UmmZakariya
15-12-2004, 01:50 PM
Israelis hasten land grab in shadow of wall
Bulldozers go in as expansion of settlements continues
Chris McGreal in Jayyous
Tuesday December 14, 2004
The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1372963,00.html
Sharif Omar has been waiting two years for the
bulldozers, ever since Israel's steel and barbed wire
"security fence" carved its way between his village
and its land. Last week the excavators and diggers
finally arrived on the outskirts of Jayyous to lay the
foundations for an expansion of the nearby Jewish
settlement of Zufim, fulfilling the fears and warnings
of its Palestinian neighbours.
The bulldozers were preparing the ground for hundreds
of new homes, despite the Israeli government's claim
that it is not expanding Jewish settlements in the
West Bank. Like other building work along the route of
the barrier, it seems to be an attempt to ensure that
the land between the fence and the 1967 border remains
in Israeli hands in any final agreement with the
Palestinians.
"When they built the fence, we said they would use it
to build a much bigger settlement, and they would take
our land to do it," said Mr Omar, whose olive and
citrus groves are now encircled. "It is very clear to
us, they are planning to confiscate all of our land
and drive us from here. They came and told us to
finish harvesting because they were going to begin
building 80 houses. They are beginning with my
neighbour's land but if they do it there they will do
it on mine."
Last week government lawyers told the court that
living next to Alfe Menashe gave the Palestinians the
opportunity to find jobs in the settlement, and so
they "were not only not harmed by building the fence
but even benefited from it".
The villagers' lawyer, Michael Sefarad, was astonished
by the government's claim. "None of the enclave's
residents wants the fence, and is not interested in
being at the mercy of the settlers. To suggest that is
outrageous," he said.
"It reveals how the justice ministry really regards
the Palestinians' lives and wishes. If anyone can even
think that a Palestinian would be happy to live in a
walled-in enclave because it gives him the opportunity
to work in a settlement, it is very sad."
Typical Zionist warped mentality we always know whats best and our occupation actually benefits you...
Bulldozers go in as expansion of settlements continues
Chris McGreal in Jayyous
Tuesday December 14, 2004
The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1372963,00.html
Sharif Omar has been waiting two years for the
bulldozers, ever since Israel's steel and barbed wire
"security fence" carved its way between his village
and its land. Last week the excavators and diggers
finally arrived on the outskirts of Jayyous to lay the
foundations for an expansion of the nearby Jewish
settlement of Zufim, fulfilling the fears and warnings
of its Palestinian neighbours.
The bulldozers were preparing the ground for hundreds
of new homes, despite the Israeli government's claim
that it is not expanding Jewish settlements in the
West Bank. Like other building work along the route of
the barrier, it seems to be an attempt to ensure that
the land between the fence and the 1967 border remains
in Israeli hands in any final agreement with the
Palestinians.
"When they built the fence, we said they would use it
to build a much bigger settlement, and they would take
our land to do it," said Mr Omar, whose olive and
citrus groves are now encircled. "It is very clear to
us, they are planning to confiscate all of our land
and drive us from here. They came and told us to
finish harvesting because they were going to begin
building 80 houses. They are beginning with my
neighbour's land but if they do it there they will do
it on mine."
Last week government lawyers told the court that
living next to Alfe Menashe gave the Palestinians the
opportunity to find jobs in the settlement, and so
they "were not only not harmed by building the fence
but even benefited from it".
The villagers' lawyer, Michael Sefarad, was astonished
by the government's claim. "None of the enclave's
residents wants the fence, and is not interested in
being at the mercy of the settlers. To suggest that is
outrageous," he said.
"It reveals how the justice ministry really regards
the Palestinians' lives and wishes. If anyone can even
think that a Palestinian would be happy to live in a
walled-in enclave because it gives him the opportunity
to work in a settlement, it is very sad."
Typical Zionist warped mentality we always know whats best and our occupation actually benefits you...