17 july 2015
US Department of State called Thursday on Israel to refrain from demolishing part of a village called Susiya in the West Bank for expanding settlements.
Spokesman for the department John Kerry expressed deep concern over the Israeli decision to demolish the Palestinian village under the pretext of being built without Israeli permit.
We strongly urge the Israeli authorities to refrain from carrying out any demolitions in the village. Demolition of this Palestinian village or of parts of it, and evictions of Palestinians from their homes would be harmful and provocative. Such actions have an impact beyond those individuals and families who are evicted, he said.
We are concerned that the demolition of this village may worsen the atmosphere for a peaceful resolution, he continued.
Israeli authorities have earlier issued a decision to demolish 50 homes in Susiya village, a hamlet of 350 residents, and the sole school in the area.
Spokesman for the department John Kerry expressed deep concern over the Israeli decision to demolish the Palestinian village under the pretext of being built without Israeli permit.
We strongly urge the Israeli authorities to refrain from carrying out any demolitions in the village. Demolition of this Palestinian village or of parts of it, and evictions of Palestinians from their homes would be harmful and provocative. Such actions have an impact beyond those individuals and families who are evicted, he said.
We are concerned that the demolition of this village may worsen the atmosphere for a peaceful resolution, he continued.
Israeli authorities have earlier issued a decision to demolish 50 homes in Susiya village, a hamlet of 350 residents, and the sole school in the area.
Israeli authorities ordered the demolition of around half of the homes, in a village south of Hebron, to be carried out after Ramadan, Israeli watchdogs said on Wednesday.
Rabbis for Human Rights and B'Tselem said, in a statement, that pressure from Israeli settlers had led to the decision to carry out demolition orders in the village of Khirbet Susiya after Ramadan, although a high court hearing regarding the case is currently scheduled for August 3.
The Israeli Civil Administration, the Israeli army, and the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) office announced the demolition order to the villagers in a meeting, Sunday. Khirbet Susiya has been under imminent threat of demolition since May, when the Israeli High Court approved the demolition of the villagers' homes and tents and possible relocation of the villages around 300 Bedouin residents.
The court case has been ongoing since 2012, when residents of Khirbet Susiya applied for the Israeli Civil Administration to approve an outline plan for northern part of the village.
Susiya villagers reportedly built homes in 1986 on agricultural land they owned, after being evicted by Israel from their previous dwellings on land declared as an archaeological site.
Situated in Area C, an area covering 60 percent of the West Bank which is under full Israeli control, villagers of Khirbet Susiya must apply for construction permits from the Israeli Civil Administration.
In practice only a handful of Palestinian applications for construction or expansion on existing structures are approved, with only six percent of Palestinian building permit requests granted by Israel between 2000 and 2012.
Unable to get "legal" permission, Palestinians are faced with either leaving or building illegally.
Since 1988 Israeli forces have issued more than double the amount of demolition orders to Palestinians in Area C than they have to illegal Israeli settlements in the area.
Israeli settlers living illegally in the area according to international law already control over 300 hectares of Khirbet Susiya's land, B'Tselem reports.
Rabbis for Human Rights alleges that the newest threat is a form of coercion that aims to expel residents of the area already before the court hearing.
The head of the Susiya village council Jihad al-Nawajaa said the residents have been asked to be evacuated on the pretext that the village lacks sufficient infrastructure for living.
Meanwhile, the Israeli government provides the necessary services to the nearby Israeli settlement of Susiya. Last year Israel demolished 590 Palestinian-owned structures in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, displacing 1,177 people, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The upcoming demolition of Khirbet Susiya comes while member of Israel's right wing government are pushing a plan to forcibly relocate tens of thousands of Palestinian Bedouins.
Approved without any consultation with the Bedouin community, the plan would evict nearly 40,000 Bedouins from their villages and force them to live in concentrated areas that critics called "reservations." Israel currently refuses to recognize 35 Bedouin villages in the Negev, which collectively house nearly 90,000 people.
Rabbis for Human Rights and B'Tselem said, in a statement, that pressure from Israeli settlers had led to the decision to carry out demolition orders in the village of Khirbet Susiya after Ramadan, although a high court hearing regarding the case is currently scheduled for August 3.
The Israeli Civil Administration, the Israeli army, and the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) office announced the demolition order to the villagers in a meeting, Sunday. Khirbet Susiya has been under imminent threat of demolition since May, when the Israeli High Court approved the demolition of the villagers' homes and tents and possible relocation of the villages around 300 Bedouin residents.
The court case has been ongoing since 2012, when residents of Khirbet Susiya applied for the Israeli Civil Administration to approve an outline plan for northern part of the village.
