What is the Gilo Settlement in Jerusalem?
Gilo is one of the fifteen main Israeli settlements in and around Jerusalem.
This article addresses the settlement’s main characteristics.
Where is the Gilo Settlement in Jerusalem located?
Gilo is located in southwest East Jerusalem.[1] It lies across a narrow valley next to Bethlehem. [2]
Gilo is built on Jordanian lands conquered by Israel after the Six Day War in 1967.[3]The lands originally belong to the Palestinian village Beit Safafa.[4]
How Big is the Gilo Settlement?
The conquered land is estimated to be 2700 acre, while the habituated land of Gilo is estimated to be 2743 acre, adding land that did not belong to Beit Safafa.[5]
What is the population of the Gilo Settlement?
Gilo is inhabited by 40,000 Israeli settlers.[6]
Is the Gilo Settlement Recognized Internationally as Israeli Land or Illegal?
Israel has annexed Gilo’s land and has made it part of Jerusalem, a step that was never recognized by the international community.[7]
Administratively, Gilo follows the municipality of Jerusalem.[8]
Gilo, similar to other Israeli settlements in Palestinian lands, is considered illegal under international law.
Article 49 of the fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in the Time of War states “the occupying power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own population into the territories it occupies.”[9]Israel, however, does not consider Israeli communities within Jerusalem to be settlements, as they claim it is part of Israel.[10]
[1] “UN Official: Gilo Expansion Threatens Middle East Peace,” at https://www.haaretz.com/1.5138391 posted November 24, 2009
[2] “Israel Dismantle Security Barrier at Gilo,” at https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-10982961 posted August 16, 2010
[3] “Israel Angers Palestinians with Plan For Housing,” at https://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/28/world/middleeast/israel-plans-new-housing-in-jerusalem-beyond-1967-boundaries.html posted September 27, 2011
[4] “Settlement in Jerusalem: 19 Settlements to Change the Character of the City,” at https://www.aljazeera.net/specialfiles/pages/f66e25b0-6804-4c4a-a83a-3258852d06c3
[5] Id
[6] “The Strategic Significance of Har Homa,” at https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Op-Ed-Contributors/The-strategic-significance-of-Har-Homa posted December 15, 2007
[7] “Plan to expand Jerusalem Settlement Angers U.S.,” at https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/18/world/middleeast/18mideast.html?_r=1&ref=global-home&mtrref=ar.wikipedia.org&gwh=40CFD10949B3ED0C69969A49A8FC8285&gwt=pay&assetType=REGIWALL posted November 17, 2009
[8] “Israel Approves 942 Jewish Homes in Gilo Settlement,” at https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-12969424 posted April 5, 2011
[9] “Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons at the Time of War, 12 August 1949,” Article 49 a copy can be found on https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b36d2.html
[10] “The Geneva Convention,” at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1682640.stm posted December 10, 2009
Picture:
https://www.palinfo.com/news/2017/12/24/الاحتلال-يناقش-توسيع-مستوطنة-جيلو-جنوب-القدس-المحتلة
