11 aug 2016
The U.S. warned Israel against the pending demolition of the Palestinian village of Sussiya after officials popped in the area on Wednesday.
“If the Israeli government proceeds with demolitions it would be very troubling,” State Department Press Office director Elizabeth Trudeau told reporters on Wednesday.
“We remain concerned about the increased demolition of Palestinian structures in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, which reportedly have left dozens of Palestinians homeless, including children,” she said.
“More than 650 Palestinian structures have been demolished this year, with more Palestinian structures demolished in the West Bank and east Jerusalem thus far than in all of 2015,” she added.
Officials from the U.S. Consulate General in Occupied Jerusalem visited the village, a home to over 48 Palestinian families. Jabal al-Khalil Regional Council head Yochai Damri said he was “outraged” with U.S. interference with regard to Sussiya’s projected demolition.
“We’re talking about a criminal clan from Yatta that has taken over the land and has built illegally,” Damri claimed as he called for tearing down the village.
“It’s unacceptable that the U.S. government would interfere on legal matters,” said Damri. “We’re talking about an attempt to prejudice the court in a foreign country.”
Located in the Israeli-controlled Area C, Sussiya village has been exploited by the Israeli occupation authorities for illegal settlement construction. In 1983 an illegal settlement outpost named after the village was built on Palestinian lands in the territory.
The period from 1983 onward witnessed an escalation represented in the forced displacement of Palestinian natives from their own and only homes in the village.
“If the Israeli government proceeds with demolitions it would be very troubling,” State Department Press Office director Elizabeth Trudeau told reporters on Wednesday.
“We remain concerned about the increased demolition of Palestinian structures in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, which reportedly have left dozens of Palestinians homeless, including children,” she said.
“More than 650 Palestinian structures have been demolished this year, with more Palestinian structures demolished in the West Bank and east Jerusalem thus far than in all of 2015,” she added.
Officials from the U.S. Consulate General in Occupied Jerusalem visited the village, a home to over 48 Palestinian families. Jabal al-Khalil Regional Council head Yochai Damri said he was “outraged” with U.S. interference with regard to Sussiya’s projected demolition.
“We’re talking about a criminal clan from Yatta that has taken over the land and has built illegally,” Damri claimed as he called for tearing down the village.
“It’s unacceptable that the U.S. government would interfere on legal matters,” said Damri. “We’re talking about an attempt to prejudice the court in a foreign country.”
Located in the Israeli-controlled Area C, Sussiya village has been exploited by the Israeli occupation authorities for illegal settlement construction. In 1983 an illegal settlement outpost named after the village was built on Palestinian lands in the territory.
The period from 1983 onward witnessed an escalation represented in the forced displacement of Palestinian natives from their own and only homes in the village.
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested 12 Palestinians in different locations in the West Bank within Israeli daily arrest campaigns against Palestinians.
In Jenin Refugee camp, Israeli Special Forces in civil uniform abducted at dawn on Thursday two Palestinians amid deployment of Israeli military forces to cover up the abduction operation.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that the kidnapped Palestinians were identified as the son of the Islamic Jihad Leader Sheikh Bassam al-Saadi, 22, and Abdurrahman al-Saadi, 29.
Israeli forces removed security cameras from Palestinians’ commercial shops in the area in order to erase the records of the abduction operation and tried to attack shops owners, the sources revealed. Israeli troops Wednesday morning kidnapped a Palestinian activist from Qabatya town in Jenin as well.
In al-Khalil, Israeli forces raided several locations in the city as well as its nearby towns and villages resulting in clashes after midnight between Palestinian youths and Israeli soldiers that lasted until dawn hours.
The PIC reporter revealed that Israeli troops unleashed their gun fire intensively at suspicious objects with no injuries reported. The forces stormed two homes of martyr Arif Jaradat and prisoner Hayran Jaradat, who has been on hunger strike for 18 days, in Saeer town in al-Khalil.
The IOF soldiers demolished five Palestinian facilities and stockyards east of Yatta town in order to force its inhabitants to leave their homes for the interest of settlers.
Local sources pointed out that some of the arrested were ex-detainees in Israeli jails. The soldiers searched their homes during the arrest operations, sources added.
Severe clashes broke out at dawn on Thursday between Palestinian young men and Israeli forces after storming Kefel Hares village to the north of Salfit.
The IOF opened their guns and unleashed sound and tear gas grenades at Palestinians. They also damaged shops’ doors and arrested five youths before releasing them later.
