16 aug 2018

On Thursday, a group of Israeli colonists, illegally living on Palestinian lands in the West Bank’s Plains, started the preparation work for paving a road leading to their illegal colony.
Palestinian human rights activist ‘Aref Daraghma, said the colonists started laying down the foundation of a new road which they intend to pave, in order to provide easy access to the illegal colony, in Khallet Hamad community, of the northern Jordan Valley of the occupied West Bank.
He added that, in 2016, the colonists illegally occupied Palestinian lands in Khallet Hamad, and installed barns and mobile homes, before settling there.
Daraghma stated that the outpost started the horizontal expansion into more Palestinian lands in the area.
Besides the illegal annexation and isolation of Palestinian lands, including fertile agricultural areas owned by the Palestinians, Israel’s colonies in the West Bank, including in and around occupied East Jerusalem, violate International Law, and the Fourth Geneva Convention to which Israel is a signatory and a constant violator.
Palestinian human rights activist ‘Aref Daraghma, said the colonists started laying down the foundation of a new road which they intend to pave, in order to provide easy access to the illegal colony, in Khallet Hamad community, of the northern Jordan Valley of the occupied West Bank.
He added that, in 2016, the colonists illegally occupied Palestinian lands in Khallet Hamad, and installed barns and mobile homes, before settling there.
Daraghma stated that the outpost started the horizontal expansion into more Palestinian lands in the area.
Besides the illegal annexation and isolation of Palestinian lands, including fertile agricultural areas owned by the Palestinians, Israel’s colonies in the West Bank, including in and around occupied East Jerusalem, violate International Law, and the Fourth Geneva Convention to which Israel is a signatory and a constant violator.

Israeli navy forces detained on Thursday four Palestinian fishermen off the Gaza City coast and seized their boats.
Head of Gaza’s Fisherman Union, Nizar Ayyash, told the PIC that Israel’s gunboats opened fire at the fishermen who were sailing in two vessels north of Gaza’s seashore and towed their boats to Ashdod airport.
Ayyash identified the fishermen as Mohamed Ahmed Zayed and his son Tamer, along with Tawfiq al-Sultan and Rafat al-Sultan.
The attack comes just one day after the occupation authorities green-lighted the expansion of the fishing zone for Gaza’s fishermen.
The Israeli occupation navy continues to target Gaza fishermen on a daily basis, violating the ceasefire accord struck in the wake of the 2014 Israeli offensive on the besieged coastal enclave of Gaza.
Head of Gaza’s Fisherman Union, Nizar Ayyash, told the PIC that Israel’s gunboats opened fire at the fishermen who were sailing in two vessels north of Gaza’s seashore and towed their boats to Ashdod airport.
Ayyash identified the fishermen as Mohamed Ahmed Zayed and his son Tamer, along with Tawfiq al-Sultan and Rafat al-Sultan.
The attack comes just one day after the occupation authorities green-lighted the expansion of the fishing zone for Gaza’s fishermen.
The Israeli occupation navy continues to target Gaza fishermen on a daily basis, violating the ceasefire accord struck in the wake of the 2014 Israeli offensive on the besieged coastal enclave of Gaza.

Israeli bulldozers demolished, Thursday, the al-Arakib ‘unrecognized’ Bedouin village, in the Negev, for the 132th consecutive time, and abducted three Palestinians.
Media sources said dozens of officers surrounded the village, before demolishing and removing residential structures and tents, in addition to barns.
They added that the police also abducted Sheikh Siyam at-Touri, and his son Aziz, in addition to Salim Abu Ashraf, for obstructing the work of the officers.
Israeli 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 the 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 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.
Now, more than 60 years later, the Bedouin villages have yet to be legally recognized by Israel and live under constant threat of demolition and forcible removal.
Media sources said dozens of officers surrounded the village, before demolishing and removing residential structures and tents, in addition to barns.
They added that the police also abducted Sheikh Siyam at-Touri, and his son Aziz, in addition to Salim Abu Ashraf, for obstructing the work of the officers.
Israeli 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 the 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 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.
Now, more than 60 years later, the Bedouin villages have yet to be legally recognized by Israel and live under constant threat of demolition and forcible removal.
15 aug 2018

