Israeli decision to allow Palestinians to build in Area C spurs skepticism
Palestinians perceive the Israeli decision to allow them to build 1,000 residential units in Area C with skepticism, as they believe it is designed to mislead the public so as to construct new settlement projects in the West Bank.
RAMALLAH, West Bank — Israel recently approved the construction of more than 1,000 housing units for Palestinians in Area C in the West Bank, which accounts for about 61% of the West Bank and is subject to Israel’s full security and administrative control.
The Israeli Yedioth Ahronoth paper reported on Aug. 11 that Defense Minister Benny Gantz made the decision to authorize the construction. According to Palestinian sources quoted by the paper, the decision was then communicated with the Palestinian Authority (PA) through the Coordinator for Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) Maj. Gen. Ghassan Alian.
The housing units will be built in five villages, namely al-Masara and Khirbat Zakariyya in the Bethlehem governorate, and Bir al-Basha, Khirbet 'Aaba and al-Maskoufa in the Jenin governorate. The decision, however, did not provide any additional details nor specify whether permits will be granted to existing buildings or whether new units will be built after permits are obtained.
The Oslo Accord signed between the PLO and Israel in 1993 classified the West Bank under three different areas: A, B and C. Area A is under the PA’s administrative and security control. Area B is under the PA’s administrative control and Israel’s security control. Area C is under Israel’s administrative and security control.