Susiya villagers reportedly built homes in 1986 on agricultural land they owned, after being evicted by Israel from their previous dwellings on land declared as an archaeological site.
Situated in Area C, an area covering 60 percent of the West Bank which is under full Israeli control, villagers of Khirbet Susiya must apply for construction permits from the Israeli Civil Administration.
In practice only a handful of Palestinian applications for construction or expansion on existing structures are approved, with only six percent of Palestinian building permit requests granted by Israel between 2000 and 2012.
Unable to get "legal" permission, Palestinians are faced with either leaving or building illegally.
Since 1988 Israeli forces have issued more than double the amount of demolition orders to Palestinians in Area C than they have to illegal Israeli settlements in the area.
Israeli settlers living illegally in the area according to international law already control over 300 hectares of Khirbet Susiya's land, B'Tselem reports.
Rabbis for Human Rights alleges that the newest threat is a form of coercion that aims to expel residents of the area already before the court hearing.
The head of the Susiya village council Jihad al-Nawajaa said the residents have been asked to be evacuated on the pretext that the village lacks sufficient infrastructure for living.
Meanwhile, the Israeli government provides the necessary services to the nearby Israeli settlement of Susiya. Last year Israel demolished 590 Palestinian-owned structures in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, displacing 1,177 people, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The upcoming demolition of Khirbet Susiya comes while member of Israel's right wing government are pushing a plan to forcibly relocate tens of thousands of Palestinian Bedouins.
Approved without any consultation with the Bedouin community, the plan would evict nearly 40,000 Bedouins from their villages and force them to live in concentrated areas that critics called "reservations." Israel currently refuses to recognize 35 Bedouin villages in the Negev, which collectively house nearly 90,000 people.
16 july 2015
Photos taken recently by Q-Press media center have showed that the Israeli occupation authority in occupied Jerusalem turned an Islamic historic site beneath the western boundaries of the Aqsa Mosque into a hall for Jewish occasions.
According to Q-Press, the hall is located exactly in an area under the surface of Hammam al-Ein and al-Mathara Gate.
The photos, which republished by the Arabic website of the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) showed a refurbished ancient hall dating back to different Islamic eras equipped with furniture, lights, audio equipment and other stuff.
The hall will be used for the organization of Jewish cultural events and presentations to claim the place as a Hebrew historic site connected with the alleged temple mount.
According to Q-Press, the hall is located exactly in an area under the surface of Hammam al-Ein and al-Mathara Gate.
The photos, which republished by the Arabic website of the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) showed a refurbished ancient hall dating back to different Islamic eras equipped with furniture, lights, audio equipment and other stuff.
The hall will be used for the organization of Jewish cultural events and presentations to claim the place as a Hebrew historic site connected with the alleged temple mount.
15 july 2015
Israeli soldiers invaded, earlier on Wednesday, several Palestinian communities in the West Bank’s Northern Plains, and handed warrants to a number of families, ordering them to halt constructions of their property, in preparation for their demolition.
Had of the Wadi al-Maleh and Bedouin Tribes Local Council Aref Daraghma said several military vehicles, and personnel of the “Civil Administration Office,” run by the military in the occupied West Bank, surrounded the Palestinian communities before invading them.
The soldiers then handed the demolition orders, informing the residents their structures will be demolished this coming November.
Daraghma added that the structures include an agricultural pool of 250 cubic meters, sheds, barns and hothouses.
Earlier Wednesday, dozens of Israeli soldiers invaded, Palestinian communities in the Northern Plains, and conducted live fire military drills in the meadows, and overlooking hills.
Had of the Wadi al-Maleh and Bedouin Tribes Local Council Aref Daraghma said several military vehicles, and personnel of the “Civil Administration Office,” run by the military in the occupied West Bank, surrounded the Palestinian communities before invading them.
The soldiers then handed the demolition orders, informing the residents their structures will be demolished this coming November.
Daraghma added that the structures include an agricultural pool of 250 cubic meters, sheds, barns and hothouses.
Earlier Wednesday, dozens of Israeli soldiers invaded, Palestinian communities in the Northern Plains, and conducted live fire military drills in the meadows, and overlooking hills.
14 july 2015
Israel's Civil Administration secretly allocated land for 800 housing units in an illegal settlement south of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, a rights group said Tuesday.
Despite orders by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2013 to cancel planning tenders for housing units in the settlement of Givat Eitam, planning continued as the land reportedly belonged to a subsidiary of the Jewish National Fund, Israeli watchdog Peace Now reported.
