26 feb 2019

Israeli forces delivered a halt-of-construction notice to an agricultural road in the Ithna town, west of the southern occupied West Bank city of Hebron, on Tuesday.
Abed al-Rahman Tmeizi, head of the Public Relations Department at the municipality of Ithna, reported that Israel has ordered the stop of construction on a 500-meter long road in western Ithna.
He pointed out that the road is located in an area of the village that is under full Israeli military control.
Tmeizi added that the road was being constructed to facilitate the movement of Palestinian farmers to their agricultural lands in the area.
Additionally, Israeli forces also delivered demolition and stop-construction notices to several Palestinian homes in the Shuyoukh town, northeast of Hebron.
Activist Ahmad al-Halayqa said that owners of these homes have the necessary papers and documents proving their ownership of the land.
Israel rarely grants Palestinians permits to build in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem, although the estimated 550,000 Jewish Israeli settlers in the occupied Palestinian territory are more easily given building permits and allowed to expand their homes and properties.
Nearly all Palestinian applications for building permits in Area C are denied by the Israeli authorities, forcing communities to build illegally.
According to Palestinians and rights groups, Israel’s overall goal, both in its policies in Area C and Israel’s settlement enterprise, is to depopulate the land of its Palestinian residents and replace them with Jewish Israeli communities in order to manipulate population demographics in all of historic Palestine.
Abed al-Rahman Tmeizi, head of the Public Relations Department at the municipality of Ithna, reported that Israel has ordered the stop of construction on a 500-meter long road in western Ithna.
He pointed out that the road is located in an area of the village that is under full Israeli military control.
Tmeizi added that the road was being constructed to facilitate the movement of Palestinian farmers to their agricultural lands in the area.
Additionally, Israeli forces also delivered demolition and stop-construction notices to several Palestinian homes in the Shuyoukh town, northeast of Hebron.
Activist Ahmad al-Halayqa said that owners of these homes have the necessary papers and documents proving their ownership of the land.
Israel rarely grants Palestinians permits to build in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem, although the estimated 550,000 Jewish Israeli settlers in the occupied Palestinian territory are more easily given building permits and allowed to expand their homes and properties.
Nearly all Palestinian applications for building permits in Area C are denied by the Israeli authorities, forcing communities to build illegally.
According to Palestinians and rights groups, Israel’s overall goal, both in its policies in Area C and Israel’s settlement enterprise, is to depopulate the land of its Palestinian residents and replace them with Jewish Israeli communities in order to manipulate population demographics in all of historic Palestine.

The Israeli authorities delivered stop-construction orders to three Palestinian-owned buildings in the Rafat village west of the northern occupied West Bank city of Salfit, on Monday, under the pretext that the structures are located in Area C.
Head of the Rafat village council, Abed al-Jawad Ayyash, told Ma'an that Israeli forces raided the village and delivered stop-construction orders to three Palestinian homes.
He identified owners of the three homes as Maen Farah Ayyash, Abed al-Razeq Sadeq Ayyash and Ihab Odeh Abu Zreiq.
Ayyash pointed out that the owners of the three homes were allowed until March 25th to object the orders.
Maen Ayyash told Ma'an that the Israeli authorities had not delivered him any notices during the construction of his home, pointing out that he has been living in the house for one year and is currently only doing construction work inside the house.
Ayyash stressed that he has documents proving that the land and building belong to him, and would head to specialized institutions to file a case at Israeli courts.
Israel rarely grants Palestinians permits to build in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem, although the estimated 550,000 Jewish Israeli settlers in the occupied Palestinian territory are more easily given building permits and allowed to expand their homes and properties.
Nearly all Palestinian applications for building permits in Area C are denied by the Israeli authorities, forcing communities to build illegally.
According to Palestinians and rights groups, Israel’s overall goal, both in its policies in Area C and Israel’s settlement enterprise, is to depopulate the land of its Palestinian residents and replace them with Jewish Israeli communities in order to manipulate population demographics in all of historic Palestine.
Head of the Rafat village council, Abed al-Jawad Ayyash, told Ma'an that Israeli forces raided the village and delivered stop-construction orders to three Palestinian homes.
He identified owners of the three homes as Maen Farah Ayyash, Abed al-Razeq Sadeq Ayyash and Ihab Odeh Abu Zreiq.
Ayyash pointed out that the owners of the three homes were allowed until March 25th to object the orders.
Maen Ayyash told Ma'an that the Israeli authorities had not delivered him any notices during the construction of his home, pointing out that he has been living in the house for one year and is currently only doing construction work inside the house.
Ayyash stressed that he has documents proving that the land and building belong to him, and would head to specialized institutions to file a case at Israeli courts.
Israel rarely grants Palestinians permits to build in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem, although the estimated 550,000 Jewish Israeli settlers in the occupied Palestinian territory are more easily given building permits and allowed to expand their homes and properties.
Nearly all Palestinian applications for building permits in Area C are denied by the Israeli authorities, forcing communities to build illegally.
According to Palestinians and rights groups, Israel’s overall goal, both in its policies in Area C and Israel’s settlement enterprise, is to depopulate the land of its Palestinian residents and replace them with Jewish Israeli communities in order to manipulate population demographics in all of historic Palestine.

The Israeli occupation forces on Monday morning demolished tents inhabited by Palestinians living in al-Ras al-Ahmar village in the northern Jordan Valley.
Local sources said that a number of Israeli bulldozers stormed al-Ras al-Ahmar and demolished dozens of structures after forcing their residents out.
The sources said that the Israeli forces ordered the Palestinian villagers to leave the area, noting that this incident is not the first of its kind.
Amer Besharat, a resident of al-Ras al-Ahmar, said that the Israeli forces are attempting to empty the village of its people, especially after several agricultural projects have been launched in the area attracting hundreds of Palestinian workers.
Local sources said that a number of Israeli bulldozers stormed al-Ras al-Ahmar and demolished dozens of structures after forcing their residents out.
The sources said that the Israeli forces ordered the Palestinian villagers to leave the area, noting that this incident is not the first of its kind.
Amer Besharat, a resident of al-Ras al-Ahmar, said that the Israeli forces are attempting to empty the village of its people, especially after several agricultural projects have been launched in the area attracting hundreds of Palestinian workers.
25 feb 2019

Israeli forces detained a Palestinian and confiscated his road roller as he was working in the Deir Ballout village in western Salfit in the northern occupied West Bank, on Monday.
Engineer Ibrahim al-Hamad, Head of the Agriculture Department in Salfit, told Ma'an that the Israeli Civil Administration, escorted by Israeli forces, confiscated a road roller that is used for rehabilitating an agricultural road, claiming that the road is in Areas B and C.
Al-Hamad added that the road is being rehabilitated in order to connect Palestinian agricultural lands in the area.
Additionally, Mayor of Deir Ballout Yahiya Mustafa, told Ma'an that the agricultural road was opened 10 years ago, pointing out that the Israeli authorities detained the owner of the road roller, Wassim al-Azzam, without delivering a stop-construction order or notice.
The 1995 Oslo Accords between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israeli authorities divided the West Bank into Area A, B, and C.
Area A, comprising the populated Palestinian cities and making up 18 percent of the West Bank, would be controlled by the newly formed PA, while Area B remained under Israeli army control with the PA controlling civil affairs. Area C, the majority of the West Bank, however, was placed under full Israeli military control and contains the majority of natural resources and open spaces in the Palestinian territory.
The Israeli-controlled land was expected to be gradually transferred to the PA over a five-year period, according to the Oslo agreements. Yet, almost two decades later, the land has remained under Israeli control.
Area C, along with East Jerusalem, has been the site of rapid Israeli settlement expansions in contravention of international law, while Israel’s separation wall has further divided Palestinian communities and has restricted Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza from even visiting what was intended to be their capital.
Engineer Ibrahim al-Hamad, Head of the Agriculture Department in Salfit, told Ma'an that the Israeli Civil Administration, escorted by Israeli forces, confiscated a road roller that is used for rehabilitating an agricultural road, claiming that the road is in Areas B and C.
Al-Hamad added that the road is being rehabilitated in order to connect Palestinian agricultural lands in the area.
Additionally, Mayor of Deir Ballout Yahiya Mustafa, told Ma'an that the agricultural road was opened 10 years ago, pointing out that the Israeli authorities detained the owner of the road roller, Wassim al-Azzam, without delivering a stop-construction order or notice.
The 1995 Oslo Accords between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israeli authorities divided the West Bank into Area A, B, and C.
Area A, comprising the populated Palestinian cities and making up 18 percent of the West Bank, would be controlled by the newly formed PA, while Area B remained under Israeli army control with the PA controlling civil affairs. Area C, the majority of the West Bank, however, was placed under full Israeli military control and contains the majority of natural resources and open spaces in the Palestinian territory.
The Israeli-controlled land was expected to be gradually transferred to the PA over a five-year period, according to the Oslo agreements. Yet, almost two decades later, the land has remained under Israeli control.
Area C, along with East Jerusalem, has been the site of rapid Israeli settlement expansions in contravention of international law, while Israel’s separation wall has further divided Palestinian communities and has restricted Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza from even visiting what was intended to be their capital.

