Expanding “Ariel” settlement / Salfit governorate

• Violation: Expanding “Ariel” settlement.
• Location: Salfit city and Kfafal Haris town / Salfit governorate.
• Date: since the beginning of year 2018 – until this day.
• Perpetrator: “Ariel” illegal settlers.
• Victim: Palestinians of the targeted areas.

Description:

The Israeli occupation constraining policy in devouring and destroying agricultural lands to use for their colonial projects is the biggest enemy for Palestinian environment, in May 1, the occupation had finished building a new colonial quarter (as a part of “Ariel” colony) over devoured lands from the beautiful mountains of Salfit city and Kafal Haris.

The occupation bulldozers had worked day and night to ravage and prepare over 150 dunums of agricultural lands to build grand buildings as a new quarter in “Ariel” settlement, the targeted lands were confiscated in the 80s, instead of returning them to their real Palestinian owners, The Israeli occupation authorities gave them to “Ariel” settlers to expand on the expenses of Palestinian farmers and environment.

“Ariel” settlement is supported by the radical successive far right governments. In the recent year , The illegal settlement received huge financial support to build residential units, other than developing it into a colonial city that receive the support of grand cities in “Israel”. The settlement is also the home of “Ariel” collage, now legalized and supported by the government.

About Ariel:

It is one of the biggest colonies in size in Salfit governorate. The occupation gave it the title of “Capital of Samaria”. Ariel dates back to 1978; it is when the colony was established in the aftermath of Camp David agreement between Egypt and Israel.

The colony started on 500 confiscated dunums from Salfit city and Marda village to later seize 13775 dunums, of which 2479 dunums are the colony’s built-up area.

Ariel now accommodates a collage and a number of factories, hotels and residential blocs. Until 2005, its total population mounted up to 16520 colonists.

The municipal borders of the colony is four times the size of its built-up area. This gives it the advantage to potential and future expansions. “Ariel” is the third biggest colony in the West Bank and Jerusalem in size and number of colonists . after “Maale Adoumim” and “Pezgat Zaev”.

Legal Feedback:

The constringing policy  by the Israeli occupation authorities   of confiscating Palestinian lands in order to  build illegal random outposts and settlements can only be regarded as a violation of all  international conventions  and agreements like:

The Geneva Fourth convention relative to the protection of civilian persons in the times of war:

Security council resolution 242 year 1967:   Withdrawal of Israel armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict; and  Termination of all claims or states of belligerency and respect for and acknowledgement of the sovereignty, territoial 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.

Security council resolution 446 year 1979:   Determines 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;

Security council resolution   452 year 1979: the resolution once again denounced Israel’s settlement activities  in territories occupied in 1976 including (East) Jerusalem, this activity constituting a violation of the Fourth Geneva convention, and called on Israel to cease planning and construction of settlements

Security council resolution 465 year 1980: calls 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;

Security council resolution 478 year 1980:  Censures in the strongest terms the enactment by Israel of the “basic law” on Jerusalem and the refusal to comply with relevant Security Council resolutions, Those States that have established diplomatic missions at Jerusalem to withdraw such missions from the Holy City.

Hough  convention 1907 :

Article 46:  the occupying power must not confiscate Private property .

Article 55:  The occupying State shall be regarded only as administrator and usufructuary of public buildings, real estate, forests, and agricultural estates belonging to the hostile State, and situated in the occupied country. It must safeguard the capital of these properties, and administer them in accordance with the rules of usufruct.