In the Israeli community of Kedem Arava, located within the West Bank, locals assert, "we occupy no one's domain, merely the desert surrounds us"

In the Israeli community of Kedem Arava, located within the West Bank, locals assert, "we occupy no one's domain, merely the desert surrounds us"

In the Jordan Valley, nestled between the Dead Sea and the Jordanian border, lies an unauthorized settlement known as Kedem Arava. This illegal Israeli outpost, home to approximately 60 families, stands in stark contrast to the barren, dusty terrain that surrounds it.

At the heart of Kedem Arava is the home of Shilat Brown, an interior decorator, and her family. They reside in a prefabricated structure built on slender stilts, much like their neighbours in the area. However, their home, like the entire outpost, was built without a legal permit.

The illegal status of Kedem Arava is not merely a matter of Israeli law. Under international law, all Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including Kedem Arava, are considered illegal. This is due to the outpost's establishment without official government approval.

Despite its controversial status, life in Kedem Arava continues. Shilat can be found seated on an outdoor sofa, overlooking the desert, while her children play in an inflatable pool with neighbours' children behind a bamboo fence. Her husband, Eitan, is nearby, holding a glass of peach gin and tonic.

The presence of Kedem Arava is part of a wider pattern of settlement activity in the West Bank, a pattern that has sparked international scrutiny and opposition. Settler leaders involved with other illegal outposts in the region have faced sanctions, including from the U.S., indicating a growing awareness and challenge to these expansions and their connections to official entities.

As the sun sets over the Dead Sea, the security gate and fence surrounding Kedem Arava serve as a stark reminder of the outpost's illegal status. Yet, for Shilat Brown and her family, it is home, a place where they have built a life amidst the wild installation of 60 other families.

References:

1. Associated Press. (2021, March 8). US sanctions Israeli settlement leader in West Bank. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/08/us-sanctions-israeli-settlement-leader-in-west-bank
2. The Times of Israel. (2021, February 16). US-backed plan to legalize unauthorized West Bank outpost advances. https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-backed-plan-to-legalize-unauthorized-west-bank-outpost-advances/

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