15 aug 2016
The planned settlement of Givat Eitam (referred to as “E2”)
The Palestinian Authority’s Prime Minister, Rami Hamdallah, on Monday, condemned an Israeli plan to appropriate Palestinian land in order to establish a new settlement in the West Bank.
“Israel’s move to build a new illegal settlement and bypass road next to Bethlehem is another step into cutting the West Bank in two, and annexing Area C,” Hamdallah said, according to the PNN. “Israeli authorities are doing their best to destroy the historic character of Bethlehem,” he added.
Israel is looking to grab Palestinian land next to the illegal settlement of Efrat in order to build a settler-only road, connecting Efrat to a planned new settlement called Givat Eitam. The new settlement will be located east of the separation wall and will house 2,500 units, according to a blueprint by the Israeli Ministry of Construction and Housing.
The construction of the planned settlement would all but complete the encirclement of Bethlehem, rendering any development of the city impossible. Currently, Bethlehem is surrounded by settlements and bypass roads on three sides.
“The building of the settlement and the settler-only road would practically cut Bethlehem off the Southern West Bank,” said Jamal Dajani, Director of Strategic Communications & Media at the Prime Minister’s Office. “The international community has an obligation to stop Israel’s illegal and ongoing land theft, before there is nothing left of Palestine.”
Israeli settlements control more than 42 percent of the land in the West Bank through “regional councils,” including land reserves, agricultural and industrial facilities, settler-only roads, and other infrastructure.
In 2009, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu committed to not building any new settlements after harsh criticism from the international community.
However, this promise has not stopped his government from continuously appropriating private Palestinian land and approving plans for new settlements.
The Palestinian Authority’s Prime Minister, Rami Hamdallah, on Monday, condemned an Israeli plan to appropriate Palestinian land in order to establish a new settlement in the West Bank.
“Israel’s move to build a new illegal settlement and bypass road next to Bethlehem is another step into cutting the West Bank in two, and annexing Area C,” Hamdallah said, according to the PNN. “Israeli authorities are doing their best to destroy the historic character of Bethlehem,” he added.
Israel is looking to grab Palestinian land next to the illegal settlement of Efrat in order to build a settler-only road, connecting Efrat to a planned new settlement called Givat Eitam. The new settlement will be located east of the separation wall and will house 2,500 units, according to a blueprint by the Israeli Ministry of Construction and Housing.
The construction of the planned settlement would all but complete the encirclement of Bethlehem, rendering any development of the city impossible. Currently, Bethlehem is surrounded by settlements and bypass roads on three sides.
“The building of the settlement and the settler-only road would practically cut Bethlehem off the Southern West Bank,” said Jamal Dajani, Director of Strategic Communications & Media at the Prime Minister’s Office. “The international community has an obligation to stop Israel’s illegal and ongoing land theft, before there is nothing left of Palestine.”
Israeli settlements control more than 42 percent of the land in the West Bank through “regional councils,” including land reserves, agricultural and industrial facilities, settler-only roads, and other infrastructure.
In 2009, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu committed to not building any new settlements after harsh criticism from the international community.
However, this promise has not stopped his government from continuously appropriating private Palestinian land and approving plans for new settlements.
Israeli navy ships attacked, on Monday evening, a number of Palestinian fishing boats, in Palestinian territorial water in Beit Lahia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, and kidnapped five fishers.
Eyewitnesses said the navy fired many live rounds at the boats and kidnapped Fadi Mahmoud Bakr, Ehab Jawad Bakr, Mamdouh No’man Bakr, Wael Nabil Bakr and Khamis Ziad Meenawi.
The five were all fishing in the same boat; the navy also confiscated their boat and took it to Ashdod Port.
On Friday, August 12th, the navy attacked fishing boats and kidnapped five fishers identified as Saed Jom’a Bakr, Mahmoud Saed Bakr, Ibrahim Saed Bakr, Yasser Nasser Bakr and Ahmad Mahmoud al-Louh.
The attacks are part of frequent Israeli violations against the besieged and improvised coastal region.
