Violation: lands confiscation

Location: Al-Khadr town

Date:  February 18, 2018

Perpetrators: Israel Civil Administration 

Victims:  residents of the town

Details:

 Dozers of the Israeli Occupation Forces ravaged on February 18, 2018 some agricultural lands in Al-Khadr town, which are adjacent to the Israeli bypass road number 60. Noteworthy, Israeli Occupation Authorities previously issued military confiscation orders on the targeted lands founded in the natural blocks number (11, 13, 8 and 24).

The confiscation came on the claim of opening a new road (20m width) for the colonial outpost Natif Ha'avot.

Engineer Hassan Subeih from Al-Khard Municipality told Land Research Center that the occupation intention is not only to open roads for the outpost but to further confiscate and control land to expand the colony on.

It should be noted that the ravaged lands are private Palestinian property with ownership documents. Israeli Occupation Authorities said that the ravaging is for the sake of evacuating 17 colonial units from Natif Ha'avot outpost, which Israel Supreme Court ordered to be evacuated in 2008. However, the occupation continued on the construction works in that outpost ever since and the evacuation was never carried out.

the dozes before ravaging the lands

the road after being opened

It is reported that Israeli Occupation Forces have previously targeted the area with confiscation orders.

 some of the confiscation orders

According to PeaceNow webpage, Israeli Occupation Authorities declared 1000 dunums confiscated In 2014 as "state lands". Natif Ha'avot outpost was built on parts of those lands, which turned out to be private Palestinian property. As a result, Israel Supreme Court ordered the outpost evacuated.

On August 13, 2018, Israeli Occupation Authorities issued the master plan number 11/405 to build 68 colonial units on 21 dunums relative to the Hashemite Kingdom Treasury to be a substitute location for Natif Ha'avot outpost.

 the master plan featured on Israel Ministry of Interior webpage

Land Research Center LRC sees that confiscation and dispossession are considered a violation of all the International conventions and Humanitarian laws including:

Article 17 of the (1948) Universal Declaration of Human Rights stating: “Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.”

Section ‹G› of article 23 of the (1907) The Hague Conventions asserting: “In addition to the prohibitions provided by special Conventions, it is especially forbidden to destroy or seize the enemy's property, unless such destruction or seizure be imperatively demanded by the necessities of war.”

Article 53 of the Geneva Fourth Convention (1948) declaring: “Any destruction by the Occupying Power of real or personal property belonging individually or collectively to private persons, or to the State, or to other public authorities, or to social or cooperative organizations, is prohibited, except where such destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations.”

Section 1, Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966): “The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions.

Al Khadr:

Located 4 kilometer west of Bethlehem, Al Khadr village is surrounded by Beit Jala and Battir (north), Husan and Nahhalin (west), Ad Doha, Wadi Rahall, and Beit Jala (east), Wadi An Nais (south).

Al Khadr has a population of 9774 according to statistics conducted in 2007. It has a total area of 8279 dunums, 184 of which are built-up area.

The Israeli occupation confiscated 29 dunums of Al Khadr lands for Efrat and Daniel colonies. Efrat was built in 1979 and devoured 5.8 dunums of Al Khadr. It is inhabited by 7037 colonists. Daniel was built in 1982 and confiscated 23 dunums. 1073 colonists live in the colony.

Bypasses number 60 and 375 devoured more than 487 dunums. Not to mention the Apartheid Wall that destroyed 280 dunums and isolated 5638 dunums of the village. The Wall in Al Khadr is 2805 meters long.

According to Oslo Accords, 10% of Al Khadr is under Area A (PA has full civil and security control) while 6% is under Area B (PA is in charge of civil matters with Israel responsible for security). However,  most of the village lands (84%) is under Area C (Israel maintains full security and administrative control). Here are the area in dunums:

Area A (808) dunums

Area B (475) dunums

Area C (6996) dunums

The contents of this document is the sole responsibility of LRC and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union