An Israeli settler surrounded hundreds of dunams of Palestinian lands with en electric fence in the al-Sweida area in the Jordan Valley, on Monday, under armed security by Israeli forces.
Mutaz Bsharat, an official who monitors settlement activity in the Tubas district/Jordan Valley, told Ma'an that the settler had set up 3 tents in the area several months ago and used them for cattle.
Bsharat pointed out that these lands are owned by Palestinians.
Additionally, Israeli forces installed surveillance cameras on all confiscated lands -- more than 600 dunams -- under procedures to prevent dozens of Palestinians from reaching their lands.
Bsharat added that Israel considers these lands under the “Absentee Property.”
The 1950 Absentee Property Law, permits the Israeli government to transfer so-called “absentee" property belonging to Palestinians to Jewish residents by submitting a payment to the Israeli Custodian of Absentee Property, allowing the Israeli government to claim that the properties had been acquired by payment instead of through direct confiscation.
The law was established following the 1948 establishment of the state of Israel that resulted in the mass displacement of more than 700,000 Palestinians. Israel’s definition of an “absentee” allowed for the Israeli state to take over Palestinian property even when the displaced residents ended up within the borders of the newly established state.
Palestinians have continued to be denied access to their properties for having been absent from their homes, even if just for a few days, as of 1947, when many Palestinians fled from their homes to escape Jewish Zionist forces during the Arab-Israeli war.
Mutaz Bsharat, an official who monitors settlement activity in the Tubas district/Jordan Valley, told Ma'an that the settler had set up 3 tents in the area several months ago and used them for cattle.
Bsharat pointed out that these lands are owned by Palestinians.
Additionally, Israeli forces installed surveillance cameras on all confiscated lands -- more than 600 dunams -- under procedures to prevent dozens of Palestinians from reaching their lands.
Bsharat added that Israel considers these lands under the “Absentee Property.”
The 1950 Absentee Property Law, permits the Israeli government to transfer so-called “absentee" property belonging to Palestinians to Jewish residents by submitting a payment to the Israeli Custodian of Absentee Property, allowing the Israeli government to claim that the properties had been acquired by payment instead of through direct confiscation.
The law was established following the 1948 establishment of the state of Israel that resulted in the mass displacement of more than 700,000 Palestinians. Israel’s definition of an “absentee” allowed for the Israeli state to take over Palestinian property even when the displaced residents ended up within the borders of the newly established state.
Palestinians have continued to be denied access to their properties for having been absent from their homes, even if just for a few days, as of 1947, when many Palestinians fled from their homes to escape Jewish Zionist forces during the Arab-Israeli war.

