Politics Israel declares large area in the West Bank state land
Israel's Civil Administration has declared around 1270 hectares in the West Bank as Israeli state land. This corresponds to an area of almost 13 square kilometers.
03.07.2024, 17:45
SDA
The Israeli human rights organization Peace Now spoke of the largest land seizure since the Oslo peace treaty signed by Israelis and Palestinians in 1993. The relevant decree for the seizure was signed by the responsible Israeli government authority in the West Bank back in June. However, the decision was only published today.
A total of 2370 hectares (almost 24 square kilometers) have already been declared state land this year. "The declaration of state land is one of the main methods by which the State of Israel attempts to assert control over land in the occupied territories. Land that has been declared state land is no longer considered private property of Palestinians in the eyes of Israel.
They are prevented from using it. In addition, Israel leases state land exclusively to Israelis," says Peace Now. According to the report, a large part of the area was previously designated as a nature reserve.
Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that Israeli settlers in the West Bank attacked Israeli security forces who dismantled an illegal settlement outpost and destroyed temporary buildings on private Palestinian land. They threw Molotov cocktails at the forces and set fire to a vehicle in protest against the evacuation.
They also smashed the windshield of a car belonging to a civil administration official. The dismantling of the outpost had previously been approved by the Israeli government. 70 border police officers were deployed.
Israel had conquered the West Bank and East Jerusalem during the Six-Day War in 1967. Today, around 700,000 Israeli settlers live there among three million Palestinians. According to Peace Now, there were 250,000 in 1993.
Israel distinguishes between settlements that were established with government approval and "wild settlements", which are sometimes legalized retroactively by law. From an international perspective, however, all settlements are illegal.
Israel's right-wing religious leadership is pressing ahead with settlement construction despite international criticism. According to the Israeli human rights organization Peace Now, since the government took office at the end of 2022, more new Israeli housing units have been approved in the occupied West Bank than ever before since the organization began keeping records in 2012. 2024 is a record year for land seizures.
