17 jan 2017
A Palestinian rides on a donkey with a settlement in the background
Israeli rights group Yesh Din submitted a complaint to Israeli civil authorities on behalf of Palestinian landowners, claiming that they own four plots of land allocated for the building of alternative housing for residents of the soon-to-be demolished Israeli settler outpost of Amona, Israeli media reported on Tuesday.
According to Israeli media outlet Ynet, the complaint states that the land belongs to Palestinian residents of Silwad, who are protected in accordance with the Supreme Court ruling on Amona stating that the settler outpost would be demolished owing to its location on privately held Palestinian land.
The Israeli government began constructing new homes for Amona residents last week, Ynet reported, as part of an agreement with the residents and the Israeli government to provide alternative housing to the settlers.
“Once the plots were announced, landowners had 96 hours to petition the location of the designated land in the case that they were, in fact,on private Palestinian land,” Ynet added in their report.
Last month, the Israeli Supreme Court accepted the Israeli government’s request to postpone the evacuation of Amona until Feb. 8 in order to to give additional time for the Israeli government to provide alternative housing for its residents.
Haaretz reported at the time that the government plan would see the majority of them relocated to a nearby hilltop to lease, claiming that the property had been abandoned by its Palestinian owners.
"After 20 years of pioneering settlement, and against all odds, and after two years of struggle, we have decided to suspend our struggle, and take the government's offer to build 52 houses and public buildings in new Amona," Ynet quoted the Amona settlers as saying at the time.
Following the settlers’ acceptance of the government plan, reports quickly emerged that the land slated for the relocation of Amona residents was also privately owned by Palestinians, with Israeli human rights watchdog Peace Now pointing out that “the Israeli government is replacing one land theft by another.”
Israeli rights group Yesh Din announced last month that it had filed an appeal on behalf of a Palestinian who claimed to own the land the settlers had been allocated, emphasizing the land in fact has not been abandoned, while there was evidence supporting a number of other claims to land earmarked for the Amona settlers, in the Palestinian villages of Silwad, Ein Yabrud, and other neighboring towns.
Referring to all four plots, Peace Now asserted that “These lands are private lands and their use for the purpose of settlement is contrary to previous legal opinions of the (Israeli) State.”
Mayor of Silwad Abd al-Rahman Salih told Ma’an last month that the municipal council had already been notified by Israeli authorities of plans to confiscate the privately-owned land in the town's outskirts.
"Israel claims the new land slated for confiscation has been deserted by its owners who live abroad," the mayor said. “We have all the documents to prove that the land is a private property of the town, known locally as Hawd Shbeikat. But this (Israeli) government brushes aside even the decisions of the Israeli Supreme Court."
Rights groups have highlighted that, while the settler outposts constructed in Palestinian territory are considered illegal by the Israeli government, each of the some 196 government-approved Israeli settlements scattered across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are also built in direct violation of international law.
Israeli rights group Yesh Din submitted a complaint to Israeli civil authorities on behalf of Palestinian landowners, claiming that they own four plots of land allocated for the building of alternative housing for residents of the soon-to-be demolished Israeli settler outpost of Amona, Israeli media reported on Tuesday.
According to Israeli media outlet Ynet, the complaint states that the land belongs to Palestinian residents of Silwad, who are protected in accordance with the Supreme Court ruling on Amona stating that the settler outpost would be demolished owing to its location on privately held Palestinian land.
The Israeli government began constructing new homes for Amona residents last week, Ynet reported, as part of an agreement with the residents and the Israeli government to provide alternative housing to the settlers.
“Once the plots were announced, landowners had 96 hours to petition the location of the designated land in the case that they were, in fact,on private Palestinian land,” Ynet added in their report.
Last month, the Israeli Supreme Court accepted the Israeli government’s request to postpone the evacuation of Amona until Feb. 8 in order to to give additional time for the Israeli government to provide alternative housing for its residents.
