19 apr 2015
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) detained on Sunday a team of Palestinian pressmen in Kafr al-Dik town to the west of Salfit while covering an event.
The Palestinian journalist and researcher Khaled Maali told the PIC reporter that the IOF detained him along with a cameraman and Kafr al-Dik’s municipal secretary for accessing into the Leshem settlement which is illegally established on the Palestinian lands.
Maali, however, said the media team was present at the nearby area for making a report on Israeli leveling of Palestinian’s lands and ceaseless settlement construction. He said that they did not approach Leshem outpost as claimed by the IOF.
The Israeli Occupation built Leshem settlement in 2015, and since then continuous expansion works are being conducted in the area at the expense of the lands of four Palestinian towns and a historical hamlet.
The Palestinian journalist and researcher Khaled Maali told the PIC reporter that the IOF detained him along with a cameraman and Kafr al-Dik’s municipal secretary for accessing into the Leshem settlement which is illegally established on the Palestinian lands.
Maali, however, said the media team was present at the nearby area for making a report on Israeli leveling of Palestinian’s lands and ceaseless settlement construction. He said that they did not approach Leshem outpost as claimed by the IOF.
The Israeli Occupation built Leshem settlement in 2015, and since then continuous expansion works are being conducted in the area at the expense of the lands of four Palestinian towns and a historical hamlet.
Secretary-General of the Islamic-Christian Committee to Support Occupied Jerusalem and Holy Sites, Dr. Hanna Issa, denounced Israel’s recent Absentee Property Law.
He compared Israel’s swift misappropriation of Palestinian lands to a cancer infecting the human body.
Issa said, in a statement to Quds Press, the law issued by Israel since 1950 and put into actual effect this year, aims at grabbing hold over more Palestinian lands. At least 300 Palestinian land lots, covering an overall area of 1,000 square meters, have been recently misappropriated in 300 villages across the 1948 occupied territories.
“Israel wants to impose the law on the Palestinian citizens who live in the West Bank and have properties of their own in Occupied Jerusalem,” Issa added.
“The first step is to be made by the custodian who divides the land and registers it in the so-called Building and Construction department, as part of intents to swallow more occupied territories and judaize Jerusalem city,” he further warned.
It is as if the Palestinian citizens were handcuffed by iron chains via such a biased court ruling, Dr. Issa maintained, adding: “We are living in the shadows of a colonizing entity that pays no heed to international laws and legitimacy.”
Issa’s statements were released after the Israeli Supreme Court had approved the application of the "Absentee Property Law" in East Jerusalem, a law allowing the Israeli state to seize property located in East Jerusalem and whose owners live in the West Bank.
The Israeli occupation passed the Absentee Property legislation in 1950, in a move aimed at grabbing hold over more lands previously owned by Palestinians who were forcibly deported from their own lands following the Nakba of the 1948.
He compared Israel’s swift misappropriation of Palestinian lands to a cancer infecting the human body.
Issa said, in a statement to Quds Press, the law issued by Israel since 1950 and put into actual effect this year, aims at grabbing hold over more Palestinian lands. At least 300 Palestinian land lots, covering an overall area of 1,000 square meters, have been recently misappropriated in 300 villages across the 1948 occupied territories.
“Israel wants to impose the law on the Palestinian citizens who live in the West Bank and have properties of their own in Occupied Jerusalem,” Issa added.
“The first step is to be made by the custodian who divides the land and registers it in the so-called Building and Construction department, as part of intents to swallow more occupied territories and judaize Jerusalem city,” he further warned.
It is as if the Palestinian citizens were handcuffed by iron chains via such a biased court ruling, Dr. Issa maintained, adding: “We are living in the shadows of a colonizing entity that pays no heed to international laws and legitimacy.”
Issa’s statements were released after the Israeli Supreme Court had approved the application of the "Absentee Property Law" in East Jerusalem, a law allowing the Israeli state to seize property located in East Jerusalem and whose owners live in the West Bank.
