Israel Annexes Palestinian Village near Jerusalem

The Israeli Authorities annexed the Palestinian village of Beit Iksa by placing it on the map west of the Annexation Wall, and considered it part of Jerusalem. The decision means that the village would be isolated from the West Bank.

The decision comes in contradiction with a decision issued by the Israeli government in 2006 in which it decided not to annex the village.

Implementing the decision means that some 3000 Palestinians would be allowed to enter Israel without any permits, but would also be isolated from the West Bank.

The conflict on the future of the village started after the Israeli government, headed by the former Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, had decided in 2003 that the village would be on the Israeli side of the Wall.

The government of former Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, approved in 2006 the new route of the Wall which placed the village on the Palestinian side, only 200 meters away from the Green Line.

The Israeli police and security devices recommended that the Palestinian village should not be on the Israeli side of the Wall as this would allow thousands of Palestinians free access to Israel.

They said that such an issue would facilitate the smuggling of combat equipment, and could lead to ‘criminal offenses’ in addition to smuggling products.

The Wall route was never officially approved by the Israeli cabinet as it still awaiting a response to from the police and the security services. Therefore, the government decided to install a temporary fence that would “stop smuggling and attacks in Jerusalem”.

The fence would likely be electronic, and a road would be paved next to it to allow military patrols to man it. The project will likely cost dozens of millions of Israeli shekels.