Haaretz reported at the time that the government plan would see the majority of them relocated to a nearby hilltop to lease, claiming that the property had been abandoned by its Palestinian owners.
"After 20 years of pioneering settlement, and against all odds, and after two years of struggle, we have decided to suspend our struggle, and take the government's offer to build 52 houses and public buildings in new Amona," Ynet quoted the Amona settlers as saying at the time.
Following the settlers’ acceptance of the government plan, reports quickly emerged that the land slated for the relocation of Amona residents was also privately owned by Palestinians, with Israeli human rights watchdog Peace Now pointing out that “the Israeli government is replacing one land theft by another.”
Israeli rights group Yesh Din announced last month that it had filed an appeal on behalf of a Palestinian who claimed to own the land the settlers had been allocated, emphasizing the land in fact has not been abandoned, while there was evidence supporting a number of other claims to land earmarked for the Amona settlers, in the Palestinian villages of Silwad, Ein Yabrud, and other neighboring towns.
Referring to all four plots, Peace Now asserted that “These lands are private lands and their use for the purpose of settlement is contrary to previous legal opinions of the (Israeli) State.”
Mayor of Silwad Abd al-Rahman Salih told Ma’an last month that the municipal council had already been notified by Israeli authorities of plans to confiscate the privately-owned land in the town's outskirts.
"Israel claims the new land slated for confiscation has been deserted by its owners who live abroad," the mayor said. “We have all the documents to prove that the land is a private property of the town, known locally as Hawd Shbeikat. But this (Israeli) government brushes aside even the decisions of the Israeli Supreme Court."
Rights groups have highlighted that, while the settler outposts constructed in Palestinian territory are considered illegal by the Israeli government, each of the some 196 government-approved Israeli settlements scattered across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are also built in direct violation of international law.
The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, passed a controversial bill on Tuesday that would allow verdicts from military court proceedings in the occupied West Bank to be submitted as evidence in Israeli civilian courts, a move which critics claim is another step aiming to illegally annex the West Bank by applying Israeli domestic laws in the territory.
During a debate over the bill -- proposed by MK Anat Berko from the ruling Likud party -- opposition MKs argued that the bill constitutes an extension of the Israeli occupation and the government's control over the West Bank, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported.
MK Zouheir Bahloul from the left-wing Zionist party was quoted by Haaretz as saying the bill would be a “de-facto annexation of military court verdicts to civilian courts,” adding that the Israeli government would essentially be “applying Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank, which is occupied territory.”
Previously, Israeli military rule, which Palestinians in the West Bank are subjected to, was separate from any civil legal proceedings inside Israel.
The new bill would act to synchronize these formerly distinct systems and allow Israeli civilians to use verdicts made in the military courts for civilian cases against Palestinians.
Berko reportedly argued in the Knesset debate that the law would “make it easier for victims of terror to demand compensation from convicted terrorists in civilian courts since they will not have to begin the legal process from zero, rather can base on evidence already produced in military courts."
However, since the Palestinian territory is under a military occupation, Israeli authorities are mandated by international law to follow the local legal systems already extant in the occupied territory, which in the case of Palestine falls within three legal systems: Ottoman, British, and Jordanian law.
Any application of Israeli domestic legislation or courts would be in violation of international law.
The decision is an unprecedented move by Israeli authorities and follows a right-wing upsurge in the Knesset with ultra-right ministers routinely pushing for the annexation of the West Bank.
Berko dismissed claims of annexation, claiming that “on the contrary, the law aims to fix discrimination [in the courts] in favor of the Palestinians, because while Palestinians can sue Israelis for civilian compensation based on a criminal conviction, Israelis cannot do the same to Palestinians,” adding that the bill would “balance” the legal situation.
However, Israeli criminal convictions are part of the country’s domestic law, which governs Israeli citizens, while Palestinians are under the Israeli military's jurisdiction, which is separate from any civilian legal proceedings in Israel.
