Forced Displacement and Targeting of Infrastructure: Israel Threatens the Survival of Furush Beit Dajan

Source: Froush Beit Dajan Village Council

While the eyes of the international community are upon ongoing events in the Gaza Strip, Israel is tightening its grip on the West Bank, particularly the so-called Area C. Comprising 61% of the West Bank, Israel views Area C as a temporary land stock, which will be part of the so-called “Israeli state” in the future. In this area, Palestinians are in a day-to-day struggle with strict Israeli measures. They are prevented from constructing homes, digging water well, expanding residential areas, reclaiming land, and tending sheep. Although unrestricted settlement expansion is allowed, the Israeli occupying forces (IOF) constantly persecute Palestinians in the so-called Area C. 

The Furush Beit Dajan is one example. The IOF place tight constraints on citizens with the aim of seizing, and displacing them from, their land. This is not a recent novelty, but a renewed episode with increasing intensity since 1967. Then, the IOF made a decision to suspend all land settlement processes, stormed land settlement offices, and confiscated all relevant documents. As original copies of land titles remained in Jordan, the majority of land plots with Jordanian registration certificates were invalid after the Palestinian National Authority was established. It has become imperative to obtain approval of the Israeli Civil Administration for any measures undertaken in relation to land. To create facts on the ground, the Israeli government has banned any construction in the village, with dire consequences for [unlicensed] buildings. The impact of the Alon Plan cannot be overlooked. Put forward during the last century, the plan aims to annex Palestinian land in, and depopulate, Jerusalem, Golan Heights, and Jordan Valley to facilitate control over these areas. 

These practices reached a climax after 7 October. In addition to distributing demolition notices to 25 homes, the IOF demolished 22 inhabited homes and nine agricultural structures. In dangerous escalation and in the context of violations against Palestinian institutions, the IOF demolished the building housing the Furush Biet Dajan Village Council to cripple the operations of, and keep citizens apart from, their legitimate Palestinian institutions. The demolition is nothing but a new episode in a long series of IOF crimes intended to displace Palestinians and destroy Palestinian cities, towns, and villages together with their infrastructure. This constitutes a flagrant violation of the International Law and International Humanitarian Law. 

In keeping with its national and humanitarian responsibility, the village council has worked hard to alleviate the suffering of citizens and provide the support they need. To this end, it implemented a set of measures that strengthened citizens’ resilience and made their voice heard by the world. 

Given escalating Israeli abuses of the local community and continued issuance of demolition notices, the village council played an extraordinary role in guiding and assisting affected civilians in dealing with these notices. It recruited a land surveyor, prepared necessary documents, and initiated the best legal procedures for effectively challenging demolition decisions. 

Due to Israel’s restrictions on the area, the village residents have experienced considerable difficulties in electricity connections. The IOF prevented the installation of new generators or construction of any relevant projects. Still, the village council managed to devise a temporary solution by connecting an electricity generator at the school to the internal grid, providing power supply to most homes. However, some distant homes still experience power failure. 

It has been said that that Furush Beit Dajan is a thirsty village while lying over a river of water. The IOF impede the building of water reservoirs with the intention of forced population displacement. The situation of water is tragic as the village suffers from prolonged water cuts in the summer. The IOF also seizes control over some artesian wells, depriving citizens from accessing water. In this context, the village council seeks to implement a new project to expand the water network inside the village. 

The village council is making extensive efforts to ease the burden on citizens and help them cope with the difficult circumstances in the village. In cooperation with Médecins du Monde, the council brought in a mobile clinic to provide healthcare services the village residents. To address the water crisis in the agriculture sector, in collaboration with the Agricultural Development Association and Ministry of Agriculture, the council installed and connected 9,000-metre-long water pipelines to five artesian wells to avoid contaminated water and ensure healthy food security.