10 dec 2018
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The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) raided WAFA news offices in Ramallah on Monday and fired teargas inside the building causing suffocation and difficulty in breathing among the journalists who were prevented from exiting.
The soldiers broke into the receivers' room and seized video tapes of the surveillance cameras after forcing the staff to stay in one room. Wafa reported that Israeli forces searched the ID cards of employees in the offices, and prevented them from leaving the building. Clashes erupted between Palestinian youths and the Israeli army in the vicinity of the agency headquarters following a raid by Israeli forces. |
Israeli army used live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and teargas bombs to disperse the youth.
Earlier Monday, the army raided the northern sections of Ramallah and seized cameras from buildings.
Israeli Military Raids Office of WAFA News Agency in Ramallah; Fires Tear Gas (VIDEO)
A squadron of Israeli soldiers invaded the headquarters of the WAFA News Agency in Ramallah, on Monday, offering no reason or justification for the invasion. After storming the offices with guns drawn, and terrorizing the journalists who were working there, the soldiers went back downstairs and out of the building. They then fired a dozen rounds of tear gas, from launchers in their jeep, some of which entered the window of the media office.
When the soldiers broke into the media office headquarters, the journalists working at their desks raised their hands, and some followed the soldiers with cameras, saying repeatedly “We are journalists!” in English, Arabic and Hebrew.
According to reporters with the WAFA News Agency, the soldiers broke into the broadcast receiver room and seized video tapes of the surveillance cameras, after forcing the staff to stay in one room.
Israel has a long history of going after journalists working in the Occupied Palestinian Territories – particularly Palestinian media agencies, who have no recourse under Israeli law when they are attacked.
Just last month, on 12 November 2018, Israeli forces leveled the building housing the Al-Aqsa TV Media Agency in Gaza. The bombing of Al-Aqsa TV Headquarters took place about a half an hour following the end of a security meeting held by the Israeli leadership with the participation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at “Kiryah” Military Base, near Tel Aviv. This was followed by announcements on Israeli media that “the go-ahead was given to the Israeli army to carry out more severe attacks” on Gaza.
Al-Aqsa TV Director, Mr. Ibrahim Thaher, stated to the Palestinian Center for Development & Media Freedoms (MADA) that the TV office had received a phone call from Israeli Intelligence in which it was informed that the headquarters would be destroyed. Accordingly, the headquarters were evacuated of staff immediately. Ten minutes later, drones began bombarding the headquarters with “warning” missiles, which was followed by a missile fired by F16 warplane, leading to the destruction of the headquarters and the interruption of transmission.
In 2012, a report by the international organization Human Rights Watch found that “Four Israeli attacks on journalists and media facilities in Gaza during the November 2012 fighting violated the laws of war by targeting civilians and civilian objects that were making no apparent contribution to Palestinian military operations.
“The attacks killed two Palestinian cameramen, wounded at least 10 media workers, and badly damaged four media offices, as well as the offices of four private companies. One of the attacks killed a two-year-old boy who lived across the street from a targeted building.
“The Israeli government asserted that each of the four attacks was on a legitimate military target but provided no specific information to support its claims. After examining the attack sites and interviewing witnesses, Human Rights Watch found no indications that these targets were valid military objectives.
Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, said at the time, “Just because Israel says a journalist was a fighter or a TV station was a command center does not make it so”.
Earlier Monday, the army raided the northern sections of Ramallah and seized cameras from buildings.
Israeli Military Raids Office of WAFA News Agency in Ramallah; Fires Tear Gas (VIDEO)
A squadron of Israeli soldiers invaded the headquarters of the WAFA News Agency in Ramallah, on Monday, offering no reason or justification for the invasion. After storming the offices with guns drawn, and terrorizing the journalists who were working there, the soldiers went back downstairs and out of the building. They then fired a dozen rounds of tear gas, from launchers in their jeep, some of which entered the window of the media office.
When the soldiers broke into the media office headquarters, the journalists working at their desks raised their hands, and some followed the soldiers with cameras, saying repeatedly “We are journalists!” in English, Arabic and Hebrew.
