5 apr 2017
The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) issued demolition notices on Wednesday against houses of Palestinian prisoners in Ramallah and al-Bireh twin cities, north of occupied Jerusalem, under the pretext of building without permit.
The wife of the prisoner Bajes Nakhla, who is a leader with Hamas Movement, said that an Israeli military force raided her house in Jalazone refugee camp, north of Ramallah, and handed her an order notifying the demolition of her 600-square-meter house.
Nakhla told Quds Press agency that the IOA had handed the family a similar notice three years ago, but the family filed an objection through human rights organizations. However, the Israeli court has not made a final decision yet.
She affirmed that this demolition notice comes in the context of the continuous targeting of her husband who is kept in solitary confinement in Eshel prison and who has been administratively detained for more than a year, noting that for 17 years her husband has been a victim of repeated arrests.
She pointed out that the Israeli targeting of her family falls in line with a political revenge plan and is not because of the Israeli claims of building without a permit.
In a related development, local sources reported that the IOA handed two demolition notices to the released prisoners Abbas Qara'an and Rami Ishtewi from al-Bireh city under the same pretext.
Abbas Qara'an said in an interview with Quds Press agency that an Israeli force stormed his house in Jabal al-Tawil area and threatened to demolish it, claiming that part of his house is located in Area C which is under full Israeli controlled according to the Oslo accords.
He added that the notice gives him a three-day time limit to object in court, noting that he received another demolition notice three years ago without the Israeli court issuing a final decision in this regard.
Qara'an, a released prisoner who spent seven years in Israeli jails and three years in the Palestinian Authority's prisons, affirmed that the Israeli occupation uses building without a permit as an excuse to target the Palestinian prisoners.
He said that the house of the released prisoner Rami Ishtewi, which is located next to his house, received a similar notice, noting that both houses are close to Psagot settlement which was illegally built on Palestinian lands east of al-Bireh.
He pointed out that his house was licensed few years before the occupation of the West Bank in 1967 and that he obtained the necessary licenses to expand it in 2002.
The wife of the prisoner Bajes Nakhla, who is a leader with Hamas Movement, said that an Israeli military force raided her house in Jalazone refugee camp, north of Ramallah, and handed her an order notifying the demolition of her 600-square-meter house.
Nakhla told Quds Press agency that the IOA had handed the family a similar notice three years ago, but the family filed an objection through human rights organizations. However, the Israeli court has not made a final decision yet.
She affirmed that this demolition notice comes in the context of the continuous targeting of her husband who is kept in solitary confinement in Eshel prison and who has been administratively detained for more than a year, noting that for 17 years her husband has been a victim of repeated arrests.
She pointed out that the Israeli targeting of her family falls in line with a political revenge plan and is not because of the Israeli claims of building without a permit.
In a related development, local sources reported that the IOA handed two demolition notices to the released prisoners Abbas Qara'an and Rami Ishtewi from al-Bireh city under the same pretext.
Abbas Qara'an said in an interview with Quds Press agency that an Israeli force stormed his house in Jabal al-Tawil area and threatened to demolish it, claiming that part of his house is located in Area C which is under full Israeli controlled according to the Oslo accords.
He added that the notice gives him a three-day time limit to object in court, noting that he received another demolition notice three years ago without the Israeli court issuing a final decision in this regard.
Qara'an, a released prisoner who spent seven years in Israeli jails and three years in the Palestinian Authority's prisons, affirmed that the Israeli occupation uses building without a permit as an excuse to target the Palestinian prisoners.
He said that the house of the released prisoner Rami Ishtewi, which is located next to his house, received a similar notice, noting that both houses are close to Psagot settlement which was illegally built on Palestinian lands east of al-Bireh.
He pointed out that his house was licensed few years before the occupation of the West Bank in 1967 and that he obtained the necessary licenses to expand it in 2002.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) leveled Wednesday afternoon a Palestinian-owned agricultural land south of Bethlehem and notified a prisoner’s house with demolition.
According to the PIC reporter, three Israeli bulldozers escorted with Israeli forces stormed Khallet al-Nahla area and leveled an agricultural land under the pretext of being a “state land.”
Several olive trees were also uprooted during the raid, the sources added.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces notified the family of the Palestinian prisoner and leader in Hamas Movement Bajas Nakhla that their house in Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah, will be demolished.
The family members were given three days to evacuate the house, the PIC reporter added.
According to the PIC reporter, three Israeli bulldozers escorted with Israeli forces stormed Khallet al-Nahla area and leveled an agricultural land under the pretext of being a “state land.”
Several olive trees were also uprooted during the raid, the sources added.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces notified the family of the Palestinian prisoner and leader in Hamas Movement Bajas Nakhla that their house in Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah, will be demolished.
The family members were given three days to evacuate the house, the PIC reporter added.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Wednesday morning demolished Palestinian residential tents and livestock shelters west of Salfit province.
The IOF demolished tents housing the Shheibar homeless family in Abu al-R’eish area, between Deir Balout and al-Laban villages, west of Salfit.
The Israeli forces further knocked down six shelters for raising livestock and ordered the family to evacuate the other shelters in no more than a week’s time.
According to the family, the Israeli occupation authorities notified the demolition of the targeted structures just three days earlier.
The IOF demolished tents housing the Shheibar homeless family in Abu al-R’eish area, between Deir Balout and al-Laban villages, west of Salfit.
The Israeli forces further knocked down six shelters for raising livestock and ordered the family to evacuate the other shelters in no more than a week’s time.
According to the family, the Israeli occupation authorities notified the demolition of the targeted structures just three days earlier.
A Jerusalem family from Beit Hanina neighborhood, north of occupied East Jerusalem, demolished its own home, Tuesday, to avoid excessively high penalties and fines, imposed by the City Council, in addition to the extremely expensive bills it would pay, if the city demolished their property.
The family of Hafeth Rajabi said it built the home fifteen years ago, and that the property has been providing shelter to several persons.
Linda Rajabi, the owner of the home, said the family has no other option but to demolish its own home, because the bills the Council would send after demolishing the home would be as high as 250.000 Israeli Shekels.
“This was a very difficult, heart-breaking, decision that we had to make,” she stated, “We lived here for 15 years, now we are homeless, but this is our land, and we will never abandon it.”
She added that the family has already been paying high fines, in addition to lawyers’ costs, and engineers to obtain all needed licenses, but the City Council always denied the applications, and moved to demolish the property.
Earlier Tuesday, Israel demolished fourteen apartments, in addition to an agricultural room and four walls, in “Sheikh ‘Anbar” area, in Zaim village, east of occupied East Jerusalem, reportedly for being built without permits.
On Monday, residents Fayez Abdul-Latif Ja’abees and his brother Suleiman had to demolish their homes, also to avoid the high fines and fees, after the City Council denied all appeals.
The two homes were built three years ago, each of 150 square/meters, and housed sixteen Palestinians, including twelve children.
The family of Hafeth Rajabi said it built the home fifteen years ago, and that the property has been providing shelter to several persons.
Linda Rajabi, the owner of the home, said the family has no other option but to demolish its own home, because the bills the Council would send after demolishing the home would be as high as 250.000 Israeli Shekels.
“This was a very difficult, heart-breaking, decision that we had to make,” she stated, “We lived here for 15 years, now we are homeless, but this is our land, and we will never abandon it.”
She added that the family has already been paying high fines, in addition to lawyers’ costs, and engineers to obtain all needed licenses, but the City Council always denied the applications, and moved to demolish the property.
Earlier Tuesday, Israel demolished fourteen apartments, in addition to an agricultural room and four walls, in “Sheikh ‘Anbar” area, in Zaim village, east of occupied East Jerusalem, reportedly for being built without permits.
On Monday, residents Fayez Abdul-Latif Ja’abees and his brother Suleiman had to demolish their homes, also to avoid the high fines and fees, after the City Council denied all appeals.
The two homes were built three years ago, each of 150 square/meters, and housed sixteen Palestinians, including twelve children.
4 apr 2017
Jewish settlers of the Israeli settlement of Sidi Bouaz leveled on Tuesday a Palestinian land in Ein al-Qessis area in al-Khader town south of Bethlehem.