MK Osama Saadi from the Joint List, representing parties led by Palestinian citizens of Israel, was quoted in Haaretz as saying that "this law is a continuation of a series of laws that we will witness in the near future.”
“Call the child by its real name and don't stand for a laundry of words - we're talking about a creeping annexation,” he added.
At the end of last year, Israeli ministers advanced the “Legalization bill,” also known as the “regulation” or “formalization” bill, which would see thousands of dunams of privately-owned Palestinian land seized and dozens of illegal Israeli outposts in the occupied West Bank retroactively legalized.
Opponents of the bill also claimed the legislation was another strategy to annex the West Bank.
The legislation passed its first reading in the Knesset, but still needs to pass its second and third readings to become law. However, it is believed that the controversial bill has been strategically stalled until President-elect Donald Trump is official sworn in as president of the United States, as he has come out as a vocal supporter of Israel's illegal settlement policy.
During a debate over the bill -- proposed by MK Anat Berko from the ruling Likud party -- opposition MKs argued that the bill constitutes an extension of the Israeli occupation and the government's control over the West Bank, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported.
MK Zouheir Bahloul from the left-wing Zionist party was quoted by Haaretz as saying the bill would be a “de-facto annexation of military court verdicts to civilian courts,” adding that the Israeli government would essentially be “applying Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank, which is occupied territory.”
Previously, Israeli military rule, which Palestinians in the West Bank are subjected to, was separate from any civil legal proceedings inside Israel.
The new bill would act to synchronize these formerly distinct systems and allow Israeli civilians to use verdicts made in the military courts for civilian cases against Palestinians.
Berko reportedly argued in the Knesset debate that the law would “make it easier for victims of terror to demand compensation from convicted terrorists in civilian courts since they will not have to begin the legal process from zero, rather can base on evidence already produced in military courts."
However, since the Palestinian territory is under a military occupation, Israeli authorities are mandated by international law to follow the local legal systems already extant in the occupied territory, which in the case of Palestine falls within three legal systems: Ottoman, British, and Jordanian law.
Any application of Israeli domestic legislation or courts would be in violation of international law.
The decision is an unprecedented move by Israeli authorities and follows a right-wing upsurge in the Knesset with ultra-right ministers routinely pushing for the annexation of the West Bank.
Berko dismissed claims of annexation, claiming that “on the contrary, the law aims to fix discrimination [in the courts] in favor of the Palestinians, because while Palestinians can sue Israelis for civilian compensation based on a criminal conviction, Israelis cannot do the same to Palestinians,” adding that the bill would “balance” the legal situation.
However, Israeli criminal convictions are part of the country’s domestic law, which governs Israeli citizens, while Palestinians are under the Israeli military's jurisdiction, which is separate from any civilian legal proceedings in Israel.
MK Osama Saadi from the Joint List, representing parties led by Palestinian citizens of Israel, was quoted in Haaretz as saying that "this law is a continuation of a series of laws that we will witness in the near future.”
“Call the child by its real name and don't stand for a laundry of words - we're talking about a creeping annexation,” he added.
At the end of last year, Israeli ministers advanced the “Legalization bill,” also known as the “regulation” or “formalization” bill, which would see thousands of dunams of privately-owned Palestinian land seized and dozens of illegal Israeli outposts in the occupied West Bank retroactively legalized.
Opponents of the bill also claimed the legislation was another strategy to annex the West Bank.
The legislation passed its first reading in the Knesset, but still needs to pass its second and third readings to become law. However, it is believed that the controversial bill has been strategically stalled until President-elect Donald Trump is official sworn in as president of the United States, as he has come out as a vocal supporter of Israel's illegal settlement policy.
Israeli municipality in occupied Jerusalem forced on Tuesday a Palestinian to demolish his own home in Issawiya town under the pretext of being built without permit.