According to reporters with the WAFA News Agency, the soldiers broke into the broadcast receiver room and seized video tapes of the surveillance cameras, after forcing the staff to stay in one room.
Israel has a long history of going after journalists working in the Occupied Palestinian Territories – particularly Palestinian media agencies, who have no recourse under Israeli law when they are attacked.
Just last month, on 12 November 2018, Israeli forces leveled the building housing the Al-Aqsa TV Media Agency in Gaza. The bombing of Al-Aqsa TV Headquarters took place about a half an hour following the end of a security meeting held by the Israeli leadership with the participation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at “Kiryah” Military Base, near Tel Aviv. This was followed by announcements on Israeli media that “the go-ahead was given to the Israeli army to carry out more severe attacks” on Gaza.
Al-Aqsa TV Director, Mr. Ibrahim Thaher, stated to the Palestinian Center for Development & Media Freedoms (MADA) that the TV office had received a phone call from Israeli Intelligence in which it was informed that the headquarters would be destroyed. Accordingly, the headquarters were evacuated of staff immediately. Ten minutes later, drones began bombarding the headquarters with “warning” missiles, which was followed by a missile fired by F16 warplane, leading to the destruction of the headquarters and the interruption of transmission.
In 2012, a report by the international organization Human Rights Watch found that “Four Israeli attacks on journalists and media facilities in Gaza during the November 2012 fighting violated the laws of war by targeting civilians and civilian objects that were making no apparent contribution to Palestinian military operations.
“The attacks killed two Palestinian cameramen, wounded at least 10 media workers, and badly damaged four media offices, as well as the offices of four private companies. One of the attacks killed a two-year-old boy who lived across the street from a targeted building.
“The Israeli government asserted that each of the four attacks was on a legitimate military target but provided no specific information to support its claims. After examining the attack sites and interviewing witnesses, Human Rights Watch found no indications that these targets were valid military objectives.
Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, said at the time, “Just because Israel says a journalist was a fighter or a TV station was a command center does not make it so”.
The Israeli occupation forces on Monday bulldozed vast tracts of Palestinian lands in Qalqilya in favor of the construction of 1,200 new housing units in Karnei Shomron settlement.
Eyewitnesses said that the Palestinian farmers in Kafr Laqif and Jinsafut villages, east of Qalqilya, have lost their most fertile lands in favor of the new expansion project.
Anti-settlement researcher Khaled Ma'ali said that Karnei Shomron was established in 1978 on Palestinian-owned lands in Kafr Laqif, Jinsafut, and Deir Istiya in Wadi Qana area. It has been expanded several times seizing more lands in Qalqilya.
Ma'ali said that Israel is working toward a complete control of Wadi Qana. Israel first announced the area a nature reserve, then built eight settlements on its outskirts. He noted that the settlements are expanded on a regular basis.
The Palestinian researcher stressed that Israel is violating international humanitarian law since settlements are considered a war crime under the Hague Convention and the United Nations Security Resolution 2334.
Eyewitnesses said that the Palestinian farmers in Kafr Laqif and Jinsafut villages, east of Qalqilya, have lost their most fertile lands in favor of the new expansion project.
Anti-settlement researcher Khaled Ma'ali said that Karnei Shomron was established in 1978 on Palestinian-owned lands in Kafr Laqif, Jinsafut, and Deir Istiya in Wadi Qana area. It has been expanded several times seizing more lands in Qalqilya.
Ma'ali said that Israel is working toward a complete control of Wadi Qana. Israel first announced the area a nature reserve, then built eight settlements on its outskirts. He noted that the settlements are expanded on a regular basis.
The Palestinian researcher stressed that Israel is violating international humanitarian law since settlements are considered a war crime under the Hague Convention and the United Nations Security Resolution 2334.
Israeli navy ships attacked, Monday, Palestinian fishing boats in Gaza territorial waters, near Rafah, in the southern part of the coastal region, and abducted two fishermen.
Media sources in Gaza said the soldiers fired many live rounds at the boats, and used water cannons, while the fishermen were only four nautical miles from the shore.
