CHAPTER EIGHTEEN — Part 4 of 10

were part of what Prime Minister Begin had called "the last 10 settlements" to be established on the West Bank. (Jerusalem Post, 13 January; Asha'b, 14 January; Ha'aretz, 9 January; Al Fajr Weekly, 18-24 January 198 1)

Israeli Government sources reported that four new settlements had been established in the Katif area in the north of Gaza district. 1,200 Israeli families were to live in them and in 40 other existing settlements. Two other settlements in the Katif area were being completed. (Asha'b, 30 January 1981)

The Israeli settlement in Hebron known as Kiryat-Arba was the subject of two reports referring to its expansion as a result of joint action by the Military Government and the Israel Land Administration. The Military Government posted notices announcing its intention to "realize its ownership" of three separate plots of land of 100, 100 and 200 dunums respectively (according to one report 250, 500 and 200 dunums) located outside the boundaries of the settlement. Local residents were given 21 days to file objections, accompanied by written evidence of title. As no appeals were lodged, Kiryat-Arba residents maintained that the land was theirs. They subsequently planted trees on 25 dunums of the land and fenced off the area. Two reports stated that the Housing Ministry had already started building 35 apartments on Givat Harsina and was scheduled to start 72 more within the following few days. Other information stated that the Jaabary family from Hebron had appealed to the Military Government against the seizure of a 250-dunum area for the Kiryat-Arba expansion, stating that the land had been in the Jaabary family for many years and that the family was not aware of the notices issued by the Military Govemment concerning the take-over. The Military Governor of Hebron had given the family three weeks in which to lodge an appeal. (Jerusalem Post, 21 January; Ha'aretz, 21 January; Asha'b, 22 January; Al Fajr Weekly, 25-31 January; Ha'aretz, 28 January; Al Fajr Weekly, 1-7 February 198 1)

A considerable number of reports reflected increased activity in the establishment of new settlements and the enlargement of existing ones prior to the June elections. The number of settlements when the current Govemment took office was "...placed at 24 and (had reached) 72 ..." The Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Sharon, is quoted as saying that his goal of 85 settlements "would be easily reached by the 30 June elections." In this connection, large amounts of land, especially close to settlements were reported to have been declared "state land." (International Herald Tribune, 12, 21-22 and 26 February and 28 February- 1 March; Ha'aretz, 25 February; Asha'b, 25 February 1981)

In April 1981, the summary given below was contained in a report giving the type and location of certain settlements in the occupied territories:

Agricultural settlements:

Yafit, in the Jordan Valley; the first French speaking "Olim" moved to Yafit in August 1980. Its economy is based on fruit and vegetables.

Katif, located in the Gaza Strip, is a religious settlement of modem Orthodox American "Olim." Its economy is based on growing flowers, tomatoes and vegetables.

Meor Modiin, located 10 kilometres east of Lod, was established in 1975 by a group of religious American "Olim."

Industrial villages:

Elazar, located in Gush Etzion, 17 kilometres south of Jerusalem, was set up by a group of religious American "Olim."

Mattityahu, located in the Modiin area, east of Lod, was to be populated in summer 198 1 by families of the Orthodox "Merom ZionGarin" who were at that time undergoing training at Moshar Mevo Horon near Latrun.

Community settlements:

Tekoa, located 25 kilometres south-east of Jerusalem on the border of the Judean Hills and the Judean Desert. Its population (30 families) comes from the Soviet Union, the United States of America and France.

Givat Aryeh (Tekoa B), located 5 kilometres south of Tekoa, was to accommodate 40 families by mid-June 198 1 ; over half the members were "Olim" from the United States of America.

Beit El, located 20 kilometres north of Jerusalem, a religious settlement. Its 60 families, mainly Israeli, include settlers from the Soviet Union, the United States of America and Switzerland. Around September 1981 an additional 30 families could be accommodated. (Jerusalem Post, 10 April 198 1)

The Allon road, 30 miles long and running from the settlement or Ma'ale Adumim on the Jerusalem-Jericho road northwards along the Jordan Valley ridge, was inaugurated on 23 February 1981. This was reported to have brought the total length of the roads built by the Israelis since the occupation of the West Bank to more than 125 miles. In addition, work was continuing on a number of roads "linking the coastal plain with the Jordan Valley." (Jerusalem Post, Times, 24 February; Le Continent, 26 February 198 1)

Construction on a 50-mile road running through the Gaza Strip from Rafah to the north, linking the settlements of Katif and Netzarim, began. (Al Fajr Weekly, 15-21 March 1981)

Israeli bulldozers started work on lands belonging to the villages of Dura and Beit Awwa in the Hebron region, in the vicinity of the Israeli settlement of Mitzpe-Govrin. This was undertaken, despite an order nisi issued by the High Court of Justice at the request of landowners from Tarqumiya, preventing work in the area. The application of the Tarqumiya landowners to the High Court of Justice was made by a "Hebron Committee of Arab Lawyers," which had been formed for the purpose of assisting landowners in such claims. (Ha'aretz, 4 June; Al Fajr Weekly, 14-20 June 198 1)

Ceremonies were held in a number of new Israeli settlements: In Beit Aryeh, north-west of Ramallah; in Maaleh- Amos, near Tekoa, south-east of Hebron; in Mattityahu between Lod and Ramallah; in Givat Zeev between Jerusalem and Ramallah; and in Emmanuel near Ariel, between Nablus and Ramallah. A new settlement called Matteh-Benyamin at Jebel Tawil, near El Bireh was established on an area of 5,000 dunums on which the Military Government had forbidden any construction since 1976. (Jerusalem Post, 18 and 22 June; Ha'aretz, 9, 14, 18, 19, 22 and 25 June; Asha'b, 25 June; Al Fajr Weekly, 14-20 June, 21 -27 June, 28 June - 4 July 1981)

Some 900 families bought plots of land in the Elkana settlement area near the 1949 cease-fire line, south of Qalqiya under the "build your own house" scheme through the Yosh Investment and Development Co., Ltd. This company started its activities after registering in the Tabu (public registration) in Ramallah a year earlier and had bought a number of sites, including an area with 460 plots of land (of 600 sq. metres each) west of Elkana, the price of which was $1,500-$2,000 each. A similar company had been created earlier in Kiryat- Arba, under the name of "Company for Development and Trade in Judea and Samaria."It bought lands near the villages of Amiriya, in the Nablus area. Fourteen landowners from Azzamut village claimed that land sold to the Kiryat-Arba Company was their property. They had applied to a local court in Nablus and had obtained a temporary injunction, but the applicants were unable to enforce it. (Yediot Aharonot, 23 July 1981)



(ii) Expropriation of property to carry out construction and expansion of settlements

In Kdumim, near Kfar Qaddum, Nablus, a new suburb was under construction on a 100-dunum (0.1 sq. km.) area in August 1980. Expropriation orders had been given shortly before to 12 landowners from Deir El Hatab, near the Israeli settlement of Eilon Moreh, who own 400 dunums (0.4 sq. km.) of land. Further expropriations were reported in the same area later in the year. (Ma'ariv, 12 August; Ha'aretz, 13 August 1980)

