19 feb 2019
The Israeli occupation forces on Monday ordered the demolition of Palestinian homes, a sheep barn, a nature reserve, and a children's playground in al-Khalil.
Activist Rateb al-Jabour said that the Israeli forces handed the Palestinian citizens Ali Abu Aram and Samir al-Hamamda notices to demolish their homes.
Other demolition orders were issued against a sheep barn owned by Essa al-Hamamda, a nature reserve, and a children's playground.
Al-Jabour appealed to the concerned local and international human rights organizations to intervene and put an end to the Israeli daily violations in the Palestinian territories.
Israel in 2012 started a plan to demolish eight Palestinian villages in al-Khalil and forcibly transfer their residents, estimated at 1,500, in order to expand existing settlements built illegally on privately-owned Palestinian lands.
Activist Rateb al-Jabour said that the Israeli forces handed the Palestinian citizens Ali Abu Aram and Samir al-Hamamda notices to demolish their homes.
Other demolition orders were issued against a sheep barn owned by Essa al-Hamamda, a nature reserve, and a children's playground.
Al-Jabour appealed to the concerned local and international human rights organizations to intervene and put an end to the Israeli daily violations in the Palestinian territories.
Israel in 2012 started a plan to demolish eight Palestinian villages in al-Khalil and forcibly transfer their residents, estimated at 1,500, in order to expand existing settlements built illegally on privately-owned Palestinian lands.
Israeli soldiers invaded, Tuesday, the ar-Ras al-Ahmar Bedouin community, southeast of Tubas, in northeastern West Bank, and displaced a Palestinian family.
Media sources said the soldiers surrounded the area before invading it, and stormed residential tents owned by Jihad Bani Odah and his family.
They added that the soldiers demolished and removed the residential tents, rendering the family homeless.
The Israeli army claimed that the tents were installed without a permit from the so-called Civil Administration Office, the administrative branch of Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine.
Media sources said the soldiers surrounded the area before invading it, and stormed residential tents owned by Jihad Bani Odah and his family.
They added that the soldiers demolished and removed the residential tents, rendering the family homeless.
The Israeli army claimed that the tents were installed without a permit from the so-called Civil Administration Office, the administrative branch of Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine.
Israeli Human Rights group B’Tselem recently released a report, examining the rulings of Israel’s High Court of Justice (HCJ) to restrict Palestinian building, and demolish Palestinian homes, while authorizing illegal Israeli Settlements in the occupied West Bank.
One example is the village of Khan Al-Ahmar, 2 kilometres south of the settlement of Kafr Adumim, east of Jerusalem, in the southern West Bank. The justices of Israel’s HCJ concluded that it is “unlawful” for Palestinians to build on the compound, therefore there was “no legal obstacle to demolishing the structures in the community of Khan Al-Ahmar”.
The report states that “Israeli authorities consider the demolition of Palestinian homes in the West Bank as no more than a matter of illegal construction, as if Israel does not have long-term goals in the West Bank”, that “this policy imposes a virtually blanket prohibition on Palestinian construction”.
The report further states Israeli “justices have regarded the Israeli policy as lawful and legitimate, nearly always focusing only on the technical issue of whether the petitioners had building permits”.
“The planning apparatus Israel has instituted in the West Bank serves its policy of promoting and expanding Israeli takeover of land across the West Bank”.
From “January 2000 to mid-2016, Palestinians filed 5,475 applications for building permits. Only 226 (about 4%) were granted”. From the year 2006 through 2018, “Israel demolished 1,401 Palestinian residential units in the West Bank (not including east Jerusalem)”.
“Particularly blatant is the justices’ disregard of the fact that implementation of the Israeli planning policy involves violating the absolute prohibition on forcible transfer”. “Since occupying the West Bank over fifty years ago, Israel has built 250 new settlements – whose very establishment is prohibited under international law”.
“It stands to reason that the judges are well aware, or ought to be, of the judicial foundations they are cementing in their rulings, and the devastating implications of these rulings, including the violation of the IHL (International Humanitarian law) prohibition on forcible transfer.
Therefore, they too, – along with the prime minister, senior ministers, the chief of staff and other military officers – bear personal liability for the commission of such crimes”
One example is the village of Khan Al-Ahmar, 2 kilometres south of the settlement of Kafr Adumim, east of Jerusalem, in the southern West Bank. The justices of Israel’s HCJ concluded that it is “unlawful” for Palestinians to build on the compound, therefore there was “no legal obstacle to demolishing the structures in the community of Khan Al-Ahmar”.
The report states that “Israeli authorities consider the demolition of Palestinian homes in the West Bank as no more than a matter of illegal construction, as if Israel does not have long-term goals in the West Bank”, that “this policy imposes a virtually blanket prohibition on Palestinian construction”.
