21 aug 2019
|
|
Israeli forces and staff of the so-called Israeli Municipality of West Jerusalem today ordered the demolition of over 20 Palestinian structures in al-Matar neighborhood, north of Jerusalem.
Security sources confirmed that Israeli forces and municipality staff stormed Al-Matar neighborhood, opposite to Qalandiya refugee camp, where they handed demolition orders for over 20 Palestinian structures purportedly for being built without licenses. Meanwhile, Israeli police escorted a bulldozer to the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina, where they heavy machinery demolished a house. |
The demolished structure belonged to the Rajabi family, Days of Palestine further reports.
Using the pretext of illegal building, Israel demolishes houses on a regular basis to restrict Palestinian expansion in occupied Jerusalem.
At the same time, the municipality and government build tens of thousands of housing units in illegal settlements in East Jerusalem for Jews with a goal to offset the demographic balance in favor of the Jewish settlers in the occupied city.
Although Palestinians in East Jerusalem, a part of the internationally recognized Palestinian Territory that has been subject to Israeli military occupation since 1967, they are denied their citizenship rights and are instead classified only as “residents” whose permits can be revoked if they move away from the city for more than a few years.
They are also discriminated against in all aspects of life including housing, employment and services, and are unable to access services in the West Bank due to the construction of Israel’s separation wall.
Using the pretext of illegal building, Israel demolishes houses on a regular basis to restrict Palestinian expansion in occupied Jerusalem.
At the same time, the municipality and government build tens of thousands of housing units in illegal settlements in East Jerusalem for Jews with a goal to offset the demographic balance in favor of the Jewish settlers in the occupied city.
Although Palestinians in East Jerusalem, a part of the internationally recognized Palestinian Territory that has been subject to Israeli military occupation since 1967, they are denied their citizenship rights and are instead classified only as “residents” whose permits can be revoked if they move away from the city for more than a few years.
They are also discriminated against in all aspects of life including housing, employment and services, and are unable to access services in the West Bank due to the construction of Israel’s separation wall.
Jewish settlers planted forest trees on Palestinian land to south of Bethlehem, as a prelude for taking it over, said Diab Mashaleh, head of Jabah village council where the targeted land it located, today.
Mashaleh told WAFA that residents of the village were surprised to see the settlers, and under army protection, planting forest trees in a hilly area about 300 meters away from the nearest home in the village, and without any prior notice.
He said that the land amounts to thousands of dunams, and that part of it has been planted with olive trees for decades.
Mashaleh explained that the army had closed most of that area and would often prevent local farmers from reaching their land to cultivate it, even after coordinating their visit to their land with the army.
He said Israel’s intentions in taking over the land were clear when they would not allow farmers to reach it, and after closing a road to the nearby town of Sourif with dirt, since the year 2000, which was later replaced by a metal gate, making movement of Jabah villagers, mainly high school students seeking to reach their schools in Sourif, very difficult and arduous.
Mashaleh told WAFA that residents of the village were surprised to see the settlers, and under army protection, planting forest trees in a hilly area about 300 meters away from the nearest home in the village, and without any prior notice.
He said that the land amounts to thousands of dunams, and that part of it has been planted with olive trees for decades.
Mashaleh explained that the army had closed most of that area and would often prevent local farmers from reaching their land to cultivate it, even after coordinating their visit to their land with the army.
He said Israel’s intentions in taking over the land were clear when they would not allow farmers to reach it, and after closing a road to the nearby town of Sourif with dirt, since the year 2000, which was later replaced by a metal gate, making movement of Jabah villagers, mainly high school students seeking to reach their schools in Sourif, very difficult and arduous.
The Israeli municipality in Occupied Jerusalem notified several Palestinian citizens of its intents to demolish homes and buildings belongings to them in Issawiya district at the pretext they were built with no license.
The Israeli occupation authority refuse to allow the Palestinians to expand in their areas in east Jerusalem and reject construction applications filed by Jerusalemite citizens.