The Israeli municipality of Jerusalem decided to confiscate dozens of dunums from the Palestinian town of Silwan to the south of Al-Aqsa Mosque, under the cover of the so-called gardening, which includes planting and installing irrigation channels and roads for walking.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center (WHIC) in Silwan said in a statement that the crews of the Israeli municipality put maps of the confiscated lands in the Wadi al-Rababah and Abbasiya neighborhoods, noting that the posters read “Intention to garden empty lands.”
False claims
The center added that this Israeli move threatens tens of dunums of the land of Silwan from the neighborhoods of Wadi al-Rababah, Wadi Hilweh, Beer Ayyub and Nabi Daoud. This land belongs to the residents and families of the town who have all the documents and deeds.
In its statement, WHIC refuted the municipality’s claim that the land was empty.
Jawad Siam, Director of WHIC, said that all the area was planted with olives, figs and berries for decades. The residents have been prevented from planting trees for years. They are also being arrested and threatened by the so-called Israeli Nature Authority when they do any construction work in their lands.
The bulldozers of the occupation level the lands and demolish facilities built there, especially in the area of Wadi al-Rababah, which the occupation authorities consider public parks.
Siam added that the municipality of the occupation claims that the confiscation order for gardening will be in effect for a temporary period of five years, according to the announcement, explaining that the occupation authorities, be it the Municipality, the Nature Authority or the Antiquities Authority, put their hands on the lands of the town of Silwan in various crooked ways.
The confiscated area is considered one of the most targeted areas in the town of Silwan for the benefit of Israeli settlement projects, and parts of it are being drilled for the establishment of the Pedestrian Bridge, which will link the Al-Thawri neighborhood and the Nabi Daoud area through the Wadi al-Rababah neighborhood, Siam said, adding that in the same area, construction is under way to build a restaurant as well as roads for settlers and tourists, in addition to digging fake graves.
WHICH Director pointed out that the land intended for confiscation for the so-called ‘gardening works’ is the remaining land for the residents of Silwan to build houses, schools and public parks, but the Israeli municipality refuses to grant the residents building permits, demolishing any facility built there under the claim of not obtaining a permit.
The goal is confiscation
The families that own the lands threatened by confiscation confirmed that they have the right to the land to carry out agriculture work and build irrigation channels, but the occupation authorities prevent them and prosecute them in the event of doing any work on their land even if it was cleaning.
The residents of Silwan stressed that the new Israeli decision aims to confiscate the land permanently.
They added that the occupation authorities confiscated and closed parts of Al Ain Al Hamra area in the Wadi Hilweh area years ago at the pretext of ‘improving the public benefit.’ It was considered the entrance to the kindergarten and the mosque of the neighborhood, but the occupation authorities confiscated this land, and prevented people from using it. It is now controlled by the Elad settlement group. In Ras al-Amud neighborhood in the town, the occupation authorities announced its intention to turn the building of the police station in the area into public benefit and then turned it into a Jewish-only neighborhood.
The residents pointed out that they would appeal to the concerned authorities to protect their lands from these plans, and to demand their improvement and cultivation including installing canals and fences without any restrictions and obstacles from the occupation authorities.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center (WHIC) in Silwan said in a statement that the crews of the Israeli municipality put maps of the confiscated lands in the Wadi al-Rababah and Abbasiya neighborhoods, noting that the posters read “Intention to garden empty lands.”
False claims
The center added that this Israeli move threatens tens of dunums of the land of Silwan from the neighborhoods of Wadi al-Rababah, Wadi Hilweh, Beer Ayyub and Nabi Daoud. This land belongs to the residents and families of the town who have all the documents and deeds.
In its statement, WHIC refuted the municipality’s claim that the land was empty.
Jawad Siam, Director of WHIC, said that all the area was planted with olives, figs and berries for decades. The residents have been prevented from planting trees for years. They are also being arrested and threatened by the so-called Israeli Nature Authority when they do any construction work in their lands.
The bulldozers of the occupation level the lands and demolish facilities built there, especially in the area of Wadi al-Rababah, which the occupation authorities consider public parks.
Siam added that the municipality of the occupation claims that the confiscation order for gardening will be in effect for a temporary period of five years, according to the announcement, explaining that the occupation authorities, be it the Municipality, the Nature Authority or the Antiquities Authority, put their hands on the lands of the town of Silwan in various crooked ways.
The confiscated area is considered one of the most targeted areas in the town of Silwan for the benefit of Israeli settlement projects, and parts of it are being drilled for the establishment of the Pedestrian Bridge, which will link the Al-Thawri neighborhood and the Nabi Daoud area through the Wadi al-Rababah neighborhood, Siam said, adding that in the same area, construction is under way to build a restaurant as well as roads for settlers and tourists, in addition to digging fake graves.
WHICH Director pointed out that the land intended for confiscation for the so-called ‘gardening works’ is the remaining land for the residents of Silwan to build houses, schools and public parks, but the Israeli municipality refuses to grant the residents building permits, demolishing any facility built there under the claim of not obtaining a permit.
The goal is confiscation
The families that own the lands threatened by confiscation confirmed that they have the right to the land to carry out agriculture work and build irrigation channels, but the occupation authorities prevent them and prosecute them in the event of doing any work on their land even if it was cleaning.
The residents of Silwan stressed that the new Israeli decision aims to confiscate the land permanently.
They added that the occupation authorities confiscated and closed parts of Al Ain Al Hamra area in the Wadi Hilweh area years ago at the pretext of ‘improving the public benefit.’ It was considered the entrance to the kindergarten and the mosque of the neighborhood, but the occupation authorities confiscated this land, and prevented people from using it. It is now controlled by the Elad settlement group. In Ras al-Amud neighborhood in the town, the occupation authorities announced its intention to turn the building of the police station in the area into public benefit and then turned it into a Jewish-only neighborhood.
The residents pointed out that they would appeal to the concerned authorities to protect their lands from these plans, and to demand their improvement and cultivation including installing canals and fences without any restrictions and obstacles from the occupation authorities.

