18 feb 2016
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Thursday kidnapped eight Palestinians from their homes in the occupied territories of the West Bank. According to the Hebrew website 0404, the Israeli army arrested eight wanted Palestinians accused of being involved in resistance activities against the occupation and its settlers.
Two of the detainees were kidnapped from the towns of Deir al-Ghusun and Iktaba near Tulkarem city, and three others from Deir Estia town near Salfit city. Two young men were also taken prisoners in IOF raids on homes in al-Deheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem, and another one in Dura town near al-Khalil city.
Local sources, meanwhile, told Quds Press that the IOF kidnapped two young men in the towns of Izbat Shufa and Deir al-Ghusun in Tulkarem. In Bethlehem, Israeli soldiers raided the house of Ali Najajerah and kidnapped his son Mohamed, the sources said Another young man named Louay Shadeed was reportedly kidnapped from his home in Dura town near al-Khalil.
Local sources also reported that the IOF handed 15-year-old Mahmoud al-Maghrabi a summons for interrogation from the Shin Bet during a raid on his parents' home in al-Deheisheh camp. Several homes were also raided in IOF campaigns in different areas near al-Khalil, including the house of ex-detainee Maher al-Hashlamoun. In Occupied Jerusalem, the family of martyr Hussein Abu Ghush received an Israeli demolition notice issued against its house in Qalandiya refugee camp.
Two of the detainees were kidnapped from the towns of Deir al-Ghusun and Iktaba near Tulkarem city, and three others from Deir Estia town near Salfit city. Two young men were also taken prisoners in IOF raids on homes in al-Deheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem, and another one in Dura town near al-Khalil city.
Local sources, meanwhile, told Quds Press that the IOF kidnapped two young men in the towns of Izbat Shufa and Deir al-Ghusun in Tulkarem. In Bethlehem, Israeli soldiers raided the house of Ali Najajerah and kidnapped his son Mohamed, the sources said Another young man named Louay Shadeed was reportedly kidnapped from his home in Dura town near al-Khalil.
Local sources also reported that the IOF handed 15-year-old Mahmoud al-Maghrabi a summons for interrogation from the Shin Bet during a raid on his parents' home in al-Deheisheh camp. Several homes were also raided in IOF campaigns in different areas near al-Khalil, including the house of ex-detainee Maher al-Hashlamoun. In Occupied Jerusalem, the family of martyr Hussein Abu Ghush received an Israeli demolition notice issued against its house in Qalandiya refugee camp.
Israel's channel 7 said that a Knesset member started recently to lead an incitement campaign against Palestinian construction projects funded by the European Union (EU) in Area C of the West Bank.
MK Bezalel Smotrich, from the Jewish Home, claims the Palestinian construction in this area is illegal, according to the channel. Smotrich has also called on Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu to urgently inquire about the wave of construction projects funded by the EU in Area C in light the current diplomatic talks between the two sides (Israel and the EU).
The channel also quoted the Israeli deputy foreign minister as saying that there are about 1,000 illegal structures in Area C. He claimed that Israel must contact the EU to confirm its right to enforce the law in Area C and remove illegal construction.
According to its Oslo agreement with the Palestinian Authority, Israel systematically demolish Palestinian homes and structures in Area C.
MK Bezalel Smotrich, from the Jewish Home, claims the Palestinian construction in this area is illegal, according to the channel. Smotrich has also called on Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu to urgently inquire about the wave of construction projects funded by the EU in Area C in light the current diplomatic talks between the two sides (Israel and the EU).
The channel also quoted the Israeli deputy foreign minister as saying that there are about 1,000 illegal structures in Area C. He claimed that Israel must contact the EU to confirm its right to enforce the law in Area C and remove illegal construction.
According to its Oslo agreement with the Palestinian Authority, Israel systematically demolish Palestinian homes and structures in Area C.
17 feb 2016
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) carried out at dawn Wednesday combing and demolition operations in Issawiya town in occupied Jerusalem.