The Israeli occupation passed the Absentee Property legislation in 1950, in a move aimed at grabbing hold over more lands previously owned by Palestinians who were forcibly deported from their own lands following the Nakba of the 1948.
18 apr 2015
Settlers from Leshem settlement to the west of Salfit leveled Palestinian lands and stole its fertile soil, eyewitnesses revealed on Saturday.
The eyewitnesses said Israeli bulldozers leveled the lands and gathered fertile soil in piles to be used later for construction and gardening in the settlement.
The Palestinian researcher Khaled Maali pointed out that the settlers are gathering the best soil which is red and brown in color.
Maali said the stolen soil is going to be used for paving main roads which are being opened in Leshem outpost at the expense of the lands of four Palestinian towns in Salfit.
He highlighted that such Israeli practices run contrary to the international law as well as the Fourth Geneva Convention which does not permit stealing or changing the landmarks of occupied lands, constructing over it or confiscating its stones and soil.
The eyewitnesses said Israeli bulldozers leveled the lands and gathered fertile soil in piles to be used later for construction and gardening in the settlement.
The Palestinian researcher Khaled Maali pointed out that the settlers are gathering the best soil which is red and brown in color.
Maali said the stolen soil is going to be used for paving main roads which are being opened in Leshem outpost at the expense of the lands of four Palestinian towns in Salfit.
He highlighted that such Israeli practices run contrary to the international law as well as the Fourth Geneva Convention which does not permit stealing or changing the landmarks of occupied lands, constructing over it or confiscating its stones and soil.
Hundreds of Palestinians in the Green Line have offered Friday prayers in Dahmesh village to the south of 1948 occupied territories in solidarity with its residents whose homes were demolished for “being built without Israeli permit”.
During the Friday prayers, head of the Islamic Movement in the Green Line Sheikh Raed Salah warned of Israeli plans to issue hundreds of demolition orders against Arab homes as a prelude to uproot and displace their owners.
These demolition orders fell as part of the Israeli displacement policy targeting all Arab villages in the occupied territories, he said.
“They want a land without a people, but we will stay here till we die.”
Whatever was the Israeli government, whether left-wing or right-wing, they are both two sides of the same coin, Sheikh Salah continued.
He called for rebuilding all the Arab homes and facilities demolished by Israeli authorities.
He also pointed to the Palestinian prisoners’ issue in light of the Israeli escalated attacks against them and continued violations to Wafa al-Ahrar swap deal.
Shortly after Friday prayers, the worshipers took to the streets in a large march protesting against Israeli demolition policy.
During the Friday prayers, head of the Islamic Movement in the Green Line Sheikh Raed Salah warned of Israeli plans to issue hundreds of demolition orders against Arab homes as a prelude to uproot and displace their owners.
These demolition orders fell as part of the Israeli displacement policy targeting all Arab villages in the occupied territories, he said.
“They want a land without a people, but we will stay here till we die.”
Whatever was the Israeli government, whether left-wing or right-wing, they are both two sides of the same coin, Sheikh Salah continued.
He called for rebuilding all the Arab homes and facilities demolished by Israeli authorities.
He also pointed to the Palestinian prisoners’ issue in light of the Israeli escalated attacks against them and continued violations to Wafa al-Ahrar swap deal.
Shortly after Friday prayers, the worshipers took to the streets in a large march protesting against Israeli demolition policy.
16 apr 2015
The Arab Higher Monitoring Committee announced a general strike in the 1948 occupied Palestine, in effect on April 28, in protest at Israel’s arbitrary demolitions of Palestinian homes.
The committee pledged during an emergency meeting held Wednesday to discuss the demolition-campaign, to raise funds to help the homeless families rebuild their homes demolished under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
The committee further vowed to pop in Arab schools and raise students’ awareness of the serious repercussions of such Israeli policies of ethnic cleansing.
Earlier, on Wednesday morning, Israeli bulldozers knocked down five family homes in the unrecognized Dahmesh village, near the city of Lod, on allegations of being built without permits.
The committee pledged during an emergency meeting held Wednesday to discuss the demolition-campaign, to raise funds to help the homeless families rebuild their homes demolished under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
The committee further vowed to pop in Arab schools and raise students’ awareness of the serious repercussions of such Israeli policies of ethnic cleansing.
Earlier, on Wednesday morning, Israeli bulldozers knocked down five family homes in the unrecognized Dahmesh village, near the city of Lod, on allegations of being built without permits.
The Israeli high court on Thursday issued an order allowing the execution of the absentee property law in the Arab neighborhoods of east Jerusalem.
According to the court verdict, the state should confiscate Palestinian property in Jerusalem belonging Arabs only under extreme conditions and only with the permission of the state comptroller.
The court made its decision following a series of appeals that have been filed by Palestinian residents and human rights groups against the confiscation of their homes and property in the holy city.
The decision is considered part of Israeli steps aimed at Judaizing the Arab neighborhoods of Jerusalem.
The Absentee property law (1950) is one of Israel’s major legal instruments for seizing Palestinian property.
The law has served to confiscate the land and real estate left behind by the Palestinians who were forcibly displaced in 1948. It is still in effect and used to confiscate Palestinian properties more than six decades later.
The law violates international law and has been strongly condemned by the UN.
According to the court verdict, the state should confiscate Palestinian property in Jerusalem belonging Arabs only under extreme conditions and only with the permission of the state comptroller.
The court made its decision following a series of appeals that have been filed by Palestinian residents and human rights groups against the confiscation of their homes and property in the holy city.
The decision is considered part of Israeli steps aimed at Judaizing the Arab neighborhoods of Jerusalem.
The Absentee property law (1950) is one of Israel’s major legal instruments for seizing Palestinian property.
The law has served to confiscate the land and real estate left behind by the Palestinians who were forcibly displaced in 1948. It is still in effect and used to confiscate Palestinian properties more than six decades later.
The law violates international law and has been strongly condemned by the UN.
15 apr 2015
Israeli policemen along with Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) distributed demolition notices in a Jerusalemite neighborhood and a town in al-Khalil on Wednesday.
Local sources said that Israeli Municipality teams escorted by policemen and Special Forces distributed at noon Wednesday demolition notices to destroy houses and structures under construction in a neighborhood in Silwan town to the south of the Aqsa Mosque.
The sources noted that the demolition of houses in Jerusalemite neighborhoods has recently escalated.
In al-Khalil, the IOF soldiers served two demolition notices to two Palestinian families in Yatta town to the south of al-Khalil city.
The activist Ratib al-Jabour told the PIC reporter that the IOF soldiers broke into both houses and handed their owners demolition notices under the claim that the area is subject to the Israeli control according to Oslo accords.
Jabour said the demolition aims at paving the way before settlement expansion and displacing Palestinian natives.
Local sources said that Israeli Municipality teams escorted by policemen and Special Forces distributed at noon Wednesday demolition notices to destroy houses and structures under construction in a neighborhood in Silwan town to the south of the Aqsa Mosque.
The sources noted that the demolition of houses in Jerusalemite neighborhoods has recently escalated.
In al-Khalil, the IOF soldiers served two demolition notices to two Palestinian families in Yatta town to the south of al-Khalil city.
The activist Ratib al-Jabour told the PIC reporter that the IOF soldiers broke into both houses and handed their owners demolition notices under the claim that the area is subject to the Israeli control according to Oslo accords.
Jabour said the demolition aims at paving the way before settlement expansion and displacing Palestinian natives.
A large Israeli military force broke into a number of neighborhoods in the southern West Bank city of al-Khalil on Wednesday. No arrests were reported during the raid.
The Israeli troops were deployed in big numbers at the northern entrance to the governorate and the main road linking between the city and neighboring town of Halhul, local sources said.
