- Violation: completing the construction of the apartheid wall
- Location: Wad Krimzan, Bier Ouneh and Beit Jala areas
- Date: beginning of 2017
- Perpetrators: Israeli Occupation Forces
- Victims: residents of Beit Jala
Details:
On April 30, 2007, the webpage of Israel Ministry of Defense featured the last modification of the apartheid wall plan, which aim annex Wad Krimzan and Beit Jala areas to the border of Jerusalem municipality. The wall will stretch 1.2 km on lands of Beir Ouneh and will be only 100 meters away from the residents' houses. It will go up to the "Al-Nafaq" terminal to be finally attached to the section nearby Har Gilo colony.
At time, the plan intended the annexation of thousands of dunums for the favor of expanding Gilo and Har Gilo colonies founded in the area.
On September 22, 2011, another military order was made by Israel to change the route of the apartheid wall in Beit Jala and mentioned the confiscation of 37.3 dunums in the process. Another order stated the confiscation of 15.2 dunums from Beit Jala lands came afterwards.
In parallel to Israel actions and measure, the municipality of Beit Jala took the case to Israeli courts and proved ownership of Palestinian lands in the area to halt the Israeli plan. In 2015, machineries of the occupation started the works on the wall in the area of Beit Jala; lands were ravaged and tees were uprooted.
Last submitted plea to Israeli court by Beit Jala municipality in this regards was on January 2016 but the court gave the green light to Israel Ministry of Defense to construct the new segment of the wall on lands of Beit Jala and Wad Krimzan. Currently, the machineries of the occupation works to complete the wall segment that will reach Har Gilo colony.
Photos 1-8: photos illustrating the construction works on the wall in Krimzan area
Beit Jala:
It is located 1 km to the west of Bethlehem and 8 km to the south west of the Occupied City of Jerusalem. 3147 dunums (22%) of the town's lands were confiscated to expand the borders of "greater Jerusalem" and a number of surrounding colonies including:
- Gilo: it was established in 1971 to cover around 2738 dunums in area nowadays. 1117 dunums are part of Beit Jala lands. The colony is inhabited by 31500 colonists.
- Har Gilo: it was established in 1972 to cover around 420 dunums in area nowadays. 314 dunums are part of Beit Jala lands. The colony is inhabited by 414 colonists.
Area and Location:
Beit Jala is inhabited by 16700 Palestinians (PCBS). Its total area is 14337 dunums divided into 6142 dunums (area 'A'), 91 dunums (area 'B'), and 8104 dunums (area 'C') (Oslo Interim Agreement 1995).
Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC
