Israel: 44 settlements on expropriated Palestinian land

The Israeli government is seeking court approval for the construction of settler homes on private Palestinian land in more than 40 settlements, an Israeli news report said Thursday. All Israeli settlements on built occupied Palestinian land are illegal under international law. But Israel classes some settlements as legal, while others it says are built without following government and legal requirements, but they often receive retroactive approval. The Israeli High Court ruled in 1979 that the army could no longer confiscate West Bank land from Palestinian land-owners for settlement building, but only for "military purposes." Despite the ruling, Israeli daily Haaretz said the state prosecution admitted in a recent case that 44 settlements were erected totally or partially based on expropriation orders for private land that were initially issued for military purposes. The state argued that the High Court ruling "does not prevent exploiting the potential of these communities (settlements)." It is asking for court permission to use its judgment in planning settlement construction on private Palestinian lands. The response was made in a case brought by a Palestinian from Ramallah village Dura al-Qara against the expansion of Beit El settlement on his land.