Al-Zaytouna Centre: Statistical Release on Settlements and Lands

Statistical Release on Settlements and Lands
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alzaytou on 31/03/2011 09:01:00


Number of Housing Units Built in the Israeli Settlements Increased Four Times in
2010 Compared with 2009
The Occasion of the Land Day
The thirtieth of March 1976 had witnessed an uprising in the territory of 1948
in defense of their land and the confiscation of 21 thousand dunums in the
Galilee, Al-Muthalath, and Negev. The uprising was violently faced by Israeli
occupation that led to the deaths of six young demonstrators.
Jewish Control more than 85% of the Land of Historical Palestine
About 11.5 million people live in the historical land of Palestine at end of
2009 with a 27,000 Km2 estimated area. The Jewish constitute around 49.4% of the
total population and utilize more than 85% of the total area of lands. The
utilizing of land by the Jewish during the British Mandate was not more than
1,682 km2 which constitute about 6.2%. While Arabs comprise 47.9% of the total
population and utilize less than 15% of the land area, the others constitute
about 2.7% of the population in the 1948' territories.
Most of the Historical Palestine Area are Open Land Controlled by Israeli Army
About 20.7% of the land of historical Palestine is cultivated areas, while the
forest and jungles constitute 9.7%. The built up areas comprises about 5.7%, but
the largest proportion which constitute 63.9% of the area is an open area and
most of it under Israel Army 13% of the West Bank is Isolated and Confiscated by
Expansion and Annexation wall Israeli occupation confiscated hundreds of
thousands dunums of land to construct the Expansion and Annexation Wall. Data
showed that the isolated and confiscated area between the wall and the green
line amounted to almost 733 km2, which represents about 13.0% of the West Bank
area. These isolated and confiscated areas include 348 km2 as agricultural area,
110 km2 utilized by Israeli settlements and military bases, 250 km2 forests and
open area and 25 km2 as Palestinian Built-up area.
Jerusalem judaization: Un-controlled construction by settlers and continuity of
house demolitions
Israeli violations escalated against Palestinians and their property in 2010 in
Jerusalem Governorate, where the Israeli occupation authorities continued its
policy of land confiscation under various pretexts. The goal of Israeli
authorities is to deprive Palestinian from their lands. About 1,496 dunums have
been confiscated to construct the Expansion and Annexation Wall and to expand
settlements. In addition, about 2,000 orders have been issued by Israeli
authorities during the year 2009 to evacuate Palestinian houses in preparation
for demolition, as the case in Bustan neighborhood in Silwan, Shu'fat, and
others. During 2010, there were 31 demolished houses of total area reaching
2,572 m2, inhabited by 224 Palestinian of whom 115 are children.
54.6% of settlers live in Jerusalem governorate
According to data, the number of occupied sites and Military Bases in the West
Bank at the end of 2010 was 470 sites. During 2010, 7 settling outposts were
constructed; around 141 sites were expanded. The concentration of settlements is
in Jerusalem governorate. Settlements in Jerusalem comprise about 23.7% of total
land areas forcefully confiscated for settlements in the West bank. Data
indicate that the number of settlers in the West Bank reached 517,774 settlers
at the end of 2009, 51.6% of them live in Jerusalem governorate (201,273
settlers are in that part of Jerusalem which was annexed by Israel in 1967). In
demographic terms, the percentage of settlers to the Palestinian population in
the West Bank was about 21 Settlers for each 100 Palestinian compared to 71
Settlers for each 100 Palestinian in Jerusalem governorate.
The Expansion of Settlements: Race Against Time
The construction of settlements has increased in 2010; where about 6,764
settling units were constructed over the Palestinian lands. The construction of
settlements in 2010 has increased by 4 times compared with 2009 (1,703 settling
units were constructed), 2,107 settling unites were constructed in 2008, and
1,471 settling units were constructed in 2007 and 1,518 in 2006.
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Source: Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics Issues (PCBS), 29/3/2010
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