Israeli municipal authorities declared on Wednesday evening plans to build 20,000 new settlement units in occupied Jerusalem, Israeli media reported.
According to the Israeli sources, most of the planned homes will be built in areas occupied by Israel since the 1967 Middle East War.
The project, the sources said, is expected to cost some 1.4 billion Israeli shekels (roughly $379 million).
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat described the move as “historical and important to the future of Jerusalem.”
International law views the West Bank and East Jerusalem as "occupied territories" and considers all Jewish settlement construction there as illegal.
According to the Israeli sources, most of the planned homes will be built in areas occupied by Israel since the 1967 Middle East War.
The project, the sources said, is expected to cost some 1.4 billion Israeli shekels (roughly $379 million).
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat described the move as “historical and important to the future of Jerusalem.”
International law views the West Bank and East Jerusalem as "occupied territories" and considers all Jewish settlement construction there as illegal.

Lawyers in charge of Khan al-Ahmar file are expected to issue their final decision regarding a deal put forth by the Israeli prosecution to deport the Palestinian locals.
Spokesman for Khan al-Ahmar community, Eid Jahaleen, said Palestinian masses continue to flock to a solidarity tent pitched in the village so as to boost the locals’ steadfastness in the face of the Israeli deportation schemes.
Jaheleen called for intensifying presence in the area, warning that the Israeli occupation authorities always end up breaching court verdicts.
Spokesman for Khan al-Ahmar community, Eid Jahaleen, said Palestinian masses continue to flock to a solidarity tent pitched in the village so as to boost the locals’ steadfastness in the face of the Israeli deportation schemes.
Jaheleen called for intensifying presence in the area, warning that the Israeli occupation authorities always end up breaching court verdicts.

Israeli soldiers on Wednesday morning held a party in Yizra area, in the northern Jordan Valley, after Palestinian families were driven out of their homes for military drills.
On Tuesday evening, at least four Palestinian families from Khirbet Yizra, east of Tubas, were forced out of their homes by the Israeli army under the guise of military maneuvers.
Activist Aref Daraghmeh said the families were ordered to keep away from their homes until Wednesday 06:00 a.m., in the third such move carried out under the same pretext.
Having no other place to take shelter into, the families were left on their own under the scorching sunbeams.
On Tuesday evening, at least four Palestinian families from Khirbet Yizra, east of Tubas, were forced out of their homes by the Israeli army under the guise of military maneuvers.
Activist Aref Daraghmeh said the families were ordered to keep away from their homes until Wednesday 06:00 a.m., in the third such move carried out under the same pretext.
Having no other place to take shelter into, the families were left on their own under the scorching sunbeams.