On 12 August 1980, the Military Government informed villages of Deir-Jarir in the Ramallah district that their lands had been expropriated for the benefit of Israeli settlements in the Kokhav-Hashahar area (north-east of Ramallah, bordering on the Jordan Valley). The villagers refused compensation. (Asha'b, Ha'aretz, 15 August 1980)

Inhabitants of Ramun, east of Ramallah and north-west of Jericho received seizure orders for 850 dunums (0.85 sq. km.) of land for the expansion of the Nahal settlement, Rimonim. The Military Government stated that the land had been seized and not expropriated, the legal difference being that formal ownership remains with the original owners. According to one report, the seizure order involved about 10,000 dunums (10 sq. km.) of land to which the owners could prove ownership because they possessed the "Tabu Kawashin," registration documents. (Asha'b, 25 August, Jerusalem Post, 26 August 1980)

Work started on the confiscated land of Anata and Al Issawiya in the Khan Al Ahmar area. The land was confiscated for the benefit of the Maaleh Adumim settlement. (Asha'b, 28 August 1980)

The Israeli authorities seized three wells used by fanners from Al Issawiya for the irrigation of their lands (Asha'b, 7 September, 1980)

The military authorities confiscated 50 dunums (0.05 sq. km.) of land from the village of Mardah (Silfit, south of Nablus). (Asha'b, 12 September 1980)

"Jordanian authorities" published a report in 1979 wncerning confiscation of land by the Israeli authorities in the occupied territories up to 1978. 1,489,000 dunums (1,489 sq. km.), representing 27.3 per cent of the West Bank's total of 5,500,000 dunums (5,500 sq. km.) were stated to have been confiscated. Of that, 348,000 dunums (348 sq. km.) were confiscated for the purpose of establishing settlements and 1,141,000 dunums (1,141 sq. km.) were confiscated for other purposes, mainly military. The same source gave the following breakdown of the lands confiscated for settlements:

(iii) Budgetary allocations to carry out construction and expansion of settlements

The Knesset Finance Committee granted I.S. (Israeli Shekels) 100 million (approximately $10 million) for the establishment of the two settlements in the Katif bloc near Gaza. It also allocated I.S. 2 million for water projects on the Golan Heights and I.S. 3 million for water projects on the West Bank. (AlFajr, 26 October; Ha'aretz, 22 October 1980)

A project to complete construction of existing settlements on the West Bank and the Golan Heights at an approximate cost of I.S. 87 million (approximately $8.7 million is under consideration by the "settlement bodies." Another project to create 10 new settlements on the West Bank and the Golan Heights and in the Gaza Strip at a cost of I.S. 150 million (approximately $1 5 million) is also under discussion. (Ha'aretz, 27 November 1980)

An additional I.S. 3.9 million was being spent on preparing the government buildings in Sheikh Jarrah (Jerusalem). According to another source, a sum of I.S. 14 million (approximately $1.4 million) had been allocated. (Jerusalem Post, 23 December; Ha'aretz, 31 December; Al Fajr Weekly, 4-10 January 1981)

Mr. Drobles, Head of the Settlement Department of the World Zionist Organization, obtained I.S. 50 million (approximately $5 million) for the creation of 6 settlements, to be established by July 1981, namely Mikhmash, Yakir B, Shaveh-Shomoron B (in the northern part of the West Bank), Tekoa B and Mitzpe-Govrin (in the Jericho-Dead Sea area), and Nili (on the slopes of Mount Hebron). Part of the funds were to go to the building of 400 additional homes in existing settlements. Mr. Drobles predicted that these measures would add 3,000 settlers to the population of the region, which by the summer of 198 1 should have reached 25,000, and would bring the number of Israeli settlements on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to, according to one source, 84. (Al Fajr Weekly, 15-21 February; Ma'ariv 10 February; Asha'b, 12 February; Ha'aretz, 19 February; Al Ittihad, 26 February; Jerusalem Post, 26 February; International Herald Tribune, 26 February; Ha'aretz, 26 February; International Herald Tribune, 21-22 February 1981)

Five hundred housing units are projected for the Kamey Shomoron settlement. The sum of I.S. 100,000 (approximately $10,000) is to be allocated for each housing unit. In addition, 54 housing units are to be established in Eilon Moreh. Both settlements are located on the northern West Bank. (Asha'b, 18 and 19 March 1981)

The Knesset Finance Committee approved the transfer of I.S. 100 million (approximately 8.4 million) from the budget reserve for settlement expansion in "Judea and Samaria."The decision concerns the settlement of Mikhmash, Shaveh Shomoron B, Tekoa B, Mitzpe-Govrin, Nili and Yakir B. (Ha'aretz, 22 May 198 1)

The Knesset Finance Committee confirmed plans for another 800 housing units to be built in the existing settlements within the next three months, at a cost of I.S. 240 million (approximately $19.2 million). These units are to accommodate 3,000 settlers. (Ha'aretz, 16, 17 and 24 June; Jerusalem Post, 18 and 25 June; Le Continent, 19 June; Asha'b, 18 June 1981)

Soldiers started the construction of a road by uprooting hundreds of pine trees in Im Souda forest near Beit Fajjar village. The road is to link the Migdal Oz settlement with the Jerusalem-Hebron road. In addition, it was reported that fruit trees were uprooted on 500 dunums of land in Beit Iskariya. (Asha'b, 13 November; Al Fajr Weekly, 16-22 November 1980)

The Mayors of Bethlehem, Beit Sahur, Beit Jala and the mukhtars of the surrounding villages received a military order from the Israeli Military Governor forbidding them to continue to build in areas along main roads, particularly around military bases and settlements. Similar orders were issued concerning strips of land 50 to 100 metres wide along both sides of main roads in the Jenin area. Local sources maintained that thousands of dunums had been closed off in this way. (Asha'b, 25 January; Ha'aretz and Jerusalem Post, 26 January 198 1

Orders were issued by the Military Government prohibiting construction on and closing off 4,000 dunums (4 sq. km.) of land in El Bireh in the north of the city. A total of 10,000 dunams (10 sq. km.) of land in El Bireh has been closed off since 1967. (Al Fajr Weekly, 22-28 February; Al Ittihad, 17 February; Asha'b, 16 and 20 February 1981).

The settlements of Karney Shomoron, Maaleh Shomoron and Kdumim, on the northern West Bank, were connected to the Israeli regional electricity network and the Ministry of Energy announced that the remaining settlements in the region were to receive electricity in the near future. The Minister for Housing and Absorption announced that "2,000 new houses will be constructed in Kamey Shomoron in the coming weeks." (Al Fajr Weekly, 22-28 February and 1-7 March; Ha'aretz, 19 February; Al Ittihad, 20February 1981).

Israeli bulldozers started work on a 15 metre wide road through cultivated land in Abu Ayash, east of Hebron. The road was to serve the Kiryat Arba settlement; work started despite an injunction issued the week before by the Military Review Board. Work also continued on lands of the village of Tarqumiya on Mount Hebron, but was later halted upon the issuance of an order by the High Court of Israel. Villagers from Beit Lit near Anabta (Tulkarm area) maintained that the Military Government had declared a 1,500 dunum area (1.5 sq. km.) as "State-owned land." Inhabitants of both villages appealed to the Military Review Board. (Jerusalem Post, 13 and 16 March; Yediot Aharonot, 9 March; Ha'aretz, 8,9, 10, 1 1, 12, 13 and 16 March; Asha'b, 10 March; Al Ittihad, 24 March; Al Fajr Weekly, 15-21 March; Ma'ariv, 17 March 1981.

