15 july 2013
Israeli tanks and bulldozers routinely invade the Gaza strip and destroy farmland.
Today in the Gaza Strip, Israeli tanks and bulldozers invaded farmland owned by Palestinian famers.
The Israeli incursion happened east of Jabaliya district, in the northern part of the Gaza strip. Tanks opened fire at random as bulldozers destroyed farmland that is close to the territory’s border with Israel. There was damage to property, but no injuries were reported.
Today in the Gaza Strip, Israeli tanks and bulldozers invaded farmland owned by Palestinian famers.
The Israeli incursion happened east of Jabaliya district, in the northern part of the Gaza strip. Tanks opened fire at random as bulldozers destroyed farmland that is close to the territory’s border with Israel. There was damage to property, but no injuries were reported.
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Bedouin settlements regularization plan sparks violent protest in Beersheba. Several policemen, protesters injured, 15 activists detained. Former MK Taleb el-Sana claims bill is 'crime against humanity, will lead to intifada'
Banks, local authorities and most businesses in the Arab sector went on strike in protest of the Prawer Bill, which aims to evict illegal Bedouin communities in the Negev. Hundreds rallied in Beersheba on Monday as part of the protest, and chanted slogans against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Several protesters were injured in clashes with local police, 14 were detained and two police officers were injured as well. One protester was arrested after threatening a police officer he would "take care of him and his family." |
Police defined the protest as illegal, even though it was approved by the Negev District Police Chief. Police claimed that the conditions under which the demonstration was permitted were violated. A central Beersheba road was blocked for an hour causing long traffic jams in the city.
Police forces informed the protesters that the demonstration was illegal and protesters must be dispersed and evacuated from the road, causing some to begin using violence towards the policemen.
With the help of horsemen and Central Control Unit fighters, police dispersed the demonstration and cleared the road. Negev District Police Chief Peretz Amar explained: "The police respect the will of the Bedouin people to express their protest, but it will only be allowed within the constraints of the law. Any attempt by extremists to break the law, act with violence, block traffic and harm public servants and property will be dealt with immediate, determined and uncompromising law enforcement measures."
The strike was declared by the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel, in which all businesses and public services were closed Monday. Fifteen protests are expected throughout Monday in different locations in northern Israel.
Protester Yusuf Al-Atawneh said: "The police are acting with brutality. They are trying to scare the youth, but we have the legitimate right to express protest and object the plan. We will carry on with our fight despite the brutality."
Fellow protester Ibrahim Abu Bader added: "The police are baiting people and trying to scare them from exercising their right, but nothing will stop us from objecting to this plan. The police exercised too much force in this case."
Knesset Member Ahmad Tibi responded to the events: "The government is pushing the Arab minority to a corner of confrontation instead of listening to their needs and equalizing the living conditions. We will keep fighting to cancel the Prawer Bill. Only in Israel there is a different law for the Arabs in the Negev. It is not a regularization plan, but an exclusion plan."
The bill addresses the legal aspects of the issue of Bedouin settlements in the Negev, including the regularization of the land claims in the Negev. The State's position is that the existing law does not allow approving such claims, but due to the special social and economic conditions in the Negev, it is proposed to establish special arrangements to solve the issue. The arrangements include compensation in the form of money or land.
However the strikers and demonstrators are protesting against the plan, which according to them will rob the Bedouins of 800,000 hectares of land. "The land of the Negev belongs to those who reside in it, not to Bibi," Beersheba protesters chanted.
Some criticized the Bedouin public for not fully joining the protest. A public figure told Ynet that many businesses in Arab villages Sakhnin and Kfar Manda did not take part in the strike. "It shows that the strike failed, there is no faith in the follow-up committee's steps. Today some protest, but tomorrow everyone will forget everything."
Ibrahim Hasnat from Rahat is confident that "the protests will help. There's complete harmony between the Arab Palestinians in Israel and us. The protest should be a warning to decision makers in Israel. The prime minister should intervene. The State is turning closer to right-winged extremism, and its leaders should aid and prove us otherwise."
Former MK Taleb el-Sana said: "The Prawer Bill will lead to an intifada in the Negev. I warn the government from promoting apartheid legislation against Arabs. The government's policy will push the Arab public to adopt unlawful means of struggle in order to combat the perpetuation of marginality and inferiority of the Arab public."
El-Sana further added: "The Prawer Bill is the most dangerous plan against the Arab public since 1948. Its true meaning is a transfer of tens of thousands of Bedouins, expropriation of their land and large scale ethnic cleansing, which constitutes a violation of all international accords, and in practice this plan is a crime against humanity."
Police forces informed the protesters that the demonstration was illegal and protesters must be dispersed and evacuated from the road, causing some to begin using violence towards the policemen.
With the help of horsemen and Central Control Unit fighters, police dispersed the demonstration and cleared the road. Negev District Police Chief Peretz Amar explained: "The police respect the will of the Bedouin people to express their protest, but it will only be allowed within the constraints of the law. Any attempt by extremists to break the law, act with violence, block traffic and harm public servants and property will be dealt with immediate, determined and uncompromising law enforcement measures."
The strike was declared by the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel, in which all businesses and public services were closed Monday. Fifteen protests are expected throughout Monday in different locations in northern Israel.
Protester Yusuf Al-Atawneh said: "The police are acting with brutality. They are trying to scare the youth, but we have the legitimate right to express protest and object the plan. We will carry on with our fight despite the brutality."
Fellow protester Ibrahim Abu Bader added: "The police are baiting people and trying to scare them from exercising their right, but nothing will stop us from objecting to this plan. The police exercised too much force in this case."
Knesset Member Ahmad Tibi responded to the events: "The government is pushing the Arab minority to a corner of confrontation instead of listening to their needs and equalizing the living conditions. We will keep fighting to cancel the Prawer Bill. Only in Israel there is a different law for the Arabs in the Negev. It is not a regularization plan, but an exclusion plan."
The bill addresses the legal aspects of the issue of Bedouin settlements in the Negev, including the regularization of the land claims in the Negev. The State's position is that the existing law does not allow approving such claims, but due to the special social and economic conditions in the Negev, it is proposed to establish special arrangements to solve the issue. The arrangements include compensation in the form of money or land.
However the strikers and demonstrators are protesting against the plan, which according to them will rob the Bedouins of 800,000 hectares of land. "The land of the Negev belongs to those who reside in it, not to Bibi," Beersheba protesters chanted.
Some criticized the Bedouin public for not fully joining the protest. A public figure told Ynet that many businesses in Arab villages Sakhnin and Kfar Manda did not take part in the strike. "It shows that the strike failed, there is no faith in the follow-up committee's steps. Today some protest, but tomorrow everyone will forget everything."
Ibrahim Hasnat from Rahat is confident that "the protests will help. There's complete harmony between the Arab Palestinians in Israel and us. The protest should be a warning to decision makers in Israel. The prime minister should intervene. The State is turning closer to right-winged extremism, and its leaders should aid and prove us otherwise."
Former MK Taleb el-Sana said: "The Prawer Bill will lead to an intifada in the Negev. I warn the government from promoting apartheid legislation against Arabs. The government's policy will push the Arab public to adopt unlawful means of struggle in order to combat the perpetuation of marginality and inferiority of the Arab public."
El-Sana further added: "The Prawer Bill is the most dangerous plan against the Arab public since 1948. Its true meaning is a transfer of tens of thousands of Bedouins, expropriation of their land and large scale ethnic cleansing, which constitutes a violation of all international accords, and in practice this plan is a crime against humanity."
Israeli forces Monday suppressed a peaceful demonstration in the village of Hosan, west of Bethlehem, against Israeli policy which aims at emptying Naqab desert in the south of Israel of its Bedouin residents, according to a local source. Coordinator of the National Committee against the Wall and Settlements in Bethlehem, Hassan Brijiyeh, told WAFA that forces attacked the protesters and prevented them from continuing in their demonstration.
Soldiers used sound waves dispersal methods, which causes severe pain in the ears, causing a temporarily hearing loss to several protesters.
Soldiers used sound waves dispersal methods, which causes severe pain in the ears, causing a temporarily hearing loss to several protesters.
Arab communities in the Palestinian territories occupied in 1948 announced a general strike against the Prawer-Begin Plan, which seeks to confiscate hundreds of dunums of land in the Negev and deport thousands of its Arab residents.
According to the statement of the Follow-up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel announced that several demonstrations will take place in more than 15 places in the Triangle, the Negev and the Galilee.
According to Prawer-Begin plan, Israel will seize 500,000 dunums of Arab (Bedouin) land, deport about 40,000 residents and demolish 36 villages.
This bill, which has already passed its first reading in the Knesset, will put Arabs that form 30% of the Negev residents in 1% of land in the area.
According to the statement of the Follow-up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel announced that several demonstrations will take place in more than 15 places in the Triangle, the Negev and the Galilee.
According to Prawer-Begin plan, Israel will seize 500,000 dunums of Arab (Bedouin) land, deport about 40,000 residents and demolish 36 villages.
This bill, which has already passed its first reading in the Knesset, will put Arabs that form 30% of the Negev residents in 1% of land in the area.
14 july 2013
Cabinet approves NIS 500 million plan to develop Negev
The cabinet approved a national plan to develop the Negev with a budget of NIS 500 million ($140 million). The investment will be spread over five years and would be the civilian answer to the procedure of the IDF's relocation to the Negev.
