6 apr 2020
Israeli forces today ordered a halt on the construction of several structures in Khirbet Yarza and al-Jiftlik villages in the Jordan Valley, according to sources.
Aref Daraghmeh, an activist, told WAFA that Israeli forces handed out a villager from Khirbet Yarza, east of Tubas city, a notice ordering him to stop the construction of some agricultural and residential structures as well as tents. The villager was identified as Salem Abu al-Tayyib.
Soldiers also handed notices to several other villagers from al-Jiftlik, north of Jericho city, ordering them to halt the construction of agricultural and residential tents and uproot palm trees.
They cited unlicensed construction as a pretext for halting construction.
The Jordan Valley, which is a fertile strip of land running west along the Jordan River, is home to about 65,000 Palestinians and makes up approximately 30% of the West Bank.
Since 1967, when the Israeli army occupied the West Bank, Israel has transferred at least 11,000 of its Jewish citizens to the Jordan Valley. Some of the settlements in which they live were built almost entirely on private Palestinian land.
The Israel military has also designated about 46 percent of the Jordan Valley as a closed military zone since the beginning of the occupation in June 1967, and has been utilizing the pretext of military drills to forcefully displace Palestinian families living there as part of a policy of ethnic cleansing and stifling Palestinian development in the area.
Approximately 6,200 Palestinians live in 38 communities in places earmarked for military use and have had to obtain permission from the Israeli authorities to enter and live in their communities.
In violation of international law, the Israeli military not only temporarily displaces the communities on a regular basis, but also confiscates their farmlands, demolishes their homes and infrastructure from time to time.
Besides undergoing temporary displacement, the Palestinian families living there face a myriad restrictions on access to resources and services.
Meanwhile, Israel exploits the resources of the area and generates profit by allocating generous tracts of land and water resources for the benefit of settlers.
Israeli politicians have made it clear on several occasions that the highly strategic Jordan Valley would remain under their control in any eventuality.
Aref Daraghmeh, an activist, told WAFA that Israeli forces handed out a villager from Khirbet Yarza, east of Tubas city, a notice ordering him to stop the construction of some agricultural and residential structures as well as tents. The villager was identified as Salem Abu al-Tayyib.
Soldiers also handed notices to several other villagers from al-Jiftlik, north of Jericho city, ordering them to halt the construction of agricultural and residential tents and uproot palm trees.
They cited unlicensed construction as a pretext for halting construction.
The Jordan Valley, which is a fertile strip of land running west along the Jordan River, is home to about 65,000 Palestinians and makes up approximately 30% of the West Bank.
Since 1967, when the Israeli army occupied the West Bank, Israel has transferred at least 11,000 of its Jewish citizens to the Jordan Valley. Some of the settlements in which they live were built almost entirely on private Palestinian land.
The Israel military has also designated about 46 percent of the Jordan Valley as a closed military zone since the beginning of the occupation in June 1967, and has been utilizing the pretext of military drills to forcefully displace Palestinian families living there as part of a policy of ethnic cleansing and stifling Palestinian development in the area.
Approximately 6,200 Palestinians live in 38 communities in places earmarked for military use and have had to obtain permission from the Israeli authorities to enter and live in their communities.
In violation of international law, the Israeli military not only temporarily displaces the communities on a regular basis, but also confiscates their farmlands, demolishes their homes and infrastructure from time to time.
Besides undergoing temporary displacement, the Palestinian families living there face a myriad restrictions on access to resources and services.
Meanwhile, Israel exploits the resources of the area and generates profit by allocating generous tracts of land and water resources for the benefit of settlers.
Israeli politicians have made it clear on several occasions that the highly strategic Jordan Valley would remain under their control in any eventuality.
Israeli forces today seized a container and dismantled a stall in Khirbet Qalqas village, south of Hebron city, said WAFA correspondent.
He confirmed that Israeli forces escorted a bulldozer into the village, where the heavy machinery seized a shipping container and dismantled a stall for selling scrap belonging to Mohammad Abu Sneineh. video
Located 4 kilometers to the south of Salfit city, Khirbet Qalqas has a population of some 1,800 and occupies a total area of 7,000 dunams.
Under the Oslo Accords, an agreement made 25 years ago that was supposed to last just five years towards a self-governing country alongside Israel, the Palestinian Authority was given ed control over a small pocket of land occupying 300 dunams, accounting for almost 4 percent of the village’s total area.
In contrast, Israel maintains control over the remainder, classified as Area C.
