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The article provides 'Neither side shall initiate or take any step that will change the status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip pending the outcome of the permanent status negotiations'.
• Also the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965), Article 5provides that: 'States' Parties undertake to prohibit and eliminate racial discrimination in all of its forms and to guarantee the right of everyone, without distinction as to race, color, or national or ethnic origin, to equality before the law, notably in the enjoyment of the following rights: … (e) in particular … (iii) the right to housing'.
• 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. 
• Moreover Art. 23 of the Hague Convention of 1907also provides: In addition to the prohibitions provided by special Conventions, it is especially forbidden to destroy or seize the enemy's property, unless such destruction or seizure be imperatively demanded by the necessities of war.

1 Yeash Kodesh is an illegal Israeli outpost established in December 2000. The outpost is located nearby the illegal settlements of Shilo and Shuvut Rahel east of Salfit and south of Jaloud village. It inhabited by 7 Israeli families living in 17 structures.

Prepared by:  
The Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem