Extending the Validity of Closing Thousands of Dunums in the Jordan Valley

Violation: extending the validity of a closure.

Location: Tayasir, Tamoun / Tubas city.

Date: 04/04/2019.

Perpetrator: The Israeli occupation army.

Victims: Number of Palestinian communities.

Description:

The Israeli occupation army commander in West Bank “Nedav Alof” issued a military order extending the validity of the closure of vast areas in the Jordan valley, and annexing 101.3 dunums to the closed area , under “security” claims.

The military order (T /11/99) entitled “area closure, modification of borders” , extends the validity of closing 49229 dunums in addition to other 101.3 dunums until 2021.

Noteworthy, the newly annexed area was also targeted by military order (19/3/T) , that informs the confiscation of 283 dunums from the Jordan valley.

Through the Israeli “Emergencies’ Law” , which is activated since 1966 , the illegal occupiers gave themselves the right to confiscate Palestinian lands for Security claims, the law was excessively used in the confiscation of wide areas of Palestinian lands at the Jordan Valley , in addition to imposing movement and building restrictions.

Reportedly, the closed area is located between “Maskiyyot” illegal Israeli settlement (North)and “Roi” illegal Israeli settlement (south) to Yarza hamlet and At-Tayaseer Israeli military camp (West), while the newly closed area is north “Saorah” military camp.

Noteworthy the closed area consists of several Bedouin communities: Such as Khirbet Yarza, Al-Mayta, Al-Burj, Hamamat Al-Malih,  Ein Al-Hilweh, Al-Faw and Khirbet Umm Al-Qaba, the communities are populated of about 690 people , they live under restrictions that hinder their movement, and natural expansion.

About 9 % of the closed military zones are privately owned Palestinian lands , that belong to farmers from Tubas, 79 % , the occupation considers “state’s properties”, while the rest are absentees properties.

The following table shows more information about the targeted area:

Photos 1-5: a view of the closed zones

The attachment of the military order

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights:

2. 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 international Declaration of Human Rights:

1. Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Prepared by
 The Land Research Center
LRC