They added that the navy then abducted two young fishermen, identified as Nasser Ahmad an-Nada, 24, and Mohammad Jassem Saidam, 20, and confiscated their boat.
The attack is part of ongoing violations against the Palestinians in the besieged and improvised Gaza Strip.
Suck attacks frequently target fishermen, in addition to farmers and workers on lands close to the perimeter fence.
Many Palestinians fishermen, farmers and workers have been killed, hundreds injured and abducted by the navy and the soldiers.
Last month, the navy killed a Palestinian fisherman, identified as Nawwaf Ahmad al-Attar, 20, in Gaza waters, west of Beit Lahia, in the northern part of the coastal region.
In early October of this year, the Israeli army shot and killed an elderly Palestinian farmer, identified as Ibrahim Ahmad al-Arrouqi, 78, in the central part of the Gaza Strip, while he was working on his land.
Media sources in Gaza said the soldiers fired many live rounds at the boats, and used water cannons, while the fishermen were only four nautical miles from the shore.
They added that the navy then abducted two young fishermen, identified as Nasser Ahmad an-Nada, 24, and Mohammad Jassem Saidam, 20, and confiscated their boat.
The attack is part of ongoing violations against the Palestinians in the besieged and improvised Gaza Strip.
Suck attacks frequently target fishermen, in addition to farmers and workers on lands close to the perimeter fence.
Many Palestinians fishermen, farmers and workers have been killed, hundreds injured and abducted by the navy and the soldiers.
Last month, the navy killed a Palestinian fisherman, identified as Nawwaf Ahmad al-Attar, 20, in Gaza waters, west of Beit Lahia, in the northern part of the coastal region.
In early October of this year, the Israeli army shot and killed an elderly Palestinian farmer, identified as Ibrahim Ahmad al-Arrouqi, 78, in the central part of the Gaza Strip, while he was working on his land.
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Monday at dawn, the Tahadi 13 smalls school, near the entrance of the Sammoa’ town, south of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, and dismantled it.
The schools, which provides education to boys and girls, from kindergarten up to the sixth grade.
The cost of building the school arrived to 40.000 Euros, and provided education to 35 children from Seemia and Deir Shams villages.
It consisted of several tens, desks and chairs, provided by the Palestinian Ministry of Higher Education, and local donors.
It is worth mentioning that the soldiers dismantled and demolished the school several times before, including last Wednesday, and the soldiers confiscated all of its properties.
The head of the Ministry of Education, southern Hebron office, Khaled Abu Sharar, visited the school, and told WAFA Palestinian News Agency that took the tents, desks, chairs and other properties, before dismantling it.
Abu Sharar visited the school, and told WAFA that the ministry and locals are rebuilding the school, despite Israel’s constant violations, destruction and the ongoing attempts to force the Palestinian out, managed to install three tents at dawn, to ensure the continuation of the educational process.
“Israel is waging this vicious campaign against the school; this is a cowardice act that target basic rights of the locals,especially the children,” he added, “The soldiers stole the tents, furniture and construction materials, which were placed there until the new school is rebuilt once again, and posted a note on the rubble, threatening more destruction if the school is rebuilt.”
The official also stated that the Education Ministry will not just step aside and watch the constant Israeli violations against the school and the basic human rights of the students, and added that every child has the right to attend a school in their communities.
The schools, which provides education to boys and girls, from kindergarten up to the sixth grade.
The cost of building the school arrived to 40.000 Euros, and provided education to 35 children from Seemia and Deir Shams villages.
It consisted of several tens, desks and chairs, provided by the Palestinian Ministry of Higher Education, and local donors.
It is worth mentioning that the soldiers dismantled and demolished the school several times before, including last Wednesday, and the soldiers confiscated all of its properties.
The head of the Ministry of Education, southern Hebron office, Khaled Abu Sharar, visited the school, and told WAFA Palestinian News Agency that took the tents, desks, chairs and other properties, before dismantling it.
