The Public Lands of Palestine before Nakba, British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Supplement - Page 31

the year 194 7-48 which made all citrus land liable to tax at the rate of 100 mils per dunum for that year.

(p. 253)

(§ 68)

For the year 1947-,18 an amendment was made in the concessions granted to owners of land who develop their land or erect industrial buildings thereon. Previously one• year's exemption from payment or the higher rate of tax was granted in respect of land newly-planted with bananas, the concession having effect from 1st April next following the planting. This concession was withdrawn from 1st April, 194 7.

(p. 254)

(§ 72)

The receipts from direct taxes on land and house property during the financial year 1945-46 were as follows

Urban Property Tax Rural Property Tax

Tithes (Beersheba Sub-district) House & Land Tax (Beersheba S/D)

Total

LP. 662,523 464,586 9,291 1,286

1,137,686

THE PUBLIC LANDS OF PALESTINE.

(p. 257) (§ 82)

Excluding Beersheba Sub-district the land area of Palestine is 13,743 square kilometres. Some 3,000 of this are represented by the tract of mountainous wilderness east of Hebron, Jerusalem and Nablus. When this comes under settlement of title a large part of it will doubtless be found to be empty State land. In the remaining 10,743 square kilometres, the ownership of nearly 5,243 square kilometres has been settled and of this over 1000 square kilometres have been found to be public land, a large proportion being rocky or sandy wastes, wadis, etc., and areas devoted to forest, soil conservation or village uses. The fiscal tax records show that out of the 10,743 square kilometres more than 7000 are cultivated and may be assumed to contain a preponderance of private property : some will no doubt be found to be part of the village land. In addition to the area of 1000 square kilometres 'settled' as State Domain in Palestine, there are certain records indicating that there are at least another 700 square kilometres which are probably Government property. When the Settlement of Rights is completed, there is no doubt that this figure of 1700 square kilometres (i.e. 1000 plus 700) will be increased, particularly as it includes land for the communal use and development of the hill villages.

31