2 sept 2016

Israel demolished 203 Palestinian homes in the West Bank during the first seven months of 2016, leaving 823 people homeless, according to a recent report released by the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem.
B'Tselem described the number of razed houses in Palestinian populated areas during that period as the worst since it started to document Israeli demolition and removal of homes, which reflected "an intensification of Israel's campaign to displace Palestinians from Area C since the beginning of 2016."
Its report underlined Israel's recent displacement of impoverished families in M’azi Jaba hamlet, northeast of Jerusalem.
"On 29 August 2016, military and civil administration forces came to the community of M’azi Jaba’, one of several clusters of shepherding communities located to the northeast of Jerusalem, between the village of Jaba’ and the settlement of Adam (Geva Binyamin).
The forces demolished four homes belonging to three families, as well as three structures used for raising and housing livestock, and left 28 people homeless, including 19 minors," the report explained.
B'Tselem described the number of razed houses in Palestinian populated areas during that period as the worst since it started to document Israeli demolition and removal of homes, which reflected "an intensification of Israel's campaign to displace Palestinians from Area C since the beginning of 2016."
Its report underlined Israel's recent displacement of impoverished families in M’azi Jaba hamlet, northeast of Jerusalem.
"On 29 August 2016, military and civil administration forces came to the community of M’azi Jaba’, one of several clusters of shepherding communities located to the northeast of Jerusalem, between the village of Jaba’ and the settlement of Adam (Geva Binyamin).
The forces demolished four homes belonging to three families, as well as three structures used for raising and housing livestock, and left 28 people homeless, including 19 minors," the report explained.

The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) confiscated Thursday evening a Palestinian-owned bulldozer in an agricultural land in Beit Dajan village east of Nablus.
Head of the village council Nasser Abu Jaysh affirmed that Israeli forces stormed the village in large numbers and confiscated a bulldozer owned by a local farmer.
For Palestinians living under illegal Israeli military occupation, violent repression is a quotidian burden.
Head of the village council Nasser Abu Jaysh affirmed that Israeli forces stormed the village in large numbers and confiscated a bulldozer owned by a local farmer.
For Palestinians living under illegal Israeli military occupation, violent repression is a quotidian burden.
31 aug 2016

A video appears to show two Border Police officers striking and breaking the mirrors of a parked scooter; the incident is being investigated, and the Border Police claim to be taking it 'seriously.'
A video filmed overnight Tuesday by a resident of Jerusalem's Old City allegedly shows two Border Police officers striking a scooter and breaking its mirrors.
The Border Police have stated that they "take this incident seriously and are distressed by it." They related that the footage was transferred to the Police Investigation Division (PID) to be checked. The Jerusalem District Commander of the Israel Police, Yoram Halevy, ordered that the scooter's owner, Kamal Jamal, be compensated for damages, depending on the results of this check.
The video shows the vandalism and plays the sound of breaking glass, but the Border Policemen are not seen actually striking the scooter. As evidence, residents presented photographs of the scooter as they found it in the morning with its mirrors broken.
Jamal's brother, Najib Jamal, said that he saw what happened but didn't file a complaint with the PID because "I don't believe that it'll help."
The Border Police were on a widespread operation in the Old City that night to prevent stone-throwing.
A video filmed overnight Tuesday by a resident of Jerusalem's Old City allegedly shows two Border Police officers striking a scooter and breaking its mirrors.
The Border Police have stated that they "take this incident seriously and are distressed by it." They related that the footage was transferred to the Police Investigation Division (PID) to be checked. The Jerusalem District Commander of the Israel Police, Yoram Halevy, ordered that the scooter's owner, Kamal Jamal, be compensated for damages, depending on the results of this check.
The video shows the vandalism and plays the sound of breaking glass, but the Border Policemen are not seen actually striking the scooter. As evidence, residents presented photographs of the scooter as they found it in the morning with its mirrors broken.
Jamal's brother, Najib Jamal, said that he saw what happened but didn't file a complaint with the PID because "I don't believe that it'll help."
The Border Police were on a widespread operation in the Old City that night to prevent stone-throwing.