A drive being carried out by the Government of Israel was said to have as its aim the settling of some 30,000 people in up to 80 settlements on the West Bank by election day (June 1981). The search for "uncontested land followed the High Court's ruling in the Eilon Moreh case (22 October 1979) ordering the dismantling of the settlement of Eilon Moreh overlooking Nablus. In that judgment, the Court ruled that Jewish settlements could only be established on private land for "reasons of security." Following the Court's decision, the Military Government undertook an extensive review of land ownership on the West Bank. This view confirmed that, at most, only 50 per cent of the land on the West Bank had undergone the legal process of resolving ownership and finally registering title. (Jerusalem Post, 6 April 1981)l

Mr. Mustafa Nusseibeh, Director of Water Supply on the West Bank, accused the Israeli authorities of "driving off' the Arab population. He said that 20,000 Jewish settlers in the Jordan Valley and on the West Bank received a quantity of 27 million cubic metres of water, while 700,000 Arab inhabitants received 26 million cubic metres. (Ha'aretz, 9 July; Asha'b, 10 July 1981)

Israeli bulldozers started to cut roads in preparation for the establishment of a settlement on the Anabta lands of Beit Lid, Ramin and Kafr Al Labd. This took place whilst the case concerning these lands was pending before the High Court of Justice. (Asha'b, 1 July; Ma'ariv, 9 July 1981)

THE USURPATION OF PALESTINIAN LANDS AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF JEWISH SETTLEMENTS IN 1982

ANNEXATION AND SETTLEMENT

The United Nations Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Population of the Occupied Territories reported on October 20, 1982(16) as follows:

(a) Policy

The Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Simha Ehrlich, was quoted as saying: "Sinai must go, but other settlements will stay." The Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Michael Dekel, stated that construction in "Judea and Samaria" during the coming four years would be in the hands of public and private companies, building 8,000 apartments per year beginning in 1982. (Jerusalem Post, 17 September 1981)

The Israeli Ministry of Agriculture was reported to be preparing anew settlement strategy in the occupied territories. In the past, the settlement drive was directed principally by a small Israeli sector and ideologically aligned with the Gush Emunim Tehiya Party and the Likud. The future strategy was to concentrate on the Israeli population at large. The Government of Israel was to aim at strengthening urban settlements in the West Bank with special focus on thickening the 1967 border areas. The Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Michael Dekel, stated that the settlement policy in "Judea and Samaria" was determined by the Government of Israel alone and that the Jewish Agency was only an executive body. (Jerusalem Post, 6 October; Ha'aretz, 6 October; Al Fajr Weekly, 4-10 October 1981)

The Minister of Defence, Mr. Ariel Sharon, was quoted as saying that "establishing settlements in Eretz Yisrael does more toassure the future of the Jewish People than any written word or signed treaty." Subsequently, Mr. Sharon stated that "Israel will continue its policy of establishing settlements in the West Bank." He also stated "In the land of Israel from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean, Jews and Arabs have been living together for hundreds of years." (Ha'aretz, 16 October; Jerusalem Post, 16-25 October; Guardian, 28 October; Al Fajr Weekly, 30 October-5 November 198 1)

The Joint Settlement Committee of the Government and the Zionist Federation decided to establish three new settlements in the Katif bloc (Gaza Strip): two outposts in northern Gaza and one settlement in southern Gaza. It was also decided to accelerate the creation of a regional centre in the Katif area and to complete the construction of the settlements Netzarim, Morag, Gadid and Gan-Or. The Committee decided to build two new roads in the Gush-Adumin area (near Ma'aleh Adumin) and in the Yatir area in southern Mt. Hebron, which was to be connected to Gush-Adumin and the Alon road. The Committee approved an earlier decision by the Settlement Committee to build a new settlement "Natafim" in Samaria, between Elkana and Ariel. The Ministerial Committee on Settlement Affairs decided to establish a communal settlement on the "Radar Hill," close to Ma'aleh Hahamisha, several hundred metres inside the occupied territories. It also envisaged the construction of a suburb of 250 villas. (Ha'aretz, 2, 8 November; Jerusalem Post, 6 November; Al Fajr Weekly, 20-26 November 198 1)

The Minister of Defence, Mr. Sharon, stated that "Israel's reply to the eight points of the Saudi Arabian peace plan was eight Israeli settlements." (Jerusalem Post, 3, 6 November; Al Fair Weekly, 20-26 November; Asha'b, 6 November; Ha'aretz, 6 November 198 1)

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Shamir, declared that Israel did not sign the Camp David Accords with the intention of abandoning "Judea, Samaria" and Gaza. He affirmed that "no force in the world shall disconnect us from these areas." Mr. Begin stated that Israel would not cede its rights to continue settlement activities, although it had already restricted itself to state lands that were not cultivated. (Ha'aretz, 27 January; Jerusalem Post, 29 January)

According to the Jewish Agency Settlement Department, development of Jewish settlements on the Golan Heights has been given less priority, despite the law annexing the region. The Israeli Cabinet allocated funds to develop and increase Israeli settlement on the West Bank and Golan Heights. The Israeli Ministers of Transport and Housing, Mr. Haim Corfu and Mr. David Levy, confirmed Israel's commitment to widen Israeli settlement in the West Bank. (Jerusalem Post, 21 February; Ma'ariv, 23 February; Al Fajr Weekly, 26 February-4 March, 12-18 March)

The Prime Minister, Mr. Begin, affirmed that "in any future negotiations on a peace treaty between Israel and its neighbours, Israel will reject any proposal to dismantle any Jewish settlement." In addition, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Shamir, stated "that the Government's intention in seeking a parliamentary ban on the removal of Jewish settlements from the West Bank and Gaza was to make clear to future negotiating partners not to expect such a thing." (Jerusalem Post, 2,4,5 May)

(b) Plans

A new urban settlement, "Ganey Modi'in," was to be set up within a few months in the Modi'in area on both sides of the Green Line. In addition it was reported that a new settlement, established near El Bireh in Jebel Tawil, would be called "Psagot." This settlement was intended to serve as a regional centre for an entire area called "Matteh-Benjamin." (Ha'aretz, 17 August; Ashayb, 18 August 1981)