On the other hand, dozens of settlers gathered Tuesday evening in the city as a prelude to re-build a synagogue to the south of the city at the expanse of local residents’ lands.
The synagogue was earlier destroyed after the Israeli Supreme Court ordered its demolition for being established on a Palestinian local family’s private land in an effort to force them off.
Despite the court’s demolition order, settlers of Kiryat Arba tried more than once to rebuild the synagogue under Israeli forces’ protection.
The Israeli troops were deployed in big numbers at the northern entrance to the governorate and the main road linking between the city and neighboring town of Halhul, local sources said.
On the other hand, dozens of settlers gathered Tuesday evening in the city as a prelude to re-build a synagogue to the south of the city at the expanse of local residents’ lands.
The synagogue was earlier destroyed after the Israeli Supreme Court ordered its demolition for being established on a Palestinian local family’s private land in an effort to force them off.
Despite the court’s demolition order, settlers of Kiryat Arba tried more than once to rebuild the synagogue under Israeli forces’ protection.
14 apr 2015
Israeli municipal bulldozers on Tuesday morning started to demolish a four-floor building under construction in Wadi Joz neighborhood, east Jerusalem, at the pretext of unlicensed construction.
Eyewitnesses told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that the Israeli police at five o'clock in the morning closed all roads leading to the building as the bulldozers were embarking on knocking it down.
They added that the police also prevented journalists and citizens from reaching the area of demolition.
Every once in a while, the Israeli occupation authority demolishes Palestinian homes and property in Jerusalem for lack of construction licenses, while at the same time it imposes many restrictions on the Palestinians who want to get such permits.
Eyewitnesses told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that the Israeli police at five o'clock in the morning closed all roads leading to the building as the bulldozers were embarking on knocking it down.
They added that the police also prevented journalists and citizens from reaching the area of demolition.
Every once in a while, the Israeli occupation authority demolishes Palestinian homes and property in Jerusalem for lack of construction licenses, while at the same time it imposes many restrictions on the Palestinians who want to get such permits.
Segregation wall outside Jerusalem
Israeli authorities, Monday, seized the content of a Palestinian-owned store in the village of Hazma, northeast of Jerusalem, according to local sources.
Witnesses at the scene told WAFA correspondence an Israeli police force broke into the village and searched the store before seizing its content, mostly consisting of construction material and work equipment, pretending that the content was “illegal”.
Earlier, the Israeli authorities demolished a number of private-owned barracks in the village, under the pretext they were close to the Israeli segregation barrier.
Israel rarely issues construction permits for Palestinians living in Area C, under Israeli civil and military control, prompting many Palestinians to construct without obtaining the necessary permit.
From 2006 through May 2014, Israel demolished at least 752 Palestinian residential units in the West Bank (East Jerusalem excluded), causing 3,568 people, including at least 1,712 minors, to lose their homes, according to the Israeli human rights group, B’Tselem.
Israeli authorities, Monday, seized the content of a Palestinian-owned store in the village of Hazma, northeast of Jerusalem, according to local sources.
Witnesses at the scene told WAFA correspondence an Israeli police force broke into the village and searched the store before seizing its content, mostly consisting of construction material and work equipment, pretending that the content was “illegal”.
Earlier, the Israeli authorities demolished a number of private-owned barracks in the village, under the pretext they were close to the Israeli segregation barrier.
Israel rarely issues construction permits for Palestinians living in Area C, under Israeli civil and military control, prompting many Palestinians to construct without obtaining the necessary permit.
From 2006 through May 2014, Israel demolished at least 752 Palestinian residential units in the West Bank (East Jerusalem excluded), causing 3,568 people, including at least 1,712 minors, to lose their homes, according to the Israeli human rights group, B’Tselem.
13 apr 2015
The
Israeli High Court of Justice on Sunday accepted an affidavit blasting
the Israeli Civil Administration's planning system in Palestinian Area
C, and has given the Israeli state 10 days to reply.