Local activist Ahmed Sub Laban affirmed that Israeli forces demolished a number of Palestinian agricultural and industrial facilities in Issawiya and al-Tur towns as a prelude to establish a new “national park” in the town.
Sub Laban explained that 740 dunums of the two towns’ land are scheduled to be confiscated in order to expend Maale Adumim settlement as part of the E1 settlement plan.
Earlier Tuesday, the Israeli civil administration issued 12 demolition orders against 11 Palestinian homes and a mosque in Issawiya town east of occupied Jerusalem.
Local activist Ahmed Sub Laban affirmed that Israeli forces demolished a number of Palestinian agricultural and industrial facilities in Issawiya and al-Tur towns as a prelude to establish a new “national park” in the town.
Sub Laban explained that 740 dunums of the two towns’ land are scheduled to be confiscated in order to expend Maale Adumim settlement as part of the E1 settlement plan.
Earlier Tuesday, the Israeli civil administration issued 12 demolition orders against 11 Palestinian homes and a mosque in Issawiya town east of occupied Jerusalem.
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) on Tuesday handed demolition notices to Palestinians in Barta'a village to the south of Jenin city.
Eight commercial structures will be razed under the pretext of lacking construction permits.
Ghassan Kabha, head of Barta’a village council, said that the notices included the management room in the village’s station, electricity chamber, construction station, a store, stone and marble quarries, poultry, and wood and clay factories.
Eight commercial structures will be razed under the pretext of lacking construction permits.
Ghassan Kabha, head of Barta’a village council, said that the notices included the management room in the village’s station, electricity chamber, construction station, a store, stone and marble quarries, poultry, and wood and clay factories.
The Israeli civil administration on Tuesday issued 12 demolition orders on 11 Palestinian Bedouin homes and a mosque in the Jabal al-Baba community in the E1 corridor east of occupied Jerusalem.
Local sources told Quds Press that Israeli civil administration crews stormed the community on Tuesday and issued the demolition orders against 11 homes and a mosque.
The sources said that Israeli authorities seek to displace the residents in order to expend Maale Adumim settlement as part of the E1 settlement plan. Four other houses were earlier demolished within two weeks in the area, the sources pointed out.
Nearly 12,000 acres of Palestinian lands in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem face forced evacuation due to plans by Israeli authorities to build thousands of homes for Jewish-only settlements in the E1 corridor.
Settlement construction in E1 would effectively divide the West Bank between the north and the south, with a strip of Israeli settlements in between. Along the same line, Israeli daily raids have continued in Issawiya and al-Tur town north of occupied Jerusalem.
Local activist Mohamed Abu al-Homus told the PIC reporter that Israeli forces handed over on Tuesday a local resident a notification to evacuate his land west of Issawiya town within 24 hours under the pretext of being located near “the national park.”
Local sources told Quds Press that Israeli civil administration crews stormed the community on Tuesday and issued the demolition orders against 11 homes and a mosque.
The sources said that Israeli authorities seek to displace the residents in order to expend Maale Adumim settlement as part of the E1 settlement plan. Four other houses were earlier demolished within two weeks in the area, the sources pointed out.
Nearly 12,000 acres of Palestinian lands in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem face forced evacuation due to plans by Israeli authorities to build thousands of homes for Jewish-only settlements in the E1 corridor.
Settlement construction in E1 would effectively divide the West Bank between the north and the south, with a strip of Israeli settlements in between. Along the same line, Israeli daily raids have continued in Issawiya and al-Tur town north of occupied Jerusalem.
Local activist Mohamed Abu al-Homus told the PIC reporter that Israeli forces handed over on Tuesday a local resident a notification to evacuate his land west of Issawiya town within 24 hours under the pretext of being located near “the national park.”
16 feb 2016
Israeli forces, on Monday, demolished 20 Palestinian dwellings in Ein al-Rushrash, a locality to the southeast of Douma village, south of Nablus, according to a local activist.
Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement construction in the northern West Bank, said that Israeli forces, escorting a bulldozer, demolished 20 dwellings making up the Ein al-Rushrash locality, displacing about 85 Palestinians.