In Jenin Refugee camp, Israeli Special Forces in civil uniform abducted at dawn on Thursday two Palestinians amid deployment of Israeli military forces to cover up the abduction operation.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that the kidnapped Palestinians were identified as the son of the Islamic Jihad Leader Sheikh Bassam al-Saadi, 22, and Abdurrahman al-Saadi, 29.
Israeli forces removed security cameras from Palestinians’ commercial shops in the area in order to erase the records of the abduction operation and tried to attack shops owners, the sources revealed. Israeli troops Wednesday morning kidnapped a Palestinian activist from Qabatya town in Jenin as well.
In al-Khalil, Israeli forces raided several locations in the city as well as its nearby towns and villages resulting in clashes after midnight between Palestinian youths and Israeli soldiers that lasted until dawn hours.
The PIC reporter revealed that Israeli troops unleashed their gun fire intensively at suspicious objects with no injuries reported. The forces stormed two homes of martyr Arif Jaradat and prisoner Hayran Jaradat, who has been on hunger strike for 18 days, in Saeer town in al-Khalil.
The IOF soldiers demolished five Palestinian facilities and stockyards east of Yatta town in order to force its inhabitants to leave their homes for the interest of settlers.
Local sources pointed out that some of the arrested were ex-detainees in Israeli jails. The soldiers searched their homes during the arrest operations, sources added.
Severe clashes broke out at dawn on Thursday between Palestinian young men and Israeli forces after storming Kefel Hares village to the north of Salfit.
The IOF opened their guns and unleashed sound and tear gas grenades at Palestinians. They also damaged shops’ doors and arrested five youths before releasing them later.
Several Israeli military vehicles invaded, earlier on Thursday morning, Barta’a ash-Sharqiyya village, southwest of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, demolished a brick factory and confiscated its equipment.
The WAFA Palestinian News & Info Agency said the demolished factory belonging to Waleed Ajaj, and that the army claimed it was built without a construction permit from the Israeli Authorities.
It added that the soldiers confiscated all the equipment and tools in the factory before demolishing it, and also invaded a pottery workshop belonging to Rami Ayyoubi, and searched it.
Local sources said dozens of soldiers invaded the town, and fired many live rounds, sound bombs, and concussion grenades.
Last week, the soldiers handed demolition orders to four Palestinian shop owners in the Industrial Zone, in Jenin.
The WAFA Palestinian News & Info Agency said the demolished factory belonging to Waleed Ajaj, and that the army claimed it was built without a construction permit from the Israeli Authorities.
It added that the soldiers confiscated all the equipment and tools in the factory before demolishing it, and also invaded a pottery workshop belonging to Rami Ayyoubi, and searched it.
Local sources said dozens of soldiers invaded the town, and fired many live rounds, sound bombs, and concussion grenades.
Last week, the soldiers handed demolition orders to four Palestinian shop owners in the Industrial Zone, in Jenin.
10 aug 2016
The so-called Committee for Planning and Construction, in the municipality of Jerusalem, is scheduled to discuss a plan to confiscate lands from the Mount Scopus neighborhood, in Jerusalem, for the construction of synagogues and a plunge pool.
The synagogue and pool are to be constructed in the settlement neighborhood of “Nosav Zion”. The area of land that will be forfeited is 1.2 dunums, while 90 families live in the community, surrounded by the Mount Scopus neighborhood.
According to to Al Ray, Jerusalem municipality member of the Meretz leftist party, Laura Warten, protested the plan, saying that the Mount Scopus neighborhood lacks many of the urgent and basic amenities, while the municipality seeks to take control of the territories that are not considered as Israeli areas before any country in the world.
New settlement plan near Jerusalem, synagogue in Mount Scopus
The Israeli building committee in Jerusalem Municipality decided to establish 62 new housing units in Pisgat Zeev near occupied Jerusalem one day after the decision of constructing thousands of housing units between Gilo and the tunnels areas.
The same committee approved confiscating a Palestinian land lot of 1.2-kilometer estimated area for the establishment of a Jewish synagogue in the Nof Zion neighborhood, which is inhabited by 90 very wealthy families, in Mount Scopus in occupied Jerusalem.
Israeli daily Haaretz reported that the Jerusalem municipality had announced that the owner of the Palestinian land plot was not identified, claiming that the confiscation decision followed a request by the Religious Structures Administration in Jerusalem.
The synagogue and pool are to be constructed in the settlement neighborhood of “Nosav Zion”. The area of land that will be forfeited is 1.2 dunums, while 90 families live in the community, surrounded by the Mount Scopus neighborhood.