Issawiya local committee member Muhammad Abu al-Hummus affirmed that the notified house was built nearly a year ago on an area of 120-square-meter where a family of five members, including three children, are living.
Israeli occupation authorities had recently targeted the house under the pretext of being built without permit, he added.
The homeowner, Mahmoud Firas, was forced to demolish his own home in order to avoid paying costly municipality demolition fees.
Issawiya local committee member Muhammad Abu al-Hummus affirmed that the notified house was built nearly a year ago on an area of 120-square-meter where a family of five members, including three children, are living.
Israeli occupation authorities had recently targeted the house under the pretext of being built without permit, he added.
The homeowner, Mahmoud Firas, was forced to demolish his own home in order to avoid paying costly municipality demolition fees.
The Israeli occupation forces on Tuesday morning unleashed heavy machinegun fire on Palestinian fishermen and farmers in the blockaded Gaza Strip.
A PIC news correspondent said the occupation navy targeted Palestinian fishermen sailing off western al-Waha seashore, in northern Gaza Strip, with randomly-shot spates of gunfire.
The Palestinian fishermen reportedly went ashore for fear of being killed in the assault.
On Monday, the Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) released five Palestinian fishermen after they were kidnapped by the occupation navy off Gaza’s northern coast. Their boat was however confiscated by the IOA.
The five fishermen, released at the Beit Hanoun (Erez) border crossing, were identified as Mohamed al-Sultan, Ourans al-Sultan, Emad Seyam and his son Anas, along with Mohamed Abu Diyeh.
Meanwhile, the occupation troops deployed at the Sofa military base attacked Palestinian famers in eastern Rafah city, to the south of the blockaded Gaza Strip, with barrages of machinegun fire, sparking panic among civilians.
A PIC news correspondent said the occupation navy targeted Palestinian fishermen sailing off western al-Waha seashore, in northern Gaza Strip, with randomly-shot spates of gunfire.
The Palestinian fishermen reportedly went ashore for fear of being killed in the assault.
On Monday, the Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) released five Palestinian fishermen after they were kidnapped by the occupation navy off Gaza’s northern coast. Their boat was however confiscated by the IOA.
The five fishermen, released at the Beit Hanoun (Erez) border crossing, were identified as Mohamed al-Sultan, Ourans al-Sultan, Emad Seyam and his son Anas, along with Mohamed Abu Diyeh.
Meanwhile, the occupation troops deployed at the Sofa military base attacked Palestinian famers in eastern Rafah city, to the south of the blockaded Gaza Strip, with barrages of machinegun fire, sparking panic among civilians.
The Israeli occupation bulldozers on Monday continued the demolition of Palestinian structures in East Jerusalem under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
Owner of one of the demolished structures, Ahmad al-Serkhi, said Israeli army vehicles, escorted by police forces, rolled into al-Sal’a neighborhood, in Jabal al-Mukabbir town, and continued the demolition process, which started on Saturday after the occupation authorities ordered the owners to self-demolish their own structures.
The targeted structures included a carwash, a cell phones shop, a horse barn, a diesel store, and an automobile repair shop.
The Israeli municipality threatened to subject the owners to harsh penalties in case they do not carry out the demolition on their own.
The targeted structures cover an area of 1,000 meters.
At least 18 Palestinian buildings have been knocked down by the occupation authorities since the start of 2017.
Owner of one of the demolished structures, Ahmad al-Serkhi, said Israeli army vehicles, escorted by police forces, rolled into al-Sal’a neighborhood, in Jabal al-Mukabbir town, and continued the demolition process, which started on Saturday after the occupation authorities ordered the owners to self-demolish their own structures.
The targeted structures included a carwash, a cell phones shop, a horse barn, a diesel store, and an automobile repair shop.
The Israeli municipality threatened to subject the owners to harsh penalties in case they do not carry out the demolition on their own.
The targeted structures cover an area of 1,000 meters.
At least 18 Palestinian buildings have been knocked down by the occupation authorities since the start of 2017.
