28 may 2015
The Israeli Occupation Authorities (IOA) issued on Wednesday military notifications to take over eight dunums in Issawiya town in occupied Jerusalem.
The local activist Mohamed Awad said Israeli authorities have delivered the notification in the eastern areas of the town.
The notification states that Israeli military commander in the West Bank, Nitzan Alon, will confiscate eight dunums and 200 meters of Issawiya lands for military purposes.
Israeli civil administration crews are expected to visit the area on Thursday as prelude to the process of land grab.
The local activist Mohamed Awad said Israeli authorities have delivered the notification in the eastern areas of the town.
The notification states that Israeli military commander in the West Bank, Nitzan Alon, will confiscate eight dunums and 200 meters of Issawiya lands for military purposes.
Israeli civil administration crews are expected to visit the area on Thursday as prelude to the process of land grab.
27 may 2015
Jewish settlers seized and planted on Wednesday a land plot belonging to a Palestinian man from Howarah town in southern Nablus.
The settlement official in the northern West Bank Ghassan Daghlas told the PIC reporter that a group of extremist Jewish settlers from Yitzhar settlement, which is constructed on Palestinians’ lands, planted ten dunums to the west of Howarah town with grapes.
Daghlas pointed out that the land belongs to a Palestinian citizen called Yasser Ali who was shocked by the settlers planting his land.
"The Jewish settlers also barred the Palestinians from approaching the land after they had seized and planted it," Daghlas said.
The settlement official in the northern West Bank Ghassan Daghlas told the PIC reporter that a group of extremist Jewish settlers from Yitzhar settlement, which is constructed on Palestinians’ lands, planted ten dunums to the west of Howarah town with grapes.
Daghlas pointed out that the land belongs to a Palestinian citizen called Yasser Ali who was shocked by the settlers planting his land.
"The Jewish settlers also barred the Palestinians from approaching the land after they had seized and planted it," Daghlas said.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF)stormed Tuesday evening a Palestinian local homed in Jabal Mukbar town east of occupied Jerusalem and stole 50,000 shekels ($13,000).
Samer Ja’afra, the home’s owner, told Quds Press that heavy armed Israeli forces accompanied with police dogs broke into his house at nearly 5 p.m. and carried out a violent search campaign after they brutally beat him.
"The Israeli forces also attacked my five children and my pregnant wife who was subjected to strip search by a female soldier," he added.
"An Israeli officer claimed that they are looking for weapons in the home," he said. And when nothing was found, they stole my wife’s gold estimated at 30,000 shekels plus an amount of money of about 20,000 shekels."
"When I asked them to give me back my money, nearly 20 Israeli soldiers severely attacked and brutally beat me," he continued.
Samer Ja’afra, the home’s owner, told Quds Press that heavy armed Israeli forces accompanied with police dogs broke into his house at nearly 5 p.m. and carried out a violent search campaign after they brutally beat him.
"The Israeli forces also attacked my five children and my pregnant wife who was subjected to strip search by a female soldier," he added.
"An Israeli officer claimed that they are looking for weapons in the home," he said. And when nothing was found, they stole my wife’s gold estimated at 30,000 shekels plus an amount of money of about 20,000 shekels."
"When I asked them to give me back my money, nearly 20 Israeli soldiers severely attacked and brutally beat me," he continued.
The Israeli occupation bulldozers Wednesday morning knocked down a Palestinian home owned by the Nassar family in Jerusalem’s town of Silwan.
Local sources said Israeli occupation bulldozers started the demolition of a one-story residential building in Wadi Qadoum neighborhood, in Silwan, under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
The Israeli occupation soldiers have cordoned off the demolition zone, denying Palestinians access into the targeted building.
The Israeli occupation authorities have stepped up arbitrary demolitions of Palestinian family homes on allegations of unlicensed construction in an attempt to force Palestinians out of their native soil.
Local sources said Israeli occupation bulldozers started the demolition of a one-story residential building in Wadi Qadoum neighborhood, in Silwan, under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
The Israeli occupation soldiers have cordoned off the demolition zone, denying Palestinians access into the targeted building.
The Israeli occupation authorities have stepped up arbitrary demolitions of Palestinian family homes on allegations of unlicensed construction in an attempt to force Palestinians out of their native soil.