According to to Al Ray, Jerusalem municipality member of the Meretz leftist party, Laura Warten, protested the plan, saying that the Mount Scopus neighborhood lacks many of the urgent and basic amenities, while the municipality seeks to take control of the territories that are not considered as Israeli areas before any country in the world.
New settlement plan near Jerusalem, synagogue in Mount Scopus
The Israeli building committee in Jerusalem Municipality decided to establish 62 new housing units in Pisgat Zeev near occupied Jerusalem one day after the decision of constructing thousands of housing units between Gilo and the tunnels areas.
The same committee approved confiscating a Palestinian land lot of 1.2-kilometer estimated area for the establishment of a Jewish synagogue in the Nof Zion neighborhood, which is inhabited by 90 very wealthy families, in Mount Scopus in occupied Jerusalem.
Israeli daily Haaretz reported that the Jerusalem municipality had announced that the owner of the Palestinian land plot was not identified, claiming that the confiscation decision followed a request by the Religious Structures Administration in Jerusalem.
Israeli soldiers opened fire, Wednesday, on dozens of locals of Qusra, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, as Israeli bulldozers and colonists resumed the uprooting and bulldozing of Palestinian lands, east of the town.
The head of Qusra Local Council, Abdul-Atheem Wadi, said the illegal settlers resumed the bulldozing of Palestinian lands, east of the town, in an attempt to expand their colony.
He added that dozens of youngsters surrounded the bulldozers and attempted to stop them, before the soldiers invaded the area and fired dozens of gas bombs at them, in addition to assaulting several Palestinians.
The soldiers also closed the Qusra’s eastern road and prevented the Palestinians from entering or leaving the town.
On Tuesday, several Israeli bulldozers started uprooting the lands, close to the Megdalim colony, built on illegally confiscated private Palestinian lands, as Israel is planning to expand it.
Israel’s colonies in occupied Palestine, including in and around occupied East Jerusalem, are illegal under International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention to which Israel is a signatory and a constant violator.
The head of Qusra Local Council, Abdul-Atheem Wadi, said the illegal settlers resumed the bulldozing of Palestinian lands, east of the town, in an attempt to expand their colony.
He added that dozens of youngsters surrounded the bulldozers and attempted to stop them, before the soldiers invaded the area and fired dozens of gas bombs at them, in addition to assaulting several Palestinians.
The soldiers also closed the Qusra’s eastern road and prevented the Palestinians from entering or leaving the town.
On Tuesday, several Israeli bulldozers started uprooting the lands, close to the Megdalim colony, built on illegally confiscated private Palestinian lands, as Israel is planning to expand it.
Israel’s colonies in occupied Palestine, including in and around occupied East Jerusalem, are illegal under International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention to which Israel is a signatory and a constant violator.
Several Palestinians were injured and 13 others were kidnapped by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Wednesday in a mass-abduction sweep launched across the West Bank.
The IOF wreaked havoc on civilian homes and aggressively attacked native inhabitants in the presence of their children.
Sources based in the West Bank said the IOF kidnapped five Palestinians from al-Khalil city, six from Ramallah and east Occupied Jerusalem, and two others from Tulkarem.
The IOF ravaged the family home of Moussa Mukhamreh, the father of prisoner Khaled Mukhamreh, in al-Khalil’s town of Yatta. Three Palestinian youths from Beit Ummar town were summoned to questioning in the process.
The IOF soldiers also stormed Tulkarem and kidnapped two Palestinian youths, both in their 20’s, from Bela’a town after they rummaged into their family homes and attacked their parents and relatives.
The occupation troops further raided Qalqilya province and raked through residential neighborhoods at the same time as they showered the area with bullet fire and broke into civilian homes.
Meanwhile, at least four Palestinians were injured with Israeli bullet fire in clashes that burst out at al-Amari refugee camp in Ramallah.
Youngster Iyad Zaatara was also kidnapped by the IOF from Abu Dis town, in eastern Occupied Jerusalem.
The assault culminated in the abduction of another youngster from Jenin’s southern town of Qabatiya. The youth, identified as 27-year-old Ahmad Abu Farasha, was kidnapped by an Israeli army troop disguised in civilian clothes.
At the same time, heavily-armed troops broke into the family home of prisoner Fares Shawahneh, 38, in Jenin’s western corners, and seized furniture without prior notifications.
The IOF soldiers further stole $1,400 cash from the house despite the family’s appeals to return the sum. Heavy barrages of bullet fire were randomly discharged by the IOF all the way through the break-in.
