B'tselem: 37% Increase in Colonies Population in 6 Years

TEL AVIV, June 8, 2009 (WAFA)- “Since Israel accepted the Road Map, which mandated a freeze of all settlement activity, the settler population in the West Bank has swelled from 211,400 to over 289,600 - an increase of 37% in six years,” B’tselem reported.

In a report issued, Wednesday, B’tselemsa said the Israeli government has used the idea of 'natural growth' as a fig leaf to cover large-scale expansion of Jewish colonies.

B’tselem added that the population of Israel increased at a rate of 1.8%. Among the Jewish population the growth rate is 1.6%. In that same year, the colonies increased by 5.6%. Of that figure, a full 40% is directly attributable to immigration, from Israel and abroad.

B’tselem continued that, “The Netanyahu government claims that barring 'natural growth' will tear families apart. But, B’tselem argued, people do not have an inalienable right to live in the neighborhood of their choosing. Israel is a small country and the colonies are a short drive or bus ride from many towns and cities within the Green Line. This is an inconvenience people in all developed countries must deal with.

The Israeli government has recently argued that it cannot completely freeze colonies because, as a matter of law, the government could not reverse itself after tenders had been issued, apartments bought and construction begun.

In fact, in two cases, brought to the High Court of Justice in 1992 by contractors and settler groups against the Yitzhak Rabin government, the Court ruled that the government could legally stop construction even after it had begun and that any losses incurred due to the government's policy could be addressed in civil court.

B’tselem affirmed that at least 58% Ofra colony was built on privately owned Palestinian land and that the Israeli government has all the legal and administrative tools necessary to halt construction in the settlements.

“The built-up areas of the settlements constitute 1.7% of the land in the West Bank. However their municipal boundaries are four times as large (6.8%) and much of this is planned for expansion,” B’tselem emphasized.

“The potential, therefore, for massive expansion under the guise of 'natural growth' is great,” B’tselem said, “Israel's Interior Minister Eli Yishai has threatened to use every resource at his disposal to expand existing settlements as much as possible.”

Israel's highest court has ruled that the government has the legal tools to halt construction in colonies. Israel is obliged to do so, under international law and by its agreements under the Road Map, B’tselem affirmed, adding that colonies result in violation of Palestinians' human rights in a range of areas. Any increase in colonies will only exacerbate this situation.