The outline was put together by an inter-ministerial committee headed by Director-General of the Prime Minister's Office Harel Locker and Director-General of the Ministry for Development of the Negev and Galilee Orna Hozman Bechor.
The cabinet approved a national plan to develop the Negev with a budget of NIS 500 million ($140 million). The investment will be spread over five years and would be the civilian answer to the procedure of the IDF's relocation to the Negev.
The outline was put together by an inter-ministerial committee headed by Director-General of the Prime Minister's Office Harel Locker and Director-General of the Ministry for Development of the Negev and Galilee Orna Hozman Bechor.
Israeli forces on Sunday issued eviction orders to four homes in the Nablus village of Aqraba, a PA official said.
Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement activity in the northern West Bank, told Ma'an that Israeli military forces issued eviction orders to Fawzi Abdullah Bani Jaber, Muhammad Abu Hadiyeh, and two home belonging to Sami Mustafa Bani Jaber.
The orders were issued on the pretext that the properties lacked building permits.
Sami Bani Jaber had paid over 800,000 shekels ($222,000) to build two homes after receiving verbal confirmation from the Israeli civil administration that he had permission to build.
IOA plans to raze four homes south of Nablus
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) served demolition notices to four families in Aqraba village, south of Nablus, on Sunday. Bilal Abdulhadi, deputy chairman of Aqraba municipal council, told the PIC that the IOA informed four citizens in Akar Mountain to the southwest of the village that they have to evacuate their homes.
He said that the IOA claimed the construction was in area C and was made without permission.
Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement activity in the northern West Bank, told Ma'an that Israeli military forces issued eviction orders to Fawzi Abdullah Bani Jaber, Muhammad Abu Hadiyeh, and two home belonging to Sami Mustafa Bani Jaber.
The orders were issued on the pretext that the properties lacked building permits.
Sami Bani Jaber had paid over 800,000 shekels ($222,000) to build two homes after receiving verbal confirmation from the Israeli civil administration that he had permission to build.
IOA plans to raze four homes south of Nablus
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) served demolition notices to four families in Aqraba village, south of Nablus, on Sunday. Bilal Abdulhadi, deputy chairman of Aqraba municipal council, told the PIC that the IOA informed four citizens in Akar Mountain to the southwest of the village that they have to evacuate their homes.
He said that the IOA claimed the construction was in area C and was made without permission.
13 july 2013
Israel has completed approximately 62 percent of the segregation wall's route, a further 10 percent is under construction and 28 percent is intended for construction, according to a report issued by the UN office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs in the occupied Palestinian lands (OCHA). The wall's total length (constructed and projected) is approximately 720 kilometers, more than twice the length of the 1949 armistice (green) line.
The wall consists of concrete walls, fences, ditches, razor wire, sand paths, surveillance systems, patrol roads, and a buffer zone.
The report affirmed that some 85 percent of the wall's route runs inside the West Bank, rather than along the green line, and if it was to be completed as planned, the wall would isolate about nine percent of the West Bank, including east Jerusalem.
The wall consists of concrete walls, fences, ditches, razor wire, sand paths, surveillance systems, patrol roads, and a buffer zone.
The report affirmed that some 85 percent of the wall's route runs inside the West Bank, rather than along the green line, and if it was to be completed as planned, the wall would isolate about nine percent of the West Bank, including east Jerusalem.
12 july 2013
A building demolished by Israeli forces in the village Khallet Athaba, South Hebron Hills, an area that Israel has designated a military firing zone.
Seventy prominent Canadian writers, including Michael Ondaatje (The English Patient), Yann Martel (Life of Pi), Lorna Crozier, and Lisa Moore (Open), wrote an open letter to Canadian and Israeli officials urging Israel to cease its plans to evict Palestinians in the South Hebron Hills, and to reject the Begin-Prawer Plan that would forcibly relocate 20,000-70,000 Bedouins from their homes in the Negev.
Israel has designated the land of the South Hebron Hills as a military firing zone, and says that the native Palestinians must be evicted because the area will be an unsafe and unsuitable place to inhabit. International law, however, dictates that Israel’s annexation of land in the West Bank is illegal, and Canadian writer Yann Martel asked “if you’re going to have a firing zone, why don’t you have it on your own land, not in occupied land?”
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OCHAOPT), Israel has designated about 18 percent of the West Bank as Israeli military training territory, which “is roughly the same amount of the West Bank under full Palestinian authority.”
The Canadian writers also urge the rejection of the Begin-Prawer plan that, if approved by Israeli lawmakers, would forcibly relocate 20,000-70,000 Bedouin of the Negev desert, many of whom live in “unrecognized” villages that were established before the creation of the State of Israel. According to the Begin-Prawer plan, the unrecognized villages would be destroyed and the Bedouin – who are citizens of Israel – would be concentrated in government-approved townships, a move that many argue would force them to abandon their traditional way of life.
The Bedouin have inhabited the Negev since the seventh century, but Israel claims that forcibly relocating them to government-approved townships will improve their access to services and afford them better opportunities. However, Adalah (The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel) argues that Israel has deliberately withheld services from the unrecognized villages in order to encourage the Bedouin to relocate. Furthermore, Adalah deplores the Begin-Prawer plan as a “gross violation of the constitutional rights of the Arab Bedouin citizens to property, dignity, equality, adequate housing, and freedom to choose their own residence.”
Recently, the European Parliament passed a resolution that called on Israel to withdraw the Begin-Prawer Plan. The resolution also called for the protection of the Negev Bedouin communities, for their rights to be respected, and it condemned “any violations (e.g. house demolitions, forced displacements, public service limitations).” If Israel carries out the forced relocation of the Bedouin from their unrecognized villages, Adalah has reported that industrial areas, a military base, and Jewish settlements will take their place.
The letter penned by the Canadian writers came on the heels of one written by 25 of Israel’s most prominent writers, including David Grossman, that denounced Israel’s planned eviction of the Palestinians in the South Hebron Hills.
Seventy prominent Canadian writers, including Michael Ondaatje (The English Patient), Yann Martel (Life of Pi), Lorna Crozier, and Lisa Moore (Open), wrote an open letter to Canadian and Israeli officials urging Israel to cease its plans to evict Palestinians in the South Hebron Hills, and to reject the Begin-Prawer Plan that would forcibly relocate 20,000-70,000 Bedouins from their homes in the Negev.
Israel has designated the land of the South Hebron Hills as a military firing zone, and says that the native Palestinians must be evicted because the area will be an unsafe and unsuitable place to inhabit. International law, however, dictates that Israel’s annexation of land in the West Bank is illegal, and Canadian writer Yann Martel asked “if you’re going to have a firing zone, why don’t you have it on your own land, not in occupied land?”
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OCHAOPT), Israel has designated about 18 percent of the West Bank as Israeli military training territory, which “is roughly the same amount of the West Bank under full Palestinian authority.”
The Canadian writers also urge the rejection of the Begin-Prawer plan that, if approved by Israeli lawmakers, would forcibly relocate 20,000-70,000 Bedouin of the Negev desert, many of whom live in “unrecognized” villages that were established before the creation of the State of Israel. According to the Begin-Prawer plan, the unrecognized villages would be destroyed and the Bedouin – who are citizens of Israel – would be concentrated in government-approved townships, a move that many argue would force them to abandon their traditional way of life.
The Bedouin have inhabited the Negev since the seventh century, but Israel claims that forcibly relocating them to government-approved townships will improve their access to services and afford them better opportunities. However, Adalah (The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel) argues that Israel has deliberately withheld services from the unrecognized villages in order to encourage the Bedouin to relocate. Furthermore, Adalah deplores the Begin-Prawer plan as a “gross violation of the constitutional rights of the Arab Bedouin citizens to property, dignity, equality, adequate housing, and freedom to choose their own residence.”
Recently, the European Parliament passed a resolution that called on Israel to withdraw the Begin-Prawer Plan. The resolution also called for the protection of the Negev Bedouin communities, for their rights to be respected, and it condemned “any violations (e.g. house demolitions, forced displacements, public service limitations).” If Israel carries out the forced relocation of the Bedouin from their unrecognized villages, Adalah has reported that industrial areas, a military base, and Jewish settlements will take their place.
The letter penned by the Canadian writers came on the heels of one written by 25 of Israel’s most prominent writers, including David Grossman, that denounced Israel’s planned eviction of the Palestinians in the South Hebron Hills.
11 july 2013
The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) imposed fines on Adel Ulayan, a resident of the Jordan Valley, and was still holding him in custody. Aref Daraghma, the chairman of the Malih and Bedouin villages in the northern Jordan Valley, said on Thursday that Ulayan was fined 3000 shekels other than the 15000 shekels imposed on him earlier this year after his cows were confiscated by the IOA for trespassing.
He said that the IOA also imposed 6236 shekels on each of the three trucks confiscated a month ago for carrying road maintenance material in Khirbat Ebzeik considered by the IOA as a military training area.
Daraghme called on international and human rights organizations to stand alongside the Valley inhabitants in face of IOA policies that aim at seizing people’s property in an attempt to force them to abandon their land.
He said that the IOA also imposed 6236 shekels on each of the three trucks confiscated a month ago for carrying road maintenance material in Khirbat Ebzeik considered by the IOA as a military training area.
Daraghme called on international and human rights organizations to stand alongside the Valley inhabitants in face of IOA policies that aim at seizing people’s property in an attempt to force them to abandon their land.