Ahmed Salah, the coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Separation Wall and Settlement in al-Khader village, said that settlers used soil and rocks in order to level the Palestinian land. The land leveling aimed at setting up mobile house caravans for settlers in the area, he pointed out.
This move is a new challenge to Resolution No 2334 adopted by the UN Security Council by absolute majority on December 23, 2016. It stipulates halting Israeli settlement in occupied Palestinian territories.
Ahmed Salah, the coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Separation Wall and Settlement in al-Khader village, said that settlers used soil and rocks in order to level the Palestinian land. The land leveling aimed at setting up mobile house caravans for settlers in the area, he pointed out.
This move is a new challenge to Resolution No 2334 adopted by the UN Security Council by absolute majority on December 23, 2016. It stipulates halting Israeli settlement in occupied Palestinian territories.
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) handed home demolition orders to two Palestinians of al-Hathalein Family, Yaser and Adel, in Umm al-Khair village in Masafer Yatta and searched Palestinians’ homes in Beit Ummar town in al-Khalil.
The coordinator of the Popular Committees against Separation Wall and Settlement in southern al-Khalil, Ratib al-Jabour, appealed to international institutions to put an end to Israeli practices aiming at forcing Palestinians to leave their homes for the expansion of Carmel settlement which was established by force over their lands, according to WAFA news agency.
For his part, the media activist in Beit Ummar town, north of al-Khalil city, Mohammad Awad, told WAFA that the IOF troops raided two locations in the town, then searched and wreaked havoc in two homes belong to Mutasem and Ibrahim Breigeith.
The coordinator of the Popular Committees against Separation Wall and Settlement in southern al-Khalil, Ratib al-Jabour, appealed to international institutions to put an end to Israeli practices aiming at forcing Palestinians to leave their homes for the expansion of Carmel settlement which was established by force over their lands, according to WAFA news agency.
For his part, the media activist in Beit Ummar town, north of al-Khalil city, Mohammad Awad, told WAFA that the IOF troops raided two locations in the town, then searched and wreaked havoc in two homes belong to Mutasem and Ibrahim Breigeith.
The European Union is demanding that Israel stop demolishing Palestinian homes in Area C of the occupied West Bank, and particularly in the Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar, near the Maaleh Adumim illegal settlement outpost.
The EU said the demolition policy results in the forced transfer of the residents and is a violation of the Geneva Convention.
Israeli diplomats said such sharp protests by the EU were forwarded to the Israeli foreign ministry by the EU ambassador to Israel.
The letter leveled heavy criticism at Israel, referring to it as an occupying power.
The EU said the demolition policy results in the forced transfer of the residents and is a violation of the Geneva Convention.
Israeli diplomats said such sharp protests by the EU were forwarded to the Israeli foreign ministry by the EU ambassador to Israel.
The letter leveled heavy criticism at Israel, referring to it as an occupying power.
Dozens of Palestinian vehicles were seized on Monday evening at a flying checkpoint pitched by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on the access road to Deir Sharaf town, west of Nablus.
The IOF stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles before they subjected the drivers to intensive inspection, eyewitnesses told the PIC.
Dozens of Palestinian vehicles and civilians lined up in streets due to the traffic jam wrought by the overnight crackdown.
A few hours earlier, the Israeli army claimed that anonymous gunmen opened fire at the Israeli Shafi Shamron illegal settlement outpost built on Palestinian land northwest of Nablus.
According to the Hebrew-speaking 0404 news site, nine bullets hit an iron wall surrounding the aforementioned outpost.
No injuries were, however, reported in the alleged anti-occupation shooting attack.
The Israeli military forces raked through Palestinian lands in the area in the hunt for the suspects.
The IOF stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles before they subjected the drivers to intensive inspection, eyewitnesses told the PIC.
Dozens of Palestinian vehicles and civilians lined up in streets due to the traffic jam wrought by the overnight crackdown.
A few hours earlier, the Israeli army claimed that anonymous gunmen opened fire at the Israeli Shafi Shamron illegal settlement outpost built on Palestinian land northwest of Nablus.