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Dekel announced plans for three new settlements in the Jordan Valley, before enlarging existing ones. This plan, according to one source, entailed the doubling of the population of the West Bank settlements; according to another source, 100,000 settlers could be accommodated within four years. Mr. Drobles, head of the Zionist Federation's Settlement Department, stated that with the completion of an outline plan for 20 settlements in "Judea and Samaria" it was possible to build an infrastructure for 2,000 to 4,000 additional housing units. He was later quoted as saying that 12 to 18 new settlements were to be created in the next four years; according to one source, the Zionist Federation intended to establish three new settlements in the Gaza District, Golan Heights and Jordan Valley. In the preceding four years more than 60 new settlements had been established. According to another source, an estimated 25,000 Jews were living in 85 settlements, 70 of which were built in the four years since Mr. Begin became Prime Minister. One source quoted Mr. Drobles as saying that existing settlements would be strengthened to take 50,000 settlers and that a further 36,000 would be put in 10 new settlements. It was also reported that anew settlement, accommodating 400 families, was to be established south of Hebron in accordance with a settlement plan for that area in which six new settlements were to be established. In addition, two agricultural settlements were planned around Nablus. Mr. Drobles, Chairman of the Jewish Agency Settlement Department, reported on plans to establish two new settlements in the Golan in addition to the three settlements which had just been established and a fourth one under construction. His master plan to settle 100,000 Jews in the West Bank in the period 198 1 - 1985 would cost 20 billion Israel shekels (approximately $1.25 billion). (Ma'ariv, 13 August; Asha'b, 14 August, 4, 17 November; Jerusalem Post, 13, 17 September, 5 October; ~l Fajr Weekly, 1 3- 19 September, 27 September-3 October, 4-10 October, 6-12 November, 20-26 November; Ha'aretz, 5 October; Times, 6 October; International Herald Tribune, 5 October)

A new settlement called "Anatol" located near the Arab village of Anata, between Neve-Yaacov and Mishor Adumin in the Jerusalem area, was to be established to accommodate 60 families at a first stage. Other sources revealed plans to create settlements beyond the Green Line. Mr. Drobles stated that the creation of a settlement north-east of Lake Tiberias, beyond the Jordan River, could accommodate settlers from the Yamit area, in particular from Neot-Sinai and Tarsag. The 'Herut" movement launched a plan to create the town of "Kadihav Yair," beyond the Green Line, near Kfar Sava, north of Tel Aviv, to accommodate 5,000 settlers in some 1,400 flats; the site consisted of an "observation post" populated by 16 families. Another source gave the name "Kokhav Meir" and its location "the West Bank." (Ma'ariv, 9 September; Ha'aretz, 21,23 September; Asha'b, 10,22 September; Al Fajr Weekly, 27 September-3 October 1981)

A new town in "Samaria" (northern West Bank) to be called "Kokhav Yair" and located between Qalqilya and Taiyiba, was being planned. Some 1,400 flats were to be built and to house immigrants from South Africa. (Yediot Aharuaut, 23 September 198 1)

One source gave a detailed description of Mr. Drobles' plan. In each urban settlement up to 10,000 people were to be settled; up to 500 families were to be housed in smaller settlements (villages). At the same time, at a smaller level, an increase in settlers was planned for the southern slopes of Mt. Hebron, in the southern West Bank, on top of the mountains (northern West Bank) and on the Jordan Valley slopes. The plan also provided for the cutting of four new roads: a Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway going through Beit Horon and Modi'in; a road going from the coastal plain to the Jezreel Valley (the trans-Menasheh road in the northern West Bank); a trans-northern Samaria road from Hadera to Jenin; and a trans-Beyamin road (Ychad, Beit-Arieh-Neve, Tzuf-Ofra). The permanent settlement of Elon-Moreh was to be called "Kiryat-Elon-Moreh," and built on top of a 754-metre high mountain overlooking the valley of Nablus. (Ma'ariv, 5 October 1981 )

According to Israeli sources, six new settlements were to be established in the area between Gaza and Sinai after the Israeli withdrawal from Sinai. Poalei Agudat Israel, the Jewish orthodox labour movement, was planning to establish a community settlement in the occupied territories in the area of Latrun. There were already five settlements affiliated with this movement in the occupied territories. The United Kibbutz Movement announced a five-year settlement plan for the establishment of three new settlements each year, in all parts of the country, including "Judea and Samaria." (Al Fajr Weekly, 23-29 October, 30 October-5 November; Jerusalem Post, 19 October)

A new residential suburb called "Tzefon-Yerushalaim" (north Jerusalem) was to be built near Neve Ya'acov. The new suburb was to contain 1,200 flats and the Ministry of Housing and Construction was to start land preparation works. Plans to construct 30,000 apartments in the surrounding areas of Jerusalem by 1985 were to be submitted to the Israeli Cabinet shortly. In addition, the Minister of Housing, Mr. Levy, stated that a new settlement was planned to connect the Neve Yaa'cov and Beit Hanina suburbs with Sheikh Jarrah in Jerusalem. (Jerusalem Post, 20 November; Ha'aretz, 24 November; Al Fajr Weekly, 6- 12 November, 20-26 November 1981)

The Israeli Government is planning to establish two new settlements in the Golan Heights. According to a source, the Settlement Department of the Zionist Federation planned to enlarge Israeli settlements in order to accommodate thousands of settlers within one year. A new settlement called Beit Arieh H is scheduled to be established near Rantiss, between Nablus and Ramallah. (Ha'aretz, 7 December; Al Fajr Weekly, 11-17 December; Asha'b, 8, 31 December 1981) The Golan Settlements Committee presented a plan to settle 20,000 new settlers in the next four years, raising the Israeli population there to approximately 27,000. The plan consisted of the establishment of seven new settlements: Mitzpeh Ram on Mount Qeta in the northern Golan, Bnei Btira (east of Birhat Ram), Bnei Tzfat, Ein Simsim, north of Katzrin, Beit Zeida, east of the "Jordan Park," a settlement between Ramat Magshimim and Yonatan in the southern Golan, and a settlement on the site of Nahal Zion. (Al Fajr Weekly, 22-28 January; Jerusalem Post, 7 January; Hay aretz, 7 January, 19 February; Al Ittihad, 8 January)

The West Bank Military Government drew up a new "master plan" for the area surrounding Jerusalem. The plan, which was approved by the Supreme Planning Council for the Judea and Samaria Region, covers an area from Ein Yabrud, near Ramallah in the north, to Beit Fajjat near Bethlehem in the south. The new plan earmarks vast areas for settlement and for new roads linking Jerusalem with the new settlement areas. In addition, a plan was put forward to create three new settlements called Elisha (provisional name: Ma'aleh-Melalchim); Mitzpeh Gilad (provisional name: Peles) and Hasmedet (provisional name: Yavok), in the northern Jordan Valley. (Jerusalem Post, 1-3 February; Al Fajr Weekly, 22-28 January; Hu'aretz, 1-2 February)

A total of 16 new outposts were to be created and to be completed before 26 April 1982 in "Judea and Samaria" and in the Golan Heights region. The 16 outposts are: Hever - east of Hebron; Lahav -west of Hebron; Amatzia; Negohot; Mitzpeh-Adulam; Telem; Tirza; Grizim (on Mt. Gerizim); Mul-Nevo (Beit Ha'arava B'); Maluah; Peret; Peles; Gan (near Jenin) and Harish in the West Bank and Keta and Manpuha in the Golan Heights. (Ha'aretz, 2 January, 2, 25 February; Jerusalem Post, 4 January, 3 February; Al Fajr Weekly, 19-25 February, 26 February, 4 March)