According to Ma'an, the Jewish National Fund (JNF) is a non profit organization that works to "reclaim" and repurpose land for use by Jewish citizens, often at the expense of Palestinian right to land and control of resources.
The planned housing units for the Givat Eitam settlement are dependent on the revocation of land belonging to Palestinian residents of the village of Al-Nahla south of Bethlehem, and north-east of the Efrat settlement. Last week Israel responded to a petition by Al-Nahla residents against the deceleration of 1,300 dunams of their lands as state land.
A year and a half prior, Israel's Ministry of Housing and Construction had published the planning tenders for 20,000 housing units in settlements, among which was a tender for units in Al-Nahla, Peace Now reported, adding that following public criticism, Netanyahu ordered to cancel the tenders.
"Nevertheless, in a response submitted to court last week, the state exposed that the Civil Administration allocated approximately 300 dunams, owned by the JNF subsidiary Himanuta, to the Efrat Municipality for planning," Peace Now alleged, referring to the municipality of the nearby Efrat settlement.
Israel argued that: "the only contractual communication in Givat Eitam is the planning authorization given to the Efrat Municipal Council regarding the land registered to Himanuta," the group said.
The planned expansion of Givat Eitam onto land registered with the group would jut the settlement out into the central West Bank, bisecting the north and south and devastating the possibility for a continuous Palestinian state.
JNF is one of many groups that work throughout occupied East Jerusalem in the West Bank, where Jewish-only settlements have exponentially expanded over the decades in contravention to international law.
IOA approves the construction of 800 housing units near Bethlehem
Israeli Housing and Construction Minister Uri Ariel approved by the end of last year the construction of 800 new housing units in Efrat settlement near Bethlehem, media reports said.
The new settlement scheme denies Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu’s previous claims of his intention to freeze the project.
900 thousand shekels (250 thousand dollars) were allocated for the implementation of the settlement project, the sources added.
The new housing units are expected to be built in an area called as Givat Haitam and known as "E2" due to its sensitive location.
Israeli radio considered the project as a strategic plan that would expand Gush Etizon settlement bloc and separate between Bethlehem and the West Bank.
Despite orders by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2013 to cancel planning tenders for housing units in the settlement of Givat Eitam, planning continued as the land reportedly belonged to a subsidiary of the Jewish National Fund, Israeli watchdog Peace Now reported.
According to Ma'an, the Jewish National Fund (JNF) is a non profit organization that works to "reclaim" and repurpose land for use by Jewish citizens, often at the expense of Palestinian right to land and control of resources.
The planned housing units for the Givat Eitam settlement are dependent on the revocation of land belonging to Palestinian residents of the village of Al-Nahla south of Bethlehem, and north-east of the Efrat settlement. Last week Israel responded to a petition by Al-Nahla residents against the deceleration of 1,300 dunams of their lands as state land.
A year and a half prior, Israel's Ministry of Housing and Construction had published the planning tenders for 20,000 housing units in settlements, among which was a tender for units in Al-Nahla, Peace Now reported, adding that following public criticism, Netanyahu ordered to cancel the tenders.
"Nevertheless, in a response submitted to court last week, the state exposed that the Civil Administration allocated approximately 300 dunams, owned by the JNF subsidiary Himanuta, to the Efrat Municipality for planning," Peace Now alleged, referring to the municipality of the nearby Efrat settlement.
Israel argued that: "the only contractual communication in Givat Eitam is the planning authorization given to the Efrat Municipal Council regarding the land registered to Himanuta," the group said.
The planned expansion of Givat Eitam onto land registered with the group would jut the settlement out into the central West Bank, bisecting the north and south and devastating the possibility for a continuous Palestinian state.
JNF is one of many groups that work throughout occupied East Jerusalem in the West Bank, where Jewish-only settlements have exponentially expanded over the decades in contravention to international law.
IOA approves the construction of 800 housing units near Bethlehem
Israeli Housing and Construction Minister Uri Ariel approved by the end of last year the construction of 800 new housing units in Efrat settlement near Bethlehem, media reports said.
The new settlement scheme denies Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu’s previous claims of his intention to freeze the project.
900 thousand shekels (250 thousand dollars) were allocated for the implementation of the settlement project, the sources added.
The new housing units are expected to be built in an area called as Givat Haitam and known as "E2" due to its sensitive location.
Israeli radio considered the project as a strategic plan that would expand Gush Etizon settlement bloc and separate between Bethlehem and the West Bank.
Q-Press media center for Jerusalem and al-Aqsa affairs today said that the planning and construction committee in occupied Jerusalem, last week, has approved the construction of a huge project on land for the Ma’man Allah historic Islamic cemetery, on which an Israeli school was already built. The land will also be used for settlement housing, a hotel and a shopping center.
