Israel cancels firing zone for settlement expansion

An Israeli newspaper revealed on Sunday that the occupation authorities have cancelled the “firing zone” status of part of the Jordan Valley to enable the expansion of an illegal Jewish settlement. According to Haaretz, Israel’s Chief of Central Command, Major General Nitzan Alon, signed an order to cancel Firing Zone 912 in January to enable the expansion of Ma’ale Adumim.

Meanwhile, added Haaretz, the Israeli occupation security forces continue to demolish Palestinian homes in the Jordan Valley claiming that they are in “firing zones”. The area in question was declared to be such a zone in 1972 and it covers approximately 40 acres from Ma’aleh Adumim, east of Jerusalem, towards the Dead Sea. Israeli officials earlier unveiled plans for the construction of 88 housing units in the area under the name of “Nofei Adumim”.

Over 560 Palestinian homes have been destroyed in the occupied West Bank so far this year. This has prompted worldwide condemnation of the Israeli occupation. Most international powers regard the settlements as a major obstacle to peace in the Middle East.

More than half a million Israeli settlers live in over 120 illegal Jewish settlements built on Palestinian land in the West Bank and East Jerusalem occupied by Israel since 1967.