Abu Sharar visited the school, and told WAFA that the ministry and locals are rebuilding the school, despite Israel’s constant violations, destruction and the ongoing attempts to force the Palestinian out, managed to install three tents at dawn, to ensure the continuation of the educational process.
“Israel is waging this vicious campaign against the school; this is a cowardice act that target basic rights of the locals,especially the children,” he added, “The soldiers stole the tents, furniture and construction materials, which were placed there until the new school is rebuilt once again, and posted a note on the rubble, threatening more destruction if the school is rebuilt.”
The official also stated that the Education Ministry will not just step aside and watch the constant Israeli violations against the school and the basic human rights of the students, and added that every child has the right to attend a school in their communities.
9 dec 2018
With tears filling his eyes, the Palestinian farmer Mansour Marayta pointed to his farmland in Marda village, in Salfit, which has been turned into Israeli buildings, laboratories, apartments, parks, and bypass roads.
The 78-year-old man could not stop them from taking his land, the home of his childhood memories, although he has the documents that prove his ownership of the stolen property.
Memories
Marayta said that the Israeli authorities seized over 20 dunums of land that once belonged to his family in favor of the construction of Ariel settlement and its university.
Remembering the old days, Marayta said, "We used to start work in our farmland at daybreak, enjoying the fresh air and the morning songs of birds. We were happy. We were able to enter our land and leave whenever we wanted. All this is now gone."
"Our days were better and more beautiful before the settlement. The occupation came and turned our life upside down. Joy and happiness became misery and humiliation," he added.
Against the law
"Despite the challenges," Haj Mansour continued, "We will defend our lands until the last breath. The land means everything to us: life, livelihood, future and home. No matter how long the occupation lasts, it will eventually come to an end."
Anti-settlement researcher Khaled Ma'ali said that Israel's confiscation of Marayta's land in favor of settlement construction violates international law, which bans the occupying power from building on the lands it occupies.
Ma'ali pointed out that Ariel settlement's university was built on lands privately owned by poor Palestinian farmers from the villages and towns of Salfit, Marda, Iskaka, Yasuf, Jamain, Qira, and Kifl Hares.
He added that Israel took advantage of the world's respect and appreciation for knowledge and science, and, expecting no opposition, it built Ariel university, the only university for Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
The 78-year-old man could not stop them from taking his land, the home of his childhood memories, although he has the documents that prove his ownership of the stolen property.
Memories
Marayta said that the Israeli authorities seized over 20 dunums of land that once belonged to his family in favor of the construction of Ariel settlement and its university.
Remembering the old days, Marayta said, "We used to start work in our farmland at daybreak, enjoying the fresh air and the morning songs of birds. We were happy. We were able to enter our land and leave whenever we wanted. All this is now gone."
"Our days were better and more beautiful before the settlement. The occupation came and turned our life upside down. Joy and happiness became misery and humiliation," he added.
Against the law
"Despite the challenges," Haj Mansour continued, "We will defend our lands until the last breath. The land means everything to us: life, livelihood, future and home. No matter how long the occupation lasts, it will eventually come to an end."
Anti-settlement researcher Khaled Ma'ali said that Israel's confiscation of Marayta's land in favor of settlement construction violates international law, which bans the occupying power from building on the lands it occupies.
Ma'ali pointed out that Ariel settlement's university was built on lands privately owned by poor Palestinian farmers from the villages and towns of Salfit, Marda, Iskaka, Yasuf, Jamain, Qira, and Kifl Hares.
He added that Israel took advantage of the world's respect and appreciation for knowledge and science, and, expecting no opposition, it built Ariel university, the only university for Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
Israeli soldiers invaded, Sunday, the home of Jerusalem Governor Adnan Gheith, in Silwan town, south of the al-Aqsa Mosque, in occupied East Jerusalem, and took measurements of the property.
Dozens of soldiers surrounded the Governor’s home, before breaking into it using excessive force, and conducted provocative acts against the family.
The soldiers then took measurements of the property, a move which is usually followed by a demolition order, but did not hand him any order.
It is worth mentioning that Gheith was placed under house arrest,an order which expired Saturday, and was frequently abducted and detained by the army, in an attempt to prevent him from performing his duties.
