2 may 2016
Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked plans to promote a bill that would apply Israeli law to Jews living in the West Bank; Shaked: It is my goal to equalize conditions within one year.
Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked announced Sunday that she plans on promoting the “Norms Bill,” which aims to give the same legal rights to settlers living beyond the Green Line as Israeli citizens living within it.
If approved, the law would in effect apply Israeli law to Jews living in the West Bank, widening the gap between the settlers and the Palestinians, who abide by Israeli military law.
Prior to discussing the bill at Israel's Ministerial Committee for Legislation, Shaked gave a speech on Sunday in front of the Legal Forum of Israel, saying that “conditions need to be equal. There are basic laws that do not apply in Judea and Samaria. It is my goal to equalize conditions within one year, either by a GOC (General Officer Commanding) decree or through legislation.”
During Netanyahu’s last term, a “Norms Bill” wishing to apply Israeli law to the West Bank was brought before the Ministerial Committee for Legislation by MKs Orit Strook and Yariv Levin. Due to the objections of then-Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein, Netanyahu suspended the move, and it remained that way until its recent reintroduction.
At present, Israeli law states that any legislation passed in the Knesset will take effect in the West Bank through a GOC decree. The bill states that as a result, the hundreds of thousands of Israelis living beyond the Green Line live their lives not according to laws passed by the Knesset, but according to decrees issued by the GOC Southern Command.
It further claims that many essential laws concerning such matters as medicine and rescue services, accessibility for people with disabilities and laws regarding the environment do not apply to these regions. Those promoting the bill stated that its purpose is “to allow normality in Judea and Samaria, as a step toward creating equality among all Israeli citizens throughout the country.”
During her speech, Shaked added that “it is important that the minister of justice hold political power and ability,” reiterating her opinion that the Israeli High Court deals in matters that “it should not be dealing with, settling disputes that should be resolved through policy making.”
Shaked disclosed that she has spoken to former Chief Justice Aharon Barak regarding the possibility of signing in a basic law that would allow the Knesset to circumvent rulings made by the High Court, adding that at present there is a disagreement over the size of the MK majority that should be needed in order to pass legislation that bypasses the High Court’s decisions.
Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked announced Sunday that she plans on promoting the “Norms Bill,” which aims to give the same legal rights to settlers living beyond the Green Line as Israeli citizens living within it.
If approved, the law would in effect apply Israeli law to Jews living in the West Bank, widening the gap between the settlers and the Palestinians, who abide by Israeli military law.
Prior to discussing the bill at Israel's Ministerial Committee for Legislation, Shaked gave a speech on Sunday in front of the Legal Forum of Israel, saying that “conditions need to be equal. There are basic laws that do not apply in Judea and Samaria. It is my goal to equalize conditions within one year, either by a GOC (General Officer Commanding) decree or through legislation.”
During Netanyahu’s last term, a “Norms Bill” wishing to apply Israeli law to the West Bank was brought before the Ministerial Committee for Legislation by MKs Orit Strook and Yariv Levin. Due to the objections of then-Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein, Netanyahu suspended the move, and it remained that way until its recent reintroduction.
At present, Israeli law states that any legislation passed in the Knesset will take effect in the West Bank through a GOC decree. The bill states that as a result, the hundreds of thousands of Israelis living beyond the Green Line live their lives not according to laws passed by the Knesset, but according to decrees issued by the GOC Southern Command.
It further claims that many essential laws concerning such matters as medicine and rescue services, accessibility for people with disabilities and laws regarding the environment do not apply to these regions. Those promoting the bill stated that its purpose is “to allow normality in Judea and Samaria, as a step toward creating equality among all Israeli citizens throughout the country.”
During her speech, Shaked added that “it is important that the minister of justice hold political power and ability,” reiterating her opinion that the Israeli High Court deals in matters that “it should not be dealing with, settling disputes that should be resolved through policy making.”
