25 apr 2018
Israeli forces started two days ago preparation works for the construction of a new settlement neighborhood over a Palestinian land in Sour Baher town east of Occupied Jerusalem, according to Haaretz Hebrew newspaper.
The newspaper revealed that the neighborhood is going to be built over a Palestinian land that was confiscated in 1970s, and that it will be allocated for the Israeli demobilized soldiers.
Israeli forces also started uprooting olive trees, that were planted by Palestinians in the area, as they are planning to establish 180 settlement units in the first stage of the project.
The newspaper revealed that the neighborhood is going to be built over a Palestinian land that was confiscated in 1970s, and that it will be allocated for the Israeli demobilized soldiers.
Israeli forces also started uprooting olive trees, that were planted by Palestinians in the area, as they are planning to establish 180 settlement units in the first stage of the project.
Israel has repeatedly denied Palestinians permits to build schools in the West Bank and demolished schools built without permits, making it more difficult or impossible for thousands of children to get an education, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported on Wednesday.
According to HRW, on April 25, 2018, Israel’s high court will hold what may be the final hearing on the military’s plans to demolish a school in Khan al-Ahmar Abu al-Hilu, a Palestinian community. It is one of the 44 Palestinian schools at risk of full or partial demolition because Israeli authorities say they were built illegally.
The Israeli military refuses to permit most new Palestinian construction in the 60 percent of the West Bank where it has exclusive control over planning and building, even as the military facilitates settler construction. The military has enforced this discriminatory system by razing thousands of Palestinian properties, including schools, creating pressure on Palestinians to leave their communities. When Israeli authorities have demolished schools, they have not taken steps to ensure that children in the area have access to schools of at least the same quality.
“Israeli authorities have been getting away for years with demolishing primary schools and preschools in Palestinian communities,” said Bill Van Esveld, senior children’s rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The Israeli military’s refusal to issue building permits and then knocking down schools without permits is discriminatory and violates children’s right to education.”
Israeli military authorities have demolished or confiscated Palestinian school buildings or property in the West Bank at least 16 times since 2010, with 12 incidents since 2016, repeatedly targeting some schools, Human Rights Watch found.
Over a third of Palestinian communities in Area C, the 60 percent of the West Bank where the Israeli military has exclusive control over building under the 1993 Oslo accords, currently do not have primary schools, and 10,000 children attend school in tents, shacks, or other structures without heating or air-conditioning, according to the UN. About 1,700 children had to walk five or more kilometers to school due to road closures, lack of passable roads or transportation, or other problems, according to 2015 UN estimates. The long distances and fear of harassment by settlers or the military lead some parents to take their children out of school, with a disproportionate impact on girls.
Most West Bank schools at risk of demolition fall within Area C. Israel justifies its demolition of schools and other Palestinian property there not on security grounds, but rather on the grounds that they were built without permits from the military. However, the military refuses the vast majority of Palestinian building requests, and has zoned only 1 percent of Area C for Palestinian building, even as construction proceeds with few constraints in nearby Israeli settlements.
The school demolitions are consistent with other actions that make communities unviable, such as home demolitions, and the refusal to zone the communities or grant them connections to utilities like water and electricity, Human Rights Watch said.
Since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took office on March 31, 2009, Israeli forces have demolished 5,351 Palestinian buildings in the West Bank for lack of building permits, including East Jerusalem, displacing 7,988 people, including more than 4,100 children, based on UN data. Israel has not offered resettlement options or compensation to families whose homes were demolished during this period.
Israel’s destruction of Palestinian schools, and its failure to replace them, violates its obligation as an occupying power to “facilitate the proper working of all institutions devoted to the care and education of children,” and violates the prohibition on interfering with the activities of educational institutions or requisitioning their property. International law prohibits an occupying power from destroying property, including schools, unless “absolutely necessary” for “military operations.” The Fourth Geneva Convention and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court prohibit widespread, unlawful destruction of property as a war crime.
According to HRW, on April 25, 2018, Israel’s high court will hold what may be the final hearing on the military’s plans to demolish a school in Khan al-Ahmar Abu al-Hilu, a Palestinian community. It is one of the 44 Palestinian schools at risk of full or partial demolition because Israeli authorities say they were built illegally.
The Israeli military refuses to permit most new Palestinian construction in the 60 percent of the West Bank where it has exclusive control over planning and building, even as the military facilitates settler construction. The military has enforced this discriminatory system by razing thousands of Palestinian properties, including schools, creating pressure on Palestinians to leave their communities. When Israeli authorities have demolished schools, they have not taken steps to ensure that children in the area have access to schools of at least the same quality.
