22 aug 2017

A Palestinian rides on a donkey with a settlement in the background
The Israeli government is defending the legality of the outpost “Regularization law” at the Israeli Supreme Court, and says that the expropriation of Palestinian-owned land would benefit Palestinians because they would receive financial compensation for it, reportedly describing Palestinian laws prohibiting the sale of land to Israelis as “racist.”
The hearing came in response to two petitions filed by human rights groups to the court demanding to strike down the law, which would pave the way for the retroactive legalization of dozens of illegal Israeli settler outposts.
The Regularization law, passed by the Israeli parliament in February, states that any settlements built in the occupied West Bank “in good faith” — without knowledge that the land upon which it was built was privately owned by Palestinians — could be officially recognized by Israel pending minimal proof of governmental support in its establishment and some form of compensation to the Palestinian landowners.
Israeli NGO Peace Now said, in a statement on Monday, that in response to the petitions — one of which was submitted by Peace Now and fellow rights groups Yesh Din and ACRI — the government justified the law by saying that the Palestinian landowners would receive monetary compensation.
“The government even went as far as to claim that the Palestinian landowners whose land was stolen by Israeli citizens actually benefit from the law, since they actually want to sell their lands, but can’t do so due to Palestinian laws,” Peace Now said, adding that the response also claimed that the illegal settlements in the West Bank “are a national interest that justifies confiscation of private lands.”
Israel also claimed, according to Ma’an, that Palestinian laws that prohibit selling land to Israelis were “racist,” ACRI said in a statement.
According to ACRI, the Israeli state’s response argued that the parliament, or Knesset, can impose law in the occupied territory to address “problems faced by Israelis” and that settlers were considered a “local population.”
The state of Israel responded to arguments that imposing laws in the occupied territory was unjustified, due to the fact that Palestinians in the West Bank cannot vote for the Knesset, saying the issue was “irrelevant, since Palestinians also do not vote for the Military Commander who is enacting laws in the West Bank,” ACRI reported.
The rights groups had argued in the petition that the law was not just a contravention of international law but unconstitutional for Israel, as it “clearly violates the basic law: human dignity and liberty, while forcing authorities to expropriate rights of land ownership and usage from Palestinians for an unlimited time period.”
“The government attempts to present Israeli citizens, who are directly involved in land theft of Palestinians, as deserving a reward for their participation in the thievery,” Peace Now said.
“Additionally, the law violates international humanitarian law, the laws of occupation and other international conventions signed by Israel, which oblige the state of Israel to protect the rights of residents of the occupied territory and forbid the expropriation of their property for any use by an immediate security need,” the petitioners said.
“Up until today, Israeli laws in the West Bank applied only to Israeli citizens on a personal basis. Passing the law is a clear act of applying sovereignty and thereby it is an act of illegal annexation.”
ACRI wrote that the Israeli state’s response “completely ignores the extent of the continuous unlawful violations of rights of Palestinian landowners caused by illegal takeovers of their land for settlement purposes. It expresses Israeli policies to retroactively legalize illegal Israeli construction in the West Bank in contravention to Israeli law as well as International Humanitarian Law, while rewarding the perpetrators who had illegally taken over land not belonging to them.”
Since the occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in 1967, between 500,000 and 600,000 Israelis have moved into Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory, in violation of international law.
The estimated 196 government recognized Israeli settlements scattered across the Palestinian territory are all considered illegal under international law.
While members of the international community have rested the solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the discontinuation of illegal Israeli settlements and the establishment of a two-state solution, Israeli leaders have instead shifted further to the right, with more than 50 percent of the ministers in the current Israeli government publicly stating their opposition to a Palestinian state.
