Palestinian group condemns Israeli land theft in West Bank as contributing to conflict

Press Release

Annexing more of the Palestinian Lands to expand Israeli Settlements

The Department of Arab and International Relations condemns the Israeli recent decision to annex 12000 Dunums (1200 Hectares) of the Palestinian lands in order to expand Maaleh Adumim Jewish settlement by building another 6000 settling houses, east of Occupied Jerusalem.

A special Israeli ministerial committee approved a plan that aims at annexing Kidar settlement to be part of Maaleh Adumim settlement. Kidar is 3 kilometers east of Maaleh Adumim. The plan is one of a number of illegal Israeli measures that aim to expand Jewish settlements and connect them to each other on the expense of privately-owned Palestinian lands. By doing this Israel will be blocking the geographical contiguity of the anticipated Palestinian state.

Maaleh Adumim is the second Israeli settlement in space; the settlement is built on 62000 dunums of land (1% of the West bank area).

By the time Israel expands its settlements, the Palestinian Jerusalemite houses will be demolished; the Israeli authorities issued demolition warnings of 30 Palestinian Jerusalemite houses. Total number of Israeli demolition warnings escalated to 1052, since the beginning of 2009.

DAIR appeals to the International Community to practice pressure on Israel in order to stop its unilateral measures. The Israeli stealing of the Palestinian lands to build and expand Israeli settlements must be stopped; such actions violates the International law and the principles of the Road map for peace.

Department of Arab & International Relations /PLO
Ramallah- Palestine
April 28th, 2009