16 june 2018
An Israeli army bulldozer escorted by a military force was seen on Friday afternoon in an area near Burin town, south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, while soldiers put marks in Yanun hamlet to the east.
According to local sources, an army patrol vehicle, foot soldiers and one military bulldozer were spotted in an area located 200 meters away from Yitzhar settlement near Burin town.
The reason for the presence of troops with a bulldozer in the area is still unknown.
Meanwhile, citizens from Yanun hamlet near Aqraba village southeast of Nablus reported seeing an Israeli official from the antiquities authority along with soldiers putting marks between homes in the village and then left, causing fears among the local residents of an Israeli plan to carry out demolitions.
According to local sources, an army patrol vehicle, foot soldiers and one military bulldozer were spotted in an area located 200 meters away from Yitzhar settlement near Burin town.
The reason for the presence of troops with a bulldozer in the area is still unknown.
Meanwhile, citizens from Yanun hamlet near Aqraba village southeast of Nablus reported seeing an Israeli official from the antiquities authority along with soldiers putting marks between homes in the village and then left, causing fears among the local residents of an Israeli plan to carry out demolitions.
The West Bank town of Barta’a al-Sharqiya, south of Jenin city, has seen violent clashes between local young men and Israeli soldiers, amid expectations of an Israeli intent to demolish the family home of prisoner Alaa Qabha.
Qabha, 26, has been accused of killing two Israeli soldiers and injuring others in a vehicular attack outside a military post in the northern West Bank near the Mevo Dotan settlement a few months ago.
Local sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that the deadline set by the Israeli high court of justice for the family of Qabha to evacuate its home ended on Friday, June 15, adding that Israeli bulldozers are expected to arrive in the town any moment to raze the house.
In the midst of this anticipation, Israeli soldiers stormed the town at dawn Saturday and fired volleys of tear gas grenades at angry young men to disperse them.
Two youths were reportedly beaten and sprayed with pepper gas during the events.
Israeli soldiers also set up a checkpoint at the main entrance to the town and obstructed the movement of citizens and vehicles.
Qabha, 26, has been accused of killing two Israeli soldiers and injuring others in a vehicular attack outside a military post in the northern West Bank near the Mevo Dotan settlement a few months ago.
Local sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that the deadline set by the Israeli high court of justice for the family of Qabha to evacuate its home ended on Friday, June 15, adding that Israeli bulldozers are expected to arrive in the town any moment to raze the house.
In the midst of this anticipation, Israeli soldiers stormed the town at dawn Saturday and fired volleys of tear gas grenades at angry young men to disperse them.
Two youths were reportedly beaten and sprayed with pepper gas during the events.
Israeli soldiers also set up a checkpoint at the main entrance to the town and obstructed the movement of citizens and vehicles.
14 june 2018
A group of illegal Israeli colonizers invaded, Thursday, Palestinian olive orchards in Khirbet Beit Iskariya village, southwest of Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank, and cut 200 trees.
Hasan Breijiyya, the coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Annexation Wall and Colonies in Bethlehem, said the Israeli assailants cut at least 200 olive trees, owned by Kamil Khalil Sa’ad and ‘Amer Hussein Odah.
He stated that the attack is second of its kind in less than two weeks and added that the village is subject to frequent violations.
The village, inhabited by approximately 650 Palestinians, started losing its land to illegal Israel’s colonies since Israel the occupied West Bank in 1967, and started establishing many colonies, including Kfar Etzion, Alon Shvut, Migdal Oz, Neve Daniel, Beit Ayin, Rosh Tzurim, Beitar Illit, Efrat and Elazar.
Beit Iskariya village contains five residential communities; Khirbit Iskariya, Khallet al-Ballout, Wadi Shakhit, Khallet Afffana and Shafe’ey area.
Its size used to be 9000 Dunams and lost 2000 for the illegal construction and expansion of Israel’s colonies, and is currently surrounded by colonies in addition to being subject to constant violations amidst attempts to remove its population.