The Israeli government is defending the legality of the outpost “Regularization law” at the Israeli Supreme Court, and says that the expropriation of Palestinian-owned land would benefit Palestinians because they would receive financial compensation for it, reportedly describing Palestinian laws prohibiting the sale of land to Israelis as “racist.”
The hearing came in response to two petitions filed by human rights groups to the court demanding to strike down the law, which would pave the way for the retroactive legalization of dozens of illegal Israeli settler outposts.
The Regularization law, passed by the Israeli parliament in February, states that any settlements built in the occupied West Bank “in good faith” — without knowledge that the land upon which it was built was privately owned by Palestinians — could be officially recognized by Israel pending minimal proof of governmental support in its establishment and some form of compensation to the Palestinian landowners.
Israeli NGO Peace Now said, in a statement on Monday, that in response to the petitions — one of which was submitted by Peace Now and fellow rights groups Yesh Din and ACRI — the government justified the law by saying that the Palestinian landowners would receive monetary compensation.
“The government even went as far as to claim that the Palestinian landowners whose land was stolen by Israeli citizens actually benefit from the law, since they actually want to sell their lands, but can’t do so due to Palestinian laws,” Peace Now said, adding that the response also claimed that the illegal settlements in the West Bank “are a national interest that justifies confiscation of private lands.”
Israel also claimed, according to Ma’an, that Palestinian laws that prohibit selling land to Israelis were “racist,” ACRI said in a statement.
According to ACRI, the Israeli state’s response argued that the parliament, or Knesset, can impose law in the occupied territory to address “problems faced by Israelis” and that settlers were considered a “local population.”
The state of Israel responded to arguments that imposing laws in the occupied territory was unjustified, due to the fact that Palestinians in the West Bank cannot vote for the Knesset, saying the issue was “irrelevant, since Palestinians also do not vote for the Military Commander who is enacting laws in the West Bank,” ACRI reported.
The rights groups had argued in the petition that the law was not just a contravention of international law but unconstitutional for Israel, as it “clearly violates the basic law: human dignity and liberty, while forcing authorities to expropriate rights of land ownership and usage from Palestinians for an unlimited time period.”
“The government attempts to present Israeli citizens, who are directly involved in land theft of Palestinians, as deserving a reward for their participation in the thievery,” Peace Now said.
“Additionally, the law violates international humanitarian law, the laws of occupation and other international conventions signed by Israel, which oblige the state of Israel to protect the rights of residents of the occupied territory and forbid the expropriation of their property for any use by an immediate security need,” the petitioners said.
“Up until today, Israeli laws in the West Bank applied only to Israeli citizens on a personal basis. Passing the law is a clear act of applying sovereignty and thereby it is an act of illegal annexation.”
ACRI wrote that the Israeli state’s response “completely ignores the extent of the continuous unlawful violations of rights of Palestinian landowners caused by illegal takeovers of their land for settlement purposes. It expresses Israeli policies to retroactively legalize illegal Israeli construction in the West Bank in contravention to Israeli law as well as International Humanitarian Law, while rewarding the perpetrators who had illegally taken over land not belonging to them.”
Since the occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in 1967, between 500,000 and 600,000 Israelis have moved into Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory, in violation of international law.
The estimated 196 government recognized Israeli settlements scattered across the Palestinian territory are all considered illegal under international law.
While members of the international community have rested the solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the discontinuation of illegal Israeli settlements and the establishment of a two-state solution, Israeli leaders have instead shifted further to the right, with more than 50 percent of the ministers in the current Israeli government publicly stating their opposition to a Palestinian state.

Israeli occupation forces, yesterday, announced that they confiscated children’s toys from the occupied West Bank city of Jenin.
In a statement, the Israeli army said that its troops carried a campaign, the first of its kind, against air guns used by children fearing that they would be turned into “lethal weapons”.
The commander of the Israeli Military Central Command issued a military order banning the possession of toys which are similar to real arms or which could be turned into real arms, the statement said.
According to the PNN, the Israeli occupation army claimed that a number of attacks were carried out against its officers and posts using toys with double use.
It added that, last year, it found 43 shops making arms and 450 different weapons. So far this year, it claims to have uncovered 25 weapons manufacturers and 215 weapons.
In a statement, the Israeli army said that its troops carried a campaign, the first of its kind, against air guns used by children fearing that they would be turned into “lethal weapons”.
The commander of the Israeli Military Central Command issued a military order banning the possession of toys which are similar to real arms or which could be turned into real arms, the statement said.
According to the PNN, the Israeli occupation army claimed that a number of attacks were carried out against its officers and posts using toys with double use.
It added that, last year, it found 43 shops making arms and 450 different weapons. So far this year, it claims to have uncovered 25 weapons manufacturers and 215 weapons.

An Israeli court ordered Tuesday the eviction of the Shamasna family from their home in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in occupied Jerusalem.
Earlier on Monday, the court had refused an appeal submitted by the family against the eviction order which was issued several years ago.
Speaking to the PIC reporter, Mohamed Shamasna expressed concern that the family house could be evicted at any moment.
For his part, Hatem Abdel-Qader, a member of Fatah movement's Revolutionary Council, considered the eviction order as a political decision par excellence which only serves Israeli settlers.
Israelis have claimed that Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood was once the site of a 19th century Jewish community. Many families in the neighborhood have been embroiled in legal disputes for decades, as various Israeli settlers have attempted to claim ownership over their homes.
According to the Israeli law, Jewish Israelis are permitted to claim ownership over property believed to have been owned by Jews before 1948 during Ottoman or British rule. However, such a law does not exist for the hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees who were displaced from their lands and homes during and after the establishment of the state of Israel.
Earlier on Monday, the court had refused an appeal submitted by the family against the eviction order which was issued several years ago.
Speaking to the PIC reporter, Mohamed Shamasna expressed concern that the family house could be evicted at any moment.
For his part, Hatem Abdel-Qader, a member of Fatah movement's Revolutionary Council, considered the eviction order as a political decision par excellence which only serves Israeli settlers.
Israelis have claimed that Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood was once the site of a 19th century Jewish community. Many families in the neighborhood have been embroiled in legal disputes for decades, as various Israeli settlers have attempted to claim ownership over their homes.
According to the Israeli law, Jewish Israelis are permitted to claim ownership over property believed to have been owned by Jews before 1948 during Ottoman or British rule. However, such a law does not exist for the hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees who were displaced from their lands and homes during and after the establishment of the state of Israel.

The Israeli police forces stormed, along with a number of military bulldozers, Wadi al-Naam town in Negev on Tuesday and demolished two Bedouin homes before razing a nearby agricultural land.
The local activist Khaled Abu Khurma affirmed that two homes owned by al-Walidi family were demolished for being allegedly built without “Israeli permit.”
A nearby agricultural land in Khashm Zana village was also razed during the raid, he added.
Last year, more than 1,000 Palestinian houses were demolished in the Negev under the same Israeli pretext.
Nearly 50 Bedouin villages in the Negev are not recognized by Israel and have been targeted with demolition in preparation for building Jewish-only towns.
The local activist Khaled Abu Khurma affirmed that two homes owned by al-Walidi family were demolished for being allegedly built without “Israeli permit.”
A nearby agricultural land in Khashm Zana village was also razed during the raid, he added.
Last year, more than 1,000 Palestinian houses were demolished in the Negev under the same Israeli pretext.
Nearly 50 Bedouin villages in the Negev are not recognized by Israel and have been targeted with demolition in preparation for building Jewish-only towns.

The Israeli municipal authority in Occupied Jerusalem demolished on Tuesday morning the house of Abu Asnainah family in Silwan district, south of the Aqsa Mosque, for the second consecutive time.
Local sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that Israeli bulldozers knocked down the house of Abdul-Karim Abu Asnainah in Silwan once again after he had to build it partially following its demolition last week.
Bulldozers escorted by police troops demolished last Tuesday the house, but later the owner with help from pro-Aqsa activists and local residents managed to rebuild it in order to accommodate his family.
The house is located in al-Bustan neighborhood of Silwan, where 88 Palestinian homes are threatened with demolition. The Israeli municipality says it wants to build a park for Jewish settlers in place of those homes.
Israel pursues a systematic demolition policy against Palestinian homes in east Jerusalem, especially in the Old City and its vicinity, as part of its plan to Judaize its neighborhoods and bring more Jews to live there.
Local sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that Israeli bulldozers knocked down the house of Abdul-Karim Abu Asnainah in Silwan once again after he had to build it partially following its demolition last week.
Bulldozers escorted by police troops demolished last Tuesday the house, but later the owner with help from pro-Aqsa activists and local residents managed to rebuild it in order to accommodate his family.
The house is located in al-Bustan neighborhood of Silwan, where 88 Palestinian homes are threatened with demolition. The Israeli municipality says it wants to build a park for Jewish settlers in place of those homes.
Israel pursues a systematic demolition policy against Palestinian homes in east Jerusalem, especially in the Old City and its vicinity, as part of its plan to Judaize its neighborhoods and bring more Jews to live there.

The Israeli occupation army on Monday seized a vast tract of agricultural land in Jab’a village, southwest of Bethlehem in the West Bank, and embarked on bulldozing it.
According to local sources, Israeli bulldozers started to raze plots of land belonging to Palestinian citizens from the family of Masha'lah in the village.
The annexed land is located near the fence that separates the village from the 1948 occupied lands.
The Israeli army recently notified villagers of its intent to take over dozens of dunums of land belonging to them, saying it would establish a training camp for its forces in the area.
According to local sources, Israeli bulldozers started to raze plots of land belonging to Palestinian citizens from the family of Masha'lah in the village.
The annexed land is located near the fence that separates the village from the 1948 occupied lands.
The Israeli army recently notified villagers of its intent to take over dozens of dunums of land belonging to them, saying it would establish a training camp for its forces in the area.
21 aug 2017

Israeli bulldozers on Monday morning demolished a kindergarten in Occupied Jerusalem.
The demolished kindergarten is located in Jabal al-Baba, in Alezariya town, southeast of Occupied Jerusalem.
Israeli police and border cops seized all the equipment of the targeted kindergarten under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
At the same time, the Israeli civil administration notified the demolition of Bedouin homes in the area.
The occupation authorities have tightened grip on Jabal al-Baba in an attempt to force Palestinians out of the area and sever the bonds between the local communities.
The demolished kindergarten is located in Jabal al-Baba, in Alezariya town, southeast of Occupied Jerusalem.
Israeli police and border cops seized all the equipment of the targeted kindergarten under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
At the same time, the Israeli civil administration notified the demolition of Bedouin homes in the area.
The occupation authorities have tightened grip on Jabal al-Baba in an attempt to force Palestinians out of the area and sever the bonds between the local communities.

sraeli bulldozers on Monday morning demolished a Palestinian home under construction on the outer edges of Jenin’s southwestern town of Bartaa, near 1948 Occupied Palestine (Israel).
Head of Bartaa Village Council, Ghassan Qubha, said Israeli bulldozers reduced a 100-meter-square building to rubble under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
The activist further warned of the surge in Israeli demolition orders targeting Palestinian homes in Bartaa over recent years.
The Israeli occupation authorities have left no stone unturned to dismember Bartaa’s western and eastern neighborhoods as part of underway attempts to cut ties between Palestinian communities.
Head of Bartaa Village Council, Ghassan Qubha, said Israeli bulldozers reduced a 100-meter-square building to rubble under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
The activist further warned of the surge in Israeli demolition orders targeting Palestinian homes in Bartaa over recent years.
The Israeli occupation authorities have left no stone unturned to dismember Bartaa’s western and eastern neighborhoods as part of underway attempts to cut ties between Palestinian communities.

Israeli bulldozers attempted to demolish parts of al-Yousfiya Cemetery, adjacent to Jerusalem’s historical wall.
Head of the committee in charge of Jerusalem’s Islamic Cemeteries, Mustafa Abu Zahra, said an Israeli municipality bulldozer attempted to knock down the western wall of al-Yousfiya Cemetery.
Abu Zahra added that the committee stopped the demolition process, which the occupation authorities said was initiated to construct parks for Israeli settlers and terraces overlooking al-Zaytoun Mount (east of Occupied Jerusalem).
Material damage was reportedly wrought by the Israeli bulldozers in the vicinity of the cemetery.
Last month, Israeli municipal crews carried out excavation works at the targeted cemetery in an attempt to establish a public garden, in violation of the sanctity of dead bodies.
Head of the committee in charge of Jerusalem’s Islamic Cemeteries, Mustafa Abu Zahra, said an Israeli municipality bulldozer attempted to knock down the western wall of al-Yousfiya Cemetery.
Abu Zahra added that the committee stopped the demolition process, which the occupation authorities said was initiated to construct parks for Israeli settlers and terraces overlooking al-Zaytoun Mount (east of Occupied Jerusalem).
Material damage was reportedly wrought by the Israeli bulldozers in the vicinity of the cemetery.
Last month, Israeli municipal crews carried out excavation works at the targeted cemetery in an attempt to establish a public garden, in violation of the sanctity of dead bodies.
20 aug 2017

