Report: Environmental impact of occupation high
Reageer (0)24-1-2010
Bethlehem - The Applied Research Institute of Jerusalem released a report documenting the detrimental effects of the Israeli occupation of Palestine on the environmental systems sustaining both Israelis and Palestinians.
The January report focused on the impact of the military operating in the West Bank and Gaza, and collected data on unexploded ordnances contaminating agricultural ground, the contamination of drinking water in Gaza following the 2008-9 Israeli Operation Cast Lead. It cites the British-based NGO the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) saying at least 120 pieces of un-exploded ordnances and 31 unexploded white phosphorus shells were found inside Gaza between January and June 2009.
In Gaza, the report says, at least 12,000 hectares of farmland are unusable until they are cleared from the devices.
The settlement and military infrastructure in the West Bank, the report says, takes up valuable Palestinian land. The report details the dual road system, with large highways constructed to connect Israeli settlements duplicating longer routes used by Palestinians.
"The policy of dual planning for Palestinian and Israeli road networks is incredibly wasteful and flies in the face of responsible and sustainable development practices," the report said, noting that in the West Bank "there is 5.2km of road per 1000 people as opposed to 2.6km in Israel."
It adds, "This elaborate network of roads contributes to the disruption of natural ecosystems, further fragmenting the environment and habitats of the west bank."
A copy of the report can be found here.
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