Shaked disclosed that she has spoken to former Chief Justice Aharon Barak regarding the possibility of signing in a basic law that would allow the Knesset to circumvent rulings made by the High Court, adding that at present there is a disagreement over the size of the MK majority that should be needed in order to pass legislation that bypasses the High Court’s decisions.
Israeli forces stormed the occupied East Jerusalem neighborhood of Issawiya on Monday and posted demolition orders on the walls of residential and commercial structures in the area, a local committee member told Ma’an.
Muhammad Abu al-Hummus told Ma’an that Jerusalem municipality inspectors under heavy military protection posted warrants for demolition orders, stop-work orders, and orders to “stop using illegal structures,” and took photos of structures and streets in the area.
He added some of the buildings in question were built several years ago, and others were still under construction.
The structures are located near the main entrance to Issawiya on Ubeid Alley, a street named after “Martyr Zaki Ubeid,” who was killed by Israeli forces.
A medical center and a gas station are among the buildings under threat of being demolished.
“Over the past months, Israeli forces have been waging a campaign against Issawiya, targeting humans and stones,” Abu al-Hummus told Ma’an.
“The neighborhood rarely enjoys a single day without an Israeli incursion, be it from Israeli forces, tax inspectors, or municipality inspectors -- not to mention the permanent Israeli checkpoints at neighborhood entrances where passengers are inspected and drivers are fined arbitrarily.”
Issawiya is one of many Palestinian neighborhoods in occupied East Jerusalem which are seeing an influx of Israeli settlers at the cost of home demolitions and the eviction of Palestinian families.The area has also recently come under heightened presence of Israeli military forces.
The neighborhood was targeted by Israeli forces during a widespread detention campaign in April after an explosive device went off in a Jerusalem bus.
In the aftermath of the incident, Israeli police authorities also distributed Arabic-language leaflets to Issawiya's residents warning against "disturbing the peace" and incitement by Hamas, and also reminded residents of punitive procedures already carried out in neighborhood.
In March, the Israeli authorities handed demolition notifications for two buildings in the Issawiya, citing construction without building permits.
Issawiya residents -- like most Palestinians in Jerusalem -- have long engaged in efforts to prevent their displacement by the Israeli government, which has aimed to establish a Jewish majority since Israel first illegally occupied East Jerusalem in 1967.
Palestinians' ability to build homes or expand existing structures legally is severely limited by the Jerusalem municipality, and more than 3,000 Palestinian structures have been demolished since 1967, according the PLO Negotiations Affairs Department.
Muhammad Abu al-Hummus told Ma’an that Jerusalem municipality inspectors under heavy military protection posted warrants for demolition orders, stop-work orders, and orders to “stop using illegal structures,” and took photos of structures and streets in the area.
He added some of the buildings in question were built several years ago, and others were still under construction.
The structures are located near the main entrance to Issawiya on Ubeid Alley, a street named after “Martyr Zaki Ubeid,” who was killed by Israeli forces.
A medical center and a gas station are among the buildings under threat of being demolished.
“Over the past months, Israeli forces have been waging a campaign against Issawiya, targeting humans and stones,” Abu al-Hummus told Ma’an.
“The neighborhood rarely enjoys a single day without an Israeli incursion, be it from Israeli forces, tax inspectors, or municipality inspectors -- not to mention the permanent Israeli checkpoints at neighborhood entrances where passengers are inspected and drivers are fined arbitrarily.”
Issawiya is one of many Palestinian neighborhoods in occupied East Jerusalem which are seeing an influx of Israeli settlers at the cost of home demolitions and the eviction of Palestinian families.The area has also recently come under heightened presence of Israeli military forces.
The neighborhood was targeted by Israeli forces during a widespread detention campaign in April after an explosive device went off in a Jerusalem bus.
In the aftermath of the incident, Israeli police authorities also distributed Arabic-language leaflets to Issawiya's residents warning against "disturbing the peace" and incitement by Hamas, and also reminded residents of punitive procedures already carried out in neighborhood.
In March, the Israeli authorities handed demolition notifications for two buildings in the Issawiya, citing construction without building permits.