26 may 2015
Palestinians of al-Jab’a village, in northern al-Khalil province, launched, on Tuesday, distress signals over the water crisis rocking the village since April due to Israel’s exploitation and mishandling of water resources.
Head of the Jab’a village council, No’man Hamdan, told a PIC journalist that the Ja’ba natives have been living in dire conditions due to Israel’s near total control over the distribution of water in the area and its refusal to distribute any water to the village for over a month’s time, leaving Palestinians with no alternative ways by which to obtain this vital resource.
He further raised alarm bells over difficulties in movement in and out of the village due to the roadblock put in place across the only passageway leading into the village by the Israeli occupation army since 2000. As such, it is impossible for vehicles of any kind to enter al-Jab’a; anyone seeking access to the village must do so on foot. Likewise, resources and furniture can only be transported into the village by having them carried on foot across the roadblock.
Al-Jab’a is a small village situated in central West Bank not far from the 1948 Green Line and is home to over 800 Palestinians. As the village is surrounded by multiple illegal Israeli settlements in the vicinity of Gush Etzion, the Palestinians of Al Jab’a must contend with an alarming amount of discrimination. This includes the confiscation of their land by the Israeli government, the destruction of their olive trees at the hands of Jewish settlers and more. Indeed, Israel’s policies towards the residents of Al Jaba are structured in such a way so as to force these Palestinians to give up and leave their homes and the surrounding area, the Palestine Solidarity project said online.
The situation has been no less tense in al-Khalil’s al-Seir neighborhood as a flock of Israeli army jeeps rolled into the area and stationed near al-Khalil’s feminist association.
The Palestinian Authority jeeps meanwhile suddenly backtracked from the area, paying no attention to the assault.
The Israeli occupation forces also notified the demolition of a family home under construction in al-Khalil’s western town of Idna under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
The Israeli occupation reportedly stepped up arbitrary demolition procedures and notifications in the southern West Bank province of al-Khalil in an attempt to crack down on the natives and force them out of their own and only homes.
Head of the Jab’a village council, No’man Hamdan, told a PIC journalist that the Ja’ba natives have been living in dire conditions due to Israel’s near total control over the distribution of water in the area and its refusal to distribute any water to the village for over a month’s time, leaving Palestinians with no alternative ways by which to obtain this vital resource.
He further raised alarm bells over difficulties in movement in and out of the village due to the roadblock put in place across the only passageway leading into the village by the Israeli occupation army since 2000. As such, it is impossible for vehicles of any kind to enter al-Jab’a; anyone seeking access to the village must do so on foot. Likewise, resources and furniture can only be transported into the village by having them carried on foot across the roadblock.
Al-Jab’a is a small village situated in central West Bank not far from the 1948 Green Line and is home to over 800 Palestinians. As the village is surrounded by multiple illegal Israeli settlements in the vicinity of Gush Etzion, the Palestinians of Al Jab’a must contend with an alarming amount of discrimination. This includes the confiscation of their land by the Israeli government, the destruction of their olive trees at the hands of Jewish settlers and more. Indeed, Israel’s policies towards the residents of Al Jaba are structured in such a way so as to force these Palestinians to give up and leave their homes and the surrounding area, the Palestine Solidarity project said online.
The situation has been no less tense in al-Khalil’s al-Seir neighborhood as a flock of Israeli army jeeps rolled into the area and stationed near al-Khalil’s feminist association.
The Palestinian Authority jeeps meanwhile suddenly backtracked from the area, paying no attention to the assault.
The Israeli occupation forces also notified the demolition of a family home under construction in al-Khalil’s western town of Idna under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
The Israeli occupation reportedly stepped up arbitrary demolition procedures and notifications in the southern West Bank province of al-Khalil in an attempt to crack down on the natives and force them out of their own and only homes.
The Council of Arab Water Ministers will discuss in a meeting at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo on Wednesday, Israel's theft of Arab water.
The executive office will discuss drawing up an Arab water security strategy and the implementation of resolutions adopted by the Council of Arab Water Ministers during the 2012 Baghdad Summit.
The ministers are also expected to go over the recommendations and suggestions put forth by the Technical Scientific Advisory Committee of the Arab Ministerial Council for Water which held its 12th meeting in the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Arab League over the past couple of days and under the chairmanship of Qatar.
Head of the Department of Environment, Housing, Water Resources and Sustainable Development in the League of Arab States, Jamaleddine Jaballah, said the committee has finalized work on an operational plan comprising 50 projects to be soon filed for approval by the council as a means to pave the way for its final submission to the Developmental, Economic, and Social Arab Summit hosted by Tunisia in 2016 or the regular Arab Summit hosted by Morocco.
He said the council also follows up on Israel’s theft of Arab water, saying a committee will be appointed to work on preparations for an international conference on Israel’s abuse of water resources.
The executive office will discuss drawing up an Arab water security strategy and the implementation of resolutions adopted by the Council of Arab Water Ministers during the 2012 Baghdad Summit.
The ministers are also expected to go over the recommendations and suggestions put forth by the Technical Scientific Advisory Committee of the Arab Ministerial Council for Water which held its 12th meeting in the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Arab League over the past couple of days and under the chairmanship of Qatar.
Head of the Department of Environment, Housing, Water Resources and Sustainable Development in the League of Arab States, Jamaleddine Jaballah, said the committee has finalized work on an operational plan comprising 50 projects to be soon filed for approval by the council as a means to pave the way for its final submission to the Developmental, Economic, and Social Arab Summit hosted by Tunisia in 2016 or the regular Arab Summit hosted by Morocco.
He said the council also follows up on Israel’s theft of Arab water, saying a committee will be appointed to work on preparations for an international conference on Israel’s abuse of water resources.
Airports Authority fires 5 employees after internal investigation finds they stole tobacco from Palestinians going through security at the border crossing; Authority criticized for not filing police complaint.
Five Israel Airports Authority security employees were caught stealing from Palestinians who were entering Israel from Jordan through the Allenby Bridge border crossing, Ynet learned on Tuesday.
They were fired following an internal investigation, but the Authority did not file a complaint with the police against them. "The Authority decided to take the law into its own hands," one of the crossing's employees said. The Israel Airports Authority launched an internal investigation in February following complaints on theft from Palestinians who underwent security checks at the crossing.
The five employees admitted that they stole from Palestinians going through the border crossing over a long period of time, saying they took tobacco and other personal items. The theft occurred while the Palestinians placed their luggage at the baggage screening machine. Despite the severity of the security employees' actions, the Israel Airports Authority did not turn to the police, nor did it file complaints against them.
"This is not the first time the Airports Authority fails to pass criminal cases to the police's handling and instead chooses to take the law into its own hands," a source at the border crossing said. "In such a case, when such serious harm was caused to the Palestinians, the police must be involved. I guess since these are Palestinians, the Authority did not consider this very grave."
The Allenby Bridge border crossing is the most southern crossing on the Jordan River and serves the Palestinian population and tourists, as Israelis are not allowed to go through the crossing. In addition, goods going between Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan also go through the border crossing.
The Israel Airports Authority said in response that "a probe done by the Airports Authority found that five employees of a private contractor took tobacco from the travelers' bags. The Authority conducted a comprehensive examination with the employees, and their employment was terminated after it was discovered they took tobacco during security checks of the travelers' luggage and took it out of the terminal for their private use."
The Authority said it views the case gravely, "and is initiating action to prevent such phenomena, and does not show leniency on ethical issues."
Five Israel Airports Authority security employees were caught stealing from Palestinians who were entering Israel from Jordan through the Allenby Bridge border crossing, Ynet learned on Tuesday.
They were fired following an internal investigation, but the Authority did not file a complaint with the police against them. "The Authority decided to take the law into its own hands," one of the crossing's employees said. The Israel Airports Authority launched an internal investigation in February following complaints on theft from Palestinians who underwent security checks at the crossing.
The five employees admitted that they stole from Palestinians going through the border crossing over a long period of time, saying they took tobacco and other personal items. The theft occurred while the Palestinians placed their luggage at the baggage screening machine. Despite the severity of the security employees' actions, the Israel Airports Authority did not turn to the police, nor did it file complaints against them.
"This is not the first time the Airports Authority fails to pass criminal cases to the police's handling and instead chooses to take the law into its own hands," a source at the border crossing said. "In such a case, when such serious harm was caused to the Palestinians, the police must be involved. I guess since these are Palestinians, the Authority did not consider this very grave."
The Allenby Bridge border crossing is the most southern crossing on the Jordan River and serves the Palestinian population and tourists, as Israelis are not allowed to go through the crossing. In addition, goods going between Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan also go through the border crossing.
The Israel Airports Authority said in response that "a probe done by the Airports Authority found that five employees of a private contractor took tobacco from the travelers' bags. The Authority conducted a comprehensive examination with the employees, and their employment was terminated after it was discovered they took tobacco during security checks of the travelers' luggage and took it out of the terminal for their private use."
The Authority said it views the case gravely, "and is initiating action to prevent such phenomena, and does not show leniency on ethical issues."
Israeli civil servants escorted by policemen on Monday stormed and searched the house of Mohamed Salah and his family for the fifth consecutive time and assaulted his kids in Beit Safafa neighborhood, south of occupied Jerusalem.
Salah told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that Israeli policemen physically assaulted his kids during the raid while he was at work and demanded his family to pay 2,000 shekels in order to cancel measures to confiscate the furniture of the house because of his failure to pay debts amounting to 20,000 shekels.
He said that the raid was the fifth since the beginning of the current month as part of an Israeli plan to force his family to leave its house in Ras Beit Safafa in order to expand a settlement outpost.
Salah had received about one week ago a notice from the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) in Jerusalem ordering him to pay 22,000 shekels and threatening to confiscate the furniture inside the house.
Salah told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that Israeli policemen physically assaulted his kids during the raid while he was at work and demanded his family to pay 2,000 shekels in order to cancel measures to confiscate the furniture of the house because of his failure to pay debts amounting to 20,000 shekels.
He said that the raid was the fifth since the beginning of the current month as part of an Israeli plan to force his family to leave its house in Ras Beit Safafa in order to expand a settlement outpost.
Salah had received about one week ago a notice from the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) in Jerusalem ordering him to pay 22,000 shekels and threatening to confiscate the furniture inside the house.
25 may 2015
Israeli occupation forces Monday morning forced four families from Wadi Buzaiq in the Jordan Valley to evict their homes starting 6 AM Tuesday morning until 12 AM on Wednesday, for military drill in the area.
Israeli forces since the beginning of this year have evicted over 20 families for more than 15 times under the pretext of military training.
150 other houses in the Jordan valleys were evicted by Israeli forces for different purposes.
The military drill evictions did not only target Palestinian families in the Jordan Valleys, but rather all over the West Bank and Gaza.
On May 12, Israeli occupation forces conducted military drills in several areas in the Hebron district, southern West Bank.
In march, Israeli forces launched military drill in the areas surrounding Gaza, without any previous warning. The drill contained active movement of military machines and warplanes, in addition to bombardment noises that last until late night hours.
In December, Israeli occupation forces held military live ammunition training in Khirbet Tawil area South Nablus, West Bank.
Military training has often targeted Palestinians, including children, causing several injuries.
In October, Israeli Occupation Forces stormed into Aida refugee camp without any provocation and began shooting tear gas, sound bombs and rubber coated steel bullets at children in the streets. Eyewitness back then said that soldiers were training by using families, children and homes as military practice.
Read More:
In February, occupation declared Vast West Bank lands "Closed Military Zones" for tighter military control in the area.
Israeli forces since the beginning of this year have evicted over 20 families for more than 15 times under the pretext of military training.
150 other houses in the Jordan valleys were evicted by Israeli forces for different purposes.
The military drill evictions did not only target Palestinian families in the Jordan Valleys, but rather all over the West Bank and Gaza.
On May 12, Israeli occupation forces conducted military drills in several areas in the Hebron district, southern West Bank.
In march, Israeli forces launched military drill in the areas surrounding Gaza, without any previous warning. The drill contained active movement of military machines and warplanes, in addition to bombardment noises that last until late night hours.
In December, Israeli occupation forces held military live ammunition training in Khirbet Tawil area South Nablus, West Bank.
Military training has often targeted Palestinians, including children, causing several injuries.
In October, Israeli Occupation Forces stormed into Aida refugee camp without any provocation and began shooting tear gas, sound bombs and rubber coated steel bullets at children in the streets. Eyewitness back then said that soldiers were training by using families, children and homes as military practice.
Read More:
In February, occupation declared Vast West Bank lands "Closed Military Zones" for tighter military control in the area.
Palestinians in Negev, southern Israel, have decided to escalate popular activities, including protests against Israeli policy of home destruction, Quds Press reported on Sunday.
In a statement, the Supreme Guiding Committee for Arabs stressed on their support for the residents in the villages of Attir and Um-Al-Hairan, which have been warned to be destroyed by the Israeli occupation.
The statement called for taking all needed measures in order to undermine the threat of eradicating the said two Palestinian villages.
According to the statement, the committee announced a plan to organise a rally on 11 June in front of the Israeli government offices in Negev protesting against the Israeli policy of home destruction.
In a statement, the Supreme Guiding Committee for Arabs stressed on their support for the residents in the villages of Attir and Um-Al-Hairan, which have been warned to be destroyed by the Israeli occupation.
The statement called for taking all needed measures in order to undermine the threat of eradicating the said two Palestinian villages.
According to the statement, the committee announced a plan to organise a rally on 11 June in front of the Israeli government offices in Negev protesting against the Israeli policy of home destruction.
Israeli troops invaded on Monday at dawn the village of Al Qoum near the southern West Bank city of Hebron and ordered villagers to remove the power grid there.
According to villagers, the soldiers gave them military orders to remove the 800 meters long power lines supplying the village homes with electricity.
The Israeli army claims that the lines are in area C and was installed too close to the separation wall that was built by Israeli on lands confiscated from the villagers.
According to villagers, the soldiers gave them military orders to remove the 800 meters long power lines supplying the village homes with electricity.
The Israeli army claims that the lines are in area C and was installed too close to the separation wall that was built by Israeli on lands confiscated from the villagers.
Israeli forces destroy Bedouin structures in an East Jerusalem neighborhood
Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah of the Palestinian Authority pledged $50,000 to the Bedouin community of Abu Nuwwar east of Jerusalem that is currently being displaced by Israeli forces.
According to Ma'an, Hamdallah made the pledge on Sunday during a visit to the community accompanied by the EU envoy to the Palestinian Territories John Gatt-Rutter, and UN Humanitarian Coordinator James W. Rawley, as well as four government ministers.
The pledge comes two weeks after Palestinian families were told they have to evacuate in order for the illegal Israeli settlement of Ma'ale Adumim to be expanded.
Abu Nuwwar is one of many Bedouin communities facing displacement by the Israeli government in order for settlements to be built in the "E1" district that, if constructed in, could effectively split the West Bank and make forming a Palestinian state much more difficult.
Netanyahu's new government coalition heavily supports settlement expansion in occupied East Jerusalem and across the West Bank, and vehemently opposes the establishment of an independent Palestine.
This is just one of literally hundreds of instances in which Palestinian have been forcibly uprooted from their land by Israeli authorities in order to build or expand on the illegal settlements littering the West Bank.
Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah of the Palestinian Authority pledged $50,000 to the Bedouin community of Abu Nuwwar east of Jerusalem that is currently being displaced by Israeli forces.
According to Ma'an, Hamdallah made the pledge on Sunday during a visit to the community accompanied by the EU envoy to the Palestinian Territories John Gatt-Rutter, and UN Humanitarian Coordinator James W. Rawley, as well as four government ministers.
The pledge comes two weeks after Palestinian families were told they have to evacuate in order for the illegal Israeli settlement of Ma'ale Adumim to be expanded.
Abu Nuwwar is one of many Bedouin communities facing displacement by the Israeli government in order for settlements to be built in the "E1" district that, if constructed in, could effectively split the West Bank and make forming a Palestinian state much more difficult.
Netanyahu's new government coalition heavily supports settlement expansion in occupied East Jerusalem and across the West Bank, and vehemently opposes the establishment of an independent Palestine.
This is just one of literally hundreds of instances in which Palestinian have been forcibly uprooted from their land by Israeli authorities in order to build or expand on the illegal settlements littering the West Bank.