According to local sources, employees from the Israeli municipality on Monday put up administrative demolition orders notifying several Issawiya residents of its intents to remove their homes, commercial structures and al-dewaniya (reception hall used by Issawiya residents for social meetings and activities).
Al-dewaniya, which was built about 12 years ago, is located in the same building where there is a public center belonging to the Israeli municipality.
For over three months, the Israeli municipality and police have been persecuting the Palestinians in Issawiya through raiding their homes, assaulting them, carrying out arrests, delivering demolition orders and imposing hefty taxes and financial penalties on them.
The Israeli occupation authority refuse to allow the Palestinians to expand in their areas in east Jerusalem and reject construction applications filed by Jerusalemite citizens.
According to local sources, employees from the Israeli municipality on Monday put up administrative demolition orders notifying several Issawiya residents of its intents to remove their homes, commercial structures and al-dewaniya (reception hall used by Issawiya residents for social meetings and activities).
Al-dewaniya, which was built about 12 years ago, is located in the same building where there is a public center belonging to the Israeli municipality.
For over three months, the Israeli municipality and police have been persecuting the Palestinians in Issawiya through raiding their homes, assaulting them, carrying out arrests, delivering demolition orders and imposing hefty taxes and financial penalties on them.
The Israeli occupation authorities on Tuesday ordered the demolition of about 30 Palestinian buildings in Lakiya village in the Negev, south of occupied Palestine.
Local sources said that Israeli forces stormed Lakiya and handed Palestinian residents orders to evacuate 30 homes and other structures.
Most of these structures are owned by the Abu Muteir family and the family of the former Arab MK Juma Azbarga.
Azbarga, commenting on the new Israeli orders, said that Israel's attempts to intimidate the residents will not succeed and that they will never give up their parents' and grandparents' lands.
Local sources said that Israeli forces stormed Lakiya and handed Palestinian residents orders to evacuate 30 homes and other structures.
Most of these structures are owned by the Abu Muteir family and the family of the former Arab MK Juma Azbarga.
Azbarga, commenting on the new Israeli orders, said that Israel's attempts to intimidate the residents will not succeed and that they will never give up their parents' and grandparents' lands.
20 aug 2019
Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian farmers in the town of Um Safa to the north of Ramallah, and placed barbed wire on land located in area 'B’ and 'C’ of the West Bank as a prelude to seize it, said a local official.
Head of Um Safa village council told WAFA settlers from the nearby illegal Israeli settlement of Halamish attacked farmers near Um Safa village and released their cows into residents’ land, destroying the crops.
Settlers further fenced off a land exceeding 150 dunums in area with barbed wires, in an apparent prelude to take over the land.
The land is located in Area B and C of the West Bank; area B is under the Palestinian Authority’s administrative control and Israel’s security control and makes up 21% of the West Bank. Area C, which makes up 61% of the West Bank, is under Israeli administrative and security control.
Head of Um Safa village council told WAFA settlers from the nearby illegal Israeli settlement of Halamish attacked farmers near Um Safa village and released their cows into residents’ land, destroying the crops.
Settlers further fenced off a land exceeding 150 dunums in area with barbed wires, in an apparent prelude to take over the land.
The land is located in Area B and C of the West Bank; area B is under the Palestinian Authority’s administrative control and Israel’s security control and makes up 21% of the West Bank. Area C, which makes up 61% of the West Bank, is under Israeli administrative and security control.
19 aug 2019
Staff of the Israeli municipality of West Jerusalem delivered today demolition orders for several Palestinian structures in Issawiyeh neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem, according to local sources.
They said the municipality staff handed several Palestinian residents of Issawiyeh demolition orders under the pretext of building without permits.
For the residents of Issawiyeh, a Palestinian village of some 20,000, and other parts of occupied East Jerusalem, military raids and building demolitions are a daily reality.
The village is plagued by poor infrastructure and residents, who are constantly harassed by the Israeli Border Police and anyone, including children, run the risk of arbitrary arrest.
Using the pretext of illegal building, Israel demolishes houses on a regular basis to restrict Palestinian expansion in occupied Jerusalem.