Issawiya residents -- like most Palestinians in Jerusalem -- have long engaged in efforts to prevent their displacement by the Israeli government, which has aimed to establish a Jewish majority since Israel first illegally occupied East Jerusalem in 1967.
Palestinians' ability to build homes or expand existing structures legally is severely limited by the Jerusalem municipality, and more than 3,000 Palestinian structures have been demolished since 1967, according the PLO Negotiations Affairs Department.
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Monday at dawn, the southern West Bank city of Hebron, and several nearby towns, searched homes and kidnapped four Palestinians, in addition to confiscating a laptop, a mobile phone and two cars.
Media sources in Hebron said several army vehicles invaded Sa’ir town, northeast of Hebron, searched a few homes and kidnapped Mohammad Abdul-Hamid Tafish, 21, in addition to confiscating his laptop, mobile phone and his car.
The soldiers also invaded Deir Samet town, southwest of Hebron, and kidnapped a young man, identified as Shadi Riyadh al-Hroub, after searching several homes.
Another young Palestinian, identified as Mohammad Abdul-Rahim Halayqa, was kidnapped in the Shiokh town, east of Hebron, after the soldiers confiscated his car.
In Surif town, northwest of Hebron, the soldiers invaded a few homes and kidnapped one Palestinian, identified as Awni Mustafa Eghneimat.
In related news, the soldiers invaded many neighborhoods in Hebron city, and installed roadblocks at the main roads leading to Sa’ir and Halhoul towns, and Hebron’s northern entrance, before stopping the searching dozens of cars, and questioned many Palestinians while examining their Id cards.
Media sources in Hebron said several army vehicles invaded Sa’ir town, northeast of Hebron, searched a few homes and kidnapped Mohammad Abdul-Hamid Tafish, 21, in addition to confiscating his laptop, mobile phone and his car.
The soldiers also invaded Deir Samet town, southwest of Hebron, and kidnapped a young man, identified as Shadi Riyadh al-Hroub, after searching several homes.
Another young Palestinian, identified as Mohammad Abdul-Rahim Halayqa, was kidnapped in the Shiokh town, east of Hebron, after the soldiers confiscated his car.
In Surif town, northwest of Hebron, the soldiers invaded a few homes and kidnapped one Palestinian, identified as Awni Mustafa Eghneimat.
In related news, the soldiers invaded many neighborhoods in Hebron city, and installed roadblocks at the main roads leading to Sa’ir and Halhoul towns, and Hebron’s northern entrance, before stopping the searching dozens of cars, and questioned many Palestinians while examining their Id cards.
An Israeli energy company has announced that an oil field they have been surveying north of the Dead Sea is estimated to hold millions of oil barrels, worth 1.2 billion shekels ($321 million).
The reservoir, known as Hatrurim, is estimated to contain seven million barrels of oil, while the high estimate is 11 million barrels, according to the company "Israel Opportunity."
Other partners in the Hatrurim project include Zerah Oil and Gas, Gulliver Energy, Ashtrom Group and Cyprus Opportunity. A previous company (Delek Group Ltd) had carried out an initial drilling at the same spot and discovered oil in 1995, but determined the field was not worth developing due to low oil prices.
The Israeli oil project in this area is expected to face opposition from the Palestinian government because the site is part of the Palestinian territory in the West Bank, which is classified as Area C under the Oslo accords.
However, Israel prevents the Palestinians from drilling for oil and gas in the West Bank.
The reservoir, known as Hatrurim, is estimated to contain seven million barrels of oil, while the high estimate is 11 million barrels, according to the company "Israel Opportunity."
Other partners in the Hatrurim project include Zerah Oil and Gas, Gulliver Energy, Ashtrom Group and Cyprus Opportunity. A previous company (Delek Group Ltd) had carried out an initial drilling at the same spot and discovered oil in 1995, but determined the field was not worth developing due to low oil prices.
The Israeli oil project in this area is expected to face opposition from the Palestinian government because the site is part of the Palestinian territory in the West Bank, which is classified as Area C under the Oslo accords.