House demolitions “expose the real face of Israeli occupation,” Daghlas said, according to WAFA correspondence. He noted that Israel plans to forcefully displace all Palestinians living in this locality and referred to the demolition of over 145 dwellings in early January.
This came 19 days after forces handed Palestinian locals orders on January 28, notifying them of the intention to evict them from Ein al-Rushrash.
On January 12, Israel announced plans to install six watchtowers along a main north-south West Bank road and handed stop-construction orders for Palestinian houses in Khirbat al-Marajim, south of Douma, where the home of the Dawabsha family was burned by Israeli settlers this past July, killing a Palestinian baby and his parents.
Israeli forces notified Palestinian villagers of Sarra, Madama and Burin villages of their plans to set up six military watchtowers along the Ramallah-Nablus road, also marked as Route 60, effectively seizing and denying villagers access to hundreds of dunams of Palestinian farmlands on the sides of Route 60.
Since the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993, Palestinians have not been able to travel freely on Nablus-Ramallah road, which is dotted with Israeli checkpoints when the road passes from areas under Palestinian Authority or Israeli military control.
In addition to checkpoints, Israeli authorities have established several bypass roads, enabling Israel traffic to bypass areas of Route 60 that passed through Palestinian jurisdiction.
Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement construction in the northern West Bank, said that Israeli forces, escorting a bulldozer, demolished 20 dwellings making up the Ein al-Rushrash locality, displacing about 85 Palestinians.
House demolitions “expose the real face of Israeli occupation,” Daghlas said, according to WAFA correspondence. He noted that Israel plans to forcefully displace all Palestinians living in this locality and referred to the demolition of over 145 dwellings in early January.
This came 19 days after forces handed Palestinian locals orders on January 28, notifying them of the intention to evict them from Ein al-Rushrash.
On January 12, Israel announced plans to install six watchtowers along a main north-south West Bank road and handed stop-construction orders for Palestinian houses in Khirbat al-Marajim, south of Douma, where the home of the Dawabsha family was burned by Israeli settlers this past July, killing a Palestinian baby and his parents.
Israeli forces notified Palestinian villagers of Sarra, Madama and Burin villages of their plans to set up six military watchtowers along the Ramallah-Nablus road, also marked as Route 60, effectively seizing and denying villagers access to hundreds of dunams of Palestinian farmlands on the sides of Route 60.
Since the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993, Palestinians have not been able to travel freely on Nablus-Ramallah road, which is dotted with Israeli checkpoints when the road passes from areas under Palestinian Authority or Israeli military control.
In addition to checkpoints, Israeli authorities have established several bypass roads, enabling Israel traffic to bypass areas of Route 60 that passed through Palestinian jurisdiction.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Israeli policy of the Judaization of Jordan Valley area and the works of demolition and displacement of Palestinians in that area.
The ministry said, in a statement on Monday, that the Israeli practices in that area are illegal and contradict with international laws and regulations. It asked the international community to urgently intervene to halt Israeli actions that aim at Judaizing the Jordan Valley and displacing its residents by force.
The Ministry called for setting international legal procedures to protect the Palestinian people as well as issuing binding UN resolutions that stipulate halting settlements.
The statement of the ministry of foreign affairs also stated that the Israeli attack against the Jordan Valley area aims at expelling Palestinians out of the eastern borders of Palestine in order to expand settlements and increase the numbers of Jewish settlers.
The ministry said, in a statement on Monday, that the Israeli practices in that area are illegal and contradict with international laws and regulations. It asked the international community to urgently intervene to halt Israeli actions that aim at Judaizing the Jordan Valley and displacing its residents by force.
The Ministry called for setting international legal procedures to protect the Palestinian people as well as issuing binding UN resolutions that stipulate halting settlements.
The statement of the ministry of foreign affairs also stated that the Israeli attack against the Jordan Valley area aims at expelling Palestinians out of the eastern borders of Palestine in order to expand settlements and increase the numbers of Jewish settlers.
15 feb 2016
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) uprooted Monday nearly 100 olive trees and seedlings in Deir Estia village west of Salfit to the north of West Bank.
Local farmers told the PIC reporter that they were surprised on Monday morning to find their trees and seedlings uprooted under the pretext of being planted in a “nature reserve.”
Israeli forces are used to expel Palestinian farmers from their lands in order to pave the way for settlers’ presence in the area.
Eng. Ibrahim Hamed, director of Salfit agriculture department, affirmed that the IOF uprooted 7-year-old 100 olive seedlings in Wadi Qana area in Deir Estia village and confiscated water tanks.
For his part, Khaled Ma'ali, a land expert in the region, said that as part of Israeli Judaization policy, Wadi Qana area has been subjected to systematic attacks in order to expand the surrounding eight Israeli settlements.
Local farmers told the PIC reporter that they were surprised on Monday morning to find their trees and seedlings uprooted under the pretext of being planted in a “nature reserve.”
Israeli forces are used to expel Palestinian farmers from their lands in order to pave the way for settlers’ presence in the area.
Eng. Ibrahim Hamed, director of Salfit agriculture department, affirmed that the IOF uprooted 7-year-old 100 olive seedlings in Wadi Qana area in Deir Estia village and confiscated water tanks.
For his part, Khaled Ma'ali, a land expert in the region, said that as part of Israeli Judaization policy, Wadi Qana area has been subjected to systematic attacks in order to expand the surrounding eight Israeli settlements.
The Israeli occupation army on Monday morning demolished dozens of residential structures and displaced their residents in the Bedouin hamlet of Ein al-Rishrash, south of Nablus city.
Anti-settlement activist Khaled Zawahra told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that Israeli soldiers imposed a cordon on the hamlet, located between the villages of al-Mughir and Duma, before their bulldozers embarked on razing more than 30 tents and crude homes as well as livestock shacks.
Zawahra added that the Israeli decision to demolish these structures had been taken about three weeks ago at the pretext of unlicensed construction. The Israeli army has long sought to expel all residents of the hamlet, which has been there for decades.
Anti-settlement activist Khaled Zawahra told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that Israeli soldiers imposed a cordon on the hamlet, located between the villages of al-Mughir and Duma, before their bulldozers embarked on razing more than 30 tents and crude homes as well as livestock shacks.
Zawahra added that the Israeli decision to demolish these structures had been taken about three weeks ago at the pretext of unlicensed construction. The Israeli army has long sought to expel all residents of the hamlet, which has been there for decades.
The settlement expert Khalil al-Tafakji revealed details of the Israeli three-point plan to take over the Palestinian territories in Jordan Valley.
The plan includes isolating the city of Jericho and cancelling the projects of “Jericho Gate” as well as expropriating the 1500 dunums of the Jordan Valley’s land.
In a statement on Sunday, Tafakji underlined that these territories are not “state lands” as the confiscation order claims. “The lands are owned by the Islamic Awqaf (endowment) and were registered under the ownership of the Awqaf department at the time of the British mandate”, he elaborated.
It was planned, according to Oslo Accords, that Palestinian economic and tourism development projects would be implemented in that area under the name: “The Gate of Jericho”, Tafakji pointed out.
He said “the Israeli government actually planned years ago to confiscate those territories”.
Tafakji also disclosed more details on the Israeli plan of the reconstruction of King Abdulla Bridge over the river of Jordan and connecting it to Street 1 in Jerusalem as well as expanding the street to four lanes. The plan also includes the expansion of nearby Jewish settlements, Tafakji added.
The plan includes isolating the city of Jericho and cancelling the projects of “Jericho Gate” as well as expropriating the 1500 dunums of the Jordan Valley’s land.
In a statement on Sunday, Tafakji underlined that these territories are not “state lands” as the confiscation order claims. “The lands are owned by the Islamic Awqaf (endowment) and were registered under the ownership of the Awqaf department at the time of the British mandate”, he elaborated.
It was planned, according to Oslo Accords, that Palestinian economic and tourism development projects would be implemented in that area under the name: “The Gate of Jericho”, Tafakji pointed out.
He said “the Israeli government actually planned years ago to confiscate those territories”.
Tafakji also disclosed more details on the Israeli plan of the reconstruction of King Abdulla Bridge over the river of Jordan and connecting it to Street 1 in Jerusalem as well as expanding the street to four lanes. The plan also includes the expansion of nearby Jewish settlements, Tafakji added.
14 feb 2016
The Israeli occupation army's civil administration has demolished dozens of Palestinian homes and residential structures since the start of the current year, including 14 homes funded by the European Union (EU).
According to a report published by Yedioth Ahronoth website on Saturday, many of those demolitions took place in the southern area of al-Khalil Mount and E1 area near Ma'ale Adumim settlement, which was built on annexed Palestinian lands.
The website pointed out that the civil administration also razed EU-funded residential tents in Jericho and the Jordan Valley.
Those structures and homes were removed after Knesset members had criticized the civil administration for refusing to carry out the demolitions.
According to a report published by Yedioth Ahronoth website on Saturday, many of those demolitions took place in the southern area of al-Khalil Mount and E1 area near Ma'ale Adumim settlement, which was built on annexed Palestinian lands.
The website pointed out that the civil administration also razed EU-funded residential tents in Jericho and the Jordan Valley.
Those structures and homes were removed after Knesset members had criticized the civil administration for refusing to carry out the demolitions.
13 feb 2016
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) razed Saturday morning six structures used for housing and farming purposes in central Jordan Valley northwest of Occupied Jerusalem.
The youth activist in Jordan Valley, Hamzah Deiriya, told Quds Press Israeli bulldozers escorted by patrols of Israeli army as well as teams of the building and planning department at the Israeli civil administration demolished the structures that belonged to Palestinian families of the hamlet of Kerzliya.
The structures included three housing tents and three rooms used for storing purposes. The demolished units belonged to three Palestinians of Rihan family, Deiriya said.
The Israeli forces razed the structures for the claim of lacking construction permits and being located within closed military zones, he added. During the past 72 hours, Israeli forces demolished about 80 housing units in central Jordan Valley.
An Israeli report, which has recently been published, showed that 78% of closed military zones have not been used for military drills as declared since 1967, but instead, they are used for settlement expansion. The report estimated the area of those zones, which are prohibited for Palestinians to enter and farm, at 1,765,000 dunums which is equal to one third of the West Bank's total area.
The youth activist in Jordan Valley, Hamzah Deiriya, told Quds Press Israeli bulldozers escorted by patrols of Israeli army as well as teams of the building and planning department at the Israeli civil administration demolished the structures that belonged to Palestinian families of the hamlet of Kerzliya.
The structures included three housing tents and three rooms used for storing purposes. The demolished units belonged to three Palestinians of Rihan family, Deiriya said.
The Israeli forces razed the structures for the claim of lacking construction permits and being located within closed military zones, he added. During the past 72 hours, Israeli forces demolished about 80 housing units in central Jordan Valley.
An Israeli report, which has recently been published, showed that 78% of closed military zones have not been used for military drills as declared since 1967, but instead, they are used for settlement expansion. The report estimated the area of those zones, which are prohibited for Palestinians to enter and farm, at 1,765,000 dunums which is equal to one third of the West Bank's total area.
The European Parliament (EP’s) Delegation for relations with Palestine, expressed alarm at the deteriorating situation on the ground, calling for an immediate stop to Israeli expansion of settlements, and demolitions, said a press statement by EP delegation.
"Israeli occupation policies are a direct threat to the two-state solution. The expansion of settlements, demolitions, forcible transfers and evictions must stop immediately," Delegation Chair Martina Anderson said.
"Palestinians need hope, freedom and human rights. The way to these is by ending the occupation."
Following the EU guidelines on the indication of origin of goods originating from the territories occupied since 1967 by Israel, the EP delegation, following a four-day official visit, assessed what further action the EU should take regarding settlements in order to comply fully with international law and EU legislation.