At the same time, the municipality and government build tens of thousands of housing units in illegal settlements in East Jerusalem for Jews with a goal to offset the demographic balance in favor of the Jewish settlers in the occupied city.
They said the municipality staff handed several Palestinian residents of Issawiyeh demolition orders under the pretext of building without permits.
For the residents of Issawiyeh, a Palestinian village of some 20,000, and other parts of occupied East Jerusalem, military raids and building demolitions are a daily reality.
The village is plagued by poor infrastructure and residents, who are constantly harassed by the Israeli Border Police and anyone, including children, run the risk of arbitrary arrest.
Using the pretext of illegal building, Israel demolishes houses on a regular basis to restrict Palestinian expansion in occupied Jerusalem.
At the same time, the municipality and government build tens of thousands of housing units in illegal settlements in East Jerusalem for Jews with a goal to offset the demographic balance in favor of the Jewish settlers in the occupied city.
Israeli Transport Minister Bezalel Smotrich
Israel's decision to approve 715 housing units in Palestinian towns could be a token gesture, or preparation for a broader takeover of West Bank land
The recent Israeli security cabinet decision to approve construction permits for Palestinian homes in Area C of the occupied West Bank was somewhat of a rarity, “the first such decision since 2016”.
While the figure of 715 housing units in Palestinian towns sounds positive, thus far no details have been revealed – including for example, whether the plans relate to new construction or the retroactive legalisation of homes built without Israeli-issued permits.
In addition to this lack of clarity, these housing units are a drop in the ocean – according to Peace Now, “it is estimated that there are at least a thousand young Palestinian couples in need of housing in Area C each year”.
Discriminatory system
From 2009 to 2016, Israeli occupation authorities approved just 66 construction permits for Palestinians in Area C – a mere two percent of total applications. Over the same time period, there were 12,763 housing unit construction starts in Israeli settlements in Area C.
However, while the new construction permits barely scratch the surface of the needs resulting from an intentionally discriminatory system, it is still an unusual development. Why would a hard-right government – in the run up to elections – take such a step?
One vital piece of context is the White House “peace plan”; Haaretz cited unnamed “political sources” who believe the move “could be due to American pressure”. The approvals came ahead of a visit by a US delegation led by White House adviser Jared Kushner, part of a regional tour promoting the plan.
This possibility was a cause for concern for some in the settler movement; two senior leaders described the Palestinian construction permits as “particularly worrying”, given what they described as the Palestinian Authority’s “clear goal of establishing a terrorist state in the heart of the country”.
They needn’t worry. Reports quickly emerged that the Israeli cabinet decision is in fact “part of a policy shift intended to push out the Palestinian Authority’s involvement in planning and construction in the [occupied] territories”, with Haaretz citing “sources familiar with the details”.
Preventing a Palestinian state
Moreover, Transportation Minister and Union of Right-Wing Parties MK Bezalel Smotrich took to Facebook to publish a detailed explanation for the permits.
Affirming that one of the central goals of his political career is “to prevent the establishment of an Arab terror state in the heart of Israel” (referring to the West Bank), Smotrich wrote: “Now, finally … Israel is forming a strategic plan to stop the creation of a Palestinian state.”
According to Smotrich, the cabinet decision marked “the first time” Israel “will make sure that in Area C, there will only be construction for the Arabs who were original residents of the area since 1994 and not Arabs who came later from Areas A and B”.
Palestinian construction then will be allowed “only in places that do not harm the settlement enterprise and security, and do not create territorial contiguity or a de facto Palestinian state”.
That wasn’t all. “For the first time ever,” the minister went on, “the State of Israel will implement its sovereignty over the entire territory and take responsibility for what happens inside it.”
So, there we have it. The permits for Palestinians in Area C are a demonstration of Israeli “sovereignty” – yet another precursor to formal annexation.
In this light, a connection between the permits and the Trump administration’s plan takes on a more disturbing – though hardly surprising – dimension, suggestive not of a “concession” to lubricate talks, but of Israeli-US coordination with respect to Area C annexation.