“Israeli authorities have been getting away for years with demolishing primary schools and preschools in Palestinian communities,” said Bill Van Esveld, senior children’s rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The Israeli military’s refusal to issue building permits and then knocking down schools without permits is discriminatory and violates children’s right to education.”
Israeli military authorities have demolished or confiscated Palestinian school buildings or property in the West Bank at least 16 times since 2010, with 12 incidents since 2016, repeatedly targeting some schools, Human Rights Watch found.
Over a third of Palestinian communities in Area C, the 60 percent of the West Bank where the Israeli military has exclusive control over building under the 1993 Oslo accords, currently do not have primary schools, and 10,000 children attend school in tents, shacks, or other structures without heating or air-conditioning, according to the UN. About 1,700 children had to walk five or more kilometers to school due to road closures, lack of passable roads or transportation, or other problems, according to 2015 UN estimates. The long distances and fear of harassment by settlers or the military lead some parents to take their children out of school, with a disproportionate impact on girls.
Most West Bank schools at risk of demolition fall within Area C. Israel justifies its demolition of schools and other Palestinian property there not on security grounds, but rather on the grounds that they were built without permits from the military. However, the military refuses the vast majority of Palestinian building requests, and has zoned only 1 percent of Area C for Palestinian building, even as construction proceeds with few constraints in nearby Israeli settlements.
The school demolitions are consistent with other actions that make communities unviable, such as home demolitions, and the refusal to zone the communities or grant them connections to utilities like water and electricity, Human Rights Watch said.
Since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took office on March 31, 2009, Israeli forces have demolished 5,351 Palestinian buildings in the West Bank for lack of building permits, including East Jerusalem, displacing 7,988 people, including more than 4,100 children, based on UN data. Israel has not offered resettlement options or compensation to families whose homes were demolished during this period.
Israel’s destruction of Palestinian schools, and its failure to replace them, violates its obligation as an occupying power to “facilitate the proper working of all institutions devoted to the care and education of children,” and violates the prohibition on interfering with the activities of educational institutions or requisitioning their property. International law prohibits an occupying power from destroying property, including schools, unless “absolutely necessary” for “military operations.” The Fourth Geneva Convention and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court prohibit widespread, unlawful destruction of property as a war crime.
Dozens of Israeli soldiers, accompanied by armored military bulldozers, invaded on Wednesday morning, Palestinian agricultural lands and orchards in Bardala village, in the West Bank’s Northern Plains, before uprooting hundreds of trees, fruits and vegetable plants.
Resident Hasan Sawafta said he received a military order for uprooting his trees and plants, four years ago, under the pretext that his lands are “state-owned” in the occupied West Bank.
He added that the army informed him his lands are “designated for military usage,” therefore, are off-limits to the Palestinians. He files appeals against the destruction of his land, but were all denied.
The lands were planted with 100 trees, in addition to ten Dunams planted with cucumbers, and seven Dunams planted with corn.
Sawafta said the army intends to bulldoze and uproot around 35 Dunams, and added that the destruction was started after ten army jeeps, large vehicles and bulldozers invaded the area.
Resident Hasan Sawafta said he received a military order for uprooting his trees and plants, four years ago, under the pretext that his lands are “state-owned” in the occupied West Bank.
He added that the army informed him his lands are “designated for military usage,” therefore, are off-limits to the Palestinians. He files appeals against the destruction of his land, but were all denied.
The lands were planted with 100 trees, in addition to ten Dunams planted with cucumbers, and seven Dunams planted with corn.
Sawafta said the army intends to bulldoze and uproot around 35 Dunams, and added that the destruction was started after ten army jeeps, large vehicles and bulldozers invaded the area.
Israeli soldiers abducted, on Wednesday at dawn, two young Palestinian men from their homes in the al-‘Isawiya town, in occupied Jerusalem, and one Palestinian in Bethlehem.
The soldiers abducted Ahmad Yousef Obeid and Waseem Dari, after invading their homes and searching them in al-‘Isawiya, and moved them to an interrogation facility.
The soldiers also invaded and ransacked many homes in the town and interrogated several Palestinians while inspecting their ID cards.
In addition, several army vehicles invaded the Saff Street area, in Bethlehem city, and abducted a young man, identified as Mahmoud Hammad, after breaking into his home and searching it.
In related news, the soldiers invaded Khallet ad-Darba area, in ‘Azzoun town, east of the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia, to abduct a young man, identified as Amro Abu Haniyya, but failed to find him for the fourth consecutive time.