Israel has seized at least 1,000 dunams (14 percent) belonging to the village and blocked the road linking the village with the rest of Hebron city since 2000.
Ever since, residents have had to cross the settler-only by-pass road Route 60 on foot or travel an alternative route to reach the rest of the city. Six Palestinians have been killed crossing Route 60 in recent years.
Soldiers in the oxymoronically named Civil Administration determine where Palestinians may live, where and when they may travel (including to other parts of the occupied territories like Gaza and East Jerusalem), whether they can build or expand homes on their own land, whether they own that land at all, whether an Israeli settler can takeover that land among others.
There are almost 834,000 Israeli settlers living in colonial settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The number of settlers has almost tripled since the Oslo Accords of 1993, when settlers’ number estimated 252,000. Illegal colonial settlements have leapt from 144 to 515 in that time.
Israel’s nation-state law states that building and strengthening the settlements is a “national interest.”
He confirmed that Israeli forces escorted a bulldozer into the village, where the heavy machinery seized a shipping container and dismantled a stall for selling scrap belonging to Mohammad Abu Sneineh. video
Located 4 kilometers to the south of Salfit city, Khirbet Qalqas has a population of some 1,800 and occupies a total area of 7,000 dunams.
Under the Oslo Accords, an agreement made 25 years ago that was supposed to last just five years towards a self-governing country alongside Israel, the Palestinian Authority was given ed control over a small pocket of land occupying 300 dunams, accounting for almost 4 percent of the village’s total area.
In contrast, Israel maintains control over the remainder, classified as Area C.
Israel has seized at least 1,000 dunams (14 percent) belonging to the village and blocked the road linking the village with the rest of Hebron city since 2000.
Ever since, residents have had to cross the settler-only by-pass road Route 60 on foot or travel an alternative route to reach the rest of the city. Six Palestinians have been killed crossing Route 60 in recent years.
Soldiers in the oxymoronically named Civil Administration determine where Palestinians may live, where and when they may travel (including to other parts of the occupied territories like Gaza and East Jerusalem), whether they can build or expand homes on their own land, whether they own that land at all, whether an Israeli settler can takeover that land among others.
There are almost 834,000 Israeli settlers living in colonial settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The number of settlers has almost tripled since the Oslo Accords of 1993, when settlers’ number estimated 252,000. Illegal colonial settlements have leapt from 144 to 515 in that time.
Israel’s nation-state law states that building and strengthening the settlements is a “national interest.”
3 apr 2020
Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) on Friday forced a Palestinian citizen to demolish his grain store in Beit Skaria village in the West Bank province of Bethlehem.
According to the Palestinian Commission Against the Wall and Settlement, a Palestinian man named Amer Oudeh had to demolish his own store based on an IOA order on Thursday under the pretext of lacking Israeli license.
Beit Skaria is surrounded by a number of Israeli settlements between Jerusalem and Bethlehem and is subjected to Israeli attacks and harassment on a regular basis.
According to the Palestinian Commission Against the Wall and Settlement, a Palestinian man named Amer Oudeh had to demolish his own store based on an IOA order on Thursday under the pretext of lacking Israeli license.
Beit Skaria is surrounded by a number of Israeli settlements between Jerusalem and Bethlehem and is subjected to Israeli attacks and harassment on a regular basis.
Israeli forces Friday overnight detained five Palestinians, including a minister, from the West Bank districts of Jerusalem and Jenin, said local sources.
Israeli police detained Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Fadi Hidmi after storming his house in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Suwaneh. video
During the raid, police officers leading dogs deliberately smashed the external and internal doors of al-Hidmi’s house and seized 10,000 shekels ($2,800).
Meanwhile, Israeli military vehicles raided Yaabad town, southwest of Jenin, where soldiers detained four Palestinians, including three teens.
Israeli forces frequently raid Palestinian houses almost on a daily basis across the West Bank on the pretext of searching for “wanted” Palestinians, triggering clashes with residents.
These raids, which take place also in areas under the full control of the Palestinian Authority, are conducted with no need for a search warrant, whenever and wherever the military chooses in keeping with its sweeping arbitrary powers.
According to Palestinian figures, roughly 5,700 Palestinians -- including numerous women and children -- are currently languishing in Israeli detention facilities.
Israeli police detained Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Fadi Hidmi after storming his house in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Suwaneh. video
During the raid, police officers leading dogs deliberately smashed the external and internal doors of al-Hidmi’s house and seized 10,000 shekels ($2,800).
