Rebecca Thorn live reporting for us from the Theatre of War Symposium in Dublin. Thank you Rebecca. An excludive. Rebecca Thorn Ray: Dolphin-has worked in the West Bank and Gaza Strip for last 20 years. Based in East Jerusalem working for UNOCHA. He used maps drawn from detailed and constantly updated examination. Notes from lecture at the Theatre of War Symposium in Dublin 23/01/15 (some people may be aware of this info I provide and I open up these points for further debate and deeper research which I hope we can share amongst us) The Fragmentation of Palestine There are approx 540,000 settlers in the West Bank. This is against international law In line with the Geneva Convention re occupation, Israel is in breach of article 49- you cannot transfer your civilian population onto occupied territory, which clearly Israel does. Up to 40% land in the West Bank has been confiscated by Israel through legislative means The Wall Israel has the right to build a wall but the wall must follow a certain legal route. The majority of the wall is illegal as 85% cuts into the West Bank. It affects approx 150 Palestinian villages and livelihoods as farmers cannot access their land nor farm. The gate and permit regime run by Israel does not help or serve the farmers. Check Points Approx 450 Access in and out is extremely difficult and the Palestinians live a totally fragmented existence. 3 Areas- A B C PA has jurisdiction over Area A/B- that is 40% of the land Israel has full control over 60% of the land. The Palestinians must get a permit to build in Area C but in actuality, only 1% is available for the Palestinians to build in, in Area C Non permitted buildings are demolished, including international NGO buildings. 20% of the West Bank is a military area controlled by Israel. 10% of the West Bank has been designated nature reserves by Israel. It can no longer be farmed by the Palestinians, they are fined and land and livestock confiscated if they try to do so. The Dead Sea area could generate approx 3.4 billion dollars revenue for the Palestinians if given access to it, which is more than they are given in aid. Ray Dolphin was asked if he had showed his maps and extensive and constantly updated work to those at the top in Israel and US Yes he said , but not the very top Israeli government officials. You cannot get access to them. He said those Israeli officials who did see his work were very surprised He said there is denial about what is really going on. And that there is clearly a political agenda and that what is going on in the West Bank has massive implications for the two state solution. My simple questions are: how does Israel get away with this? How can Israel flout international law like this and still keep building settlements???! how can it be stopped? How can this possibly help relations between Palestine and Israel? Why is this not talked about more? All the time in fact?? Thank youprojectariadne/abbey-national-theatre-dublin-2015/
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 19:33:44 +0000
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