The report further states Israeli “justices have regarded the Israeli policy as lawful and legitimate, nearly always focusing only on the technical issue of whether the petitioners had building permits”.
“The planning apparatus Israel has instituted in the West Bank serves its policy of promoting and expanding Israeli takeover of land across the West Bank”.
From “January 2000 to mid-2016, Palestinians filed 5,475 applications for building permits. Only 226 (about 4%) were granted”. From the year 2006 through 2018, “Israel demolished 1,401 Palestinian residential units in the West Bank (not including east Jerusalem)”.
“Particularly blatant is the justices’ disregard of the fact that implementation of the Israeli planning policy involves violating the absolute prohibition on forcible transfer”. “Since occupying the West Bank over fifty years ago, Israel has built 250 new settlements – whose very establishment is prohibited under international law”.
“It stands to reason that the judges are well aware, or ought to be, of the judicial foundations they are cementing in their rulings, and the devastating implications of these rulings, including the violation of the IHL (International Humanitarian law) prohibition on forcible transfer.
Therefore, they too, – along with the prime minister, senior ministers, the chief of staff and other military officers – bear personal liability for the commission of such crimes”
18 feb 2019
Spokesman for Hamas movement Hazem Qasem on Monday said that the Israeli government's decision to deduct funds from the tax revenues transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA) is a robbery of the Palestinian people's money.
Qasem said in a press statement that the PA "soft policies" toward the Israeli occupation's practices have encouraged Netanyahu's government to commit more crimes.
"It is regrettable that the Israeli move was preceded by the PA decision to cut the salaries of the families of Palestinian martyrs and prisoners in the Gaza Strip," he added.
Qasem said that the PA should respond to these Israeli practices by ending the security coordination with the Israeli army and lifting the sanctions imposed on the Gaza Strip.
What is more important, he continued to say, is that the PA stops its monopoly of the decision-making and abide by the signed reconciliation agreements.
Qasem said in a press statement that the PA "soft policies" toward the Israeli occupation's practices have encouraged Netanyahu's government to commit more crimes.
"It is regrettable that the Israeli move was preceded by the PA decision to cut the salaries of the families of Palestinian martyrs and prisoners in the Gaza Strip," he added.
Qasem said that the PA should respond to these Israeli practices by ending the security coordination with the Israeli army and lifting the sanctions imposed on the Gaza Strip.
What is more important, he continued to say, is that the PA stops its monopoly of the decision-making and abide by the signed reconciliation agreements.
Israeli soldiers bulldozed, Monday, large areas of Palestinian lands in the northern West Bank governorates of Nablus and Qalqilia, in order to expand illegal colonies, built on private lands.
Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian Authority official who monitors Israel’s illegal colonialist activities in northern West Bank, said the soldiers invaded hundreds of Dunams of Palestinian lands, planted with almond trees, and bulldozed them.
Daghlas added that the army is bulldozing the lands to expand the illegal Givat Ronim colony, which was built on private Palestinian lands, east of Burin village southwest of Nablus.
In addition, the soldiers bulldozed large areas of Palestinian lands, owned by villages from Sanniriya and Masha villages, south of the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia.
Mohammad Sheikh, a member of Sanniriya village council, said the bulldozing of the Palestinian lands aims at linking four illegal colonies, which were built on private lands, in order to expand them by constructing more units and facilities.
He added that the illegal colonies Israel is trying to expand are Etz Efraim, Sha’arei Tikva, Elkana and Oranit.
Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian Authority official who monitors Israel’s illegal colonialist activities in northern West Bank, said the soldiers invaded hundreds of Dunams of Palestinian lands, planted with almond trees, and bulldozed them.
Daghlas added that the army is bulldozing the lands to expand the illegal Givat Ronim colony, which was built on private Palestinian lands, east of Burin village southwest of Nablus.
In addition, the soldiers bulldozed large areas of Palestinian lands, owned by villages from Sanniriya and Masha villages, south of the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia.
Mohammad Sheikh, a member of Sanniriya village council, said the bulldozing of the Palestinian lands aims at linking four illegal colonies, which were built on private lands, in order to expand them by constructing more units and facilities.
He added that the illegal colonies Israel is trying to expand are Etz Efraim, Sha’arei Tikva, Elkana and Oranit.
17 feb 2019
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On the night of February 16, ISM activists joined a number of local Protection Unit activists to go on a night patrol of the old city in Al Khalil. During the night patrol we were brought into the home of of a family who have recently experienced intimidation and harassment from settlers and the military.