24 may 2015
The Wadi Helwa Information Center on Sunday warned of Israeli intents to grab hold of five donums and 200 square meters of Palestinian lands in Jerusalem’s Silwan city, to the south of Muslims’ holy al-Aqsa Mosque.
A collection of maps and aerial photos propagated by The Wadi Helwa center in a press statement points up a plan devised by the so-called Ateret Cohanim settlement group to misappropriate five donums and 200 square meters of Palestinian lands in the al-Hara al-Wosta, in Silwan, after claiming the targeted land lots Jewish estates dating back to 1981.
Some 30 to 35 residential structures, homes to over 300 Palestinian natives, have been constructed over the targeted land tracts since the early 1960’s, a fact reportedly corroborated by a set of legal documents and records.
Lawyer of the Ateret settlement organization handed the al-Rajabi family an order to evacuate their land, where an eight-story residential apartment of the family was built long time ago, under the pretext that it is a Jewish property.
A collection of maps and aerial photos propagated by The Wadi Helwa center in a press statement points up a plan devised by the so-called Ateret Cohanim settlement group to misappropriate five donums and 200 square meters of Palestinian lands in the al-Hara al-Wosta, in Silwan, after claiming the targeted land lots Jewish estates dating back to 1981.
Some 30 to 35 residential structures, homes to over 300 Palestinian natives, have been constructed over the targeted land tracts since the early 1960’s, a fact reportedly corroborated by a set of legal documents and records.
Lawyer of the Ateret settlement organization handed the al-Rajabi family an order to evacuate their land, where an eight-story residential apartment of the family was built long time ago, under the pretext that it is a Jewish property.
Palestinian farmland to be turned into dump
The Israeli Authorities have decided to confiscate around 820 Dunams (202 acres) of privately owned Palestinian lands to establish new dumping grounds for its illegal colonies, in the central West Bank, in the Ramallah district.
More than 140 Palestinian families, from Rammoun and Dir Dibwan villages, own the lands that Israel plans to illegally confiscate to establish the new dumping grounds.
The dump, according to the Israeli authorities, “would serve the settlements and the Palestinians in the area,” but would be run completely by Israel and Palestinians would have no access to it.
If the Israeli government manages to take control of the 820 Palestinian Dunams, the total impacted area from the new dumping grounds would be around 2000 Dunams, which would be contaminated by runoff and debris.
These lands contain fertile soil and farmland, in addition to many water wells, Palestine TV has reported.
The residents plant their lands with various crops, mainly wheat, and use parts of this land as grazing grounds for their livestock. Some of the land is slated for development as residential areas, but this would be impossible once Israel takes control of the land and turns it into a dump.
Local villagers told Palestine TV that Israel is trying to push them out of the area to turn their land into a dump – many of these villagers have already lost land in past seizures by the Israeli military for the construction of illegal colonies.
There are three settlements near the lands in question, in addition to a settlement road and a military roadblock.
The Israeli Authorities have decided to confiscate around 820 Dunams (202 acres) of privately owned Palestinian lands to establish new dumping grounds for its illegal colonies, in the central West Bank, in the Ramallah district.
More than 140 Palestinian families, from Rammoun and Dir Dibwan villages, own the lands that Israel plans to illegally confiscate to establish the new dumping grounds.
The dump, according to the Israeli authorities, “would serve the settlements and the Palestinians in the area,” but would be run completely by Israel and Palestinians would have no access to it.
If the Israeli government manages to take control of the 820 Palestinian Dunams, the total impacted area from the new dumping grounds would be around 2000 Dunams, which would be contaminated by runoff and debris.
These lands contain fertile soil and farmland, in addition to many water wells, Palestine TV has reported.
The residents plant their lands with various crops, mainly wheat, and use parts of this land as grazing grounds for their livestock. Some of the land is slated for development as residential areas, but this would be impossible once Israel takes control of the land and turns it into a dump.
Local villagers told Palestine TV that Israel is trying to push them out of the area to turn their land into a dump – many of these villagers have already lost land in past seizures by the Israeli military for the construction of illegal colonies.
There are three settlements near the lands in question, in addition to a settlement road and a military roadblock.