HEBRON, February 6, 2011 (WAFA) – Settlers seized 3,630 Donums (1.000 m2) of Hebron’s land, in the southern West Bank in 2010, according to WAFA report.
The report, prepared with the help of map and settlement expert Abdul Hadi Hantash, elaborated on land seizure and confiscation by the Israeli forces and settlers, mainly in “C” areas and near the Separation Wall.
It referred to land seizure in various areas of Hebron under the name of “seizure,” “evacuation for security reasons”, “seizure in favor of settlement activities” and “clearing operations.” The report stated that Israeli land seizure is usually followed by destruction of crops and water wells.
In Yatta, south of Hebron, Israeli forces destroyed 27 wells and water ponds used for agriculture, livestock and irrigation. Settlers from “Matza Yair” seized in the presence of an Israeli Civil Administration officer ten Donums of land from Imm el-Araies a village in Hebron, preventing the farmers from accessing the land and fencing it with barbed wire.
Hantash said, “Although the Israeli authorities declared a settlement freeze, the practices on the ground opposed what was stated and the process of seizing lands did not stop.”
He added that “this is a vicious campaign against Palestinian land and the land seizure is done with the knowledge and assistance of the Israeli government, army and settlements council.”
Hebron Governor, Kamel Hmeid condemned Israeli occupation, settlement activities and racist acts. He called on civil and human rights organizations to halt the rampant settlement escalation which is taking over Palestinians’ lands in the West Bank.
Y.Y./F.J.
