- Violation: colonial expansion
- Location: Azzun Atma village- Qalqiliya governorate
- Perpetrators: Oranit colonists
- Victims: some farmers from the village
Details:
Since the beginning of 2017, the Israeli occupation has worked day and night to expand the colony of Oranit, which is founded on confiscated lands from Azzun Atma village. Noteworthy, the lands are isolated behind the apartheid wall.
According to the data of field research, the occupation is reported to establish 65 residential units in the colony's periphery, more specifically in the natural block number 7 from the location known as Al-Markazih and the natural block number 5 from the location known as Al-Wad Al-Gharbi.
It should be noted that the colonial activity in Oranit colony received ultimate support from the occupation's successive governments. Oranit received a big share of housing tenders compared to other colonies in the northern part of West Bank. In 2016, the government approved a new master plan for Oranit, which included the expansion of the colony's infrastructure. Shortly after, the colony deposited a tender to build 60 residential units.
Noteworthy, the occupation sees in Oranit a linking point between the West Bank the occupied territory of 1948.
Photos 1-3: the expanding colony of Oranit
About Oranit:
The colony was established on confiscated lands from the villages of Azzun Atmah and Izbat Salman in 1983. With a total area of 1,134 dunums, of which 1,107 dunums are the colony's built-up area, Oranit populates around 5316 colonists until 2006.
About Azzun Atma:
Located 8km to Qalqiliya city with a total area of 9,472 dunums, of which 1,054 dunums are the village’s built-up area, Azzun is inhabited by 7,821 people (2007).
The occupation confiscated vast area from the village for the favor of colonization and the apartheid wall; the areas are detailed as follows:
- 276 dunums were confiscated for Maale Shamron colony that was established in 1980.
- 417 dunums were confiscated for the bypass road number 55
It should be marked that the vast majority of Azzun lands (6,927 dunums) is classified as area “C” according to Oslo accords; areas that are controlled by the Israeli occupation. The village has zero percentage of area “A” that is under the control of Palestinian Authority. As for other classifications, the village has 2,546 dunums classified as area “B”. (Geographical Information System- Land Research Center)
3 colonies are built on 'Azzun lands and they are:
- Maale Shomron: Built in 1980, the colony has a total area of 1903 and a built-up area of 216 dunums. 549 colonists live in it (according to a 2004 census).
- Genot Shomron: Built in 1985, the colony's built-up area is 484 dunums.
- Karni Shomron: Built in 1978, the colony's built-up area is 1351 dunums. 6270 colonists live in it (according to a 2005 census).
UN Security Council resolutions in regard to Israeli colonies:
UN Security Council resolution 446, article 3 " Calls once more upon Israel, as the occupying Power, to abide scrupulously by the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention, to rescind its previous measures and to desist from taking any action which would result in changing the legal status and geographical nature and materially affecting the demographic composition of the Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and, in particular, not to transfer parts of its own civilian population into the occupied Arab territories;"
- Un Security Council resolution 452, article 3"Calls upon the Government and people of Israel to cease, on an urgent basis, the establishment, construction and planning of settlements in the Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem;"
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Un Security Council resolution 465, Strongly deplores the continuation and persistence of Israel in pursuing those policies and practices and calls upon the Government and people of Israel to rescind those measures, to dismantle the existing settlements and in particular to cease, on an urgent basis, the establishment, construction and planning of settlements in the Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem;
Calls upon all States not to provide Israel with any assistance to be used specifically in connexion with settlements in the occupied territories;
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Un Security Council resolution 242, Affirms that the fulfilment of Charter principles requires the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East which should include the application of both the following principles:
(i) Withdrawal of Israel armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict;
(ii) Termination of all claims or states of belligerency and respect for and acknowledgment of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every State in the area and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force;
Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC
