Breaking the Law in the West Bank - The Private Land Report - Nov. 2006

[MOBIUS]

What follows is a damning report by an ISRAELI peace organisation...

Breaking the Law in the West Bank - The Private Land Report - Nov. 2006

This report by the Peace Now Settlement Watch Team is a harsh indictment against the whole settlements enterprise and the role all Israeli governments played in it. The report shows that Israel has effectively stolen privately owned Palestinian lands for the purpose of constructing settlements and in violation Israel's own laws regarding activities in the West Bank. Nearly 40 percent of the total land area on which the settlements sit is, according to official data of the Israeli Civil Administration (the government agency in charge of the settlements), privately owned by Palestinians. The settlement enterprise has undermined not only the collective property rights of the Palestinians as a people, but also the private property rights of individual Palestinian landowners.

Summary:
The majority of settlements have been constructed either entirely or partially on private Palestinian land
• For the first time Peace Now is able to prove, that despite the State and settler’s claims, the majority of the settlements in the West Bank have been constructed on private Palestinian land and not on State land.
• 130 settlements were constructed either entirely or partially on private Palestinian land
• Around 60 thousand dunams of the land used by the settlements is actually private Palestinian land
• Private Palestinian land accounts for 40% of land used for settlements
• Construction of settlements of private Palestinian land is illegal according to the Supreme Court ruling, (Elon More precedent of 1979), and thus cannot be authorized. The result is that not only were the outposts constructed in an illegal manner, but also a large number of the veteran settlements were established on private Palestinian land and are thus illegal.
• The data presented here has been hidden by the State for many years, for fear that the revelation of these facts could damage it’s international relations. Only recently did Peace Now manage to obtain this material.
• Conclusion: For many years the state of Israel has been seizing thousands of dunams of private Palestinian land in order to construct settlements. The claim by the State and settlers that the settlements have been constructed on state land is misleading and false. The vast majority of settlement construction was done against the law of the land and the Supreme Court ruling and therefore unauthorized.
On a moral note this report paints a picture of the Israeli state acting in “daylight robbery” of Palestinian land and handing it over to Israeli settlers. The State has been taking advantage of the weakened status of the Palestinians in order to steal their land.

Peace Now Demands: That the Attorney General order an immediate investigation into these findings and bring those responsible to justice.

One Violation leads to Another - Full Report

After such wholesale theft of Palestinian land - ongoing to this day with such 'initiatives' as the wall and the still increasing size of the settlements on the West Bank illegal in the eyes of the world, still the world blithely stands by as the Israelis continue to choke the life of the ordinary Palestinian...

Really, it's a wonder so few resort to violence.

When is the world going to end the deliberate destruction of Palestinian lives, or actually do something about the countless UN resolutions that continue to be violated by Israel - after all we all know that Israel values UN resolutions when it suits them...

List of Israeli Settlements/Outposts in the West Bank

Adora - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Alei Zahav - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Alfei Menashe - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Alfei Menashe (Nirit) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Almon (Anatot) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Alon Shvut - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Ariel - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Asfar - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Ateret - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Avnei Hefetz and Hahar (outpost) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Barqan and Ma'ale Israel (outpost) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Bat Ayin and Bat Ayin East, Bat Ayin West, Old Massu'ot Itzhak (outposts) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Beit Arye - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Beit El and Beit El East, Jabel Aritis (outposts) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Beit Horon - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Beitar Illit - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Bqa'ot - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Bracha and Bracha A (outpost) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Carmel - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Dolev - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Efrata and Givat Hadagan, Givat Hatamar (outposts) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
El'azar and Derech Ha'avot (outpost) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Eli and Palgei Mayim, Nof Harim, Hayovel (outposts) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Elkana - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Elon More and Point 792 - Skali's Ranch (outpost) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Enav and Einav North East, Einav South West (outpost) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Eshkolot - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Etz Efraim - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Geva Binyamin and Bnei Adam (outpost) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Gitit - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Giv'at Ze'ev - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Giv'on Ha'hadasha - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Haggai - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Halamish and Elisha Preparatory (outpost) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Har Adar - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Har Gilo - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Hashmonaim - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Hermesh - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Immanuel - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Itamar and Hanekuda, Gva'ot Olam, Hill 851, Hill 782, Hill 836, Hill 777 (outposts) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Karmei Tzur and Tzur Shalem (outpost) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Karnei Shomron - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Kedumim - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Keidar - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Kfar Adumim and Nofei Prat - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Kfar Etzion - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Kfar Ha'oranim (Menorah) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Kfar Tapuah and Kfar Tapuah West (outpost) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Kiryat Arba - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Kiryat Netafim - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Kochav Ha'shachar and Mitzpe Kramim, Ma'ale Shlomo (outposts) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Kochav Ya'akov - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Ma'ale Adumim - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Ma'ale Amos and Ibei Hanahal (outpost) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Ma'ale Efraim and Industrial Zone - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Ma'ale Levona - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Ma'ale Michmash and Mitzpe Danny, Neve Erez (outposts) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Ma'ale Shomron and Elmatan (outpost) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Ma'on and Hill 833 - Ma'on Farm (outpost) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Masu'a - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Mechola - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Mechora - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Metzadot Yehuda and Nof Nesher (outpost) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Mevo Dotan - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Mevo Horon - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Migdal Oz - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Migdalim - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Mitzpe Yericho - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Modi'in Illit - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Na'ale - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Negohot and Mitzpe Lachish (outpost) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Netiv Ha'gdud - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Neve Daniel - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Nili - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Nokdim - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Ofra and Amona, Mishpatei Aretz Institute, Ofra North East (outposts) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Oranit - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Otniel - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Pedu'el - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Pnei Hever - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Psagot and Mitzpe Ha'ai (outpost) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Rechelim - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Revava - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Rimonim - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Ro'i - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Rosh Tzurim - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Sal'it - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Sha'arei Tikva - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Shadmot Mehola - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Shaked - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Shavei Shomron - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Shilo, Shvut Rachel and Industrial Zone - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Shim'a and Shim'a North (outpost) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Susiya and Susiya North (outpost) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Talmon and Haresha, Horesh Yaron, Zayit Ra'anan (outposts) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Telem - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Tene - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Tko'a and Tko'a B+C (outpost) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Tzofim - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Vered Yericho - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Yafit - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Yakir - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Yitav and Yitav East (outpost) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Yitzhar and Lehavat Yitzhar, Shalhevet Farm, Mitzpe Yitzhar, Hill 725 - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Avigayil (outpost) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Beit Hanotzrim (outpost) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Eli 762 (outpost) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Givat Harel (outpost) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Har Hemed (outpost) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Neve Daniel North (outpost) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
Sneh Ya'akov (outpost) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here
T Junction (outpost) - For the detailed aerial photograph click here

