24 jan 2020

The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) have issued orders for the demolition of the family houses of four Palestinian detainees who are accused of being involved in anti-Israel attacks.
The Palestinian detainees are Mohammed Atawneh, Walid Hanatsheh, Yazan Maghames and Ahmad Qunbu'.
Mohammed Atawneh is accused of taking part in an operation that led to the killing of an Israeli soldier in Gush Etzion south of Bethlehem in August 2019.
Walid Hanatsheh and Yazan Maghames are accused of being involved in the Ein Bubin blast near Ramallah in which an Israeli soldier was killed and two settlers were injured in August 2019.
Ahmad Qunbu' is accused of being part of a cell led by martyr Ahmad Jarrar. The cell carried out a shooting attack and killed a hardline rabbi in January 2018.
Israeli media sources reported that the IOA will keep an eye on the four houses after the demolition to make sure they are not built again.
Home demolition is one of the collective punishment policies pursued by the IOA against the families of Palestinian detainees and martyrs who are accused of planning or taking part in anti-occupation operations.
The Palestinian detainees are Mohammed Atawneh, Walid Hanatsheh, Yazan Maghames and Ahmad Qunbu'.
Mohammed Atawneh is accused of taking part in an operation that led to the killing of an Israeli soldier in Gush Etzion south of Bethlehem in August 2019.
Walid Hanatsheh and Yazan Maghames are accused of being involved in the Ein Bubin blast near Ramallah in which an Israeli soldier was killed and two settlers were injured in August 2019.
Ahmad Qunbu' is accused of being part of a cell led by martyr Ahmad Jarrar. The cell carried out a shooting attack and killed a hardline rabbi in January 2018.
Israeli media sources reported that the IOA will keep an eye on the four houses after the demolition to make sure they are not built again.
Home demolition is one of the collective punishment policies pursued by the IOA against the families of Palestinian detainees and martyrs who are accused of planning or taking part in anti-occupation operations.
23 jan 2020

Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi warned today that Israel's annexation of the Jordan Valley in the occupied Palestinian territories would blow up the foundations of the peace process and destroy the two-state solution, ending all chances of achieving peace.
Safadi told Jordanian News Agency (Petra) that the ongoing Israeli measures to expand settlements, confiscate Palestinian land, and declare plans to annex the Palestinian part of the Jordan Valley are illegal measures that violate international law and kill hope that peace can be achieved.
Safadi warned that Israel's efforts to undermine the two-state solution through its illegal measures aimed at imposing new facts on the ground, threaten to kill all chances of achieving a lasting peace.
The minister pointed out that King Abdullah II has been spearheading intensive and continuous efforts to launch an effective international movement to resolve the conflict on the basis of a two-state solution, and to confirm the centrality of the Palestinian issue.
He maintained that Jordan will continue to work with the international community and in coordination with Arab countries to achieve peace on the foundations that guarantee its viability and acceptance by the region's peoples.
The minister also warned that “the killing of hope for peace means fueling despair, undermining moderation, allowing extremism to prevail, and pushing the region towards more conflict and violence.”
Safadi also warned of the consequences of the Israeli violations against Muslim and Christian holy sites in occupied Jerusalem.
He stressed that protecting the holy sites and addressing all Israeli attempts to attack them is a sustainable action through direct engagement with the international community and in international organizations such as the United Nations and UNESCO.
Safadi further pointed out that Jordan continues to work with the international community to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and ensure that it continues to carry out its duty towards Palestinian refugees as mandated by the UN.
Safadi told Jordanian News Agency (Petra) that the ongoing Israeli measures to expand settlements, confiscate Palestinian land, and declare plans to annex the Palestinian part of the Jordan Valley are illegal measures that violate international law and kill hope that peace can be achieved.
Safadi warned that Israel's efforts to undermine the two-state solution through its illegal measures aimed at imposing new facts on the ground, threaten to kill all chances of achieving a lasting peace.
The minister pointed out that King Abdullah II has been spearheading intensive and continuous efforts to launch an effective international movement to resolve the conflict on the basis of a two-state solution, and to confirm the centrality of the Palestinian issue.
He maintained that Jordan will continue to work with the international community and in coordination with Arab countries to achieve peace on the foundations that guarantee its viability and acceptance by the region's peoples.
The minister also warned that “the killing of hope for peace means fueling despair, undermining moderation, allowing extremism to prevail, and pushing the region towards more conflict and violence.”
Safadi also warned of the consequences of the Israeli violations against Muslim and Christian holy sites in occupied Jerusalem.
He stressed that protecting the holy sites and addressing all Israeli attempts to attack them is a sustainable action through direct engagement with the international community and in international organizations such as the United Nations and UNESCO.
Safadi further pointed out that Jordan continues to work with the international community to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and ensure that it continues to carry out its duty towards Palestinian refugees as mandated by the UN.