The affidavit, prepared by Professor Rassem Khamaiseh, was presented during the second court hearing on an appeal demanding the restoration of planning authority in Area C to Palestinians.
The appeal was first lodged in 2011 by a range of human rights organisations, including Rabbis for Human Rights, the Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center and the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, in addition to local Palestinian authorities.
Khamaiseh, who heads the Jewish-Arab Center and is a professor at the University of Haifa, has actively worked with the Israeli Civil Administration on the planning of Palestinian communities.
According to Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR), Khamaiseh's affidavit accused Civil Administration planning institutions of being "plagued by a lack of understanding of, and disrespect for Palestinian culture," and said that "the lack of Palestinian representation in planning institutions harms the planning process very seriously."
RHR said that in the first hearing, held last year, High Court judges said that they would not force the state to make a fundamental change in the planning structure in Area C, but that the current situation was unacceptable.
They ordered the state to come up with an institutional change to increase the involvement of Palestinians in planning their communities.
The state proposed a non-binding "consultation" procedure.
However, RHR said this was nothing new, as Palestinians can already submit proposals to the Civil Administration and they are routinely rejected.
Khamaiseh's affidavit on Sunday pointed out that the "consultation" procedure would change nothing as it does not impose an obligation on the Civil Administration to honor the wishes of the residents.
The High Court has given the state ten days to reply, after which time the judges will decide how to proceed.
'Not a political issue'
The initial appeal calls for the restoration of planning authority in Area C to Palestinians.
It points to the fact that Palestinian building permits are almost never approved in Area C, while those Palestinians who do build live under the constant threat of demolition. Meanwhile, nearly all building permits in illegal Israeli settlements are approved.
The appeal is directed against the Israeli Minister of Defense, Israel's West Bank military commander, the head of Israel's Civil Administration in the West Bank, and the Israeli High Planning Council.
Israeli authorities claim that the issue must be resolved through peace negotiations, but those who lodged the appeal say it is not a political issue, but one concerning planning and housing.
Under the terms of the 1993 Oslo Accords, Area C makes up 61 percent of the occupied West Bank and is under full military and administrative control by Israel.
In January, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said: "The planning policies applied by Israel in Area C and East Jerusalem discriminate against Palestinians, making it extremely difficult for them to obtain building permits. As a result, many Palestinians build without permits to meet their housing needs and risk having their structures demolished."
OCHA said that in 2014 "Israeli forces demolished 590 Palestinian-owned structures in Area C and East Jerusalem, displacing 1,177 people -- the highest level of displacement in the West Bank since OCHA began systematically monitoring the issue in 2008."
'An integral part of the occupied Palestinian Territories'
Last month, EU representatives condemned Israel's failure to meet its obligations to Palestinians in Area C, as the EU donated €3.5 million ($3.83 million) for infrastructure projects to support Palestinian communities in Area C.
While the Israeli Civil Administration is nominally responsible for developing infrastructure in the area, nearly all development only supports Israeli settlers illegally living in the area, while efforts to develop existing Palestinian communities are thwarted.
As a result, Palestinians in Area C lack basic services and infrastructure including roads, waste treatment facilities, water facilities, and access to medical facilities, while gaining construction permits is generally impossible.
EU signer of the funding agreement Michael Kohler stressed the serious limitations faced by the Palestinian Authority in promoting social and economic development of Palestinian communities, while EU representative John Gatt-Rutter emphasized that Area C is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory, comprised of crucial natural resources and land for a viable Palestinian State.
Gatt-Rutter added: "Without this area, the two state solution -- that we have invested in for years -- will be impossible."
The affidavit, prepared by Professor Rassem Khamaiseh, was presented during the second court hearing on an appeal demanding the restoration of planning authority in Area C to Palestinians.
The appeal was first lodged in 2011 by a range of human rights organisations, including Rabbis for Human Rights, the Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center and the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, in addition to local Palestinian authorities.