The EP delegation asserted, according to WAFA: "The EU must be a player, not only a payer,” stating that, “We are incensed by Israel's increasing number of demolitions of humanitarian structures funded by EU taxpayers. People are losing their homes in the cold and the rain. Israeli policies violate international law and show disrespect for the EU, Israel's biggest trade partner," Chair Anderson said.
International organizations gave witness to the substantial deliberate targeting of EU-funded humanitarian aid structures by Israeli authorities, recently stepped-up apparently in retaliation for the EU guidelines on indication of origin of products from Israeli settlements. These demolitions are hitting hard particularly the rural Bedouin community, said the statement.
Members of the European Parliament further expressed concern at Israel’s use of administrative detention without formal charges.
They cited the 'particularly alarming’ case of Mohammad Al-Qeeq, a journalist on hunger strike for 79 days. To be noted, over 500 other Palestinians, including minors, are currently detained without charge or trial.
Regarding the Palestinian internal reconciliation, the EP delegation affirmed that, "Palestinian reconciliation is more urgent than ever.”
“Elections must be held as soon as possible. A united Palestinian leadership is essential for the two-state solution and for the future of Palestinian youth," Anderson said.
Anderson slammed the Israeli authorities refusal to allow envoy into Gaza as 'unacceptable’. The European Parliament has not been allowed in since 2011.
The cross-party Delegation for Relations with Palestine was in the West Bank from Monday 8 to Friday 12 February. The group reportedly met with high-level Palestinian officials and civil society in East Jerusalem, Ramallah, Hebron, Susya, Abu Nwar, Jabal al Baba and the Jordan Valley, as well as with UN partners.
On February 6th, The European Union called on Israel 'to halt the demolition of Palestinian housing, some of which was EU-funded, and reiterated its opposition to expanding Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.’
"In the past weeks there have been a number of developments in Area C of the West Bank, which risk undermining the viability of a future Palestinian state and driving the parties yet further apart," the EU diplomatic service said in a statement.
On 18 January Foreign Ministers in the Council conclusions confirmed the EU's firm opposition to Israel's settlement policy and actions taken in this context, including demolitions and confiscation, evictions, forced transfers or restrictions of movement and access.
"Israeli occupation policies are a direct threat to the two-state solution. The expansion of settlements, demolitions, forcible transfers and evictions must stop immediately," Delegation Chair Martina Anderson said.
"Palestinians need hope, freedom and human rights. The way to these is by ending the occupation."
Following the EU guidelines on the indication of origin of goods originating from the territories occupied since 1967 by Israel, the EP delegation, following a four-day official visit, assessed what further action the EU should take regarding settlements in order to comply fully with international law and EU legislation.
The EP delegation asserted, according to WAFA: "The EU must be a player, not only a payer,” stating that, “We are incensed by Israel's increasing number of demolitions of humanitarian structures funded by EU taxpayers. People are losing their homes in the cold and the rain. Israeli policies violate international law and show disrespect for the EU, Israel's biggest trade partner," Chair Anderson said.
International organizations gave witness to the substantial deliberate targeting of EU-funded humanitarian aid structures by Israeli authorities, recently stepped-up apparently in retaliation for the EU guidelines on indication of origin of products from Israeli settlements. These demolitions are hitting hard particularly the rural Bedouin community, said the statement.
Members of the European Parliament further expressed concern at Israel’s use of administrative detention without formal charges.
They cited the 'particularly alarming’ case of Mohammad Al-Qeeq, a journalist on hunger strike for 79 days. To be noted, over 500 other Palestinians, including minors, are currently detained without charge or trial.
Regarding the Palestinian internal reconciliation, the EP delegation affirmed that, "Palestinian reconciliation is more urgent than ever.”
“Elections must be held as soon as possible. A united Palestinian leadership is essential for the two-state solution and for the future of Palestinian youth," Anderson said.
Anderson slammed the Israeli authorities refusal to allow envoy into Gaza as 'unacceptable’. The European Parliament has not been allowed in since 2011.