The Israeli occupation army on Wednesday notified Palestinian villagers in southern Nablus of its intent to annex a vast tract of their land.
Local official Ghassan Daghlas reported that the land would be appropriated from the villages of Tell, Madama and Burin in southern Nablus.
The land to be annexed extends from the Madama Bridge to the military tower in Tell village.
Local official Ghassan Daghlas reported that the land would be appropriated from the villages of Tell, Madama and Burin in southern Nablus.
The land to be annexed extends from the Madama Bridge to the military tower in Tell village.
22 jan 2020

The Palestinian residents in Silwan threatened with eviction
Hemaya Center for Human Rights has denounced the decision taken by an Israeli court to evict Palestinian citizens from the apartment building of al-Rajbi family in Silwan district, east Jerusalem, describing the step as “invalid, illegal and against international law.”
In a statement on its website, Hemaya warned that “such decision aims to perpetuate settlement activity through appropriating Palestinian lands in the West Bank and Jerusalem.”
The Center accused Israel of escalating the use of its ethnic cleansing policy recently against the Palestinian citizens in Jerusalem and the West Bank, calling such practices as “crimes under international law, especially the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention.”
Hemaya Center called on the international law to force Israel to respect the provisions of the international law and the UN resolutions and stop its demolition and displacement campaigns against the Palestinians.
After a series of legal maneuvers, the Ateret Cohanim settler group recently succeeded in extracting a court verdict ordering the eviction of a Palestinian family from the neighborhood of Silwan near the Old City of Jerusalem on the grounds that the land was owned by Jews before 1948 on Sunday.
Ateret Cohanim is a right wing NGO that aids Jews in grabbing Palestinian real estate through different means and facilitating purchases of residential Arab properties in east Jerusalem.
According to Haaretz website, the ruling could set a precedent for the eviction of another 700 Palestinian residents living in Silwan. 100 families are facing possible eviction orders in the neighborhood.
In 2001, the Jerusalem district court accepted a request by Ateret Cohanim to be named trustees of the land on grounds that it was Jewish property.
Haaretz said that the Israeli law enables Jewish heirs or groups to reclaim property in east Jerusalem, but it does not enable Palestinian owners to reclaim their property in west Jerusalem.
Hemaya Center for Human Rights has denounced the decision taken by an Israeli court to evict Palestinian citizens from the apartment building of al-Rajbi family in Silwan district, east Jerusalem, describing the step as “invalid, illegal and against international law.”
In a statement on its website, Hemaya warned that “such decision aims to perpetuate settlement activity through appropriating Palestinian lands in the West Bank and Jerusalem.”
The Center accused Israel of escalating the use of its ethnic cleansing policy recently against the Palestinian citizens in Jerusalem and the West Bank, calling such practices as “crimes under international law, especially the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention.”
Hemaya Center called on the international law to force Israel to respect the provisions of the international law and the UN resolutions and stop its demolition and displacement campaigns against the Palestinians.
After a series of legal maneuvers, the Ateret Cohanim settler group recently succeeded in extracting a court verdict ordering the eviction of a Palestinian family from the neighborhood of Silwan near the Old City of Jerusalem on the grounds that the land was owned by Jews before 1948 on Sunday.
Ateret Cohanim is a right wing NGO that aids Jews in grabbing Palestinian real estate through different means and facilitating purchases of residential Arab properties in east Jerusalem.
According to Haaretz website, the ruling could set a precedent for the eviction of another 700 Palestinian residents living in Silwan. 100 families are facing possible eviction orders in the neighborhood.
In 2001, the Jerusalem district court accepted a request by Ateret Cohanim to be named trustees of the land on grounds that it was Jewish property.
Haaretz said that the Israeli law enables Jewish heirs or groups to reclaim property in east Jerusalem, but it does not enable Palestinian owners to reclaim their property in west Jerusalem.

