Discriminatory Zoning and Planning in the West Bank Palestinian communities within Area C are subject to an oppressive zoning and planning framework consisting of selectively-deployed Ottoman, British Mandate and Jordanian-era land laws, supported by an extensive web of Israeli military orders. It is a framework designed to displace non-JewishIsraeli inhabitants, primarily through arbitrary declarations of large swathes of land as belonging to the ‘state’ - and to replace them with Jewish-Israeli colonizers. As such, full control of the planning and construction process – from conception of its overarching strategy to its realization and enforcement on the ground – is retained by the occupying power. Under international humanitarian law, the introduction of new legislation or the amendment of existing legislation in occupied territory is subject to strict stipulations. Such actions are only permitted if they serve to restore/maintain public order; if they contribute to the genuine security of the occupation forces; if they assist the occupant in fulfilling obligations under international humanitarian law (IHL) and/or international human rights law (IHRL); or if such actions enhance the civil life and wellbeing of the protected population during occupation.73 Case Study: E1 The E1 corridor is a strategically significant parcel of land, measuring roughly 12 km2, located between Jerusalem and the Israeli colony of Ma’ale Adumim. Though relatively small in size, E1 can be considered a microcosm of Israel’s occupation and colonization of the West Bank as a whole, and for years Israel has continuously sought to transfer its own citizens into this parcel of land. Representing a grave breach of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, such actions are motivated by the intention to merge Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim; effectively surrounding the former with a bank of Jewish-Israeli colonies and thus making Palestinian access to the intended national capital virtually impossible. Moreover, the West Bank would effectively be severed in two, ending any remaining hope of a contiguous geographic entity. 73 Art. 64 International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), “Fourth Geneva Convention.” 27