However, Israel prevents the Palestinians from drilling for oil and gas in the West Bank.
30 apr 2016
The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities is preparing legal procedures against an online Israeli antique store after it put up for sale a historical Egyptian painting allegedly confiscated by former Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan, the Ministry said on Saturday.
Dayan, who served as Israel’s Defense Minister in the 1960s and 1970s, was known for his passion for antiquities, and is believed to have illegally seized a large number of ancient artifacts while looting archaeological sites.
Shaaban Abd al-Jawwad, the ministry’s director of recovered antiquities, told reporters that the ministry was investigating documents related to the painting to find out how it came to be taken out of Egypt, and that it planned on taking all legal steps to halt the sale of the painting.
Abd al-Jawwad said that during the Israeli occupation of the Sinai Peninsula from 1967 to 1979, the Israeli army, led by archeologist Avner Goren, worked in the Hathor temple in Serabet al-Khadim, and “moved many artifacts from the temple to Tel Aviv.”
Only five artifacts from the temple have since been returned to Egypt, Abd al-Jawwad said.
Dayan, who served as Israel’s Defense Minister in the 1960s and 1970s, was known for his passion for antiquities, and is believed to have illegally seized a large number of ancient artifacts while looting archaeological sites.
Shaaban Abd al-Jawwad, the ministry’s director of recovered antiquities, told reporters that the ministry was investigating documents related to the painting to find out how it came to be taken out of Egypt, and that it planned on taking all legal steps to halt the sale of the painting.
Abd al-Jawwad said that during the Israeli occupation of the Sinai Peninsula from 1967 to 1979, the Israeli army, led by archeologist Avner Goren, worked in the Hathor temple in Serabet al-Khadim, and “moved many artifacts from the temple to Tel Aviv.”
Only five artifacts from the temple have since been returned to Egypt, Abd al-Jawwad said.
A Palestinian report warned Saturday of Israeli government’s schemes to consider the occupied West Bank as Israeli-annexed lands as a prelude to confiscate more Palestinian territories.
The National Office for Defending Land and Resisting Settlement pointed out that these schemes came in coincidence with the calls issued by Shilo Adler, head of the Yesha Council of Jewish settlements in West Bank, to impose Israeli control over the occupied West Bank.
The National Office also underlined that senior officials in Netanyahu’s government have recently visited the West Bank settlements more than once and called for annexing the West Bank to Israel and to take control over it starting from al-Khalil.
The report said that Israel’s right wing group of Women in Green has recently called on Israeli settlers to enter Area A, the part of the West Bank under full PA control. Israeli confiscation orders have recently escalated against hundreds of Palestinian dunums in the West Bank under military pretexts, according to the report.
The National Office said that the Israeli Housing Ministry is preparing for a new settlement plan that includes the construction of 1,690 new housing units in occupied Jerusalem.
The National Office for Defending Land and Resisting Settlement pointed out that these schemes came in coincidence with the calls issued by Shilo Adler, head of the Yesha Council of Jewish settlements in West Bank, to impose Israeli control over the occupied West Bank.
The National Office also underlined that senior officials in Netanyahu’s government have recently visited the West Bank settlements more than once and called for annexing the West Bank to Israel and to take control over it starting from al-Khalil.
The report said that Israel’s right wing group of Women in Green has recently called on Israeli settlers to enter Area A, the part of the West Bank under full PA control. Israeli confiscation orders have recently escalated against hundreds of Palestinian dunums in the West Bank under military pretexts, according to the report.
The National Office said that the Israeli Housing Ministry is preparing for a new settlement plan that includes the construction of 1,690 new housing units in occupied Jerusalem.
29 apr 2016
The Supreme Council of Religious Ruling (Fatwa) in Palestine warned of Israeli intents to hold sway over Palestinian buildings in Occupied Jerusalem by altering the Arnona statute.
According to the Fatwa Council, the Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) have already paved the way for the move by notifying Palestinians in Occupied Jerusalem that their estates will be tagged as “abandoned property.”