According to the Hebrew-speaking 0404 news site, nine bullets hit an iron wall surrounding the aforementioned outpost.
No injuries were, however, reported in the alleged anti-occupation shooting attack.
The Israeli military forces raked through Palestinian lands in the area in the hunt for the suspects.
Israeli soldiers demolished, on Tuesday morning, fourteen apartments, in addition to an agricultural room and four walls, in “Sheikh ‘Anbar” area, in Zaim village, east of occupied East Jerusalem, reportedly for being built without permits.
Dozens of soldiers, and personnel of the Jerusalem City Council, invaded the village and demolished three residential buildings and one flat.
The demolished properties were three residential buildings of thirteen apartments; one of the buildings had two apartments; in addition to three-story and four-story buildings, each floor had two apartments.
The demolished properties are owned by Othman Abu Sbeitan, Ahmad Shanbar, and Ayman ad-Daya. One of the buildings was ready for families to move in, and one was still under-construction, in addition to an already inhabited building where a family of eleven lived.
Furthermore, Israeli bulldozers demolished five walls belonging to the families of ‘Alqam, Natsha and al-’Abbassi, in addition to demolishing an agricultural shed, owned by members of Alqam family.
The soldiers also handed Issa Metwer, from Zaim village, a demolition order targeting his residential building of four apartments.
While Israel continues to build, and expand, its illegal colonies in the occupied West Bank, especially in and around occupied East Jerusalem, the Palestinians remain restricted from building and expanding their properties under various allegations, in addition to the very high fines they encounter, and the extremely expensive construction costs.
Some families in occupied Jerusalem have even self-demolished their homes, after losing all appeals, in order to avoid receiving the excessively high invoices from the City Council, demanding them to pay for the costs of the destruction of their own properties.
Israeli authorities knock down Palestinian homes in Occupied Jerusalem
The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) on Tuesday morning knocked down Palestinian homes in al-Za’im village, in eastern Occupied Jérusalem.
A PIC news correspondent said the IOA demolished a civilian building and three homes along with foundation walls in al-Za’im village.
The Israeli forces stormed the village in a flock of military jeeps and bulldozers and cordoned off the targeted buildings before they started the demolition procedure.
A few hours earlier, the Israeli bulldozers razed a horse stable in Sharfat area, in Beit Safafa neighborhood, south of Occupied Jerusalem, under the pretext of unauthorized construction.
Dozens of soldiers, and personnel of the Jerusalem City Council, invaded the village and demolished three residential buildings and one flat.
The demolished properties were three residential buildings of thirteen apartments; one of the buildings had two apartments; in addition to three-story and four-story buildings, each floor had two apartments.
The demolished properties are owned by Othman Abu Sbeitan, Ahmad Shanbar, and Ayman ad-Daya. One of the buildings was ready for families to move in, and one was still under-construction, in addition to an already inhabited building where a family of eleven lived.
Furthermore, Israeli bulldozers demolished five walls belonging to the families of ‘Alqam, Natsha and al-’Abbassi, in addition to demolishing an agricultural shed, owned by members of Alqam family.
The soldiers also handed Issa Metwer, from Zaim village, a demolition order targeting his residential building of four apartments.
While Israel continues to build, and expand, its illegal colonies in the occupied West Bank, especially in and around occupied East Jerusalem, the Palestinians remain restricted from building and expanding their properties under various allegations, in addition to the very high fines they encounter, and the extremely expensive construction costs.
Some families in occupied Jerusalem have even self-demolished their homes, after losing all appeals, in order to avoid receiving the excessively high invoices from the City Council, demanding them to pay for the costs of the destruction of their own properties.
Israeli authorities knock down Palestinian homes in Occupied Jerusalem
The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) on Tuesday morning knocked down Palestinian homes in al-Za’im village, in eastern Occupied Jérusalem.
A PIC news correspondent said the IOA demolished a civilian building and three homes along with foundation walls in al-Za’im village.
The Israeli forces stormed the village in a flock of military jeeps and bulldozers and cordoned off the targeted buildings before they started the demolition procedure.
A few hours earlier, the Israeli bulldozers razed a horse stable in Sharfat area, in Beit Safafa neighborhood, south of Occupied Jerusalem, under the pretext of unauthorized construction.