Haaretz newspaper said, according to the PNN, that Israeli occupation authorities pushed to execute the project on the land even though it is Islamic Waqf (property) that cannot be seized.
Israeli occupation is still going on with the project with complete knowledge that there are existing graves underneath the land.
The newspaper added that the Israeli plan includes building 192 settlement units, a hotel and a shopping center. The project was initiated by Eiden company, which follows the Israeli Jerusalem municipality.
To its part, Al-Aqsa foundation for Waqf and heritage said that the Israeli municipality in Jerusalem, through this project, was continuing to Judaize the Islamic cemetery, violating all the laws and conventions which ban desecrating sanctuaries under any occupation.
Israeli authorities have targeted the cemetery for years. They have established different projects including parks, hotels, schools and shopping centers on the land, violating even the rights of the dead.
Haaretz newspaper said, according to the PNN, that Israeli occupation authorities pushed to execute the project on the land even though it is Islamic Waqf (property) that cannot be seized.
Israeli occupation is still going on with the project with complete knowledge that there are existing graves underneath the land.
The newspaper added that the Israeli plan includes building 192 settlement units, a hotel and a shopping center. The project was initiated by Eiden company, which follows the Israeli Jerusalem municipality.
To its part, Al-Aqsa foundation for Waqf and heritage said that the Israeli municipality in Jerusalem, through this project, was continuing to Judaize the Islamic cemetery, violating all the laws and conventions which ban desecrating sanctuaries under any occupation.
Israeli authorities have targeted the cemetery for years. They have established different projects including parks, hotels, schools and shopping centers on the land, violating even the rights of the dead.
13 july 2015
The ” Planning Commission and local construction” at the occupations Municipality ratified recently a new route for the Metro (Light Train) that splits the North of the city to the South and connects between the settlement of Gilo in the south and Mount Scopus north of Jerusalem, it also passes through settlement neighborhoods in occupied Jerusalem with a length of 19.6 Km.
The commission also ratified a sub route with a length of 3km that reaches to the Industrial area the settlement of “Talpiot”, with the presence of a study to add another sub route that reaches Al-Malha settlement located in south west Jerusalem.
The plan was given to the District Committee for approval and to end this project in the year 2021.
The new route was given the name “The Green Route”, it begins from the students dormitory at the Hebrew University – Mount Scopus, where it passes from its junction there and the side of the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood then “Bar Elan” road passing through the cities western entrance to the governmental ministries area in the middle of the city and then “Givat Rum” the Hebrew University, it also passes through the town of Bait Safafa and then a sub route is attached to make it reach to the industrial area of “Talpiot settlement”, the new route ends at Gilo settlement south of the city of Jerusalem.
It is noted that the Metro rail route was opened before four years after constructional works that lasted for more than 10 years, and it is the route that was given the name “The Red Route” that connects between the settlements north of Jerusalem – “Navi Yaqoub” and “Pisgat Ze’ev” settlements and with Jerusalem, it passes near the historical old city walls of occupied Jerusalem and reaches to the area of the displaced village of Ein Karem in the year 1948.
The Metro project connected the Israeli settlements together and confiscated large areas of Palestinian lands.
The commission also ratified a sub route with a length of 3km that reaches to the Industrial area the settlement of “Talpiot”, with the presence of a study to add another sub route that reaches Al-Malha settlement located in south west Jerusalem.
The plan was given to the District Committee for approval and to end this project in the year 2021.
The new route was given the name “The Green Route”, it begins from the students dormitory at the Hebrew University – Mount Scopus, where it passes from its junction there and the side of the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood then “Bar Elan” road passing through the cities western entrance to the governmental ministries area in the middle of the city and then “Givat Rum” the Hebrew University, it also passes through the town of Bait Safafa and then a sub route is attached to make it reach to the industrial area of “Talpiot settlement”, the new route ends at Gilo settlement south of the city of Jerusalem.
It is noted that the Metro rail route was opened before four years after constructional works that lasted for more than 10 years, and it is the route that was given the name “The Red Route” that connects between the settlements north of Jerusalem – “Navi Yaqoub” and “Pisgat Ze’ev” settlements and with Jerusalem, it passes near the historical old city walls of occupied Jerusalem and reaches to the area of the displaced village of Ein Karem in the year 1948.
The Metro project connected the Israeli settlements together and confiscated large areas of Palestinian lands.
The Presidential Committee for Christian Affairs, in Palestine, issued a statement condemning the Israeli High Court decision granting a green light for starting the construction of the Annexation wall in the Cremisan monastery valley, in Beit Jala, in the West Bank district of Bethlehem.
The Committee stated that the Israeli decision is “just a racist means used by Israel to pass resolutions and rulings that violate International Law, and aim at more illegal annexation of Palestinian lands.”
“The ruling will cause excessive harm to the owners, the inhabitants on the area, to the church and monastery,” the committee added, “The court asked the army not to harm the rights of the Palestinians, but this wall would split the Monastery, and isolate large swaths of lands.”
Committee head Hanna ‘Amira called on the International Community, and all churches around the world, especially the Vatican, to denounce the Israeli violations, and act on stopping them, as Israel continues to violate the Palestinian rights, including their freedom of worship, ownership, and freedom of movement.
He also called on the International Community to be aware of the outrageous Israeli military interpretations of court rulings, and the allegations that the wall is built for security considerations, and to act on ensuring International Law and international humanitarian law, are fully applied without any exceptions.
“This wall, in the Cremisan Monastery, as well as in every part of the occupied West Bank is illegal, and violates International Law,” he said, “The Palestinians, as any other nation, have the right to establish their state in their homeland, and live in peace, security and stability.”
The Committee also stated that the construction of the Wall “is an assassination of the two-state solution.”
The Israeli ruling allows the army to confiscate large areas of privately owned Palestinian lands, and what Israel considers state lands, in the occupied territories.
The Annexation wall isolates the Palestinians from their orchards and lands, and has led to the illegal annexation of large areas, paving the way for Israel to build and expand its illegal Jewish-only colonies in the occupied West Bank, including in and around occupied Jerusalem.
Several Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank have been turned into isolated ghettoes after being surrounded by colonies, and isolated by the Annexation Wall. Villagers are largely denied access to what is left of their lands on the other side of the Wall.
The Wall is also built deep in Palestinian lands; to enable the expansion of illegal colonies, while the Palestinians remain denied the basic right to expand their communities, in their homeland.
The Committee stated that the Israeli decision is “just a racist means used by Israel to pass resolutions and rulings that violate International Law, and aim at more illegal annexation of Palestinian lands.”
“The ruling will cause excessive harm to the owners, the inhabitants on the area, to the church and monastery,” the committee added, “The court asked the army not to harm the rights of the Palestinians, but this wall would split the Monastery, and isolate large swaths of lands.”
Committee head Hanna ‘Amira called on the International Community, and all churches around the world, especially the Vatican, to denounce the Israeli violations, and act on stopping them, as Israel continues to violate the Palestinian rights, including their freedom of worship, ownership, and freedom of movement.
He also called on the International Community to be aware of the outrageous Israeli military interpretations of court rulings, and the allegations that the wall is built for security considerations, and to act on ensuring International Law and international humanitarian law, are fully applied without any exceptions.
“This wall, in the Cremisan Monastery, as well as in every part of the occupied West Bank is illegal, and violates International Law,” he said, “The Palestinians, as any other nation, have the right to establish their state in their homeland, and live in peace, security and stability.”
The Committee also stated that the construction of the Wall “is an assassination of the two-state solution.”
The Israeli ruling allows the army to confiscate large areas of privately owned Palestinian lands, and what Israel considers state lands, in the occupied territories.
The Annexation wall isolates the Palestinians from their orchards and lands, and has led to the illegal annexation of large areas, paving the way for Israel to build and expand its illegal Jewish-only colonies in the occupied West Bank, including in and around occupied Jerusalem.
Several Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank have been turned into isolated ghettoes after being surrounded by colonies, and isolated by the Annexation Wall. Villagers are largely denied access to what is left of their lands on the other side of the Wall.
The Wall is also built deep in Palestinian lands; to enable the expansion of illegal colonies, while the Palestinians remain denied the basic right to expand their communities, in their homeland.
Arab Member of Knesset Bassel Ghattas called on the Pope to refuse the selling of 1000 dunums belonging to Latrun Monastery west of occupied Jerusalem to a Jewish investment company that would use the land to build 5000 housing units for the Haridim.
In his letter, Ghattas stressed that the Latrun Monastery’s lands are of inestimable value that belong to the holy land of Palestine.
“We should sensitively deal with the church lands due to the current political conditions.”
Selling the church lands to an extremist Jewish investor will only serve Jewish interests in violations of the church’s principles, the MP Ghattas continued.
He said that the deal came as part of Israeli attempts to displace Arabs from their homeland, pointing to the increasing numbers of Christian emigrants from Palestinian lands.
“The church’s properties and privileges must only serve its people and strengthen their presence in their homeland.”
In his letter, Ghattas stressed that the Latrun Monastery’s lands are of inestimable value that belong to the holy land of Palestine.
“We should sensitively deal with the church lands due to the current political conditions.”
Selling the church lands to an extremist Jewish investor will only serve Jewish interests in violations of the church’s principles, the MP Ghattas continued.
He said that the deal came as part of Israeli attempts to displace Arabs from their homeland, pointing to the increasing numbers of Christian emigrants from Palestinian lands.
“The church’s properties and privileges must only serve its people and strengthen their presence in their homeland.”
Dozens of Israeli soldiers invaded, Sunday, the village of Susiya, south of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, and “offered” the villages to leave their village and lands, and to relocate to different areas allocated by the “Civil Administration Office.” Army to demolish structures in the village.
Coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in southern Hebron, Rateb al-Jabour, said the soldiers and representatives of the Civil Administration, run by the Israeli military in the occupied West Bank, invaded the village after surrounding it, and presented their plan.
Jabour stated that the Palestinians rejected the Israeli plan to displace and relocate them, so that Tel Aviv can build and expand its illegal Jewish-only settlements.
He also said that the villagers of Susiya are determined to challenge the illegal Israeli practices and violations, and that “they refuse to be bargained into leaving their lands that they inherited from their fathers and forefathers.”
“They are determined to stay in their village, in their land,” Jabour said, “They know the challenges, but there are determined to stay on their lands, determined to remain steadfast.”
In addition, the Israeli army informed the lawyer, who represents the villagers in Susiya, that it intends to demolish some structures, including residential, after Ein al-Fitr Muslim holiday.
Related:
Rev. David Etherington - Mondoweiss:
‘The world hears’ — Susiya village calls on solidarity activists to help prevent its destruction -
Israeli army threatens to raze homes of Susya villagers
The Israeli occupation army on Sunday threatened to demolish the homes of Susya village, south of al-Khalil, in the coming days, according to local sources.
The sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that people from the civil administration of the Israeli army stormed the village and threatened its residents that their homes would be removed within a few days.
The civil administration have tried to convince the residents to leave the area where they have been living for decades and live elsewhere, but they are insistent on not leaving their lands.
Coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in southern Hebron, Rateb al-Jabour, said the soldiers and representatives of the Civil Administration, run by the Israeli military in the occupied West Bank, invaded the village after surrounding it, and presented their plan.
Jabour stated that the Palestinians rejected the Israeli plan to displace and relocate them, so that Tel Aviv can build and expand its illegal Jewish-only settlements.
He also said that the villagers of Susiya are determined to challenge the illegal Israeli practices and violations, and that “they refuse to be bargained into leaving their lands that they inherited from their fathers and forefathers.”
“They are determined to stay in their village, in their land,” Jabour said, “They know the challenges, but there are determined to stay on their lands, determined to remain steadfast.”
In addition, the Israeli army informed the lawyer, who represents the villagers in Susiya, that it intends to demolish some structures, including residential, after Ein al-Fitr Muslim holiday.
Related:
Rev. David Etherington - Mondoweiss:
‘The world hears’ — Susiya village calls on solidarity activists to help prevent its destruction -
Israeli army threatens to raze homes of Susya villagers
The Israeli occupation army on Sunday threatened to demolish the homes of Susya village, south of al-Khalil, in the coming days, according to local sources.
The sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that people from the civil administration of the Israeli army stormed the village and threatened its residents that their homes would be removed within a few days.
The civil administration have tried to convince the residents to leave the area where they have been living for decades and live elsewhere, but they are insistent on not leaving their lands.
11 july 2015
Palestinian Bedouin village being destroyed
The Israeli Knesset (Parliament) announced that on Sunday July 12th, they will bring back a bill to forcibly remove 40,000 Palestinian Bedouins from their homes in the Negev desert in southern Israel.
The bill had been tabled in 2013 after widespread international condemnation of the forced transfer plan. According to Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, "Individual or mass forcible transfers, as well as deportations of protected persons from occupied territory to the territory of the Occupying Power or to that of any other country, occupied or not, are prohibited, regardless of their motive."
Israeli authorities had initially approved the plan, known as the 'Prawer Plan', in 2011, but delayed it indefinitely after the UN and other international bodies condemned the plan.
The Palestinian Bedouin communities of southern Israel have lived in their homes for hundreds of years, but when Israel was created in 1948, the Israeli government refused to recognize their villages. As such, their homes have been destroyed dozens of times by the Israeli government, each time rebuilt by the Bedouin community.
The Israeli government has managed to force the transfer of tens of thousands of Palestinian Bedouins into a reservation near the city dump of Jerusalem, but 40,000 more have refused to be moved from their ancestral homes.
