9 new Israeli settlements and 65 new outposts in the Palestinian Territories between 2002 and 2004

A recent Satellite image analysis conducted by the GIS unit (Geographical Information system) unit at the Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem shows that Israel managed during the last two years (2002-2004) to establish 9 new settlements in the Occupied Palestinian territories. The new settlements were established in the West Bank on an area of 739 dunums (185 acres), in addition to 65 outposts scattered throughout the West Bank districts. See Table 1

Table 1: distribution of Israeli settlements in the West Bank by Palestinian governorates

Most of the new Israeli outposts that have been newly established in the years between 2002 and 2004 are concentrated in the central and southern parts of the West Bank, mostly in Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem and Hebron governorates. See Table 2 and map of Settlements

Table 2: Distribution of the new outposts in the West Bank Governorates

                      Source: ARIJ-GIS-Database- 2003/2004

The area of the Israeli settlements including the new ones have reached an area of 177766 dunums, which means an increase of 9054.52 dunums compared to the settlement area in year 2002. See Table 3.

Source: ARIJ-GIS-Database- 2003/2004

It can be observed from table 2 that in Hebron governorate a total of 19 new outposts were established during the last two years. Majority of the new outposts is found close to the originally established ones, such as Hagai, Negohot, Beit Ain, Susiya and Sinsaneh settlements in Hebron; and surround Hebron from all its directions.

Ramallah governorate occupies the first place with regard to the number of new settlements in the period between 2002 and 2004, while it occupies the second place with regard to the number of new established outposts. A total of 6 new settlements that occupy an area of 574 dunums are found close to the Israeli settlements of Halmish, Maale Mikhmas, Kochav Yacov, Talmon and Ofra; thus surrounding Ramallah governorate from its northern, northwestern and eastern sides. Meanwhile, the number of new outposts registered in Ramallah governorate was 15 and are found close to Maale Mikhmas, Modin Illit, Ateret and Ofra settlements.

Nablus governorate witnessed a new settlement expansion of 146 dunums in two new settlements that are found close to Arial and Kidumim Zifon settlements, in addition to 5 new outposts that are also found during the same period and are considered as extensions to  Yitzhar, Itamar and Elon Moreh settlements. The report also shows that Bethlehem governorate comes in the third place with regard to the number of newly constructed settlements and outposts. An area of 19 dunums was observed to be the new expansion of Efrat settlement in the south, in addition to the 8 new outposts that were observed through the Satellite image analysis.

In Jerusalem Governorate, the images show that 7 new outposts were established and are concentrated in areas close to Giva't Za'ev (Northwest) and Kfar Adumim (northeast) settlements which puts Jerusalem in the fourth place with regard to the number of newly established outposts in the Palestinian Territories. The northern districts, such as Qalqiliyia, Salfit, Tubas and Jenin witnessed an increase of 4 new Israeli outposts during the same period. In total, a number of 65 new Israeli outposts were established in the Palestinian Territories between 2002 and 2004, in addition to 9 new Israeli settlements that were established in Ramallah, Nablus, and Bethlehem and occupy an area of 739 dunums, out of which, 6 settlements were originally considered as outposts in the analysis conducted during the year 2002 and were later transformed into permanent settlements in 2004. These six settlements occupy an area of 619 dunums.

The analysis shows that the Israeli Government is going on with its colonization plans in the Palestinian Territories. The Israeli settlements continue to grow in the West Bank and Gaza Strip despite the Road Map which indicates that 'Israel must dismantle all indiscriminate outposts put up since March 1, 2001 and freezes all settlement activity'.  

In reality, the Israeli government has encouraged the settlement construction in the West Bank and Gaza Strip which reflects Israel's Prime Minister personal commitment towards Israel as quoted from the Israeli TV Channel 1 in June 23, 2003: 'settlement building isn't part of the road map, it's my personal commitment.'

It became an evident that Israel through its massive Israeli colonization activities in the West Bank aims at creating facts on the ground which will decrease the possibility to reach a permanent solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Prepared by:
The Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem