29 may 2017
The Israeli Civil Administration’s High Planning Committee approved, on Sunday, the building of a new colonial settlement in the occupied West Bank for the evacuees from the Amona settlement.
Amona was an unauthorized Jewish-only settlement near the West Bank city of Ramallah. Owners of the land on which the settlement was built won a battle in the Israeli courts which led the occupation government to evacuate it three months ago.
Israeli TV Channel 7 said, according to Days of Palestine, that the coordinator for Israeli activities in the occupied Palestinian territories, Major General Yoav Mordechai, had already green-lighted the launch of the new settlement.
Additionally, Channel 7 reported that the new settlement was located on state land because it was not privately owned. However, Quds Press said, the appropriated land is part of the Palestinian villages northeast of Ramallah.
There are some 196 government-recognized Israeli settlements scattered across the Palestinian territory, all considered illegal under international law.
While the Israeli government has carried out demolitions of Israeli outposts in the past, most notably the demolition of Amona, earlier this year, it has, at the same time, fast-tracked the expansion of official Israeli settlements throughout the Palestinian territory.
As a part of its demographic war in Jerusalem, Israel has decided to force more than 140,000 Palestinians out of the city’s boundaries.
The Shu’fat Refugee Camp, in occupied East Jerusalem, and the town of Kafr Aqab, in the north of the city, will no longer be considered to fall within Jerusalem’s municipal boundaries, Israeli Jewish Channel 10 revealed on Sunday, according to Gulf News.
Channel 10 reffered the news, which confirms long-held Palestinian suspicions of a systematic Israeli plan to ensure a Jewish majority in the city, to security sources.
The move has been finalized by the Israeli national security council, and will be implemented to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Jewish occupation of the holy city.
According to Fakhri abu-Diyab, who heads the local committee in defense of occupied Jerusalem, taking Shuafat camp and Kafr Aqab out of the municipal boundaries of Jerusalem will mean that the Palestinians’ blue Jerusalem identity cards will be replaced with green West Bank cards.
He said that Israel plans to set up a local council outside Jerusalem boundaries, to run the two areas, while reserving sole security control there.
A total of 140,000 Palestinians live in the two areas — 75,000 at Shu’fat and 65,000 in Kafr Aqab.
Muneer Zughair, leader of the Jerusalem neighbourhoods’ committee, said that residents of Shu’fat Refugee Camp and Kafr Aqab were already suffering from a lack of municipal services and facilities, and from frequent water shortages.
Residents of Kafr Aqab has sued the occupation municipality several times for failing to provide municipal services, despite paying taxes to the Israeli government.
Israel occupied the eastern part of Jerusalem in 1967 and annexed it in the early 1980s. Israel wants a united Jerusalem as its eternal capital, and has been forcibly displacing Palestinians to take over the city entirely.
Amona was an unauthorized Jewish-only settlement near the West Bank city of Ramallah. Owners of the land on which the settlement was built won a battle in the Israeli courts which led the occupation government to evacuate it three months ago.
Israeli TV Channel 7 said, according to Days of Palestine, that the coordinator for Israeli activities in the occupied Palestinian territories, Major General Yoav Mordechai, had already green-lighted the launch of the new settlement.
Additionally, Channel 7 reported that the new settlement was located on state land because it was not privately owned. However, Quds Press said, the appropriated land is part of the Palestinian villages northeast of Ramallah.
There are some 196 government-recognized Israeli settlements scattered across the Palestinian territory, all considered illegal under international law.
While the Israeli government has carried out demolitions of Israeli outposts in the past, most notably the demolition of Amona, earlier this year, it has, at the same time, fast-tracked the expansion of official Israeli settlements throughout the Palestinian territory.
As a part of its demographic war in Jerusalem, Israel has decided to force more than 140,000 Palestinians out of the city’s boundaries.
The Shu’fat Refugee Camp, in occupied East Jerusalem, and the town of Kafr Aqab, in the north of the city, will no longer be considered to fall within Jerusalem’s municipal boundaries, Israeli Jewish Channel 10 revealed on Sunday, according to Gulf News.
Channel 10 reffered the news, which confirms long-held Palestinian suspicions of a systematic Israeli plan to ensure a Jewish majority in the city, to security sources.
The move has been finalized by the Israeli national security council, and will be implemented to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Jewish occupation of the holy city.
According to Fakhri abu-Diyab, who heads the local committee in defense of occupied Jerusalem, taking Shuafat camp and Kafr Aqab out of the municipal boundaries of Jerusalem will mean that the Palestinians’ blue Jerusalem identity cards will be replaced with green West Bank cards.
He said that Israel plans to set up a local council outside Jerusalem boundaries, to run the two areas, while reserving sole security control there.
A total of 140,000 Palestinians live in the two areas — 75,000 at Shu’fat and 65,000 in Kafr Aqab.
Muneer Zughair, leader of the Jerusalem neighbourhoods’ committee, said that residents of Shu’fat Refugee Camp and Kafr Aqab were already suffering from a lack of municipal services and facilities, and from frequent water shortages.
Residents of Kafr Aqab has sued the occupation municipality several times for failing to provide municipal services, despite paying taxes to the Israeli government.
Israel occupied the eastern part of Jerusalem in 1967 and annexed it in the early 1980s. Israel wants a united Jerusalem as its eternal capital, and has been forcibly displacing Palestinians to take over the city entirely.
11 may 2017
The Israeli occupation government has renewed its intent to build a new settlement in the West Bank for the Jewish settlers who were evacuated earlier this year from an illegal outpost called Amona.
The public Hebrew radio quoted an official source from the office of Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu as saying that the settlement would be established within four months after receiving approvals from the competent authorities.
Following a final evacuation verdict from Israel’s high court of justice, the Israeli police last February evacuated dozens of extremist settlers from the illegal outpost of Amona in the central West Bank.
At the time, Netanyahu promised Amona settlers to build a settlement for them in a nearby area, without talking about its exact location or the number of its housing units.
The public Hebrew radio quoted an official source from the office of Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu as saying that the settlement would be established within four months after receiving approvals from the competent authorities.
Following a final evacuation verdict from Israel’s high court of justice, the Israeli police last February evacuated dozens of extremist settlers from the illegal outpost of Amona in the central West Bank.
At the time, Netanyahu promised Amona settlers to build a settlement for them in a nearby area, without talking about its exact location or the number of its housing units.
14 apr 2017
Israeli occupation authority (IOA) has been procrastinating in removing mobile homes that were established over Palestinians’ land near Amona settlement outpost close to Ramallah in the West Bank.
The IOA ignored its previous decision to evict the entire district from settlement random housing units within 18 months.
Haaretz Hebrew newspaper reported on Friday that the IOA set up 14 caravans last January over a hill located between Amona outpost and Ofra settlement near Ramallah.
The caravans were placed as a temporary stay for Amona’s settlers who refused to move to these new houses.
Israeli authorities have been procrastinating in removing the temporary homes even though they are not occupied and not connected to the infrastructure network, Quds Press pointed out.
The IOA ignored its previous decision to evict the entire district from settlement random housing units within 18 months.
Haaretz Hebrew newspaper reported on Friday that the IOA set up 14 caravans last January over a hill located between Amona outpost and Ofra settlement near Ramallah.
The caravans were placed as a temporary stay for Amona’s settlers who refused to move to these new houses.
Israeli authorities have been procrastinating in removing the temporary homes even though they are not occupied and not connected to the infrastructure network, Quds Press pointed out.
31 mar 2017
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved Thursday evening the confiscation of 977 dunums of land from Palestinian villages south of Nablus for the establishment of a new settlement for the evacuees of the illegal Amona settlement.
Earlier in the day, the Israeli Security Cabinet unanimously approved the establishment of a new settlement for the former settlers of Amona, an illegally constructed outpost in the West Bank that was evacuated in February.
According to Yediot Ahronot Hebrew newspaper, this is the first time in 20 years that the Israeli government has decided to establish a new settlement.
The new settlement is to be located in the Shiloh Valley near Nablus, the sources added.
It also said the government had approved tenders to build 2,000 new housing units from previously approved settlement projects.
The US administration later declared it accepts “Netanyahu's rationale for approving one exceptional new settlement for evacuees of Amona.”
In December 2016, weeks before Trump was inaugurated, the UN Security Council passed a resolution that declared all settlements in West Bank and occupied Jerusalem areas to be illegal. Trump condemned the decision at the time.
Earlier in the day, the Israeli Security Cabinet unanimously approved the establishment of a new settlement for the former settlers of Amona, an illegally constructed outpost in the West Bank that was evacuated in February.
According to Yediot Ahronot Hebrew newspaper, this is the first time in 20 years that the Israeli government has decided to establish a new settlement.
The new settlement is to be located in the Shiloh Valley near Nablus, the sources added.
It also said the government had approved tenders to build 2,000 new housing units from previously approved settlement projects.
The US administration later declared it accepts “Netanyahu's rationale for approving one exceptional new settlement for evacuees of Amona.”
In December 2016, weeks before Trump was inaugurated, the UN Security Council passed a resolution that declared all settlements in West Bank and occupied Jerusalem areas to be illegal. Trump condemned the decision at the time.
26 mar 2017
A US-Israel agreement gave a green light for the construction of an alternative settlement outpost to the evacuated Amona outpost, Israel’s Channel 2 reported Saturday evening.
According to the Channel 2 report, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be able to build a new settlement outpost for Amona evacuees, but then restrain settlement construction elsewhere and focus on construction in the large settlement blocs according to the terms of an agreement being hammered out with Washington.
The report added that the Trump Administration will also give Israel a green light to find a solution for other outposts where there are questions regarding illegal land ownership.
The report comes following two weeks of high-level talks between Israeli and US officials looking for a formula that would govern illegal settlement construction on Palestinian land beyond the Green Line.
A week of talks in Washington ended last Thursday night with a joint statement saying that the discussions were “serious and constructive, and they are ongoing.”
According to the Channel 2 report, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be able to build a new settlement outpost for Amona evacuees, but then restrain settlement construction elsewhere and focus on construction in the large settlement blocs according to the terms of an agreement being hammered out with Washington.
The report added that the Trump Administration will also give Israel a green light to find a solution for other outposts where there are questions regarding illegal land ownership.
The report comes following two weeks of high-level talks between Israeli and US officials looking for a formula that would govern illegal settlement construction on Palestinian land beyond the Green Line.
A week of talks in Washington ended last Thursday night with a joint statement saying that the discussions were “serious and constructive, and they are ongoing.”
11 mar 2017
The Israeli Minister of Education Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked of the far-right Jewish Home party have stipulated the establishment of a new settlement for Amona’s settlers in return for supporting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s media law.
Netanyahu had earlier declared he retreated from his promise to establish a new settlement to house the evacuated settlers of Amona illegal outpost due to the US administration’s pressures.
However, the two ministers threatened not to support Netanyahu’s legislation until he fulfils his promise on Amona.
The Amona evacuees earlier sent a letter to Netanyahu demanding him to fulfill his commitment.
Netanyahu had earlier declared he retreated from his promise to establish a new settlement to house the evacuated settlers of Amona illegal outpost due to the US administration’s pressures.
However, the two ministers threatened not to support Netanyahu’s legislation until he fulfils his promise on Amona.
The Amona evacuees earlier sent a letter to Netanyahu demanding him to fulfill his commitment.
7 mar 2017
Israeli minister of education Naftali Bennett (Jewish Home) has promised settlers of the evacuated Amona outpost that he would push for a new settlement for them in the West Bank.
According to Israel Hayom newspaper, Bennett visited evicted Amona residents Monday at their protest tent outside the prime minister's office in Jerusalem, where they have been on hunger strike since Thursday in protest at halted plans to relocate them to an another settlement.
The West Bank outpost of Amona was evicted in February following a court order, which had been delayed several times.
Bennett told the protesters he would fulfill his word to provide them with a new place to live, saying that "agreements must be honored."
"I am committed to the agreement we have formulated with you, and I will stand firm so that the agreement is implemented soon, in accordance with the prime minister's commitment, and so the government will make a decision at its next meeting regarding the establishment of the new settlement."
The newspaper said that Bennett had asked Netanyahu at a recent coalition meeting about what he decided about the new settlement promised to Amona residents. Netanyahu responded, saying that the "complex" matter had not yet been agreed upon with the US administration, and requested a few more days to discuss the possibility with the Americans.
According to Israel Hayom newspaper, Bennett visited evicted Amona residents Monday at their protest tent outside the prime minister's office in Jerusalem, where they have been on hunger strike since Thursday in protest at halted plans to relocate them to an another settlement.
The West Bank outpost of Amona was evicted in February following a court order, which had been delayed several times.
Bennett told the protesters he would fulfill his word to provide them with a new place to live, saying that "agreements must be honored."
"I am committed to the agreement we have formulated with you, and I will stand firm so that the agreement is implemented soon, in accordance with the prime minister's commitment, and so the government will make a decision at its next meeting regarding the establishment of the new settlement."
The newspaper said that Bennett had asked Netanyahu at a recent coalition meeting about what he decided about the new settlement promised to Amona residents. Netanyahu responded, saying that the "complex" matter had not yet been agreed upon with the US administration, and requested a few more days to discuss the possibility with the Americans.
19 feb 2017
A house in the West Bank illegal settlement of Beit El donated by the US ambassador-designate to Israel, David Friedman, was constructed illegally on privately owned Palestinian land, according to Haaretz newspaper.
The Friedman faculty house at the Raaya girl high school is situated in the Ulpana neighborhood of Beit El. Part of this neighborhood was demolished following an order by the Israeli high court of justice five years ago because the land had been taken illegally.
The Friedman Faculty House is one of nine buildings left in the neighborhood that were spared demolition at the time, the newspaper said in a report three days ago.
The construction of the Friedman Faculty House started in 1999. In 2002, a demolition order was issued against it by the Israeli army’s civil administration, which supervises construction in the settlements.
Although the demolition of this house has been ignored, demolition order no. 224/02, according to the civil administration’s records, is still on the books.
The Palestinian landowners and their heirs have tried several times to reclaim the land and have the buildings removed, but to no avail.
Early next week, a large group of them plan to submit a petition to the high court of justice demanding that all the remaining buildings in the Ulpana neighborhood, including the Friedman House, be knocked down.
“We are bringing this suit because all our previous attempts to get the Civil Administration to enforce the law have failed,” said Husam Yunis, the lawyer representing the group. He said he expected the petition to be submitted either Sunday or Monday.
The Friedman faculty house at the Raaya girl high school is situated in the Ulpana neighborhood of Beit El. Part of this neighborhood was demolished following an order by the Israeli high court of justice five years ago because the land had been taken illegally.
The Friedman Faculty House is one of nine buildings left in the neighborhood that were spared demolition at the time, the newspaper said in a report three days ago.
The construction of the Friedman Faculty House started in 1999. In 2002, a demolition order was issued against it by the Israeli army’s civil administration, which supervises construction in the settlements.
Although the demolition of this house has been ignored, demolition order no. 224/02, according to the civil administration’s records, is still on the books.
The Palestinian landowners and their heirs have tried several times to reclaim the land and have the buildings removed, but to no avail.
Early next week, a large group of them plan to submit a petition to the high court of justice demanding that all the remaining buildings in the Ulpana neighborhood, including the Friedman House, be knocked down.
“We are bringing this suit because all our previous attempts to get the Civil Administration to enforce the law have failed,” said Husam Yunis, the lawyer representing the group. He said he expected the petition to be submitted either Sunday or Monday.
17 feb 2017
Two Israeli ministers revealed on Friday a plan to build a new illegal settlement at the expense of Palestinian lands in West Bank with the aim of hosting Israeli settlers evacuated recently from Amona outpost.
Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked affirmed her government’s commitment to build a new settlement for Amona’s settlers.
"We are committed to our pledge," she said.
For his part, Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett revealed that Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved the establishment of the new settlement.
"I’m totally sure that Netanyahu will abide by his promise," Bennett said.
The two ministers’ statement came just two days after U.S. President Donald Trump had asked Netanyahu to restrain settlement construction during his visit to Washington.
In early February, Israeli forces began an operation to evacuate settlers from Amona settlement illegally built in West Bank after Israel's Supreme Court had set Feb. 8 as the final date for it to be evacuated.
The court ruled in 2014 that Amona was built on private Palestinian land and must be dismantled.
Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked affirmed her government’s commitment to build a new settlement for Amona’s settlers.
"We are committed to our pledge," she said.
For his part, Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett revealed that Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved the establishment of the new settlement.
"I’m totally sure that Netanyahu will abide by his promise," Bennett said.
The two ministers’ statement came just two days after U.S. President Donald Trump had asked Netanyahu to restrain settlement construction during his visit to Washington.
In early February, Israeli forces began an operation to evacuate settlers from Amona settlement illegally built in West Bank after Israel's Supreme Court had set Feb. 8 as the final date for it to be evacuated.
The court ruled in 2014 that Amona was built on private Palestinian land and must be dismantled.
7 feb 2017
Israeli Supreme Court on Tuesday issued orders to raze 17 housing units in the random outpost, West Tapuah, which is built on private Palestinian land in Yasuf town east of Salfit.
Head of the Yasuf council, Hafeth Abdul Halim, said that 14 Palestinian people appealed six years ago to the Supreme Court demanding the demolition of the illegal outpost build over 100 dunums of their lands.
He pointed out that the outpost separates 3,000 dunums away from their owners' residence places, saying that settlers used to plant and graze sheep in those lands. They cut the old trees that were previously planted by Palestinians, he added.
The court ruled that Israeli authorities have until June 2018 to evacuate and raze 17 homes in the outpost of West Tapuah. The Palestinian owners of the lands appealed to the court in this regard, he pointed out.
Head of the Yasuf council, Hafeth Abdul Halim, said that 14 Palestinian people appealed six years ago to the Supreme Court demanding the demolition of the illegal outpost build over 100 dunums of their lands.
He pointed out that the outpost separates 3,000 dunums away from their owners' residence places, saying that settlers used to plant and graze sheep in those lands. They cut the old trees that were previously planted by Palestinians, he added.
The court ruled that Israeli authorities have until June 2018 to evacuate and raze 17 homes in the outpost of West Tapuah. The Palestinian owners of the lands appealed to the court in this regard, he pointed out.