In response to the announcement by the Israeli Knesset that they are reconsidering the Prawer Plan on Sunday, the Palestinian Bedouin community called for an emergency meeting to prepare a plan to resist the forcible displacement of the population.
Talab Abu Arar, the Palestinian Bedouin member of the Israeli Knesset, organized the meeting to try to call for emergency preventative measures to stop the forced displacement.
The re-introduction of the bill is being carried out by the Israeli minister of agriculture, Uri Ariel of the Habayit Hayehudi party (Jewish Home) party.
Palestinian Bedouins have compared the forced displacement plan to the U.S. system of 'reservations' for the native American population, by which hundreds of thousands of American Indians were forcibly displaced from their homelands in what has since been termed a genocidal colonial operation by the invading European colonists.
The Israeli Knesset (Parliament) announced that on Sunday July 12th, they will bring back a bill to forcibly remove 40,000 Palestinian Bedouins from their homes in the Negev desert in southern Israel.
The bill had been tabled in 2013 after widespread international condemnation of the forced transfer plan. According to Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, "Individual or mass forcible transfers, as well as deportations of protected persons from occupied territory to the territory of the Occupying Power or to that of any other country, occupied or not, are prohibited, regardless of their motive."
Israeli authorities had initially approved the plan, known as the 'Prawer Plan', in 2011, but delayed it indefinitely after the UN and other international bodies condemned the plan.
The Palestinian Bedouin communities of southern Israel have lived in their homes for hundreds of years, but when Israel was created in 1948, the Israeli government refused to recognize their villages. As such, their homes have been destroyed dozens of times by the Israeli government, each time rebuilt by the Bedouin community.
The Israeli government has managed to force the transfer of tens of thousands of Palestinian Bedouins into a reservation near the city dump of Jerusalem, but 40,000 more have refused to be moved from their ancestral homes.
In response to the announcement by the Israeli Knesset that they are reconsidering the Prawer Plan on Sunday, the Palestinian Bedouin community called for an emergency meeting to prepare a plan to resist the forcible displacement of the population.
Talab Abu Arar, the Palestinian Bedouin member of the Israeli Knesset, organized the meeting to try to call for emergency preventative measures to stop the forced displacement.
The re-introduction of the bill is being carried out by the Israeli minister of agriculture, Uri Ariel of the Habayit Hayehudi party (Jewish Home) party.
Palestinian Bedouins have compared the forced displacement plan to the U.S. system of 'reservations' for the native American population, by which hundreds of thousands of American Indians were forcibly displaced from their homelands in what has since been termed a genocidal colonial operation by the invading European colonists.
Arab Knesset member Talab Abu Arrar strongly denounced the Israeli occupation authority for confiscating funds belonging to the Aqsa Foundation in the 1948 occupied lands.
Abu Arrar stated in press remarks that Israel's confiscation of Palestinian societies' funds and its violations against the Jerusalemite people stem from its antagonism against Islam and Muslims and its intent to Judaize the Aqsa Mosque.
He also pointed out to the Israeli government's support for racist Jewish groups and societies advocating the construction of the alleged temple mount on the ruins of the Aqsa Mosque.
The lawmaker demanded the Israeli internal security minister to release the funds of the Aqsa Foundation, which he said is licensed.
Abu Arrar stated in press remarks that Israel's confiscation of Palestinian societies' funds and its violations against the Jerusalemite people stem from its antagonism against Islam and Muslims and its intent to Judaize the Aqsa Mosque.
He also pointed out to the Israeli government's support for racist Jewish groups and societies advocating the construction of the alleged temple mount on the ruins of the Aqsa Mosque.
The lawmaker demanded the Israeli internal security minister to release the funds of the Aqsa Foundation, which he said is licensed.
10 july 2015
Israel confiscated materials from the Al-Aqsa Association dedicated to poor families after the Ministry of Defense placed one donor organisation on their list of terrorist organisations two weeks ago.
Israeli defense minister Moshe Ya’alon ordered the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) to confiscate without warning a large sum of money from the bank account belonging to the Al-Aqsa Association. The Association has collected money from the Palestinian territories to implement their Ramadan projects in Jerusalem and outside Palestine as well as to fund Iftar for tens of thousands of fasting people in the Al-Aqsa mosque and in Arab towns.
The money was also meant to fund food packages including basic materials to meet the needs of poor families suffering from the constant harassment of the Israeli authorities that limit their movement and chances of a dignified life.
The Al-Aqsa Association organises dozens of buses every day for prayer and rabat in the mosque during the holy month of Ramadan, and provide thousands of meals within yards of the mosque in Jerusalem and other cities.