Prioritising Jewish communities
Instructively, in parallel to advancing permits for Palestinians, the Israeli cabinet approved some 6,000 housing units in Israeli settlements; the day after, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on a visit to the Efrat settlement: “No settlement or settler will be uprooted … What you’re doing here is forever.”
But, whether the Palestinian construction permits – should they ever materialise – are merely a token gesture, or preparation for annexation, these developments highlight the limitations of a purely humanitarian-framed critique of Israeli policies of demolition and displacement.
Israel’s crude “separate and unequal” approach to communities and housing in Area C of the West Bank has quite rightly prompted growing international criticism in recent years, with the likes of Amnesty International condemning Israel’s discriminatory planning regime as “unique globally”.
As Israel moves towards a formalisation of Area C annexation, however, there will be those who argue that such a development will benefit Palestinian residents on the basis that Israel will grant them citizenship, legalise their communities, issue permits, and so on.
Of course, such an argument can be countered on its own terms, including by citing the arguments openly made by the likes of Smotrich that planning policy will continue to prioritise Jewish communities (as, indeed, has always been the case inside the 1967 lines).
Settler-colonial project
However, a much stronger position is to understand Israel’s demolition and displacement in Area C, including those permits it does issue, in the context of a much broader apartheid regime where Palestinians are expelled, fragmented and segregated to serve the primary goal of maintaining a “Jewish state” – and the control of land and demography that such a goal necessitates.
Israel’s discriminatory planning regime is a humanitarian and human rights crisis, but it is not only that – and if opposition to demolitions is expressed purely in such terms, critics make themselves vulnerable to Israeli moves such as a token increase in permits, or even annexation.
Ultimately, as elsewhere across Palestine, Israeli policies can be best understood and confronted as part of a decades-long, settler-colonial project – a framing that retains its relevancy whether we soon see formal annexation of Area C, or a continuation of the status quo.
The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye.
Ben White
Ben White is the author of ‘Israeli Apartheid: A Beginner’s Guide’ and ‘Palestinians in Israel: Segregation, Discrimination and Democracy’. He is a writer for Middle East Monitor, and his articles have been published by Al Jazeera, al-Araby, Huffington Post, The Electronic Intifada, The Guardian, and more.
Israel's decision to approve 715 housing units in Palestinian towns could be a token gesture, or preparation for a broader takeover of West Bank land
The recent Israeli security cabinet decision to approve construction permits for Palestinian homes in Area C of the occupied West Bank was somewhat of a rarity, “the first such decision since 2016”.
While the figure of 715 housing units in Palestinian towns sounds positive, thus far no details have been revealed – including for example, whether the plans relate to new construction or the retroactive legalisation of homes built without Israeli-issued permits.
In addition to this lack of clarity, these housing units are a drop in the ocean – according to Peace Now, “it is estimated that there are at least a thousand young Palestinian couples in need of housing in Area C each year”.
Discriminatory system
From 2009 to 2016, Israeli occupation authorities approved just 66 construction permits for Palestinians in Area C – a mere two percent of total applications. Over the same time period, there were 12,763 housing unit construction starts in Israeli settlements in Area C.
However, while the new construction permits barely scratch the surface of the needs resulting from an intentionally discriminatory system, it is still an unusual development. Why would a hard-right government – in the run up to elections – take such a step?
One vital piece of context is the White House “peace plan”; Haaretz cited unnamed “political sources” who believe the move “could be due to American pressure”. The approvals came ahead of a visit by a US delegation led by White House adviser Jared Kushner, part of a regional tour promoting the plan.
This possibility was a cause for concern for some in the settler movement; two senior leaders described the Palestinian construction permits as “particularly worrying”, given what they described as the Palestinian Authority’s “clear goal of establishing a terrorist state in the heart of the country”.
They needn’t worry. Reports quickly emerged that the Israeli cabinet decision is in fact “part of a policy shift intended to push out the Palestinian Authority’s involvement in planning and construction in the [occupied] territories”, with Haaretz citing “sources familiar with the details”.