Eyewitnesses said the navy fired many live rounds at the boats and kidnapped Fadi Mahmoud Bakr, Ehab Jawad Bakr, Mamdouh No’man Bakr, Wael Nabil Bakr and Khamis Ziad Meenawi.
The five were all fishing in the same boat; the navy also confiscated their boat and took it to Ashdod Port.
On Friday, August 12th, the navy attacked fishing boats and kidnapped five fishers identified as Saed Jom’a Bakr, Mahmoud Saed Bakr, Ibrahim Saed Bakr, Yasser Nasser Bakr and Ahmad Mahmoud al-Louh.
The attacks are part of frequent Israeli violations against the besieged and improvised coastal region.
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) has embarked recently on conducting a land survey between the settlement of Efrat (southeast Jerusalem) and the area to its east with the intention of annexing it and declaring it state land, according to a report published by Haaretz newspaper on Sunday.
Efrat is in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc in the southern West Bank, and the area to its east is called Givat Eitam.
According to a document submitted by the IOA to the high court of justice last week, the survey has been undertaken "in a manner that will create contiguity of state lands."
Haaretz said that any construction in the area would lead to diplomatic implications because it would expand Gush Etzion east to the outskirts of Bethlehem, a step that would break up the territorial contiguity of Palestinian towns and villages there.
In 2009, 1,700 dunums of land in the so-called Efrat region were seized and declared state land in order to build housing units for settlers.
Efrat is in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc in the southern West Bank, and the area to its east is called Givat Eitam.
According to a document submitted by the IOA to the high court of justice last week, the survey has been undertaken "in a manner that will create contiguity of state lands."
Haaretz said that any construction in the area would lead to diplomatic implications because it would expand Gush Etzion east to the outskirts of Bethlehem, a step that would break up the territorial contiguity of Palestinian towns and villages there.
In 2009, 1,700 dunums of land in the so-called Efrat region were seized and declared state land in order to build housing units for settlers.
Reports have recently been released by Israeli news outlets on underway preparations to build the alleged temple mount on the ruins of the al-Aqsa Mosque, in Occupied Jerusalem, pending a formal political decision.
The reports came at a time when Israelis have celebrated the so-called destruction of the temple ceremony.
Participants in the underway preparations claimed that the transfer of the needed equipment to the al-Aqsa Mosque, precisely to the Dome of the Rock, was probable within the next few hours.
They added that the construction works will take no more than three years time.
A report aired Saturday by the Israeli Channel 2 revealed underway activities and arrangements by the Israeli Women for the Temple Organization to start the construction of the alleged temple.
The activities include workshops and secret meetings to boost mass break-ins at al-Aqsa Mosque and celebrate wedding ceremonies once every couple of days.
Efforts have also been underway by Israeli lobbies to put such Israeli schemes into effect and garner support for the bid among Israeli MKs and stakeholders.
Another report broadcast Friday by the Israeli Channel 1 showed intensive preparations for the construction of the alleged temple, including raising a livestock as a sacrifice to the temple.
The report quoted the director of the Temple Institute, Yisrael Ariel, as stating that over 40 priests are awaiting instructions to start their work in the alleged temple and that the institute has prepared the needed equipment for the temple.
An Israeli map maker said during an interview that he has prepared detailed maps for the construction of the alleged temple on the ruins of al-Aqsa and over an area of 144 dunums. He added that a period of three years is fair enough to finalize the construction works.
The reports came at a time when Israelis have celebrated the so-called destruction of the temple ceremony.
Participants in the underway preparations claimed that the transfer of the needed equipment to the al-Aqsa Mosque, precisely to the Dome of the Rock, was probable within the next few hours.
They added that the construction works will take no more than three years time.
A report aired Saturday by the Israeli Channel 2 revealed underway activities and arrangements by the Israeli Women for the Temple Organization to start the construction of the alleged temple.
The activities include workshops and secret meetings to boost mass break-ins at al-Aqsa Mosque and celebrate wedding ceremonies once every couple of days.
Efforts have also been underway by Israeli lobbies to put such Israeli schemes into effect and garner support for the bid among Israeli MKs and stakeholders.
Another report broadcast Friday by the Israeli Channel 1 showed intensive preparations for the construction of the alleged temple, including raising a livestock as a sacrifice to the temple.
