11 feb 2020
Oranit settlement near Qalqilya, northern occupied West Bank
The National Bureau for defending land and resisting settlements stated, in its latest weekly report, that US President Donald Trump’s adviser, Jared Kushner recently announced that Israel won’t annex Palestinian lands before the upcoming Knesset elections, thereby explaining the controversy among Likud, the government, and settlers regarding the annexation projects that the US administration stipulated in the so-called ‘Deal of the Century’.
Kushner’s statements came as Netanyahu expressed his willingness to annex Palestinian lands to Israel before the upcoming Knesset elections scheduled for the 2nd of next March, PNN further reports. At the same time, the heads of settlement councils demanded, during their meeting with Netanyahu, to impose Israeli sovereignty over the settlements in the occupied West Bank without coordination with the United States of America.
Moreover, Netanyahu added that the annexation process will take longer time, as it requires the demarcation of maps and matching them with those contained in the Trump plan, besides the necessity of coordinating them closely with the American Administration.
Concurrently, work is going on with the heads of the settlement blocs in the occupied West Bank, to ensure that all settlements are included in the decision, in accordance with the major plans outlined by the us proposal, and to ensure that these settlement blocs will not be affected by the decision, in the long run.
Within this context, the EU opposes the annexation, and affirmed that it does not recognize Israel’s sovereignty in the areas occupied in 1967, including the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Syrian Golan Heights.
As for the ‘Deal of the Century’, the EU announced that the plan exceeds the agreed upon international standards, and assured that it will continue to support the 2-state solution based on the 1967 borders.
Worth mentioning is the fact that that 100 US Democratic Party Congressmen have expressed their rejection of the “deal,” and stressed that it will push Israelis and Palestinians toward more conflict, and added that the plan paves the way for Israel to permanently occupy the West Bank, and supports the unilateral annexation of Israeli settlements with the Jordan Valley, in return for a dismantled Palestinian State, under Israeli control, and surrounded with settlements.
In parallel, Israel continues the policy of both Judaization and Israeli nationalization in Jerusalem, using various tools, including the Israeli Judiciary, which plays, particularly in Jerusalem, the role of infiltrating real-estate belonging to Palestinians, for settlement societies—especially the ‘Ateret Cohenim Settlement Association.’
Israel’s policy, in this regard, is an extension of that policy, which it initiated from the first years of the occupation, where the Judaization of Jerusalem began directly with the 1967 occupation, as Israel began the process of ethnic cleansing in the Moroccan Neighborhood, which was totally wiped out and its residents were replaced by Jewish settlers.
On June 27th of the same year, the Israeli government approved a law annexing East Jerusalem, in addition to the annexation of 14 other Palestinian villages and confiscation of the lands of 29 villages; consequently, Israel doubled the area Jerusalem, when it occupied in 1948.
Within the context of plundering the properties, lands and wealth of the Palestinian people, occupation authorities began digging a water well in the “Qadumim” settlement, naming it “Qadumim 1.” And, in the village of Jinsafoot, to the south of Qalqilia, farmers said that they lost their fertile lands as Israel expanded the “Karni Shamorn” settlement, in 1978.
Data from the population register for settlers in the West Bank, in 2019, revealed that the number of settlers increased by 3.4%, which is twice the rate of population growth in Israel. Knowing that this data does not include Jews in the occupied Jerusalem and its surroundings, whose number exceeds 300,000 settlers.
Within this context, a former member of the Knesset, and a former professor of political science at the Hebrew University, Dr. Ofer Kassiv, directed unusual and unprecedented criticism after he likened Israel to Nazi-Germany to a state on a slope that quickly slips toward fascism.
Also, the Israeli historian, Daniel Baltman, described the statements of Yitzhar settlement rabbi David Dod Kibbits, made during the funeral of settler Itamar Ben Gal, in 2018—in which he called for the extermination of the Palestinian people—as an incitement to genocide.
He described Palestinian lives in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as catastrophic, adding the people are humiliated, stylized, and imprisoned in an overcrowded ghetto. Houses are being raided and children are terrorized, living a very miserable condition, in addition to being mercilessly shot by Israeli soldiers.
The National Bureau for defending land and resisting settlements stated, in its latest weekly report, that US President Donald Trump’s adviser, Jared Kushner recently announced that Israel won’t annex Palestinian lands before the upcoming Knesset elections, thereby explaining the controversy among Likud, the government, and settlers regarding the annexation projects that the US administration stipulated in the so-called ‘Deal of the Century’.
