Arraba camp returns with its barracks and Palestinian families on the verge of displacement

The settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank is taking many forms. In addition to settlements and outposts that devour large areas of Palestinian land, an Israeli military decision to evacuate Palestinian families inhabiting the site of the “Araba” camp, south of the city, recently emerged. Jenin, in the northern West Bank, in preparation for the repositioning of the occupation forces and the transformation of it into an active military barracks again. The decision comes, according to followers, within the framework of a systematic policy targeting the Palestinian presence, especially the pastoral ones, in the classified areas (C),by emptying the land of its indigenous population and confiscating the pastures in favor of military and settlement expansion. The site was formerly known as the “Dotan” military camp, and formed a main focal point of the occupation army to control the area of South Jenin, including the towns of Arraba and Yabad and their surroundings. In 2005, the camp was evacuated under what was known as the “disengagement plan” (Israeli legislation passed in 2005 to evacuate military settlements and military sites in the northern West Bank and Gaza) carried out by the occupation prime minister. Former Ariel Sharon, in addition to the evacuation of four settlements in the northern West Bank: Ghanem, Kadim, Homish, and Sanur. Despite the military withdrawal at the time, the area remained classified under “C” (Palestinian lands under full Israeli security and administrative control).

The most prominent shift began in March 2023, when the Occupation Parliament (Knesset) approved the repeal of the provisions of the “disengagement law”, which officially allowed the return of the army and settlers to the evacuated sites in the northern West Bank. In the context of implementing this decision, the occupation forces stormed the site a few days ago, and informed the Palestinian