The cross-party Delegation for Relations with Palestine was in the West Bank from Monday 8 to Friday 12 February. The group reportedly met with high-level Palestinian officials and civil society in East Jerusalem, Ramallah, Hebron, Susya, Abu Nwar, Jabal al Baba and the Jordan Valley, as well as with UN partners.
On February 6th, The European Union called on Israel 'to halt the demolition of Palestinian housing, some of which was EU-funded, and reiterated its opposition to expanding Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.’
"In the past weeks there have been a number of developments in Area C of the West Bank, which risk undermining the viability of a future Palestinian state and driving the parties yet further apart," the EU diplomatic service said in a statement.
On 18 January Foreign Ministers in the Council conclusions confirmed the EU's firm opposition to Israel's settlement policy and actions taken in this context, including demolitions and confiscation, evictions, forced transfers or restrictions of movement and access.
12 feb 2016
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) demolished nearly 70 Palestinian facilities within 48 hours in the Jordan Valley.
Local activist Mutaz Basharat told Quds Press on Friday that most of the demolished facilities were donated by the EU to Palestinians in the area as part of its humanitarian aid.
The Israeli demolition process aims to stop donor countries’ humanitarian aid to Palestinians, he pointed out. For his part, head of the village council Aref Daraghmeh said that Israeli authorities work at displacing Palestinian residents to pave way for settlement expansion.
Daraghmeh called on the international community to support the Palestinian steadfastness, saying that the Israeli demolition policy is carried out under “flimsy and illogical pretexts.”
Local activist Mutaz Basharat told Quds Press on Friday that most of the demolished facilities were donated by the EU to Palestinians in the area as part of its humanitarian aid.
The Israeli demolition process aims to stop donor countries’ humanitarian aid to Palestinians, he pointed out. For his part, head of the village council Aref Daraghmeh said that Israeli authorities work at displacing Palestinian residents to pave way for settlement expansion.
Daraghmeh called on the international community to support the Palestinian steadfastness, saying that the Israeli demolition policy is carried out under “flimsy and illogical pretexts.”
The Israeli authorities on Friday issued a punitive home demolition order to the family of a Palestinian who carried out a deadly attack in an illegal Israeli settlement last month.
Locals told Ma’an that Israeli forces raided the Ramallah-area village of Beit Ur al-Tahta in the occupied West Bank before delivering the demolition order to the family of Ibrahim Allan.
Allan was shot dead on Jan. 25 alongside Muhammad Abu Ghush after stabbing two settlers in the illegal Beit Horon settlement, one of whom died shortly after she was critically wounded.
The order is the latest in Israel’s controversial policy of punitive demolitions, a policy slammed by rights groups as a vindictive and indiscriminate response to attacks on Israelis.
While the policy is allegedly carried out as a punitive measure aimed to deter future attacks, is it is often viewed in the Palestinian public eye as collective punishment due to its displacement of innocent people.
Israeli rights group HaMoked reported that 11 new punitive demolitions were issued last week. While Palestinian families are given the opportunity to appeal the orders in Israeli court, the group said such appeals are rarely accepted.
Following recent demolitions, Palestinian communities across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem have raised money to help rebuild demolished homes.
Locals told Ma’an that Israeli forces raided the Ramallah-area village of Beit Ur al-Tahta in the occupied West Bank before delivering the demolition order to the family of Ibrahim Allan.
Allan was shot dead on Jan. 25 alongside Muhammad Abu Ghush after stabbing two settlers in the illegal Beit Horon settlement, one of whom died shortly after she was critically wounded.
The order is the latest in Israel’s controversial policy of punitive demolitions, a policy slammed by rights groups as a vindictive and indiscriminate response to attacks on Israelis.
While the policy is allegedly carried out as a punitive measure aimed to deter future attacks, is it is often viewed in the Palestinian public eye as collective punishment due to its displacement of innocent people.
Israeli rights group HaMoked reported that 11 new punitive demolitions were issued last week. While Palestinian families are given the opportunity to appeal the orders in Israeli court, the group said such appeals are rarely accepted.
Following recent demolitions, Palestinian communities across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem have raised money to help rebuild demolished homes.
