Israel approves occupation of 12.7 sq km of Palestinian land in West Bank
- In Reports
- 10:54 PM, Jul 03, 2024
- Myind Staff
Israel has sanctioned the largest land appropriation in the occupied West Bank in over three decades, according to the anti-settlement watchdog group Peace Now. The planned seizure, approved by Israel’s government late last month but only publicised on Wednesday, targets 12.7sq km (4.9sq miles) of land in the Jordan Valley, Peace Now said.
Peace Now reported that this recent appropriation is the largest since the 1993 Oslo Accords. The decision follows the seizure of 8 square kilometres (approximately 3 square miles) in March and 2.6 square kilometres (1 square mile) in February. These combined actions have made 2024 a peak year for Israeli land seizures in the West Bank.
The land appropriation is likely to worsen the already heightened tensions linked to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. Violence has surged in the West Bank since the war began, with Israel conducting near-daily military raids that frequently lead to deadly gunbattle with Palestinian militants.
The Jordan Valley parcels noted are contiguous and located northeast of Ramallah, the city where the Palestinian Authority is headquartered.
By declaring them state lands, the Israeli government has opened them up to being leased to Israelis and prohibited private Palestinian ownership.
The appropriated land is contiguous and located northeast of Ramallah, the administrative centre of the Palestinian Authority. By designating these lands as state property, the Israeli government has opened them up for leasing to Israelis, thereby prohibiting private Palestinian ownership.
The expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank is seen by Palestinians as the main barrier to a lasting peace agreement. Most of the international community also regards these settlements as illegal or illegitimate. Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem during the 1967 war, territories that Palestinians seek for a future state.
However, Israel's current government considers the West Bank as the historical and religious heartland of the Jewish people and opposes Palestinian statehood.
Israel has established over 100 settlements in the West Bank, home to more than 500,000 Jewish settlers with Israeli citizenship. In contrast, the 3 million Palestinians living in the West Bank remain under Israeli military rule.
Although the Palestinian Authority governs parts of the West Bank, it is restricted from operating in 60% of the territory where the settlements are located.
Image source: Wion
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