Mr. Chairman,
Control over a nation?s natural resources is a basic requirement of development efforts
anywhere. But for people living under foreign occupation, like the Palestinians, this control is far
from reach; a circumstance that has undeniable impact on our efforts to accomplish our set
development goals.
In the Occupied Palestinian Territory, natural resources are scarce. But quarries represent one of
the most important resources, used in the fields of constructions, among others. However, like all
other development sectors, the policies and practices of the occupation have impeded
Palestinians from developing the mining industry in Palestine, as they watch while the occupying
Power exploits and benefits from these quarries illegally. In many cases, individual developers
are barred from reaching their mines by the occupation forces, thus imposing added financial
burdens on them. ESCWA cited an example of this in its report no. A/64/77-E/2009/13; whereby
on more than one occasion, occupation forces requisitioned construction vehicles belonging to a
Palestinian investor from Imreiha village (Jenin) due to the lack of permit for his quarry. In a
similar incident, Israeli forces confiscated construction materials from a quarry
belonging to a Palestinian from Beit Fajjar (Bethlehem).
Another way of chocking the life out of this important industry, which represents a source of
income for hundreds of families, is the occupation authorities? destruction of established mines
to make way for dumping ground for the illegal settlements, established on the Occupied
Palestinian territory. The largest quarry in the West Bank, which is located in the cradle of a
huge hill west of Nablus, was closed and has been turned into a dumping site for Israeli waste,
raising grave concern among environmental experts that such illegal misuse of land would have
adverse effect on underground wells.
And while occupation authorities confiscate Palestinian mines, deny Palestinians the right to
properly exploit their resources, and change others into garbage dumps for illegal settlements,
the occupation illegally exploits and benefits from this valuable yet limited resource. For
decades, Israeli occupation has established several quarries across the Occupied West Bank.
According to OCHA, approximately 12% of the land area of Salfit governorate has been seized
by the occupation authorities and allocated for the construction of a quarry among other
things. Tthe Israeli non-governmental organization, Yesh Din, confirms that 11 Israeli
corporations are illegally operating quarries in the West Bank. The organization also states that
75 per cent of the output from these illegal quarries is for the use of the Israeli occupations
construction industry, in violation of the obligations of Israel under international law to protect
and preserve the national resources of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
This illegal exploitation of Palestinian resources also impacts the environment and health of
Palestinians as most of these illegal quarries are adjacent to residential areas and agrarian lands.
The quarries are not managed in line with international safety and environmental standards.
Hence, they pose a direct threat to the environment because these quarries emit heavy dusts
detrimental to public health and the surrounding environment.
Closures and movement restrictions imposed by the occupying Power also added to the financial
burdens of this struggling industry in Palestine.
Finally, let me note that, with the unique reality of occupation having such a severe impact on
this vital sector, we believe it is imperative that the CSD attach due attention to it. This is not an
attempt to inject politics in a debate where it does not belong. The issues and problems I have
just outlined are not caused by unknown factors; rather, they are the clear and direct result of a
reality neither chosen nor wanted by the people it devastates. Our common goals at the CSD are
hence sufficiently essential to mobilize us into attention, action, and proactive involvement.
Thank you Mr. Chairman.
