Land Research Center

Violation: Revealing a plan to build a suspension bridge.

date: 17 April 2018.

Perpetrators: The so called "Israeli civil administration" / colonization subcommittee.

Victim: People of Husan.

Details:

Thursday , April 17, The Occupation's civil administration revealed map " 13/ 426" , To connect colonial quarters "Betar Illit A" with "Betar Illit B" ,through a bridge for foot, bicycles emergency vehicles.

According to the map, the bridge's supporting columns will be installed in agricultural lands in Husan, which will confiscate areas of land and prevent owners from reaching them on the same pretext of "security for settlers".

The posted colonial plan on IMI website , April 17

part of the colonial plan published on IMI website

The plan's map

suspension bridge location in Husan

Hassan Brejeyeh representer of "colonalization and war resistance committee" in Bethlehem told LRC observer:

" The bridge will be 360 m long, building it will confiscate more of Husan's lands for illegal settlers favor"

The bridge will be implanted between lands (404) and (751) , overlooking natural views in the village.

Israelis claim that wronged owners may file an objection, but in reality occupying power do whatever they please, the plan is to connect illegal settlements in Jerusalem and Bethlehem as part of Zionist plan "The greater Jerusalem" , Constructing this bridge will harm agricultural lands in Husan , destroy its natural view  and prevent farmers from reaching their lands on the pretext of "protecting settlers".

Rami Hamamreh of Husan's rural council told LRC observer:

" we will prepare necessary documents and help owners to file objections in the Israeli court"

About Husan:[1]

Husan is 10 km west of Bethlehem and is edged with Wadi Fukin (west) Nahhalin (south), Wadi Rahall (east), and Battir (north).

It has a total area of 7360 dunums, 801 of which are built-up area. The Israeli occupation confiscated 2759 dunums to build Betar Illit and Hadar Betar colonies. Besides, bypass number '375 devoured 180 dunums.

The Apartheid Wall destroyed 124 dunums of Husan lands and isolated 150 dunums.

According to the 2017 statistics, the village population is 7048 people.

According to Oslo Accords, 14% of Husan is under Area B (PA is in charge of civil matters with Israel responsible for security). However, most of the village lands (86%) is under Area C (Israel maintains full security and administrative control). Here are the area in dunums:

• Area B (1036) dunums
• Area C (6324) dunums

Legal Feedback:

The constringing policy by the Israeli occupation authorities of confiscating Palestinian lands in order to  build illegal random outposts and settlements can only be regarded as a violation of all international conventions and agreements like:

• The Geneva Fourth convention relative to the protection of civilian persons in the times of war:
• Security council resolution 242 year 1967:   Withdrawal of Israel armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict; and  Termination of all claims or states of belligerency and respect for and acknowledgement of the sovereignty, territoial integrity and political independence of every State in the area and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force.

• Security council resolution 446 year 1979:   Determines that the policy and practices of Israel in establishing settlements in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967 have no legal validity and constitute a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East;

• Security council resolution   452 year 1979: the resolution once again denounced Israel's settlement activities in territories occupied in 1976 including (East) Jerusalem, this activity constituting a violation of the Fourth Geneva convention, and called on Israel to cease planning and construction of settlements

• Security council resolution 465 year 1980: calls to dismantle the existing settlements and in particular to cease, on an urgent basis, the establishment, construction and planning of settlements in the Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem; Calls upon all States not to provide Israel with any assistance to be used specifically in connexion with settlements in the occupied territories.

• Security council resolution 478 year 1980:  Censures in the strongest terms the enactment by Israel of the "basic law" on Jerusalem and the refusal to comply with relevant Security Council resolutions,Those States that have established diplomatic missions at Jerusalem to withdraw such missions from the Holy City.

• Hough  convention 1907 :

• Article 46:  the occupying power must not confiscate Private property .

• Article 55:  The occupying State shall be regarded only as administrator and usufructuary of public buildings, real estate, forests, and agricultural estates belonging to the hostile State, and situated in the occupied country. It must safeguard the capital of these properties, and administer them in accordance with the rules of usufruct.

• Geneve forth convention 1949:

•  Article 49: The occupying power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own population into the territories it occupies.

• Article 55: 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.

• Article 174:  taking of hostages and extensive destruction and appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly.

[1] GIS - LRC

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