Deir Estia villagers in Salfit called for urgent action to stop an Israeli plan to uproot 2,300 fruitful olive trees owned by Palestinian farmers in Wadi Qana area. Yaser Abu Hijleh, one of the landowners in Wadi Qana, told the Palestinian information center (PIC) that Israeli employees from the nature and parks authority escorted by Israeli soldiers started on Tuesday to mark 2, 300 olive trees in red as a prelude to removing them.
Abu Hijleh added that the Israeli occupation authority wants to uproot these trees at the pretext that Wadi Qana area is an Israeli nature reserve and cannot be used by the Palestinians for agricultural purposes, noting that the area contains vast tracts of land belonging to Palestinian villagers from Deir Estia.
He affirmed that Israeli soldiers were deployed in the morning of Wednesday in Wadi Qana area and ordered the landowners to leave the area.
He stressed that the Israeli soldiers visitor since the morning in Wadi Qana and told them to leave the area and they will uproot olive trees in the area.
Abu Hijleh added that the Israeli occupation authority wants to uproot these trees at the pretext that Wadi Qana area is an Israeli nature reserve and cannot be used by the Palestinians for agricultural purposes, noting that the area contains vast tracts of land belonging to Palestinian villagers from Deir Estia.
He affirmed that Israeli soldiers were deployed in the morning of Wednesday in Wadi Qana area and ordered the landowners to leave the area.
He stressed that the Israeli soldiers visitor since the morning in Wadi Qana and told them to leave the area and they will uproot olive trees in the area.
Ghassan Daghlas, in charge of Israeli Settlements File at the Palestinian Authority in the northern part of the occupied West Bank, has reported that a number of extremist Israeli settlers cut on Thursday [July 10 2013] 1150 Palestinian Olive trees east of the Nablus District.
Daghlas told the Radio Bethlehem 2000 that the settlers attacked Palestinian orchards that belong to villagers of Awarta, and used chainsaws to cut approximately 1150 trees.
Daghlas added that the villagers found their trees cut after the army allowed them to enter their lands isolated behind the Annexation Wall. The orchards are close to the Itamar illegal Israeli settlement.
He said that the residents heard sounds of chainsaws, over the last several days, but did not know what was happening, especially since they have no access to their lands without a permit from the Israeli military.
The attacked orchards belong to 25 families in the town, and are their main sources of livelihood.
The recent attack is one of dozens of similar attacks against the residents and their orchards, as extremist settlers repeatedly cut and uprooted Palestinian orchards and lands, and repeatedly torched Palestinian crops and farmlands.
Daghlas told the Radio Bethlehem 2000 that the settlers attacked Palestinian orchards that belong to villagers of Awarta, and used chainsaws to cut approximately 1150 trees.
Daghlas added that the villagers found their trees cut after the army allowed them to enter their lands isolated behind the Annexation Wall. The orchards are close to the Itamar illegal Israeli settlement.
He said that the residents heard sounds of chainsaws, over the last several days, but did not know what was happening, especially since they have no access to their lands without a permit from the Israeli military.
The attacked orchards belong to 25 families in the town, and are their main sources of livelihood.
The recent attack is one of dozens of similar attacks against the residents and their orchards, as extremist settlers repeatedly cut and uprooted Palestinian orchards and lands, and repeatedly torched Palestinian crops and farmlands.
10 july 2013
Jewish settlers have bulldozed Wednesday morning Palestinian lands near Susia settlement built on Yatta lands in al-Khalil. Coordinator of the popular committee against settlements in Yatta, Rateb Jabour, stated that Israeli bulldozers started bulldozing Palestinian lands in order to transfer soil to Susia settlement.
Jabour noted that the Palestinian land owners have documents, from the Israeli Supreme Court, prove their ownership of the land.
It is worth mentioning that the Israeli settlers accelerated their attacks against Palestinians and their properties in order to deport them and confiscate their lands for settlement expansion.
Settlers Raze Land, Steal Soil near Hebron
Settlers from the settlement of Susiya constructed on the lands of Yatta village, south of Hebron razed on Wednesday, Palestinian agricultural land and stole rich soil and took it to their settlement.
Rateb Jbour, Coordinator of the popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements, told Palestinian official news agency WAFA that the settlers razed a large area of privately owned agricultural land in Wad Rakhim area and stole the fertile soil.
Jabour noted that the Palestinian land owners have documents, from the Israeli Supreme Court, prove their ownership of the land.
It is worth mentioning that the Israeli settlers accelerated their attacks against Palestinians and their properties in order to deport them and confiscate their lands for settlement expansion.
Settlers Raze Land, Steal Soil near Hebron
Settlers from the settlement of Susiya constructed on the lands of Yatta village, south of Hebron razed on Wednesday, Palestinian agricultural land and stole rich soil and took it to their settlement.
Rateb Jbour, Coordinator of the popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements, told Palestinian official news agency WAFA that the settlers razed a large area of privately owned agricultural land in Wad Rakhim area and stole the fertile soil.
9 july 2013
A number of Israeli military vehicles raided on Tuesday, Absan village, east of Khan Younes in the Gaza Strip.
Media sources reported that around two military vehicles and six bulldozers penetrated into Palestinian lands, east of the village, adjacent to the border line.
The sources added that Israeli bulldozers started razing lands suited outside the borderline.
it's worth noting that Israeli forces regularly breach the agreement signed with the Hamas movement under the auspices of Egypt last November, due to the practices of the Israeli occupation on the Gaza Strip's villages and lands.
Army Invades Al-Qarara
Palestinian sources have reported that a number of Israeli military vehicles advanced on Tuesday at dawn [July 9 2013] hundreds of meters into the Al-Qarara town, north east of Khan Younis city, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. The sources said that six armored military bulldozers, accompanied by several armored vehicles, advanced into the area, and uprooted Palestinian farmlands, especially lands close to the border fence; no clashes have been reported.
Despite the ceasefire agreement, mediated by Egypt in late December of last year, Israeli soldiers carried out hundreds of limited invasions into the coastal region, and continued their attacks against the residents, including fishermen and farmers.
In related news, several Israeli military vehicles invaded Barta’a Ash-Sharqiyya village, near the northern West Bank city of Jenin, and violently broke into shops close to the Annexation Wall before kidnapping a shop owner.
Local sources have reported that the kidnapped Palestinians has been identified as Abdul-Wahab Hasan Kabaha, 45, a local shop owner. Soldiers also destroyed doors of several shops, and violently searched the stores.
Media sources reported that around two military vehicles and six bulldozers penetrated into Palestinian lands, east of the village, adjacent to the border line.
The sources added that Israeli bulldozers started razing lands suited outside the borderline.
it's worth noting that Israeli forces regularly breach the agreement signed with the Hamas movement under the auspices of Egypt last November, due to the practices of the Israeli occupation on the Gaza Strip's villages and lands.
Army Invades Al-Qarara
Palestinian sources have reported that a number of Israeli military vehicles advanced on Tuesday at dawn [July 9 2013] hundreds of meters into the Al-Qarara town, north east of Khan Younis city, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. The sources said that six armored military bulldozers, accompanied by several armored vehicles, advanced into the area, and uprooted Palestinian farmlands, especially lands close to the border fence; no clashes have been reported.
Despite the ceasefire agreement, mediated by Egypt in late December of last year, Israeli soldiers carried out hundreds of limited invasions into the coastal region, and continued their attacks against the residents, including fishermen and farmers.
In related news, several Israeli military vehicles invaded Barta’a Ash-Sharqiyya village, near the northern West Bank city of Jenin, and violently broke into shops close to the Annexation Wall before kidnapping a shop owner.
Local sources have reported that the kidnapped Palestinians has been identified as Abdul-Wahab Hasan Kabaha, 45, a local shop owner. Soldiers also destroyed doors of several shops, and violently searched the stores.
Israel's District Court in Jerusalem issued a decision to allow settlers to obtain information on Palestinian land owners through the Land Registry (Tabo) for the first time since the occupation of the West Bank 46 years ago.
Haaretz Hebrew-language newspaper reported on Tuesday, that Israeli occupation has prevented settlers access to information on Palestinian landowners due to fraud land transactions made by settlers in order to seize the lands, especially the lands whose owners living outside the Palestinian territories.
Israeli organizations headed to the court and demanded an access to information on the owners of the lands located near the settlements in order to purchase them for settlement expansion purposes.
The court's judge issued a decision allowing settlers to obtain information and such decision will give the chance for settlers to reveal the identity of the Palestinian owners and therefore expanding the settlements in Ramallah, Jordan Valley and Tulkarem.
It's worth mentioning that a senior officer in the "Israel's Civil Administration was convicted a year ago of leaking information about the Palestinian land for settlers who forged documents in order to control Palestinian land.
Haaretz Hebrew-language newspaper reported on Tuesday, that Israeli occupation has prevented settlers access to information on Palestinian landowners due to fraud land transactions made by settlers in order to seize the lands, especially the lands whose owners living outside the Palestinian territories.
Israeli organizations headed to the court and demanded an access to information on the owners of the lands located near the settlements in order to purchase them for settlement expansion purposes.
The court's judge issued a decision allowing settlers to obtain information and such decision will give the chance for settlers to reveal the identity of the Palestinian owners and therefore expanding the settlements in Ramallah, Jordan Valley and Tulkarem.