Kushner’s statements came as Netanyahu expressed his willingness to annex Palestinian lands to Israel before the upcoming Knesset elections scheduled for the 2nd of next March, PNN further reports. At the same time, the heads of settlement councils demanded, during their meeting with Netanyahu, to impose Israeli sovereignty over the settlements in the occupied West Bank without coordination with the United States of America.
Moreover, Netanyahu added that the annexation process will take longer time, as it requires the demarcation of maps and matching them with those contained in the Trump plan, besides the necessity of coordinating them closely with the American Administration.
Concurrently, work is going on with the heads of the settlement blocs in the occupied West Bank, to ensure that all settlements are included in the decision, in accordance with the major plans outlined by the us proposal, and to ensure that these settlement blocs will not be affected by the decision, in the long run.
Within this context, the EU opposes the annexation, and affirmed that it does not recognize Israel’s sovereignty in the areas occupied in 1967, including the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Syrian Golan Heights.
As for the ‘Deal of the Century’, the EU announced that the plan exceeds the agreed upon international standards, and assured that it will continue to support the 2-state solution based on the 1967 borders.
Worth mentioning is the fact that that 100 US Democratic Party Congressmen have expressed their rejection of the “deal,” and stressed that it will push Israelis and Palestinians toward more conflict, and added that the plan paves the way for Israel to permanently occupy the West Bank, and supports the unilateral annexation of Israeli settlements with the Jordan Valley, in return for a dismantled Palestinian State, under Israeli control, and surrounded with settlements.
In parallel, Israel continues the policy of both Judaization and Israeli nationalization in Jerusalem, using various tools, including the Israeli Judiciary, which plays, particularly in Jerusalem, the role of infiltrating real-estate belonging to Palestinians, for settlement societies—especially the ‘Ateret Cohenim Settlement Association.’
Israel’s policy, in this regard, is an extension of that policy, which it initiated from the first years of the occupation, where the Judaization of Jerusalem began directly with the 1967 occupation, as Israel began the process of ethnic cleansing in the Moroccan Neighborhood, which was totally wiped out and its residents were replaced by Jewish settlers.
On June 27th of the same year, the Israeli government approved a law annexing East Jerusalem, in addition to the annexation of 14 other Palestinian villages and confiscation of the lands of 29 villages; consequently, Israel doubled the area Jerusalem, when it occupied in 1948.
Within the context of plundering the properties, lands and wealth of the Palestinian people, occupation authorities began digging a water well in the “Qadumim” settlement, naming it “Qadumim 1.” And, in the village of Jinsafoot, to the south of Qalqilia, farmers said that they lost their fertile lands as Israel expanded the “Karni Shamorn” settlement, in 1978.
Data from the population register for settlers in the West Bank, in 2019, revealed that the number of settlers increased by 3.4%, which is twice the rate of population growth in Israel. Knowing that this data does not include Jews in the occupied Jerusalem and its surroundings, whose number exceeds 300,000 settlers.
Within this context, a former member of the Knesset, and a former professor of political science at the Hebrew University, Dr. Ofer Kassiv, directed unusual and unprecedented criticism after he likened Israel to Nazi-Germany to a state on a slope that quickly slips toward fascism.
Also, the Israeli historian, Daniel Baltman, described the statements of Yitzhar settlement rabbi David Dod Kibbits, made during the funeral of settler Itamar Ben Gal, in 2018—in which he called for the extermination of the Palestinian people—as an incitement to genocide.
He described Palestinian lives in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as catastrophic, adding the people are humiliated, stylized, and imprisoned in an overcrowded ghetto. Houses are being raided and children are terrorized, living a very miserable condition, in addition to being mercilessly shot by Israeli soldiers.
As part of its collective punishment policy against Palestinians, the Israeli army notified today the family of a detainee that its home is going to be demolished in reprisal for an attack that left one Israeli settler dead, according to a local official.
Izzat Badwan, head of Kubar village council, told WAFA that the Israeli army informed the family of Qassam Barghouti, who is held in prison, of its decision to demolish the family’s two floor house in Kubar.
The army told the family it has until Thursday to object this decision at Israeli courts, but the family said it will not file any objection with Israeli courts since they are going to rule for the military anyhow as has been in all previous similar cases.
Barghouti was detained at the end of September 2019 for allegedly taking part in planting a bomb near a Ramallah-area village that caused the death of an Israeli settler.