The Israeli occupation municipality claimed the move aims at motivating Palestinian owners to rent or sell empty buildings.
The council spoke out against such an Israeli scheme, saying it rather makes part of a preplanned agenda to hold sway over Palestinian property in favor of illegal settlers.
The Fatwa Council called on the Palestinian natives of Occupied Jerusalem to stand on their guard to such an Israeli scheme of ethnic cleansing and forced deportation.
The move comes at a time when tension has reached a peak in Occupied Jerusalem as Israeli fanatics have been vandalizing Muslims’ the holy al-Aqsa Mosque on the occasion of the Passover holiday.
The Fatwa Council urged the Muslim worshipers to intensify their presence and maintain vigil at al-Aqsa so as to defend it against the Israeli sacrilegious schemes. The council further denounced Israel’s closure of the Ibrahimi Mosque, in al-Khalil, before the Muslim worshipers while boosting break-ins at the holy site by Israeli fanatics under the pretext of Jewish holidays.
The council appealed to the international community to speak up against Israel’s oppressive policies and violations of Muslims’ right to the freedom of worship.
According to the Fatwa Council, the Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) have already paved the way for the move by notifying Palestinians in Occupied Jerusalem that their estates will be tagged as “abandoned property.”
The Israeli occupation municipality claimed the move aims at motivating Palestinian owners to rent or sell empty buildings.
The council spoke out against such an Israeli scheme, saying it rather makes part of a preplanned agenda to hold sway over Palestinian property in favor of illegal settlers.
The Fatwa Council called on the Palestinian natives of Occupied Jerusalem to stand on their guard to such an Israeli scheme of ethnic cleansing and forced deportation.
The move comes at a time when tension has reached a peak in Occupied Jerusalem as Israeli fanatics have been vandalizing Muslims’ the holy al-Aqsa Mosque on the occasion of the Passover holiday.
The Fatwa Council urged the Muslim worshipers to intensify their presence and maintain vigil at al-Aqsa so as to defend it against the Israeli sacrilegious schemes. The council further denounced Israel’s closure of the Ibrahimi Mosque, in al-Khalil, before the Muslim worshipers while boosting break-ins at the holy site by Israeli fanatics under the pretext of Jewish holidays.
The council appealed to the international community to speak up against Israel’s oppressive policies and violations of Muslims’ right to the freedom of worship.
26 apr 2016
After Netanyahu declaration Israel would never leave the Golan, UN Security Council stresses that 'the status of the Golan remains unchanged' and Israeli annexation of the plateau is 'null and void and without international legal effect.
The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday voiced alarm over Israeli cities and towns about the Golan Heights on Syria's border with Israel, adding that its status remains unchanged.
Earlier this month Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel would never relinquish the Golan Heights, in a signal to Russia and the United States that the strategic plateau should be excluded from any deal on Syria's future. The declaration was condemned by the European Union, the United States, the Arab League and Syria.
"Council members expressed their deep concern over recent Israeli statements about the Golan, and stressed that the status of the Golan remains unchanged," China's UN Ambassador Liu Jieyi, president of the 15-nation Security Council this month, told reporters after a closed-door meeting.
He added that council resolution 497 of 1981 made clear that Israel's decision at the time to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration in the Golan was "null and void and without international legal effect."
Netanyahu's April 17 declaration came on the occasion of the first Israeli cabinet session on the Golan since the area was captured from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War and annexed in 1981. But Israel's annexation of the Golan has not won international recognition.
Past US-backed Israeli-Syrian peace efforts were predicated on a return of the Golan, where some 23,000 Israelis now live alongside roughly the same number of Druze Arabs loyal to Damascus.
Liu said the council supported a negotiated arrangement to settle the issue of the Golan.
There is a UN peacekeeping force deployed in the Golan called UNDOF. Established in 1974, UNDOF monitors a ceasefire line that has separated Israelis from Syrians in the Golan Heights since the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
The force has had to pull back from a number of positions on the Golan due to fighting between militants and Syrian government forces in the five-year-old Syrian civil war. Its peacekeepers have been fired upon and captured by militants on several occasions.
