17 apr 2019

Israeli bulldozers demolished a Palestinian home in the Beit Hanina town of occupied East Jerusalem, on Wednesday.
Sources told Ma’an that Israeli police forces escorted bulldozers into the al-Ashqariya neighborhood of the town, surrounded and demolished a house belonging to a local identified as Imran al-Masri.
Al-Masri said that Israeli police forces had raided his home last Sunday and informed him of the demolition order.
Al-Masri’s lawyer was reportedly able to postpone the order for one month, but was surprised this morning by the raid and demolition.
The house was built 11 years ago, al-Masri has attempted to issue the necessary licenses for the house; the Israeli authorities imposed a fine of 40,000 shekels on al-Masri.
Al-Masri and his 7-member family were left homeless after the demolition.
Israeli bulldozers had demolished several Palestinian-owned structures in the Silwan town, also in East Jerusalem, earlier Wednesday.
Israel rarely grants Palestinians permits to build in East Jerusalem, though the Jerusalem municipality has claimed that compared to the Jewish population, they receive a disproportionately low number of permit applications from Palestinian communities, which also see high approval ratings.
For Jewish Israelis in occupied East Jerusalem’s illegal settlements, the planning, marketing, development, and infrastructure are funded and executed by the Israeli government. By contrast, in Palestinian neighborhoods, all the burden falls on individual families to contend with a lengthy permit application that can last several years and cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Sources told Ma’an that Israeli police forces escorted bulldozers into the al-Ashqariya neighborhood of the town, surrounded and demolished a house belonging to a local identified as Imran al-Masri.
Al-Masri said that Israeli police forces had raided his home last Sunday and informed him of the demolition order.
Al-Masri’s lawyer was reportedly able to postpone the order for one month, but was surprised this morning by the raid and demolition.
The house was built 11 years ago, al-Masri has attempted to issue the necessary licenses for the house; the Israeli authorities imposed a fine of 40,000 shekels on al-Masri.
Al-Masri and his 7-member family were left homeless after the demolition.
Israeli bulldozers had demolished several Palestinian-owned structures in the Silwan town, also in East Jerusalem, earlier Wednesday.
Israel rarely grants Palestinians permits to build in East Jerusalem, though the Jerusalem municipality has claimed that compared to the Jewish population, they receive a disproportionately low number of permit applications from Palestinian communities, which also see high approval ratings.
For Jewish Israelis in occupied East Jerusalem’s illegal settlements, the planning, marketing, development, and infrastructure are funded and executed by the Israeli government. By contrast, in Palestinian neighborhoods, all the burden falls on individual families to contend with a lengthy permit application that can last several years and cost tens of thousands of dollars.

The Israeli authorities turned hundreds of dunams of Palestinian-owned agricultural lands into a nature reserve in the eastern area of Khirbet Yanoun south of the northern occupied West Bank district of Nablus, on Tuesday.
Ghassan Daghlas, an official who monitors settlement activity in the northern West Bank, told Ma’an that the Israeli Civil Administration confiscated hundreds of dunams of agricultural Palestinian lands from Khirbet Yanoun under the pretext that they are transferring them into a nature reserve, preventing Palestinians from entering the area.
Daghlas added dozens of Israeli settlers live around the area, pointing out that the confiscation comes as a first step towards the confiscation of more Palestinian-owned lands to serve Israeli settlers in the area.
Ghassan Daghlas, an official who monitors settlement activity in the northern West Bank, told Ma’an that the Israeli Civil Administration confiscated hundreds of dunams of agricultural Palestinian lands from Khirbet Yanoun under the pretext that they are transferring them into a nature reserve, preventing Palestinians from entering the area.
Daghlas added dozens of Israeli settlers live around the area, pointing out that the confiscation comes as a first step towards the confiscation of more Palestinian-owned lands to serve Israeli settlers in the area.