The Interministerial Committee on Settlement accepted a proposal by the World Zionist Federation's Settlement Department to allocate 30,000 dunums of "state land" in the Jordan Valley for agriculture. Large tracts of land, previously frozen for security considerations, could be used for the creation of 10 new settlements to close some of the gaps in the settlement chain along the Jordan River. In addition to creating new settlements, the proposal called for expanding existing settlement covering 4,000 dunums. Mr. Begin accepted a proposal put forward by the Minister of Education, Mr. Hammer, to create the same number of settlements in Judea and Samaria as the number of settlements which are being dismantled in the Yamit area. (Jerusalem Post, 16 February; Ha'aretz, 17 February, 11 March)

The Zionist Federation's Settlement Department intends to accelerate the construction of settlements in the northern Gaza Strip. Five settlements are planned to be created in northern Gaza: Nativ-Ha'assara B, Netzarim (which is at present a provisional settlement) and three others, one of which will be a communal settlement. (Ha'aretz, 7 March; Al Fajr Weekly, 12- 18 March)



The Israeli authorities decided to create three new towns in the West Bank: Beit-Arieh (located west of Birhan and south-east of Elkana); Nili (near Modi'in) and Yakir (north of Birkan). These towns are designed to intensify the Jewish presence in the centre of Samaria. In northern Samaria, 27,000 dunums of State and absentee lands have recently been located and are allocated to the settlements of Karney Shomoron, Elhana and Emmanuel. (Ha'aretz, 19 April)

Seven new settlements are planned in the West Bank. They are: Neot-Adumin (east of Ubeidiya village, in the Bethlehem area); Salit B* (west of Salit); Garey-Modi'in (west of Mathityahu); Elkana D, J, H and Sha'arey Tikva, east of Elkana. All settlements, except Elkana J, will be built on State lands. (Jerusalem Post, 26 April; Ha'aretz, 26 April; Asha'b, 26, 27 April)

The plan to create 16 settlements in the West Bank, based on the proposal to settle 100,000 Jews there within the next four years, was submitted to the Cabinet. Five out of the 16 proposed settlements are already in existence as Nahal outposts. The budget for this plan is estimated at 6 million Israeli Shekels. The names of the planned settlements are: Beitar (near the village of Battia, south of Jerusalem); Nagid (Beit Unmar area, north of Hebron); Ein-Arow (near Al Arub refugee camp); Kolihava (near Si'ir, north of Hebron); Yahin (near Barin-Naim, south of Hebron, at present Nahal post); Susia, (south of Hebron); Atviel (south of Hebron); Ginat (north of Jenin); Matar, (east of Jenin); Moked (east of Jenin); Hermesh (south of Reihan settlement); Tirsa (south-west of Tubas); Braliha (on Mt. Garizim, near Nablus); Milihmetet (near Nablus); Tel Haim (south of the original site of Eilon- Moreh); and Maaleh-Levona (near Nablus). (Haaretz, 29 April; Asha'b, 30 April; Al Fajr Weekly, 7- 13 May)

The Israeli authorities plan the creation of nine new settlements (according to another source 1 1) this year in the West Bank. They are: Netafim (near Beit-Aba); Ateret; Yoezer; Nahal-Ginat (a Nahal outpost near Jenin); Hermesh (a Nahal outpost near Dotan); Maon (Mt. Hebron); Yavi (Mt. Hebron); Nahal-Adura (Mt. Hebron); and Nahal Eshkolot (Mt. Hebron). In addition, five settlements are planned in the Gaza Strip (Katif bloc); four in the Golan Heights and four others in the Jordan Valley. (Ha'aretz, 22 April, 28 June; Asha'b, 22,23 May, 29 June; Al Ittihad, 29 June; Al Fajr Weekly, 2-8 July)

In the next four years 16,000 settlement units will be built in the city of Jerusalem and its suburbs. According to Mr. Drobles, chairman of the Jewish Agency Settlement Department, the plan envisages the creation of 17 municipal settlements within the Greater Jerusalem area in order to absorb a population of 700,000 Jews. (Asha'b, 4 June; Al Fajr Weekly, 28 May-3 June)


(c) Measures, including budgetary appropriations

The Israeli authorities started preparation works on an area of 400 dunums for the creation of a new settlement on the Golan Heights provisionally called "Ein Shimshon," located near Ein-Samsan, four kilometres north-east of Katzrin. The Israeli company Diur, part of the Sole1 Boneh Company, sold houses in Ariel, near Nablus. Subsequently it was reported that 60 out of 83 houses scheduled to be built in Ariel were sold before work on them had started. According to one source, it was the first time that the Diur company had undertaken construction in the occupied territories. In addition, according to one source, an Israeli company had recently bought 15,000 dunums of Arab lands in the West Bank for Israeli housing. The Mayor of Anabta, Mr. Walid Hamdallah, reported that an individual had sold a plot of 42 dunums of land on the main road between Tulkarem and Anabta to the Israeli Himanuta Company. (Ma'ariv, 20 August; fi'uretz, 6 September; Asha'b, 2 1 August; Al Fujr Weekly, 30 August- 5 September, 13- 19 September, 27 September-3 October 1981)

It was reported that Mr. Yitzhak Mod'ai, Minister without portfolio, had moved his offices to East Jerusalem. He was the second minister, after the Minister of Justice, to move to East Jerusalem. In December 198 1, part of the Israeli Housing Ministry moved their offices to East Jerusalem; another 1,500 employees were scheduled to move by the summer of 1982. The Minister of Housing was the third minister to move his offices, following the Minister of Justice and the Minister without portfolio. (Ha'aretz, 19 August, 30 December; Ma'ariv, 3,28 December; Jerusalem Post, 6 December)

The trans-Samaria road, 60 kilometres long, stretching from Kafr Kasim within the pre-1967 line to the Israeli settlement of Phatzael in the Jordan Valley, was to be opened, according to the Jewish National Fund, by the end of 1981. One source estimated the total cost at 65 million Israeli Shekels (IS) ($US 4.82 million). The Minister of Defence, Mr. Ariel Sharon, gave instructions for the cultivation of 3,000 dunums (3 sq. km.) of land adjacent to the Jordan Valley. A new settlement, Carrnel, was set up south of Hebron, the first in a series of settlements planned for the hills surrounding Hebron. Ten Gush Emunim settlers moved in. (Jerusalem Post, 2, 10 September; Ha'aretz, 3 September; Ma'ariv, 9 September; Ashu'b, 3 September; Al Fajr Weekly, 13-19 September, 27 September-3 October 1981)

The Military Government promulgated a regulation extending the validity of contracts that the Jordanian Government had concluded with private landowners in the West Bank for afforestation projects, thereby preventing the return of the land to its original owners for another 10 years. Under Jordanian law, the land was due to be returned to the landowners after a period of 15 years. The Legal Department of the Military Government had in the past extended the validity of powers of attorney, which under Jordanian law are valid for a period of five years. Local lawyers claimed that by extending the validity of powers of attorney, Israeli land-purchasing companies were able to avoid the registration of land transactions. (Jerusalem Post, 14 September 1981)