The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday voiced alarm over Israeli cities and towns about the Golan Heights on Syria's border with Israel, adding that its status remains unchanged.
Earlier this month Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel would never relinquish the Golan Heights, in a signal to Russia and the United States that the strategic plateau should be excluded from any deal on Syria's future. The declaration was condemned by the European Union, the United States, the Arab League and Syria.
"Council members expressed their deep concern over recent Israeli statements about the Golan, and stressed that the status of the Golan remains unchanged," China's UN Ambassador Liu Jieyi, president of the 15-nation Security Council this month, told reporters after a closed-door meeting.
He added that council resolution 497 of 1981 made clear that Israel's decision at the time to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration in the Golan was "null and void and without international legal effect."
Netanyahu's April 17 declaration came on the occasion of the first Israeli cabinet session on the Golan since the area was captured from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War and annexed in 1981. But Israel's annexation of the Golan has not won international recognition.
Past US-backed Israeli-Syrian peace efforts were predicated on a return of the Golan, where some 23,000 Israelis now live alongside roughly the same number of Druze Arabs loyal to Damascus.
Liu said the council supported a negotiated arrangement to settle the issue of the Golan.
There is a UN peacekeeping force deployed in the Golan called UNDOF. Established in 1974, UNDOF monitors a ceasefire line that has separated Israelis from Syrians in the Golan Heights since the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
The force has had to pull back from a number of positions on the Golan due to fighting between militants and Syrian government forces in the five-year-old Syrian civil war. Its peacekeepers have been fired upon and captured by militants on several occasions.
On Tuesday morning, several Israeli army vehicles, and bulldozers, invaded Palestinian agricultural lands, east of Gaza city, and uprooted them, in addition to firing live rounds and smoke bombs.
The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) said three Israeli tanks, and three armored bulldozers, advanced approximately 150 meters into Palestinian farmlands, and uprooted them.
WAFA added that the army vehicles came from “Nahal Oz” military base, across the border fence, east of the Sheja’eyya neighborhood, east of Gaza city.
The soldiers also demolished a concrete wall, near the Karni Crossing, east of Gaza city, and fired smoke bombs in addition to several live rounds.
The army carries out frequent limited invasions into Palestinian lands, close to the border fence, in the northern and eastern parts of the Gaza Strip, and prevents the Palestinian from entering their own lands.
The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) said three Israeli tanks, and three armored bulldozers, advanced approximately 150 meters into Palestinian farmlands, and uprooted them.
WAFA added that the army vehicles came from “Nahal Oz” military base, across the border fence, east of the Sheja’eyya neighborhood, east of Gaza city.
The soldiers also demolished a concrete wall, near the Karni Crossing, east of Gaza city, and fired smoke bombs in addition to several live rounds.
The army carries out frequent limited invasions into Palestinian lands, close to the border fence, in the northern and eastern parts of the Gaza Strip, and prevents the Palestinian from entering their own lands.
25 apr 2016
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested at dawn Monday seven Palestinians from different areas of the West Bank and Jerusalem.
Israeli Army said that four “wanted” Palestinians were arrested from their houses in al-Khalil for being affiliated with Hamas Movement.
The PIC reporter affirmed that two ex-prisoners, who were released during Shalit Swap deal, were among the reported detainees, while different neighborhoods were violently stormed.
In occupied Jerusalem, Israeli police forces arrested two brothers including a minor from Silwan town south of al-Aqsa Mosque.
A Palestinian academic was also arrested at a military checkpoint erected at the entrance to Nabi Salah town west of Ramallah. On the other hand, local sources said that Israeli forces stole at dawn today an amount of money and Jewelry from a slain Palestinian’s house in Beit Ummar town north of al-Khalil.
Local activist Mohamed Awad said that IOF soldiers violently stormed and searched the house before confiscating 1000 US dollars and 1500 grams of jewelry. The house belongs to the slain Palestinian Ibrahim Awad’s family, he pointed out. Awad’s mother was subjected to strip search more than once during the raid.