Israeli bulldozers, on Friday, demolished three houses belonging to Palestinian locals near the Negev desert, under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
Palestinian sources, according to the PNN, reported to Quds Press that the demolitions included a house in the village of Umm-Qabu, near Tall Al-Sabe village, as well as two others in the villages of Al-Atrash and Al-Sayyed, that are not recognised by Israeli occupation authorities.
An Arab deputy in the Israeli Knesset, Said Al-Kharoumi, claims that the demolition campaign is just one in a series of recent fierce campaigns that aim mainly at harassing citizens and forcing them out of the area.
Al-Kharoumi told Quds Press that Israeli authorities have been trying to impose forced solutions, demolitions and destruction on the inhabitants of Negev.
The Chairman of the Supreme Orientation Committee of the Arabs of Negev added, “We believe that this racist and unfair policy is going to fail in weakening our people in Negev, just like it failed in all of its previous attempts.”
In Ramallah, yesterday, Israeli occupation forces blew up the house of a Palestinian family in the village of Deir Abu Mishal, northwest of occupied Ramallah.
Nearby houses suffered damages and one of them was set on fire, as a result of the explosion. Fire trucks from the Palestinian Civil Defence were called to the scene, to control the fire and put out the flames.
In occupied Hebron, Israeli forces razed Palestinian lands near Yattah, south of the city, in order to expand a settlement built on Palestinian land.
The coordinator of the National Committee to Resist Settlements in Yattah said that the bulldozers have been working on razing Palestinian lands that belong to the Al-Hathalin and Abu Hmeid families, every morning, in order to expand the illegal settlement of Karmiel.
He added that many settlement outposts are multiplying their construction efforts.
Palestinian sources, according to the PNN, reported to Quds Press that the demolitions included a house in the village of Umm-Qabu, near Tall Al-Sabe village, as well as two others in the villages of Al-Atrash and Al-Sayyed, that are not recognised by Israeli occupation authorities.
An Arab deputy in the Israeli Knesset, Said Al-Kharoumi, claims that the demolition campaign is just one in a series of recent fierce campaigns that aim mainly at harassing citizens and forcing them out of the area.
Al-Kharoumi told Quds Press that Israeli authorities have been trying to impose forced solutions, demolitions and destruction on the inhabitants of Negev.
The Chairman of the Supreme Orientation Committee of the Arabs of Negev added, “We believe that this racist and unfair policy is going to fail in weakening our people in Negev, just like it failed in all of its previous attempts.”
In Ramallah, yesterday, Israeli occupation forces blew up the house of a Palestinian family in the village of Deir Abu Mishal, northwest of occupied Ramallah.
Nearby houses suffered damages and one of them was set on fire, as a result of the explosion. Fire trucks from the Palestinian Civil Defence were called to the scene, to control the fire and put out the flames.
In occupied Hebron, Israeli forces razed Palestinian lands near Yattah, south of the city, in order to expand a settlement built on Palestinian land.
The coordinator of the National Committee to Resist Settlements in Yattah said that the bulldozers have been working on razing Palestinian lands that belong to the Al-Hathalin and Abu Hmeid families, every morning, in order to expand the illegal settlement of Karmiel.
He added that many settlement outposts are multiplying their construction efforts.
19 aug 2017