Israeli police forces demolished Wednesday morning a Palestinian building in Issawiya town, in occupied Jerusalem, for allegedly being built without permit.
Heavily-armed police forces stormed early today Issawiya town and demolished a local building. video
Another house was also destroyed in Jabal Mukaber neighborhood in the occupied city.
Along the same line, a number of Palestinian houses were demolished in Azzun town, south of Qalqilia, under the same pretext.
An ex-prisoner’s house was among the demolished houses in the town.
Heavily-armed police forces stormed early today Issawiya town and demolished a local building. video
Another house was also destroyed in Jabal Mukaber neighborhood in the occupied city.
Along the same line, a number of Palestinian houses were demolished in Azzun town, south of Qalqilia, under the same pretext.
An ex-prisoner’s house was among the demolished houses in the town.
14 aug 2018

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Tuesday demolished a house owned by the Palestinian citizen Mohammed Ali, east of Ramallah.
Local sources reported that Israeli bulldozers, accompanied by a large military force, stormed Deir Diwan town and demolished the house for allegedly being unlicensed.
In another context, the IOF on Tuesday evening forced four Palestinian families living in Khirbet Yarza, east of Tubas city, to evacuate their homes to make way for Israeli military exercises in the area.
According to activist Aref Daraghmeh, the evicted families are not allowed to return to their homes until 6 a.m. on Wednesday.
Daraghmeh said that this is the third time that the Israeli forces have expelled Khirbet Yarza families to carry out military exercises where live ammunition and artillery shells are usually used.
Local sources reported that Israeli bulldozers, accompanied by a large military force, stormed Deir Diwan town and demolished the house for allegedly being unlicensed.
In another context, the IOF on Tuesday evening forced four Palestinian families living in Khirbet Yarza, east of Tubas city, to evacuate their homes to make way for Israeli military exercises in the area.
According to activist Aref Daraghmeh, the evicted families are not allowed to return to their homes until 6 a.m. on Wednesday.
Daraghmeh said that this is the third time that the Israeli forces have expelled Khirbet Yarza families to carry out military exercises where live ammunition and artillery shells are usually used.

On Tuesday at dawn, dozens of Israeli soldiers invaded the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and surrounding villages, before storming and searching homes, and abducted five Palestinians. The soldiers also invaded Palestinian lands near Nablus, and bulldozed them, in preparation for expanding an illegal colony.
Media sources in Nablus, said the soldiers invaded many neighborhoods in the city, and abducted Mohannad Mo’in Tabanja, and Husam Emad al-‘Amoudi, in addition to Islam Anan Bishkar, from the New Askar refugee camp, east of Nablus.
They added that the soldiers also invaded Burin village, south of Nablus, and abducted Montaser Khader Najjar, 20.
In addition, the soldiers abducted Bara’ Na’el Dweikat, from his home in Rojeeb village, east of Nablus.
In related news, the soldiers invaded Palestinian farmlands in the northeastern part of Einabus village, south of Nablus, before the military bulldozers uprooted them in preparation for expanding the illegal Yitzhar colony, which was built on private Palestinian lands.
The lands are owned by one Palestinian, identified as Hashem Mustafa Allan, local sources said.
Media sources in Nablus, said the soldiers invaded many neighborhoods in the city, and abducted Mohannad Mo’in Tabanja, and Husam Emad al-‘Amoudi, in addition to Islam Anan Bishkar, from the New Askar refugee camp, east of Nablus.
They added that the soldiers also invaded Burin village, south of Nablus, and abducted Montaser Khader Najjar, 20.
In addition, the soldiers abducted Bara’ Na’el Dweikat, from his home in Rojeeb village, east of Nablus.
In related news, the soldiers invaded Palestinian farmlands in the northeastern part of Einabus village, south of Nablus, before the military bulldozers uprooted them in preparation for expanding the illegal Yitzhar colony, which was built on private Palestinian lands.
The lands are owned by one Palestinian, identified as Hashem Mustafa Allan, local sources said.

