Canadian Army Aids Illegal Palestinian Land-Grab: Watchdog

The Regavim watchdog group documented Canadian military personnel meeting with Palestinians at an illegally-built structure they constructed on Jewish land.

By Pesach Benson, United with Israel

Canadian officials have not responded to reports that a delegation of Canadian soldiers is helping Palestinians illegally take possession of land in Area C of Judea and Samaria where Israel has security and administrative responsibility.

Last week, Regavim, a non-governmental organization that combats the illegal takeover of state lands, documented Canadian military personnel in uniform patrolling the South Hebron Hills in Area C. This patrol included a meeting with Palestinians at an illegally-built Palestinian structure on land belonging to Maon, a Jewish area near Hebron.

“Shortly after the complaint to the Civil Administration, the Jewish residents documented the visit of the Canadian delegation, which included two uniformed military personnel,” according to TPS.

“The same delegation was also documented during a visit to the Arab village of Surif, located 15 miles northwest of the city of Hebron near the settlement of Karmei Zur in Gush Etzion, and this week was discovered again holding a meeting with PA Arabs near the village of Kisan in eastern Gush Etzion, also in Area C,” TPS added.

Under the terms of the Oslo agreement, the majority of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria are located in areas of Judea and Samaria designated as Area C.

Area C includes more than 100 Jewish settlements with an estimated population of more than 400,000. It also includes Arab villages, IDF bases and uninhabited areas.

In contrast, Area A — where the majority of Palestinian cities and villages are located, is under full administrative and security jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority.

In Area B, the PA retains administrative jurisdiction, while Israel is responsible for security.

Canadian officials have not responded to Israeli media queries.