Ibrahim Awad died on October 10, 2015 of injuries he sustained on October 8 after Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian protesters in Beit Ummar town.
Israeli Army said that four “wanted” Palestinians were arrested from their houses in al-Khalil for being affiliated with Hamas Movement.
The PIC reporter affirmed that two ex-prisoners, who were released during Shalit Swap deal, were among the reported detainees, while different neighborhoods were violently stormed.
In occupied Jerusalem, Israeli police forces arrested two brothers including a minor from Silwan town south of al-Aqsa Mosque.
A Palestinian academic was also arrested at a military checkpoint erected at the entrance to Nabi Salah town west of Ramallah. On the other hand, local sources said that Israeli forces stole at dawn today an amount of money and Jewelry from a slain Palestinian’s house in Beit Ummar town north of al-Khalil.
Local activist Mohamed Awad said that IOF soldiers violently stormed and searched the house before confiscating 1000 US dollars and 1500 grams of jewelry. The house belongs to the slain Palestinian Ibrahim Awad’s family, he pointed out. Awad’s mother was subjected to strip search more than once during the raid.
Ibrahim Awad died on October 10, 2015 of injuries he sustained on October 8 after Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian protesters in Beit Ummar town.
Israeli Occupation Authority (IOA) banned Palestinian owners of quarries in Salfit governorate from taking out red stones, which are referred to as “red petrol”, in order to pave way for the expansion of Ariel settlement.
Many of the owners complained about heavy losses due to the ban order of taking valuable stones under the pretext that the quarries are located in the Israeli-controlled C area.
Researcher Khaled Maali revealed that the IOA confiscated, in a previous measure, the owners’ digging equipment and that it has been refusing to issue permits for quarries in the West Bank.
Maali told the PIC reporter that the IOA, however, issued 11 permits for settlers’ quarries in the area between 2009 and 2014. 500 dunums were confiscated for this regard.
The international Bank in 2013 revealed that the Israeli restrictions on Area C costs the Palestinian economy with a sum estimated at $3.4 billion annually which equals 33% of the Palestinian total local production.
Many of the owners complained about heavy losses due to the ban order of taking valuable stones under the pretext that the quarries are located in the Israeli-controlled C area.
Researcher Khaled Maali revealed that the IOA confiscated, in a previous measure, the owners’ digging equipment and that it has been refusing to issue permits for quarries in the West Bank.
Maali told the PIC reporter that the IOA, however, issued 11 permits for settlers’ quarries in the area between 2009 and 2014. 500 dunums were confiscated for this regard.
The international Bank in 2013 revealed that the Israeli restrictions on Area C costs the Palestinian economy with a sum estimated at $3.4 billion annually which equals 33% of the Palestinian total local production.
24 apr 2016
Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian official in charge of the Israeli settlements file in the northern part of the occupied West Bank, said the Israeli military and its “Civil Administration” have decided to illegally annex hundreds of Dunams of privately-owned Palestinian lands near Nablus and Ramallah.
Daghlas said the lands belong to villagers of Jaloud, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and the villagers of al-Mogheer and Turmus Ayya, north of the central West Bank city of Ramallah.
“The occupation forces issued the decision to steal hundreds of Dunams of land from Jaloud village, south of Nablus, in addition to the villages of Turmus Ayya and al-Mogheer, north of Ramallah”, Daghlas said, adding that, “The Israeli army said the decision comes out of so-called military considerations.”
A significant segment of the hundreds of Dunams that Israel is illegally confiscating from Jaloud village, and from Tumors Ayya, will actually be used for paving a road linking Shilo illegal colony with an outpost east of it.
The road that Israel intends to pave extends approximately six kilometers, allowing future illegal annexation of more Palestinian agricultural lands, under the pretext of security considerations, thus paving the way for more colonialist activities.
Daghlas said that the Israeli decision comes while colonialist Israeli settlers are escalating their attacks against Palestinians, and land theft of Palestinian lands. He said the order even contradicts the previous military decision to void military annexation orders issued by the army in 1978, under order number (T/5/78), that targeted 1705 Dunams of lands owned by Jaloud villagers.
