In response to the reports that Netanyahu’s security cabinet voted to transfer parts of Area C in Judea and Samaria over to the Palestinian Authority, effectively converting those lands to Area A, the Regavim NGO is calling for an immediate independent census of the Palestinian Authority Arab population within Area C of Judea and Samaria.
It is currently unknown how many residents there actually are inside the Palestinian Authority.
Regavim is adamant that building in Area C deserves further scrutiny before it becomes a reality, and last week sent a letter to the Prime Minster and all other government ministers explaining why conducting a census is necessary before the government goes forward with their gesture.
The principal question is – is there a true need for building there or is there an ulterior motive – namely to fulfill the 2009, Fayyad Plan whose goal is to create a de-facto Palestinian State in Area C, which is under full Israeli control.
It is currently unknown how many residents there actually are inside the Palestinian Authority, much less migration habits between Areas A,B and C.
There has not been an independent and accurate census or estimate of the PA’s population since 1994-1995, when population data was last gathered and monitored by Israel’s Civil Administration and the Israel Bureau of Statistics.
The PCBS has been publishing inflated predictions of its population size, and not actual gathered data.
There is mounting evidence that the PA’s published population numbers are very much inflated. Independent demographers have shown that the PA’s published data appear to be inflated and falsified by as much by one million people.
A copy of that study can be downloaded here.
The Palestinian Authority plans to run a new census in 2017.
The Palestinian Authority last ran a census in 1997, and since then the PCBS (Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics) has been publishing predictions of its population size, and not actual gathered data.
Another indication that the data is inflated is that voter participation in the last Palestinian Authority election continues to be consistently low, and not in line with what is expected from the reported population figures.
Of the supposedly 787,386 registered voters in Judea and Samaria, in the 2017 elections, only 420,682 reportedly participated, just 53%.
In the 2012 elections, barely 50% of the supposedly registered voters participated.
In 2006, 583,310 PA residents supposedly voted from the reported 780,201 list of registered voters in Judea and Samaria.
Last year, JewishPress.com reported on the large number of empty homes and ghost towns that can be found in PA-controlled areas, and Arab residents’ own statements and Arab media reports that their neighbors have moved to other countries.
Without a doubt, any published data from the upcoming Palestinian Authority census will also be questionable, and if Israel wants to make any intelligent decision, it must have access to its own accurate information.
Regavim told JewishPress.com that while they are is in favor of the application of sovereignty over area C, they don’t oppose to construction benefiting Arabs who lived in that area since 1993, as long as a proper census of Area C is conducted proving that the need has arisen as a result of natural growth, as opposed to nefarious illegal transfers of populations from areas A and B.
Regavim’s International Director Josh Hasten pointed out that many of the Palestinian Authority Arabs and Bedouin living in these illegal communities in Area C have been trickling into these areas from Areas A and B.
One thing is for sure, if the Israeli government does approves construction projects for Arabs in Area C, it is only fair that it also approve construction for the Jewish residents as well.