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The humanitarian impact of Israeli settlement policies - update December 2012

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  • Since 1967, Israel has established about 150 settlements (residential and others) in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem; in addition to some 100 “outposts” erected by settlers without official authorization. Three new settlements were approved in 2012 by retroactively ‘authorizing’ such outposts.

  • In 2011, the settler population was estimated at over 520,000; the annual average rate of growth during the past decade was 5.3% (excluding East Jerusalem), compared to 1.8% for the Israeli population as a whole (ICBS).

  • As at 28 November, there had been threefold increase in the number of settler housing units in 2012, compared to 2011; on 30 November, following the UN General Assembly decision to upgrade the status of Palestine the Israeli authorities announced plans to build 3,000 new settlement units in East Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank.

  • The fenced or patrolled areas of settlements cover three percent of the West Bank; in total 43% of the West Bank is allocated to settlement local and regional councils.

  • Virtually all of the land declared by Israel as public or “state land” (27% of the West Bank) has been allocated to settlements, rather than for the benefit of the local Palestinian population (B’Tselem).

  • About one third of land within the outer limits of settlements is privately owned by Palestinians, according to official Israeli land records (Peace Now).

  • In 2012, one Palestinian was killed and approximately 1,300 injured by Israeli settlers or security forces in incidents directly or indirectly related to settlements, including demonstrations.

  • Only ten percent of 781 investigations conducted by Israeli police into incidents of settler violence between 2005 and 2011 resulted in indictments (Yesh Din).

  • Approximately 540 internal checkpoints, roadblocks and other physical obstacles impede Palestinian movement within the West Bank; these obstacles exist primarily to protect settlers and facilitate their movement, including to and from Israel.

  • The location of settlements was the major consideration behind the deviation of the Barrier’s route into the West Bank, including East Jerusalem; once complete, about 80% of the settler population will live in settlements located on the western (“Israeli”) side of the Barrier.

  • Israeli settlers in the West Bank consume approximately six times the water used by Palestinians in the West Bank.

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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
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