Nickolay Mladenov, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, today, expressed concern regarding Israeli plans to annex the occupied Jordan Valley, stressing that such a step would have devastating effects on the region.
“The annexation of some or all of Area C in the West Bank, if implemented, would deal a devastating blow to the potential of reviving Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, advancing regional peace, and the essence of the two-state solution,” said Mladenov in a tweet.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival in Blue-White Party, Benny Gantz, have promised annexation of the Jordan Valley, northern Dead Sea and the illegal settlements located in Area C of the occupied West Bank if they win the upcoming Israeli elections.
Their call was also strongly condemned by the Palestinian presidency which said in a statement that Netanyahu and Gantz’s statements threaten peace and stability in the region, WAFA reports.
“Such statements are a blow to the foundations of the peace process that would take the region to a dangerous new phase of conflict and instability,” said presidential spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, in a statement yesterday.
“The presidency warns all the Israeli parties that make these statements of their implications on the overall Palestinian-Israeli relations, including the signed agreements and mutual obligations between the two parties,” he added, calling on the international community to stand firm against these Israeli positions “that threaten security, stability, and world peace.”
The Palestinian government also condemned the Netanyahu and Gantz statements on the annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank, warning that they would take the region into “a new cycle of conflict that will threaten world peace and security.”
Government spokesman Ibrahim Melhem said in a statement yesterday that the government has called on world countries, particularly those participating in the 50th session of the World Economic Forum, held in Davos, Switzerland, “to take preventive measures against the expected Israeli move by recognizing the independent State of Palestine on the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and to follow the example of Sweden, whose recognition of the State of Palestine was a model for turning political positions and convictions into actions.”
“The annexation of some or all of Area C in the West Bank, if implemented, would deal a devastating blow to the potential of reviving Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, advancing regional peace, and the essence of the two-state solution,” said Mladenov in a tweet.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival in Blue-White Party, Benny Gantz, have promised annexation of the Jordan Valley, northern Dead Sea and the illegal settlements located in Area C of the occupied West Bank if they win the upcoming Israeli elections.
Their call was also strongly condemned by the Palestinian presidency which said in a statement that Netanyahu and Gantz’s statements threaten peace and stability in the region, WAFA reports.
“Such statements are a blow to the foundations of the peace process that would take the region to a dangerous new phase of conflict and instability,” said presidential spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, in a statement yesterday.
“The presidency warns all the Israeli parties that make these statements of their implications on the overall Palestinian-Israeli relations, including the signed agreements and mutual obligations between the two parties,” he added, calling on the international community to stand firm against these Israeli positions “that threaten security, stability, and world peace.”
The Palestinian government also condemned the Netanyahu and Gantz statements on the annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank, warning that they would take the region into “a new cycle of conflict that will threaten world peace and security.”
Government spokesman Ibrahim Melhem said in a statement yesterday that the government has called on world countries, particularly those participating in the 50th session of the World Economic Forum, held in Davos, Switzerland, “to take preventive measures against the expected Israeli move by recognizing the independent State of Palestine on the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and to follow the example of Sweden, whose recognition of the State of Palestine was a model for turning political positions and convictions into actions.”

Israeli municipal officials escorted by police forces stormed on Tuesday Beer Haddaj village in the Negev desert, south of the 1984 occupied lands, and put up demolition orders against Palestinian homes and structures.
According to local sources, the municipal officials mapped and photographed the homes as a prelude to demolishing them later.
Several local villagers also suffered injuries when police forces violently suppressed them during the campaign.
The Beer Haddaj villagers have been exposed to unjustified assaults by Israeli police forces several times before.
According to local sources, the municipal officials mapped and photographed the homes as a prelude to demolishing them later.
Several local villagers also suffered injuries when police forces violently suppressed them during the campaign.
The Beer Haddaj villagers have been exposed to unjustified assaults by Israeli police forces several times before.
21 jan 2020

Dozens of Palestinian students on Monday participated in a sit-in to protest the Israeli occupation authority’s decision to gradually shut down the Abdullah Bin Al-Hussein Girl School in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in east Jerusalem and send its students to other schools.
According to the protesting students, their school is a purely Palestinian-owned facility that was built on an Islamic mortmain land by the Jordanian government six decades ago.
Israeli police forces tried to disperse the participants in the sit-in, which was held outside the school building, but families of students and teachers stood in their face and fended them off.
The education department of the Israeli municipality in Occupied Jerusalem recently announced its intent to turn the Abdullah Bin Al-Hussein Girl School into a vocational or industrial school and send its students to different schools in the city.
In this regard, the Palestinian Authority ministry of education appealed to international human rights groups to intervene and stop Israel from taking such step.
According to the protesting students, their school is a purely Palestinian-owned facility that was built on an Islamic mortmain land by the Jordanian government six decades ago.
Israeli police forces tried to disperse the participants in the sit-in, which was held outside the school building, but families of students and teachers stood in their face and fended them off.
The education department of the Israeli municipality in Occupied Jerusalem recently announced its intent to turn the Abdullah Bin Al-Hussein Girl School into a vocational or industrial school and send its students to different schools in the city.
In this regard, the Palestinian Authority ministry of education appealed to international human rights groups to intervene and stop Israel from taking such step.