It's worth mentioning that a senior officer in the "Israel's Civil Administration was convicted a year ago of leaking information about the Palestinian land for settlers who forged documents in order to control Palestinian land.
Haaretz newspaper revealed a new Israeli court verdict allowing the Jewish settlers to have access to the registry information of the real estate owned by the Palestinians. The newspaper stated on Tuesday that this verdict was issued by the Israeli central court in occupied Jerusalem and it allowed the settlers to see and copy the real estate deeds which are archived by the Israeli land authorities.
This Israeli decision replaced an earlier one that had been in force for 46 years and banned access to any information on Palestinian real estate to prevent forgery crimes by the settlers.
This court decision also took place following a petition filed last year by Jewish groups with the central court demanding a permission to have access to Palestinian real estate information in order to buy and annex the properties near their settlements.
This Israeli decision replaced an earlier one that had been in force for 46 years and banned access to any information on Palestinian real estate to prevent forgery crimes by the settlers.
This court decision also took place following a petition filed last year by Jewish groups with the central court demanding a permission to have access to Palestinian real estate information in order to buy and annex the properties near their settlements.
8 july 2013
Walaja's farm terraces and planned park area of Refairm Valley Park in Jerusalem
The Refaim Valley Park will cover more than 1,425 acres, at the southern exit of Jerusalem where the Green Line passes through.
The Jerusalem Planning and Building Committee has approved the establishment of a new national park in southern Jerusalem, part of which will include the lands of the village of Walaja. The boundary of the park will run along the security fence, which separates the villagers of Walaja from their farmland. However, the approval of the park also stops the establishment of a large settlement planned for the area.
The Refaim Valley Park will cover more than 5,700 dunams, or 1,425 acres, at the southern exit of Jerusalem and will be part of the large urban park to surround Jerusalem on three sides. The Green Line runs through the base of the Refaim Valley, through which the park runs.
An estimated 1,200 dunams of the park are terraced farmlands belonging to the villagers of Walaja. In fact, preserving the historically significant of the terraces is one of the reasons cited for creating the park. But villagers say the main threat to the ancient culture of terrace agriculture comes from the security fence under construction.
In consideration of residents’ objections, the committee stipulated that one of the park’s aims is “preserving the organic cultural landscape” and the agricultural terraces. The plan includes elements to protect the terraces from damage by visitors.
The Refaim Valley Park will cover more than 1,425 acres, at the southern exit of Jerusalem where the Green Line passes through.
The Jerusalem Planning and Building Committee has approved the establishment of a new national park in southern Jerusalem, part of which will include the lands of the village of Walaja. The boundary of the park will run along the security fence, which separates the villagers of Walaja from their farmland. However, the approval of the park also stops the establishment of a large settlement planned for the area.
The Refaim Valley Park will cover more than 5,700 dunams, or 1,425 acres, at the southern exit of Jerusalem and will be part of the large urban park to surround Jerusalem on three sides. The Green Line runs through the base of the Refaim Valley, through which the park runs.
An estimated 1,200 dunams of the park are terraced farmlands belonging to the villagers of Walaja. In fact, preserving the historically significant of the terraces is one of the reasons cited for creating the park. But villagers say the main threat to the ancient culture of terrace agriculture comes from the security fence under construction.
In consideration of residents’ objections, the committee stipulated that one of the park’s aims is “preserving the organic cultural landscape” and the agricultural terraces. The plan includes elements to protect the terraces from damage by visitors.
Local resident Shireen al-A'araj walking along the path that cuts near Walajeh
But once the fence is completed Walaja’s farmers will only be able to access their fields by means of gates in the security fence. The national park plan prohibits habitation of the park; as a result, two families now living there, in caves and tin shacks, will be forced to leave.
According to Aviv Tatarsky of Ir Amim, a nonprofit association that supports the “equitable” sharing of Jerusalem, the route of the security fence allows “the taking of lands from the inhabitants of Walaja and transferring them to Israelis, who will come to visit.”
In addition, he says, “Changing the character of the area from Palestinian farmland to an Israeli recreational site fits in with the plan to create contiguity between the city and the settlements surrounding it.”
Walaja’s residents are apprehensive about the decision to create a national park. The security fence that now surrounds the village has just one opening in the direction of Beit Jala, northwest of Bethlehem.
“The government wants to fence us in, first the fence and now the park and in the end they’ll build a settlement there,” Ahmad Sallah Barghout of Walaja says. Forty dunams of his land, and his parents’ graves, are within the boundaries of the new national park.
The original proposal submitted for the park included a birding center, dining facilities, sports facilities and a shooting range. The committee did not approve the shooting range.
IOA to establish new settlement park in Jerusalem
The Jerusalem Planning and Building Committee has approved the establishment of a new settlement park at the expense of Walaja village's land in southern Jerusalem, Hebrew media sources said. The boundary of the park will run along the Apartheid Wall, which separates the villagers of Walaja from their farmland, according to Haaretz newspaper.
"The Refaim Valley Park" will cover more than 5,700 dunums, or 1,425 acres, at the southern exit of Jerusalem and will be part of the large urban park to surround Jerusalem on three sides. The Green Line runs through the base of the Refaim Valley, through which the park runs, the newspaper explained.
Haaretz stated that 1,200 dunums of land of the park are terraced farmlands belonging to the villagers of Walaja. Villagers say the main threat to the ancient culture of terrace agriculture comes from the Apartheid Wall under construction.
An Israeli official said, “changing the character of the area from Palestinian farmland into an Israeli recreational site fits in with the plan to create contiguity between the holy city and the settlements surroundin."
But once the fence is completed Walaja’s farmers will only be able to access their fields by means of gates in the security fence. The national park plan prohibits habitation of the park; as a result, two families now living there, in caves and tin shacks, will be forced to leave.
According to Aviv Tatarsky of Ir Amim, a nonprofit association that supports the “equitable” sharing of Jerusalem, the route of the security fence allows “the taking of lands from the inhabitants of Walaja and transferring them to Israelis, who will come to visit.”
In addition, he says, “Changing the character of the area from Palestinian farmland to an Israeli recreational site fits in with the plan to create contiguity between the city and the settlements surrounding it.”
Walaja’s residents are apprehensive about the decision to create a national park. The security fence that now surrounds the village has just one opening in the direction of Beit Jala, northwest of Bethlehem.
“The government wants to fence us in, first the fence and now the park and in the end they’ll build a settlement there,” Ahmad Sallah Barghout of Walaja says. Forty dunams of his land, and his parents’ graves, are within the boundaries of the new national park.
The original proposal submitted for the park included a birding center, dining facilities, sports facilities and a shooting range. The committee did not approve the shooting range.
IOA to establish new settlement park in Jerusalem
The Jerusalem Planning and Building Committee has approved the establishment of a new settlement park at the expense of Walaja village's land in southern Jerusalem, Hebrew media sources said. The boundary of the park will run along the Apartheid Wall, which separates the villagers of Walaja from their farmland, according to Haaretz newspaper.
"The Refaim Valley Park" will cover more than 5,700 dunums, or 1,425 acres, at the southern exit of Jerusalem and will be part of the large urban park to surround Jerusalem on three sides. The Green Line runs through the base of the Refaim Valley, through which the park runs, the newspaper explained.
Haaretz stated that 1,200 dunums of land of the park are terraced farmlands belonging to the villagers of Walaja. Villagers say the main threat to the ancient culture of terrace agriculture comes from the Apartheid Wall under construction.
An Israeli official said, “changing the character of the area from Palestinian farmland into an Israeli recreational site fits in with the plan to create contiguity between the holy city and the settlements surroundin."
Israeli forces demolished Monday, agricultural lands, tents and barracks belonging to Palestinian farmers and Bedouins in several areas in Tubas Governorate, northeast of West Bank.
Head of Atouf Village Council, Abdullah Bisharat, said that Israeli bulldozers, escorted by Israeli military jeeps, closed the area and started demolishing a number of tents and agricultural facilities in Ar-Ra's al-Ahmar area, east of Atouf village and al-Hadedyeh area in Tubas.
Bisharat said that such procedures aim to evacuate Atouf village from its Palestinian residents for settlement purposes.
IOF destroys tents and barracks in Jordan Valley
Israeli Occupation Forces(IOF) stormed on Monday the Jordan Valley in Tubas where they demolished tents and a shed belonging to Palestinian farmers. Nearly 20 military vehicles and bulldozers stormed the area and started demolishing a number of tents and agricultural houses in the areas of Al-Hadidia in Tubas in the West Bank, local sources said.
The sources added that the Israeli soldiers threatened the residents to evacuate Atouf village from its Palestinian residents for settlement purposes.
Meanwhile, Israeli bulldozers destroyed Palestinian facilities in the areas of Al-Ra's Al-Ahmer eastern Atov village.
Head of Atouf Village Council, Abdullah Bisharat, said that Israeli bulldozers, escorted by Israeli military jeeps, closed the area and started demolishing a number of tents and agricultural facilities in Ar-Ra's al-Ahmar area, east of Atouf village and al-Hadedyeh area in Tubas.
Bisharat said that such procedures aim to evacuate Atouf village from its Palestinian residents for settlement purposes.
