This week, radical left-wing organizations & media publicized that #IDF held drills “in Palestinian villages” in Training Ground 918 & forced “local residents out of their homes”. Time to talk some facts.
THREAD
THREAD
1. Training Ground 918 in the South Hebron Hills was declared a firing zone by the IDF in the early ‘80s.
2. It’s a desert area, and like all other training grounds, was empty – besides sometimes functioning as grounds for grazing.
2. It’s a desert area, and like all other training grounds, was empty – besides sometimes functioning as grounds for grazing.
3. Training Ground 918 has served various IDF units over the years – including infantry, artillery, & Air Force.
4. In 2000, local Arabs began to take over the area through mass illegal construction.
4. In 2000, local Arabs began to take over the area through mass illegal construction.
5. Due to the construction, IDF was forced to reduce its activities in Training Ground 918 & made changes to training schedules.
6. Left-wing orgs petitioned to High Court of Justice, claiming that hundreds of #Arab families had lived in the Training Ground for many years.
6. Left-wing orgs petitioned to High Court of Justice, claiming that hundreds of #Arab families had lived in the Training Ground for many years.
7. IDF checked & found that only a handful of families lived in the area in 2000 – all there on a seasonal basis.
8. Out of 49 families mentioned in the petition, at least 38 were identified as permanent residents of nearby Yatta/other villages.
8. Out of 49 families mentioned in the petition, at least 38 were identified as permanent residents of nearby Yatta/other villages.
9. Despite the State rightfully viewing the area as State lands, High Court offered a compromise: illegal structures on the periphery of the Training Ground would remain; rest of the land would be permitted for grazing & other agricultural uses when IDF isn’t training.
10. While Palestinian Authority was involved from the starting point, from 2009 onwards it started actively funding the illegal construction, together with int'l organizations, as part of efforts to take over parts of Area C. #BattleforAreaC ❗️🇪🇺
11. In the meantime, State of Israel didn’t do much; local Arabs continued their encroachment and even paved an illegal smuggling route.
12. PA ignored High Court’s suggestion for compromise. As the PA-led encroachment increased, number of IDF drills decreased.
12. PA ignored High Court’s suggestion for compromise. As the PA-led encroachment increased, number of IDF drills decreased.
Ok, so to sum up, what happened this week?
Exactly what happened a year ago, and the year before that. IDF troops came to train in an #IDF training zone. 🪖
Exactly what happened a year ago, and the year before that. IDF troops came to train in an #IDF training zone. 🪖
Arab village was established in the middle of an IDF Training Ground, & not vice-versa. That must be the starting point of any debate. Please help us get the word out! #debunkingthelies
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