An Israeli family recently signed a contract to sell 1,500 dunums (1.5 sq. km.) of rocky lands it had bought from Arabs in the Modi'in area to the "Hatzav" settlement movement. Under the contract the settlement movement would pay $2.25 million within a period of nine months. In addition, it was reported that the Military Government seized over 800 dunums of land between Mazra'tat esh Sharqiya and Kafr Malik, near Ramallah, for military purposes. The Military Government, according to one report, declared lands belonging to villagers in Ara'an and Wa'ar Ashaib, to be "state land." Two sources stated that renovation works in the Jewish quarter of Hebron were continuing at an accelerated pace. (Ha'aretz, 2, 1 1 September; Jerusalem Post, 18 September; Al Fajr Weekly, 13-19 September; Asha'b, 3, 18 September 1981)

Mr. Drobles, head of the World Zionist Organization's Settlement Department, stated that 24,000 Jews were living in "Judea and Samaria" settlements, an increase of 7,000; in the preceding six months 1,870 housing units had been constructed. He also stated that in one year 23 settlements had been established in "Judea and Samaria" and the Jordan Valley; eight settlements had been established, or were under construction, over the preceding four months. There were in all 62 settlements in "Judea and Samaria" and 20 settlements in the Jordan Valley. In the Jericho area, four settlements had been established and a fifth one called "Tzuri" was under construction. (Ha'aretz, 9 September; Al Fajr Weekly, 13- 19 September 1981)

Works were reportedly under way under the Temple Mount and the Aksa Mosque in the course of making repairs north of the Western Wall. Subsequently, the works were ordered to a halt by the Minister of Religious Affairs, although some sources reported that work had continued in secrecy. The Moslem Waqf sealed, according to one report, the Temple Mount cistern from the inside after the Israeli Police had sealed the outside in order to protect the Holy Shrine against Jewish penetration. (Jerusalem Post, 28,30 August, 10 September; Yediot Aharonot, 30 August; Ha'aretz, 1, 14 September; Le Munde, 29 August; Times, 3 September; documents A/36/489-S/14684, 14 September, and A/36/519- S/14695, 18 September, 1981)

A new settlement was established in the centre of "Samaria" called Nili. Nili was set up by a decision of the Ministerial Committee on Settlement of the previous Government and was to be populated by members of Gush Emurim. By a military order, the Israeli authorities prevented inhabitants from Yatta, Bani Naim and Sair villages from entering their lands near the Dead Sea on the grounds that their lands were being used for military purposes. A land survey by the Israeli Military Government was to be conducted to complete all previous partial surveys in the occupied territories. The Israeli authorities repealed their decision to confiscate 500 dunums of lands owned by residents from Beit Sureik and Biddo after the owners brought title deeds that proved ownership of the lands. (Ma'ariv, 28 September; Al Fajr Weekly, 4- 10 October 1981)

The Military Governor of Ramallah announced that 600 dunums of land were confiscated for "Military and security" purposes in Bi'lin village; an additional 3,000 dunums had been earlier confiscated for the same purpose. The plot of 600 dunums was the subject of a court case when Mr. Yousef Khatib, head of the Ramallah "Village League," claimed ownership. In September 1981 the civil court in Ramallah had annulled the sale of the plot by the alleged owner to an Israeli company. (Al Fajr Weekly, 4-10 October 1981)

The Military Government informed the head of the local council of Talluza, north of Nablus, of the expropriation of 131 dunums of land. A new settlement, Beit Horon, was soon to be established south of Beit Ur sponsored by the Jewish National Fund. Israeli surveyors and bulldozers started work on the lands of Arzun Al Alme and Beit Amin villages near Qalqilya despite the fact that the Israeli High Court was still considering the cases of these lands. The landowners had appealed to the Israeli High Court after a Nablus court ruled that the land had been sold illegally by Nimr Abu Najla, who had forged documents and then sold the land to an Israeli company. (Ha'aretz, 22-29 October; Jerusalem Post, 29 October, Al Fajr Weekly, 1 1 - 17 October, 16-22 October 1981

The "Judea and Samaria" Land Settlement Company bought 470 dunums for the Sharei Tikva settlement and 434 dunums for the Meskha settlement. (Al Fajr Weekly, 16-22 October, 30 October-5 November 1981)

Settlers from Kiryat Arba moved to the Schneersohn House in Hebron, close to the ccHadassa" building. The Arab occupants of the house had been evacuated from it shortly after the "Hadassa" building murder for "security reasons." (Ma'ariv, 27 October; Ha'aretz, 27 October; Jerusalem Post, 27 October; Al Fajr Weekly, 30 October-5 November 1981)

The Israeli authorities sent Mr. Judeh Idris from the Old City in Jerusalem a court order instructing him to vacate his house in Aqbat Al Bustami and to pay a IS 5,000 fine. The Israelis claim the house to be the property of the Custodian of Absentee Property. The Idris family reportedly had owned the house for more than 100 years. Land belonging to Mr. Issa Hussein Abdel Nabi was expropriated for the expansion of the Gilo settlement. In 1970 the authorities had already expropriated 44 dunums of Mr. Nabi's land and his house. (Al Fajr Weekly, 6- 12 November 1981)

The Israeli authorities decided to hand back 900 dunums of land to inhabitants of El Bireh that had been closed off in 1976 for military reasons; 200 dunums of State land was allocated to Israeli settlers for the expansion of Psagot (Jebel- Tawil); 400 dunums belonging to absentees remained in state possession. Psagot is located near the Jerusalem-Beit - El road. Beit Suraf villagers were informed of the seizure of 440 dunums (6,000 dunums, according to another source) of their lands for "military needs"; 3 Nahal outposts were to be established on the land. In Bani Naim, the mukhtars were informed of the seizure of 300 dunums of their lands by the army. The Mayor of Dura was informed that a military camp would be installed on the lands of the Khalil family in Dura. (Ha'aretz, 17, 18 November; Jerusalem Post, 18 November; Asha'b, 17 November 1981)

Residents of the village of Bani Naim (east of Hebron) complained that the Military Government closed off 50,000 dunums of land extending from the eastern slope of the village to the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea. (Ha'aretz, 27 November; Jerusalem Post, 27 November 198 1)

The Israeli Civil Appeals court in Jerusalem ordered Mrs. Zahira Abdel Razzah Salymeh (60) to destroy her house in the Shayyah area, "or else the Jerusalem municipality will do the job," for lack of a building license. Mrs. Salymeh had previously been evicted from her house in the Old City; she had reportedly subsequently paid license fees and a fine for her house in the Shayyah area, although the Jerusalem municipality never issued her with a license. Mr. Sami Farid Dahbour, resident of the Al Musrara area in Jerusalem, received a final notice from the Custodian of Absentee Property to evacuate his house upon an IS 16,000 fine and eviction by force by 22 December 1981. Mr. Yunis Hussein Sayam and his brother, from the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, were informed by the Israeli authorities that their two houses and four dunums of land were seized for settlement purposes. (Al Fajr Weekly, 27 November-10 December, 11- 17 December; Asha'b, 1 December 1981)