The popular anti-settlement committee warned of an Israeli scheme to seize a vast Palestinian land tract in southern Nablus in favor of illegal settlement.
Activist Bashar al-Qaryout, from the local anti-settlement committee, sounded the alarm over a projected Israeli settlement scheme to dismember northern West Bank towns and villages.
He added that the project garnered official approval from the Israeli occupation authorities and that the execution phase has been underway in several areas.
The settlement plan, extending from the Ariel settlement to the Jordan Valley, has been devised at the same time as Israel has approved master plans to legitimize the illegal settlement outposts of Shilo, Shvut Rachel, Eli, and Rahalim.
According to the activist, such settlement schemes will culminate in the confiscation of thousands of dunums of Palestinian lands. He slammed the silence maintained by the international parties and human rights institutions as regards the scheme.
Activist Bashar al-Qaryout, from the local anti-settlement committee, sounded the alarm over a projected Israeli settlement scheme to dismember northern West Bank towns and villages.
He added that the project garnered official approval from the Israeli occupation authorities and that the execution phase has been underway in several areas.
The settlement plan, extending from the Ariel settlement to the Jordan Valley, has been devised at the same time as Israel has approved master plans to legitimize the illegal settlement outposts of Shilo, Shvut Rachel, Eli, and Rahalim.
According to the activist, such settlement schemes will culminate in the confiscation of thousands of dunums of Palestinian lands. He slammed the silence maintained by the international parties and human rights institutions as regards the scheme.

The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) on Tuesday notified the demolition of the family home of prisoner Younis Ayesh Zein on allegations of the latter’s involvement in planning a Tel Aviv anti-occupation shooting in June.
Zein’s brother, Hamza, said the IOA threatened to knock down the detainee’s home in al-Khalil on account of his alleged involvement in assisting the Tel Aviv shooting attack, carried out by prisoners Khaled and Muhammad Mukhamreh on June 8.
Khaled’s and Muhammad’s family home was knocked down last month. The family has received no response from the Israeli authorities over an objection filed recently to protest the demolition order.
At dawn Tuesday, the Israeli occupation army blasted the home of prisoner Muhammad Ibryoush, from al-Khalil’s southern town of Dura, on allegations of the prisoner’s involvement in another anti-occupation shooting attack that led to the death of a fanatic Israeli rabbi near Dura a couple of months ago.
Zein’s brother, Hamza, said the IOA threatened to knock down the detainee’s home in al-Khalil on account of his alleged involvement in assisting the Tel Aviv shooting attack, carried out by prisoners Khaled and Muhammad Mukhamreh on June 8.
Khaled’s and Muhammad’s family home was knocked down last month. The family has received no response from the Israeli authorities over an objection filed recently to protest the demolition order.
At dawn Tuesday, the Israeli occupation army blasted the home of prisoner Muhammad Ibryoush, from al-Khalil’s southern town of Dura, on allegations of the prisoner’s involvement in another anti-occupation shooting attack that led to the death of a fanatic Israeli rabbi near Dura a couple of months ago.

Israeli soldiers invaded, on Wednesday at dawn, the Sanabel Radio Station, in Doura city, in the southern West Bank district of Hebron, confiscated equipment, and kidnapped the station manager and four employees, before shutting the station down for three months.
The Sanabel Radio said the soldiers violently stormed the building, and ransacked it, before confiscating broadcast equipment and various electronics, and ordered it shut for three months.
The soldiers kidnapped station manager Ahmad Daraweesh, and four employees, identified as Mohammad Sous, Nidal Amro, Montaser Nassar and Hamed Nammoura.
They were all taken prisoner after the soldiers stormed their homes and searched them.
Israeli military spokesperson Avichai Adraee claimed that the station broadcasts what he called “incitement against Israel,” and that all detained employees have been moved to an interrogation center.
The Sanabel Radio said the soldiers violently stormed the building, and ransacked it, before confiscating broadcast equipment and various electronics, and ordered it shut for three months.
The soldiers kidnapped station manager Ahmad Daraweesh, and four employees, identified as Mohammad Sous, Nidal Amro, Montaser Nassar and Hamed Nammoura.
They were all taken prisoner after the soldiers stormed their homes and searched them.
Israeli military spokesperson Avichai Adraee claimed that the station broadcasts what he called “incitement against Israel,” and that all detained employees have been moved to an interrogation center.
30 aug 2016

The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Monday demolished 12 Palestinian homes and livestock structures in al-Jaba’ town, in eastern Occupied Jerusalem, under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
A PIC journalist said the demolition process targeted five civilian homes sheltering 28 Palestinians. According to citizen Ahmad Abu Saray’a, the demolition also targeted three sheep pens and two kitchens.
The IOF further ordered two Palestinians to demolish two pens on their own and within a couple of hours. The furniture of the demolished civilian homes was also turned into mounds of rubble in the process.
The International Red Cross provided the five families with makeshift tents for provisional dwelling.
A PIC journalist said the demolition process targeted five civilian homes sheltering 28 Palestinians. According to citizen Ahmad Abu Saray’a, the demolition also targeted three sheep pens and two kitchens.
The IOF further ordered two Palestinians to demolish two pens on their own and within a couple of hours. The furniture of the demolished civilian homes was also turned into mounds of rubble in the process.
The International Red Cross provided the five families with makeshift tents for provisional dwelling.

Israeli soldiers invaded, on Tuesday, Sur Baher town, southeast of occupied East Jerusalem, and demolished one home, reportedly for being built without a permit.
Eyewitnesses said a large Israeli military force invaded the town, accompanying personnel of the city council, and besieged the entire area before demolishing a home belonging to Waseem Khaled Ateyya.
The army claims that the demolished property was built without a construction permit. The family filed appeals, but the army went ahead and demolished the property.
While Israeli continues to build and expand its illegal colonies on Palestinian lands, in and around occupied Jerusalem, the Palestinians continue to face very severe construction restrictions, and excessively high fees and fines.
Eyewitnesses said a large Israeli military force invaded the town, accompanying personnel of the city council, and besieged the entire area before demolishing a home belonging to Waseem Khaled Ateyya.
The army claims that the demolished property was built without a construction permit. The family filed appeals, but the army went ahead and demolished the property.
While Israeli continues to build and expand its illegal colonies on Palestinian lands, in and around occupied Jerusalem, the Palestinians continue to face very severe construction restrictions, and excessively high fees and fines.

Sheikh Najeh Bkeirat, the head of Jerusalem’s department of religious teachings, warned on Tuesday of the serious upshots of the Israeli cable-car plan, saying it aims to consolidate Israel’s grip on the holy city.
According to Bkeirat, after surrounding Jerusalem with Israeli settlements and conducting excavations underneath the al-Aqsa Mosque, Israel is now seeking control of the city’s sky via the cable-car project.
Bkeirat called for mobilizing international protests over such a Judaization project. He said the project is being held over a historic territory in an attempt obliterate the Islamic identity of the holy city of Jerusalem.
He said the scheme was initiated some 10 years ago when the Israeli Minister of Internal Security, Avi Dichter, issued a decision banning the burial of dead Muslims in the southern corners of Bab al-Rahma cemetery.
He slammed the Israeli occupation authorities for obstructing reconstruction works at Muslims’ the holy al-Aqsa Mosque in an attempt to hold sway over the site. According to Bkeirat, the cable-car project makes part of an Israeli plan to build the alleged temple mount on the ruins of the al-Aqsa, particularly in the so-called Holy Basin area.
Commenting on the repercussions of the plan, Bkeirat said efforts have been underway to seize a Palestinian land in Bab al-Rahma and ban the burial of Muslims. Other lands were confiscated in Bab al-Maghareba, Wadi Hilweh neighborhood, and Bab al-Khalil area. “The project amounts to a declaration of war.
Israel is trying to prove that it has sovereignty over Occupied Jerusalem through its continuous excavations and destruction of Islamic heritage,” Bkeirat noted. Over 2,500 Palestinian homes are threatened with demolition while 1,400 others have already been reduced to rubble as part of a policy of forced dislocation, he stated.
Bkeirat further spoke out against the several synagogues, surveillance cameras, detention centers, military checkpoints, and concrete roadblocks engulfing the city from all corners as instances of the hazardous nature of the underway Judaization scheme.
According to Bkeirat, after surrounding Jerusalem with Israeli settlements and conducting excavations underneath the al-Aqsa Mosque, Israel is now seeking control of the city’s sky via the cable-car project.
Bkeirat called for mobilizing international protests over such a Judaization project. He said the project is being held over a historic territory in an attempt obliterate the Islamic identity of the holy city of Jerusalem.
He said the scheme was initiated some 10 years ago when the Israeli Minister of Internal Security, Avi Dichter, issued a decision banning the burial of dead Muslims in the southern corners of Bab al-Rahma cemetery.
He slammed the Israeli occupation authorities for obstructing reconstruction works at Muslims’ the holy al-Aqsa Mosque in an attempt to hold sway over the site. According to Bkeirat, the cable-car project makes part of an Israeli plan to build the alleged temple mount on the ruins of the al-Aqsa, particularly in the so-called Holy Basin area.
Commenting on the repercussions of the plan, Bkeirat said efforts have been underway to seize a Palestinian land in Bab al-Rahma and ban the burial of Muslims. Other lands were confiscated in Bab al-Maghareba, Wadi Hilweh neighborhood, and Bab al-Khalil area. “The project amounts to a declaration of war.
Israel is trying to prove that it has sovereignty over Occupied Jerusalem through its continuous excavations and destruction of Islamic heritage,” Bkeirat noted. Over 2,500 Palestinian homes are threatened with demolition while 1,400 others have already been reduced to rubble as part of a policy of forced dislocation, he stated.
Bkeirat further spoke out against the several synagogues, surveillance cameras, detention centers, military checkpoints, and concrete roadblocks engulfing the city from all corners as instances of the hazardous nature of the underway Judaization scheme.

