The Applied Research Center, Areej, has revealed that Palestinian lands confiscated by the Israeli government to build settlements in the West Bank has doubled by 439% this year compared to last year.
Lands confiscated till June 2016 has reached 7,773 dunums, which means a 439% increase compared to last year, when 1442 dunums were confiscated. Some 3887 dunums were confiscated in the West Bank cities of Silfeet, Jericho and Bethlehem.
The Center reported that during the same period, Israel demolished 276 houses in the West Bank including Jerusalem compared to 2015, which saw the demolition of 108 houses, with 155% increase.
The result of 49 years of land theft and ethnic cleansing by occupier and colonisator #Israel. A 2-state solution ?? pic.twitter.com/X1j3vjvAAR
— Palestina Komitee (@Palkomitee) June 30, 2016
Demolition orders included destroying 343 agricultural facilities, with a 481% increase compared to 2015, which saw the demolition of 59 agricultural facilities, mostly in Hebron, Jerusalem and Nablus.
The number of illegal Jewish settlers in the West Bank is estimated at 766,000 of which 406,302 live in the West Bank while 360, 000 live in Jerusalem. The international community designates settlements in the West Bank illegal.
(PC, SAFA)