Preventing a Palestinian state
Moreover, Transportation Minister and Union of Right-Wing Parties MK Bezalel Smotrich took to Facebook to publish a detailed explanation for the permits.
Affirming that one of the central goals of his political career is “to prevent the establishment of an Arab terror state in the heart of Israel” (referring to the West Bank), Smotrich wrote: “Now, finally … Israel is forming a strategic plan to stop the creation of a Palestinian state.”
According to Smotrich, the cabinet decision marked “the first time” Israel “will make sure that in Area C, there will only be construction for the Arabs who were original residents of the area since 1994 and not Arabs who came later from Areas A and B”.
Palestinian construction then will be allowed “only in places that do not harm the settlement enterprise and security, and do not create territorial contiguity or a de facto Palestinian state”.
That wasn’t all. “For the first time ever,” the minister went on, “the State of Israel will implement its sovereignty over the entire territory and take responsibility for what happens inside it.”
So, there we have it. The permits for Palestinians in Area C are a demonstration of Israeli “sovereignty” – yet another precursor to formal annexation.
In this light, a connection between the permits and the Trump administration’s plan takes on a more disturbing – though hardly surprising – dimension, suggestive not of a “concession” to lubricate talks, but of Israeli-US coordination with respect to Area C annexation.
Prioritising Jewish communities
Instructively, in parallel to advancing permits for Palestinians, the Israeli cabinet approved some 6,000 housing units in Israeli settlements; the day after, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on a visit to the Efrat settlement: “No settlement or settler will be uprooted … What you’re doing here is forever.”
But, whether the Palestinian construction permits – should they ever materialise – are merely a token gesture, or preparation for annexation, these developments highlight the limitations of a purely humanitarian-framed critique of Israeli policies of demolition and displacement.
Israel’s crude “separate and unequal” approach to communities and housing in Area C of the West Bank has quite rightly prompted growing international criticism in recent years, with the likes of Amnesty International condemning Israel’s discriminatory planning regime as “unique globally”.
As Israel moves towards a formalisation of Area C annexation, however, there will be those who argue that such a development will benefit Palestinian residents on the basis that Israel will grant them citizenship, legalise their communities, issue permits, and so on.
Of course, such an argument can be countered on its own terms, including by citing the arguments openly made by the likes of Smotrich that planning policy will continue to prioritise Jewish communities (as, indeed, has always been the case inside the 1967 lines).
Settler-colonial project
However, a much stronger position is to understand Israel’s demolition and displacement in Area C, including those permits it does issue, in the context of a much broader apartheid regime where Palestinians are expelled, fragmented and segregated to serve the primary goal of maintaining a “Jewish state” – and the control of land and demography that such a goal necessitates.
Israel’s discriminatory planning regime is a humanitarian and human rights crisis, but it is not only that – and if opposition to demolitions is expressed purely in such terms, critics make themselves vulnerable to Israeli moves such as a token increase in permits, or even annexation.
Ultimately, as elsewhere across Palestine, Israeli policies can be best understood and confronted as part of a decades-long, settler-colonial project – a framing that retains its relevancy whether we soon see formal annexation of Area C, or a continuation of the status quo.
The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye.
Ben White
Ben White is the author of ‘Israeli Apartheid: A Beginner’s Guide’ and ‘Palestinians in Israel: Segregation, Discrimination and Democracy’. He is a writer for Middle East Monitor, and his articles have been published by Al Jazeera, al-Araby, Huffington Post, The Electronic Intifada, The Guardian, and more.
The Israeli occupation forces on Monday morning confiscated a Palestinian-owned agricultural caravan in Khirbet Jbara village south of Tulkarem City.
Head of Khirbet Jbara village council Ihsan Tahsin said that the Israeli forces stormed the village in the early morning hours and searched Palestinian homes under construction.
Tahsin said that the Israeli forces further seized an agricultural caravan owned by the Dosoki family.
