Palestinian family resists as Israel tries to seize Bethlehem land

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) — In the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Kisiya family is trying to dismantle an illegal settlement outpost on land they own in the Al-Makhrour area near Bethlehem.

Ever since Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced plans two weeks ago for the establishment of a new settlement in Bethlehem, which is located in the southern West Bank, the family’s fears for the future of their land have grown.

In 2019, Israeli authorities demolished a park and restaurant owned by the family on the site, which overlooks orchards and agricultural lands that serve as a recreational area for Bethlehem residents and offer views of occupied Jerusalem. Settlers later moved in to establish an illegal outpost there.

Despite the intentions of Smotrich, who leads the far-right Religious Zionism party, the family, with the support of peace activists, is determined to hold onto their property and return to it.

By seizing the area, Tel Aviv hopes to geographically connect the illegal Gush Etzion settlement, located southwest of Bethlehem, to Jerusalem, which Smotrich claimed on X was a “national duty” in his announcement on August 14.

He also said that the boundaries of Gush Etzion had been expanded to include the area planned for the site of the new outpost, which will be called Nahal Heletz.

“The Civil Administration (the executive arm of the Israeli army in the Palestinian territories) has completed its professional work and published a new blue line for the Nahal Haletz settlement in Gush Etzion.”

This revision, he said, “allows for the initiation of procedures to establish the Nahal Haletz settlement. Connecting Gush Etzion to Jerusalem through the establishment of a new settlement is a historic moment.”

Smotrich added that the settlement was one of five that the government approved two months ago in the West Bank, in response to what he called “the Palestinian Authority’s actions against Israel and unilateral recognition of the Palestinian state by Western countries.”

In May, Norway, Spain, and Ireland officially recognized Palestinian statehood, followed by Slovenia and Armenia in June.

Israeli left-wing movement Peace Now has warned that the new illegal settlement would be detrimental to Palestinian geographic continuity, located in Bethlehem on lands declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, owned mostly by Palestinians.

Peace Now has also stressed that security challenges and friction would inevitably arise with the presence of illegal settlers in an area so deep within Palestinian territories.

– ‘Invalid decision’ –

Alice Kisiya remains defiant in the face of the decision to build the illegal outpost on her family’s land. She and her mother, Michelle, were arrested Sunday by Israeli authorities for protesting the seizure of their property in the Beit Jala area, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported, adding that they were later released.

“The Israeli government’s decision is invalid,” Alice declared in an interview, recounting how in July, illegal settlers, under the protection of the Israeli army, “established a settlement outpost on our family’s land, threatening all surrounding areas.”

“Our family holds official documents proving ownership of the land and has won a case in the Jerusalem District Court regarding this matter.”

“However, Israel now relies on the military governor’s decision and the far-right government, which aims to expand settlements to displace Palestinian residents,” she added.

Referring to the surrounding lands, she said, “The lands of Battir, Al-Walaja, and Al-Makhrour have been classified as World Heritage sites, and the residents own these orchards.”

– Isolating Bethlehem –

According to Palestinian anti-settlement activist Jamil Qassas, the Israeli decision aims to “seize the largest possible area of Palestinian land and connect the Gush Etzion settlement bloc to Jerusalem.”

Qassas said that “the project aims to isolate Bethlehem from occupied Jerusalem and limit the natural expansion of Palestinian residents in favor of settlements.”

He warned that “implementing the decision means the loss of the most important site in the city for the residents and landowners.”

Qassas pointed to the targeted orchards planted with olive, grape, and almond trees, saying, “This land is rich with its beautiful landscapes and orchards, serving as a recreational area for all residents. Israel seeks to steal it.”

– Expansionist policy –

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Wednesday that Smotrich’s “announcement of establishing a new settlement on citizens’ lands near Bethlehem falls within the framework of an expansionist colonial policy.”

It explained that this policy “includes the construction and legalization of dozens of random outposts, the expansion of existing settlements, and the creation of a large network of roads.”

The ministry also emphasized that the goal is “to transform all settlements into a massive, geographically connected cluster that consumes the largest area of citizens’ lands in the occupied West Bank.”

“While the Israeli government deepens and intensifies colonial construction, it continues to demolish Palestinian homes and structures under flimsy pretexts such as lack of permits,” the statement added.

The ministry asserted that “the escalation of demolitions or demolition notices represents the ugliest expression of replacement colonialism (placing settlers in place of Palestinians) and the crime of ethnic cleansing, and a blatant disregard for international legitimacy and international law.”

For decades, the UN has considered settlements in the occupied territories “illegal” and undermining the chances of resolving the conflict according to the two-state solution, and has repeatedly called for their cessation without success.

In a landmark opinion on July 19, the International Court of Justice also declared Israel’s decades-long occupation of Palestinian land unlawful and demanded the evacuation of all existing settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.