11 jan 2020

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Saturday razed vast tracts of Palestinian-owned land in Bruqin town west of Salfit in preparation for settlement expansion.
Palestinian researcher Khaled Ma'ali said that the Israeli occupation authorities are preparing to expand Brukhin settlement on Palestinian land in Bruqin town.
He explained that about 25 Israeli settlements have not ceased to expand on the lands of 18 Palestinian residential communities in Salfit since they were established.
The Israeli government has announced that hundreds of new settlement units will be set up in Brukhin settlement in a grave violation of international law which criminalizes settlement construction in occupied territories.
Palestinian researcher Khaled Ma'ali said that the Israeli occupation authorities are preparing to expand Brukhin settlement on Palestinian land in Bruqin town.
He explained that about 25 Israeli settlements have not ceased to expand on the lands of 18 Palestinian residential communities in Salfit since they were established.
The Israeli government has announced that hundreds of new settlement units will be set up in Brukhin settlement in a grave violation of international law which criminalizes settlement construction in occupied territories.
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The Israeli occupation authorities for the second time in a week has opened rainwater dams east of the Gaza Strip permitting water to flood Palestinian farmland, Gaza's Ministry of Agriculture said on Saturday.
The ministry said in a press statement that the Israeli authorities have deliberately channeled rainwater into Palestinian farmlands in Shujaiya neighborhood east of Gaza City. It added that the rainwater flooded about 1,000 dunums of farmland planted with wheat, barley, cabbage, peas and cauliflower. Israel has built several dams to benefit from rainwater but once large quantities of water are accumulated it opens the dams without prior warning, damaging Palestinian farmlands and crops in Gaza. |

Israeli forces, overnight Thursday, notified the families of three alleged Palestinian attackers, of their intention to demolish their houses across the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian News and Info Agency reported.
The Palestine Prisoners’ Society (PPS) confirmed that Israeli forces broke into the family home of Mohammad Walid Hanatsheh, in Attira neighborhood of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, and handed the family a military order to demolish their house.
Forces also handed the family of Yazan Mghamas, a military order to demolish their house in an incursion in Birzeit town, north of Ramallah.
Hanatsheh and Mghamas, are currently in Israeli custody for their alleged involvement along with Samer Arbid in the killing of an Israeli settler near the illegal colonial settlement of Dolev, near the Palestinian village of Ras Karkar, in August 2019.
Arbid was hospitalized in critical condition for 45 days after undergoing interrogation with the Israeli internal security agency, the Shin Bet, for his purported involvement in the settler’s killing.
Meanwhile, Israeli military handed a similar demolition order to the family of Mahmoud Atawneh in Beit Kahel town, northwest of Hebron, southern occupied West Bank.
Kamel Atawneh said that soldiers invaded his 140-meter-sized house, and took photos and measurements in preparation for the planned punitive demolition.
Atawneh’s son, Mahmoud, who is currently in Israeli custody, is accused of allegedly stabbing a settler at the Gush Etzion colonial settlement bloc, south of Bethlehem, in July 2019.
Israel resorts to punitively demolishing the family homes of Palestinians as a way to intimidate, and deter others from attempting to injure Israelis in the future.
Interesting to note that Israel does not apply the same policy to Israeli settlers involved in fatal attacks against Palestinians.
Article 33 of the 4th Geneva Convention states that collective punishment is a war crime.
The Palestine Prisoners’ Society (PPS) confirmed that Israeli forces broke into the family home of Mohammad Walid Hanatsheh, in Attira neighborhood of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, and handed the family a military order to demolish their house.
Forces also handed the family of Yazan Mghamas, a military order to demolish their house in an incursion in Birzeit town, north of Ramallah.
Hanatsheh and Mghamas, are currently in Israeli custody for their alleged involvement along with Samer Arbid in the killing of an Israeli settler near the illegal colonial settlement of Dolev, near the Palestinian village of Ras Karkar, in August 2019.
Arbid was hospitalized in critical condition for 45 days after undergoing interrogation with the Israeli internal security agency, the Shin Bet, for his purported involvement in the settler’s killing.
Meanwhile, Israeli military handed a similar demolition order to the family of Mahmoud Atawneh in Beit Kahel town, northwest of Hebron, southern occupied West Bank.
Kamel Atawneh said that soldiers invaded his 140-meter-sized house, and took photos and measurements in preparation for the planned punitive demolition.
Atawneh’s son, Mahmoud, who is currently in Israeli custody, is accused of allegedly stabbing a settler at the Gush Etzion colonial settlement bloc, south of Bethlehem, in July 2019.
Israel resorts to punitively demolishing the family homes of Palestinians as a way to intimidate, and deter others from attempting to injure Israelis in the future.
Interesting to note that Israel does not apply the same policy to Israeli settlers involved in fatal attacks against Palestinians.
Article 33 of the 4th Geneva Convention states that collective punishment is a war crime.
10 jan 2020

The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) on Thursday knocked down a Palestinian structure in Ras Karkar village west of Ramallah City for allegedly being unlicensed.
Head of Ras Karkar's village council Radi Abu Fkheida said that IOA bulldozers, accompanied by armed forces, stormed the village, demolished a commercial facility and seized its equipment.
The IOA claimed that the demolished building, which was owned by the Palestinian citizen Emad Ghanem, was built in Area C, which is exclusively administered by Israel, without a permit.
Head of Ras Karkar's village council Radi Abu Fkheida said that IOA bulldozers, accompanied by armed forces, stormed the village, demolished a commercial facility and seized its equipment.
The IOA claimed that the demolished building, which was owned by the Palestinian citizen Emad Ghanem, was built in Area C, which is exclusively administered by Israel, without a permit.
9 jan 2020

Israeli Defense Minister, Neftali Bennet, has formed a special committee tasked with boosting and strengthening the colonialist activities on Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Israeli daily Haaretz has reported that Naftali’s “Task Force” aims at legalizing the colonialist outposts, which were built on Palestinian lands without Israel’s approval.
Haaretz added that the task force also allows Israelis to buy lands in Area C of occupied West Bank, which constitutes about %60 of the Palestinian territory.
It said that the proposed plans are a “series of controversial proposals that legal sources are effectively equivalent to annexation.”
The plan aims at granting the colonists permits for “buy lands” in the West Bank, in addition to creating a geographic link between the illegal outposts and providing them with running water and electricity, and other infrastructure.
It also aims at barring the evacuation and the dismantling “random” (illegal outposts, which weren’t approved by Israel) in order to boost the colonies prior to the new Israeli general election.
The process would lead to the “legalization” of around thirty colonialist outposts, which previously received demolition and evacuation orders by Israel itself.
Haaretz added that Bennet, who heads the New Right-Wing Party, said the campaign started a month ago and aims as implementing Israel’s policy, which states that “Area C of the West Bank belongs to Israel.”
It is worth mentioning that Itay Hershkowitz, the Chief of Staff of Bennet’s office, has invited, over the past several weeks, various leaders of Israel’s colonialist movement who, according to Haaretz, discussed many issues that could advance in the coming months, despite the current limitation of the caretaker government, still headed by Netanyahu, until the Knesset election, planned to be held on March 2nd of this year.
Netanyahu recently said that he will never allow the removal and eviction of any settlement under any possible political agreement.
“Under my leadership, there will be no evacuation of any settlement in all territories west of the Jordan River,” Netanyahu said, “Military, security and political control will always be in Israel’s hands; no settlement will ever be removed, and Jerusalem will never be divided.”
All of Israel’s colonies in the occupied West Bank, including those in and around occupied East Jerusalem, are illegal under International Law, the Fourth Geneva Convention, and all related United Nations and Security Council resolutions.
The colonies do not only violate International Humanitarian L they also violate the United Nations Charters which prohibits the acquisition of territory by force, in addition to Article 49(6) of the Fourth Geneva Convention which prohibits an occupying power from moving its population into territories in occupies regardless whether the transfer was forced or voluntary.
They, along with the Annexation Wall, are meant to fragment the Palestinian territory, and isolate dozens of Palestinian communities, in addition to further illegal annexation of their lands.
Israeli daily Haaretz has reported that Naftali’s “Task Force” aims at legalizing the colonialist outposts, which were built on Palestinian lands without Israel’s approval.
Haaretz added that the task force also allows Israelis to buy lands in Area C of occupied West Bank, which constitutes about %60 of the Palestinian territory.
It said that the proposed plans are a “series of controversial proposals that legal sources are effectively equivalent to annexation.”
The plan aims at granting the colonists permits for “buy lands” in the West Bank, in addition to creating a geographic link between the illegal outposts and providing them with running water and electricity, and other infrastructure.
It also aims at barring the evacuation and the dismantling “random” (illegal outposts, which weren’t approved by Israel) in order to boost the colonies prior to the new Israeli general election.
The process would lead to the “legalization” of around thirty colonialist outposts, which previously received demolition and evacuation orders by Israel itself.
Haaretz added that Bennet, who heads the New Right-Wing Party, said the campaign started a month ago and aims as implementing Israel’s policy, which states that “Area C of the West Bank belongs to Israel.”
It is worth mentioning that Itay Hershkowitz, the Chief of Staff of Bennet’s office, has invited, over the past several weeks, various leaders of Israel’s colonialist movement who, according to Haaretz, discussed many issues that could advance in the coming months, despite the current limitation of the caretaker government, still headed by Netanyahu, until the Knesset election, planned to be held on March 2nd of this year.
Netanyahu recently said that he will never allow the removal and eviction of any settlement under any possible political agreement.
“Under my leadership, there will be no evacuation of any settlement in all territories west of the Jordan River,” Netanyahu said, “Military, security and political control will always be in Israel’s hands; no settlement will ever be removed, and Jerusalem will never be divided.”
All of Israel’s colonies in the occupied West Bank, including those in and around occupied East Jerusalem, are illegal under International Law, the Fourth Geneva Convention, and all related United Nations and Security Council resolutions.
The colonies do not only violate International Humanitarian L they also violate the United Nations Charters which prohibits the acquisition of territory by force, in addition to Article 49(6) of the Fourth Geneva Convention which prohibits an occupying power from moving its population into territories in occupies regardless whether the transfer was forced or voluntary.
They, along with the Annexation Wall, are meant to fragment the Palestinian territory, and isolate dozens of Palestinian communities, in addition to further illegal annexation of their lands.

The Israeli-run Municipality of Jerusalem delivered at least 12 home demolition notices to Palestinian residents in the city’s Al-‘Isawiya neighbourhood, on Wednesday, the Middle East Monitor reported.
The notices were issued under the pretext that the homes were built without a permit, rarely granted to Palestinians by the Israeli occupation authorities, especially in occupied East Jerusalem.
Muhammad Abu Al-Hummus, activist and member of local follow-up committee, explained that teams from the Israeli municipality took pictures of more than 50 buildings and homes in and around the neighbourhood.
Some of the places where demolition notices were issued have been identified as Abu Al-Homs, Al-Dhahra, Abu Riyala, Al-Shaheed Yasser Arafat Street, Muhaisen neighbourhood and Olayan neighbourhood.
The Olayan family, having lived in their home for three years, were ordered by the Israeli authorities to empty their home within 21 days so that it is ready for “immediate” demolition. The family will be left homeless by the Israeli authorities.
Abu Al-Hummus pointed out that Israel has increased the rate of destroying Palestinian homes, and noted that some of the buildings earmarked for demolition were built nearly 25 years ago.
He also confirmed that having Israeli Jerusalem Municipality staff entering the town and issuing demolition notices is part of a widespread campaign to change the demographics of the Holy City and make space for more illegal settlers.
Hence the attacks on Palestinians and the demolition of their homes on a regular basis.
The notices were issued under the pretext that the homes were built without a permit, rarely granted to Palestinians by the Israeli occupation authorities, especially in occupied East Jerusalem.
Muhammad Abu Al-Hummus, activist and member of local follow-up committee, explained that teams from the Israeli municipality took pictures of more than 50 buildings and homes in and around the neighbourhood.
Some of the places where demolition notices were issued have been identified as Abu Al-Homs, Al-Dhahra, Abu Riyala, Al-Shaheed Yasser Arafat Street, Muhaisen neighbourhood and Olayan neighbourhood.
The Olayan family, having lived in their home for three years, were ordered by the Israeli authorities to empty their home within 21 days so that it is ready for “immediate” demolition. The family will be left homeless by the Israeli authorities.
Abu Al-Hummus pointed out that Israel has increased the rate of destroying Palestinian homes, and noted that some of the buildings earmarked for demolition were built nearly 25 years ago.
He also confirmed that having Israeli Jerusalem Municipality staff entering the town and issuing demolition notices is part of a widespread campaign to change the demographics of the Holy City and make space for more illegal settlers.
Hence the attacks on Palestinians and the demolition of their homes on a regular basis.

A Palestinian family from Jabel Mukaber neighborhood on Wednesday resumed the demolition of its own house in compliance with an order issued by the Israeli municipality in Occupied Jerusalem.
Sami Mashahrah, a member of the family, said that an Israeli municipal crew recently stormed his 60-square-meter house and forced them to demolish it to avoid paying exorbitant money to the municipality if it carried out the demolition.
Sami lives with his mother and wife in this small house and they have no other place to live in.
Another Jerusalemite homeowner called Ibrahim Mashahrah who lives near the house of Sami also received a similar demolition notice from the municipality ordering him to raze his home.
Recently, the Israeli municipality forced the families of Nassar and Sarri to demolish their own homes in Jabel Mukaber to avoid incurring municipal demolition expenses.
Sami Mashahrah, a member of the family, said that an Israeli municipal crew recently stormed his 60-square-meter house and forced them to demolish it to avoid paying exorbitant money to the municipality if it carried out the demolition.
Sami lives with his mother and wife in this small house and they have no other place to live in.
Another Jerusalemite homeowner called Ibrahim Mashahrah who lives near the house of Sami also received a similar demolition notice from the municipality ordering him to raze his home.
Recently, the Israeli municipality forced the families of Nassar and Sarri to demolish their own homes in Jabel Mukaber to avoid incurring municipal demolition expenses.

Israeli soldiers invaded, Thursday, Ras Karkar village, west of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, and dismantled a Palestinian shed, before confiscating it.
Radi Abu Fkheitha, the head of Ras Karkar village Council, told the Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) that the soldiers dismantled the 30 square/meter shed, owned by Emad Ghanem.
Abu Fkheitha added that the soldiers confiscated the dismantled shed along with other property that was in it, before leaving the area.
The army claims that the shed was installed without a permit from the Israeli “Civil Administration Office.”
Radi Abu Fkheitha, the head of Ras Karkar village Council, told the Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) that the soldiers dismantled the 30 square/meter shed, owned by Emad Ghanem.
Abu Fkheitha added that the soldiers confiscated the dismantled shed along with other property that was in it, before leaving the area.
The army claims that the shed was installed without a permit from the Israeli “Civil Administration Office.”