Israeli bulldozers demolished the unrecognized Bedouin village of al-Araqib, in the Negev desert of southern Israel, for the 143rd time, on Wednesday.
Locals reported that Israeli bulldozers, escorted by Israeli police forces, demolished residential structures and tents of al-Araqib villagers, leaving women, children and the elderly without any shelter.
Villagers said that they insist on remaining in their village, adding that they will keep rebuilding their village.
The continuing demolitions of al-Araqib are carried out in the attempt to force the Bedouin population to relocate, to government-zoned townships.
Like the 34 other Bedouin villages “unrecognized” by Israel, al-Araqib does not receive any services from the Israeli government and is constantly subjected to threats of expulsion and home demolition.
These “unrecognized” villages were established in the Negev soon after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, following the creation of the state of Israel, when an estimated 750,000 Palestinians were forcibly expelled from their homes and made refugees.
Many of the Bedouins were forcibly transferred to the village sites during the 17-year period when Palestinians inside Israel were governed under Israeli military law, which ended shortly before Israel’s military takeover of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in 1967.
Locals reported that Israeli bulldozers, escorted by Israeli police forces, demolished residential structures and tents of al-Araqib villagers, leaving women, children and the elderly without any shelter.
Villagers said that they insist on remaining in their village, adding that they will keep rebuilding their village.
The continuing demolitions of al-Araqib are carried out in the attempt to force the Bedouin population to relocate, to government-zoned townships.
Like the 34 other Bedouin villages “unrecognized” by Israel, al-Araqib does not receive any services from the Israeli government and is constantly subjected to threats of expulsion and home demolition.
These “unrecognized” villages were established in the Negev soon after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, following the creation of the state of Israel, when an estimated 750,000 Palestinians were forcibly expelled from their homes and made refugees.
Many of the Bedouins were forcibly transferred to the village sites during the 17-year period when Palestinians inside Israel were governed under Israeli military law, which ended shortly before Israel’s military takeover of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in 1967.

Israeli soldiers demolished, on Wednesday morning, an under-construction home at the entrance of Jabara village, south of the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem.
Eyewitnesses said dozens of soldiers, accompanied by two armored bulldozers, invaded the village after surrounding it, and demolished the property. video
They added that the demolished home is one of many buildings the army intends to destroy under the pretense of being constructed without a permit from the Israeli “Civil Administration Office,” the administrative branch on the illegal military occupation of Palestine.
The soldiers closed and encircled the village, especially its eastern and western entrances, and prevented the Palestinians from entering or leaving it.
It is worth mentioning that the military only informed the owners of the homes of its decision to demolish them a week ago.
Eyewitnesses said dozens of soldiers, accompanied by two armored bulldozers, invaded the village after surrounding it, and demolished the property. video
They added that the demolished home is one of many buildings the army intends to destroy under the pretense of being constructed without a permit from the Israeli “Civil Administration Office,” the administrative branch on the illegal military occupation of Palestine.
The soldiers closed and encircled the village, especially its eastern and western entrances, and prevented the Palestinians from entering or leaving it.
It is worth mentioning that the military only informed the owners of the homes of its decision to demolish them a week ago.
|
Israeli forces demolished the family home of Saleh al-Barghouthi, a Palestinian accused by Israel of carrying out an attack, in the Kobar village, northwest of the central occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, early Wednesday morning. video video video video
Saleh al-Barghouthi, 29, was shot by Israeli forces near Ramallah on December 12; initial reports said that al-Barghouthi was shot and killed after carrying out an attack against Israelis, however, his family says that Saleh was detained alive and might have died in custody. Palestinian human rights organization Al-Haq had sent a joint urgent appeal to the United Nations (UN) Special Procedures regarding the enforced disappearance of al-Barghouthi. A recent investigation by B'Tselem found that, contrary to official Israeli statements, Saleh al-Barghouthi did not try to flee or run anyone over, nor could he have tried: two security vehicles were blocking the taxi he was driving at either end, and he was surrounded by some 10 security personnel who shot him point-blank – an operation resembling an extrajudicial killing. Official attempts to sanction the killing in retrospect ensure no one will be held accountable. An Israeli settler was killed in the alleged attack. Locals reported that Israeli forces escorted a bulldozer into Kobar and surrounded the neighborhood in which al-Barghouthi’s family home is located. Izzat Badwan, the Mayor of Kobar, said that al-Barghouthi’s is the fourth house that Israeli demolishes in the village for the past two years. |
Badwan stressed that these demolitions won’t bring down Palestinian’s steadfastness.
Earlier this year, Israel demolished the family house of Saleh’s brother, Assem, who was detained by Israeli forces in January as they accuse him of carrying out an attack killing two Israeli soldiers near Ramallah on December 13; one day after Saleh was reportedly shot and killed by Israeli soldiers north of Ramallah.
Al-Barghouthi’s father, Omar, who was released from Israeli prisons several days ago, said that demolishing homes will not bring down Palestinians’ steadfastness, adding that “Palestine deserves all the sacrifices of our people.”
Omar al-Barghouthi was detained last December, following the shooting and killing of his son Saleh.
Clashes erupted in the village afterwards, during which Israeli forces fired live bullets and tear-gas bombs, injuring one Palestinian with a tear-gas bomb in the head.
Israeli forces also assaulted journalists covering the demolition.
Earlier this year, Israel demolished the family house of Saleh’s brother, Assem, who was detained by Israeli forces in January as they accuse him of carrying out an attack killing two Israeli soldiers near Ramallah on December 13; one day after Saleh was reportedly shot and killed by Israeli soldiers north of Ramallah.
Al-Barghouthi’s father, Omar, who was released from Israeli prisons several days ago, said that demolishing homes will not bring down Palestinians’ steadfastness, adding that “Palestine deserves all the sacrifices of our people.”
Omar al-Barghouthi was detained last December, following the shooting and killing of his son Saleh.
Clashes erupted in the village afterwards, during which Israeli forces fired live bullets and tear-gas bombs, injuring one Palestinian with a tear-gas bomb in the head.
Israeli forces also assaulted journalists covering the demolition.
|
Large numbers of heavily armed Israeli forces raided the Silwan neighborhood, in occupied East Jerusalem, and surrounded several Palestinian-owned structures in preparation for demolition, on Wednesday.
Eyewitnesses told Ma'an that heavily armed Israeli forces, a number of bulldozers, and the Israeli Civil Administration staff raided Silwan and commenced demolition of two Palestinian-owned structures. Sources confirmed that Israeli bulldozers demolished storage warehouses, which belonged to Izz Barqan. Israeli bulldozers also demolished horse stables, which measured 200-square-meters and were built four years ago. The demolished horse stables belonged to Muhammad al-Qaq. Sources added that during the demolition campaign, Israeli forces physically assaulted Silwan residents, including women and children. video Earlier this week, the Israeli Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Palestinian families from Silwan, allowing the demolition of 500 homes and commercial buildings, which were built without an Israeli-issued permit, to take place. The residents built these 500 homes and commercial buildings about 30 years ago without the nearly-impossible to obtain Israeli permit. The Supreme Court’s decision will most probably affect the fates of hundreds of Palestinian families, who will be left homeless following the demolitions. |
Israel rarely grants Palestinians permits to build in East Jerusalem, though the Jerusalem municipality has claimed that compared to the Jewish population, they receive a disproportionately low number of permit applications from Palestinian communities, which also see high approval ratings.
For Jewish Israelis in occupied East Jerusalem’s illegal settlements, the planning, marketing, development, and infrastructure are funded and executed by the Israeli government. By contrast, in Palestinian neighborhoods, all the burden falls on individual families to contend with a lengthy permit application that can last several years and cost tens of thousands of dollars.
For Jewish Israelis in occupied East Jerusalem’s illegal settlements, the planning, marketing, development, and infrastructure are funded and executed by the Israeli government. By contrast, in Palestinian neighborhoods, all the burden falls on individual families to contend with a lengthy permit application that can last several years and cost tens of thousands of dollars.
16 apr 2019