Since the Israeli elections in June 1981 the Israeli Government had established 10 new settlements in the West Bank in addition to the construction of private homes on existing settlements and "purchased property." The Israeli Ministry of Housing started work on land for a settlement called Givat Zeev, in Beit Hanina, north of Jerusalem, despite the fact that an application against the measure was still sub judice. The settlement was part of a project to increase the Jewish population of Jerusalem by 20,000. Another settlement, "Shimaly Jerushalaim," located in northern Jerusalem, between Ramallah and Beit Hanina, was inaugurated. Work started on a new settlement (Beit Horon) on lands belonging to villagers of Beit Ur, Ramallah district; 15 Israeli settler families from a nucleus of the "National Worker" moved into the settlement Sanur (north of Nablus). Sanur is the second of six settlements scheduled for the region. The first, Homesh (originally named Ma'aleh Nahul) was situated near the Nablus-Jenin road. Settlers also moved into c'Mul-Nevo," south-east of Jericho and Na'ama, north of Jericho. (Ha'aretz, 2,22,28 December; Jerusalem Post, 23 December; Asha'b, 3 1 December; Al Fajr Weekly, 4- 10 December, 26 December 198 1-7 January 1982)

Inhabitants of the villages Sanniriya, Mas'ha, Azzun, Atma, Beit Amin and Zamnir in the Kalqiliya district were informed that 7,000 dunums of their land had been declared "state land" and had been allocated for the expansion of Elkana. One hundred dunums of land were seized in Dhahiriya village (near Hebron); the Israeli authorities informed residents of the villages of Urif, Asira, Hwara and blunder & Usurpation of Palestinian Lands & Estab1;'shment of Jewish Settlements in the West Bank & Gaza Strip 1967-1989 511 Bonn (near Nablus) that some of their lands were to be confiscated for the establishment of a new Israeli settlement. In Bani Naim (Hebron area) work started on 300 dunums of privately-owned Arab land from the village of Khilet-El- Arish. (Jerusalem Post, Ha'aretz, 24 December; At Fajr Weekly, 4-10 December, 11-17 December, 26 December-7 January 1982)

Ten villages in "Samaria" were connected to the Israeli electricity grid. The Jerusalem District Electricity Company, for the first time in 10 years, was authorized to buy a new generator. (Ma'ariv, 8 December; Jerusalem Post, 6 December; Ha'aretz, 30 December 1981)

A new regional council, the South Hebron council, was established in the Mt. Hebron area. It groups three existing settlements, Carmal, Ziv and Mahaneh-Yattar, and six further settlements. (Ha'aretz, 25 December 1981)

Over 2,000 dunums of private land were closed off and subsequently expropriated for military needs close to the village of Mughaiyir (north-east of Ramallah). Some 20,000 dunums had been expropriated earlier from villagers in that area for the same purpose. The villagers were offered compensation by the Custodian of Absentee Property. The land in question is located near the "Allon Road," which separates the Jordan Valley from the rest of the West Bank. Israeli private as well as government bodies bought hundreds of dunums of land located between Rujeib (the old Eilon-Moreh settlement) and Jebel Kabir (the new Eilon-Moreh site). Members of the Khater family from Jebel Mukabar (East Jerusalem) complained that an Israeli company had started to carry out land preparation works. (Jerusalem Post, 4 January; Ha'aretz, 4-5 January; Al Fajr Weekly, 8-14 January)

The Custodian of Absentee Property Department conducted a wide-scale campaign and asserted that dozens of houses were "discovered" in the Moslem Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City belonging to Jews which had been bought 300 years ago and which were duly registered. (Ma'ariv, 10 January; Al Fajr Weekly, 15-21 January, 29 February-4 March)

The Israeli military authorities took over 200 dunums of land near the village of Al Jeeb, inthe Ramallah region. An Israeli company bought 100 dunums of land in the village of Beit Amin, near Qalquilya; thevillagers subsequently applied to the High Court of Justice, which is considering the case. The Military Government informed villagers from Abud, near Ramallah, that 800 dunums of their lands had been designed for building a settlement; Beit Sunk inhabitants complained that Israeli settlers prevented them from entering their lands, alleging that the 700 dunums were theirs. (Ha'aretz, 24, 31 January, 1 February; Jerusalem Post, 3 1 January, 1 February; Asha'b, 11 January; Al Fajr Weekly, 15-21 January, 5-11 February)

Mr. Manoah Zehavi has been appointed co-ordinator of an interministerial committee within the Ministry of Defence designed to locate State lands and absentee lands which will be put at the disposal of the Israel Defence Forces and the Jewish settlements. According to a source quoting Minister Sharon, 30,000 Jews had settled in "Judea and Samaria" since 1967. The demand for lands inWJudea and Samaria7'hadrisen, following the decision to pay high compensation to the Yamit evacuees. A great demand for lands has been reported in the areas of Karney Shomoron, Ma'aleh Shomoron, Ariel, Efrat and Elkana. An Israeli company called Rassco Company offered to pay IS 65,000 ($US 4,000) per dunum for a transaction of 34 dunums of privately-owned Arab land from landowners in Ma'aleh Shomoron. (Ma'ariv, 12 January; Ha'aretz, 13 January, 3 February)

The Military Government in the Nablus area informed inhabitants of the villages Kafr Qalil, Burin and Hakef located on Mt. Gerizin (Nablus area) that 200 dunums of land were being declared state land. Villagers of Qarawat and Sarta (Nablus area) related that surveyors started tocarry out works for the establishment of a new settlement. Digging works have started on a 140-dunum piece of land in Wadi Nuweima. According to the source, this land is defined "absentee property ." The Military Government decided to cancel adecision to confiscate Arab land in the village of Kufr Hares, near Nablus. The 250 dunums were to be given back to its owners, the Islamic Waqf. (Ha'aretz, 10 February; Al Fajr Weekly, 15-21 January; 12-18 February)

A 4,000-dunum area south of Jerusalem was declared state land for the purpose of creating a new urban settlement called "Beitan," located between Beit-Jala and Battir; the mukhtars of Battir and Walaja were informed of the possibility of lodging an appeal with the "Military Government's advisory committee." According to experts of the State Land Administration, most of the area consisted of State lands and comprised Jewish-owned plots that were bought before the 1948 war. Residents of the villages Deir Ballut and Kafr Ed Dik in "Samaria" protested over seizures of land; preparations had been completed for the creation of a new settlement called Yerovam (provisional name Beit Aryeh B'). (Ha'aretz, 14 February; Al Fajr Weekly, 19-25 February)

The Israeli military authorities confiscated 900 dunums of land in the village of Tammun, near Jenin. In Ramallah, the Israeli authorities leveled 600 dunums of land in the village of Midya. The military authorities informed 40 residents of the village of Saffa, in the Ramallah area, that 500 dunums of their lands had been confiscated, against compensation. Israeli bulldozers started works on Arab land in the village of Beit Iskaria in the Hebron district. The owner, Mr. Ibrahim Attalah, had already obtained an order nisi from the High Court of Justice barring further work on his land. One thousand dunums of land were reportedly expropriated in the village of Aqraba, near Nablus. Twenty thousand dunums of land (20 km2), belonging to residents of Surif, north of Hebron, were confiscated; the owners were given 21 days to lodge their appeal. (Ha'aretz, 18 March; Al Fajr Weekly, 12-18 February, 26 February-4 March, 19-25 March)