IOF destroys tents and barracks in Jordan Valley
Israeli Occupation Forces(IOF) stormed on Monday the Jordan Valley in Tubas where they demolished tents and a shed belonging to Palestinian farmers. Nearly 20 military vehicles and bulldozers stormed the area and started demolishing a number of tents and agricultural houses in the areas of Al-Hadidia in Tubas in the West Bank, local sources said.
The sources added that the Israeli soldiers threatened the residents to evacuate Atouf village from its Palestinian residents for settlement purposes.
Meanwhile, Israeli bulldozers destroyed Palestinian facilities in the areas of Al-Ra's Al-Ahmer eastern Atov village.
7 july 2013
Jewish settlers from illegal ‘Beitar Illit’ settlement Sunday drowned Palestinian-owned agricultural land with wastewater in the village of Wadi Fukin, west of Bethlehem, according to a local source. Head of Wadi Fukin village council Ahmad Sokar told WAFA that settlers pumped wastewater to around 100 dumums of agricultural land belonging to around 50 farmers in the village, drowning it completely.
He said that the mentioned land became unfit for agricultural use due to the ongoing pumping of wastewater by settlers.
Settlers drown Palestinian lands with wastewater in Bethlehem
Settlers from Beitar Illit settlement, built on Palestinian lands west of Bethlehem, drowned Sunday about 100 dunums of Palestinian agricultural lands with wastewater in the village of Wadi Fukin. The mentioned lands became unfit for agricultural use due to the ongoing pumping of wastewater by settlers.
Wadi Fukin Village Council has called, in its statement, on concerned authorities to intervene to put an end to the settlers' attacks against the villagers' lands.
The settlers pumped wastewater to around 100 dunums of agricultural land belonging to around 50 farmers in the village, drowning it completely, the statement explained.
He said that the mentioned land became unfit for agricultural use due to the ongoing pumping of wastewater by settlers.
Settlers drown Palestinian lands with wastewater in Bethlehem
Settlers from Beitar Illit settlement, built on Palestinian lands west of Bethlehem, drowned Sunday about 100 dunums of Palestinian agricultural lands with wastewater in the village of Wadi Fukin. The mentioned lands became unfit for agricultural use due to the ongoing pumping of wastewater by settlers.
Wadi Fukin Village Council has called, in its statement, on concerned authorities to intervene to put an end to the settlers' attacks against the villagers' lands.
The settlers pumped wastewater to around 100 dunums of agricultural land belonging to around 50 farmers in the village, drowning it completely, the statement explained.
Palestinian researchers and specialists in occupied Jerusalem warned that about 150 landmarks and historical sites are exposed to Judaization and annexation in the holy city. This came in a conference organized on Saturday by scholars and preachers in Jerusalem.
The final statement issued by the conferees stressed that the whole Islamic landmarks in Jerusalem is threatened with annexation to the alleged Jewish heritage, either by removing all signs of the Arab and Islamic presence in the city or by tampering with the antiquities and replacing the Arabic inscriptions with Hebrew ones.
The statement warned that the coming Israeli step would be directed against the Aqsa Mosque after the Israeli occupation regime prepared itself to raze this Mosque and build the Jewish temple in its place.
The conferees appealed to the Arab and Muslim decision makers to be aware of what is happening in Jerusalem and move to protect the Arab historical landmarks and the Aqsa Mosque.
The final statement issued by the conferees stressed that the whole Islamic landmarks in Jerusalem is threatened with annexation to the alleged Jewish heritage, either by removing all signs of the Arab and Islamic presence in the city or by tampering with the antiquities and replacing the Arabic inscriptions with Hebrew ones.
The statement warned that the coming Israeli step would be directed against the Aqsa Mosque after the Israeli occupation regime prepared itself to raze this Mosque and build the Jewish temple in its place.
The conferees appealed to the Arab and Muslim decision makers to be aware of what is happening in Jerusalem and move to protect the Arab historical landmarks and the Aqsa Mosque.
Israeli forces on Sunday morning prevented several Palestinian farmers from working on their fields south of Nablus in the northern West Bank, witnesses said.
Israeli troops stopped farmers harvesting their crops in Huwwara Plains, and instructed them to obtain permits from the Israeli liaison department, said 30-year-old Jihad Dweikat, from Rujeib village,
On Saturday, extremist settlers attacked farmers in the area and damaged a private vehicle and a tractor.
Israeli troops stopped farmers harvesting their crops in Huwwara Plains, and instructed them to obtain permits from the Israeli liaison department, said 30-year-old Jihad Dweikat, from Rujeib village,
On Saturday, extremist settlers attacked farmers in the area and damaged a private vehicle and a tractor.
6 july 2013
The IDF could easily build a mock village on some godforsaken dune in the Negev for training purposes. But training in a Palestinian village has another (hidden) goal: to show them who’s boss.
By Yesh Din (written by Yossi Gurvitz)
The villagers of Imatin were surprised at the end of May 2013, when a large IDF force – evidence shows it seemed to be the size of a as company – invaded their village in the evening, with troops spreading amongst the houses, conducting what apparently was combat practice in a populated terrain.
The soldiers, armed to the teeth of course, moved from yard to yard throughout the village pretending it were a battlefield. The entire incident was very stressful for the women, the elderly and the children of the village. The next day, the show repeated itself: a convoy of IDF vehicles gathered in the center of the village at sundown, and out of them climbed around 100 heavily armed soldiers, and began roleplaying a battle.
Yesh Din’s files document several similar cases. In 2007, a Palestinian from Tel Rumeida in Hebron complained that his house was chosen as a training site. When the soldiers were told that the training would likely scare the man’s little brother, they responded by saying “it’s none of your business.” And why would it be? It’s only his house.
That same year, the IDF trained in the village of Beit Lid, where soldiers took over houses at night while shooting and shouting. In 2012, in the village of Deir Astia, soldiers allegedly trained in the village, and threw (whether by malice or accident) stun and teargas grenades into a populated house. At the time, the army claimed, in reply to Yesh Din’s complaint, that it hadn’t conducted a training per se, but rather an incident of “waving the flag.” In 2009, Yesh Din were informed that the Military Advocate General (MAG) was reviewing the phenomenon; the organization hasn’t received a response since, and the practice clearly continues.
Among the injustices Yesh Din document on a daily basis, the invasion of Amatin invasion for training purposes is admittedly one of the lesser ones. No one was hurt; the soldiers did not use violence against the villagers nor did they loot the houses, and they even refrained from entering the houses and instead settled for intimidating the residents by wandering among their courtyards. Minor as the incident may be among the others Yesh Din documents – Jewish terrorism against farmers, arson, land theft, pillage, abusing the wrongfully detained, intimidation and more – it is as important as the rest to understanding of the essence of the Israeli occupation in the West Bank.
That essence: Palestinians do not have basic human rights. They become unwilling participants in the war movie the military commander is producing. At his whim, their courtyards are impounded without notice so that his soldiers can come out and play. When he so wishes, people will have to shut themselves in their homes and shudder at the shouts called out in a foreign language by armed men trained to see them as enemies.
Much of what Israel does in the West Bank is explained away by “security needs.” These needs can be remarkably flexible: it is neccessary to pull Palestinian children of their beds at night, since their stone throwing is life-threatening. No such necessity exists, however, towards Jewish stone throwers; their stones are notoriously pacifistic.
But what happened in Imatin cannot be explained away by “security necessities,” since none exist. The IDF controls the vast majority of the Negev, as well as a good part of the country’s treasury. If it wants to practice somewhere that resembles a Palestinian village. It ought to build a replica of one in part of the huge training grounds it already has. And this is the point – were the plan to land at Junia, the high scale suburb of Beirut, the IDF would not imagine Caesarea or Savion as a location for one night of practice. But Palestinians villages? After all, they’re not really human. As the song goes (Hebrew), “They’re not a man, not a woman; but an item, a shadow.”
In the 18th century, then-British Prime Minister Pitt the Elder would roar in Parliament that ” the poorest man may in his cottage bid defiance to all the forces of the Crown. It may be frail — its roof may shake — the wind may blow through it — the storm may enter — the rain may enter — but the King of England cannot enter — all his force dares not cross the threshold of the ruined tenement!” The British peasant of the 18th century had more rights than the Palestinian farmer of the 21st century – assuming, of course, he wasn’t Irish, where the laws which would become our Emergency Edicts were born.
The Imatin training ended without any casualties. That’s not always the case. The training held by the Duvdevan (meaning “Cherry”) unit, whose soldiers dress as undercover Palestinians, in the village of Ramoun in April 2012 was a catastrophic failure (Hebrew). The villagers suspected that the disguised soldiers skulking about the village were thieves and attacked them. One Palestinian was killed and another, who was later abused by the soldiers, was wounded. Public attention, such as it was, was directed towards the abuse of the prisoner, not to the fact that an IDF training session had ended with a dead Palestinian. Because when all is said and done, what troubles the IDF – when it is caught, that is – is concern for its “values” more than for the unexpected results of its actions, as long as they can be justified as “military necessity.”
What happened in Ramoun could easily have happened in Imatin. Had some of the young men of the village tried to expel the invaders who entered their courtyard at night, and had the latter responded with live fire in a heavily populated area, it would have ended in a multiple-victim incident. Apparently the IDF didn’t consider the possibility that Palestinians might react to their courtyards being invaded at night – they’re not really human, after all.
