Israeli authorities have issued a military order to seize 30 hectares (74 acres) of Palestinian land near Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, citing public purposes. Moayad Shaaban, head of the Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, indicated that this order targets the Jabal Al-Fureidis area and aims to facilitate the development of an archaeological site. This marks the third expropriation order since the start of 2026, and Shaaban warned that such actions are part of a larger policy to exert control over Palestinian land for settlement expansion. He noted that in 2024, 17.1 hectares (42 acres) surrounding the site were previously declared state land. This announcement coincides with a rise in Israeli actions regarding archaeological sites, which Palestinian officials claim are used to strengthen settlement activities in Area C of the West Bank.
Why It Matters
The expropriation of land in the West Bank is significant as it reflects ongoing tensions and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Since the Oslo II Accord in 1995, Area C has remained under full Israeli control, comprising about 61% of the West Bank. The recent approval by the Israeli government to register large areas of West Bank land as state property marks a significant escalation in land appropriation efforts. Since October 2023, violence in the West Bank has increased dramatically, with reports of over 1,168 Palestinian deaths and substantial injuries and displacements, underscoring the volatile situation in the region.
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