Israeli bulldozers razed dozens of dunams and uprooted hundreds of Palestinian-owned trees, on Monday afternoon, on lands belonging to residents from the Bartaa village, southwest of the northern occupied West Bank district of Jenin.
According to local sources, Israeli forces along with bulldozers stormed the area and began to raze about 28 dunams (6.9 acres) of land. In addition, bulldozers uprooted 300 almond and olive trees.
Sources added that the razed land belonged to Jamal Sharif Amarneh.
According to Palestinians and rights groups, Israel's main goal, both in its policies in Area C, in which more than 60% of Palestinian land is under full Israeli control, and Israel's illegal settlement enterprise, is to depopulate the land of its Palestinian residents and to replace them with Jewish Israeli communities, in order to manipulate population demographics in all of historic Palestine.
The movement of Israeli settlers taking over Palestinian land, and further displacing the local Palestinian population has been a "stable" Israeli policy since the takeover of the West Bank and Jerusalem in 1967, B'Tselem said, underscoring that all "Israeli legislative, legal, planning, funding, and defense bodies" have played an active role in the dispossession of Palestinians from their lands.
B’Tselem also argued that under the guise of a "temporary military occupation," Israel has been "using the land as its own: robbing land, exploiting the area's natural resources for its own benefit and establishing permanent settlements," estimating that Israel had dispossessed Palestinians from some 200,000 hectares (494,211 acres) of lands in the occupied Palestinian territory over the years.
According to local sources, Israeli forces along with bulldozers stormed the area and began to raze about 28 dunams (6.9 acres) of land. In addition, bulldozers uprooted 300 almond and olive trees.
Sources added that the razed land belonged to Jamal Sharif Amarneh.
According to Palestinians and rights groups, Israel's main goal, both in its policies in Area C, in which more than 60% of Palestinian land is under full Israeli control, and Israel's illegal settlement enterprise, is to depopulate the land of its Palestinian residents and to replace them with Jewish Israeli communities, in order to manipulate population demographics in all of historic Palestine.
The movement of Israeli settlers taking over Palestinian land, and further displacing the local Palestinian population has been a "stable" Israeli policy since the takeover of the West Bank and Jerusalem in 1967, B'Tselem said, underscoring that all "Israeli legislative, legal, planning, funding, and defense bodies" have played an active role in the dispossession of Palestinians from their lands.
B’Tselem also argued that under the guise of a "temporary military occupation," Israel has been "using the land as its own: robbing land, exploiting the area's natural resources for its own benefit and establishing permanent settlements," estimating that Israel had dispossessed Palestinians from some 200,000 hectares (494,211 acres) of lands in the occupied Palestinian territory over the years.
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Israeli forces destroyed two solar panels used for providing electricity to two homes in Wadi Sair area in southeastern Hebron of the southern occupied West Bank, on Sunday.
Locals reported that Israeli soldiers escorting Israeli settlers into the area and destroyed two solar panels providing electricity to two homes in Jorat al-Khayl area in Wadi Sair. Israeli soldiers destroyed the contents of three homes and confiscated surveillance camera recordings. The homes belong to locals Ibrahim Khalil Shalaldeh and Abdullah Ibrahim Shalaldeh, in addition to the home of Ahmad Shalaldeh; that was raided and damaged by Israeli settlers. Between 500,000 and 600,000 Israelis live in Jewish-only settlements |
across occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank in violation of international law, with recent announcements of settlement expansion provoking condemnation from the international community.
According to a report by Israeli NGO B'Tselem, Israeli settlers' vandalism in the occupied West Bank is a daily routine and is fully backed by Israeli authorities.
According to a report by Israeli NGO B'Tselem, Israeli settlers' vandalism in the occupied West Bank is a daily routine and is fully backed by Israeli authorities.

The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn kidnapped 11 Palestinians during West Bank sweeps.
The Israeli occupation army said in a morning statement that its forces arrested 10 Palestinians who are involved in attacks on Israeli targets.
The IOF claimed that they found a submachine gun during a search campaign in Beit Ummar town in al-Khalil.
Local sources said that the IOF arrested the Islamic Jihad leaders and ex-prisoners Khader Adnan and Tareq Qa'dan and a third Palestinian man after raiding their houses in Arraba town in Jenin.
The IOF further arrested two Palestinian youths in al-Khalil, and handed an ex-detainee an order to appear before the Israeli Intelligence Service for interrogation.
Eyewitnesses said that the IOF arrested a Palestinian young man in Beit Fajjar town in Bethlehem and seized his vehicle.
Meanwhile, two Palestinians were abducted during house raids in Salfit and Jerusalem.
The Israeli occupation army said in a morning statement that its forces arrested 10 Palestinians who are involved in attacks on Israeli targets.
The IOF claimed that they found a submachine gun during a search campaign in Beit Ummar town in al-Khalil.
Local sources said that the IOF arrested the Islamic Jihad leaders and ex-prisoners Khader Adnan and Tareq Qa'dan and a third Palestinian man after raiding their houses in Arraba town in Jenin.
The IOF further arrested two Palestinian youths in al-Khalil, and handed an ex-detainee an order to appear before the Israeli Intelligence Service for interrogation.
Eyewitnesses said that the IOF arrested a Palestinian young man in Beit Fajjar town in Bethlehem and seized his vehicle.
Meanwhile, two Palestinians were abducted during house raids in Salfit and Jerusalem.
24 feb 2019

Israeli settlers confiscated on Sunday hundreds of dunums of Palestinian land in the northern Jordan Valley, local sources said.
According to the local activist Aref Daraghmeh, the settlers placed barbed wire around the seized land located in Khillet al-Oqda and al-Sweideh area of the Jordan Valley.
Fifty years ago, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 242. The resolution is used as a framework for implementing the two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
But since its adoption in 1967, Israel has violated the resolution by entrenching its occupation of the Palestinian territories through illegal settlements particularly in the Jordan Valley as it is the most fertile area in the West Bank.
According to the local activist Aref Daraghmeh, the settlers placed barbed wire around the seized land located in Khillet al-Oqda and al-Sweideh area of the Jordan Valley.
Fifty years ago, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 242. The resolution is used as a framework for implementing the two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
But since its adoption in 1967, Israel has violated the resolution by entrenching its occupation of the Palestinian territories through illegal settlements particularly in the Jordan Valley as it is the most fertile area in the West Bank.