The soldiers also invaded Halhoul town, north of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, and drove around several neighborhoods.
It is worth mentioning that the Israeli army said its soldiers arrested eight Palestinians in several parts of the West Bank, and confiscated around 240.000 shekels from homes of what it called “Hamas affiliates” in Beit Fajjar and Bethlehem city.
The soldiers abducted Ahmad Yousef Obeid and Waseem Dari, after invading their homes and searching them in al-‘Isawiya, and moved them to an interrogation facility.
The soldiers also invaded and ransacked many homes in the town and interrogated several Palestinians while inspecting their ID cards.
In addition, several army vehicles invaded the Saff Street area, in Bethlehem city, and abducted a young man, identified as Mahmoud Hammad, after breaking into his home and searching it.
In related news, the soldiers invaded Khallet ad-Darba area, in ‘Azzoun town, east of the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia, to abduct a young man, identified as Amro Abu Haniyya, but failed to find him for the fourth consecutive time.
The soldiers also invaded Halhoul town, north of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, and drove around several neighborhoods.
It is worth mentioning that the Israeli army said its soldiers arrested eight Palestinians in several parts of the West Bank, and confiscated around 240.000 shekels from homes of what it called “Hamas affiliates” in Beit Fajjar and Bethlehem city.
24 apr 2018
Israeli authorities Tuesday issued demolition orders and halt construction notices to more than 10 buildings in the village of Qalandia, to the north of the occupied city of Jerusalem.
According to the PIC reporter, Israeli forces stormed the village and filmed the houses threatened with demolition.
The targeted houses belong to the families of Al-Razzam, Mustafa, Hamad, Awadallah, Al-Kishi, Shihad and Abdul Ghani.
According to the PIC reporter, Israeli forces stormed the village and filmed the houses threatened with demolition.
The targeted houses belong to the families of Al-Razzam, Mustafa, Hamad, Awadallah, Al-Kishi, Shihad and Abdul Ghani.
Israeli soldiers abducted, on Tuesday at dawn, the Dean of Students of Bethlehem University from his home in the Saff Street, in the center of Bethlehem city.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) said the soldiers stormed and ransacked the home of Mahmud Mohammad Hammad, 47, and abducted him.
It added that the soldiers also invaded Beit Sahour city, Hindaza and Janata area, east of the city, and searched several homes.
In related news, the soldiers invaded the al-Basateen Street, in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, and demolished the family home of detainee Ahmad al-Qonba’.
Palestinian prisoner’s family home turned into rubble by Israeli army
The Israeli occupation forces at daybreak Tuesday demolished the family home of Palestinian prisoner Ahmed al-Kunba’ in Jenin.
According to local sources, Israeli soldiers closed off al-Basateen neighborhood in Jenin and ordered Palestinian families to evacuate their homes pending the demolition of al-Kunbur’s family home.
Fierce clashes flared up shortly after the occupation soldiers rolled into the area and targeted Palestinian anti-occupation youth with teargas canisters, resulting in several suffocation cases.
Shortly before the demolition process, the Israeli military forced journalists out of the area at gunpoint, turning the neighborhood into a military barrack.
The demolition order was issued on charges that al-Kunba’ took part in an anti-occupation attack carried out by slain Ahmed Jarrar and which left an extremist Israeli rabbi dead.
Soldiers Detonate A Home Of A Detainee In Jenin
Dozens of Israeli soldiers, including military engineering corps, invaded at dawn Tuesday, the northern West Bank city of Jenin, and wired the family home of a Palestinian detainee, before detonating and turning it into rubble, in addition to causing damage to surrounding homes.
Media sources in Jenin said the soldiers surrounded the area and forced the family of detainee Ahmad al-Qonba’ out of their home, before wiring and detonating the property. video
The explosion destroyed the property and leveled it to the ground, in addition to causing damage to four surrounding homes.
The demolished home was 160 square/meters and provided shelter to eight Palestinians.
The family received the demolition order from the military on April 12th, informing him that the demolition of their home will be carried out on April 17th, for what the army called “participating in the killing of a settler near Nablus.”
They filed three appeals with the Israeli High Court, but the judges denied the appeals, basing the rulings on what the court called “insufficient documentation,” and because Ahmad was involved in “various security violations.”
Ahmad’s father. Jamal al-Qonba’, said the demolished property is owned by his disabled brother, and added that the family provided the army and the court with all legal documents.
The invasion and demolition led to clashes between the soldiers and local youngsters, who hurled stones at the soldiers.