The report quoted the director of the Temple Institute, Yisrael Ariel, as stating that over 40 priests are awaiting instructions to start their work in the alleged temple and that the institute has prepared the needed equipment for the temple.
An Israeli map maker said during an interview that he has prepared detailed maps for the construction of the alleged temple on the ruins of al-Aqsa and over an area of 144 dunums. He added that a period of three years is fair enough to finalize the construction works.
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) at dawn Monday carried out an arrest campaign against Palestinians in the West Bank that ended by rounding up 11 men in addition to storming homes of two prisoners in southern Nablus.
Israeli soldiers raided Asira al-Qibliya town to the south of Nablus and arrested the young man Huthaifa Hamdan after storming and wreaking havoc on his home, eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter.
In Ourta town, the IOF soldiers broke into the family home of two detained brothers: Muayad and Sharif Sharab and confiscated their home security camera records.
The arrests also included two ex-detainees and two Islamic Jihad members in Yabad town to the south of Jenin in addition to four men from Anabta town and Nour Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem as well as a Hamas member in Allar nearby town.
Three others were arrested in Bait Jala, al-Walajeh and Taqoa towns near Bethlehem including two members of Hamas. The IOF abused one of the arrested men in Yabad town along with his family before taking him to an unknown destination.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that Israeli forces arrested the ex-detainee Yaqoub Enfaiat who was released eight months ago after he had served a 9-year sentence in Israeli jails.
Israeli soldiers raided Asira al-Qibliya town to the south of Nablus and arrested the young man Huthaifa Hamdan after storming and wreaking havoc on his home, eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter.
In Ourta town, the IOF soldiers broke into the family home of two detained brothers: Muayad and Sharif Sharab and confiscated their home security camera records.
The arrests also included two ex-detainees and two Islamic Jihad members in Yabad town to the south of Jenin in addition to four men from Anabta town and Nour Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem as well as a Hamas member in Allar nearby town.
Three others were arrested in Bait Jala, al-Walajeh and Taqoa towns near Bethlehem including two members of Hamas. The IOF abused one of the arrested men in Yabad town along with his family before taking him to an unknown destination.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that Israeli forces arrested the ex-detainee Yaqoub Enfaiat who was released eight months ago after he had served a 9-year sentence in Israeli jails.
Israeli Occupation Forces escorted by over 30 military vehicles at midnight Sunday blew up the home of the Palestinian martyr Mohammad Tarayreh from Bani Naim town in al-Khalil by detonating bombs and explosives.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that Israeli soldiers evacuated the two-story house along with a number of adjacent homes before the demolition.
Violent clashes erupted in the vicinity of the martyr’s home during the demolition, they added.
The family which is comprised of eight members had to leave their home after the Israeli court demolition decision was made.
They rented a house in the town until a new one is built for them. Martyr Tarayreh, 18, carried out on June 30 an anti-occupation stabbing attack that led to the death of a female settler and the serious injury of her father.
Israeli forces besieged the town on that date which remained in force until two days ago when it was lifted.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that Israeli soldiers evacuated the two-story house along with a number of adjacent homes before the demolition.
Violent clashes erupted in the vicinity of the martyr’s home during the demolition, they added.
The family which is comprised of eight members had to leave their home after the Israeli court demolition decision was made.
They rented a house in the town until a new one is built for them. Martyr Tarayreh, 18, carried out on June 30 an anti-occupation stabbing attack that led to the death of a female settler and the serious injury of her father.
Israeli forces besieged the town on that date which remained in force until two days ago when it was lifted.
IDF demolishes home of terrorist who killed Hallel Ariel
Israeli security forces met with resistance during demolition, with Palestinians hurling stones and Molotov cocktails at them; forces responded with gas and stun grenades.
Israeli security forces demolished the home of Mohammed Taraireh, the terrorist who murdered 13 year-old Hallel Yaffa Ariel in a stabbing attack in June, in Bani Na'im overnight Sunday.
The terrorist's home was demolished in accordance with government policy, by way of an accurate, controlled explosion of the floor in the building where the terrorist lived.
