13 nov 2016

A Palestinian family on Sunday was forced by the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) to demolish two of its homes in Jabel Mukaber neighborhood, southeast of Jerusalem at the pretext of illegal construction.
Mohamed Ja’abis said that members of his family started today to demolish the homes after they failed to obtain a construction permit from the Israeli municipality in Jerusalem.
Ja’abis added that 12 individuals, including six children, were living in these two houses, which had been built about 10 years ago.
Israeli municipal employees had given the family last week five days to knock down the homes or else it would have to pay the municipality about 30,000 US dollars in demolition expenses.
Ja’abis explained that the Israeli district court had already rejected a petition filed by the family to cancel the demolition order, which was issued by the municipality on allegations that the houses were built in an area classified as green.
The IOA has classified about 40 percent of the Palestinian-owned land in Occupied Jerusalem as green spaces and thus prohibits any construction in those areas.
Mohamed Ja’abis said that members of his family started today to demolish the homes after they failed to obtain a construction permit from the Israeli municipality in Jerusalem.
Ja’abis added that 12 individuals, including six children, were living in these two houses, which had been built about 10 years ago.
Israeli municipal employees had given the family last week five days to knock down the homes or else it would have to pay the municipality about 30,000 US dollars in demolition expenses.
Ja’abis explained that the Israeli district court had already rejected a petition filed by the family to cancel the demolition order, which was issued by the municipality on allegations that the houses were built in an area classified as green.
The IOA has classified about 40 percent of the Palestinian-owned land in Occupied Jerusalem as green spaces and thus prohibits any construction in those areas.

The Israeli Civil Administration’s approval of three major industrial zones, out of 11 zones in the West Bank ignores the Green Line and aims at confiscating more Palestinian lands to build more Israeli settlements, according to Khalil Al-Tufkaji, a cartographer and expert on Israeli settlements.
Al-Tufkaji pointed out that these industrial border areas were established to annul the thought of the Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian territories that were occupied in 1967.
Multiple goals
According to Al-Tufkaji, a closer look to the map would show that the Israeli industrial zone is an extension of the Israeli settlements, and only 500 meters away from the Palestinian border villages. Consequently, the establishment of the zone would prevent the Palestinian villages from growing.
He stated that there are many goals for this plan, including annexing all Palestinian border lands, turning a deaf ear to the Palestinian return to the borders of 1967, and depriving the Palestinian workers of reaching the Israeli settlements by establishing Israeli industrial projects in the West Bank.
This Israeli plan, as Al-Tufkaji pointed out, changes the nature and illegally expropriates Palestinian lands. The plan also changes the land use from agriculture to industry, and adds it to the maps of the ‘Israeli ministry of transportation’, as part of the plan of linking Tel Aviv with occupied East Jerusalem and the Old City through the Israeli road network to facilitate the movement of Israeli settlers.
Palestinian West Bank
Al-Tufkaji pointed out that the Israeli project is planned to be in the West Bank as part of the Israeli project to link border settlements with Jerusalem through the high-speed rail line, which is expected to be finished by 2017.
“This is the second and biggest Israeli industrial zone in the settlements between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. It aims at moving the Israeli industries to the occupied Palestinian lands and exploiting the low-waged Palestinian workers without having them in the Israeli settlements inside the Green Line,” he clarified.
He also stressed that the Israeli projects are connected and well-planned to achieve the Israeli Zionist project of “Greater Jerusalem”.
Al-Tufkaji concluded, “The ‘Greater Jerusalem’ project will confiscate 10% of the Palestinian West Bank and fulfill what all Israeli governments have planned for: an Israeli majority and a Palestinian minority in Jerusalem.”
Al-Tufkaji pointed out that these industrial border areas were established to annul the thought of the Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian territories that were occupied in 1967.
Multiple goals
According to Al-Tufkaji, a closer look to the map would show that the Israeli industrial zone is an extension of the Israeli settlements, and only 500 meters away from the Palestinian border villages. Consequently, the establishment of the zone would prevent the Palestinian villages from growing.
He stated that there are many goals for this plan, including annexing all Palestinian border lands, turning a deaf ear to the Palestinian return to the borders of 1967, and depriving the Palestinian workers of reaching the Israeli settlements by establishing Israeli industrial projects in the West Bank.
This Israeli plan, as Al-Tufkaji pointed out, changes the nature and illegally expropriates Palestinian lands. The plan also changes the land use from agriculture to industry, and adds it to the maps of the ‘Israeli ministry of transportation’, as part of the plan of linking Tel Aviv with occupied East Jerusalem and the Old City through the Israeli road network to facilitate the movement of Israeli settlers.
Palestinian West Bank
Al-Tufkaji pointed out that the Israeli project is planned to be in the West Bank as part of the Israeli project to link border settlements with Jerusalem through the high-speed rail line, which is expected to be finished by 2017.
“This is the second and biggest Israeli industrial zone in the settlements between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. It aims at moving the Israeli industries to the occupied Palestinian lands and exploiting the low-waged Palestinian workers without having them in the Israeli settlements inside the Green Line,” he clarified.
He also stressed that the Israeli projects are connected and well-planned to achieve the Israeli Zionist project of “Greater Jerusalem”.
Al-Tufkaji concluded, “The ‘Greater Jerusalem’ project will confiscate 10% of the Palestinian West Bank and fulfill what all Israeli governments have planned for: an Israeli majority and a Palestinian minority in Jerusalem.”