The ongoing arrests and violations are part of Israel’s measures aimed at preventing the Palestinian Authority, and various institutions, including the UNRWA, its facilities and clinics,from providing services in East Jerusalem, including its surrounding communities.
Dozens of soldiers surrounded the Governor’s home, before breaking into it using excessive force, and conducted provocative acts against the family.
The soldiers then took measurements of the property, a move which is usually followed by a demolition order, but did not hand him any order.
It is worth mentioning that Gheith was placed under house arrest,an order which expired Saturday, and was frequently abducted and detained by the army, in an attempt to prevent him from performing his duties.
The ongoing arrests and violations are part of Israel’s measures aimed at preventing the Palestinian Authority, and various institutions, including the UNRWA, its facilities and clinics,from providing services in East Jerusalem, including its surrounding communities.
A large part of the church land behind al-Ein Mosque in Silwan district sustained considerable collapse after heavy rain, pouring for the second day, unveiled a network of Israeli tunnels beneath Palestinian homes and buildings in the area. video
Spokesman for the Silwan land defense committee Fakhri Abu Diyab told a reporter for the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that “one of the benefits of rainfall is that it exposes the network of tunnels, which were dug by settler groups under Silwan real estate, homes and streets.”
According to Abu Diyab, most of the houses in the area has become suspended in the air and threatened with collapse after soil and rocks were withdrawn from under their foundations.
He pointed to the presence of widespread fractures in the walls of many houses as a result of Israeli underground diggings and tunnels.
The official urged the concerned international organizations to intervene to protect the lives of the local residents, affirming that the Israeli municipal authority refuses to make repairs to the homes suffering from cracks and also prevents the owners from renovating their homes.
Spokesman for the Silwan land defense committee Fakhri Abu Diyab told a reporter for the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that “one of the benefits of rainfall is that it exposes the network of tunnels, which were dug by settler groups under Silwan real estate, homes and streets.”
According to Abu Diyab, most of the houses in the area has become suspended in the air and threatened with collapse after soil and rocks were withdrawn from under their foundations.
He pointed to the presence of widespread fractures in the walls of many houses as a result of Israeli underground diggings and tunnels.
The official urged the concerned international organizations to intervene to protect the lives of the local residents, affirming that the Israeli municipal authority refuses to make repairs to the homes suffering from cracks and also prevents the owners from renovating their homes.
Citing the lack of building permits, the Israeli authorities demolished or seized 33 Palestinian-owned structures in Area C of the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, including two structures provided as humanitarian assistance, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the occupied Palestinian territory confirmed in its report covering the period from November 20th to December 3rd.
OCHA's biweekly “Protection of Civilians” report said that Israeli settler violence and vandalism in the West Bank have been on the rise since the beginning of 2018, with a weekly average of five attacks resulting in injuries or property damage, compared with an average of three in 2017 and two in 2016.
OCHA stressed that as a result of the demolitions and seizure of Palestinian structures, 16 people, including six children, were displaced and 226 persons were affected. It said that 24 of the targeted structures were in occupied East Jerusalem and nine were in Area C, which make over 60% of the area of the occupied West Bank.
The largest incident took place in the Shufat refugee camp in East Jerusalem, where 20 structures were demolished in the same day, affecting the livelihood of 179 people, under the pretext of lacking building permits in an area designated for a road.
In the Jabal al-Mukabbir neighborhood in East Jerusalem, the Israeli authorities demolished an apartment built on the rooftop of a residential structure, displacing a Palestinian family of four, including two children.
In Area C, two of the structures demolished were donor-funded water tanks provided as humanitarian assistance in response to a previous demolition in the Suba village in southern West Bank district of Hebron. Also in Area C, another three residential structures were demolished, displacing 13 people.
The OCHA report also said that during the same period, at least 11 attacks by Israeli settlers were recorded in the West Bank resulting in Palestinian property damage.
Around 85 Palestinian-owned trees were vandalized by Israeli settlers in Turmusayya village, near Ramallah.