Since the beginning of the recent wave of terror attacks, the IDF, in cooperation with the Border Police and the Israel Civil Administration, have demolished 25 homes belonging to the terrorists who perpetrated the attacks.
The overnight demolition was the fastest to be approved—from the moment of the attack until it was carried out.
Dozens of Palestinians tried to disrupt the demolition work by throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at soldiers from the Nahal's 50th Battalion and from the engineering Yahalom unit, who were carrying out the demolition. None of the soldiers was hurt. The troops responded to the onslaught with stun and gas grenades.
Last week, Israel released Lara Taraireh, the terrorist's sister, who on the day of the attack was documented praising her brother's actions and was subsequently arrested over suspicions of incitement.
Hallel Yaffa Ariel, 13 years old from Kiryat Arba, was stabbed to death in her bed by terrorist Mohammed Taraireh, who crossed the settlement's security fence and broke into her home in the Harsanina neighborhood. Members of the settlement's civil security squad shot the terrorist dead, while one of them, a 31-year-old man, was moderately-to-seriously injured from the gunfire.
Hallel's mother Rina Ariel said on Monday morning, "So long as the entire house is not demolished and the family expelled, there isn't enough real deterrence and there is nothing to prevent the next terror attack. It's very easy to rebuild a floor of the house. The real answer would be expelling the family and settling the house with Jews. If the hostile population knew every house of a terrorist will be given to Jews, it would cause great deterrence."
Israeli security forces met with resistance during demolition, with Palestinians hurling stones and Molotov cocktails at them; forces responded with gas and stun grenades.
Israeli security forces demolished the home of Mohammed Taraireh, the terrorist who murdered 13 year-old Hallel Yaffa Ariel in a stabbing attack in June, in Bani Na'im overnight Sunday.
The terrorist's home was demolished in accordance with government policy, by way of an accurate, controlled explosion of the floor in the building where the terrorist lived.
Since the beginning of the recent wave of terror attacks, the IDF, in cooperation with the Border Police and the Israel Civil Administration, have demolished 25 homes belonging to the terrorists who perpetrated the attacks.
The overnight demolition was the fastest to be approved—from the moment of the attack until it was carried out.
Dozens of Palestinians tried to disrupt the demolition work by throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at soldiers from the Nahal's 50th Battalion and from the engineering Yahalom unit, who were carrying out the demolition. None of the soldiers was hurt. The troops responded to the onslaught with stun and gas grenades.
Last week, Israel released Lara Taraireh, the terrorist's sister, who on the day of the attack was documented praising her brother's actions and was subsequently arrested over suspicions of incitement.
Hallel Yaffa Ariel, 13 years old from Kiryat Arba, was stabbed to death in her bed by terrorist Mohammed Taraireh, who crossed the settlement's security fence and broke into her home in the Harsanina neighborhood. Members of the settlement's civil security squad shot the terrorist dead, while one of them, a 31-year-old man, was moderately-to-seriously injured from the gunfire.
Hallel's mother Rina Ariel said on Monday morning, "So long as the entire house is not demolished and the family expelled, there isn't enough real deterrence and there is nothing to prevent the next terror attack. It's very easy to rebuild a floor of the house. The real answer would be expelling the family and settling the house with Jews. If the hostile population knew every house of a terrorist will be given to Jews, it would cause great deterrence."
14 aug 2016
Washington opposes Israel’s plan to move the outpost of Amona to land that belongs to Palestinians who were forced by Israeli army to leave their homes in the site in 1967.
A senior U.S. official noted that Washington had recently approached the Israeli government to strongly protest the matter. The administration had held a series of discussions with Israelis at working and senior levels on Amona, he added.
Political sources told Haaretz that no decision had been made on Amona, adding that the plan referred to did not involve the expropriation of land.
The Americans view the plan as deviating from commitments undertaken by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to President Barack Obama that Israel would not appropriate Palestinian land in the West Bank to establish new settlements or expand existing ones.
Israeli Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau commented on Amona Thursday night as part of a daily briefing to reporters.