The villagers live in old small brick homes, as Israel does not permit the families to build or develop their communities, in addition to demolishing seven homes since 2007.
Hasan Breijiyya, the coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Annexation Wall and Colonies in Bethlehem, said the Israeli assailants cut at least 200 olive trees, owned by Kamil Khalil Sa’ad and ‘Amer Hussein Odah.
He stated that the attack is second of its kind in less than two weeks and added that the village is subject to frequent violations.
The village, inhabited by approximately 650 Palestinians, started losing its land to illegal Israel’s colonies since Israel the occupied West Bank in 1967, and started establishing many colonies, including Kfar Etzion, Alon Shvut, Migdal Oz, Neve Daniel, Beit Ayin, Rosh Tzurim, Beitar Illit, Efrat and Elazar.
Beit Iskariya village contains five residential communities; Khirbit Iskariya, Khallet al-Ballout, Wadi Shakhit, Khallet Afffana and Shafe’ey area.
Its size used to be 9000 Dunams and lost 2000 for the illegal construction and expansion of Israel’s colonies, and is currently surrounded by colonies in addition to being subject to constant violations amidst attempts to remove its population.
The villagers live in old small brick homes, as Israel does not permit the families to build or develop their communities, in addition to demolishing seven homes since 2007.
13 june 2018
Israeli army forces reportedly ordered a Palestinian farmer in the Jordan Valley to evacuate his land on Tuesday, with forces saying they were going to raze the land.
WAFA agency said, according to Ma’an, that Ahmad Assi Damra, from Hijlet al-Zour, east of Jericho, was ordered to evacuate his 25 dunam (six acre) plot of land, which is planted with palm trees, in order raze it.
A similar order was reportedly made to another Palestinian farmer, Suleiman al-Zayed, who has planted his four dunam plot in the village of Nuweimeh, north of Jericho, with olive trees.
The majority of the Jordan Valley is under full Israeli military control, despite being within the West Bank. Meanwhile, at least 44 percent of the total land in the Jordan Valley has been appropriated by Israeli forces, for military purposes and training exercises.
Forming a third of the occupied West Bank and with 88 percent of its land classified as Area C, the Jordan Valley has long been a strategic area of land unlikely to return to Palestinians following Israel’s occupation in 1967.
WAFA agency said, according to Ma’an, that Ahmad Assi Damra, from Hijlet al-Zour, east of Jericho, was ordered to evacuate his 25 dunam (six acre) plot of land, which is planted with palm trees, in order raze it.
A similar order was reportedly made to another Palestinian farmer, Suleiman al-Zayed, who has planted his four dunam plot in the village of Nuweimeh, north of Jericho, with olive trees.
The majority of the Jordan Valley is under full Israeli military control, despite being within the West Bank. Meanwhile, at least 44 percent of the total land in the Jordan Valley has been appropriated by Israeli forces, for military purposes and training exercises.
Forming a third of the occupied West Bank and with 88 percent of its land classified as Area C, the Jordan Valley has long been a strategic area of land unlikely to return to Palestinians following Israel’s occupation in 1967.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Wednesday took over a Palestinian house in the Old City of al-Khalil and turned it into a military barracks.
The house is located in a closed area that has been under Israeli control for over 15 years now.
The house, which is considered one of the oldest buildings in the area, is owned by the Palestinian families of al-Qudsi and al-Kurd.
Al-Khalil Rehabilitation Committee said that the IOF soldiers blocked the house's windows with sandbags and turned it into a lookout.
Head of the committee Emad Hamdan said that the old Palestinian houses in the Old City of al-Khalil are a constant target for both the Israeli authorities and settlers. These houses are often seized and turned into military barracks, he added.
Hamdan pointed out that the Israeli settlers steal the stones of these ancient buildings and use them in their newly-established buildings in an attempt to alter the history of the Old City.
