29 jan 2019
Israel’s Minister of Agriculture and Development of the Negev, Uri Ariel, has completed a massive plan to expel some 36,000 Bedouin Palestinians from their “unrecognized” villages, according to Israel Today Hebrew newspaper.
The implementation of the plan, if approved, is scheduled to start this year, and would be completed within four years.
The confiscated Bedouin areas are estimated at some 260,000 dunams, on which the Israeli authorities will establish what they called “national projects”, infrastructure and other “security” measures, which are required to ‘transfer’ the population to other villages, according to the newspaper.
On the ruins of the villages after their displacement, the Israeli authorities will expand the “Trans-Israel Highway” (Route 6), south of Israel, to the town of Nabatim in the Naqab, an area of 12,000 dunams, Israeli authorities intend to transfer them to Tel Sheva, Abu Talul and Umm Batin, PNN further reports.
According to the plan, the displacement will begin this year, north of Route 31, and will last for four years. Final displacement in 2021 will begin with an annual budget increase, through intensified law enforcement authorities, in reference to the Israeli police and the Ministry of Internal Security.
Israeli authorities will also transfer 5,000 Arabs to the areas of Abu Talul, Abu Qrinat and Wadi al-Naam, from the Israeli area of Ramat Bekaa, with the aim of transferring a factory for military industries from Israel to the Negev. Authorities plan to displace them and confiscate their property.
The villages do not appear on official Israeli maps, and Israeli authorities do not provide them with basic services such as water and electricity. The residents do not have addresses and the authorities do not recognize their rights on the land, and consider them “violators” who take over “state lands.”
The Bedouin Development Authority was established in 1984 and controls the planning of displacement projects in the Naqab (Negev) and oversees the Israel Land Administration.
The implementation of the plan, if approved, is scheduled to start this year, and would be completed within four years.
The confiscated Bedouin areas are estimated at some 260,000 dunams, on which the Israeli authorities will establish what they called “national projects”, infrastructure and other “security” measures, which are required to ‘transfer’ the population to other villages, according to the newspaper.
On the ruins of the villages after their displacement, the Israeli authorities will expand the “Trans-Israel Highway” (Route 6), south of Israel, to the town of Nabatim in the Naqab, an area of 12,000 dunams, Israeli authorities intend to transfer them to Tel Sheva, Abu Talul and Umm Batin, PNN further reports.
According to the plan, the displacement will begin this year, north of Route 31, and will last for four years. Final displacement in 2021 will begin with an annual budget increase, through intensified law enforcement authorities, in reference to the Israeli police and the Ministry of Internal Security.
Israeli authorities will also transfer 5,000 Arabs to the areas of Abu Talul, Abu Qrinat and Wadi al-Naam, from the Israeli area of Ramat Bekaa, with the aim of transferring a factory for military industries from Israel to the Negev. Authorities plan to displace them and confiscate their property.
The villages do not appear on official Israeli maps, and Israeli authorities do not provide them with basic services such as water and electricity. The residents do not have addresses and the authorities do not recognize their rights on the land, and consider them “violators” who take over “state lands.”
The Bedouin Development Authority was established in 1984 and controls the planning of displacement projects in the Naqab (Negev) and oversees the Israel Land Administration.
28 jan 2019
Israeli soldiers handed, on Monday evening, an order for the demolition of a Palestinian home in Silwan town, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in occupied East Jerusalem, and abducted a woman while leaving the holy site.
The soldiers handed the order to the home owner, Issa Ja’afra, informing him that his property will be demolished on January 27th, for “being built without a permit.”
They informed him that he can avoid the high fines and fees, if he demolished his home at his own expense before that date.
There are eight family members, including five children, living in the 70 square/meter home.
In 2016, the army demolished the family’s former home under the same allegations.
Besides the excessively high costs of obtaining permits from Israel, the Palestinians are almost always denied construction permits, including permits for modifying their properties or adding rooms to them.
This is happening while Israel continues the construction and expansion of its illegal colonies, in direct violation of International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Also in Jerusalem, the soldiers abducted a Palestinian woman, identified as Montaha Emara, as she was leaving the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
In related news, the soldiers handed Jawad Siyam, the director of Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic), an order to head to the City Council for questioning.
Furthermore, an Israeli court, sentenced Mohammad Nidal ar-Razem, 22, from Jerusalem, to 54 months in prison, and a fine of 10.000 Shekels. The young man was taken prisoner on July 2nd, 2018.
The soldiers handed the order to the home owner, Issa Ja’afra, informing him that his property will be demolished on January 27th, for “being built without a permit.”
They informed him that he can avoid the high fines and fees, if he demolished his home at his own expense before that date.
There are eight family members, including five children, living in the 70 square/meter home.
In 2016, the army demolished the family’s former home under the same allegations.
Besides the excessively high costs of obtaining permits from Israel, the Palestinians are almost always denied construction permits, including permits for modifying their properties or adding rooms to them.
This is happening while Israel continues the construction and expansion of its illegal colonies, in direct violation of International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Also in Jerusalem, the soldiers abducted a Palestinian woman, identified as Montaha Emara, as she was leaving the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
In related news, the soldiers handed Jawad Siyam, the director of Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic), an order to head to the City Council for questioning.
Furthermore, an Israeli court, sentenced Mohammad Nidal ar-Razem, 22, from Jerusalem, to 54 months in prison, and a fine of 10.000 Shekels. The young man was taken prisoner on July 2nd, 2018.
Israeli soldiers invaded, Monday, the town of Husan, west of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, and demolished several agricultural rooms.
Media sources said many army jeeps and a bulldozer, invaded Wad al-Ghaweet area, in Husan and demolished the rooms.
They added that the soldiers claimed the rooms, although built on a private Palestinian land, are in “Area C” of the West Bank and “did not receive a permit from the Israeli side.”
In related news, the soldiers installed a military roadblock at the western entrance of Beit Fajjar town, south of Bethlehem, and prevented the Palestinians from entering or leaving it.
It is worth mentioning that Beit Fajjar has been subject to frequent Israeli military invasions, including at dawn Monday, when the soldiers abducted three young man, after storming and ransacking their homes along with the home of a political prisoner, identified as Rami Taqatqa.
Media sources said many army jeeps and a bulldozer, invaded Wad al-Ghaweet area, in Husan and demolished the rooms.
They added that the soldiers claimed the rooms, although built on a private Palestinian land, are in “Area C” of the West Bank and “did not receive a permit from the Israeli side.”
In related news, the soldiers installed a military roadblock at the western entrance of Beit Fajjar town, south of Bethlehem, and prevented the Palestinians from entering or leaving it.
It is worth mentioning that Beit Fajjar has been subject to frequent Israeli military invasions, including at dawn Monday, when the soldiers abducted three young man, after storming and ransacking their homes along with the home of a political prisoner, identified as Rami Taqatqa.
On Monday, Israeli soldiers, stationed across the perimeter fence in the eastern parts of the besieged Gaza Strip, shot and injured one teacher, and opened fire on several Palestinian farmers and shepherds.
Media sources in Gaza said a schoolteacher was injured after the soldiers, in their military bases close to the fence, fired many rounds of live ammunition at a high school, east of Beit Hanoun, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
They added that the soldiers also fired many live rounds at farmers and shepherds in Malka area, east of Gaza city, and farmlands east of Deir al-Balah, in the central part of the coastal region.
In the occupied West Bank, the soldiers confiscated a tractor, owned by a local farmer identified as Ahmad Thiab Abu Kheizaran, in the ar-Ras al-Ahmar Bedouin community, southeast of Tubas, allegedly for “working in a military zone.”
IOF shoots at school in Gaza, injuring employee
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) on Monday opened fire on a school in the blockaded Gaza strip, injuring a Palestinian, according to local sources.
"The Mahdia Shawa School today came under fire which wounded employee Ramez Za'anin", the Ministry of Education in Gaza said.
Ministry official Ziad Thabet condemned the shooting, which, he said, was part of an ongoing Israeli policy to target Palestinian educational institutions.
The attack came in flagrant violation to international las and norms, he added.
He also called on international community to condemn the incident and to hold Israel accountable for its escalated crimes against the Gaza Strip.
Israel has stepped up attacks in Gaza, which claimed over 295 Palestinian lives in 2018, marking the highest death toll since the 2014 Gaza conflict, many of them were shot during the March of Return protests, amid a deterioration in the humanitarian situation in the besieged enclave.
Media sources in Gaza said a schoolteacher was injured after the soldiers, in their military bases close to the fence, fired many rounds of live ammunition at a high school, east of Beit Hanoun, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
They added that the soldiers also fired many live rounds at farmers and shepherds in Malka area, east of Gaza city, and farmlands east of Deir al-Balah, in the central part of the coastal region.
In the occupied West Bank, the soldiers confiscated a tractor, owned by a local farmer identified as Ahmad Thiab Abu Kheizaran, in the ar-Ras al-Ahmar Bedouin community, southeast of Tubas, allegedly for “working in a military zone.”
IOF shoots at school in Gaza, injuring employee
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) on Monday opened fire on a school in the blockaded Gaza strip, injuring a Palestinian, according to local sources.
"The Mahdia Shawa School today came under fire which wounded employee Ramez Za'anin", the Ministry of Education in Gaza said.
Ministry official Ziad Thabet condemned the shooting, which, he said, was part of an ongoing Israeli policy to target Palestinian educational institutions.
The attack came in flagrant violation to international las and norms, he added.
He also called on international community to condemn the incident and to hold Israel accountable for its escalated crimes against the Gaza Strip.
Israel has stepped up attacks in Gaza, which claimed over 295 Palestinian lives in 2018, marking the highest death toll since the 2014 Gaza conflict, many of them were shot during the March of Return protests, amid a deterioration in the humanitarian situation in the besieged enclave.
The Israeli authorities ordered on Monday a Jerusalemite resident to demolish his own house, located in Jabal Mukaber town south of occupied Jerusalem, for being allegedly built in a green belt zone.
The Jerusalemite resident Mahmoud Abu Hussein said that he will be forced to demolish his house next Thursday to avoid paying exorbitant demolition fees to the Israeli municipality.
The notified house, a home for 13 persons including children and women, was built in 1993.
Meanwhile, Israeli municipally notified a number of Palestinian facilities in Silwan town with demolition for being allegedly built without Israeli permit.
For Palestinians born in Jerusalem, Israeli construction permits are very expensive and often impossible to obtain. Therefore, many build homes without permits, only to later face Israeli demolition orders and costly fines. Unable to afford the fee, a growing number of Palestinians have made the difficult choice to demolish their own homes.
The Jerusalemite resident Mahmoud Abu Hussein said that he will be forced to demolish his house next Thursday to avoid paying exorbitant demolition fees to the Israeli municipality.
The notified house, a home for 13 persons including children and women, was built in 1993.
Meanwhile, Israeli municipally notified a number of Palestinian facilities in Silwan town with demolition for being allegedly built without Israeli permit.
For Palestinians born in Jerusalem, Israeli construction permits are very expensive and often impossible to obtain. Therefore, many build homes without permits, only to later face Israeli demolition orders and costly fines. Unable to afford the fee, a growing number of Palestinians have made the difficult choice to demolish their own homes.
Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians in the Masafer Yatta area in the southern occupied West Bank district of Hebron, on Monday.
Coordinator of the National and Popular Committee in southern Hebron, Rateb al-Jbour, reported that a group of Israeli settlers assaulted unarmed Palestinian farmers which caused a fight between the settlers and farmers.
The assaulted Palestinian farmers were left with bruises across their bodies.
Al-Jbour added that Israeli settlers were escorted by armed Israeli forces.
Israeli settlers reportedly places signs on Palestinian lands indicating their intention of expanding nearby illegal settlements.
Around 3,000 Israeli settlers live in illegal Jewish-only settlements in the Yatta region, according to the Applied Research Institute Jerusalem.
The South Hebron Hills, known locally as Masafer Yatta, lie almost entirely in Area C, the 62 percent of the West Bank under full Israeli civil and security control since the 1993 Oslo Accords.
Masafer Yatta residents were expelled at the time of the establishment of a firing zone in the 1970s and were eventually allowed back following a long court battle, but are under the constant threat of being expelled or seeing their homes demolished.
Coordinator of the National and Popular Committee in southern Hebron, Rateb al-Jbour, reported that a group of Israeli settlers assaulted unarmed Palestinian farmers which caused a fight between the settlers and farmers.
The assaulted Palestinian farmers were left with bruises across their bodies.
Al-Jbour added that Israeli settlers were escorted by armed Israeli forces.
Israeli settlers reportedly places signs on Palestinian lands indicating their intention of expanding nearby illegal settlements.
Around 3,000 Israeli settlers live in illegal Jewish-only settlements in the Yatta region, according to the Applied Research Institute Jerusalem.
The South Hebron Hills, known locally as Masafer Yatta, lie almost entirely in Area C, the 62 percent of the West Bank under full Israeli civil and security control since the 1993 Oslo Accords.
Masafer Yatta residents were expelled at the time of the establishment of a firing zone in the 1970s and were eventually allowed back following a long court battle, but are under the constant threat of being expelled or seeing their homes demolished.
Israeli soldiers abducted, on Monday at dawn, 18 Palestinians from their homes, in several parts of the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) has reported.
The invasions targeted many cities, villages, towns and refugee camps across the West Bank, after the soldiers invaded them and surrounded entire areas.
The PPS stated that the soldiers invaded and violently searched dozens of homes across the West Bank and interrogated many Palestinians while inspecting their ID cards.
The soldiers installed roadblocks, before stopping and searching dozens of cars, and also interrogated many Palestinians while inspecting their ID cards.
Furthermore, the soldiers invaded the Jenin office of the Popular Struggle Front in Jenin city, after smashing its main door, and violently searched it causing damage, in addition to confiscating computers.
Sixteen of the abducted Palestinians have been identified as:
The invasions targeted many cities, villages, towns and refugee camps across the West Bank, after the soldiers invaded them and surrounded entire areas.
The PPS stated that the soldiers invaded and violently searched dozens of homes across the West Bank and interrogated many Palestinians while inspecting their ID cards.
The soldiers installed roadblocks, before stopping and searching dozens of cars, and also interrogated many Palestinians while inspecting their ID cards.
Furthermore, the soldiers invaded the Jenin office of the Popular Struggle Front in Jenin city, after smashing its main door, and violently searched it causing damage, in addition to confiscating computers.
Sixteen of the abducted Palestinians have been identified as:
- Ala’ Yasser Daraghma, Tubas.
- Ehab Mohammad Daraghma, Tubas.
- Abdullah Jihad Bani Odah, Tammoun – Tubas.
- Adam Bani Odah, Tammoun – Tubas.
- Mohammad Abdul-Aziz Bisharat, Tammoun – Tubas.
- Tha’er Mer’ey, Jenin refugee camp – Jenin.
- Qais al-Ghoul, Jenin refugee camp – Jenin.
- Anas Abu Rayyan, Jenin refugee camp – Jenin.
- Baha’ Rahhal, Jenin refugee camp – Jenin.
- Anas Issam Souqiyya, Jenin.
- Ahmad Nasr Thawabta, Beit Fajjar – Bethlehem.
- Abdul-Latif Ahmad Thawabta, Beit Fajjar – Bethlehem.
- Rami Issa Taqatqa, Beit Fajjar – Bethlehem.
- Ramzi Ribhi Ataya, Kafr Ni’ma – Ramallah.
- Nafeth Abdul-‘Al, Kafr Ni’ma – Ramallah.
Israeli settlers on Monday seized privately-owned Palestinian lands in Beit Iskaria village in Bethlehem which is surrounded by a number of illegal settlements that form the so-called Gush Etzion bloc.
Mohammad Ibrahim, head of Beit Iskaria's village council, said in press statements that the villagers were shocked to find out that the settlers have seized large plots of land that belong to the Odeh family.
Ibrahim said that the settlers grabbed 40 dunums of land and planted part of it with trees in a step to confirm their control over it.
He affirmed that the landowners have legal documents proving their ownership of the land and are therefore going to appoint a lawyer to take the case to court.
Mohammad Ibrahim, head of Beit Iskaria's village council, said in press statements that the villagers were shocked to find out that the settlers have seized large plots of land that belong to the Odeh family.
Ibrahim said that the settlers grabbed 40 dunums of land and planted part of it with trees in a step to confirm their control over it.
He affirmed that the landowners have legal documents proving their ownership of the land and are therefore going to appoint a lawyer to take the case to court.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested Sunday evening two Palestinians in al-Khalil, to the south of West Bank, local source reported.
Local activist Rateb Jabour said that IOF erected a military checkpoint at the entrance to Yatta town, south of the city, and arrested a young man.
Several Palestinian vehicles were also stopped and searched at the checkpoint, he added.
Along the same line, Israeli forces stopped and confiscated a Palestinian vehicle carrying a number of teachers while on their way to the nearby Janaba primary school before arresting its driver.
Local activist Rateb Jabour said that IOF erected a military checkpoint at the entrance to Yatta town, south of the city, and arrested a young man.
Several Palestinian vehicles were also stopped and searched at the checkpoint, he added.
Along the same line, Israeli forces stopped and confiscated a Palestinian vehicle carrying a number of teachers while on their way to the nearby Janaba primary school before arresting its driver.
26 jan 2019
The Israeli army forced, Saturday, a Palestinian family from Silwan town, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, to demolish two rooms of its own home, under the pretext of being built without a permit.
The home owner, Mohammad Samir al-‘Abbasi, said that he and his family had to demolish a bedroom and a living room, approximately 50 square/meters.
The two rooms were built two and a half years ago, and their ceiling consisted of metal sheets.
The City Council in occupied Jerusalem informed the Palestinian that he can either demolish the property at his own expense, or face high fines and fees should the city use its workers and machines in demolition the property.
Last week, resident Jamil Masalma, also from Silwan, had to demolish his own home in Silwan, under the same Israeli allegations.
The home owner, Mohammad Samir al-‘Abbasi, said that he and his family had to demolish a bedroom and a living room, approximately 50 square/meters.
The two rooms were built two and a half years ago, and their ceiling consisted of metal sheets.
The City Council in occupied Jerusalem informed the Palestinian that he can either demolish the property at his own expense, or face high fines and fees should the city use its workers and machines in demolition the property.
Last week, resident Jamil Masalma, also from Silwan, had to demolish his own home in Silwan, under the same Israeli allegations.
24 jan 2019
Palestinian activists and civilians stood on guard on Thursday to Israeli attempts to build a new road leading to the illegal settlement outpost of Adam, built on Palestinian land in Jaba’ village, north of occupied Jerusalem.
Head of the Jaba’ village council, Muslim Dar Salim, said Israeli settlers broke into Palestinian lands in the area in an attempt to open a new road.
The settlers set up metal barriers in order to prevent the Palestinian land owners from accessing the area.
Eye-witness Atallah Arara said the locals thwarted the measure carried out by extremist Israeli settlers.
On Wednesday, Israeli occupation authorities uprooted more than 60 olive trees from Palestinian groves in Jaba’.
Head of the Jaba’ village council, Muslim Dar Salim, said Israeli settlers broke into Palestinian lands in the area in an attempt to open a new road.
The settlers set up metal barriers in order to prevent the Palestinian land owners from accessing the area.
Eye-witness Atallah Arara said the locals thwarted the measure carried out by extremist Israeli settlers.
On Wednesday, Israeli occupation authorities uprooted more than 60 olive trees from Palestinian groves in Jaba’.