Israeli Occupation forces (IOF) confiscated on Monday a bulldozer owned by a Palestinian company during renovation works of a road near Kiryat Arba settlement which was established over Palestinians’ land in al-Khalil.
The coordinator of the popular and national committee against settlement and Separation Wall in the southern West Bank Rateb al-Jabour said that the bulldozer was transferred to the nearby Kharsina outpost.
He added that Israeli forces stopped renovation works of another road which connects two villages in al-Khalil. He underlined that the road is of great importance since it links the towns in southern al-Khalil.
Israeli forces claimed that halting renovation works in the roads were done for lacking construction permits in an Israeli-controlled area.
Earlier on Monday, Israeli forces stormed housing compounds in Mesafer Yatta town in al-Khalil and searched Palestinians’ homes for the second time in a week.
The coordinator of the popular and national committee against settlement and Separation Wall in the southern West Bank Rateb al-Jabour said that the bulldozer was transferred to the nearby Kharsina outpost.
He added that Israeli forces stopped renovation works of another road which connects two villages in al-Khalil. He underlined that the road is of great importance since it links the towns in southern al-Khalil.
Israeli forces claimed that halting renovation works in the roads were done for lacking construction permits in an Israeli-controlled area.
Earlier on Monday, Israeli forces stormed housing compounds in Mesafer Yatta town in al-Khalil and searched Palestinians’ homes for the second time in a week.