Dozens of Israeli soldiers invaded, on Tuesday at dawn, the al-Am’ari refugee camp, south of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, and took measurements of the family home of a Palestinian detainee, believed to be behind the killing of an Israeli soldier, in preparation for demolishing the property.
Media sources in Ramallah said dozens of soldiers, in at least 10 armored military vehicles, invaded the refugee camp, and stormed the four-story home of Islam Abu Hmeid, before members of the Corps of Engineers took detailed measurements of the property.
The army claims that Islam, who was taken prisoner on June 6th, 2018, killed an Israeli soldier, identified Ronen Lubarsky, after dropping a slab on his head, on May 24th, during a military invasion into the refugee camp, causing a very serious injury resulting in his death on May 26th.
It is worth mentioning that Islam’s mother, 72 years of age, has a son, Abdul-Mon’em Abu Hmeid, who was killed by the army in 2002 in nearby Qalandia refugee camp, in addition to five other sons, imprisoned by Israel, four of them are serving life terms.
Her husband, Mohammad Yousef Abu Hmeid, died in December of 2014, without being able to visit with any of his detained sons, due to what Israeli called “security considerations.”
Besides Islam, the imprisoned sons who are serving several life terms, are Sharif, Mohammad, Nasser and Nasr, in addition to Jihad, who is held under Administrative Detention, without charges or trial.
It is worth mentioning that Nasser, 37, is serving seven life terms and fifty years in prison, Nasr, 35, serving five life terms, Sharif, 29, serving four life terms, and Mohammad, 24, serving two life terms and 30 years in prison.
Video By Palestine TV
Media sources in Ramallah said dozens of soldiers, in at least 10 armored military vehicles, invaded the refugee camp, and stormed the four-story home of Islam Abu Hmeid, before members of the Corps of Engineers took detailed measurements of the property.
The army claims that Islam, who was taken prisoner on June 6th, 2018, killed an Israeli soldier, identified Ronen Lubarsky, after dropping a slab on his head, on May 24th, during a military invasion into the refugee camp, causing a very serious injury resulting in his death on May 26th.
It is worth mentioning that Islam’s mother, 72 years of age, has a son, Abdul-Mon’em Abu Hmeid, who was killed by the army in 2002 in nearby Qalandia refugee camp, in addition to five other sons, imprisoned by Israel, four of them are serving life terms.
Her husband, Mohammad Yousef Abu Hmeid, died in December of 2014, without being able to visit with any of his detained sons, due to what Israeli called “security considerations.”
Besides Islam, the imprisoned sons who are serving several life terms, are Sharif, Mohammad, Nasser and Nasr, in addition to Jihad, who is held under Administrative Detention, without charges or trial.
It is worth mentioning that Nasser, 37, is serving seven life terms and fifty years in prison, Nasr, 35, serving five life terms, Sharif, 29, serving four life terms, and Mohammad, 24, serving two life terms and 30 years in prison.
Video By Palestine TV

The Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission said it had filed an objection with the Israeli high court of justice against the Israeli government’s proposal for the evacuation of the Bedouin community of Khan al-Ahmar near Occupied Jerusalem.
According to the commission, its lawyer submitted an objection against an Israeli proposal calling for evacuating Khan al-Ahmar residents to an area near Nabi Mousa.
A date for the next court hearing on this issue could be decided on Tuesday.
The residents of Khan al-Ahmar, known as al-Jahhalin Bedouins, are refugees from the Negev desert who have lived in this area of south Jerusalem since their displacement by the Israeli army in 1967.
Throughout the years, Israel has refused to recognize al-Jahhalin Bedouin communities or grant them building permits.
According to the commission, its lawyer submitted an objection against an Israeli proposal calling for evacuating Khan al-Ahmar residents to an area near Nabi Mousa.
A date for the next court hearing on this issue could be decided on Tuesday.
The residents of Khan al-Ahmar, known as al-Jahhalin Bedouins, are refugees from the Negev desert who have lived in this area of south Jerusalem since their displacement by the Israeli army in 1967.
Throughout the years, Israel has refused to recognize al-Jahhalin Bedouin communities or grant them building permits.
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