Our hosts described to us how settlers, including prominent Hebron settlement spokesperson Noam Arnon invaded the family home by climbing down the stairs from their rooftop, accompanied by the Israeli army. Our host described how, in the presence of the army, Noam Arnon threatened that he would murder the entire family who lived in the house if they did not submit to the demands of the settlers and give up their home. This disgusting threat was allegedly made by the man who is often |
portrayed as a man of peace, and a reasonable voice in the settler community. Our host went on to describe how Anat Cohen, another prominent settler in Al Khalil, was watching this interaction from a nearby home, encouraging the soldiers and settlers to kill the homeowners.
Nighttime invasions of homes by the military are common throughout occupied Palestine. However, instances like this shine a light on the inner workings of the occupation. The event described above is the occupation in a microcosm: one of the world’s most technologically advanced armies, acting on behalf of a group of extremists with an agenda of ethnic cleansing. There is no justice in an occupation.
Nighttime invasions of homes by the military are common throughout occupied Palestine. However, instances like this shine a light on the inner workings of the occupation. The event described above is the occupation in a microcosm: one of the world’s most technologically advanced armies, acting on behalf of a group of extremists with an agenda of ethnic cleansing. There is no justice in an occupation.
An Israeli court on Sunday decided to confiscate the vehicle of the disabled Palestinian ex-prisoner Adnan Hamarsha.
Hamarsha told the PIC reporter that the Israeli court decided to confiscate his car and ordered him to pay a fine of 70,000 NIS within a short period.
The Israeli occupation forces a few months ago detained Hamarsha and seized his car before they released him later.
Hamarsha is an ex-prisoner who had served over 15 years in Israeli jails.
Hamarsha told the PIC reporter that the Israeli court decided to confiscate his car and ordered him to pay a fine of 70,000 NIS within a short period.
The Israeli occupation forces a few months ago detained Hamarsha and seized his car before they released him later.
Hamarsha is an ex-prisoner who had served over 15 years in Israeli jails.
Israeli settlers escorted by full-armed soldiers on Sunday evening attacked Palestinian shepherds in the northern Jordan Valley.
Local activist Mootaz Besharat said a horde of Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian shepherds as they grazed their sheep in al-Farisiya area, in the northern Jordan Valley.
The settlers stole sheep from the area. Israeli soldiers showed up at the scene to provide the settlers with a tight security shield.
Palestinian citizen Ahmed Abu Muhsen was detained for hours before he was summoned to questioning at an Israeli detention center.
Local activist Mootaz Besharat said a horde of Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian shepherds as they grazed their sheep in al-Farisiya area, in the northern Jordan Valley.
The settlers stole sheep from the area. Israeli soldiers showed up at the scene to provide the settlers with a tight security shield.
Palestinian citizen Ahmed Abu Muhsen was detained for hours before he was summoned to questioning at an Israeli detention center.
The Israeli occupation authorities on Sunday ordered the demolition of a tent used to provide tourist services to the visitors in al-Mas'udiyya archaeological area between Nablus and Jenin.
Mayor of Sebastia Mohammed Azem said in a press statement that the Israeli authorities handed Mohammed Salem a notice ordering him to remove his tourist tent completely and preventing him from working in the area.
Al-Mas'udiyya is a famous destination for internal Palestinian tourism, and it has the Hejazi railway station established during the Ottoman era to link Haifa, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
Mayor of Sebastia Mohammed Azem said in a press statement that the Israeli authorities handed Mohammed Salem a notice ordering him to remove his tourist tent completely and preventing him from working in the area.
Al-Mas'udiyya is a famous destination for internal Palestinian tourism, and it has the Hejazi railway station established during the Ottoman era to link Haifa, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
The Palestinian expert and academic Jamal Amro on Thursday said that Israel is planning to build a synagogue inside al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
Amro said that the synagogue will be built at al-Rahma Gate which is currently under complete Israeli control. "Whoever approaches the area immediately gets arrested," he added.
Amro said that Israel is preparing for a new Maghareba Gate; however, what is happening at al-Rahma Gate is more dangerous.
The Palestinian expert noted that Israel has stepped up its settlement and Judaization projects in Jerusalem in general and near al-Aqsa Mosque in particular. Israel has so far built 190 synagogues around and under al-Aqsa Mosque.
"Bab al-Rahma will be the new synagogue in the heart of al-Aqsa Mosque," he said, adding that Bab al-Rahma for extremist Israelis is better that al-Buraq Square because it is located near the Dome of the Rock. The Israeli authorities have further taken over the area and built a police station there.
Amro said that the synagogue will be built at al-Rahma Gate which is currently under complete Israeli control. "Whoever approaches the area immediately gets arrested," he added.
Amro said that Israel is preparing for a new Maghareba Gate; however, what is happening at al-Rahma Gate is more dangerous.
