In February 2023, Israel’s far-right government acted to regulate the outposts in Area C of the West Bank. Further to this decision, in February 2024, the Minister in the Ministry of Defense, Bezalel Smotrich, ordered the Civil Administration to regularize 70 outposts (35% of existing outposts), which are grouped under 63 “sites for regularization.” Without … read more
For years, Palestinian communities in the West Bank have been under the threat of forcible transfer, due to combined pressures exerted by Israeli authorities and settler violence. These pressures peaked during the onslaught against herder communities throughout the West Bank, that followed the outbreak of the Gaza war. Their stories are told here.
These two small communities in Area C of the West Bank have been under threat of forcible transfer for years. Pressures peaked following the outbreak of the Gaza war, and after days of repeated attacks and threats, they were violently uprooted and forced to flee to neighboring villages. This is their story. For more information … read more
The decade-long struggle of Bimkom and Palestinian residents against a planned massive landfill in East Jerusalem succeeded, when in late December 2023 the plan for a substantially smaller landfill was instead deposited. The demolition of over 70 structures, including residential ones, and the forcible eviction of some 150 Bedouin residents from the planned site was … read more
For decades, Israel has used restrictive planning laws and demolitions to curtail Palestinian development in Area C. A handful of new Israeli Civil Administration (ICA) planning ordinances, military orders, and legislative bills passed since 2018 point to an intensification of restrictions: the implementation of demolitions and confiscations has been expedited; legal and planning actions to … read more
On May 4, 2022, the Israeli High Court authorized the expulsion and forcible transfer of over 1,000 Palestinian residents of the Masafer Yatta region of the southern West Bank, an area the Israeli military has declared as “Firing Zone 918.” The expulsion could happen at any moment. In the decades-long court case, the State of Israel has claimed that Firing Zone 918 is necessary for … read more
The State of Israel has begun a land settlement process in East Jerusalem, for the first time since 1967. Land settlement is a procedure of ascertaining the rights to a certain piece of land, measuring and determining its boundaries precisely and recording them in the register of rights (“tabu”). This is expected to impact all … read more
In the 21st century, tap water is something to be taken for granted. Certainly, in Israel, which is considered a global giant in the area of irrigation and desalination. But in Area C of the West Bank, under Israeli control, over 10,000 women, men, and children live in communities that are not even connected to … read more
A recent Bikmom report shows that roughly 60 shepherding communities in Area C don’t have a water connection; this is detrimental not only to their personal needs but also to the needs of their flock and, consequentially, their livelihood. This issue affects more than 10,000 residents of Area C. The full report can be read … read more