Khirbet Jbara village is constantly targeted by the Israeli forces with land seizure and home demolition.
Head of Khirbet Jbara village council Ihsan Tahsin said that the Israeli forces stormed the village in the early morning hours and searched Palestinian homes under construction.
Tahsin said that the Israeli forces further seized an agricultural caravan owned by the Dosoki family.
Khirbet Jbara village is constantly targeted by the Israeli forces with land seizure and home demolition.
18 aug 2019
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Sunday morning destroyed a large water tank used for agricultural purposes in the northern Jordan Valley.
Local official Mu’taaz Bisharat said that the IOF demolished a sizeable water tank, which was used by Palestinian villagers for the irrigation of agricultural lands near the village of Bardala. video
Although it was licensed, the Israeli army claimed the tank was built without its permission, a pretext used for years to prevent Palestinian development in the occupied Palestinian territories, including the Jordan Valley.
Local official Mu’taaz Bisharat said that the IOF demolished a sizeable water tank, which was used by Palestinian villagers for the irrigation of agricultural lands near the village of Bardala. video
Although it was licensed, the Israeli army claimed the tank was built without its permission, a pretext used for years to prevent Palestinian development in the occupied Palestinian territories, including the Jordan Valley.
The Zionist policeman in the Blue Circle who shot at the Jerusalem youths Naseem Abu Roumi and Hamouda Al-Sheikh two days ago, is the same one who robbed the furniture of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Al-Aqsa yesterday.
The Israeli occupation police on Saturday evening stormed the Aqsa Mosque’s Bab al-Rahma prayer area and confiscated some furniture items. video
Local sources told a reporter for the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that Israeli police officers desecrated the Bab al-Rahma prayer area and embarked on carrying away shoe cabinets and patterned wood panels.
The sources added that the officers threatened Aqsa guards with arrest if they tried to prevent them from carrying out the confiscations.
The Israeli police had already removed furniture from the same prayer area recently, raising fears among the Jerusalemites about intents to reclose the place and turn it later into a synagogue.
The Israeli occupation police on Saturday evening stormed the Aqsa Mosque’s Bab al-Rahma prayer area and confiscated some furniture items. video
Local sources told a reporter for the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that Israeli police officers desecrated the Bab al-Rahma prayer area and embarked on carrying away shoe cabinets and patterned wood panels.
The sources added that the officers threatened Aqsa guards with arrest if they tried to prevent them from carrying out the confiscations.
The Israeli police had already removed furniture from the same prayer area recently, raising fears among the Jerusalemites about intents to reclose the place and turn it later into a synagogue.
17 aug 2019
The Israeli occupation forces on Saturday broke up a conference organized by the Palestinian Bar Association on Israel's home demolition policy in Jerusalem.
According to the local newspaper Al-Quds, undercover forces and police officers stormed the conference hall and disrupted the meeting.
The Israeli forces handed the conference's organizers an order signed by Israel's Minister of Public Security prohibiting the activity.
According to the local newspaper Al-Quds, undercover forces and police officers stormed the conference hall and disrupted the meeting.
The Israeli forces handed the conference's organizers an order signed by Israel's Minister of Public Security prohibiting the activity.
15 aug 2019
Iraq on Wednesday called for upholding international resolutions with regard to the Palestinian cause and reiterated his country’s support for the Palestinian people and their rights.
Iraq's comment came during a phone call between its foreign minister Mohamed al-Hakim and his Palestinian counterpart Riyad al-Maliki, during which the two ministers discussed bilateral ties and the latest developments in the region, a statement by the Iraqi foreign ministry said.
Hakim expressed Iraq's rejection of any step that leads to seizing the occupied Palestinian territories and called for necessarily enforcing the international resolutions in this regard.
Hakim also renewed Iraq's supportive position towards the Palestinian question and the struggle of the Palestinian people for their legitimate national rights and the establishment of their independent state with east Jerusalem as its capital.
