• olation: Plan for the expansion of a settlement.
• Date of Violation: 15/04/2024.
• Location: Town of Tarqumiyah, Hebron Governorate.
• Responsible Party: Subcommittee for Settlement Affairs.
• Impacted Party: Residents of the town of Tarqumiyah.

 Description:

The Israeli occupation authorities announced a plan to expand the "Telem" settlement, built on confiscated lands of the town of Tarqumiyah, west of Hebron. The expansion covers an area of (144 dunams) of the town's lands.

On April 15, 2024, the (Civil Administration – Subcommittee for Settlement Affairs)                                                                                                         announced the submission of Detailed Plan No. (501/1/1). The announcement was published online, accompanied by an engineering map showing the location of the expansion, which will be on the western side of the settlement.

The announcement stated that those affected by the plan have the right to file a legal objection within (60 days).

The detailed plan aims to change the land use designation from agricultural to construction purposes, allowing the establishment of settlement housing categories (A, B, C), roads serving the expansion area, and public spaces.

The lands targeted by the plan are located in Khirbet Al-Taybeh, east of the town, and within the following natural basins and sites:

• Basin Number 4 – Part of the site of Shaab Al-Jundi.
• Basin Number 6 – Part of the site of Al-Shallal.
• Basin Number 8 – Parts of the sites of (Shaab Ghunaim, Khillet Al-Dab’a, and Al-Malkiyya).

It is worth noting that the lands designated for this colonial plan, upon which the expansion will be built, were confiscated by the occupation authorities in the early 1980s. Ownership was stripped from the rightful owners through military orders and inherited land laws applied in the occupied West Bank. These lands were transferred to the so-called Custodian of Government and Abandoned Property, and are now being allocated for this colonial project to expand and consolidate the settlements.

The known owners of these lands include:

As part of consolidating settlement in this area, the occupation authorities have targeted all agricultural activities in this region, as well as the vicinity of the planning area where the new colonial neighborhood will be built. They have demolished and issued demolition orders for many agricultural structures, and have also leveled vast areas of land belonging to the residents to prevent any population or agricultural expansion in this area.

A New Colonial Plan Threatening the Palestinian Environment:

The threat to the Palestinian environment continues due to the ongoing construction or expansion of settlements on Palestinian lands. The colonial expansion on pastoral Palestinian lands results in additional environmental pollution. The forms of environmental pollution caused by Israeli settlements and factories—including wastewater, destruction, and leveling of agricultural and pastoral lands, as well as their conversion into settlement areas—have had a severe impact on biodiversity in Palestine. Land leveling for settlement construction and the building of bypass roads leads to the removal of green spaces, plants, trees, and large areas of forests. This means that many plant species have disappeared and have not been allowed to regrow in the same areas.

The leveling activities have also led to the removal and destruction of wildlife habitats, causing animals to flee and migrate to other areas, creating a state of environmental fragmentation in Palestine. Additionally, the effects of other environmental pollutants have impacted the growth of plants, the reproduction of insects, and the spread of diseases that negatively affect wildlife. The greatest challenge, however, is the depletion of Palestinian water resources, which has led to a decrease in water availability, making it impossible for plants and trees to grow.

مشروع: حماية الحقوق البيئية الفلسطينية في مناطق "ج" SPERAC IV   - FCDO

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of Land Research Center and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the project donor; the Norwegian Refugee Council.

إخلاء المسؤولية: الآراء ووجهات النظر الواردة في هذا التقرير هي آراء ووجهات نظر مركز أبحاث الأراضي ولا تعكس بالضرورة وجهات نظر أو مواقف الجهة المانحة للمشروع؛ المجلس النرويجي. للاجئين