Meanwhile, Israeli military vehicles raided Yaabad town, southwest of Jenin, where soldiers detained four Palestinians, including three teens.
Israeli forces frequently raid Palestinian houses almost on a daily basis across the West Bank on the pretext of searching for “wanted” Palestinians, triggering clashes with residents.
These raids, which take place also in areas under the full control of the Palestinian Authority, are conducted with no need for a search warrant, whenever and wherever the military chooses in keeping with its sweeping arbitrary powers.
According to Palestinian figures, roughly 5,700 Palestinians -- including numerous women and children -- are currently languishing in Israeli detention facilities.
2 apr 2020
The Israeli occupation police last night and at dawn Thursday stormed different areas of Jerusalem and kidnaped several Palestinian young men.
According to local sources, police forces escorted by intelligence officers stormed Silwan district, east of Jerusalem, last night and rounded up three young men after physically assaulting them.
The detainees were identified as Yazan Siyam, Mahmoud Awwad and Nour Asfour.
Later at dawn, police forces broke into Abu Tayeh neighborhood in Silwan, with no reported arrests.
Israeli police forces also stormed Issawiya district, northeast of Jerusalem, and kidnaped a young man called Sa’id Obeid after beating him. video
They also kidnaped another young man called Mohamed Mustafa from Issawiya and handed others summonses for interrogation.
In a separate incident, police forces on Wednesday evening confiscated about 100 sheep from a Palestinian shepherd as he was herding them in Wadi al-Humus neighborhood in Sur Baher village, south of Jerusalem. video
According to local sources, police forces escorted by intelligence officers stormed Silwan district, east of Jerusalem, last night and rounded up three young men after physically assaulting them.
The detainees were identified as Yazan Siyam, Mahmoud Awwad and Nour Asfour.
Later at dawn, police forces broke into Abu Tayeh neighborhood in Silwan, with no reported arrests.
Israeli police forces also stormed Issawiya district, northeast of Jerusalem, and kidnaped a young man called Sa’id Obeid after beating him. video
They also kidnaped another young man called Mohamed Mustafa from Issawiya and handed others summonses for interrogation.
In a separate incident, police forces on Wednesday evening confiscated about 100 sheep from a Palestinian shepherd as he was herding them in Wadi al-Humus neighborhood in Sur Baher village, south of Jerusalem. video
1 apr 2020
The Israeli army demolished this morning three buildings that were under construction in the northern West Bank village of Rummaneh, west of the city of Jenin, reported WAFA correspondent.
He said a large Israeli force raided the village and proceeded to demolish the three buildings owned by three residents of Rummaneh that were being built near the apartheid separation barrier.
Clashes erupted between the soldiers and local youths during the army operation causing suffocation cases among some from inhaling teargas fired by the soldiers.
The army had previously informed Rummaneh residents of a decision to demolish their buildings near the barrier under the pretext they were being built without a permit.
He said a large Israeli force raided the village and proceeded to demolish the three buildings owned by three residents of Rummaneh that were being built near the apartheid separation barrier.
Clashes erupted between the soldiers and local youths during the army operation causing suffocation cases among some from inhaling teargas fired by the soldiers.
The army had previously informed Rummaneh residents of a decision to demolish their buildings near the barrier under the pretext they were being built without a permit.
Israeli forces seized today a Palestinian residential caravan in al-Jiftlik village in the occupied Jordan Valley, according to activist Aref Daraghmeh.
He said a force raided al-Jiftlik, dismantled a caravan that was used by a local resident as a home, and seized it without giving any reason for its action.
He said a force raided al-Jiftlik, dismantled a caravan that was used by a local resident as a home, and seized it without giving any reason for its action.
31 mar 2020
Israeli forces demolished today a Palestinian-owned house that was still in the construction stage in the northern West Bank village of Jbara, south of Tulkarm, according to the head of Jbara village council Ihsan Tahsin.
He told WAFA that he was surprised to see a large army force break into the village early this morning with two bulldozers, close all entrances to the village, cordon off the area and proceed to demolish the one-floor house.
He said the house owner had received a demolition notice from the Israeli military on the ground it was built without a permit.
The village head said the army had demolished three other houses in the same area last year and seized three caravans, while several other houses are under threat of demolition under the pretext of construction without permit.
He said that even if Palestinians seek to get a permit, Israel will not grant them one because it wants to empty the land of its residents in order to take it over and expand the illegal settlements in that area.