The Israeli authorities confiscated 51,000 dunams and isolated five villages in the Jordan Valley area in the northern occupied West Bank, an official in charge of Jordan Valley's Israeli settlements file at the Palestinian Authority (PA) reported.
Mutaz Bisharat told the Voice of Palestine radio station that the Israeli authorities confiscated 51,000 dunams, isolated 5 villages and seized control over water springs, agricultural machinery and solar cells.
Bisharat added that the Israeli policy is very clear in isolating villages of the Tubas district, pointing out that these areas were marked as closed military areas banning their owners from entering without an Israeli-issued permit.
He stressed that Israel aims to expel Palestinians from the area under its plan to seize the Jordan Valley area.
The Jordan Valley forms a third of the occupied West Bank, with 88 percent of its land classified as Area C -- under full Israeli military control.
International rights organizations consider the continuation of the Israeli campaign which targets Palestinians in the Jordan Valley, whether though confiscations, demolitions or evictions under the pretext of holding military exercises, as a violation of international humanitarian law.
Since the beginning of the 1967 occupation of the West Bank, Israel has confiscated hundreds of thousands of dunums by declaring it state land.
Israeli authorities in 1968 banned Palestinians from registering their lands and subsequently took advantage of previously low rates of land registration to confiscate areas currently or previously in use by locals but not registered as such.
The confiscated lands are then used to construct Jewish-only settlements on the land, while further confiscation often uses the pretext of the settlements' security.
Mutaz Bisharat told the Voice of Palestine radio station that the Israeli authorities confiscated 51,000 dunams, isolated 5 villages and seized control over water springs, agricultural machinery and solar cells.
Bisharat added that the Israeli policy is very clear in isolating villages of the Tubas district, pointing out that these areas were marked as closed military areas banning their owners from entering without an Israeli-issued permit.
He stressed that Israel aims to expel Palestinians from the area under its plan to seize the Jordan Valley area.
The Jordan Valley forms a third of the occupied West Bank, with 88 percent of its land classified as Area C -- under full Israeli military control.
International rights organizations consider the continuation of the Israeli campaign which targets Palestinians in the Jordan Valley, whether though confiscations, demolitions or evictions under the pretext of holding military exercises, as a violation of international humanitarian law.
Since the beginning of the 1967 occupation of the West Bank, Israel has confiscated hundreds of thousands of dunums by declaring it state land.
Israeli authorities in 1968 banned Palestinians from registering their lands and subsequently took advantage of previously low rates of land registration to confiscate areas currently or previously in use by locals but not registered as such.
The confiscated lands are then used to construct Jewish-only settlements on the land, while further confiscation often uses the pretext of the settlements' security.