“We’re deeply concerned by reports that the Israeli government has begun the process to take over privately-owned Palestinian land to relocate the illegal Israeli outpost of Amona,” she said.
A senior U.S. official noted that Washington had recently approached the Israeli government to strongly protest the matter. The administration had held a series of discussions with Israelis at working and senior levels on Amona, he added.
Political sources told Haaretz that no decision had been made on Amona, adding that the plan referred to did not involve the expropriation of land.
The Americans view the plan as deviating from commitments undertaken by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to President Barack Obama that Israel would not appropriate Palestinian land in the West Bank to establish new settlements or expand existing ones.
Israeli Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau commented on Amona Thursday night as part of a daily briefing to reporters.
“We’re deeply concerned by reports that the Israeli government has begun the process to take over privately-owned Palestinian land to relocate the illegal Israeli outpost of Amona,” she said.
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Saturday evening, Harmala town, east of Bethlehem city in the occupied West Bank, and occupied a Palestinian home after kicking the family out.
Resident Mohammad Sbeih told the Maan News Agency said that soldiers invaded his two-story home, and confiscated its keys before kicking him and his nine family members, including several children, out.
He added that the soldiers told the family to “find another place to live, as long as Palestinian youths continue to hurl stones at the army vehicles.”
The invaded property is located at the edges of Harmala town, close to the Teqoua’ illegal Israeli colony, east of Bethlehem. The soldiers are still illegally occupying the building.
Resident Mohammad Sbeih told the Maan News Agency said that soldiers invaded his two-story home, and confiscated its keys before kicking him and his nine family members, including several children, out.
He added that the soldiers told the family to “find another place to live, as long as Palestinian youths continue to hurl stones at the army vehicles.”
The invaded property is located at the edges of Harmala town, close to the Teqoua’ illegal Israeli colony, east of Bethlehem. The soldiers are still illegally occupying the building.
13 aug 2016
Dozens of Israeli soldiers invaded, earlier Saturday, the West Bank city of Bethlehem, broke into the Zakat office and confiscated computers, files, and documents containing detailed information about orphans and families in need.
Mohammad Rezeq, the head of the Zakat Committee in Bethlehem, said the soldiers invaded its office in the al-Karkafa area, in the center of Bethlehem, after smashing the front door.
Rezeq added that the soldiers violently searched the office, before confiscating six computers, checkbooks, and files with detailed information about orphans and families in need, receiving aid from the Zakat office.
The official added that this was the second invasion into the Zakat office this year alone.
Mohammad Rezeq, the head of the Zakat Committee in Bethlehem, said the soldiers invaded its office in the al-Karkafa area, in the center of Bethlehem, after smashing the front door.
Rezeq added that the soldiers violently searched the office, before confiscating six computers, checkbooks, and files with detailed information about orphans and families in need, receiving aid from the Zakat office.
The official added that this was the second invasion into the Zakat office this year alone.
12 aug 2016
In the anticipation of extending existing illegal settlements on Palestinian lands, Israeli forces have been setting up new mobile homes in the heart of Hebron’s old city.
Thus far they have built 12 mobile homes behind the military base, in the old bus station behind Osama Bin Monqez School, according to the PNN.
Hebron Rehabilitation Committee (HRC) warns that, from this violation, more human rights abuses and restrictions will occur.
Specifically, they say, this action runs parallel to the establishment of new checkpoints at the entrance of the Ibrahimi Mosque and the changes being made to other checkpoints across the Old City, ion order to make the Israeli presence more permanent and restrictive on the local Palestinian population.
HRC fears that the intensifying Israeli plans to completely isolate and colonize areas for Israelis only will lead to the entire heart of the Old City being captured as one large Jewish settlement.
The General Manager of HRC, Emad Hamdan, has called upon all Palestinian organizations and institutions, international human rights organizations and diplomatic missions to expose and work to end the Israeli attacks on Palestinian properties and citizens in Hebron’s Old City.
Thus far they have built 12 mobile homes behind the military base, in the old bus station behind Osama Bin Monqez School, according to the PNN.
Hebron Rehabilitation Committee (HRC) warns that, from this violation, more human rights abuses and restrictions will occur.
