as usual, the Israeli Minister of Defence declared his intention to evict 8 Palestinian villages (10 communites inhabited by around 1500 people) located to the south of Yatta claiming that they are vital for military trainings. is the Israeli Army in need for this location or is it a card to lay control over the whole area???!!!
the target location:
the communities of (Majaz, Taban, Safay al Foqa, Safay al Tehta, Fakhit, Halawa, Janba al Fuqa, Janba al Tehta, and Kharouba) in addition to four villages (Tuba, Mfagara, Saroura, and Maghayer Ibead) which are still awaiting decision. The aforementioned communities are 56640 dunums in area and are inhabited by 2500 people. The area are considered fertile rangelands with over 28, 000 of cattle spreading around.
Before 1967, the number reached up to 55,000 which shows the effect of the Israeli colonization on the lives of people and cattle. Despite the increased number of inhabitants, the number of cattle was reduced due to closure of these rangelands, demolishing wells and cisterns, blocking roads, etc. Most of the targeted villages have been inhabited long before the Israeli occupation in 1948; they are inhabited by simple villagers leading preliminary lives. They reside in simple mud houses surrounded by barns and leading traditional lives while lacking the signs of modernity.
Israeli Violations in the area:
In the 1970’s the Israeli occupation Army declared 30,000 dunums as closed military zones with access limited to residents only; this meant freezing any development or expansion.
In 1997, these areas were classified ‘C’ according to Oslo Accords; consequently, adding new structures, whether public or private have been prohibited.
In August, 1999, the villagers received the villagers received eviction orders issued by the Israeli Occupation Civil Administration. they was completely rejected by the locals.
On November 16, 1999, the Israeli Occupation Army evicted 700 Palestinians in the area before confiscating tools, tanks, barns, water pumps, irrigation network; a coalition of 20 families filed a complaint to the Israeli Supreme Court which ruled in their favor and allowed them to be back to their homes; however, those who lost their homes were not allowed to rebuild them.
In 2005, when diplomacy failed to evict the Palestinian families residing in the area; the Israeli Occupation Civil Administration launched a wave of demolishing orders for homes and cisterns.
Validity for military training:
It is clear that the area is not suitable for military training due to:
The area holds 12 israeli colonies, infrastructure (water, power, roads networks) which are integrated in the area.
The area holds four Palestinian villages that are farmed seasonally.
The area is adjacent to Yatta town; it is only 5km away from its borders.
Yatta is classified area ‘A’ while the surrounding residential area is classified ‘B’ according to Oslo; despite being classified areas ‘C’, the target area is an extension of Yatta and thus shall not be detached or disconnected.
To the east, there exist a huge area that was declared military zone since 1967; it is simple to use these lands for training if that was the real purposes.
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Israeli Greed:
The Israeli Governemnts have tried to capture as much lands as possible to serve the Zionist colonization project; in Yatta, the following colonies were established:
No. | Colony | Population | Area | established |
1 | Karmel | 321 | 311 | 1981 |
2 | Ma’oun | 327 | 683 | 1980 |
3 | Mesudat Yehuda – Beit Yatir | 412 | 746 | 1977 |
4 | Susiya | 643 | 1009 | 1983 |
total | 1703 | 2749 | ||
In addition, 8 colonial outposts were built (Ma’oun farm – Hill 83, Avigail, Kamel – Ghir, Magan David, Ma’oun Old Farm, Ma’oun – east, Mesudat Yehuda – east, Lucifer farm). A increased colonial activities have been witnessed concurrently with the announcement:
On July 23m 2012, colonists of Mesudat Yehuda added five mobile homes to increase the area of the outpost.
Leveling 20 dunums to the south of Susiya and laying foundation for new colonial units.
Leveling lands to the south of Karmel colony.
Colonists of Ma’oun, eastern Yatta, completed the construction of residences to the west of the colony. In addition, they embarked on the construction of more colonial units.
Scenes of colonial expansion:
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Picture 1: Susiya expanding on Palestinian lands
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Picture 3: expansions in Ma’oun
Barack’s objective:
What is the purpose of Barack’s decision to demolish the villages…is it really military training?
The decision means deporting more than 1500 Palestinians knowing that deportation has always been on the Israeli agenda.
The decision implies capturing 30,000 dunums of Palestinian lands.
Deportation and capturing Palestinian lands provides space for colonial expansion and a reserve for future expansions.
Classifying the area as a closed military zone is a license for every Israeli soldier to murder any Palestinian who gets near without any legal liabilities. This will mean terrorizing the Palestinians yet allowing the colonists to roam freely as trainings are not real.
Preventing international supporters from entering the area and threatening them with murder if the trespass.
Why military trainings as a cover?
All the Israeli attempts to ‘buy’ the lands whether by fraud, foraging, or conspiracy failed due to the locals awareness.
The huge amount of international support in the area.
All of the Israeli measures to confiscate lands are subject to objection according to the laws of the previous regimes and the Israeli law itself. The Israeli attempts to lure out the Palestinians failed because the locals had deeds proving their ownership without the slightest bit of doubt in addition to the fact that the locals have been residing in the area long before the existence of the so-called state of Israel and their ability to stand in the face of the Israeli might and terror.
According to the Israeli laws, the only way to lay control over a certain area without subjecting that to objection is declaring the need for a training ground which was used to justify confiscation this time.
Summary:
The Israeli intentions are clear and there is no need whatsoever to military training grounds; the purpose hear is capturing lands and deporting Palestinians while defying the international law and the 1949 Geneva Convention stating clearly that ‘ unlawful deportation or transfer or unlawful confinement of a protected person’ is a grave breach of humanitarian law. However, the Geneva conventions are not applicable here since the area is not at war in addition to the fact that military use should be temporary without passing ownership to colonial groups.
Consequently, LRC demands the following:
From the owners and supporters: to keep a hold of your lands and your residences while using your right to object whenever needed while trying all what you can to stand against this outrageous decision or delay it for as much time as possible.
The Palestinian Authority:
Filing an official complaint to the UN General Assembly and the International Court of Justice to stop the aggression.
Providing the inhabitants of all kinds of financial and political support while not leaving them as an unprotected prey for the Israeli ferocity.
Launching an international solidarity campaign against the order.
Calling for boycotting the Israelis politically, economically, and security not only on a Palestinian level but also on an Arab and international levels.
