- Violation: depositing new master plan for colony
- Location: Barqan Industrial zone- Salfit lands
- Date: September 04, 2016
- Perpetrators: the so-called Israel Planning and Construction Committee
- Victims: residents of Haris village in Salfit governorate
Details:
The so-called Israel Ministry of Interior published on its webpage a new master plan to develop the Industrial Zone of Barqan, which is founded on confiscated lands from Salfit governorate. The advertisement was featured on September 04, 2016.
According to the plan no. יוש/ 7/ 6/ ת/ 130 , the occupation seized 138 dunums from the lands of Haris village, northwest Salfit governorate for the favor of colonial expansion.
In reference to the maps attached to the plan, the objective of seizure is to use the agricultural lands founded in the northeastern side from the colony for the construction of new factories and to improve the infrastructure and road networks.
According to field visits and follow-ups on the area, expansion activities were reported in progress since 2000 and until September 2016.
It should be marked that Barqan Zone receives unlimited support from the Israeli government that is at two levels:
- Developing infrastructure and establishing new factories. This support is provided from Israel Ministry of Economy.
- Supporting investors through offering tax reduction, facilities, privileges in marketing and promotion.
Photos 1-6: Barqan factories that were recently established
Photos 7-10: details of the plan no. יוש/ 7/ 6/ ת/ 130
Photo 11: map of the plan no. יוש/ 7/ 6/ ת/ 130
Photo 12: location of the plan no. יוש/ 7/ 6/ ת/ 130
Land Research Center has prepared many study cases in regard to the negative effects and impact of Barqan Industrial Zone on the area and residents of Salfit. Noteworthy, the Israeli Law of disposing liquid and solid waste is not applicable on such zones. As a result, pollution and environmental hazards spread over the area.
The flow of sewage water in the lands of Bruqin and Kfar Ad-Dik causes pollution to the environment and the spread of bad smell, not mentioning the chemicals that destroy the agricultural sector and animals that depend on it. Not only, such waste water reaches underground water and springs that are used by the residents of the area. Laboratory tests of Palestine Ministry of Heath in 2007 showed that water samples collected from schools, houses and springs in Bruqin are contaminated.
About Barqan colony :
Barqan colony was established in 1981 over confiscated Palestinian lands. The colony has been expanding ever since, reaching 800 dunums of built up area. The colony accommodates– within its boundaries– a large number of factories that have been moved from "Israel" to the West Bank due to their high pollution levels.
These factories do not follow the rules of the Israeli State and the WHO, causing drastic damage to the environment and biodiversity. In addition, Barqan has been expanding for the sake of establishing more factories. This caused damage to the surrounding environment despite all the calls for protecting the environment in the area.
Land Research Center sees Israel continuous expansion on colonies in the West Bank and Jerusalem at the expense of Palestinian and lands a flagrant violation of Human Rights and all international laws and conventions, which prohibit disposition of public properties in occupied countries.
UN Resolutions
UN Security Council Resolution 242 of 1967: calls for
- the Withdrawal of Israel armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict;
- 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." [4]
UN Security Council Resolution 449 of 1979: the Security Council determined:
- "that the policy and practices of Israel in establishing settlements in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967 have no legal validity and constitute a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East"
UN Security Council Resolution 452 of 1979: states that
- "the policy of Israel in establishing settlements in the occupied Arab territories has no legal validity and constitutes a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949" and "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 of 1980:
- It expressed concern at Israeli settlement policy in the Arab territories and recalled resolutions 237 (1967), 252 (1968), 267 (1969), 271(1969) and 298 (1971). It further called upon the State and people of Israel to dismantle such settlements. The resolution calls on all states ‘not to provide Israel with any assistance to be used specifically in connection with settlements in the occupied territories’.
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;"
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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;
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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