The Palestinian expert noted that Israel has stepped up its settlement and Judaization projects in Jerusalem in general and near al-Aqsa Mosque in particular. Israel has so far built 190 synagogues around and under al-Aqsa Mosque.
"Bab al-Rahma will be the new synagogue in the heart of al-Aqsa Mosque," he said, adding that Bab al-Rahma for extremist Israelis is better that al-Buraq Square because it is located near the Dome of the Rock. The Israeli authorities have further taken over the area and built a police station there.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Sunday bulldozed a vast tract of land in al-Rujman area at the eastern entrance to Deir Nidham village, north of Ramallah city in the West Bank.
Local official Saleh al-Tamimi said that Israeli bulldozers escorted by troops stormed al-Rujman area and embarked on leveling a tract of land belonging to Ahmed al-Tamimi, Abdul-Hamdi al-Tamimi and Ahmed al-Khatib.
Tamimi added that the Israeli army seeks to expand the illegal settlement of Halamish, which were established on annexed land belonging to the villages of Deir Nidham and Nabi Saleh.
Local official Saleh al-Tamimi said that Israeli bulldozers escorted by troops stormed al-Rujman area and embarked on leveling a tract of land belonging to Ahmed al-Tamimi, Abdul-Hamdi al-Tamimi and Ahmed al-Khatib.
Tamimi added that the Israeli army seeks to expand the illegal settlement of Halamish, which were established on annexed land belonging to the villages of Deir Nidham and Nabi Saleh.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Sunday stormed a Palestinian house whose residents threatened with eviction in the Old City of Jerusalem as a prelude to allowing Jewish settlers to move in. video
According to local sources, Israeli police forces broke into the house of Abu Assab family in Aqabat al-Khalidiya quarter in the Old City while other forces encircled the house and closed the road leading to it.
Hatem Abu Assab, who lives with his family in the house, had already received a notice ordering him to evacuate the house, but he managed through his lawyer to postpone the eviction order until February 28. video
The family of Abu Assab have been living in this house for more than 56 years and made several appeals to the Palestinian residents of Jerusalem and different institutions to help it stand against the Israeli decision to expel it from the house. video
The family came to the Old City of Jerusalem after it was forcibly displaced from al-Baqa'a neighborhood in western Jerusalem in 1948 following the Deir Yassin massacre.
After they were displaced from western Jerusalem, the grandparents of the family lived in a room in Bab al-Amoud neighborhood of the Old City before moving to the current house in 1952, which they shared with the family of Tufaha. Later, the Tufaha family moved to another place.
The Israeli occupation authority uses the absentees’ property law which it enacted to justify its decision to evict the family from the house.
According to local sources, Israeli police forces broke into the house of Abu Assab family in Aqabat al-Khalidiya quarter in the Old City while other forces encircled the house and closed the road leading to it.
Hatem Abu Assab, who lives with his family in the house, had already received a notice ordering him to evacuate the house, but he managed through his lawyer to postpone the eviction order until February 28. video
The family of Abu Assab have been living in this house for more than 56 years and made several appeals to the Palestinian residents of Jerusalem and different institutions to help it stand against the Israeli decision to expel it from the house. video
The family came to the Old City of Jerusalem after it was forcibly displaced from al-Baqa'a neighborhood in western Jerusalem in 1948 following the Deir Yassin massacre.
After they were displaced from western Jerusalem, the grandparents of the family lived in a room in Bab al-Amoud neighborhood of the Old City before moving to the current house in 1952, which they shared with the family of Tufaha. Later, the Tufaha family moved to another place.
The Israeli occupation authority uses the absentees’ property law which it enacted to justify its decision to evict the family from the house.
16 feb 2019
The Israeli authorities on Friday forced a Palestinian citizen in Umm al-Fahm in the 1948 occupied Palestinian territories to demolish his own agricultural facility.
According to Arab 48, Abdullah Jabarin was handed an order on Wednesday to demolish his store within 48 hours.
Otherwise, the Israeli authorities will carry out the demolition and force him to pay a heavy fine.
Jabarin said that he used the demolished facility, which was built over a year ago, as a storehouse for agricultural equipment.
Palestinians living in the territories occupied since 1948 are often forced to demolish their own homes and buildings under the pretext of lacking Israeli licenses. Those who do not abide by the orders are usually subjected to steep fines.
According to Arab 48, Abdullah Jabarin was handed an order on Wednesday to demolish his store within 48 hours.
Otherwise, the Israeli authorities will carry out the demolition and force him to pay a heavy fine.
Jabarin said that he used the demolished facility, which was built over a year ago, as a storehouse for agricultural equipment.
Palestinians living in the territories occupied since 1948 are often forced to demolish their own homes and buildings under the pretext of lacking Israeli licenses. Those who do not abide by the orders are usually subjected to steep fines.
