Violation: Starting to place mobile metal units in preparation for establishing a new settlement neighborhood.
Location: Iskaka Village, located east of Salfit city.
Date of Violation: 07/11/2024.
Perpetrator: A group of settlers.
Victims: Several citizens.

Details of the Violation:
The Israeli occupation continues its expansion of settlements on Palestinian lands in various parts of the West Bank. On Thursday, November 7, 2024, settlers began placing 24 new mobile housing units on the lands of Iskaka village, specifically in the area known as "Khalat Ghanaim", covering an estimated area of 20 dunams of land that the Israeli occupation classifies as state land.

It is worth noting that there is a plan to further expand the area controlled by the settlement, alongside the construction of several surrounding roads around the settlement outpost.

Activist Izzat Ahmad Lami stated the following to the researcher from LRC:

"We were surprised at the beginning of this month when settlers placed new housing units on the outskirts of this settlement outpost. This means that the occupation is trying to double the number of housing units, especially as settlers have been constructing several agricultural roads around the settlement outpost. It should be noted that this settlement outpost is a real threat to the lives of farmers in the area. The targeted region has been a long-time objective for the occupation, given its geographical location overlooking the Jordan Valley and the Shafaghori areas. Moreover, it is strategically important in creating connectivity with various settlement blocs, including the settlement of 'Rehalim'. The lands that were seized used to be cultivated with wheat and field crops and were previously farmed by many families in the village."

It is important to note that the settlement outpost "Nofeh Nahamiya" began in 2003, when a group of extremist settlers from the "Rehalim" settlement seized land from the villages of Yatma and Yasouf, on a plot of land that the occupation claims to be government-owned, located within the lands of Iskaka village. At that time, the settlers set up tents, and since then, there has been a noticeable increase in attacks on farmers in the area. The situation later escalated into the establishment of a new settlement outpost by adding several mobile homes. In 2009, the occupation began constructing a settlement road to serve the outpost. Today, in the context of global distraction from what is happening in the occupied territories and under an ideologically extreme government, settlers are attempting to legalize colonial activities in the West Bank, including this unauthorized outpost, by expanding its influence, building infrastructure, and placing new housing units in the area. This is all part of a broader effort to promote the Judaization of lands in Salfit Governorate, which now contains 23 Israeli settlements and 18 Palestinian residential communities.

Introduction to Iskaka Village:

Iskaka village is located 6 km to the northeast of Salfit city. It is bordered to the north by Jamain village, to the west by Salfit city (where the "Arael" settlement is established on its western lands), to the east by the "Shevut Rahel" settlement, and to the south by Amuriya village.

• The village has a population of 1,198 people as of 2017. The total area of the village is 5,474 dunams, of which 217 dunams are designated for village construction.
• The "Arael" settlement, which was established in 1978, has confiscated 198 dunams of the village's land and is home to 16,053 settlers. Additionally, the bypass roads have seized more than 40 dunams of land.

According to the Oslo Accords, the lands of the village are classified into areas B and C. Area B constitutes 27% of the land, while the larger area, classified as C, is under full Israeli control and constitutes 73% of the land. The areas are as follows:

• Area B: 1,491 dunams
• Area C: 3,983 dunams

United Nations General Assembly Resolutions Regarding Settlement:

1. UN General Assembly Resolution dated 20/12/1972: This resolution called on Israel to cease a number of actions and practices, including building Israeli settlements in occupied Arab territories and transferring Israeli civilians to these territories.
2. UN General Assembly Resolution dated 15/12/1972: The General Assembly urged Israel to stop annexing any part of the occupied Arab territories and establishing settlements there, as well as transferring populations to those territories.
3. UN General Assembly Resolution dated 07/12/1973: This resolution expressed deep concern over Israel's violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and all actions taken by Israel to alter the features of occupied lands or their demographic composition, considering these actions as violations of international law.
4. UN General Assembly Resolution dated 29/11/1974: The General Assembly expressed grave concern over Israel's annexation of parts of occupied lands, the establishment of settlements, and the transfer of populations to those areas.
5. UN General Assembly Resolution dated 15/12/1975: This resolution, consisting of four sections, condemned Israel's actions in the occupied territories, describing these practices as serious violations of the UN Charter and an obstacle to achieving a lasting and just peace in the region. It emphasized that these actions were null and void and had no legal basis.
6. UN General Assembly Resolution dated 28/10/1977: This resolution affirmed in its first section that all measures and actions taken by Israel in Palestinian territories and other Arab lands occupied since 1967 are legally invalid, and represent a severe obstruction to efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. The General Assembly strongly regretted Israel's continued implementation of these measures, especially the establishment of settlements in the occupied Arab territories.

Source: GIS Unit – LRC.

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

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