According to eyewitness account, six Israeli army patrols also stormed Nablus’ southern town of Talfit and kidnapped three youngsters from their own family homes.
Youngster Fares Awda was reportedly kidnapped by the Israeli soldiers from the adjacent Qasra town, where several Palestinians choked on teargas in evening clashes with the occupation soldiers.
The IOF wreaked havoc on civilian homes and aggressively attacked native inhabitants in the presence of their children.
Sources based in the West Bank said the IOF kidnapped five Palestinians from al-Khalil city, six from Ramallah and east Occupied Jerusalem, and two others from Tulkarem.
The IOF ravaged the family home of Moussa Mukhamreh, the father of prisoner Khaled Mukhamreh, in al-Khalil’s town of Yatta. Three Palestinian youths from Beit Ummar town were summoned to questioning in the process.
The IOF soldiers also stormed Tulkarem and kidnapped two Palestinian youths, both in their 20’s, from Bela’a town after they rummaged into their family homes and attacked their parents and relatives.
The occupation troops further raided Qalqilya province and raked through residential neighborhoods at the same time as they showered the area with bullet fire and broke into civilian homes.
Meanwhile, at least four Palestinians were injured with Israeli bullet fire in clashes that burst out at al-Amari refugee camp in Ramallah.
Youngster Iyad Zaatara was also kidnapped by the IOF from Abu Dis town, in eastern Occupied Jerusalem.
The assault culminated in the abduction of another youngster from Jenin’s southern town of Qabatiya. The youth, identified as 27-year-old Ahmad Abu Farasha, was kidnapped by an Israeli army troop disguised in civilian clothes.
At the same time, heavily-armed troops broke into the family home of prisoner Fares Shawahneh, 38, in Jenin’s western corners, and seized furniture without prior notifications.
The IOF soldiers further stole $1,400 cash from the house despite the family’s appeals to return the sum. Heavy barrages of bullet fire were randomly discharged by the IOF all the way through the break-in.
According to eyewitness account, six Israeli army patrols also stormed Nablus’ southern town of Talfit and kidnapped three youngsters from their own family homes.
Youngster Fares Awda was reportedly kidnapped by the Israeli soldiers from the adjacent Qasra town, where several Palestinians choked on teargas in evening clashes with the occupation soldiers.
Israeli bulldozers escorted by Israeli soldiers on Wednesday morning removed hundreds of olive trees on a vast tract of Palestinian-owned land in Iskaka village, east of Salfit province.
Chief of the village Abdul-Qader Abu Hakema told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that the bulldozers uprooted about 500 olive trees from the land, which the Israeli army claimed to be state land.
He added that the landowners and farmers rushed to the area in an attempt to protect the olive trees, but soldiers intercepted them and barred them from approaching the bulldozers.
In this regard, local researcher Khaled Maali said the annexed land is located in al-Bayyadah area and was bulldozed to expand settlements east of Iskaka village.
Israel is embarking nowadays on expanding all the settlements in Salfit province and has annexed vast tracts of land for that purpose, according to Maali.
Chief of the village Abdul-Qader Abu Hakema told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that the bulldozers uprooted about 500 olive trees from the land, which the Israeli army claimed to be state land.
He added that the landowners and farmers rushed to the area in an attempt to protect the olive trees, but soldiers intercepted them and barred them from approaching the bulldozers.
In this regard, local researcher Khaled Maali said the annexed land is located in al-Bayyadah area and was bulldozed to expand settlements east of Iskaka village.
Israel is embarking nowadays on expanding all the settlements in Salfit province and has annexed vast tracts of land for that purpose, according to Maali.
Israeli bulldozers on Tuesday afternoon demolished an agricultural building in Jayyous village near Qalqilya city, at the pretext of unlicensed construction.
Local sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that an Israeli military force broke into the house of Abu Ammar al-Badawi, demolished an agricultural structure belonging to him and bulldozed a nearby plot of land.
The sources added that the Israeli army bans the Palestinian villagers from building in some areas of their village on allegations they are located in Area C, which is under its control.
Two days ago, Israeli soldiers stormed the village overnight and clashed with some villagers.
Jayyous village is largely affected by Israel's separation wall and vast tracts of its land were annexed by the Israeli army.
Local sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that an Israeli military force broke into the house of Abu Ammar al-Badawi, demolished an agricultural structure belonging to him and bulldozed a nearby plot of land.
The sources added that the Israeli army bans the Palestinian villagers from building in some areas of their village on allegations they are located in Area C, which is under its control.