Dozens of Israeli soldiers invaded, on Tuesday at dawn, the town of Doura, south of Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, and demolished a home of a political prisoner.
The Maan News Agency said the soldiers invaded Doura town, wired the home of detainee Mohammad Abdul-Majid Ebreiwish al-‘Amayra, and detonated it.
The family said the soldiers forced them out of their home, in Wad Soud area, in the northern part of the town, and also ordered all families living in nearby homes out of their properties, and detonated the Ebreiwish home.
The explosion leveled the property and caused structural damage to several nearby homes.
The army accuses al-‘Amayra of aiding Mohammad al-Faqeeh, who was killed by the army, on July 27th 2016, after the soldiers fired missiles into a home, where he barricaded himself. The soldiers also bulldozed the property.
The al-‘Amayra property was demolished after an Israeli court turned down an appeal filed by an Israeli center for human rights. A month ago, the army invaded the property, photographed it and handed the family the demolition order.
IDF forces demolish home of Micky Mark killer
Mohammed Amaira, one of the men involved in the murder of Micky Mark, had his house demolished by the IDF in the early hours of Tuesday morning; Amaira, a former Palestinian security services member, turned over the weapon and vehicle used in the attack.
IDF forces have destroyed the house of Mohammad Amairah, 38, in the village of Dura. Amairah was part of the terrorist cell which killed Michael Mark and severely injured his wife and daughter as they were driving in the West Bank two months ago.
The demolition was carried out by soldiers in the Yahalom unit and the 605 combat engineers battalion, alongside border police and COGAT.
The demolition of the terrorist's house was carried out in conjunction under the direction of the political establishment. The one story tall house was located in the Wadi Sod area of Dura, an area where the IDF conducted extensive operations to find the terror cell.
Amairah was a part of the Palestinian Security Forces in the West Bank, and was arrested three days after he carried out his attack.
While initially saying he was the driver of the terror cell's car during the attack, following a Shin Bet investigation, he revealed that a man named Mohammad Fakih fired the deadly shots, killing Mark. He even turned over the weapon and vehicle used in the attack.
Fakih was killed during a shootout with Israeli security forces after barricading himself in his home in Surif.
The Maan News Agency said the soldiers invaded Doura town, wired the home of detainee Mohammad Abdul-Majid Ebreiwish al-‘Amayra, and detonated it.
The family said the soldiers forced them out of their home, in Wad Soud area, in the northern part of the town, and also ordered all families living in nearby homes out of their properties, and detonated the Ebreiwish home.
The explosion leveled the property and caused structural damage to several nearby homes.
The army accuses al-‘Amayra of aiding Mohammad al-Faqeeh, who was killed by the army, on July 27th 2016, after the soldiers fired missiles into a home, where he barricaded himself. The soldiers also bulldozed the property.
The al-‘Amayra property was demolished after an Israeli court turned down an appeal filed by an Israeli center for human rights. A month ago, the army invaded the property, photographed it and handed the family the demolition order.
IDF forces demolish home of Micky Mark killer
Mohammed Amaira, one of the men involved in the murder of Micky Mark, had his house demolished by the IDF in the early hours of Tuesday morning; Amaira, a former Palestinian security services member, turned over the weapon and vehicle used in the attack.
IDF forces have destroyed the house of Mohammad Amairah, 38, in the village of Dura. Amairah was part of the terrorist cell which killed Michael Mark and severely injured his wife and daughter as they were driving in the West Bank two months ago.
The demolition was carried out by soldiers in the Yahalom unit and the 605 combat engineers battalion, alongside border police and COGAT.
The demolition of the terrorist's house was carried out in conjunction under the direction of the political establishment. The one story tall house was located in the Wadi Sod area of Dura, an area where the IDF conducted extensive operations to find the terror cell.
Amairah was a part of the Palestinian Security Forces in the West Bank, and was arrested three days after he carried out his attack.
While initially saying he was the driver of the terror cell's car during the attack, following a Shin Bet investigation, he revealed that a man named Mohammad Fakih fired the deadly shots, killing Mark. He even turned over the weapon and vehicle used in the attack.
Fakih was killed during a shootout with Israeli security forces after barricading himself in his home in Surif.
29 aug 2016

Palestinian homes and civilian structures sustained cracks in Silwan town due to the ongoing Israeli excavations beneath residential neighborhoods.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center said in a statement that fissures figured on the walls and roofs of civilian homes due to Israeli excavations.
The center warned of the imminent collapse of Silwan buildings due to the escalated pace of Israeli excavations beneath residential quarters.
Over recent days, cracks reportedly widened in the Hush Seyam neighborhood, a home to seven Palestinian residential apartments sheltering over 30 Palestinians, including children.
A few months ago, the widowed wife of Adnan Seyam evacuated her family home in the first floor due to wall collapses. She said she was shocked as the cracks started to affect the second floor, where she is currently living.
Locals of the Wadi Hilweh neighborhood said the streets and buildings have remarkably gone slanted, despite Israeli attempts to hide the fact.
They added that sounds of digging machines are heard in the area around the clock. Member of Wadi Hilweh committee, Ahmad Qaraeen, said Israeli excavations have been ongoing since 2007 and without regard for the safety of the Palestinian locals.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center said in a statement that fissures figured on the walls and roofs of civilian homes due to Israeli excavations.
The center warned of the imminent collapse of Silwan buildings due to the escalated pace of Israeli excavations beneath residential quarters.
Over recent days, cracks reportedly widened in the Hush Seyam neighborhood, a home to seven Palestinian residential apartments sheltering over 30 Palestinians, including children.
A few months ago, the widowed wife of Adnan Seyam evacuated her family home in the first floor due to wall collapses. She said she was shocked as the cracks started to affect the second floor, where she is currently living.
Locals of the Wadi Hilweh neighborhood said the streets and buildings have remarkably gone slanted, despite Israeli attempts to hide the fact.
They added that sounds of digging machines are heard in the area around the clock. Member of Wadi Hilweh committee, Ahmad Qaraeen, said Israeli excavations have been ongoing since 2007 and without regard for the safety of the Palestinian locals.