WEST BANK, (The Palestine Information Centre) The Israeli Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich held a meeting with the so-called Civil Administration and Army Ministry to change the priorities of executive action in the West Bank, as a prelude to taking full control of Area C, media sources revealed Friday.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth Hebrew newspaper, the meeting dealt with a new policy regarding the demolition of buildings that are described as “illegal” in Area C.
The newspaper indicated that the main goal is to increase Jewish construction in Area C, and to stop Palestinian construction in those areas.
In 1995, as part of the Oslo Accords, the occupied West Bank was divided into Areas A, B and C.
In Area B, about 21 percent of the occupied West Bank, the PA is in charge of education, health, and the economy.
In both areas, the Israelis hold full control of external security, meaning they retain the right to enter at any time.
Area A constituted 3 percent of the occupied West Bank, increased to 18 percent by 1999.
Area C makes up 60 percent of the occupied West Bank. Under the Oslo Accords, control of this area was supposed to be gradually handed over to the PA. Instead, Israel retains total control until today.
The division of the occupied West Bank into Areas A, B and C was used by Israel to exert more control over Palestinians lives. When it comes to launching raids on Palestinian homes and land, Israel makes no distinction between Areas A, B and C. The occupation is enforced everywhere