Specifically, they say, this action runs parallel to the establishment of new checkpoints at the entrance of the Ibrahimi Mosque and the changes being made to other checkpoints across the Old City, ion order to make the Israeli presence more permanent and restrictive on the local Palestinian population.
HRC fears that the intensifying Israeli plans to completely isolate and colonize areas for Israelis only will lead to the entire heart of the Old City being captured as one large Jewish settlement.
The General Manager of HRC, Emad Hamdan, has called upon all Palestinian organizations and institutions, international human rights organizations and diplomatic missions to expose and work to end the Israeli attacks on Palestinian properties and citizens in Hebron’s Old City.
Haaretz newspaper has revealed Israeli plans to demolish Palestinian homes in the Muslim Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem in order to expand al-Buraq (wailing) Wall.
According to the newspaper, the plan emerged at first in 1972 when the Israeli authorities discovered that one of the Palestinian houses' walls there was part of the so-called "little wailing wall."
This incident led the authorities to find out later that other parts of this wailing wall were hidden inside the Muslim quarter, according to the Israeli claims.
According to the newspaper, the plan emerged at first in 1972 when the Israeli authorities discovered that one of the Palestinian houses' walls there was part of the so-called "little wailing wall."
This incident led the authorities to find out later that other parts of this wailing wall were hidden inside the Muslim quarter, according to the Israeli claims.
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) on Thursday decided to seize 231 dunums of Palestinian-owned land in Silwad town, northeast of Ramallah, in order to build a settlement outpost.
The IOA published an announcement in the Palestinian newspaper al-Quds stating its intention to annex an abandoned plot of land in the town.
Palestinian official sources said that this plot of land belongs to absent Palestinians who do not live in the West Bank and that the IOA intends to use the law of absentee property to relocate the settlers of Amona outpost to it.
For its part, the Israeli group Peace Now condemned Israel's intent to seize an abandoned private land as a serious violation of previous governments' policy that refrained from seizing absentee property for settlers.
The IOA published an announcement in the Palestinian newspaper al-Quds stating its intention to annex an abandoned plot of land in the town.
Palestinian official sources said that this plot of land belongs to absent Palestinians who do not live in the West Bank and that the IOA intends to use the law of absentee property to relocate the settlers of Amona outpost to it.
For its part, the Israeli group Peace Now condemned Israel's intent to seize an abandoned private land as a serious violation of previous governments' policy that refrained from seizing absentee property for settlers.
A number of Israeli navy ships attacked, earlier on Friday, a number of Palestinian fishing boats, opened fire on them and kidnapped five fishers, before confiscating their boats.
Zakariyya Bakr, an official in charge of the Fishers Committee of the “Union of Agricultural Workers Committees,” said the navy ships opened automatic fire, approximately at 7 in the morning, targeting several boats in the al-Waha area, north of Gaza city.
Bakr added that the navy then assaulted the fishers, who jumped into the water to avoid the bullets, and kidnapped five of them in addition to confiscating their boats.
The kidnapped fishers have been identified as Saed Jom’a Bakr, Mahmoud Saed Bakr, Ibrahim Saed Bakr, Yasser Nasser Bakr and Ahmad Mahmoud al-Louh.
Earlier om Friday at dawn, several Israeli navy ships opened fire on a number of Palestinian fishing boats in Beit Lahia and Sudaniyya, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, and in Rafah, in its southern part.
Zakariyya Bakr, an official in charge of the Fishers Committee of the “Union of Agricultural Workers Committees,” said the navy ships opened automatic fire, approximately at 7 in the morning, targeting several boats in the al-Waha area, north of Gaza city.
Bakr added that the navy then assaulted the fishers, who jumped into the water to avoid the bullets, and kidnapped five of them in addition to confiscating their boats.
The kidnapped fishers have been identified as Saed Jom’a Bakr, Mahmoud Saed Bakr, Ibrahim Saed Bakr, Yasser Nasser Bakr and Ahmad Mahmoud al-Louh.
Earlier om Friday at dawn, several Israeli navy ships opened fire on a number of Palestinian fishing boats in Beit Lahia and Sudaniyya, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, and in Rafah, in its southern part.