Some fighters exchanged fire with the army and hurled pipe-bombs at the military vehicles, and the soldiers fired dozens of live rounds.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) said the soldiers stormed and ransacked the home of Mahmud Mohammad Hammad, 47, and abducted him.
It added that the soldiers also invaded Beit Sahour city, Hindaza and Janata area, east of the city, and searched several homes.
In related news, the soldiers invaded the al-Basateen Street, in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, and demolished the family home of detainee Ahmad al-Qonba’.
Palestinian prisoner’s family home turned into rubble by Israeli army
The Israeli occupation forces at daybreak Tuesday demolished the family home of Palestinian prisoner Ahmed al-Kunba’ in Jenin.
According to local sources, Israeli soldiers closed off al-Basateen neighborhood in Jenin and ordered Palestinian families to evacuate their homes pending the demolition of al-Kunbur’s family home.
Fierce clashes flared up shortly after the occupation soldiers rolled into the area and targeted Palestinian anti-occupation youth with teargas canisters, resulting in several suffocation cases.
Shortly before the demolition process, the Israeli military forced journalists out of the area at gunpoint, turning the neighborhood into a military barrack.
The demolition order was issued on charges that al-Kunba’ took part in an anti-occupation attack carried out by slain Ahmed Jarrar and which left an extremist Israeli rabbi dead.
Soldiers Detonate A Home Of A Detainee In Jenin
Dozens of Israeli soldiers, including military engineering corps, invaded at dawn Tuesday, the northern West Bank city of Jenin, and wired the family home of a Palestinian detainee, before detonating and turning it into rubble, in addition to causing damage to surrounding homes.
Media sources in Jenin said the soldiers surrounded the area and forced the family of detainee Ahmad al-Qonba’ out of their home, before wiring and detonating the property. video
The explosion destroyed the property and leveled it to the ground, in addition to causing damage to four surrounding homes.
The demolished home was 160 square/meters and provided shelter to eight Palestinians.
The family received the demolition order from the military on April 12th, informing him that the demolition of their home will be carried out on April 17th, for what the army called “participating in the killing of a settler near Nablus.”
They filed three appeals with the Israeli High Court, but the judges denied the appeals, basing the rulings on what the court called “insufficient documentation,” and because Ahmad was involved in “various security violations.”
Ahmad’s father. Jamal al-Qonba’, said the demolished property is owned by his disabled brother, and added that the family provided the army and the court with all legal documents.
The invasion and demolition led to clashes between the soldiers and local youngsters, who hurled stones at the soldiers.
Some fighters exchanged fire with the army and hurled pipe-bombs at the military vehicles, and the soldiers fired dozens of live rounds.
23 apr 2018
Israeli occupation forces on Monday handed out seven home-demolition orders to Palestinians in Ghuwain hamlet to the south of al-Samou town in al-Khalil at the pretext of lacking construction permits.
The PIC reporter said that officers of the so called Israeli Civil Administration raided the hamlet and distributed notices stipulating the demolition of Palestinian homes and what has been added to some simple buildings within two weeks.
The IOF gave the families a period of 14 days to raze their homes on their own; otherwise they will be knocked down by Israeli bulldozers. They also banned the owners from continuing construction and renovation works.
Most of the hamlet’s structures have been affected including houses and stockyards for the aim of displacing their residents.
Some 32 families including 284 Palestinians, of al-Hawamdeh and al-Dagamin families, live in the hamlet which is surrounded by Israeli illegal settlements.
The PIC reporter said that officers of the so called Israeli Civil Administration raided the hamlet and distributed notices stipulating the demolition of Palestinian homes and what has been added to some simple buildings within two weeks.
The IOF gave the families a period of 14 days to raze their homes on their own; otherwise they will be knocked down by Israeli bulldozers. They also banned the owners from continuing construction and renovation works.
Most of the hamlet’s structures have been affected including houses and stockyards for the aim of displacing their residents.
Some 32 families including 284 Palestinians, of al-Hawamdeh and al-Dagamin families, live in the hamlet which is surrounded by Israeli illegal settlements.
Israeli bulldozers Monday razed lands belonging to residents from the village of Sur Baher, to the southeast of Occupied Jerusalem, in spite of ongoing legal battle between its Palestinian owners and Israeli authorities, according to one of the landowners.
According to Quds Press, Ahmad Nimr, a landowner, said that bulldozers uprooted olive trees planted on 56 dunums, of farming land, adding that the trees and land belong to four Palestinian families and that the land has been planted for over 100 years with 500 olive trees, which Palestinian landowners cultivate and harvest every year.