The Ministry of Defense justified its move by claiming that the Al-Aqsa Association had received funds from a Malaysian Palestine safety organisation that was put on the Israeli governments terrorist list two weeks ago.
Director of the Al-Aqsa Association responded that:
“The funds that the Malaysian safety organisation have donated during the past year has been entirely spent on the implementation of relief and educational projects before the unjust decision by the Israeli government to call the organisation illegal.”
He also said that the Association will not accept the confiscation of these funds and will do everything in their power to recover the money to help the poor.
Head of the Islamic Movement Sheikh Hammad Abu Daabs condemned the Israeli confiscation of the money as well as their decision to put the Malaysian security organisation on the list of terrorists and urged them to reverse its unjust decision. He vowed that the Islamic Movement would stand behind the Al-Aqsa Association and support them in completing their charity programs during the holy month of Ramadan and after.
Israeli defense minister Moshe Ya’alon ordered the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) to confiscate without warning a large sum of money from the bank account belonging to the Al-Aqsa Association. The Association has collected money from the Palestinian territories to implement their Ramadan projects in Jerusalem and outside Palestine as well as to fund Iftar for tens of thousands of fasting people in the Al-Aqsa mosque and in Arab towns.
The money was also meant to fund food packages including basic materials to meet the needs of poor families suffering from the constant harassment of the Israeli authorities that limit their movement and chances of a dignified life.
The Al-Aqsa Association organises dozens of buses every day for prayer and rabat in the mosque during the holy month of Ramadan, and provide thousands of meals within yards of the mosque in Jerusalem and other cities.
The Ministry of Defense justified its move by claiming that the Al-Aqsa Association had received funds from a Malaysian Palestine safety organisation that was put on the Israeli governments terrorist list two weeks ago.
Director of the Al-Aqsa Association responded that:
“The funds that the Malaysian safety organisation have donated during the past year has been entirely spent on the implementation of relief and educational projects before the unjust decision by the Israeli government to call the organisation illegal.”
He also said that the Association will not accept the confiscation of these funds and will do everything in their power to recover the money to help the poor.
Head of the Islamic Movement Sheikh Hammad Abu Daabs condemned the Israeli confiscation of the money as well as their decision to put the Malaysian security organisation on the list of terrorists and urged them to reverse its unjust decision. He vowed that the Islamic Movement would stand behind the Al-Aqsa Association and support them in completing their charity programs during the holy month of Ramadan and after.
The Israeli occupation government is expected, in its weekly meeting Sunday, to go over the so-called Prawer plan for the forcible deportation of Palestinian natives of Occupied Negev.
The racist bill was re-forwarded on the government’s agenda by the Israeli agriculture minister, Uri Ariel.
The Prawer bill passed its preliminary vote in the Israeli Knesset on April 26, 2013 after it was discussed by the Knesset interior and environmental protection committee. However, the plan has never been finalized.
The Judicial Chancellor at the ministry of agriculture said in a report submitted to the minister Thursday there is no legal hurdle hampering the projected approval of the legislation.
Tens of thousands of Bedouin Palestinians live in unrecognized villages. Because the Israeli government does not recognize their claims to the lands they live on, they do not receive basic services such as connections to water lines and the power grid.
The bill, first introduced in 2011, is a government plan to forcibly Bedouin citizens living in dozens of “unrecognized” villages in Israel’s Negev desert, which the government has never agreed to recognize or provide services to.
The plan has drawn heavy criticism from both Bedouin citizens and human rights groups. In recent times it has also been the source of wide-scale protests across the Occupied Palestinian territories and overseas.
The racist bill was re-forwarded on the government’s agenda by the Israeli agriculture minister, Uri Ariel.
The Prawer bill passed its preliminary vote in the Israeli Knesset on April 26, 2013 after it was discussed by the Knesset interior and environmental protection committee. However, the plan has never been finalized.
The Judicial Chancellor at the ministry of agriculture said in a report submitted to the minister Thursday there is no legal hurdle hampering the projected approval of the legislation.
Tens of thousands of Bedouin Palestinians live in unrecognized villages. Because the Israeli government does not recognize their claims to the lands they live on, they do not receive basic services such as connections to water lines and the power grid.
The bill, first introduced in 2011, is a government plan to forcibly Bedouin citizens living in dozens of “unrecognized” villages in Israel’s Negev desert, which the government has never agreed to recognize or provide services to.
The plan has drawn heavy criticism from both Bedouin citizens and human rights groups. In recent times it has also been the source of wide-scale protests across the Occupied Palestinian territories and overseas.