Israel Plans to Seize Large Chunk of West Bank Farmland -- News from Antiwar.com

Israel Plans to Seize Large Chunk of West Bank Farmland

Outskirts of Farming Area Already Seized by Settlers at Any Rate

by Jason Ditz, January 20, 2016

Print This | Share This

In a move that seems determined to fuel more international backlash against them, the Israeli government is preparing to seize a large plot of Palestinian farmland near Jericho, allowing nearby settlements to access the land for themselves.

The 380 acres of farmland is in territory which was intended to be part of an eventual Palestinian state, but settlers objected to this, as they’ve been illegally farming the outskirts of the land for years. Since it is in Israeli military administered land, the Palestinian owners weren’t allowed to use it at any rate.

The government seizure, then, is the latest in a long line of retroactive legalization of illegal moves by settlers to appropriate privately owned Palestinian land. The argument will likely center on them using “abandoned” land after the military barred the Palestinians from it.

Israeli settlement expansions and territory seizures like this are illegal under international law, though the Israeli government insists they have a religious obligation to seize the territory, and usual react with fury when criticized for such moves.

Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz

Finland Report Warns Joining NATO Would Lead to Crisis With Russia - April 29th, 2016
Airstrikes Hit Four Clinics in Aleppo in Last Two Days - April 29th, 2016
15 Killed as Syrian Rebels Shell Aleppo Mosque - April 29th, 2016
Russia: US Deployment of Troops to Syria a Violation of Sovereignty - April 29th, 2016
Iran Asks UN Chief to Intervene on US Asset Seizure - April 29th, 2016

| Print This | Share This | Send a letter to the editor | Letters

Click here to hide comments

Donatella

The colonialists need “lebenraum”. Sound familiar?
augustbrhm

*GODBLESSAMERICA
rybo1

The Israelis, one day, will carry what they have stolen on their backs.
Ethan

This is the worst and most interesting thing that is happening in the world right now.
Israel is the worst group of people in the world for doing this.
EME

This kind of theft is nothing new. The Zionists are using the ongoing
carnage and destruction happening in Iraq and Syria as an opportunity
to grab more land from the Palestinians.
Enver Masud

“Greater Israel” remains the goal. Mr Falk, “professor emeritus in international law at Princeton University, said Israeli policies were designed to ethnically cleanse Palestinians from the occupied territories, and especially East Jerusalem, the expected capital of any Palestinian state.” — http://www.twf.org/News/Y2013/1105-GreaterIsrael.html
- John Ellis
  
  So what is wrong with that, did not our Founding Father slave owners do that to the American Indians?
  
  We must have blind faith in democracy, for is not the 51% most wealthy the best ones to save us from doing invasions for plunder?
John Ellis

KEY TO CONFLICT RESOLUTION — EXPOSE THE ROOT CAUSE

Surely, for if you get at the root cause, reach agreement on
that in fact is the root cause, then the solution becomes self-evident.

For example, as neither Russia or China is trading war materials for Middle-East oil, as only Western powers are doing such a corruption, if all the world were to reach agreement that such greed was the root cause of terrorism — Bingo — no more terrorism.
Hp B

And the entire world’s governments protest vehemently!!
Oooooo. Ahhhhhhhh oooooooooooo ahhhhhhhh ooooooo
TAKE THAT, Blue Meanies!
Wheeeew, that was rough one..
Lunch?
David Cates

Zionism is Colonialism and has no historical lineage with Judaism or Palestine. What exists in Israel today is outright blatant thievery, subjugation, and premeditated murder all of which is endorsed by the Zionist government, and the illegal/illegitimate settlers.

The EU is making some inroads to penalize the illegal settlements, but more must be done. An outright boycott of ALL trade with Israel especially by the EU block is now the only hope.

Zionists do not respect the rule of law, human rights, or equal rights. All they know and care about is impunity, racism, and ultra violence against the real owners of the land.
- John Ellis
  
  You left out the reason for why the West had them invade Palestine, for they know how to terrorize the Middle-East into trading oil for Western war materials.