Khamaiseh, who heads the Jewish-Arab Center and is a professor at the University of Haifa, has actively worked with the Israeli Civil Administration on the planning of Palestinian communities.
According to Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR), Khamaiseh's affidavit accused Civil Administration planning institutions of being "plagued by a lack of understanding of, and disrespect for Palestinian culture," and said that "the lack of Palestinian representation in planning institutions harms the planning process very seriously."
RHR said that in the first hearing, held last year, High Court judges said that they would not force the state to make a fundamental change in the planning structure in Area C, but that the current situation was unacceptable.
They ordered the state to come up with an institutional change to increase the involvement of Palestinians in planning their communities.
The state proposed a non-binding "consultation" procedure.
However, RHR said this was nothing new, as Palestinians can already submit proposals to the Civil Administration and they are routinely rejected.
Khamaiseh's affidavit on Sunday pointed out that the "consultation" procedure would change nothing as it does not impose an obligation on the Civil Administration to honor the wishes of the residents.
The High Court has given the state ten days to reply, after which time the judges will decide how to proceed.
'Not a political issue'
The initial appeal calls for the restoration of planning authority in Area C to Palestinians.
It points to the fact that Palestinian building permits are almost never approved in Area C, while those Palestinians who do build live under the constant threat of demolition. Meanwhile, nearly all building permits in illegal Israeli settlements are approved.
The appeal is directed against the Israeli Minister of Defense, Israel's West Bank military commander, the head of Israel's Civil Administration in the West Bank, and the Israeli High Planning Council.
Israeli authorities claim that the issue must be resolved through peace negotiations, but those who lodged the appeal say it is not a political issue, but one concerning planning and housing.
Under the terms of the 1993 Oslo Accords, Area C makes up 61 percent of the occupied West Bank and is under full military and administrative control by Israel.
In January, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said: "The planning policies applied by Israel in Area C and East Jerusalem discriminate against Palestinians, making it extremely difficult for them to obtain building permits. As a result, many Palestinians build without permits to meet their housing needs and risk having their structures demolished."
OCHA said that in 2014 "Israeli forces demolished 590 Palestinian-owned structures in Area C and East Jerusalem, displacing 1,177 people -- the highest level of displacement in the West Bank since OCHA began systematically monitoring the issue in 2008."
'An integral part of the occupied Palestinian Territories'
Last month, EU representatives condemned Israel's failure to meet its obligations to Palestinians in Area C, as the EU donated €3.5 million ($3.83 million) for infrastructure projects to support Palestinian communities in Area C.
While the Israeli Civil Administration is nominally responsible for developing infrastructure in the area, nearly all development only supports Israeli settlers illegally living in the area, while efforts to develop existing Palestinian communities are thwarted.
As a result, Palestinians in Area C lack basic services and infrastructure including roads, waste treatment facilities, water facilities, and access to medical facilities, while gaining construction permits is generally impossible.
EU signer of the funding agreement Michael Kohler stressed the serious limitations faced by the Palestinian Authority in promoting social and economic development of Palestinian communities, while EU representative John Gatt-Rutter emphasized that Area C is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory, comprised of crucial natural resources and land for a viable Palestinian State.
Gatt-Rutter added: "Without this area, the two state solution -- that we have invested in for years -- will be impossible."
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Six protestors lightly hurt in clashes with police after officers seal off neighborhood to demolish house of resident.
A general strike was declared Monday in Kafr Kanna following riots that broke out overnight after security forces demolished a home in the Arab town built without the required construction permit. Six residents, including the head of the town's local council Mujahed Awawdeh, were lightly hurt in clashes with the police. Overnight Sunday, police forces and Border Police officers sealed off the neighborhood and evacuated the home of Tariq Al-Khatib, a resident of the town. Following the evacuation, family members who were at the scene told the officers: "You destroyed the home, and we will rebuild it." |
Khatib said in response to the incident: "I built on land that I inherited. The state has no right to demolish the home, and even if they destroy it 100 times, I will rebuild it."
