Setting up a military roadblock on the main entrance of Kafr Laqif village / East Qalqilya

• Violation: Setting up a military roadblock on the main entrance.
• Location : Kafr Laqif / East Qalqilya.
• Date: 11^th June 2019.
• Perpetrator: The Israeli occupation army.
• Victims: People of Kafr Laqif.

Description:

Tuesday , June 11^th 2019, the Israeli occupation forces set up a metal gate  on the eastern entrance of Kafr Laqif village east Qalqilya , the closed up road links the village with its Palestinian surrounding through bypass “55”.

Kafr Laqif village council head Kamal ‘Assaf told LRC reporter:

“We were shocked of the occupation forces setting up a metal gate on the town’s main entrance , which is a vital road for people of the village to reach other Palestinian communities , these measures reflect the occupation’s intention to impose movement restrictions on the town’s people.”

‘Assaf asserted:

“The village main entrance was sealed off by the occupation previously, and precisely between the years 2000 – 2011 , without any excuses other than chocking the town’s people with lands confiscations policies . the confiscated lands will be used for the favor of “Karnei Shamron” settlement expansion, which also devours vast areas of the town lands and threatens Palestinian existence.”

Noteworthy, in case the main road was sealed off , the alternative road is an agricultural road that connects ‘Azzun to Kafr Laqif south, it is rough and 2 km longer.

Photos 1-3 : the new metal gate east the village

Kafr Laqif village:

Kafr Laqif village is located 15 km to east Qalqilya , and surrounded by Baqet Al-Hatab and ‘Izbet Seer (north), ‘Azzun (west) , Al-Funduq and Hajjeh (east) and Deir Istiya (south), Kafr Laqif has a population of 1039 people until 2017 census.[1]

Kafr Laqif has a total area of 2,881 dunums , of which 118 dunums are a built up area for the village.

The village is blocked from the north by (Karnei Shemron, Genat Shemron and Ma’alem Shemron).

The Israeli occupation devoured (733 dunums) for the following purposes:

• Israeli settlements devoured (183) dunums:

• Bypass road 55 ate up more than 55 dunums.
• The Israeli occupation military camps ate up 539 dunums.
• There is an Israeli scheme to build an Annexation & expansion wall on its lands , which in case implemented will be 1,496m long, it will also eat up 150 dunums under its route, and isolate about 653 dunums.

International conventions and agreements related to freedom of movement:

Article 3 of the Universal Declaration provides that “everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.” 

article 9 that “no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile”

Article 13: Right to freedom of movement

1. Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State.
2. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

[1]Source:  PCBS for the year 2017

[2] Source: The Israeli ministry of interior- January 3^rd 2019

Prepared by

 The Land Research Center
LRC