A protest sit-in was organized Saturday in occupied Jerusalem against the Israeli attack on Qalunia cemetery west of the city.
Head of the Qalunia charity association Azmi al-Khatib participated in the event along with head of the national committee to defend the right of return Mohamed Alyan, and representatives of the Palestinian assembly of displaced towns in 1948, in addition to local residents of Qalunia town.
The participants chanted during the event slogans protesting Israeli attack on the Islamic cemetery of Qalunia, considering it a war crime.
During the protest, Alyan strongly condemned the Israeli deliberate attacks against Palestinian holy sites and Islamic cemeteries.
He also stressed the Palestinian people’s total adherence to their right of return to their displaced towns.
Alyan denounced the Israeli continued attacks on the cemetery despite a court’s order to suspend the bulldozing operations.
For his part, al-Khatib said that the protest was organized in rejection of Israeli bulldozing operations in Qalunia cemetery, considering it a part of Israel’s Judaization policy.
The participants also called on the Palestinian Authority and the PLO to work urgently and seriously to expose Israeli attacks on Islamic holy sites.
Head of the Qalunia charity association Azmi al-Khatib participated in the event along with head of the national committee to defend the right of return Mohamed Alyan, and representatives of the Palestinian assembly of displaced towns in 1948, in addition to local residents of Qalunia town.
The participants chanted during the event slogans protesting Israeli attack on the Islamic cemetery of Qalunia, considering it a war crime.
During the protest, Alyan strongly condemned the Israeli deliberate attacks against Palestinian holy sites and Islamic cemeteries.
He also stressed the Palestinian people’s total adherence to their right of return to their displaced towns.
Alyan denounced the Israeli continued attacks on the cemetery despite a court’s order to suspend the bulldozing operations.
For his part, al-Khatib said that the protest was organized in rejection of Israeli bulldozing operations in Qalunia cemetery, considering it a part of Israel’s Judaization policy.
The participants also called on the Palestinian Authority and the PLO to work urgently and seriously to expose Israeli attacks on Islamic holy sites.
12 nov 2016

The Israeli occupation army on Friday night ordered the Bedouin residents of a-Ras al-Ahmar hamlet, east of Tammun town in Nablus, to evacuate their homes in order for its forces to conduct military drills in the coming days.
A resident told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that nine families, including children, would be homeless as a result of these drills that would take place for two days as of Sunday, 13 November.
He complained that these military exercises would also destroy their cultivated fields and grazing land and would increase the financial burdens on the residents as a result of their displacement from their area.
He noted that the Israeli army had conducted similar drills one week ago and forced them to leave their homes.
Ras al-Ahmar is one of the most prominent Bedouin hamlets whose residents greatly suffer from Israel’s military drills and activities.
A resident told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that nine families, including children, would be homeless as a result of these drills that would take place for two days as of Sunday, 13 November.
He complained that these military exercises would also destroy their cultivated fields and grazing land and would increase the financial burdens on the residents as a result of their displacement from their area.
He noted that the Israeli army had conducted similar drills one week ago and forced them to leave their homes.
Ras al-Ahmar is one of the most prominent Bedouin hamlets whose residents greatly suffer from Israel’s military drills and activities.
10 nov 2016

The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) sealed at dawn Thursday a bedroom in a Palestinian-owned house in Yatta town, south of al-Khalil.
Media sources affirmed that that Israeli forces stormed the town in large numbers since the early morning hours accompanied with cement trucks.
The Israeli forces then broke into the citizen Younis Zayn’s house and sealed his bedroom with cement before withdrawing from the area.
The IOF accused Zayn of being involved in the Tel Aviv shooting attack which left four Israeli settlers dead last June.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces erected a military checkpoint at the entrance to Fawar checkpoint, south of al-Khalil, restricting the locals’ movement in both directions.
Media sources affirmed that that Israeli forces stormed the town in large numbers since the early morning hours accompanied with cement trucks.
The Israeli forces then broke into the citizen Younis Zayn’s house and sealed his bedroom with cement before withdrawing from the area.
The IOF accused Zayn of being involved in the Tel Aviv shooting attack which left four Israeli settlers dead last June.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces erected a military checkpoint at the entrance to Fawar checkpoint, south of al-Khalil, restricting the locals’ movement in both directions.
9 nov 2016

Palestinian activists warned of underway Israeli attempts to raze the Islamic Qaluniya Cemetery to the west of Occupied Jerusalem.
Activist Ali Abu Sheikha, from 1948 Occupied Palestine, said the Israeli occupation authorities embarked on a Judaization scheme, devised since 1973, to level the Qaluniya Cemetery in favor of illegal settlement expansion.
According to Abu Sheikha, several documents and maps dating back to the British Mandate era, testify to the inherently Islamic nature of the cemetery, where dozens of tombs for dead Muslims are still existent.
Head of the Jerusalem Center for Socio-Economic Rights, Ziad Al-Hamouri, also said the Israeli scheme makes part of ongoing attempts to wipe out all Islamic cemeteries and holy sites in the occupied Palestinian territories.
He added that the move represents a flagrant violation of the sanctity of the dead Muslims.
On Tuesday evening, the Israeli Supreme Court issued an injunction against sanctioning the destruction of Qaluniya Cemetery and the leveling of tombs for a couple of months in response to the ruin inflicted by the Israeli Antiquities Authority on the graveyard over the past few days. The injunction is to remain in effect until January 7, 2017.
The court embargo came following a petition lodged by the native Palestinian inhabitants of Qaluniya to stop leveling works in the cemetery.
The court demanded the Israeli Antiquities Authority and Works Department to respond to the petition by November 15.
Activist Ali Abu Sheikha, from 1948 Occupied Palestine, said the Israeli occupation authorities embarked on a Judaization scheme, devised since 1973, to level the Qaluniya Cemetery in favor of illegal settlement expansion.
According to Abu Sheikha, several documents and maps dating back to the British Mandate era, testify to the inherently Islamic nature of the cemetery, where dozens of tombs for dead Muslims are still existent.
Head of the Jerusalem Center for Socio-Economic Rights, Ziad Al-Hamouri, also said the Israeli scheme makes part of ongoing attempts to wipe out all Islamic cemeteries and holy sites in the occupied Palestinian territories.
He added that the move represents a flagrant violation of the sanctity of the dead Muslims.
On Tuesday evening, the Israeli Supreme Court issued an injunction against sanctioning the destruction of Qaluniya Cemetery and the leveling of tombs for a couple of months in response to the ruin inflicted by the Israeli Antiquities Authority on the graveyard over the past few days. The injunction is to remain in effect until January 7, 2017.
The court embargo came following a petition lodged by the native Palestinian inhabitants of Qaluniya to stop leveling works in the cemetery.
The court demanded the Israeli Antiquities Authority and Works Department to respond to the petition by November 15.

Israeli soldiers invaded, on Wednesday at dawn, Beit Hanina neighborhood, north of occupied East Jerusalem, and demolished a carwash building, after surrounding and isolating the entire area.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic) said the demolished structure belong Abdullah and his brother Abdul-Rauf Maraqa.
Silwanic stated that the soldiers invaded the area, after isolating it since early dawn hours, and demolished the carwash building, that was built more than 4.5 years ago, and that the demolition was conducted without a prior notice.
The soldiers also demolished three buildings, 12 square/meters each, and were used to store goods and car accessories.
On Tuesday, the soldiers demolished a residential building in Wadi al-Jouz neighborhood, in Jerusalem, and another building in the al-‘Eesawiyya town, in addition to demolishing sections of an apartment, rendering it unsafe.
It is worth mentioning that the owner of the building, Mohammad al-Hadra, filed an urgent appeal with an Israeli court, but the army went ahead and demolished it before ruling was reach on the pending appeal.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic) said the demolished structure belong Abdullah and his brother Abdul-Rauf Maraqa.
Silwanic stated that the soldiers invaded the area, after isolating it since early dawn hours, and demolished the carwash building, that was built more than 4.5 years ago, and that the demolition was conducted without a prior notice.
The soldiers also demolished three buildings, 12 square/meters each, and were used to store goods and car accessories.
On Tuesday, the soldiers demolished a residential building in Wadi al-Jouz neighborhood, in Jerusalem, and another building in the al-‘Eesawiyya town, in addition to demolishing sections of an apartment, rendering it unsafe.
It is worth mentioning that the owner of the building, Mohammad al-Hadra, filed an urgent appeal with an Israeli court, but the army went ahead and demolished it before ruling was reach on the pending appeal.

The Israeli occupation army overnight Tuesday knocked down Palestinian barracks and commercial stalls on the access road to the Israel-run al-Tiba roadblock, in western Jenin province.
A PIC news reporter quoted eyewitnesses as saying that Israeli army bulldozers demolished Palestinian booths on either side of the road without prior notifications.
The demolition process was reportedly carried out under the pretext that the targeted structures were built in the Israel-controlled Area C.
A couple of days ago, the Israeli occupation army leveled Palestinian stalls near the al-Jalama roadblock, to the north of Jenin province.
Impoverished Palestinian civilians have been using the stalls to earn a living for their children in the occupied Palestinian territories by selling small sandwiches or a handful of season fruits.
A PIC news reporter quoted eyewitnesses as saying that Israeli army bulldozers demolished Palestinian booths on either side of the road without prior notifications.
The demolition process was reportedly carried out under the pretext that the targeted structures were built in the Israel-controlled Area C.
A couple of days ago, the Israeli occupation army leveled Palestinian stalls near the al-Jalama roadblock, to the north of Jenin province.
Impoverished Palestinian civilians have been using the stalls to earn a living for their children in the occupied Palestinian territories by selling small sandwiches or a handful of season fruits.
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