Quite a lot eh?

Aerial photo of Ma'ale Adumim

Red denotes stolen Palestinian owned land!

[dannubis]

So, the Israeli/Zionist colonists just take what they want ?

Color me shocked !!!

Why do you still care btw ? Its not that they will find peace this way...

[MOBIUS]

I figure most of the posters on this forum are actually ignorant of Israel's vicious ongoing colonisation of the West Bank, if even one person takes the time to read this thread/the report and it changes their attitude towards Israel then my effort will have been worthwhile.

They've already proved they're not going to find peace any other way after nearly 60 years - if you take away a person's reason to fight, only the very very fanatical will continue and ultimately even they will be defeated.

[Arrian]

Private Palestinian land accounts for 40% of land used for settlements
• Construction of settlements of private Palestinian land is illegal according to the Supreme Court ruling, (Elon More precedent of 1979), and thus cannot be authorized. The result is that not only were the outposts constructed in an illegal manner, but also a large number of the veteran settlements were established on private Palestinian land and are thus illegal.

Presumably, then, a suit could be brought. If done right, the resulting publicity would make it difficult for the courts to just sweep this under the rug. Asking the attorney general to do it doesn't strike me as good enough.

-Arrian

[Kuciwalker]

This thread could have been so much better had it not been posted by MOBIUS

Presumably, then, a suit could be brought. If done right, the resulting publicity would make it difficult for the courts to just sweep this under the rug. Asking the attorney general to do it doesn't strike me as good enough.

The military has been ignoring the courts, according to the report.

[Arrian]

Obviously. But the question can be turned into a public "are we a nation of laws?!?" debate. And it could get very interesting.

It would require some balls and skill, though.

-Arrian

[lord of the mark]

1. some of what is discussed are illegal outpiosts, which are already illegal, and the dismantling of which is already an object of debate. A few have been dismantled, but this gets very difficult and very emotional.

2. As for exactly what happened wrt to settlements authorized by the civil admin, I have no doubt a debate will ensue. First Id like to hear what the Ministry of Defense has to say about the accuracy of the report, etc.

3. Nonetheless, even if the report is entirely true, most of the authorized settlements are built on public land.

4. While this could well effect individual settlements, I doubt it will effect the debate over Maaleh Adumim, Ariel, Gush Etzion etc. Even if there was not a single settler there Israel would have a hard time returning to the pre '67 armistice lines, which were not secure, and which led to war. It has been widely agreed, (see the unofficial Geneva accords) that the border will be modified, with Pals getting other land in exchange. The sticking points, now are A. who does Israel negotiate with B. Jerusalem C. The "right of return" and D. Which lands are to be exchanged to the Pals in return for the modifications Israel wants.

So while this will have at least short term impacts on the settlement movement, on individual settlements, on the MoD, and on Israeli politics (esp the Likud party) I dont think it really has much to do with the larger issues of reaching a negotiated peace settlement.

