Ramallah:The Israeli occupation authorities have issued a military order to seize 26.473 dunums of land from the towns of Deir Nizam, Umm Safa, and Atara, located northwest of Ramallah. The land is earmarked for the construction of a colonial route named the "Ataret-Neve Tzuf Emergency Route," under the guise of "military purposes."
According to Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA – English, the military order, numbered (T/48/26), was issued on October 28 and will remain effective until the end of 2028. It grants the military commander exclusive possession of the specified lands, as indicated in the attached maps, effectively placing a strip of land from these towns under military control to facilitate connectivity between colonial sites.
The Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission noted that the area under the order includes 5.891 dunums classified as "state land," which accounts for approximately 22.3% of the total area, while the remaining 20.582 dunums do not fall under this classification. This distribution illustrates the use of land classification mechanisms alongside military seizure orders to secure land for colonial infrastructure.
The Commission further explained that the route serves to link settlements and their expansions, enhancing the connectivity network between settlements, outposts, and colonial expansions around the "Ateret" and "Halamish" (also known as "Neve Tzuf") settlements. This development could facilitate the movement of colonists and strengthen their presence amidst Palestinian towns, while potentially restricting landowners' access to adjacent plots, contingent on the implementation of the order.
While the military order does not transfer legal ownership, it underscores concerns regarding the use of military authority to reinforce colonial infrastructure and expand control in the area.