3 apr 2017
The Israeli occupation authority on Monday morning uprooted 135 olive trees from Palestinian-owned agricultural lands in Wadi Qana area, west of Deir Istiya village in the West Bank province of Salfit.
Director of Salfit agriculture department Ibrahim al-Hamad said that the Israel nature and parks authority had already notified owners of the olive grove of its intention to remove the trees at the pretext that Wadi Qana is a nature reserve where planting activities are prohibited.
For his part, field researcher Khaled Maali said that Wadi Qana is a valley encircled by eight illegal Israeli settlements expanding at the expense of the so-called reserve while local farmers are barred from planting trees or setting up structures on their own lands in the area.
Maali affirmed that Israel violated the international humanitarian law when it classified the area as a nature reserve because such a step adversely affected the lives of the local residents, especially the farmers
Wadi Qana has historically been an agricultural and recreational area for local Palestinians who own lands there, although it was declared a nature reserve by the Israeli army’s civil administration in 1983.
Israel has used this designation for years as a pretext to justify uprooting Palestinian crops and trees and forcing the natives out of the area, according to Israeli rights group B’Tselem.
Director of Salfit agriculture department Ibrahim al-Hamad said that the Israel nature and parks authority had already notified owners of the olive grove of its intention to remove the trees at the pretext that Wadi Qana is a nature reserve where planting activities are prohibited.
For his part, field researcher Khaled Maali said that Wadi Qana is a valley encircled by eight illegal Israeli settlements expanding at the expense of the so-called reserve while local farmers are barred from planting trees or setting up structures on their own lands in the area.
Maali affirmed that Israel violated the international humanitarian law when it classified the area as a nature reserve because such a step adversely affected the lives of the local residents, especially the farmers
Wadi Qana has historically been an agricultural and recreational area for local Palestinians who own lands there, although it was declared a nature reserve by the Israeli army’s civil administration in 1983.
Israel has used this designation for years as a pretext to justify uprooting Palestinian crops and trees and forcing the natives out of the area, according to Israeli rights group B’Tselem.
The Israeli Knesset plenum passed on Sunday evening the second and third readings of a bill pushing for speeding up the demolition of Palestinian homes.
A so-called Kaminitiz bill will enable the Israeli forces to demolish Palestinian homes in 1948 Occupied Palestine (Green Line) with greater ease, after the Knesset (Israeli parliament) passed the bill.
The law will be brought to final vote on Wednesday.
The law will impose heavy fines, legalize confiscation of construction materials, impede the construction of Palestinian homes, and expedite the demolition of unregulated houses.
Critics called the law “racist” and “biased” because it fails to address the issue of illegal settlement construction in the occupied territories.
MK Abdullah Abu Maaruf told Haaretz the bill was "yet another law that expresses the continued policy of the Netanyahu government of discrimination against Israel's Arab citizens.”
National and international NGOs regularly report that it is almost impossible to receive a building permit for Palestinians to construct houses across the Green Line.
According to Palestinian sources, 50,000 homes are threatened with demolition in 1948 Occupied Palestine under the unlicensed construction pretext, besides thousands of other homes in Negev.
A so-called Kaminitiz bill will enable the Israeli forces to demolish Palestinian homes in 1948 Occupied Palestine (Green Line) with greater ease, after the Knesset (Israeli parliament) passed the bill.
The law will be brought to final vote on Wednesday.
The law will impose heavy fines, legalize confiscation of construction materials, impede the construction of Palestinian homes, and expedite the demolition of unregulated houses.
Critics called the law “racist” and “biased” because it fails to address the issue of illegal settlement construction in the occupied territories.
MK Abdullah Abu Maaruf told Haaretz the bill was "yet another law that expresses the continued policy of the Netanyahu government of discrimination against Israel's Arab citizens.”
National and international NGOs regularly report that it is almost impossible to receive a building permit for Palestinians to construct houses across the Green Line.
According to Palestinian sources, 50,000 homes are threatened with demolition in 1948 Occupied Palestine under the unlicensed construction pretext, besides thousands of other homes in Negev.