Israel has recently stepped-up plans for building three new settlements in the Gush Etzion outpost south of the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem.
Israeli daily newspaper Maariv has reported that the Judean Hills Development Corporation in coordination with the Gush Etzion Regional Council are working with all relevant ministries to establish the three new settlements on lands that are under the control of the Israeli military (in the occupied West Bank) allegedly “to solve housing crises around Jerusalem.”
The plans were also discussed with the former Israeli war minister Moshe Ya’alon who said he would help in evacuating the lands to enable the construction of 500 to 1000 units in addition to building new settlements.
One of the settlements would be built on lands that were reportedly “under Jewish control before the war in 1948 while the other would be built in Gush Etzion bloc which means a massive expansion should the plans be officially approved by the Israeli government” according to the paper.
Israel’s settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank including in and around occupied East Jerusalem are illegal under International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention to which Israel is a signatory and a constant violator.
Meanwhile Israel continues strictly limiting the Palestinians from living building and developing their own lands in Area C of the occupied West Bank (%60 of the West Bank)
The Civil Administration prohibits Palestinian construction in vast areas of Area C citing various alleged rationales such as defining these areas as state land survey land firing zones nature reserves and natural parks or by incorporating lands into the jurisdiction of settlements and regional councils.
In the remaining 30% of Area C land on which constructions is not prohibited any construction must be pre-approved by the Civil Administration be it for private homes agricultural structures or infrastructure facilities.
