PHA-Exchange> Israel imposes new control regime leading to long term bantustanization of the West Bank

[Aviva]

From: Palestine Monitor <palmon at hdip.org>

> Information Brief - Israel imposes new control regime leading to long term
> bantustanization of the West Bank
> May 21th, 2002
>
> In a renewed attempt to control the movement of Palestinians and suffocate
> all aspects of Palestinian life, Israel is set to divide the West Bank
into
> eight isolated areas, introducing a new control regime in the West Bank.
>
> The Israeli army has already informed international representatives and
> consulates that they intend to divide the West Bank into eight separate
> areas; Jenin, Nablus, Tulkarem, Qalqilya, Ramallah, Jericho, Bethlehem and
> Hebron. Movement of people and transportation of goods between these areas
> will be subject to a personal permit system and will be enforced through
the
> already exiting network of Israeli military checkpoints and roadblocks.
>
> This territorial division is a further development of the closure and
siege
> policy that has been imposed on the Palestinians since the outbreak of the
> current Intifada. During the last 19 months, the closure and siege has had
> severe effects on the Palestinian economy and the humanitarian situation.
> Several communities have been completely isolated and deprived of basic
> services from nearby town centres. A high number of Palestinians have died
> when held up at roadblocks on the way to hospitals or shot by Israeli
> soldiers enforcing the closure. With a permanent division of the West Bank
> enforced through military checkpoints, the lives of the civilian
population
> will continue to be jeopardized and dictated by Israeli soldiers.
>
> The Israeli intention to impose this apartheid like system is one of the
> latest Israeli unilateral measures aimed at consolidating the Israeli
> occupation of the Palestinian territories. It will completely paralyse the
> Palestinian economy and the already limited movement of people within the
> West Bank with severe effects on social, administrative and educational
> aspects of
> Palestinian life.
>
> For more information contact The Palestine Monitor
www.palestinemonitor.org
>
>