Expanding “Kedumim east” settlement / Qalqilya governorate

• Violation: Expanding “Kedumim east” settlement.
• Location: Kafr Qaddum- east Qalqilya city.
• Date: July 19-2018.
• Perpetrator: The Israeli occupation settlements council in West Bank.
• Victim: Villagers of Kafr Qaddum.

Description:

Expansion of “Kedumim east” illegal settlement devoured area of agricultural lands in Kafr Qaddum, which threatens land , human and environment.

LRC field observation team documented the expansion of “Kedumim east” settlement on the expense of “Kafr Qaddum” lands, the most recent is building a new quarter on the east side of the settlement and over tens of confiscated agricultural land, the new quarter contains 20 ready-to-use residential units, roads network and infrastructure that guarantee the mentioned settlement’s growth and development.

Noteworthy , this quarter is built over 16 dunums of Kafr Qaddums confiscated lands under military orders, in 2012 they labeled the mentioned lands as “State’s Lands”, The occupation used deceiving ways and violated international laws to prohibit Palestinian owners from reaching their lands or cultivate them for over than a decade.

Photos 1-2: Expanding “Kedumim east” settlement.

Photo 3: Aerial photo shows the expansion.

Rida Shetewi A Human- Rights activist told LRC observer: “Kedumim east” settlement was established in 2000 over 180 dunums of Palestinian confiscated lands, This settlement along with “Kedumim Merkaz”, “Kedumim Tsivon” , “Har Hemid”and “Mizpe Yeshai” form a grand colonial blocs east Qalqilya city, The blocs is supported by the occupation government and is planned to be transformed into An Israeli city.

Kafr Qaddum[1]:

Kafr Qaddum is located 25 km to the east of Qalqiliya. Its total area is around 20,000 dunums including 1382 dunums of built up area. There are around 2500 dunums of rangeland and 5000 dunums were captured by the Israeli and being used for colonial activities. The rest are agricultural field mostly planted with olive (85%). 

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.

[1] GIS-LRC