9 May 1996
300 Dunums Confiscated in Qalqilya in Further Efforts to Move Green Line
On May 4, Israeli authorities delivered confiscation orders against 300 dunums of land to residents of Qalqilya, in the north-west of the West Bank, giving the familiar "security reasons" as their pretext. This land lies exactly on the green line, to the north and west of Qalqilya. Shortly after the confiscation orders were delivered, bulldozers began working on the land, destroying trees and agricultural land. Fieldworkers for LAWE while surveying the site saw at least 10 bulldozers at work. Israeli authorities also visited owners of vegetable shops and greenhouses located on the land, all of whom have permits, and stated that their demolition was impending.
On 6 May, hundreds of angry landowners and residents demonstrated on the land. The Israeli soldiers fired tear gas and rubber bullets into the crowd to disperse them, injuring 12. The extent of the frustration and anger of the demonstrators reflects their understanding that this confiscation represents yet another attempt to move the green line, to pre-empt the final status negotiations which have just begun.
Raids, Arrests, Closure
On 2 May the Israeli authorities in Hebron closed the vegetable market and clamped a curfew on the town, following a non-fatal stabbing of a Jewish settler.
On 6 May, Israeli soldiers and border police raided and searched Rashid pharmacy in Hebron.
On 6 May Israeli authorities raided the Charity Organization and the Union for Workers' Struggle in Jerusalem, searched the offices, and destroyed office equipment.
On 7 May Israeli authorities raided Jeensafut village near Qalqilya, searched two homes and broke furniture.
On 7 May Israeli authorities closed a mosque for six months near Nablus for no stated reason.
Settler Aggression
On 4 May, settlers from Ariel settlement raided Kufur Harris village near Nablus, cut and otherwise destroyed over 50 trees. This is part of an ongoing harassment campaign against villagers.
On 7 May, settlers from Nahalil moved eight caravans onto lands of Der Amar village near Ramallah in an attempt to expand their settlement.
Medical and Health
On 2 May, a man from Nurshams refugee camp, near Tulkarem, was denied permission to enter Jerusalem for treatment for diabetes.
Also on 2 May, Israeli soldiers raided the Salah medical center in Hebron, and assaulted the director, Dr. Nafez Shwaqi.
LAWE condemns in the strongest possible terms the continuing land confiscation in the West Bank, and also the obvious attempts on the part of the Israelis to alter the location of the green line. It is expressly forbidden in the Oslo Accords to change the status quo or to undertake any action that may alter the outcome of the final status negotiations. Confiscations along the green line are clear attempts to create these facts on the ground, and further highlight the bad faith in which these negotiations are taking place.
Land and Water Establishment is a Palestinian, legal advocacy non-governmental organization, dedicated to preserving human rights through legal advocacy. LAWE is also an affiliate member of the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights.