31 jan 2017
A government-sponsored bill is being currently discussed by a Knesset committee in an attempt to tighten grip on Palestinians building in the Green Line (1948 Occupied Palestine), Haaretz reported Monday.
The bill seeks to amend planning and construction laws in order to deter the Palestinians from building homes in the Green Line, an activity deemed illegal by the Israeli authorities.
The bill includes increasing the maximum imprisonment for unlicensed building from two years to three years, and reducing the authority of the court in favor of the Finance Ministry’s enforcement unit.
Those who violate the bill will also be subjected to demolition and displacement.
According to Haaretz, the measure targets Palestinian residents of the Green Line, who have often tried every possible effort to obtain construction licenses from the Israeli authorities. Most of their appeals have, however, gone unheeded.
Recently, the Israeli government refused a draft legislation proposed by two Arab MKs in the Knesset to suspend arbitrary demolition of unlicensed Palestinian homes for four years until a solution is found.
In January 2017, 11 Palestinian homes were knocked down by the Israeli forces in Qalansuwa town, to the north of the Green Line, and 15 other homes were demolished in Umm al-Hiran Bedouin village in southern Negev under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
According to experts, Palestinian residents of the Green Line are in urgent need of 130,000 homes to house homeless civilians, particularly newly-wed couples.
The bill seeks to amend planning and construction laws in order to deter the Palestinians from building homes in the Green Line, an activity deemed illegal by the Israeli authorities.
The bill includes increasing the maximum imprisonment for unlicensed building from two years to three years, and reducing the authority of the court in favor of the Finance Ministry’s enforcement unit.
Those who violate the bill will also be subjected to demolition and displacement.
According to Haaretz, the measure targets Palestinian residents of the Green Line, who have often tried every possible effort to obtain construction licenses from the Israeli authorities. Most of their appeals have, however, gone unheeded.
Recently, the Israeli government refused a draft legislation proposed by two Arab MKs in the Knesset to suspend arbitrary demolition of unlicensed Palestinian homes for four years until a solution is found.
In January 2017, 11 Palestinian homes were knocked down by the Israeli forces in Qalansuwa town, to the north of the Green Line, and 15 other homes were demolished in Umm al-Hiran Bedouin village in southern Negev under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
According to experts, Palestinian residents of the Green Line are in urgent need of 130,000 homes to house homeless civilians, particularly newly-wed couples.
30 jan 2017
Officials at the Ministry of Agriculture visited the farming lands near the borders between Gaza and 1948 occupied Palestine to inspect the damage caused by Israeli pesticides sprayed by planes.
Mohammad Jadallah, Ministry of Agriculture undersecretary, who led the visiting officials, stressed that the Ministry is paying special attention to the border area due to its richness and diversity. Furthermore, it is considered the food basket of the Gaza Strip, he added.
Israeli planes sprayed pesticides last week on agricultural lands belonging to Palestinian citizens in the eastern areas of the southern and central provinces.
Farmers in those areas have been suffering big losses due to the Israeli measure of spraying pesticides on crops along the borders, Jadallah pointed out.
He urged the international concerned organizations to take the necessary procedures to stop the harmful Israeli practices against the agricultural and environmental sectors in Gaza.
Mohammad Jadallah, Ministry of Agriculture undersecretary, who led the visiting officials, stressed that the Ministry is paying special attention to the border area due to its richness and diversity. Furthermore, it is considered the food basket of the Gaza Strip, he added.
Israeli planes sprayed pesticides last week on agricultural lands belonging to Palestinian citizens in the eastern areas of the southern and central provinces.
Farmers in those areas have been suffering big losses due to the Israeli measure of spraying pesticides on crops along the borders, Jadallah pointed out.
He urged the international concerned organizations to take the necessary procedures to stop the harmful Israeli practices against the agricultural and environmental sectors in Gaza.
Israeli authorities declared intention to tighten penalties against Palestinian owners of “unauthorized” homes, Haaretz Hebrew newspaper reported on Monday.
The paper said that the Interior Committee of the Knesset is scheduled to discuss Monday a new bill to regulate planning and building law.
The bill aims at tightening penalties against Palestinian owners of “unauthorized” homes, according to the sources.
The penalties include imposing 2 to 3 years prison sentences and heavy fines.
While refusing to grant Palestinians building permits, the Israeli authorities have recently intensified their demolition operations targeting Palestinian homes, justifying their actions by claiming that these homes were built without permits.
The Israeli military in practice refuses to grant building permits to Palestinians in 99 percent of Area C of the occupied West Bank under flimsy pretexts, while granting settlements jurisdiction in the same area, according to the Israeli rights groups Bimkom and B’Tselem.
The paper said that the Interior Committee of the Knesset is scheduled to discuss Monday a new bill to regulate planning and building law.
The bill aims at tightening penalties against Palestinian owners of “unauthorized” homes, according to the sources.
The penalties include imposing 2 to 3 years prison sentences and heavy fines.
While refusing to grant Palestinians building permits, the Israeli authorities have recently intensified their demolition operations targeting Palestinian homes, justifying their actions by claiming that these homes were built without permits.
The Israeli military in practice refuses to grant building permits to Palestinians in 99 percent of Area C of the occupied West Bank under flimsy pretexts, while granting settlements jurisdiction in the same area, according to the Israeli rights groups Bimkom and B’Tselem.
Israeli military bulldozers leveled lands in Kafer el-Deek town in Salfit Monday morning as a prelude to build four new Israeli illegal settlements.
Local farmers affirmed to the PIC reporter that Israeli bulldozers leveled lands near Leshem and Ale Zahav settlements illegally built in Salfit.
The researcher in settlement affairs Khaled Maali pointed out that Israeli bulldozing operations have notably intensified since Donald Trump assumed the U.S. presidency.
He stressed that the escalated settlement construction violates the UN Security Council’s resolution 2334 adopted on 23 December 2016 which condemns and outlaws Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Local farmers affirmed to the PIC reporter that Israeli bulldozers leveled lands near Leshem and Ale Zahav settlements illegally built in Salfit.
The researcher in settlement affairs Khaled Maali pointed out that Israeli bulldozing operations have notably intensified since Donald Trump assumed the U.S. presidency.
He stressed that the escalated settlement construction violates the UN Security Council’s resolution 2334 adopted on 23 December 2016 which condemns and outlaws Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
29 jan 2017
Israeli police forces broke into the unrecognized Palestinian village in the Negev Umm al-Hiran on Sunday and besieged newly erected caravans in a prelude to confiscating them.
According to 48 Arabs website, Raed Abu al-Qiaan, chairman of the local committee in Umm al-Hiran, said that Israeli police forces cordoned two caravans and attempted to confiscate them.
Abu al-Qiaan said, "The Israeli authorities' vicious and inhumane attacks on Umm al-Hiran are still ongoing, and we call on everyone to immediately gather in the village."
He added that despite the fact that grief still hangs over the village, the Israeli police forces came to demolish the caravans which were brought to shelter children, women and elders from the cold weather.
President of the Arab Lawyers Union Association in the Negev, notary and lawyer Sulaiman al-Ibra said that his association decided to go to the court to obtain a restraining order against confiscation and demolition of the two caravans.
Hundreds of Palestinian families in Umm al-Hiran are living a real disaster due to the Israeli house demolitions, which led the Higher Committee of Arabs in the Negev to call for rebuilding the destroyed houses and ask people who want to participate in the reconstruction to communicate and coordinate with the local committee in the village.
Sources in the village reported that mobile homes were brought to the village on Saturday evening within a campaign initiated in the 1948 occupied Palestinian territories to enhance the resilience of the people of Umm al-Hiran in the face of the Israeli actions attempting to uproot them from their lands.
The first donated mobile home as well as emergency aid, food parcels and blankets were brought to the village from 'Ara town in the 1948 occupied Palestine.
The popular committees of the Palestinian towns in the 1948 occupied territories announced providing three mobile homes to shelter the families of Umm al-Hiran who have been living in tents since the demolition of 12 houses and 8 agricultural facilities in a savage Israeli process that also led to the murder of Yaqoub Abu al-Qiaan by Israeli policemen.
These donations came in response to the distress call of the local committee of Umm al-Hiran to start rebuilding the demolished houses. The First caravan, coming from 'Ara, was delivered on Friday. Two other caravans, donated by the people of Ar'ara and Abillin towns, will follow.
People of Umm al-Hiran village in the Negev are facing the freezing weather with tents that could barely protect them after the Israeli forces demolished their houses and left them homeless.
According to 48 Arabs website, Raed Abu al-Qiaan, chairman of the local committee in Umm al-Hiran, said that Israeli police forces cordoned two caravans and attempted to confiscate them.
Abu al-Qiaan said, "The Israeli authorities' vicious and inhumane attacks on Umm al-Hiran are still ongoing, and we call on everyone to immediately gather in the village."
He added that despite the fact that grief still hangs over the village, the Israeli police forces came to demolish the caravans which were brought to shelter children, women and elders from the cold weather.
President of the Arab Lawyers Union Association in the Negev, notary and lawyer Sulaiman al-Ibra said that his association decided to go to the court to obtain a restraining order against confiscation and demolition of the two caravans.
Hundreds of Palestinian families in Umm al-Hiran are living a real disaster due to the Israeli house demolitions, which led the Higher Committee of Arabs in the Negev to call for rebuilding the destroyed houses and ask people who want to participate in the reconstruction to communicate and coordinate with the local committee in the village.
Sources in the village reported that mobile homes were brought to the village on Saturday evening within a campaign initiated in the 1948 occupied Palestinian territories to enhance the resilience of the people of Umm al-Hiran in the face of the Israeli actions attempting to uproot them from their lands.
The first donated mobile home as well as emergency aid, food parcels and blankets were brought to the village from 'Ara town in the 1948 occupied Palestine.
The popular committees of the Palestinian towns in the 1948 occupied territories announced providing three mobile homes to shelter the families of Umm al-Hiran who have been living in tents since the demolition of 12 houses and 8 agricultural facilities in a savage Israeli process that also led to the murder of Yaqoub Abu al-Qiaan by Israeli policemen.