Two days ago, Israeli soldiers stormed the village overnight and clashed with some villagers.
Jayyous village is largely affected by Israel's separation wall and vast tracts of its land were annexed by the Israeli army.
9 aug 2016
The Israeli municipality in Occupied Jerusalem yesterday forced a Palestinian citizen to demolish his own home in Ras al-Amud neighborhood, southeast of the Old City.
The homeowner, Wa'el Barakat, said that municipal employees escorted by police forces, two days ago, handed his son Ahmed an administrative order for the demolition of his house within 72 hours, but they suddenly came to the house several times on Monday and pressured him to knock it down within hours.
Barakat added that the municipal employees photographed the house and threatened to bring bulldozers to raze it and make him pay the demolition expenses if he did not do it himself.
He pointed out that he had built parts of another floor over his old house with tin sheets about six months ago in order to accommodate some of his sons who intend to get married.
Barakat said he stopped building the second floor over his house after Israeli municipal employees came to the house several months ago and verbally ordered him to halt the construction works.
The Israeli occupation authority in Jerusalem refuses to give Palestinians any construction permits before they meet a number of unattainable conditions, including paying exorbitant sums of money.
The homeowner, Wa'el Barakat, said that municipal employees escorted by police forces, two days ago, handed his son Ahmed an administrative order for the demolition of his house within 72 hours, but they suddenly came to the house several times on Monday and pressured him to knock it down within hours.
Barakat added that the municipal employees photographed the house and threatened to bring bulldozers to raze it and make him pay the demolition expenses if he did not do it himself.
He pointed out that he had built parts of another floor over his old house with tin sheets about six months ago in order to accommodate some of his sons who intend to get married.
Barakat said he stopped building the second floor over his house after Israeli municipal employees came to the house several months ago and verbally ordered him to halt the construction works.
The Israeli occupation authority in Jerusalem refuses to give Palestinians any construction permits before they meet a number of unattainable conditions, including paying exorbitant sums of money.
Israeli soldiers, accompanied by military bulldozers, invaded earlier on Tuesday at dawn, the town of Sabastia, north of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and demolished a restaurant and a porcelain workshop.
Nael Sha’er, the head of Sabastia Local Council, said the soldiers demolished a restaurant, owned by resident Nael Aqel, and a Porcelain workshop, owned by Ahmad Thiab Aqel, near the archeological Palestinian area.
The army said the constructions are located in Area C, under full Israeli military and administrative control.
Sha’er added that the soldiers imposed curfew on the entire area, and prevented the Palestinians from leaving their homes.
On Monday, the army forced a Palestinian to demolish his shed and barn under the same allegations, in Sebastia.
Nael Sha’er, the head of Sabastia Local Council, said the soldiers demolished a restaurant, owned by resident Nael Aqel, and a Porcelain workshop, owned by Ahmad Thiab Aqel, near the archeological Palestinian area.
The army said the constructions are located in Area C, under full Israeli military and administrative control.
Sha’er added that the soldiers imposed curfew on the entire area, and prevented the Palestinians from leaving their homes.
On Monday, the army forced a Palestinian to demolish his shed and barn under the same allegations, in Sebastia.
A number of Israeli military jeeps and bulldozers invaded, on Tuesday at dawn, Um al-Kheir village, east of Yatta town, south of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, and demolished five residential sheds.
Rateb Jabour, the coordinator of the National and Popular Committees against the Annexation Wall and Colonies in the southern part of the West Bank, said the soldiers surrounded the village before invading it.
He added that the five sheds were located close to the Carmiel illegal colony, built on private Palestinian property.
The demolished residential sheds belong to several members of the al-Hathaleen family, and have been previously demolished eight times.
Israel is frequently trying to displace the villagers in order to replace the indigenous Palestinians, to expand illegal nearby colonies.
Um al-Kheir, a small Palestinian Bedouin community, was built by the residents under funding from the European Union.
Rateb Jabour, the coordinator of the National and Popular Committees against the Annexation Wall and Colonies in the southern part of the West Bank, said the soldiers surrounded the village before invading it.
He added that the five sheds were located close to the Carmiel illegal colony, built on private Palestinian property.
The demolished residential sheds belong to several members of the al-Hathaleen family, and have been previously demolished eight times.
Israel is frequently trying to displace the villagers in order to replace the indigenous Palestinians, to expand illegal nearby colonies.
Um al-Kheir, a small Palestinian Bedouin community, was built by the residents under funding from the European Union.