Israeli human rights organization considers settlements illegal
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 5/15/2002

The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights, B'Tselem said in a report published Monday Israeli settlements policy in the occupied territories in illegal under international law.

"International humanitarian law prohibits an occupying power from transferring citizens from its own territory to the occupied territory," the report says.

According to the report, an occupying power does not have the right to undertake permanent changes in the occupied area, unless they are undertaken for the benefit of the local population or are for urgent military needs. Israel's settlement policy violates these regulations."

The association says was denied cooperation from the Israeli Civil Administration in compiling the report that constitutes the first time the public will have a comprehensive report available on human rights violations resulting from the settlement movement in the West Bank.

According to the report, 41.9% of the West Bank is controlled by settlements, even though the existence of such areas are a clear violation of international law. The report also addresses the financial advantages offered to Israelis who decide to live in settlements; "Éin the year 2000, Jewish local councils in the West Bank received grants from the government averaging sixty-five percent more those received by their counterparts inside Israel. Settlement regional councils received grants averaging 165% more than their counterparts in Israel."

B'Tselem concluded by calling on their government to start dismantling all illegal settlements immediately. They advised the government to halt all new construction in the settlements, stop planning and building new by-pass roads, return to Palestinian communities all the non-built-up areas attached to settlements and regional councils, renounce the policy of providing incentives to encourage Israeli citizens to move to the settlements, and allocate resources instead to encourage settlers to relocate within the borders of the State of Israel.

B'Tselem researcher Yehezkel Lein says, "From a human rights perspective, there is no other conclusion that can be reached."

Previous Stories:
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  Sharon vows to continue operations against the Palestinians   (5/13/2002)
  Amnesty International: reprisals against persons and property are prohibited by 4th Geneva Convention   (5/11/2002)
  UN General Assembly condemned assaults by Israeli occupying forces against the Palestinian people   (5/9/2002)
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