Initial success in halting the Illegal Palestinian quarries

Following a request from the Yesha Council, the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee convened last week for an emergency discussion on the Civil Administration's plan for the purpose of developing huge quarries throughout Judea and Samaria. At the meeting’s conclusion, the committee decided to request of the Ministry of Defense to stop the planning procedures.

Following a request from the Yesha Council, the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee convened last week for an emergency discussion on the Civil Administration's plan, known as “Tam”a 52/1, to advance 14,000 dunams to the Palestinian Authority, for the purpose of developing huge quarries throughout Judea and Samaria.

This Civil Administration’s plan will directly harm the health of the area's residents, the landscape, nature preserves and important archeological sites. The plan was prepared in a flawed manner, depleting all enforcement capabilities from requisite supervision and oversight with regard to those with interests in quarrying.

At the Knesset committee meeting, we presented a comprehensive booklet containing the details of the plan, along with objections from many organizations including: Regavim, the Society for the Protection of Nature, Shomrim al Hanetzach, the Green Israel Forum, Environmental Cities Association, Benjamin Regional Council, Samaria Regional council, Gush Etzion regional Council, Municipality of Kiryat Arba, and other localities and organizations.

At the meeting’s conclusion, the committee decided to request of the Ministry of Defense to stop the planning procedures, and to present to it within 30 days, explanations of how and why this plan was prepared.

Yigal Dilmoni, CEO of the Yesha Council, welcomed the committee's decision and made the following remarks: "The answers we received at the committee from the professionals in the Civil Administration indicated serious flaws in the plan and the procedures involved in developing it. I want to thank the members of the committee headed by Ram Ben Barak for the decision that requires the Ministry of Defense to stop the planning procedures of the plan and adapt it to the planning regulations that are customary and required in Israel. I place great importance in the committee's demand to receive an official accounting and snapshot of the present conditions from the Ministry of Defense within thirty days. The Yesha Council will continue to take all necessary measures to halt the plan and prevent harm to the residents of Judea and Samaria as well as ecological damage to the area."