Izzat Badwan, head of Kubar village council, told WAFA that the Israeli army informed the family of Qassam Barghouti, who is held in prison, of its decision to demolish the family’s two floor house in Kubar.
The army told the family it has until Thursday to object this decision at Israeli courts, but the family said it will not file any objection with Israeli courts since they are going to rule for the military anyhow as has been in all previous similar cases.
Barghouti was detained at the end of September 2019 for allegedly taking part in planting a bomb near a Ramallah-area village that caused the death of an Israeli settler.
10 feb 2020
Israeli police early Monday seized money from the families of former prisoners during multiple raids across occupied East Jerusalem.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center, a Silwan-based watchdog, said that police and intelligence officers stormed the family houses of four former prisoners in the Jerusalem neighborhoods of Silwan and Sur Baher, ransacking them and seizing all the money found. video
The watchdog center elaborated that the funds were seized purportedly for being paid by “hostile entities”, in reference to the stipends the Palestinian Authority pays to the families of Palestinian prisoners.
Police seized they could find in the houses, even the saving found in the piggy banks of children, in addition to a vehicle. The seized funds totaled NIS 26,790 ($7,800).
They also froze the bank accounts run by the families of nine prisoners. The total of NIS 270,900 ($80,000).
Israeli minister Naftali Bennett issued a decision several weeks ago to withhold the salaries of eight imprisoned Palestinian citizens of Israel purportedly for receiving monthly stipends from the Palestinian Authority.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center, a Silwan-based watchdog, said that police and intelligence officers stormed the family houses of four former prisoners in the Jerusalem neighborhoods of Silwan and Sur Baher, ransacking them and seizing all the money found. video
The watchdog center elaborated that the funds were seized purportedly for being paid by “hostile entities”, in reference to the stipends the Palestinian Authority pays to the families of Palestinian prisoners.
Police seized they could find in the houses, even the saving found in the piggy banks of children, in addition to a vehicle. The seized funds totaled NIS 26,790 ($7,800).
They also froze the bank accounts run by the families of nine prisoners. The total of NIS 270,900 ($80,000).
Israeli minister Naftali Bennett issued a decision several weeks ago to withhold the salaries of eight imprisoned Palestinian citizens of Israel purportedly for receiving monthly stipends from the Palestinian Authority.
9 feb 2020
A Palestinian family from Jabal al—Mokabber village, in occupied East Jerusalem, was forced to demolish its own home in, Sunday, after the City Council claimed that the land where the property is built is “state land” where constructions are prohibited.
The owner of the property, Maha ad-Dibis, said she and her family had to demolish their own home, after receiving a demolition order several days ago, informing them that they have twelve days to destroy the property or face very high fines and fees, in addition to the cost of the demolition if the city uses its workers and machines. video
Ad-Dibis added the home was built four years ago on land that has been owned by the family for many generations and added that the City Council is alleging the land has been confiscated and is considered a state-owned property.
She also said she has all needed deeds and legal documents, and that the city even imposed an additional 45.000 Shekels fine that the family has been paying over the last three years, in addition to paying legal costs to the attorney and the courts.
The property was inhabited by five family members.
The owner of the property, Maha ad-Dibis, said she and her family had to demolish their own home, after receiving a demolition order several days ago, informing them that they have twelve days to destroy the property or face very high fines and fees, in addition to the cost of the demolition if the city uses its workers and machines. video
Ad-Dibis added the home was built four years ago on land that has been owned by the family for many generations and added that the City Council is alleging the land has been confiscated and is considered a state-owned property.
She also said she has all needed deeds and legal documents, and that the city even imposed an additional 45.000 Shekels fine that the family has been paying over the last three years, in addition to paying legal costs to the attorney and the courts.
The property was inhabited by five family members.
With elections just three weeks away, caretaker prime minister tells campaign rally in Ma'ale Adumim: 'We are already at the height of the process of mapping the area that, according to the Trump plan, will become part of the State of Israel. It won't take too long'
Israel has begun to draw up maps of land in the West Bank that will be annexed in accordance with U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed peace plan, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday.
"We are already at the height of the process of mapping the area that, according to the Trump plan, will become part of the State of Israel. It won't take too long," Netanyahu said at an election campaign rally in the Ma'ale Adumim settlement.
Netanyahu said the area would include all Israeli settlements and the Jordan Valley in the West Bank, an area that Israel captured in the 1967 Six-Day War, which Palestinians want for their future state.
"The only map that can be accepted as the map of Palestine is the map of the Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital," said Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Prospects for annexations, which have already been widely condemned, are unclear.