He further said: "Where else can we live? We have no roof over our heads. Instead of helping the Arab citizens, the country is trying to drive us out."
During the demolition, dozens of residents gathered at the scene and tried to prevent it from taking place: "Allahu Akbar," they shouted, calling the police forces "terrorists".
Violent riots broke out between the two sides. The police used tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the rioters. Six protestors were hurt as a result of the clashes.
Following the demolition, a general strike was declared. The Nazareth police said they were ready for any disruption of order. Security forces are currently stationed at the entrance of the town in order to prevent the blocking of roads.
He further said: "Where else can we live? We have no roof over our heads. Instead of helping the Arab citizens, the country is trying to drive us out."
During the demolition, dozens of residents gathered at the scene and tried to prevent it from taking place: "Allahu Akbar," they shouted, calling the police forces "terrorists".
Violent riots broke out between the two sides. The police used tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the rioters. Six protestors were hurt as a result of the clashes.
Following the demolition, a general strike was declared. The Nazareth police said they were ready for any disruption of order. Security forces are currently stationed at the entrance of the town in order to prevent the blocking of roads.
12 apr 2015
Settlers from Leshem settlement to the west of Salfit took over an archeological site located on the lands of two Palestinian towns in the governorate.
Eyewitnesses said Israeli bulldozers have been working 24/7 on paving ways and building huge walls around the hamlet where the site is located.
The Palestinian researcher Khaled Maali revealed that the archeological site in Deir Sama’an is threatened by Leshem outpost which was established in 2013. As surrounded by settlers, the area cannot be accessed by Palestinians except for one way in the south side that was paved by the Jewish settlers.
The settlers are planning to steal the most beautiful historical site in the district, Maali warned.
He highlighted that the International Criminal Court considers stealing or changing the landmarks of historical sites as a war crime.
Eyewitnesses said Israeli bulldozers have been working 24/7 on paving ways and building huge walls around the hamlet where the site is located.
The Palestinian researcher Khaled Maali revealed that the archeological site in Deir Sama’an is threatened by Leshem outpost which was established in 2013. As surrounded by settlers, the area cannot be accessed by Palestinians except for one way in the south side that was paved by the Jewish settlers.
The settlers are planning to steal the most beautiful historical site in the district, Maali warned.
He highlighted that the International Criminal Court considers stealing or changing the landmarks of historical sites as a war crime.
Israeli minister of housing Uri Ariel has vowed to enable Jewish settlers to permanently visit an alleged archeological religious site on Mount Ebal in Nablus city.
According to Israel's channel 7, the site is claimed to belong to the altar of Yusha Ibn Nun and was discovered some 35 years ago.
Ariel made his remarks during a recent visit to the site along with the director of the Israeli antiquities authority, some Knesset members and Gershon Mesika, head of the West Bank settlements regional council.
Channel 7 said that access to the site was difficult for Jewish worshipers without using a four-wheel drive vehicle, but there were efforts to facilitate their travel to the place after obtaining special permits.
Mount Ebal is one of the two mountains in the immediate vicinity of Nablus city and forms the northern side of the valley in which Nablus is situated. It is one of the highest peaks in the West Bank.
According to Israel's channel 7, the site is claimed to belong to the altar of Yusha Ibn Nun and was discovered some 35 years ago.
Ariel made his remarks during a recent visit to the site along with the director of the Israeli antiquities authority, some Knesset members and Gershon Mesika, head of the West Bank settlements regional council.
Channel 7 said that access to the site was difficult for Jewish worshipers without using a four-wheel drive vehicle, but there were efforts to facilitate their travel to the place after obtaining special permits.
Mount Ebal is one of the two mountains in the immediate vicinity of Nablus city and forms the northern side of the valley in which Nablus is situated. It is one of the highest peaks in the West Bank.
