• Violation: advertising for two master plans
• Location:  August 23+24, 2016
• Date:  Jayyous and Azzun villages- Qalqiliya
• Perpetrators: Israel Civil Administration- Supreme Council of Planning
• Victims:  number of Jayyous farmers

Details:

The  Supreme Planning Council- Israel Civil Administration declared on August 23, 2016 the validity of master plan number 7/4/149 for the colony of Zufin that is founded on confiscated lands from Jayyous town, east Qalqiliya governorate.

According to the declaration signed by the chairperson of Planning Council, Natalia Abrbokh, the targeted lands are part of  the natural block number 3 of the location known as "Lashish", which is founded on lands isolated by the apartheid wall, west the aforementioned colony.

 

Photo 1: copy of the advertisement featured in AL-Quds newspaper, page 31 on August 23, 2016

Photo2: copy of the master plan of Zufin colony holding the number 7/4/149

 

Photo 3: Zufin colony

 

It is reported that the targeted lands were confiscated in 2001 under the pretext of "Security Purposes"  and "proximity to colony periphery". Owners of lands were prohibited from using and accessing the lands, which opened room for colonial expansionist plans to take place.

In 2009, colonists set up some caravans in the targeted lands and opened new roads alongside with some ravaging acts, which were implemented with the intent to establish a new colonial quarter. Today, the occupation advertised a new master plan for the area that included the transformation of some agricultural land into residential areas to serve the demographic expansion of the colony at the expense of Palestinians.

According to field visits conducted by Land Research Center, the lands were used to cultivate irrigated and field crops and were considered a source of income for many families.

A new residential neighborhood in Shaare Zufin colony on Jayyous lands

The  Supreme Planning Council- Israel Civil Administration declared on August 24, 2016 the validity of master plan number 10/149 for the colony of Shaare , targeting lands located within the natural block number 3 of Khirbet Nufel and Al-Lashlin locations from Jayyous town and the natural block number 2 of Daher AL-Aaraj location of Azzun village.

According to the declaration signed by the chairman of Planning Council, Natalia Abrbokh, the plan aims at the following:

1. Changing status of lands from agricultural to residential in addition to establishing new buildings, open areas and public areas.
2. Determining use of lands in some areas
3. Designing roads network
4. Putting roles and regulations for constructions within the new plan
5. Putting roles and regulations for the implementation of constructions

Photo 4: copy of the advertisement featured in AL-Quds newspaper, page 19 on August 24, 2016

Photo 5: copy of the master plan of Shaare Zufin colony holding the number 10/149
 

Photo 6: an aerial image illustrating the location of targeted lands by the plan

 

About Jayyous:

It is 12km away from Qalqiliya governorate and is of 13,054 dunums, of which 418 are considered the village's built-up area. Jayyous is inhabited by 2,894 people. Noteworthy, the apartheid wall looted around 8,347 dunums from Jayyous lands. After the wall is modified, it will isolate 5800 dunums from the village. 

About Azzun Attma:

Located 8km to Qalqiliya city with a total area of 9,472 dunums, of which 1,054 dunums are the village’s built-up area, Azzun is inhabited by 7,821 people (2007).

The occupation confiscated vast area from the village for the favor of colonization and the apartheid wall; the areas are detailed as follows:

• 276 dunums were confiscated for Maale Shamron colony that was established in 1980.
• 417 dunums were confiscated for the bypass road number 55

It should be marked that the vast majority of Azzun lands (6,927 dunums) is classified as area “C” according to Oslo accords; areas that are controlled by the Israeli occupation. The village has zero percentage of area “A” that is under the control of Palestinian Authority. As for other classifications, the village has 2,546 dunums classified as area “B”. (Geographical Information System- Land Research Center)

3 colonies are built on 'Azzun lands and they are:

• Maale Shomron: Built in 1980, the colony has a total area of 1903 and a built-up area of 216 dunums. 549 colonists live in it (according to a 2004 census). 
• Genot Shomron: Built in 1985, the colony's built-up area is 484 dunums.
• Karni Shomron: Built in 1978, the colony's built-up area is 1351 dunums. 6270 colonists live in it (according to a 2005 census). 

About Zufin :

It was established in 1990 on confiscated lands from Jayyous(869 dunums).  With  a total built-up area of 869 dunums, Zufin populates 1040 colonists.

UN Security Council resolutions in regard to Israeli colonies:

UN Security Council resolution 446, article 3 "           Calls once more upon Israel, as the occupying Power, to abide scrupulously by the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention, to rescind its previous measures and to desist from taking any action which would result in changing the legal status and geographical nature and materially affecting the demographic composition of the Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and, in particular, not to transfer parts of its own civilian population into the occupied Arab territories;"

• Un Security Council resolution 452, article 3"Calls upon the Government and people of Israel to cease, on an urgent basis, the establishment, construction and planning of settlements in the Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem;"
• Un Security Council resolution 465, Strongly deplores the continuation and persistence of Israel in pursuing those policies and practices and calls upon the Government and people of Israel to rescind those measures, 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;
• Un Security Council resolution  242, Affirms that the fulfilment of Charter principles requires the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East which should include the application of both the following principles:

  (i) Withdrawal of Israel armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict;
  (ii) Termination of all claims or states of belligerency and respect for and acknowledgment of the sovereignty, territorial 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;

 

 

Prepared by
 The Land Research Center
LRC