The decision to void the annexation orders was made on February, 24, 2016, and stated that the military would return 1675 Dunams to the Palestinians in Jaloud, while keeping 30 Dunams under the military’s control.
That decision was made after the Jaloud Local Council filed an appeal to the Israeli High Court, and was filed after the Israel army dismantled its military base, that was built on Palestinian lands. But instead of returning it to its righteous Palestinian owners, it gave it to colonist settlers.
The new Israeli annexation order comes while the Supreme Court in occupied Jerusalem is still looking into similar cases, filed by Jaloud villagers through Yesh Din – Volunteers for Human Rights, an Israeli human rights group, against illegal Israeli colonies built on villagers’ lands.
“This is a very serious and dangerous decision; it aims at establishing a major colonialist bloc through the illegal confiscation of thousands of Dunams of Palestinian lands, after declaring them ‘state lands’. What is happening in Ein Jaloud, is part of that process,” Daghlas stated.
“Israel is also planning to retroactively legalize colonialist outposts, established on villagers’ lands in Ein Jaloud,” he added, “This decision is an attempt to override the outstanding cases with the Supreme Court.”
Illegal Israeli colonizers managed to steal thousands of Dunams of Palestinian lands in previous years, and planted 2000 Dunams with grapevines and olive orchards, after the army granted them control of lands, that were originally annexed under the pretext of “security considerations and military use.”
Daghlas said the lands belong to villagers of Jaloud, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and the villagers of al-Mogheer and Turmus Ayya, north of the central West Bank city of Ramallah.
“The occupation forces issued the decision to steal hundreds of Dunams of land from Jaloud village, south of Nablus, in addition to the villages of Turmus Ayya and al-Mogheer, north of Ramallah”, Daghlas said, adding that, “The Israeli army said the decision comes out of so-called military considerations.”
A significant segment of the hundreds of Dunams that Israel is illegally confiscating from Jaloud village, and from Tumors Ayya, will actually be used for paving a road linking Shilo illegal colony with an outpost east of it.
The road that Israel intends to pave extends approximately six kilometers, allowing future illegal annexation of more Palestinian agricultural lands, under the pretext of security considerations, thus paving the way for more colonialist activities.
Daghlas said that the Israeli decision comes while colonialist Israeli settlers are escalating their attacks against Palestinians, and land theft of Palestinian lands. He said the order even contradicts the previous military decision to void military annexation orders issued by the army in 1978, under order number (T/5/78), that targeted 1705 Dunams of lands owned by Jaloud villagers.
The decision to void the annexation orders was made on February, 24, 2016, and stated that the military would return 1675 Dunams to the Palestinians in Jaloud, while keeping 30 Dunams under the military’s control.
That decision was made after the Jaloud Local Council filed an appeal to the Israeli High Court, and was filed after the Israel army dismantled its military base, that was built on Palestinian lands. But instead of returning it to its righteous Palestinian owners, it gave it to colonist settlers.
The new Israeli annexation order comes while the Supreme Court in occupied Jerusalem is still looking into similar cases, filed by Jaloud villagers through Yesh Din – Volunteers for Human Rights, an Israeli human rights group, against illegal Israeli colonies built on villagers’ lands.
“This is a very serious and dangerous decision; it aims at establishing a major colonialist bloc through the illegal confiscation of thousands of Dunams of Palestinian lands, after declaring them ‘state lands’. What is happening in Ein Jaloud, is part of that process,” Daghlas stated.
“Israel is also planning to retroactively legalize colonialist outposts, established on villagers’ lands in Ein Jaloud,” he added, “This decision is an attempt to override the outstanding cases with the Supreme Court.”
Illegal Israeli colonizers managed to steal thousands of Dunams of Palestinian lands in previous years, and planted 2000 Dunams with grapevines and olive orchards, after the army granted them control of lands, that were originally annexed under the pretext of “security considerations and military use.”