These donations came in response to the distress call of the local committee of Umm al-Hiran to start rebuilding the demolished houses. The First caravan, coming from 'Ara, was delivered on Friday. Two other caravans, donated by the people of Ar'ara and Abillin towns, will follow.
People of Umm al-Hiran village in the Negev are facing the freezing weather with tents that could barely protect them after the Israeli forces demolished their houses and left them homeless.
Palestinians living in 1948 Occupied Palestine started the reconstruction of the unrecognized Umm al-Hiran village, days after the Israeli forces knocked down the village and killed a Palestinian resident.
According to local sources, donated mobile homes were delivered to the Bedouin village of Umm al-Hiran in the southern Negev region of Israel on Saturday afternoon, ten days after Israeli authorities demolished more than a dozen Palestinian structures in the community.
The first makeshift home arrived from the Arara village as part of a campaign aiming to rebuild Palestinian homes in Umm al-Hiran.
Food parcels and much-needed items, including winter blankets, have also been handed over to the Palestinian natives of Umm al-Hiran, most of whom have been taking shelter in ramshackle makeshift tents.
Recently, Palestinian popular committees in the Green Line said three makeshift homes will be delivered to Umm al-Hiran so as to house homeless Palestinian families after the Israeli forces knocked down 12 Palestinian homes and eight agricultural structures.
Last week, Palestinian instructor Yakoob Abu al-Kiaan was shot dead by the Israeli police in the area, triggering widespread furor.
Umm al-Hiran committee had called for rebuilding the destroyed houses on Friday and for raising funds to boost the reconstruction process.
On Friday and Saturday a group of Palestinian youths from Dir Hanna village helped rebuild a home in the area despite the harsh weather conditions. Other volunteers from al-Tiba, Sikhnin, Araba, and al-Rama villages showed up at the scene and took part in the reconstruction works.
According to local sources, donated mobile homes were delivered to the Bedouin village of Umm al-Hiran in the southern Negev region of Israel on Saturday afternoon, ten days after Israeli authorities demolished more than a dozen Palestinian structures in the community.
The first makeshift home arrived from the Arara village as part of a campaign aiming to rebuild Palestinian homes in Umm al-Hiran.
Food parcels and much-needed items, including winter blankets, have also been handed over to the Palestinian natives of Umm al-Hiran, most of whom have been taking shelter in ramshackle makeshift tents.
Recently, Palestinian popular committees in the Green Line said three makeshift homes will be delivered to Umm al-Hiran so as to house homeless Palestinian families after the Israeli forces knocked down 12 Palestinian homes and eight agricultural structures.
Last week, Palestinian instructor Yakoob Abu al-Kiaan was shot dead by the Israeli police in the area, triggering widespread furor.
Umm al-Hiran committee had called for rebuilding the destroyed houses on Friday and for raising funds to boost the reconstruction process.
On Friday and Saturday a group of Palestinian youths from Dir Hanna village helped rebuild a home in the area despite the harsh weather conditions. Other volunteers from al-Tiba, Sikhnin, Araba, and al-Rama villages showed up at the scene and took part in the reconstruction works.
27 jan 2017
Several extremist Israeli colonists invaded, Friday, Palestinian orchards belonging to residents of the Al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem, before uprooting and steeling hundreds of olive saplings and grapevine seedlings.
Ahmad Salah, the coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Israeli Annexation Wall and Colonies in al-Khader, said the colonists came from Boaz illegal colonialist outpost, and invaded orchards and farmland in Ein al-Qassis area, west of al-Khader.
Salah added that the colonists uprooted 300 grapevine seedlings and 100 olive saplings, and stole them before fleeing the area. The lands are owned by the sons of late Mohammad Abdul-Salam Salah.
He stated that the colonists also stole rolls of barbwires and iron bars that the Palestinians brought to fence their lands to stop the ongoing Israeli vandalism of their orchards.
The colonists also invaded an orchard belonging to Husam Mustafa Salah, and uprooting fifty olive saplings before fleeing the area with them.
Salah said the Palestinians living in Ein al-Qassis area, are subject to ongoing violations and assaults by soldiers and colonialist settlers.
Ahmad Salah, the coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Israeli Annexation Wall and Colonies in al-Khader, said the colonists came from Boaz illegal colonialist outpost, and invaded orchards and farmland in Ein al-Qassis area, west of al-Khader.
Salah added that the colonists uprooted 300 grapevine seedlings and 100 olive saplings, and stole them before fleeing the area. The lands are owned by the sons of late Mohammad Abdul-Salam Salah.
He stated that the colonists also stole rolls of barbwires and iron bars that the Palestinians brought to fence their lands to stop the ongoing Israeli vandalism of their orchards.
The colonists also invaded an orchard belonging to Husam Mustafa Salah, and uprooting fifty olive saplings before fleeing the area with them.
Salah said the Palestinians living in Ein al-Qassis area, are subject to ongoing violations and assaults by soldiers and colonialist settlers.
