PA Builds illegally in E1
PA Builds illegally in E1Regavim (courtesy)

After the US pressured the Israeli government to stop building in the E1 region, between Maaleh Adummim and Jerusalem, new pictures reveal that the Palestinian Arabs have sped up their own illegal outposts - to settle there and establish facts on the ground before Israel's Jewish population can beat them to it. 

The investigation of Regavim movement indicates that hundreds of portable structures have already been built around Ma'ale Adummim and Highway 1, which extends all the way to the Dead Sea. The buildings are made of metal plates, allowing rapid construction as the Palestinian Arabs generally operate on weekends, when the Supervisory Unit of the Civil Administration is on leave.

At first, the Palestinian Authority kept the buildings under black tarps, to prevent photos being taken and establishing proof of illegal building. Over time, these tarps have disappeared - revealing even more buildings in their wake. All of the buildings are in Area C - the area exclusively under Israeli control.

While the Regavim movement has asked the government several times to intervene, no action has yet been taken. The Civil Administration has reportedly posted signs forbidding the building - but that is all. 

In some cases, petitions filed by the Palestinian Arabs and radical leftist organizations have inhibited government enforcement. One example is near the Kedar River, south of Maaleh Adummim. There, the Palestinian Arabs have erected hundreds of buildings illegally after submitting a petition to the High Court. Following the petition, the judges decided to give an interim order which does not allow any enforcement to proceed.

Regavim also points out, in all the cases presented in their investigation, that no government office is taking steps to prevent the settlement phenomenon. 

"The situation on the ground is unbearable," said Arad, a field coordinator for the movement of Regavim. "The Palestinian Authority is promoting construction of hundreds of structures in Area C but there is no one to supervise and enforce the law. From experience, we have learned that as time passes, the harder it is to implement the policy's enforcement.

"The time has come for the State of Israel to put an end to the Civil Administration and enforce the law for everyone - not just Israelis."

Pictures of the illegal building are below. 

Map: where the illegal building is taking place Regavim (courtesy)