Violation: a plan to transform ‘Ebal’s peak into a resort
Location: Mount ‘Ebal, Nablus
Date: 12/04/2015
Perpetrators: Israel Ministry of Tourism and Settlements Council in the West
Victims: Nablus residents
Details:
In a visit for the Israeli minister of Housing Ori Ariel accompanied by a staff from the Settlement Council in the West Bank to the mountain ‘Ebal on April 12, 2015, Ori pledged to open roads that facilitate colonists movement in the area and to transform the mountain into a resort. This came under the pretext of the place being “scared”.
According to the Israeli narrative, the location accommodates the shrine of Joshua. The Israeli resources justified the declared plan under the pretext of holding Talmudic rituals and prayers in the location. Noteworthy, the Israeli occupation exploits religious pretexts to take over and confiscate Palestinian lands and properties for the sake of Judaizing them.
According to the information of the Department of Tourism and Antiquities – Nablus governorate, the altar founded atop Mount ‘Ebal dates back to 1300 B.C, which refutes the Israeli narrative of Joshua’s shrine being located there. Noteworthy, the altar is relative to the Canaanite era and was used to offer sacrifices for gods and goddesses.
Photos 1-2: mountain ‘Ebal with the recently erupted military watchposts
A closed military zone:
The city of Nablus is located between the two mountains of ‘Ebal and Gerizim; the peak of mount ‘Ebal was transformed into a military camp of the Israeli occupation and was declared inaccessible for Palestinians under the pretext of the area being a closed military zone. This step limited down the Palestinian demographic expansion and increased the rate of violations and attacks carried out against Palestinians in the area.
Noteworthy, the peak of Mount Gerizim was transformed into a colony named Bracha, devouring hundreds of agricultural dunums from the surrounding Palestinian villages of Asira al-Qibliya, Burin and Madama. Not only that, the occupation established a military zone atop the mountain.
An undeclared plan:
It should be mentioned that there is an existing Israeli plan to take over the area of the West Bank through transforming big cities into isolated cantons, which eases the process of taking over sensitive locations, linking Palestinian areas.
It is not farfetched that the Israeli occupation will open bypass roads in the periphery of Mount Gerizim to facilitate colonists’ entry to the area under the pretext of holding religious rituals.
Prepared by
The Land Research Center
LRC
