Arabs have only 5% of land area in occupied Palestine

Arabs in Israel and occupied Palestine now only own 5% of the land in Israel and Occupied Palestine, even though they constitute of 20% of the Israeli population.

Data of a report issued by Adaleh Centre for Human Rights has shown that the Israeli Land Authority adopts a racist policy regarding Palestinian Arab rights in Israeli in relationship with the land area and housing.

“This is a violation of basic rights such as ownership, equality, residence and labour,” Adaleh said in the report, which was issued to commemorate the 39th anniversary of the Land Day –March 30th.

According to the report, Israeli authorities have bid for 38,261 residential units in the Jewish cities in 2014, while bidding only for 1,844 units in the Arabic cities and villages –the Arabs, who constitute 20% of Israel’s citizens have only 4.6% of their residential units on sale.

Regarding the industrial zones, Adaleh revealed that the Israeli Land Authority have bidden 36 times for establishing industrial zones in Jewish cities and Israeli settlements, compared with no biddings for industrial zone in the Arabic cities and villages.

Between 2009 and 2014, Israeli Land Authority bid 328 timed for setting up industrial zones in Jewish cities and neighbourhoods, including settlements, but only 13 in Arabic cities and villages.

Regarding settlements, Adaleh said that the Israeli Land Authority announced 3,163 settlement units in the occupied West Bank, while only 1,844 residential units in Palestinian cities.

There are 550,000 Israeli settlers in the Jewish-only settlements in the occupied West Bank, while there are 1.2 million Palestinians. Adaleh said that this data shows a dangerous discrimination policy against the Palestinians.

Regarding the properties of the Palestinians displaced in 1948, Adaleh said that the Israeli Land Authority has sold 77 properties during this year, while it sold more than 800 properties between 2007 and 2014.

Adaleh has commented on these figures and said this is a flagrant violation of the international law.