Note well, this was discovered by an Israeli group, and published in Israel. Once again showing that the existence of democracy, and freedom of speech, is key to moderating international behavior, and is a force for peace, at least in some countries. To my "realist" friends, now lining up behind the Baker boys, I must ask if this is not true elsewhere, and if not, why not.

[lord of the mark]

"with such 'initiatives' as the wall"

are you even aware that most settlers hate the security fence, since their settlements are mainly on the wrongside, and the fence, IF its to be a border, implies withdrawl from their settlements. You also fail to mention other initiatives such as the withdrawl from Gaza, and the expulsion of settlers. Which was rewarded with the election of fanatics in the PA, and attacks on the town of Sderot from Gaza.

I dont care for the settlers, the outposts, or the settlements beyond the fence. But the Pals have had numerous opportunities, including the Barak offer at Camp David, and the recent momentum toward withdrawl by Olmert, to get rid of those problems. At every turn a large portion (not just a few fanatics) make clear that those settlements are NOT the core of the conflict.

[Arrian]

1. some of what is discussed are illegal outpiosts, which are already illegal, and the dismantling of which is already an object of debate. A few have been dismantled, but this gets very difficult and very emotional.

There really shouldn't BE any debate about that.

-Arrian

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Arrian


There really shouldn't BE any debate about that.

-Arrian

But its a democracy, and so there is debate on the terms that are meaningful to the people, and not to someone thousands of miles away who doesnt face the day to day realities.

These settlers go live in very uncomfortable places, in a place surrounded by folks who want to kill them, and who, in the perception of most Israelis, hate not only the settlers but the existence of the state of Israel, out of a sense of idealism, in a way that at least superficially resembles the actions taken in the building up of Israeli society from 1880 to 1948, and then Israeli soldiers have to go in and tear down the settlements, remove the mobile homes, even tear down synagogues, in the midst of settlers crying, using every gandhian means of embarrasing the troops - well lets just say that for a large part of "middle Israel" its quite traumatic.

Should be easy. Lots of things SHOULD be easy, but arent. It should be easy for us to end the genocide in Darfur, but its not.

[lord of the mark]

JPost

"Meanwhile, the government, in an apparent indication that it was taking the Peace Now report seriously and not dismissing its conclusions out of hand, began to put together an inter-ministerial committee to study the findings. Government officials said there were many "grey areas" when it came to West Bank land issues and that the committee would investigate the Peace Now claims. The committee is expected to be made up of officials from the Defense Ministry, the Prime Minister's Office and the Justice Ministry.

The Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza denounced the report as baseless.

"There is nothing new in it," the council said in a statement released to the media. "Since 1979, the state has not established settlements on private land."

Council head Benzi Lieberman said his organization plans to produce its own report to refute the Peace Now allegations. The council is likely to hold its own press conference in the coming weeks to expose the inaccuracies in the Peace Now report, Lieberman told "

[Arrian]

But its a democracy, and so there is debate on the terms that are meaningful to the people, and not to someone thousands of miles away who doesnt face the day to day realities.

These settlers go live in very uncomfortable places, in a place surrounded by folks who want to kill them

They go to steal other people's land, yeah. I'd be pissed too.

-Arrian

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Arrian


They go to steal other people's land, yeah. I'd be pissed too.

-Arrian

I guess you missed the rest of the sentence
"and who, in the perception of most Israelis, hate not only the settlers but the existence of the state of Israel"

Look, Im not arguing what the perceptions of neighboring Pals are. You, living safe in Connecticut, seemed to say that there should be no debate in Israel about removing outposts, it should just be wiff, thats easy do it. Connecticut not being surrounded by hostile Mohegan and Pequot states, and with the Conn settlers in the Berkshires say, establishing outposts among folks at least some of whom think New Haven should be burnt to the ground.

Israelis, if theyre gonna solve this, need to learn to be more empathic to the Pals (one of the reasons Im NOT a likudnik, and want Israel to go easy on Abbas despite his checkered past) But all those who want Israel to change need to be more empathic to Israel, or youre NOT going to solve anything.

[mactbone]

OK, but if you do something illegal, why do you expect anything other than what happened? They know the law and they know the consequence - and more importantly, so do the rest of the public. Is there enough sentiment with the public that they would try to change things so that the settlements could continue existing? Or is it really just handwringing?

[Arrian]

The native american comparison is rather apt. Other people took over their lands, pushed them into increasingly marginal areas and, when they resisted, killed them. There were rather understandably upset.

I'm afraid my empathy for both the Israelis and the Pals is running short. I have some left, but not much.

My government provides Israel with a huge amount of support (money, diplo cover in the UN, etc). Thus I'm involved, however indirectly, and I dislike that involvement when Israel does something I find repugnant.

This is very simple: these "outposts" are illegal and should not be countenanced. Yet they are allowed (perhaps even encouraged). Frankly, were I in charge, the US position on the matter would be: remove them or waive your aid goodbye.

I'd be dubbed an anti-semite, of course.

-Arrian