Palestinian farmers on Tuesday said that Israeli settlers have razed vast tracts of their lands near Ariel settlement, north of Salfit, without prior notice.
The farmers told the PIC reporter that they were allowed access to their lands on Tuesday after a three-day ban by the Israeli authorities and they were shocked to see their lands bulldozed by the settlers.
They added that about 30 dunums of land were bulldozed and the razing has not stopped yet.
Local sources said that the Israeli settlers' recent land-razing operations serve as a prelude to a new plan to build 800 housing units in Ariel settlement, which is part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's election campaign.
They noted that the settlement expansion activity has been stepped up recently in Ariel. Based on a newly-approved project, Israel has started the construction of several buildings for the Faculty of Medicine at Ariel University, the only university in the West Bank settlements.
The farmers told the PIC reporter that they were allowed access to their lands on Tuesday after a three-day ban by the Israeli authorities and they were shocked to see their lands bulldozed by the settlers.
They added that about 30 dunums of land were bulldozed and the razing has not stopped yet.
Local sources said that the Israeli settlers' recent land-razing operations serve as a prelude to a new plan to build 800 housing units in Ariel settlement, which is part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's election campaign.
They noted that the settlement expansion activity has been stepped up recently in Ariel. Based on a newly-approved project, Israel has started the construction of several buildings for the Faculty of Medicine at Ariel University, the only university in the West Bank settlements.

The Israeli authorities on Monday forced a Palestinian citizen to demolish his home in Silwan town in Occupied Jerusalem.
Wadi Hilweh Information Center said that Awad al-Abbasi demolished his own house, which was under construction, in Sweih neighborhood in Silwan.
The center said that al-Abbasi had received a notice from the Israeli-controlled Jerusalem municipality ordering him to demolish the house under the pretext of being unlicensed.
Wadi Hilweh Information Center said that Awad al-Abbasi demolished his own house, which was under construction, in Sweih neighborhood in Silwan.
The center said that al-Abbasi had received a notice from the Israeli-controlled Jerusalem municipality ordering him to demolish the house under the pretext of being unlicensed.

Israeli forces dismantled two Palestinian-owned tents, on Tuesday, in the Susiya village south of the southern occupied West Bank city of Hebron.
Coordinator of the popular and national committees in southern Hebron, Rateb al-Jbour, reported that Israeli forces raided the village and dismantled one residential tents and another used for housing sheep, belonging to local Radi Hussein al-Nawajaa.
The residential tent housed al-Nawajaa’s 10-member family.
Al-Jbour added that Israel aims, through these attacks, to expel Palestinians from the area in order to expand the illegal Israeli settlement of “Susiya.”
Susiya is considered “illegal” by the Israeli state and has been embroiled in legal battles with the Israeli state for years. The village is located in Area C -- the more than 60 percent of the West Bank under full Israeli military control, where Israel refuses to permit Palestinian construction.
Rights groups have pointed out that this policy lines up with Israel’s goals of expanding Israeli settlements throughout Area C while depopulating Palestinian villages there.
In the case of Susiya, many of the village’s 200 residents have ties to the land that predate the creation of the state of Israel, and Ottoman-era land documents to prove it. However, the village lies between an Israeli settlement and Israel-controlled archaeological site, making them a target for Israeli demolitions.
Coordinator of the popular and national committees in southern Hebron, Rateb al-Jbour, reported that Israeli forces raided the village and dismantled one residential tents and another used for housing sheep, belonging to local Radi Hussein al-Nawajaa.
The residential tent housed al-Nawajaa’s 10-member family.
Al-Jbour added that Israel aims, through these attacks, to expel Palestinians from the area in order to expand the illegal Israeli settlement of “Susiya.”
Susiya is considered “illegal” by the Israeli state and has been embroiled in legal battles with the Israeli state for years. The village is located in Area C -- the more than 60 percent of the West Bank under full Israeli military control, where Israel refuses to permit Palestinian construction.
Rights groups have pointed out that this policy lines up with Israel’s goals of expanding Israeli settlements throughout Area C while depopulating Palestinian villages there.
In the case of Susiya, many of the village’s 200 residents have ties to the land that predate the creation of the state of Israel, and Ottoman-era land documents to prove it. However, the village lies between an Israeli settlement and Israel-controlled archaeological site, making them a target for Israeli demolitions.