He said landowners tried to explain to the Israeli forces who sealed off the area before the bulldozers proceeded to destroy the land and uproot the trees that there was a legal case regarding the land in Israeli courts that has not been settled yet and that there is a court order barring any work on the land for two months until a decision is made regarding its future.
In 1972, Israeli authorities decided to seize this land. The owners objected to the decision, showing land deeds proving their ownership of the land. The judge, in 1984, banned construction on the land but allowed owners to use it for farming purposes.
Israel announced its intention to build a settlement on the land 2010. The settlement was supposed to include 160 housing units exclusively for retired Israeli police and military members.
According to Quds Press, Ahmad Nimr, a landowner, said that bulldozers uprooted olive trees planted on 56 dunums, of farming land, adding that the trees and land belong to four Palestinian families and that the land has been planted for over 100 years with 500 olive trees, which Palestinian landowners cultivate and harvest every year.
He said landowners tried to explain to the Israeli forces who sealed off the area before the bulldozers proceeded to destroy the land and uproot the trees that there was a legal case regarding the land in Israeli courts that has not been settled yet and that there is a court order barring any work on the land for two months until a decision is made regarding its future.
In 1972, Israeli authorities decided to seize this land. The owners objected to the decision, showing land deeds proving their ownership of the land. The judge, in 1984, banned construction on the land but allowed owners to use it for farming purposes.
Israel announced its intention to build a settlement on the land 2010. The settlement was supposed to include 160 housing units exclusively for retired Israeli police and military members.
22 apr 2018
Israeli bulldozers razed on Sunday a café near the Qalandiya military checkpoint, set up to the north of Occupied Jerusalem.
According to local sources, a café located near the main entrance to Jerusalem’s Qalandiya refugee camp was reduced to rubble by Israeli bulldozers.
The demolition is another chain in a series of similar moves carried out by the Israeli military in an attempt to expand the Israeli-controlled Qalandiya checkpoint and tighten closures in the area.
The Qalandiya checkpoint separates Palestinian communities in Occupied Jerusalem and the central occupied West Bank province of Ramallah.
According to local sources, a café located near the main entrance to Jerusalem’s Qalandiya refugee camp was reduced to rubble by Israeli bulldozers.
The demolition is another chain in a series of similar moves carried out by the Israeli military in an attempt to expand the Israeli-controlled Qalandiya checkpoint and tighten closures in the area.
The Qalandiya checkpoint separates Palestinian communities in Occupied Jerusalem and the central occupied West Bank province of Ramallah.
sraeli forces early Sunday morning partially demolished a print shop in the village of Beit Anan, to the northwest of Occupied Jerusalem, and seized laptops and printing machines.
Rajaee Hamid, the owner of the shop, said that Israeli forces knocked down the external walls of the building at 06:00 a.m. before raiding it and confiscating printers and computers estimated at thousands of dollars.
He added that the Israeli army handed him a military order to shut down the print shop and suspend services as of Sunday, April 22.
Rajaee Hamid, the owner of the shop, said that Israeli forces knocked down the external walls of the building at 06:00 a.m. before raiding it and confiscating printers and computers estimated at thousands of dollars.
He added that the Israeli army handed him a military order to shut down the print shop and suspend services as of Sunday, April 22.
20 apr 2018
Israeli municipality teams escorted by policemen attacked and confiscated many of Palestinian commercial stalls in the Old City of Occupied Jerusalem. The police also issued tickets against the owners.
Other fines were released against Muslim worshipers who parked their cars in the city to perform Friday prayer at al-Aqsa Mosque.
Home demolition orders were as well handed over to Palestinian residents of Wad Yasoul neighborhood in Silwan town near Occupied Jerusalem. Summonses for referring to the municipality were also handed out.
Israeli forces seized a banner from a group of Turkish worshipers while passing through al-Silsilah gate into al-Aqsa Mosque.
About 50,000 Palestinians performed Friday prayer in al-Aqsa Mosque in spite of Israeli tightened security measures which are imposed at the pretext of Jewish holidays.
Other fines were released against Muslim worshipers who parked their cars in the city to perform Friday prayer at al-Aqsa Mosque.
Home demolition orders were as well handed over to Palestinian residents of Wad Yasoul neighborhood in Silwan town near Occupied Jerusalem. Summonses for referring to the municipality were also handed out.
Israeli forces seized a banner from a group of Turkish worshipers while passing through al-Silsilah gate into al-Aqsa Mosque.
About 50,000 Palestinians performed Friday prayer in al-Aqsa Mosque in spite of Israeli tightened security measures which are imposed at the pretext of Jewish holidays.