Iraq's comment came during a phone call between its foreign minister Mohamed al-Hakim and his Palestinian counterpart Riyad al-Maliki, during which the two ministers discussed bilateral ties and the latest developments in the region, a statement by the Iraqi foreign ministry said.
Hakim expressed Iraq's rejection of any step that leads to seizing the occupied Palestinian territories and called for necessarily enforcing the international resolutions in this regard.
Hakim also renewed Iraq's supportive position towards the Palestinian question and the struggle of the Palestinian people for their legitimate national rights and the establishment of their independent state with east Jerusalem as its capital.
14 aug 2019
Israeli authorities notified to stop the construction work on three Palestinian-owned houses in the Bethlehem area, the occupied West Bank, citing unpermitted construction as a pretext, said a local activist.
Youth activist Ibrahim Awad-Allah told WAFA staff from the Israeli municipality of West Jerusalem, backed by a military force, stormed an area in the village of al-Walaja to the west of Bethlehem and handed local resident Halima al-A’araj a notice ordering her to stop the construction work on her 70-square-meters house.
Meanwhile, Mayor o the town of Nahalin, Subhi Zaidan, told WAFA Israeli forces handed two local residents notices ordering them to stop the external works on their two inhibited homes to the east of the town of Nahalin, citing the same pretext.
(Updated; Israeli forces handed a fourth notice ordering local resident Khaled Salah to stop the construction work on his 300-square-meters house in the town of al-Khader to the south of Bethlehem)
Israel halts construction of Palestinian home in Bethlehem
The Israeli occupation authorities on Tuesday issued a stop-work order against a Palestinian home under construction in al-Walaja village, northwest of Bethlehem City.
Local sources said that the Israeli authorities handed the Palestinian citizen Halima al-A'raj an order to stop construction in her home in al-Walaja for being "unlicensed".
Al-Walaja village is constantly targeted by the Israeli authorities with unjustified construction restrictions and home demolition campaigns.
Youth activist Ibrahim Awad-Allah told WAFA staff from the Israeli municipality of West Jerusalem, backed by a military force, stormed an area in the village of al-Walaja to the west of Bethlehem and handed local resident Halima al-A’araj a notice ordering her to stop the construction work on her 70-square-meters house.
Meanwhile, Mayor o the town of Nahalin, Subhi Zaidan, told WAFA Israeli forces handed two local residents notices ordering them to stop the external works on their two inhibited homes to the east of the town of Nahalin, citing the same pretext.
(Updated; Israeli forces handed a fourth notice ordering local resident Khaled Salah to stop the construction work on his 300-square-meters house in the town of al-Khader to the south of Bethlehem)
Israel halts construction of Palestinian home in Bethlehem
The Israeli occupation authorities on Tuesday issued a stop-work order against a Palestinian home under construction in al-Walaja village, northwest of Bethlehem City.
Local sources said that the Israeli authorities handed the Palestinian citizen Halima al-A'raj an order to stop construction in her home in al-Walaja for being "unlicensed".
Al-Walaja village is constantly targeted by the Israeli authorities with unjustified construction restrictions and home demolition campaigns.
13 aug 2019
Israeli occupation authorities on Tuesday stormed the village of al-Wallaja, near Bethlehem, to issue demolition orders to two homeowners who were in the midst of building on their family land.
Youth activist Ibrahim Awad Allah told the Palestinian Wafa News Agency that demolition crews from the Israeli municipality in the occupied city of Jerusalem, accompanied by a battalion of Israeli soldiers, stormed the village and went to the Joazh area to the north.
There, they delivered a notice to Palestinian homeowner Halima Ismail, ordering her to stop construction in her house, amounting to an area of 70 square meters; under the pretext of a lack of license.
Israeli authorities have refused, since 1967, to grant Palestinian homeowners permits to build on their land — instead allowing illegal Israeli settlements to take over Palestinian land, and transferring Israeli civilians to live in these settlements.
Ismail explained to local sources in the village that she was given the notice Tuesday, along with another Palestinian homeowner, Khaled Abu Gherkin, who had built a home on his land, along with his brother, after their previous home had been demolished by Israeli forces.