16 jan 2017
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) cut down on Monday hundreds of Palestinian-owned olive trees in Ezba Tabib town east of Qalqilia for the establishment of road surrounding the neighboring settlements.
Head of the village council affirmed that Israeli forces stormed the area along with a number of military bulldozers and starting uprooting hundreds of olive trees.
At least 1,000 olive trees were uprooted in the area as a prelude for the establishment of “a settlement road,” he added.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces violently suppressed dozens of local residents who gathered and protested against the bulldozing operation.
Earlier Monday, IOF confiscated on Monday Palestinian tractors and a truck in the Northern Jordan Valley to the east of Tubas.
Head of the village council affirmed that Israeli forces stormed the area along with a number of military bulldozers and starting uprooting hundreds of olive trees.
At least 1,000 olive trees were uprooted in the area as a prelude for the establishment of “a settlement road,” he added.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces violently suppressed dozens of local residents who gathered and protested against the bulldozing operation.
Earlier Monday, IOF confiscated on Monday Palestinian tractors and a truck in the Northern Jordan Valley to the east of Tubas.
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) seized a number of Palestinians’ cars in Bartaa al-Sharkiya town which is isolated by the Israeli Separation Wall in Jenin.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that dozens of the IOF soldiers raided the town, broke into car repair shops and confiscated a score of vehicles. They questioned shop owners in the field, the sources highlighted.
The soldiers transferred the vehicles, some of which have Israeli car plates, to an unknown destination. They handed summonses to some of the car shop owners to be questioned, the sources pointed out.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that dozens of the IOF soldiers raided the town, broke into car repair shops and confiscated a score of vehicles. They questioned shop owners in the field, the sources highlighted.
The soldiers transferred the vehicles, some of which have Israeli car plates, to an unknown destination. They handed summonses to some of the car shop owners to be questioned, the sources pointed out.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) confiscated on Monday Palestinian tractors and a truck in the Northern Jordan Valley to the east of Tubas.
Aref Daraghmeh, human rights activist, told the PIC reporter that civil administration teams and IOF soldiers raided Abziq hamlet and an area near Irza hamlet and confiscated two tractors belonging to Methqal Naghnaghiya and Nimer al-Hourob.
The IOF soldiers also confiscated a parked truck belonging to Hussein Mesa’eed and took the whole lot to Nahel camp near the Hamamat el-Malih area.
The Israeli policy of confiscating Palestinian vehicles and tools aims at pressuring citizens to leave and evacuate their homes and lands, Daraghmeh stressed while appealing to human rights organizations to stand alongside the Palestinians to regain their belongings and to stop the policy of confiscation and harassment.
Aref Daraghmeh, human rights activist, told the PIC reporter that civil administration teams and IOF soldiers raided Abziq hamlet and an area near Irza hamlet and confiscated two tractors belonging to Methqal Naghnaghiya and Nimer al-Hourob.
The IOF soldiers also confiscated a parked truck belonging to Hussein Mesa’eed and took the whole lot to Nahel camp near the Hamamat el-Malih area.
The Israeli policy of confiscating Palestinian vehicles and tools aims at pressuring citizens to leave and evacuate their homes and lands, Daraghmeh stressed while appealing to human rights organizations to stand alongside the Palestinians to regain their belongings and to stop the policy of confiscation and harassment.
15 jan 2017
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Sunday at dawn, several areas of the occupied West Bank, broke into and searched many homes and abducted four Palestinians. The army also installed roadblocks, and summoned a father and his son for interrogation.
Several army vehicles invaded Jenin city, in the northern part of the occupied West Bank, before the soldiers stormed and searched homes, and abducted a former political prisoner and one of his relatives.
The Jenin office of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) said the soldiers abducted Noureddin Mohmmad Sa’adi, from his home in Sa’ada neighborhood in the city, after the soldiers interrogated him and his family.