In the Ibrahimi School Courtyard and around the Ibrahimi Mosque in al-Khalil city, there are hundreds of old and modern Palestinian houses. However, the unfortunate side of this picture is that several of these homes have become “hornets’ nests” where extremist Jewish settlers live after taking them over with the help of the Israeli occupation authority (IOA).
In the southeast corner of the Ibrahimi School Courtyard, some Palestinian families live in an old three-story house belonging to the family of Abu Rajab al-Tamimi.
The house, which overlooks the Ibrahimi Mosque, has been for a while another prey for Jewish fanatics, who attempted several times before to seize it and recently managed under Israeli military and security protection to force the Palestinian residents out and occupy it.
Mohamed Abu Rajab, the home-owner’s son, has appealed to his fellow Palestinian citizens in al-Khalil and other occupied areas to intervene and help the families restore the house.
“Some 120 settlers stormed our house about two weeks ago. They detained us on the first floor and prevented us from going up to the upper floors and the roof. They physically assaulted us and pushed my mother to the ground, trying to kill her. All that happened under military protection,” Abu Rajab told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC)
“This was not the first time they raided the house. They broke into it in 2012 and stayed there for days before the [Israeli] army drove them out, and later they stormed it in 2013, occupying it for several days before being evacuated,” he explained.
“They have come back more ferociously this time…they are backed by Israeli ministers and lawmakers. They are still occupying the second and third floors as well as the roof, cramming us on the first floor and controlling our entry and exit,” he added.
Abu Rajab pointed out that the settlers embarked on carrying diggings inside the house and causing damage to its structure.
For his part, Imad Hamdan, head of al-Khalil Rehabilitation Committee, stated that the IOA and settler groups always take advantage of certain political developments to create new faits accomplis on the ground through carrying out more settlement activities and grabbing lands and homes.
“As you know, the break-in at the house of Abu Rajab family took place as the Jerusalemites were busy rallying at the Aqsa Mosque’s gates to protect it,” Hamdan said.
He told the PIC that the residents of the house would receive a legal help to force the settlers to leave as happened in 2012 and 2013.
In the southeast corner of the Ibrahimi School Courtyard, some Palestinian families live in an old three-story house belonging to the family of Abu Rajab al-Tamimi.
The house, which overlooks the Ibrahimi Mosque, has been for a while another prey for Jewish fanatics, who attempted several times before to seize it and recently managed under Israeli military and security protection to force the Palestinian residents out and occupy it.
Mohamed Abu Rajab, the home-owner’s son, has appealed to his fellow Palestinian citizens in al-Khalil and other occupied areas to intervene and help the families restore the house.
“Some 120 settlers stormed our house about two weeks ago. They detained us on the first floor and prevented us from going up to the upper floors and the roof. They physically assaulted us and pushed my mother to the ground, trying to kill her. All that happened under military protection,” Abu Rajab told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC)
“This was not the first time they raided the house. They broke into it in 2012 and stayed there for days before the [Israeli] army drove them out, and later they stormed it in 2013, occupying it for several days before being evacuated,” he explained.
“They have come back more ferociously this time…they are backed by Israeli ministers and lawmakers. They are still occupying the second and third floors as well as the roof, cramming us on the first floor and controlling our entry and exit,” he added.
Abu Rajab pointed out that the settlers embarked on carrying diggings inside the house and causing damage to its structure.
For his part, Imad Hamdan, head of al-Khalil Rehabilitation Committee, stated that the IOA and settler groups always take advantage of certain political developments to create new faits accomplis on the ground through carrying out more settlement activities and grabbing lands and homes.
“As you know, the break-in at the house of Abu Rajab family took place as the Jerusalemites were busy rallying at the Aqsa Mosque’s gates to protect it,” Hamdan said.
He told the PIC that the residents of the house would receive a legal help to force the settlers to leave as happened in 2012 and 2013.
18 aug 2017