There’s another reason for training in Palestinian territory, which the army will not admit. It could easily build a mock village on some godforsaken dune in the Negev. But training in a real village has another (hidden) goal: to show the Palestinian who’s boss. Who can disrupt their lives just because they feel like it, and who can make them shut themselves in their homes just by their very presence. Although this reason is not voiced out loud, at the end of the day, it is the deciding reason for the training. And so, even though Yesh Din filed a complaint with the MAG and demanded an investigation of the Imatin incident, given the fact that the MAG has been leisurely reviewing the issue since 2009, things are not looking up. Intimidating the residents of the West Bank is far too important for the IDF to simply give it up.
Written by Yossi Gurvitz in his capacity as a blogger for Yesh Din, Volunteers for Human Rights. A version of this post was first published on Yesh Din’s blog.
By Yesh Din (written by Yossi Gurvitz)
The villagers of Imatin were surprised at the end of May 2013, when a large IDF force – evidence shows it seemed to be the size of a as company – invaded their village in the evening, with troops spreading amongst the houses, conducting what apparently was combat practice in a populated terrain.
The soldiers, armed to the teeth of course, moved from yard to yard throughout the village pretending it were a battlefield. The entire incident was very stressful for the women, the elderly and the children of the village. The next day, the show repeated itself: a convoy of IDF vehicles gathered in the center of the village at sundown, and out of them climbed around 100 heavily armed soldiers, and began roleplaying a battle.
Yesh Din’s files document several similar cases. In 2007, a Palestinian from Tel Rumeida in Hebron complained that his house was chosen as a training site. When the soldiers were told that the training would likely scare the man’s little brother, they responded by saying “it’s none of your business.” And why would it be? It’s only his house.
That same year, the IDF trained in the village of Beit Lid, where soldiers took over houses at night while shooting and shouting. In 2012, in the village of Deir Astia, soldiers allegedly trained in the village, and threw (whether by malice or accident) stun and teargas grenades into a populated house. At the time, the army claimed, in reply to Yesh Din’s complaint, that it hadn’t conducted a training per se, but rather an incident of “waving the flag.” In 2009, Yesh Din were informed that the Military Advocate General (MAG) was reviewing the phenomenon; the organization hasn’t received a response since, and the practice clearly continues.
Among the injustices Yesh Din document on a daily basis, the invasion of Amatin invasion for training purposes is admittedly one of the lesser ones. No one was hurt; the soldiers did not use violence against the villagers nor did they loot the houses, and they even refrained from entering the houses and instead settled for intimidating the residents by wandering among their courtyards. Minor as the incident may be among the others Yesh Din documents – Jewish terrorism against farmers, arson, land theft, pillage, abusing the wrongfully detained, intimidation and more – it is as important as the rest to understanding of the essence of the Israeli occupation in the West Bank.
That essence: Palestinians do not have basic human rights. They become unwilling participants in the war movie the military commander is producing. At his whim, their courtyards are impounded without notice so that his soldiers can come out and play. When he so wishes, people will have to shut themselves in their homes and shudder at the shouts called out in a foreign language by armed men trained to see them as enemies.
Much of what Israel does in the West Bank is explained away by “security needs.” These needs can be remarkably flexible: it is neccessary to pull Palestinian children of their beds at night, since their stone throwing is life-threatening. No such necessity exists, however, towards Jewish stone throwers; their stones are notoriously pacifistic.
But what happened in Imatin cannot be explained away by “security necessities,” since none exist. The IDF controls the vast majority of the Negev, as well as a good part of the country’s treasury. If it wants to practice somewhere that resembles a Palestinian village. It ought to build a replica of one in part of the huge training grounds it already has. And this is the point – were the plan to land at Junia, the high scale suburb of Beirut, the IDF would not imagine Caesarea or Savion as a location for one night of practice. But Palestinians villages? After all, they’re not really human. As the song goes (Hebrew), “They’re not a man, not a woman; but an item, a shadow.”
In the 18th century, then-British Prime Minister Pitt the Elder would roar in Parliament that ” the poorest man may in his cottage bid defiance to all the forces of the Crown. It may be frail — its roof may shake — the wind may blow through it — the storm may enter — the rain may enter — but the King of England cannot enter — all his force dares not cross the threshold of the ruined tenement!” The British peasant of the 18th century had more rights than the Palestinian farmer of the 21st century – assuming, of course, he wasn’t Irish, where the laws which would become our Emergency Edicts were born.
The Imatin training ended without any casualties. That’s not always the case. The training held by the Duvdevan (meaning “Cherry”) unit, whose soldiers dress as undercover Palestinians, in the village of Ramoun in April 2012 was a catastrophic failure (Hebrew). The villagers suspected that the disguised soldiers skulking about the village were thieves and attacked them. One Palestinian was killed and another, who was later abused by the soldiers, was wounded. Public attention, such as it was, was directed towards the abuse of the prisoner, not to the fact that an IDF training session had ended with a dead Palestinian. Because when all is said and done, what troubles the IDF – when it is caught, that is – is concern for its “values” more than for the unexpected results of its actions, as long as they can be justified as “military necessity.”
What happened in Ramoun could easily have happened in Imatin. Had some of the young men of the village tried to expel the invaders who entered their courtyard at night, and had the latter responded with live fire in a heavily populated area, it would have ended in a multiple-victim incident. Apparently the IDF didn’t consider the possibility that Palestinians might react to their courtyards being invaded at night – they’re not really human, after all.
There’s another reason for training in Palestinian territory, which the army will not admit. It could easily build a mock village on some godforsaken dune in the Negev. But training in a real village has another (hidden) goal: to show the Palestinian who’s boss. Who can disrupt their lives just because they feel like it, and who can make them shut themselves in their homes just by their very presence. Although this reason is not voiced out loud, at the end of the day, it is the deciding reason for the training. And so, even though Yesh Din filed a complaint with the MAG and demanded an investigation of the Imatin incident, given the fact that the MAG has been leisurely reviewing the issue since 2009, things are not looking up. Intimidating the residents of the West Bank is far too important for the IDF to simply give it up.
Written by Yossi Gurvitz in his capacity as a blogger for Yesh Din, Volunteers for Human Rights. A version of this post was first published on Yesh Din’s blog.
Dozens of extremist Jewish settlers on Saturday attacked Palestinian Bedouins living in tents and steel structures in Huwwara south of Nablus, an official said.
Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlers in the northern West Bank, told Ma’an that about 50 settlers from Itamar and Yitzhar near Nablus stormed the nomads’ residence. Clashes erupted, he said, when the invaders tried to steal sheep from the Bedouins.
Daghlas highlighted that the settlers damaged a tractor and smashed the windshield of a private car. The attackers started to destroy plants and trees in the area before officers of the Israeli liaison department intervened and evacuated them.
Israeli settlers and soldiers attack Palestinians south of al-Khalil
Jewish settlers, accompanied by Israeli soldiers, attacked Palestinians, from the hamlet of Umm al-Khair, who tried to enter their lands, near the town of Yatta in al-Khalil. Ratib al-Jabour, the coordinator of the popular and national committees against the wall and settlements in Yatta, told Quds Press that the attack took place when the members of Hadhalin family tried, with the support of foreign solidarity activists, to reach their land seized by settlers about two weeks ago.
Jabour said that the Israelis from the settlement of Carmiel, guarded by the occupation soldiers, attacked and suppressed the Palestinian citizens, causing some women and children to faint.
Three civilians, including two women, were also injured in the attack, while another citizen and two foreign solidarity activists were arrested by the occupation soldiers.
The settlers seized a piece of land with an area of 50 dunums and prevented its owners to enter it and prepared the place to perform Talmudic rituals on it.
Safa News Agency quoted Umm al-Khair resident Ibrahim Hadhalin as saying that clashes erupted between the citizens and Israeli settlers and soldiers when a number of shepherds tried to cross the seized land to reach their pastures.
The occupation authorities seek to displace dozens of Bedouin families inhabiting lands adjacent to Carmiel settlement and continue the construction of settlement units on the southern and western sides of the settlement.
Meanwhile, dozens of other extremist Jewish settlers attacked on Saturday afternoon shepherds and their families, south of Nablus, and damaged their properties.
Ghassan Daghlas, Palestinian official who monitors settlement activities in the north of the West Bank, said the settlers attacked the houses of the shepherds in Huwwara in the south of Nablus.
He added that the attackers damaged a tractor and smashed the windshield of a private car. They also tried to steal sheep from the Bedouins and destroyed plants and trees in the area.
Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlers in the northern West Bank, told Ma’an that about 50 settlers from Itamar and Yitzhar near Nablus stormed the nomads’ residence. Clashes erupted, he said, when the invaders tried to steal sheep from the Bedouins.
Daghlas highlighted that the settlers damaged a tractor and smashed the windshield of a private car. The attackers started to destroy plants and trees in the area before officers of the Israeli liaison department intervened and evacuated them.
Israeli settlers and soldiers attack Palestinians south of al-Khalil
Jewish settlers, accompanied by Israeli soldiers, attacked Palestinians, from the hamlet of Umm al-Khair, who tried to enter their lands, near the town of Yatta in al-Khalil. Ratib al-Jabour, the coordinator of the popular and national committees against the wall and settlements in Yatta, told Quds Press that the attack took place when the members of Hadhalin family tried, with the support of foreign solidarity activists, to reach their land seized by settlers about two weeks ago.
Jabour said that the Israelis from the settlement of Carmiel, guarded by the occupation soldiers, attacked and suppressed the Palestinian citizens, causing some women and children to faint.
Three civilians, including two women, were also injured in the attack, while another citizen and two foreign solidarity activists were arrested by the occupation soldiers.
The settlers seized a piece of land with an area of 50 dunums and prevented its owners to enter it and prepared the place to perform Talmudic rituals on it.
Safa News Agency quoted Umm al-Khair resident Ibrahim Hadhalin as saying that clashes erupted between the citizens and Israeli settlers and soldiers when a number of shepherds tried to cross the seized land to reach their pastures.
The occupation authorities seek to displace dozens of Bedouin families inhabiting lands adjacent to Carmiel settlement and continue the construction of settlement units on the southern and western sides of the settlement.
Meanwhile, dozens of other extremist Jewish settlers attacked on Saturday afternoon shepherds and their families, south of Nablus, and damaged their properties.
Ghassan Daghlas, Palestinian official who monitors settlement activities in the north of the West Bank, said the settlers attacked the houses of the shepherds in Huwwara in the south of Nablus.
He added that the attackers damaged a tractor and smashed the windshield of a private car. They also tried to steal sheep from the Bedouins and destroyed plants and trees in the area.
5 july 2013
Israeli Occupation Forces stormed at dawn today Araba village, southwest of Jenin, for 2 hours and arrested a Palestinian after raiding and searching his house. Local sources said that Israeli forces raided the village and arrested Ahmed Adnan Merdawi, 23, brother of the sick prisoner Mohammed Merdawi, after raiding his family home.
The sources reported that violent clashes erupted between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians in the village.
In a related context, Jewish settlers bulldozed, on Friday morning, Palestinian lands in Yatta town al-Khalil southern West Bank.
Rateb al Jabour, the coordinator of the "Popular Committee Against the settlement" in the town of Yatta, confirmed that settlers from Susiya settlement built on Palestinian lands have bulldozed this morning land owned by Halees family in Yatta.
Around 200 settlers stormed Carmel town chanting Talmudic hymns under the protection of 50 Israeli soldiers who restricted Palestinian citizens' movement, Jabour added.
The coordinator of the "Popular Committee Against the settlement" stated that the Israeli settlers' attacks against Palestinians aim to displace them and confiscate their lands.
The sources reported that violent clashes erupted between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians in the village.
In a related context, Jewish settlers bulldozed, on Friday morning, Palestinian lands in Yatta town al-Khalil southern West Bank.
Rateb al Jabour, the coordinator of the "Popular Committee Against the settlement" in the town of Yatta, confirmed that settlers from Susiya settlement built on Palestinian lands have bulldozed this morning land owned by Halees family in Yatta.
Around 200 settlers stormed Carmel town chanting Talmudic hymns under the protection of 50 Israeli soldiers who restricted Palestinian citizens' movement, Jabour added.
The coordinator of the "Popular Committee Against the settlement" stated that the Israeli settlers' attacks against Palestinians aim to displace them and confiscate their lands.
The village of Job Al-Theeb, located near Bethlehem in the West Bank, is home to 160 people living in substandard conditions, as it is located in the "Area C" of the occupied Palestinian territories, under the military and administrative control of Israel.
Palestinian residents of these areas need permission from Israeli authorities to build, repair their homes, develop infrastructure and even to cultivate their own land. Moreover, they are targets to Israeli settler's attacks that seeking to reduce the Palestinian presence by any necessary means to establish an Israeli majority in Area C.
Job al-Theeb is no exception; its inhabitants are victims of cruel restrictions that deprive them of the basic services. The village lacks sufficient infrastructure to water source. Israeli regulations impede the construction of wells and pipelines, while pumping of water is only allowed one hour a week forcing the residents to pay for supplies by truck.
Residents of Job Al-Theeb also not allowed access to electricity, where on a previous note, the German government had provided photo-voltaic panels, but the Israeli army seized them under "security reasons".
It is noteworthy that, in addition to facing severe shortages, Job Al-Theeb is besieged by Israeli settlements. Four years ago, a road was built through the village, exclusively for settlers who take advantage to harass Palestinian residents and damage their properties.
In an attempt to mitigate the shortcomings of the village, Palestinian authorities are scheduled to hold meetings with their Israeli counterparts in an attempt to obtain permits to improve the infrastructure and quality of life for residents. The future of these negotiations is still uncertain.
Palestinian residents of these areas need permission from Israeli authorities to build, repair their homes, develop infrastructure and even to cultivate their own land. Moreover, they are targets to Israeli settler's attacks that seeking to reduce the Palestinian presence by any necessary means to establish an Israeli majority in Area C.
Job al-Theeb is no exception; its inhabitants are victims of cruel restrictions that deprive them of the basic services. The village lacks sufficient infrastructure to water source. Israeli regulations impede the construction of wells and pipelines, while pumping of water is only allowed one hour a week forcing the residents to pay for supplies by truck.
Residents of Job Al-Theeb also not allowed access to electricity, where on a previous note, the German government had provided photo-voltaic panels, but the Israeli army seized them under "security reasons".
It is noteworthy that, in addition to facing severe shortages, Job Al-Theeb is besieged by Israeli settlements. Four years ago, a road was built through the village, exclusively for settlers who take advantage to harass Palestinian residents and damage their properties.
In an attempt to mitigate the shortcomings of the village, Palestinian authorities are scheduled to hold meetings with their Israeli counterparts in an attempt to obtain permits to improve the infrastructure and quality of life for residents. The future of these negotiations is still uncertain.
Settlers of Susiya settlement stormed Friday morning, Palestinian agricultural lands belonging to al-Halees family, southeast of Yatta in Hebron, and started razing and stealing the red soil into the settlement.
Coordinator of Popular Committees to Resist Apartheid Wall and Settlement in Yatta, Rateb al-Jbour, said that more than two hundreds settlers, under the protection of 50 soldiers, stormed the village in the morning, while chanting religious hymns and provocative slogans against the Palestinian citizens.
Al-Jbour condemned these provocative acts by the settlers and Israeli forces that aim at expelling the Palestinian citizens from their lands in the West Bank.
Coordinator of Popular Committees to Resist Apartheid Wall and Settlement in Yatta, Rateb al-Jbour, said that more than two hundreds settlers, under the protection of 50 soldiers, stormed the village in the morning, while chanting religious hymns and provocative slogans against the Palestinian citizens.
Al-Jbour condemned these provocative acts by the settlers and Israeli forces that aim at expelling the Palestinian citizens from their lands in the West Bank.
3 july 2013
Israeli forces Wednesday infiltrated Gaza borders and went nearly 300 meters into the eastern part of al-Maghazi refugee camp, in central Gaza Strip, according to witnesses. They told WAFA that three Israeli tanks and two army bulldozers raided and razed tens of dunums of agricultural land while shooting in all directions.
Israeli forces regularly raid and raze land in that area and prevent residents from reaching their land.
Israeli forces regularly raid and raze land in that area and prevent residents from reaching their land.
2 july 2013
Israeli forces Sunday confiscated cattle belonging to Palestinians in al-Malih and Bedouins’ grazing fields in the Northern Jordan Valley, according to local sources. Head of Al-Maleh village council, Aref Daraghmeh, said in a statement that forces confiscated six cows, imposed huge fines on the owners in order to retrieve them and prevented Palestinians from reaching the grazing fields under the pretext of “conservation of natural areas.”
Israeli soldiers previously confiscated around 25 cows, transferred them to a military camp and also imposed huge fines on Palestinians to retrieve them.
Israeli soldiers previously confiscated around 25 cows, transferred them to a military camp and also imposed huge fines on Palestinians to retrieve them.
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On Tuesday, 2 July , 2013, from 7:30 PM, AICafe invite you for a screening of "PRIVATE" a film by Saverio Costanzo.
Italian filmmaker Saverio Costanzo based his feature debut, Private, on a true story of a Palestinian family whose home was taken over by a platoon of Israeli soldiers. In the film, the family lives between a Palestinian village and an Israeli settlement, making their home a strategic point for the Israelis. Mohammad (well-known Palestinian actor Mohammad Bakri, who also directed the documentary Jenin, Jenin), the schoolteacher father, refuses to let his family abandon their home, despite the protestations of his frightened wife, Samia (Areen Omari). |
While the younger children seem traumatized by the invasion, eldest daughter Mariam (Hend Ayoub) can barely control her rage toward the Israelis, and is disgusted by her father's seeming passivity. The Israeli commander, Ofer (Israeli television actor Lior Miller), locks the family in their living room each night, and warns them that the second floor is off-limits, but Mariam sneaks upstairs, and is surprised at what she finds. The eldest son, Yusef (Amir Hasayen), is also angry, though he doesn't say much. But he's determined to make sure that the soldiers don't tear down the family's greenhouse again.
Private won the Golden Leopard at the 2004 Locarno Film Festival, and was selected by the Museum of Modern Art and the Film Society of Lincoln Center for inclusion in the 2005 edition of New Directors/New Films.
The AIC is a joint Palestinian-Israeli activist organization engaged in dissemination of information, political advocacy and grassroots activism. The AICafè is a political and cultural café open on Tuesday and Saturday night from 7pm until 10pm. It is located in the Alternative Information Center in Beit Sahour, close to Suq Sha'ab (follow the sign to Jadal Center ). We have a small library with novels, political books and magazines. We also have a number of films in DVD copies and AIC publications which critically analyze both the Palestinian and Israeli societies as well as the conflict itself.
