Violation: An eviction notice on plots under claims that they are a state property.

Location: Al-Harayeq – Bettir Village/Bethlehem governorate.

Date: 06/05/2019.

Perpetrator: The Israeli occupation civil administration.

Victims: Qattoush Family, Mustafa Uwaina’s family , Mu’amar family.

Description:

Monday, 6^th of May 2019, a vehicle related to the Israeli occupation civil administration, protected by the occupation forces raided Al-Harayiq area , and served an eviction order on lands, claiming that they are state properties.

Reportedly, the targeted lands with the eviction notices belong to families of:

Mu’amar: The occupation notified the family of evicting 18 dunums , planted with 150 olive trees and 50 Almond trees , and a part of it is used for seasonal crops.

Qatoush : The occupation notified the family of evicting10 dunums planted with field crops.

‘Uwaina: The occupation notified the family of evicting 4 dunums planted with field crops.

One of Qatoush family members told LRC reporter: “Few years ago , we planted the plot with olive saplings, but fanatic settlers attacked the land and bulled them off , settlers targeted the plot several times, which reflects their intention to take over it.”

Noteworthy, At the beginning of 2019 , settlers opened an illegal road in the notified area , and put a caravan on the mountain hell , which reflects their intention to grab more lands in the area, under the protection and support of the occupation army.

The notice gave the owners only 45 days to stop working and evict the plot, in case they preached the dead line, the occupation forces will show up with their machineries and ravage the plot, and put the bulldozer’s costs on the owner.

The owners were also given only 45 days to prepare the necessary papers and file an objection.

However, the owners do have ownership deeds , and have the freedom of disposal on their lands. But Battir is going under a great attack from the occupation, which confiscates lands under claims of being a state property.

eviction notices

 eviction notices handover methods

 the targeted plots

About Battir :[1]

The village is located 7km to the western side of Bethlehem. It is edged by the occupied lands of 1948 from the north and west, al-Walaja village from the northeast, and Husan village from the south.

Battir has a total population of 5117 people until 2014 and has a total land area of 6681 dunum, 832 of which are built-up area.

Oslo Accords divided the lands of Battir as follows:

1467 dunums are classified as area B

5214 dunums are classified as area C

The Israeli occupation confiscation of Palestinian properties is a clear violation of International conventions and agreements on Human Rights:

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights:

Article 1 states: 2. All peoples may, for their own ends, freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources without prejudice to any obligations arising out of international economic co-operation, based upon the principle of mutual benefit, and international law. In no case may a people be deprived of its own means of subsistence.

Article (17) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948:

Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.

No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

[1] GIS-LRC

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