Palestinians in al-Walaja town west of the West Bank city of Bethlehem performed Friday prayer in the vicinity of the homes threatened with demolition by Israeli occupation authorities in Ain Juwaiza neighborhood in the town.
The worshipers participated in a solidarity tent that was staged after the prayer. Secretary General of the National Initiative Mustafa al-Barghouthi and the Arab MK Ahmed Tibi attended the event.
Speeches were delivered during the protest activity where speakers opined that the Israeli attack on al-Walaja town aims at passing the so-called the "Greater Jerusalem" Israeli plan which aims at seizing more Palestinian lands in the area.
The participants praised the steadfastness of the inhabitants and urged them to continue confronting the Israeli occupation plans.
The worshipers participated in a solidarity tent that was staged after the prayer. Secretary General of the National Initiative Mustafa al-Barghouthi and the Arab MK Ahmed Tibi attended the event.
Speeches were delivered during the protest activity where speakers opined that the Israeli attack on al-Walaja town aims at passing the so-called the "Greater Jerusalem" Israeli plan which aims at seizing more Palestinian lands in the area.
The participants praised the steadfastness of the inhabitants and urged them to continue confronting the Israeli occupation plans.

The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) confiscated over the past week four Palestinian buses near Nablus to the north of West Bank.
The Israeli army said in a statement issued Friday that four Palestinian buses belonging to Tamimi Transport Company were confiscated last week for "providing free services to Hamas activists for several years".
The statement claimed that the company used to transfer Hamas activists and students to West Bank checkpoints in order to clash with IOF soldiers.
The Israeli army said in a statement issued Friday that four Palestinian buses belonging to Tamimi Transport Company were confiscated last week for "providing free services to Hamas activists for several years".
The statement claimed that the company used to transfer Hamas activists and students to West Bank checkpoints in order to clash with IOF soldiers.
17 aug 2017

The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) confiscated on Thursday 48 dunums of Dahria town in al-Khalil to the south of West Bank.
The confiscated land is located near Mitar crossing to the south of the city, the PIC reporter said.
Mayor of the town Rateb Sabbar affirmed that the municipal authorities were not officially informed of the confiscation decision.
However, locals were surprised this morning by the confiscation order hanged at the entrance to Mitar crossing near the confiscated land, he told our correspondent.
The targeted land belonged to Abu Alan family who already appealed to the Israeli Supreme Court against the confiscation order, the mayor added.
Israeli authorities usually confiscate Palestinian-owned lands in West Bank under the pretext of being used for military purposes. However, they are later used for settlement expansion.
The confiscated land is located near Mitar crossing to the south of the city, the PIC reporter said.
Mayor of the town Rateb Sabbar affirmed that the municipal authorities were not officially informed of the confiscation decision.
However, locals were surprised this morning by the confiscation order hanged at the entrance to Mitar crossing near the confiscated land, he told our correspondent.
The targeted land belonged to Abu Alan family who already appealed to the Israeli Supreme Court against the confiscation order, the mayor added.
Israeli authorities usually confiscate Palestinian-owned lands in West Bank under the pretext of being used for military purposes. However, they are later used for settlement expansion.

The Israeli occupation army at dawn Thursday detonated a house belonging to a Palestinian family near Ramallah city as part of the mass punishment policy pursued against relatives of Palestinian attackers.
According to local sources, Israeli troops stormed Deir Abu Mash'al village and forced families to evacuate neighboring homes before they embarked on planting explosives inside the house of martyr Adel Ankoush and then blasting it.
The explosion inside the house caused a fire in a nearby home and material damage to others.
Meanwhile, soldiers attacked angry local residents with tear gas. Drones were also seen overflying the village during the events.
Last Thursday, an Israeli military force had demolished two houses belonging to families of martyrs in the same village and sealed up the house of Ankoush for later demolition.
Martyr Adel Ankoush along with two other young men from the village carried out, on June 16, a shooting and stabbing attack in Occupied Jerusalem. One policewoman was killed and others were injured in the attack.
According to local sources, Israeli troops stormed Deir Abu Mash'al village and forced families to evacuate neighboring homes before they embarked on planting explosives inside the house of martyr Adel Ankoush and then blasting it.
The explosion inside the house caused a fire in a nearby home and material damage to others.
Meanwhile, soldiers attacked angry local residents with tear gas. Drones were also seen overflying the village during the events.
Last Thursday, an Israeli military force had demolished two houses belonging to families of martyrs in the same village and sealed up the house of Ankoush for later demolition.
Martyr Adel Ankoush along with two other young men from the village carried out, on June 16, a shooting and stabbing attack in Occupied Jerusalem. One policewoman was killed and others were injured in the attack.