2018-11-11
Serving Stop-Work order to a health clinic – Al Walaja town/ Bethlehem governorate
Violation: serving stop-work orders
Location: Al-Walaja town/ Bethlehem governorate
Date: November 11, 2018
Perpetrators: The Israel occupation Civil Administration and Army.
Victims: People of Al-Walaja.
Description:
Israeli Occupation Authorities served on November 11, 2018 stop-work orders targeting a health clinic in Al-Walaja village on the claim of “unlicensed construction”.
Noteworthy, in 2015 ANERA organization funded the construction of a 2-floor building, the first floor is a kindergarten for Al-Walaja people, and the second floor is a health clinic.
Khaleel Moamar the executive director of Western suburbs services council in Bethlehem governorate told LRC observer: “Before constructing the building, ANERA got a license from the occupation, but when Al-Walaja rural council started the construction they received a stop-work order from the occupation”
Noteworthy, the notified structure is adjacent to Gilo settlement, the occupation obstructs any developmental projects in the area due to Its closeness to the settlement. In reality the issue is not about permits than it is on the occupation’s intention to take over more lands in the area of their control (C area).
It is important to mark out, That Al-Walaja lacks a health clinic, and it is a natural right for its people to have one.
Khaleel asserted, the rural council prepared the legal file and hired Alaa Ad-Darass to follow up the permission procedures in the Israeli court.
The military order targeting the health clinic
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The targeted structure
Al Walaja:[1]
Since 1948, Al Walaja has been set as a target by the Israeli Occupation which was keen to capture the village and expel its residents.
In 1948, the village was 17793 dunums in area; the number was reduced back then to 6000 dunums only after the armistice agreement with the Jordanian side. In 1996, 500 dunums were confiscated for the milling of a by-pass road that is rarely used these days.
Moreover, around 1000 dunums were confiscated between 1969 and 1997 for the construction of Gilo colony to the north; as a consequence, the village total area nowadays is around 4500 dunums. The Israeli have acquired al Walaja as a target for placing around 13600 residential units in a new colony; the projected colony is supposed to connect ‘West Jerusalem’ with Ezyon colony located southern Bethlehem.
[1] GIS-LRC