In another five incidents, in al-Mughayyir (Ramallah), al-Jabaa near Bethlehem, Beit Iksa near Jerusalem, and Asira al-Qibliya and Huwwara villages, both located in the Nablus district, Israeli settlers punctured the tires of 52 vehicles and sprayed spray painted racist, anti-Arab slogans on some of the vehicles and on the walls of schools, mosques and several homes.
The report added that Israeli settlers and other Israeli groups entered various religious sites in the West Bank, triggering altercations and clashes with Palestinians. The affected sites included the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem and a shrine in Sabastiya village in the Nablus district.
OCHA's biweekly “Protection of Civilians” report said that Israeli settler violence and vandalism in the West Bank have been on the rise since the beginning of 2018, with a weekly average of five attacks resulting in injuries or property damage, compared with an average of three in 2017 and two in 2016.
OCHA stressed that as a result of the demolitions and seizure of Palestinian structures, 16 people, including six children, were displaced and 226 persons were affected. It said that 24 of the targeted structures were in occupied East Jerusalem and nine were in Area C, which make over 60% of the area of the occupied West Bank.
The largest incident took place in the Shufat refugee camp in East Jerusalem, where 20 structures were demolished in the same day, affecting the livelihood of 179 people, under the pretext of lacking building permits in an area designated for a road.
In the Jabal al-Mukabbir neighborhood in East Jerusalem, the Israeli authorities demolished an apartment built on the rooftop of a residential structure, displacing a Palestinian family of four, including two children.
In Area C, two of the structures demolished were donor-funded water tanks provided as humanitarian assistance in response to a previous demolition in the Suba village in southern West Bank district of Hebron. Also in Area C, another three residential structures were demolished, displacing 13 people.
The OCHA report also said that during the same period, at least 11 attacks by Israeli settlers were recorded in the West Bank resulting in Palestinian property damage.
Around 85 Palestinian-owned trees were vandalized by Israeli settlers in Turmusayya village, near Ramallah.
In another five incidents, in al-Mughayyir (Ramallah), al-Jabaa near Bethlehem, Beit Iksa near Jerusalem, and Asira al-Qibliya and Huwwara villages, both located in the Nablus district, Israeli settlers punctured the tires of 52 vehicles and sprayed spray painted racist, anti-Arab slogans on some of the vehicles and on the walls of schools, mosques and several homes.
The report added that Israeli settlers and other Israeli groups entered various religious sites in the West Bank, triggering altercations and clashes with Palestinians. The affected sites included the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem and a shrine in Sabastiya village in the Nablus district.
8 dec 2018
The Palestinian citizen Murad Hsheima on Saturday morning started to demolish his own house in Silwan town in Occupied Jerusalem at the order of the Israeli-controlled Jerusalem municipality. video
An Israeli court had issued an order giving Hsheima a time limit until 10 December to demolish his 130-square-meter house for allegedly being unlicensed. Otherwise, the municipality would carry out the demolition and force him to pay 60,000 NIS and serve two months in jail.
Palestinians living in Occupied Jerusalem are often forced to demolish their own homes. Those who do not abide by the orders are usually subjected to steep fines.
The Israeli-controlled Jerusalem municipality in most cases refuses to give the Jerusalemites the permits they need for their construction activities.
An Israeli court had issued an order giving Hsheima a time limit until 10 December to demolish his 130-square-meter house for allegedly being unlicensed. Otherwise, the municipality would carry out the demolition and force him to pay 60,000 NIS and serve two months in jail.
Palestinians living in Occupied Jerusalem are often forced to demolish their own homes. Those who do not abide by the orders are usually subjected to steep fines.
The Israeli-controlled Jerusalem municipality in most cases refuses to give the Jerusalemites the permits they need for their construction activities.
7 dec 2018
Israeli soldiers invaded, Friday, the al-‘Isawiya town, in occupied East Jerusalem, stormed many neighborhoods, and photographed many homes, buildings and streets, before handing demolition orders targeting several buildings, and summoned many owners for interrogation.
