By Ramona Wadi
Israel remains the only UN member state which has never declared
where its borders are. In fact, it has refused to demarcate any borders
due to the Zionist intention to colonize the whole of historic
Palestine. For less desirable requirements, however, it does not
hesitate to apply a temporary suspension of its agenda, recognize
separate areas and impose additional hardships on Palestinians.
As with several other discriminatory policies, Israel acknowledges
Palestinian existence and land only when it can use such recognition to
suit its nefarious purposes. Human rights group B’Tselem’s December 2017
report called “Made in Israel: Exploiting Palestinian Land for Israeli
Waste” reveals that there are 15 Israeli waste treatment facilities in
the occupied West Bank. Six of these facilities process hazardous waste.
By treating its waste in the occupied Palestinian territory, Israel
is evading several responsibilities which can be summarised by pointing
out one particular discrepancy, as B’Tselem states: “Transferring waste
into an occupied territory is a far graver issue, as residents of an
occupied territory cannot oppose the decisions of the occupying power.”
The report investigated four of the hazardous waste treatment
facilities and a sewage treatment plant in the occupied West Bank. The
ramifications of such facilities, which B’Tselem states are operating
without strict control, include the contamination of soil and water, the
risk of drug resistant organisms and an increased threat of illness.
Natural resources are also being damaged permanently.
B’Tselem has outlined the differences in Israel’s waste treatment
legislation, showing that it applies less stringent procedures for waste
facilities in the occupied West Bank. Inside Israel “proper” — that is,
the land not recognised as occupied by international law — waste
treatment facilities require permits from the Ministry of Environmental
Protection. The facilities are also required to carry out assessments
that detail their impact upon the environment. Since waste treatment
facilities in the occupied West Bank are regulated by the Administration
of Local Councils, Israel does not face the same obligations and is
therefore not required to carry out impact assessments due to the
absence of legislation on pollution.
The exemptions from accountability in the occupied West Bank have
made it easier for hazardous waste to be treated away from scrutiny and
with the opportunity to oppress Palestinians further. B’Tselem makes an
important observation in this regard; it is Palestinians who are denied
freedom of movement and whose spaces are restricted, unlike the Israeli
settler population in the occupied territories, who have the freedom to
live anywhere they choose.
With such discrepancies as a result of colonial expansion, it is
important to make a connection between the violations and Israel’s
exploitation of land and how it defines ownership. The report’s
conclusion reads thus: “Israel has turned the West Bank into a sacrifice
zone, exploiting and harming the environment at the expense of the
Palestinian residents, who are completely excluded from the
decision-making process.” The last premise, which is the exclusion of
Palestinians, is disregarded routinely when discussing the implications
of Israeli colonialism, due to the refusal to connect land appropriation
with the consequences of such exploitation.
This report clearly associates the environmental and health impact
with the wider colonial project. The international community’s recording
of Israel’s violations, though, are situated within the context of
violations themselves, thus breeding further impunity for Israel while
eliminating the collective international responsibility towards
Palestinians.
– Ramona Wadi is a staff writer for Middle East Monitor, where
this article was originally published. She contributed this article to
PalestineChronicle.com.
http://www.palestinechronicle.com/btselem-report-exposes-israels-pollution-occupied-west-bank/
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