He told WAFA that he was surprised to see a large army force break into the village early this morning with two bulldozers, close all entrances to the village, cordon off the area and proceed to demolish the one-floor house.
He said the house owner had received a demolition notice from the Israeli military on the ground it was built without a permit.
The village head said the army had demolished three other houses in the same area last year and seized three caravans, while several other houses are under threat of demolition under the pretext of construction without permit.
He said that even if Palestinians seek to get a permit, Israel will not grant them one because it wants to empty the land of its residents in order to take it over and expand the illegal settlements in that area.
Israeli colonial settlers on Tuesday, razed vast areas of Palestinian-owned farm lands in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus.
Local media outlets said that the lands razed, are located near the illegal Israeli colonial settlement of Shefout Rahel.
The sources confirmed that today’s bulldozing caused widespread harm to tens of olive trees, owned by local Palestinian farmers from Nablus city.
Previously, Israeli defense minister, Naftali Bennett, announced his government’s plan to expand the Shefout Rahel colonial settlement with another nearby colonial settlement, called Shelo.
In the area, where the bulldozing took place, there are a number of illegal colonial settlements, including Shelo, Aadi Aad, Codeish, Keda and Ahya.
Israeli colonial settlements on Palestinian-owned lands has been Israeli systematic policy, initially announced in late 1970’s for the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Over the past decade, Israel has accelerated settlement building in a way that has strangulated Palestinian-populated cities, towns and villages in the West Bank which includes occupied East Jerusalem.
Back in 2005, Israel unilaterally dismantled 17 Israeli colonial settlements in the tiny coastal Gaza Strip and two years later, it enforced a crippling blockade on the territory, in place now, for 13 years.
Israeli colonial settlement construction is deemed illegal by international law and United Nations Security Council’s resolutions, 242 and 338, given the fact that Gaza Strip and the West Bank are Arab-Palestinian lands, which Israel occupied by force, back in 1967.
Local media outlets said that the lands razed, are located near the illegal Israeli colonial settlement of Shefout Rahel.
The sources confirmed that today’s bulldozing caused widespread harm to tens of olive trees, owned by local Palestinian farmers from Nablus city.
Previously, Israeli defense minister, Naftali Bennett, announced his government’s plan to expand the Shefout Rahel colonial settlement with another nearby colonial settlement, called Shelo.
In the area, where the bulldozing took place, there are a number of illegal colonial settlements, including Shelo, Aadi Aad, Codeish, Keda and Ahya.
Israeli colonial settlements on Palestinian-owned lands has been Israeli systematic policy, initially announced in late 1970’s for the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Over the past decade, Israel has accelerated settlement building in a way that has strangulated Palestinian-populated cities, towns and villages in the West Bank which includes occupied East Jerusalem.
Back in 2005, Israel unilaterally dismantled 17 Israeli colonial settlements in the tiny coastal Gaza Strip and two years later, it enforced a crippling blockade on the territory, in place now, for 13 years.
Israeli colonial settlement construction is deemed illegal by international law and United Nations Security Council’s resolutions, 242 and 338, given the fact that Gaza Strip and the West Bank are Arab-Palestinian lands, which Israel occupied by force, back in 1967.
Omar Barghouti
An Israeli army unit raided the central West Bank city of Ramallah early this morning in an apparent search-and-arrest campaign, said local sources.
They said the forces were in the vicinity of the Palestinian Legislative Council were youths belted them with stones and the soldiers responded by firing teargas canisters and stun grenades to disperse the youth.
One person was detained after raiding his home. video
Soldiers also raided two Ramallah-area villages and detained Omar Barghouti and his son, Mohammad, in the village of Kubar, north of Ramallah, and Mahmoud Murrar, a lawyer, in the village of Budrus, west of Ramallah, and seized his car. video
The soldiers also raided several homes of people related to Murrar.
An Israeli army unit raided the central West Bank city of Ramallah early this morning in an apparent search-and-arrest campaign, said local sources.
They said the forces were in the vicinity of the Palestinian Legislative Council were youths belted them with stones and the soldiers responded by firing teargas canisters and stun grenades to disperse the youth.
One person was detained after raiding his home. video
Soldiers also raided two Ramallah-area villages and detained Omar Barghouti and his son, Mohammad, in the village of Kubar, north of Ramallah, and Mahmoud Murrar, a lawyer, in the village of Budrus, west of Ramallah, and seized his car. video
The soldiers also raided several homes of people related to Murrar.
