Adalah demands cancellation of landfill plan for waste in Occupied East Jerusalem on privately-owned Palestinian land

On 29 November 2022, the Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee will hold a hearing on objections to a plan to construct a landfill to dispose of construction waste in Occupied East Jerusalem on privately-owned Palestinian land. On 30 March 2022, Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, in cooperation with the Civic Coalition for Defending the Palestinians’ Rights in Jerusalem submitted an objection on behalf of the ‘Anata Local Council and three private land owners, whose lands will be confiscated if the plan is implemented.

              CLICK HERE to read Adalah’s objection [Hebrew]

The plan covers approximately 406 dunams, some of it Palestinian privately owned lands, and provides that those lands will be expropriated and their ownership transferred to the Jerusalem Municipality. The plan involves the demolition of dozens of buildings belonging to Palestinian residents. These structures are dwellings and buildings used for agricultural purposes owned by Palestinian Bedouins who have lived there for decades.

The plan to construct a landfill in this area was first announced in 2012. At the time, Adalah submitted an objection against the plan in cooperation with the Civic Coalition for Defending the Palestinians’ Rights in Jerusalem to the Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee. The Committee dismissed the majority of the objections, and some objectors appealed to the National Planning and Building Council. The National Council accepted the appeals and decided that the Jerusalem Planning Committee is to conduct an environmental assessment and to consider alternative locations for the landfill.

CLICK HERE to read more about the 2012 objection

In 2022, the Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee published a new plan. In the objection, the organizations argued that the new plan violates the residents’ fundamental rights, including their rights to private property, health and dignity, contrary to applicable international humanitarian and human rights law and Israeli law. Further, the objectors argued that  the plan will also severely restrict Palestinian development in the area; it is in close proximity to ‘Anata's and ‘Al-Isawiyeh’s residential areas, Dahiyat al-Salam and the Shu’fat refugee camp, which are overcrowded as is, housing more than 90,000 Palestinian residents.

The objection also contended that the plan would ensure territorial contiguity between Jewish settlements in the West Bank, the E1 area, and the Jerusalem municipality while simultaneously cutting off the residents of ‘Anata and Al-‘Isawiyeh from the Palestinian territories.

The Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee failed to conduct a health and environmental examination as required by law, and if realized, the plan would have far-reaching health hazards for Palestinians residing in close proximity to the landfill. These hazards include substantial noise, air pollution, and dust, which will diminish the quality of life of the Palestinian residents. In stark contrast, when examining alternative locations for the landfill, the Committee examined an option close to Har Homa, a Jewish Israeli settlement. With regards to this option, one of the committee members expressed deep concern for the health and well-being of the residents of Har Homa and subsequently, this alternative was ruled out. The committee member stated it is unquestionable that the plan has negative environmental consequences for adjacent neighborhoods.

Adalah Attorney Suhad Bishara added:

“This illegal plan shows no regard to the tens of thousands of Palestinian residents who will be affected by it. The planned landfill will inflict daily harm to the residents from the dust and noise emanating from the waste dump. This plan is a part of Israel’s systematic laws, policies and practices pursued to assert Israeli control over Jerusalem and to expel Palestinians from their lands and homes.”

Related Press Releases:

Jerusalem Municipality Plans Garbage Dump on Palestinian Villages of 'Anata and Al-'Issawiyya 07 January 2013

Jerusalem District Planning Committee Rejects Objection to Planned Landfill and National Park on ‘Anata and Al-‘Issawiyya 19 February 2015