The soldiers also abducted Hamza Sa’adi, after breaking into his home and searching it, the PPS added.
In Nablus, in the northern part of the West Bank, the soldiers invaded Beita town, south of the city, searched several homes and abducted a former political prisoner, identified as Ammar Zoheir As’ad, 32.
His family said the soldiers interrogated them while ransacking their property, and illegally confiscated sums of cash.
Furthermore, the soldiers invaded the al-‘Eesawiyya town, in occupied Jerusalem, and abducted a young man, identified as Ammar Obeid, before taking him to an interrogation center in the city.
In Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank, several army vehicles invaded Beit Ummar town, north of the city, searched homes and summoned a former political prisoner, identified as Hamdi Zamel Abu Mariya, 50, and his son Mohammad, 15, for interrogation in Etzion military camp and security center.
The soldiers also installed roadblocks leading to the northern entrance of the ath-Thaheriyya town, south of Hebron, before stopping and searching dozens of cars while investigating the ID cards of the passengers.
Another roadblock was installed on the main road in front of the al-Fawwar refugee camp, southwest of Hebron, and briefly detained several young men while inspecting their ID cards and questioning them.
Several army vehicles invaded Jenin city, in the northern part of the occupied West Bank, before the soldiers stormed and searched homes, and abducted a former political prisoner and one of his relatives.
The Jenin office of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) said the soldiers abducted Noureddin Mohmmad Sa’adi, from his home in Sa’ada neighborhood in the city, after the soldiers interrogated him and his family.
The soldiers also abducted Hamza Sa’adi, after breaking into his home and searching it, the PPS added.
In Nablus, in the northern part of the West Bank, the soldiers invaded Beita town, south of the city, searched several homes and abducted a former political prisoner, identified as Ammar Zoheir As’ad, 32.
His family said the soldiers interrogated them while ransacking their property, and illegally confiscated sums of cash.
Furthermore, the soldiers invaded the al-‘Eesawiyya town, in occupied Jerusalem, and abducted a young man, identified as Ammar Obeid, before taking him to an interrogation center in the city.
In Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank, several army vehicles invaded Beit Ummar town, north of the city, searched homes and summoned a former political prisoner, identified as Hamdi Zamel Abu Mariya, 50, and his son Mohammad, 15, for interrogation in Etzion military camp and security center.
The soldiers also installed roadblocks leading to the northern entrance of the ath-Thaheriyya town, south of Hebron, before stopping and searching dozens of cars while investigating the ID cards of the passengers.
Another roadblock was installed on the main road in front of the al-Fawwar refugee camp, southwest of Hebron, and briefly detained several young men while inspecting their ID cards and questioning them.
14 jan 2017
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) carried out at dawn Saturday a large-scale raid and arrest campaign throughout West Bank.
Two brothers were detained east of Salfit, while another young man was arrested in Tulkarem and taken handcuffed to unknown detention center.
In Ramallah, a youngster was rounded up in Beit Rima town north of city and taken for investigation.
In al-Khalil, a Palestinian-owned vehicle was confiscated in Beit Ummar town north of the city which led to the outbreak of violent clashes.
The local activist Mohamed Awad affirmed that the clashes broke out when Israeli forces stormed in large numbers the resident Ibrahim Khalil’s house before confiscating his car.
Heavy teargas bombs and rubber bullets were fired during the clashes.
Two brothers were detained east of Salfit, while another young man was arrested in Tulkarem and taken handcuffed to unknown detention center.
In Ramallah, a youngster was rounded up in Beit Rima town north of city and taken for investigation.
In al-Khalil, a Palestinian-owned vehicle was confiscated in Beit Ummar town north of the city which led to the outbreak of violent clashes.
The local activist Mohamed Awad affirmed that the clashes broke out when Israeli forces stormed in large numbers the resident Ibrahim Khalil’s house before confiscating his car.
Heavy teargas bombs and rubber bullets were fired during the clashes.