Abu Gherkin received a demolition notice on Tuesday, under the pretext of lack of license.
The village of Wallaja has, over a period of five years, been targeted by the Israeli occupation and a number of homes have been demolished, while other homeowners have been prevented from building on their land.
According to a report by the Applied Research Institute of Jerusalem, “ Since the displacement of Al-Walaja’s residents from their original home in Jerusalem during the war of 1948, about 100 out of 1600 villagers resettled on the adjacent hill.
After the war of 1967, the Israeli government redrew Jerusalem’s boundaries, seizing a significant part of the village.
The remaining Palestinian residents of Al-Walaja were subject to a prolonged process of restrictions limiting urban and demographic expansion. Until the Interim Agreement “Oslo II” in 1995, the village was classified into two areas: 3% “Area B” and 97.4 % “Area C”.
“Residents are allowed to develop and reside without prior military permission only within area “B.” Therefore, those in area “C,” which is fully controlled by the Israeli authorities, face constant threat of displacement.
Moreover, Israel denies their right to live in the area that was seized in 1967.
In 2006, the Israeli Civil Administration informed residents about the construction of the Separation Wall, which cuts the village off from its surrounding vicinity.
“As a result, they have suffered from land confiscations and house demolitions specifically within area “C.” This strategic plan aims at isolating the village as much as possible to annex the vacated land and expand the surrounding settlements “Gilo,” “Har Gilo,” and “Giva’at Yael.” “
Youth activist Ibrahim Awad Allah told the Palestinian Wafa News Agency that demolition crews from the Israeli municipality in the occupied city of Jerusalem, accompanied by a battalion of Israeli soldiers, stormed the village and went to the Joazh area to the north.
There, they delivered a notice to Palestinian homeowner Halima Ismail, ordering her to stop construction in her house, amounting to an area of 70 square meters; under the pretext of a lack of license.
Israeli authorities have refused, since 1967, to grant Palestinian homeowners permits to build on their land — instead allowing illegal Israeli settlements to take over Palestinian land, and transferring Israeli civilians to live in these settlements.
Ismail explained to local sources in the village that she was given the notice Tuesday, along with another Palestinian homeowner, Khaled Abu Gherkin, who had built a home on his land, along with his brother, after their previous home had been demolished by Israeli forces.
Abu Gherkin received a demolition notice on Tuesday, under the pretext of lack of license.
The village of Wallaja has, over a period of five years, been targeted by the Israeli occupation and a number of homes have been demolished, while other homeowners have been prevented from building on their land.
According to a report by the Applied Research Institute of Jerusalem, “ Since the displacement of Al-Walaja’s residents from their original home in Jerusalem during the war of 1948, about 100 out of 1600 villagers resettled on the adjacent hill.
After the war of 1967, the Israeli government redrew Jerusalem’s boundaries, seizing a significant part of the village.
The remaining Palestinian residents of Al-Walaja were subject to a prolonged process of restrictions limiting urban and demographic expansion. Until the Interim Agreement “Oslo II” in 1995, the village was classified into two areas: 3% “Area B” and 97.4 % “Area C”.
“Residents are allowed to develop and reside without prior military permission only within area “B.” Therefore, those in area “C,” which is fully controlled by the Israeli authorities, face constant threat of displacement.
Moreover, Israel denies their right to live in the area that was seized in 1967.
In 2006, the Israeli Civil Administration informed residents about the construction of the Separation Wall, which cuts the village off from its surrounding vicinity.
“As a result, they have suffered from land confiscations and house demolitions specifically within area “C.” This strategic plan aims at isolating the village as much as possible to annex the vacated land and expand the surrounding settlements “Gilo,” “Har Gilo,” and “Giva’at Yael.” “
Page: 47 - 46 - 45 - 44 - 43 - 42 - 41 - 40 - 39 - 38 - 37 - 36 - 35 - 34 - 33 - 32 - 31 - 30 - 29 - 28 - 27 - 26