Private won the Golden Leopard at the 2004 Locarno Film Festival, and was selected by the Museum of Modern Art and the Film Society of Lincoln Center for inclusion in the 2005 edition of New Directors/New Films.
The AIC is a joint Palestinian-Israeli activist organization engaged in dissemination of information, political advocacy and grassroots activism. The AICafè is a political and cultural café open on Tuesday and Saturday night from 7pm until 10pm. It is located in the Alternative Information Center in Beit Sahour, close to Suq Sha'ab (follow the sign to Jadal Center ). We have a small library with novels, political books and magazines. We also have a number of films in DVD copies and AIC publications which critically analyze both the Palestinian and Israeli societies as well as the conflict itself.
Several Israeli army bulldozers and vehicles entered the border area in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday morning, locals said.
Locals said four bulldozers entered the Gaza border area from the Kissufim military site near al-Qarara, northeast of Khan Younis.
The bulldozers drove into Palestinian fields but gunshots were not heard in the area.
Residents said local farmers often fear they are at risk of being hit by stray bullets.
The Israeli army operates a no-go zone between the border, which mostly encompasses agricultural land. The army regularly enters the area for it calls "routine" activity.
According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, approximately 27,000 dunums of land can only be accessed under high personal risk, as Israeli attacks may result in injury or death of civilians.
Approximately 30% of Gaza's agricultural land cannot be worked without severe personal risk, causing the loss of livelihoods.
In 2010, 14 Palestinians were killed in the buffer zone and 50 were injured, the PCHR reports.
Soldiers Invade Khan Younis
Several armored Israeli military vehicles invaded, on Tuesday morning [July 2 2013] an area east of Khan Younis city, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
Local sources have reported that four armored bulldozers, and a number of vehicles, stationed at the Kissufim, across the border near Al-Qarara town, advanced dozens of meters into Palestinian farmlands.
Dozens of farmers had to leave their lands as the army advanced into them; no clashes or injuries have been reported.
Israeli soldiers repeatedly conduct limited invasions into border areas in the coastal region, frequently open fire at the residents, uproot and bulldoze farmlands.
The Israeli Navy also repeatedly attacks and kidnaps Palestinian fishermen in Palestinian territorial water. The Israeli attacks led to dozens of casualties.
Locals said four bulldozers entered the Gaza border area from the Kissufim military site near al-Qarara, northeast of Khan Younis.
The bulldozers drove into Palestinian fields but gunshots were not heard in the area.
Residents said local farmers often fear they are at risk of being hit by stray bullets.
The Israeli army operates a no-go zone between the border, which mostly encompasses agricultural land. The army regularly enters the area for it calls "routine" activity.
According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, approximately 27,000 dunums of land can only be accessed under high personal risk, as Israeli attacks may result in injury or death of civilians.
Approximately 30% of Gaza's agricultural land cannot be worked without severe personal risk, causing the loss of livelihoods.
In 2010, 14 Palestinians were killed in the buffer zone and 50 were injured, the PCHR reports.
Soldiers Invade Khan Younis
Several armored Israeli military vehicles invaded, on Tuesday morning [July 2 2013] an area east of Khan Younis city, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
Local sources have reported that four armored bulldozers, and a number of vehicles, stationed at the Kissufim, across the border near Al-Qarara town, advanced dozens of meters into Palestinian farmlands.
Dozens of farmers had to leave their lands as the army advanced into them; no clashes or injuries have been reported.
Israeli soldiers repeatedly conduct limited invasions into border areas in the coastal region, frequently open fire at the residents, uproot and bulldoze farmlands.
The Israeli Navy also repeatedly attacks and kidnaps Palestinian fishermen in Palestinian territorial water. The Israeli attacks led to dozens of casualties.
1 july 2013
The District Committee for Planning and Building revealed its intention to expand Mevo Huron settlement built on Palestinian lands in Latrun area. Dr. Khalil Tufkaji, Chairman of Maps Department at the Arab Studies Society, stated that mentioned area was occupied since 1967 where Yalu and Emmaus villages were destroyed and its residents were displaced before the cease-fire.
Tufkaji said that a part of Qalqilya and Beit Awwa were destroyed also during that period. The occupying forces have confiscated 58 square kilometers after destroying the two villages.
The Palestinian expert pointed out to the establishment of new settlement in the area as part of the Israeli Judization scheme to build the Jewish neighborhood in occupied Jerusalem.
Tufkaji said that the Israeli authorities aim to maintain its control over all the area and refuse any negotiation concerning it.
Tufkaji said that a part of Qalqilya and Beit Awwa were destroyed also during that period. The occupying forces have confiscated 58 square kilometers after destroying the two villages.
The Palestinian expert pointed out to the establishment of new settlement in the area as part of the Israeli Judization scheme to build the Jewish neighborhood in occupied Jerusalem.
Tufkaji said that the Israeli authorities aim to maintain its control over all the area and refuse any negotiation concerning it.
The Israeli Military Appeal Committee ruled on Monday that a Palestinian house was lawfully purchased in al-Khalil by Israeli settlers, although the family denies selling them the house. The court decision came a year and three months after their eviction from the house, Yediot Aharonot Hebrew newspaper said, pointing out that the settlers are now expecting to receive Ya'alon final approval which would allow them to move back into the house.
The house first caught public attention last April when settlers moved into it in the middle of the night claiming they legally bought the property. Several days later, after having received visits by rightist ministers and Knesset members, they were evicted on the orders of the then Defense Minister Ehud Barak, the newspaper added.
The Defense Ministry and Civil Administration claimed that the reason behind the eviction were irregularities in the purchase agreement which prevents the provision of permits by the Administration, the newspaper said.
The settlers then turned to the appeals committee which ruled in their favor.
The court ordered the State to cover the legal costs of the proceedings and criticized the Civil Administration for its handling of the issue remarking that "this conduct is not in line with what is expected of (the Administration.)"
The settlers are now expecting to receive Ya'alon’s final approval which would allow them to move back into the house.
The house first caught public attention last April when settlers moved into it in the middle of the night claiming they legally bought the property. Several days later, after having received visits by rightist ministers and Knesset members, they were evicted on the orders of the then Defense Minister Ehud Barak, the newspaper added.
The Defense Ministry and Civil Administration claimed that the reason behind the eviction were irregularities in the purchase agreement which prevents the provision of permits by the Administration, the newspaper said.
The settlers then turned to the appeals committee which ruled in their favor.
The court ordered the State to cover the legal costs of the proceedings and criticized the Civil Administration for its handling of the issue remarking that "this conduct is not in line with what is expected of (the Administration.)"
The settlers are now expecting to receive Ya'alon’s final approval which would allow them to move back into the house.
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Israeli forces have demolished a number of Palestinian houses and structures in the Jordan Valley, as Tel Aviv continues efforts to expand its illegal settlements, Press TV reports.
Israeli forces raided the village of Faqeh near the city of Jericho, destroying a number of houses. Nearly 50,000 Palestinians live in the part of the Jordan Valley that lies inside the West Bank. The city of Jericho is one of the many permanent Palestinian communities in the area. Residents say the latest incident is part of an ethnic cleansing process in which Israel plans to remove Palestinians and claim the entire Jordan Valley. |
“We were shocked when Israeli forces evacuated the children and women and dumped our stuff outside, and bulldozers started demolishing our houses,” Sliman Mohammad Zaid, a villager in the Jordan Valley, said.
He noted that the demolition took place early in the morning while all residents were asleep, adding, “They knocked down all three houses. When we demanded demolition orders, they refused to show us.”
They say although residents were given warning not to build in the area in 2010, demolition orders were not issued. The residents say they are now living in tents.
Israel occupied the West Bank as well as East al-Quds (Jerusalem), which Palestinians consider the capital of their homeland, during the Six-Day War in 1967.
More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 illegal settlements built since Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East al-Quds 46 years ago.
The United Nations and most countries regard the Israeli settlements as illegal because the territories were captured by Israel in the war of 1967 and are hence subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbid construction on occupied lands.
The presence and continued expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestine has created a major obstacle for the efforts made to establish peace in the Middle East.
Earlier in June, Israeli Economy Minister Naftali Bennett said the idea of a two-state solution had reached a “dead end,” and that Tel Aviv should build more settler units.
A report released last month revealed that the Israeli regime confiscated 1,977 acres of the Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank for its settlement activity in 2012 alone.
He noted that the demolition took place early in the morning while all residents were asleep, adding, “They knocked down all three houses. When we demanded demolition orders, they refused to show us.”
They say although residents were given warning not to build in the area in 2010, demolition orders were not issued. The residents say they are now living in tents.
Israel occupied the West Bank as well as East al-Quds (Jerusalem), which Palestinians consider the capital of their homeland, during the Six-Day War in 1967.
More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 illegal settlements built since Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East al-Quds 46 years ago.
The United Nations and most countries regard the Israeli settlements as illegal because the territories were captured by Israel in the war of 1967 and are hence subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbid construction on occupied lands.
The presence and continued expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestine has created a major obstacle for the efforts made to establish peace in the Middle East.
Earlier in June, Israeli Economy Minister Naftali Bennett said the idea of a two-state solution had reached a “dead end,” and that Tel Aviv should build more settler units.
A report released last month revealed that the Israeli regime confiscated 1,977 acres of the Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank for its settlement activity in 2012 alone.