Mohammad Abu al-Hummus, a member of the Follow-Up Committee in al-‘Isawiya, said the soldiers, and personnel of Jerusalem City Council, posted orders for the demolition of several homes and buildings, which were constructed many years ago.
He added that the soldiers also summoned the owners for interrogation, for “building them without permits.”
Mohammad said the owners have been paying high fines to the City Council, and have already submitted licensing applications despite the excessively high costs, and are still awaiting a response.
He also stated that the City Council distributes demolition orders every week, during extensive invasions by the soldiers and the police, an issue which is impacting the daily lives of the Palestinians,who cannot feel safe at home due to the constant threats of displacement.
“Israel always uses the claim of demoliting the buildings for being constructed without permits,” Mohammad said, “This is happening while the City Council continues to reject most applications, in addition to the complicated procedures the Palestinians have to go through, the very high costs of filing for these permits, in addition to the extended periods the residents have to wait, and in most cases, they are denied”
While the Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem continued to be denied construction permits, and face repeated demolitions,displacement and ongoing excessive violations, Israel continues to build its illegal colonies in the city, and the rest of the West Bank, in direct violation of International Law.
Mohammad Abu al-Hummus, a member of the Follow-Up Committee in al-‘Isawiya, said the soldiers, and personnel of Jerusalem City Council, posted orders for the demolition of several homes and buildings, which were constructed many years ago.
He added that the soldiers also summoned the owners for interrogation, for “building them without permits.”
Mohammad said the owners have been paying high fines to the City Council, and have already submitted licensing applications despite the excessively high costs, and are still awaiting a response.
He also stated that the City Council distributes demolition orders every week, during extensive invasions by the soldiers and the police, an issue which is impacting the daily lives of the Palestinians,who cannot feel safe at home due to the constant threats of displacement.
“Israel always uses the claim of demoliting the buildings for being constructed without permits,” Mohammad said, “This is happening while the City Council continues to reject most applications, in addition to the complicated procedures the Palestinians have to go through, the very high costs of filing for these permits, in addition to the extended periods the residents have to wait, and in most cases, they are denied”
While the Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem continued to be denied construction permits, and face repeated demolitions,displacement and ongoing excessive violations, Israel continues to build its illegal colonies in the city, and the rest of the West Bank, in direct violation of International Law.
An Israeli military court approved the removal of the water supply network in Aqaba village in the northern Jordan Valley and turned down an objection filed a year ago by the local residents.
Chief of the village Sami Sadeq told a reporter for the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that a lawyer hired by the residents told them that the Israeli court rejected the objection filed against the removal of the water network and sanctioned the Israeli occupation army’s decision to raze it at the pretext that it was set up with no license.
Sadeq said that the water network was deployed about two years ago in the village to serve the local residents, but later the Israeli army ordered its removal, adding that the case had been dealt with by an Israeli military court for about one year.
The local official affirmed that the village council and the residents would not give up and would try to extract a verdict against the removal of the water network from the Israeli high court of justice.
The water supply network is an internal system inside the village serving about 70 Palestinian homes.
The village of Aqaba is encircled by three Israeli army bases and its residents are exposed to repeated shooting incidents during military drills and exercises.
The Israeli army has already demolished several homes in the village and threaten to raze more others as well as its Mosque.
Chief of the village Sami Sadeq told a reporter for the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that a lawyer hired by the residents told them that the Israeli court rejected the objection filed against the removal of the water network and sanctioned the Israeli occupation army’s decision to raze it at the pretext that it was set up with no license.
Sadeq said that the water network was deployed about two years ago in the village to serve the local residents, but later the Israeli army ordered its removal, adding that the case had been dealt with by an Israeli military court for about one year.
The local official affirmed that the village council and the residents would not give up and would try to extract a verdict against the removal of the water network from the Israeli high court of justice.
The water supply network is an internal system inside the village serving about 70 Palestinian homes.
The village of Aqaba is encircled by three Israeli army bases and its residents are exposed to repeated shooting incidents during military drills and exercises.
The Israeli army has already demolished several homes in the village and threaten to raze more others as well as its Mosque.
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