IDF Civil Administration pushing for land takeover in West Bank

[azurnoir]

The IDF Civil Administration is taking steps to increase state-ownership of West Bank lands, an internal military document reveals. The policy enables increased construction not only around settlement blocs like Ariel, Ma'aleh Adumim and Gush Etzion, but also in strategic areas like the Jordan Valley and Dead Sea.

Until now it was not known that the administration, which is a military agency, was charged with distinguishing between the blocs Israel is demanding to annex as part of a final-status agreement and the rest of the settlements.

<snip>

The inclusion of the Jordan Valley, northern Dead Sea and area surrounding Ariel in the "settlement blocs" whose takeover the administration is advancing, would prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state with territorial contiguity. In addition, the scope of land in question thwarts the possibility of exchanging areas in a peace settlement, according to the formula presented by U.S. President Barack Obama on May 19.

This is because on the western side of the Green Line there is not enough open land to compensate the Palestinians for such an extensive annexation, according to examinations carried out during previous talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/idf-civil-administration-pushing-for-land-takeover-in-west-bank-1.374564

[Hardrada]

1. None of this will end well.

[classysassy]

2. What would happen

if I wanted to build a hotel downtown Seoul,Korea?As an American occupyer do I have the right to build there without permission of the Korean government?Oh I see the double standered does not apply to Americans.

[King_David]

4. Did you check with the American administrator? nt

[azurnoir]

3. UN: Marked increase in forced displacement of Palestinians

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs released a report Thursday documenting alarming trends in the forced displacement of Palestinians in Area C.

The OCHA report found that more demolitions have taken place so far in 2011 than in all of 2009 and 2010 combined.

The Khan Al-Ahmar village near Jerusalem received four stop work orders last week, the report said, and there are ongoing demolition orders against another two hundred and fifty structures in surrounding communities.

<snip>

The report, based on field visits to thirteen communities in Area C, found that in most cases Palestinian families are being forced to leave due to "restrictive policies and practices of the Israeli authorities, including movement and access restrictions, settlement activity and restrictions on Palestinian construction."

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=407313

[Violet_Crumble]

5. 'is taking steps to increase state-ownership of West Bank lands'

This has come up before, but it's worth repeating. As Israel doesn't have sovereignty over the West Bank, it's not possible to have state ownership of the land. That only applies to land inside Israel itself, not territory it militarily occupies...