From time to time, the Palestine Center distributes articles it believes will enhance understanding of the Palestinian political reality. The following article by Maayan Lubell was published by Reuters on January 21, 2016.
“Israel says will seize West Bank land; demolishes EU structures”
Israel confirmed on Thursday it was planning to appropriate a large tract of fertile land in the occupied West Bank, close to Jordan, a move likely to exacerbate tensions with Western allies and already drawing international condemnation.
In an email sent to Reuters, COGAT, a unit of Israel’s Defence Ministry, said the political decision to seize the territory had been taken and “the lands are in the final stages of being declared state lands.”
The appropriation, covers 154 hectares (380 acres) in the Jordan Valley close to Jericho, an area where Israel already has many settlement farms built on land Palestinians seek for a state. It is the largest land seizure since August 2014.
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The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Jerusalem Fund.
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