Advertising a master plan for Elkana colony at Mas-ha village

• Violation: depositing a master plan for colony
• Location:  Mas-ha viilage- Salfit governorate
• Date:  September 22, 2016
• Perpetrators: so-called Israel Civil Administration
• Victims:  residents of Mas-ha

Details:

The so-called Israel Civil Administration- Colonization Sub-Committee advertised, through Israel Ministry of Interior website, the depositing of the master plan no. 12/125 for Elkana colony. The plan included the transformation of some lands status from agricultural to public institutions, open areas and roads. The advertisement was featured in page 16 of Al-Quds newspaper on September 22, 2016

According to the advertisement signed by the head of the colonization sub-committee, Natalia Aburbukh,  the targeted area are located within the natural block no.3 from the lands of Mas-ha village.

The advertisement

It should be marked that the recent plan targets agricultural lands that were seized by the occupation in 2000 in the aftermath of second Intifada on "security claims". In 2002, the recently targeted lands became located behind the apartheid wall after being established. The occupation imposed complex procedures and conditions on access and use of such lands. Farmers were denied access to their lands at time the occupation used such lands for the expansion of colonies such like Elkana, which became five times bigger in size than it was when established.

Objectives of the plan:

• Changing the status of some lands from agricultural to public institutions, open areas and roads.
• Determining allowed uses of lands
• Determining rules and regulations of construction within the plan
• Pointing out road networks and their classifications
• Determining rules of implementation for the plan

About Mas-ha:

17km away from Salfit governorate, Mas-ha populates 2003 inhabitants on a total land area of 7870 dunums, of which 600 dunums are the village's built-up area. The occupation confiscated massive area from the village for the favor of the apartheid wall and colonization.

The wall is reported to be of 8.9km in length and 100m in width. As per its construction, the wall confiscated 890 dunums of Mas-ha lands and isolated 4235 other dunums from the area. The following colonies are founded on the lands of the village:

About Elkana:

Elkana was established in 1977 over the ruins of a Jordanian military camp; it has been considered as a source of destruction and the launching point of many attacks against the Palestinians.

The colony was built near the Palestinian village of Mas-ha which lost over 5000 dunums of its lands due to the construction of the annexation and expansion wall. Citizens lost their source of income after losing their fruitful lands as a result.

Elkana expanded over the years to reach over 1700 dunums in area; the colony is two parts, Elkana A and Elkana B with plans ongoing to merge both parts. In addition to that, there are several outposts built in the two colonies with developmental plans for the infrastructure and expansion to be carried out in the area.

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;"
• 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;

• 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