A number of reports indicated alleged forgery in land sales in the West Bank. The citizen Qadoura Abu Qadus from Azun, near Qalqilya, was threatened by Jewish brokers to sell his land. Moshe Reich, a contractor from the Elkana settlement, was arrested in connexion with the case, together with two suspects from Jaljula and Kafr Kassem, villages in Israeli proper. A magistrate's court in Petah-Tikva extended the detention of one of the suspects. (Jerusalem Post, 10 January, 24 February; Ha'aretz, 18 January, 25 January, 24 February; Ma'ariv, 26 January; Asha'b, 1,7 January, 27 April; Al Fajr Weekly, 12-18 March 1982)

The budget of the Ministry of Finance for settlements in theoccupied territories in the financial year 1982-1983 would reach one billion shekels ($US 50 million); Mr. Drobles, head of the Zionist Federation's Settlement Department, stated that there were 126 settlements in the occupied territories, 98 of which had been established under the auspices of the Settlement Department. In "Judea and Samaria" there were 63 settlements; the Ministry of Defence was setting up four Nahal outposts. In the Jordan Valley there were 25 settlements and six more were planned (three in the northern Jordan Valley and three in the south, designed to close the "Jericho corridor," referred to in the Allon plan). In the Golan Heights there were 33 settlements and four were under construction. In 1982- 1983, 16 more settlements and 14 Nahal outposts were planned or were under construction. The plan for the West Bank providing for a Jewish population of 100,000 envisaged three categories of areas. In the first, close to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, there was to be only private construction with planning and infrastructure by the Zionist Federation's Settlement Department. In the third area, located mainly on the "Samaria" mountain ridges, in the Judea desert and on the Hebron mountains, settlements were to be given financial advancement. According to Mr. Drobles, Nahal outposts were designed to curb the "illegal spread of Arabs in vital areas." Five such outposts were under construction in the Hebron mountains; seven in the center of "Samaria" and two outposts were under construction in the Golan Heights. (Ha'aretz, 19 February 1982)

Nahal Nimrod was established between the Druze villages of Ma'asada and Majdal Shams. The construction was started of Alfey Menasheh, a settlement designed for employees of the security establishment, near Kamey Shomoron. The settlement was to accommodate 1,800 families, but the State was buying more land in the region; Alfey-Menasheh was to be a "security town" by a decision of the Ministerial Committee on Settlement Affairs of 8 August 1979, which, according to a report, was being made public for the first time. (Ha'aretz, 3,17 March 1982)

The Israeli authorities closed off areas and expropriated lands in different parts of the territories. In Hebron, 27 dunums were expropriated belonging to Mr. Soleiman Abu Seryna, who subsequently appealed to the Israeli High Court of Justice. In Heja (Jenin district), villagers were not allowed to reach 3,000 dunums of their land. In Nablus, Israeli bulldozers resumed work on 4,800 dunums of land belonging to villagers in Kafr Kalil and Borein. In addition, the Israeli authorities informed citizens from Sofian (near Qalquilya) of the expropriation of 34 dunums. In Jebel Mokabar (Jerusalem area) Israeli bulldozers started work on 40 dunums of land belonging to Mr. Ahmed Al Haleysy. Israeli bulldozers worked on land of inhabitants of Yinsafout for the expansion of "Emmanuel settlement," despite a court order halting work, pending proof of ownership. The work was subsequently halted. Three thousand two hundred dunums of land in Bani Naim were declared State land. In Tulkarem, preparation for a settlement called "Alar" on 400 dunums of land got under way. In the Golan Heights the settlement of 20,000 Israelis, in addition to the actual population of 8,000 Israelis, started during the month of May. (Ha'aretz, 13, 18 May; Asha'b, 4, 26, 27, 28, 30 April, 5, 12, 17, 18, 23, 26, 27, 30 May; Al Fajr Weekly, 21-27 May, 28 May-3 June, 4-10, 11-17 June)

Two Israeli settlements located between Bethlehem and Hebron were recently established; Ayronim and Gush Etzion. The Minister of Housing, Mr. David Levy, stated that the Efraim settlement would develop into a city to be inhabited by 300 families. (Asha'b, 27 May, 1 June; Al Fajr Weekly, 4- 1 0 June)

Several thousands of dunums of land were seized in the Tulkarem area in the villages of Boya, Haris Masha, Azoun Osma, Kafr Tulz and Deir Istya. These lands have been expropriated despite proof of ownership. Villagers of Borin filed a complaint with the Israeli High Court of Justice against the seizure of 500 dunums of their lands by settlers. The Israeli military authorities notified Mr. Ali Al Jaradat from Sair (Hebron area) that he had 45 days to object to the seizure of his land. About 5,000 dunums of land were seized in the village of Hussan (Bethlehem). (Asha'b, 3, 6, 30 June; Al Fajr Weekly, 1 1-17 June, 2-8,9-15 July)

Prefabricated houses were put at the disposal of Jewish settlers from Kiryat Arba, who had asked for many months to be authorized to live in Hebron. The Nahal outpost of b'Bedolah," near Rafah, turned into a civilian settlement, the new name of which will be "Mitzpeh Atzmona." (Ha'aretz, 1 July; Ma'ariv, 6 July; Asha'b, 2 July)

The World International Zionist Organization allocated I.S. 41 6 million ($US 30.8 million) for the period 198 1 - 1982 in order to assist border settlements in emergency situations. (Jerusalem Post, 9 September, 198 1)


THE USURPATION OF PALESTINIAN LANDS AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF JEWISH SETTLEMENTS IN 1983

The United Nations Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Population of the Occupied Areas reported on October 14,1983(17) as follows:

The Military Government in Nablus expropriated some 5,000 dunums near the villages of Ni'lin, Qibya and Shibtin, in the Ramallah region. The landowners say that the land is privately owned and claim they have the necessary documents to prove their ownership of the land. Military sources say that the land is State land. The landowners intend to take their case to the High Court for an order nisi to halt the confiscation procedure while the claims are reviewed. Settlement Department sources said that the land will be used for a new settlement called "Nili."' (Ha'aretz, 29 August 1982; Al Fajr, 3 September 1982)

The Ministers for Finance and of Development, Mr. Yoram Aridor and Prof. Yuval Ne'eman, yesterday agreed on means for earmarking 500 million shekels for settlement activities in the West Bank. (Ha'aretz, 3 1 August 1982) Preparatory works are under way for a new communal settlement in "Samaria" called Netafim. It is located opposite Beit-Aba, on the "trans-Samaria" road. Three more settlements are planned in "Samaria": Elkana C', south-west of Beit-Aba; a large urban settlement west of Yakir and northwest of Emanuel; and Ya'arit, near Sal'it. Four other settlements are at present under construction: Sha'arey-Tikva, near Elkana; Emanuel; Tzavta, above Qalqilya, and Netafim. To these should be added three Nahal outposts on Mount Gerizim, and Herrnesh (near Dotan); two other settlements which are under construction, and Irit, near Tubas. (Ma'ariv, 1 September 1982)

The new town of Ma'ale-Adumim is inaugurated east of Jerusalem. In the inauguration ceremony Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Housing and Construction, Mr. David Levy, declared that "Settlement in Eretz Yisrael would not stop; the map was 'bubbling' with new construction, and hundreds and thousands more housing units were being built in new towns, such as Efrat and Karnei-Shomron, which are to be inaugurated in the near future." (Jerusalem Post, 2 September 1982) Go to part 5

Go to part 5