Israel will hold a national election on March 2 - its third in a 12-month period - and Netanyahu, who has been indicted for criminal corruption, is hoping to win a fifth term in office. He presently heads a caretaker government, whose legal authority to annex territory is still undecided by judicial authorities.
Settlers make up part of Netanyahu's right-wing voter base and many members of his coalition cabinet view the West Bank as the biblical heartland of the Jewish people.
Most countries consider Israeli settlements on land captured in war to be a violation of international law. Trump has changed U.S. policy to withdraw such objections.
Palestinians say the settlements make a future state non-viable. Israel cites security needs as well as biblical and historical ties to the land on which they are built.
Trump's plan envisages a two-state solution with Israel and a future Palestinian state living alongside each other, but it includes strict conditions that Palestinians reject.
The blueprint gives Israel much of what it has long sought, including U.S. recognition of settlements and Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan Valley.
A redrawn, demilitarized Palestinian state would be subject to Israeli control over its security, and would receive tracts of desert in return for arable land settled by Israelis.
Right after Trump presented the plan on Jan. 28, Netanyahu said his government would begin extending Israeli sovereignty to the settlements and the Jordan Valley within days.
But Washington then appeared to put the breaks on that and Netanyahu has since faced pressure from settler leaders to annex territory despite any U.S. objections.
Israel has begun to draw up maps of land in the West Bank that will be annexed in accordance with U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed peace plan, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday.
"We are already at the height of the process of mapping the area that, according to the Trump plan, will become part of the State of Israel. It won't take too long," Netanyahu said at an election campaign rally in the Ma'ale Adumim settlement.
Netanyahu said the area would include all Israeli settlements and the Jordan Valley in the West Bank, an area that Israel captured in the 1967 Six-Day War, which Palestinians want for their future state.
"The only map that can be accepted as the map of Palestine is the map of the Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital," said Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Prospects for annexations, which have already been widely condemned, are unclear.
Israel will hold a national election on March 2 - its third in a 12-month period - and Netanyahu, who has been indicted for criminal corruption, is hoping to win a fifth term in office. He presently heads a caretaker government, whose legal authority to annex territory is still undecided by judicial authorities.
Settlers make up part of Netanyahu's right-wing voter base and many members of his coalition cabinet view the West Bank as the biblical heartland of the Jewish people.
Most countries consider Israeli settlements on land captured in war to be a violation of international law. Trump has changed U.S. policy to withdraw such objections.
Palestinians say the settlements make a future state non-viable. Israel cites security needs as well as biblical and historical ties to the land on which they are built.
Trump's plan envisages a two-state solution with Israel and a future Palestinian state living alongside each other, but it includes strict conditions that Palestinians reject.
The blueprint gives Israel much of what it has long sought, including U.S. recognition of settlements and Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan Valley.
A redrawn, demilitarized Palestinian state would be subject to Israeli control over its security, and would receive tracts of desert in return for arable land settled by Israelis.
Right after Trump presented the plan on Jan. 28, Netanyahu said his government would begin extending Israeli sovereignty to the settlements and the Jordan Valley within days.
But Washington then appeared to put the breaks on that and Netanyahu has since faced pressure from settler leaders to annex territory despite any U.S. objections.
8 feb 2020
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Saturday stormed Kafr Ni'ma town, west of Ramallah in the West Bank, provoking clashes with local young men.
According to eyewitnesses, the IOF spread through the town’s streets, encircled the industrial school before raiding it and confiscated security camera recordings from stores and homes.
Local youths confronted the soldiers and their vehicles by throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at them.
The IOF stormed the town as part of its manhunt campaign to look for the Palestinian who shot and injured on Friday an Israeli soldier near the illegal settlement of Dolev, northwest of Ramallah.
The IOF also shut down in the morning the barrier on the Enab road in the west of Deir Ibzi village and blocked movement of citizens and vehicles for some time.
According to eyewitnesses, the IOF spread through the town’s streets, encircled the industrial school before raiding it and confiscated security camera recordings from stores and homes.
Local youths confronted the soldiers and their vehicles by throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at them.
The IOF stormed the town as part of its manhunt campaign to look for the Palestinian who shot and injured on Friday an Israeli soldier near the illegal settlement of Dolev, northwest of Ramallah.
The IOF also shut down in the morning the barrier on the Enab road in the west of Deir Ibzi village and blocked movement of citizens and vehicles for some time.