He called on the Palestinians to unite to be able to put an end to the Israeli takeover policy pursued against Palestinian houses and shops.
The house is located in a closed area that has been under Israeli control for over 15 years now.
The house, which is considered one of the oldest buildings in the area, is owned by the Palestinian families of al-Qudsi and al-Kurd.
Al-Khalil Rehabilitation Committee said that the IOF soldiers blocked the house's windows with sandbags and turned it into a lookout.
Head of the committee Emad Hamdan said that the old Palestinian houses in the Old City of al-Khalil are a constant target for both the Israeli authorities and settlers. These houses are often seized and turned into military barracks, he added.
Hamdan pointed out that the Israeli settlers steal the stones of these ancient buildings and use them in their newly-established buildings in an attempt to alter the history of the Old City.
He called on the Palestinians to unite to be able to put an end to the Israeli takeover policy pursued against Palestinian houses and shops.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Wednesday confiscated a bulldozer being used by a Palestinian to reclaim agricultural lands in Aqraba town south of Nablus.
Anti-settlement activist Yousef Deiriya told Wafa news agency that the bulldozer was rehabilitating lands for agricultural purposes when the IOF stopped the driver and seized the vehicle under the pretext that it was working on "state lands".
Israeli-claimed "state lands" in the West Bank are then often used as construction sites for Jewish-only settlements in violation of international law.
Anti-settlement activist Yousef Deiriya told Wafa news agency that the bulldozer was rehabilitating lands for agricultural purposes when the IOF stopped the driver and seized the vehicle under the pretext that it was working on "state lands".
Israeli-claimed "state lands" in the West Bank are then often used as construction sites for Jewish-only settlements in violation of international law.
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Tuesday handed over land-confiscation orders to Palestinian families. The land grab notices stipulate seizing 24 dunums of their lands located in Esbaih mount to the south of Nablus city.
The official of settlement file in the northern West Bank, Ghassan Daghlas, told WAFA news agency that IOF soldiers erected, on Monday, mobile houses in the area in which Israeli settlers had earlier attempted to establish a settlement outpost.
The official of settlement file in the northern West Bank, Ghassan Daghlas, told WAFA news agency that IOF soldiers erected, on Monday, mobile houses in the area in which Israeli settlers had earlier attempted to establish a settlement outpost.
12 june 2018
Rahalim settlement, south of the West Bank province of Nablus, has been lately expanding at the expense of lands privately-owned by Palestinian farmers.
Eyewitnesses on Tuesday reported that new housing units are being built in Rahalim bringing the settlement closer to olive fields owned by farmers from the nearby Salfit province.
The Palestinian researcher Khaled Ma'ali said that Rahalim settlement was established on lands confiscated from Yatma, Iskaka, al-Sawiya villages. A military order was issued to confiscate a land owned by the Palestinian citizen Jaber Salah on 15th November 1991 in retaliation for the killing of an Israeli settler in that area.
In 1999, the Israeli occupation authorities allowed the establishment of 15 permanent housing units in the site. The settlement since then has been expanding at the expense of the neighboring farmlands.
Eyewitnesses on Tuesday reported that new housing units are being built in Rahalim bringing the settlement closer to olive fields owned by farmers from the nearby Salfit province.
The Palestinian researcher Khaled Ma'ali said that Rahalim settlement was established on lands confiscated from Yatma, Iskaka, al-Sawiya villages. A military order was issued to confiscate a land owned by the Palestinian citizen Jaber Salah on 15th November 1991 in retaliation for the killing of an Israeli settler in that area.
In 1999, the Israeli occupation authorities allowed the establishment of 15 permanent housing units in the site. The settlement since then has been expanding at the expense of the neighboring farmlands.
Over 300 elected officials, legal scholars, academics, artists, faith leaders, and activists from around the world published an open letter voicing opposition to Israel’s plans to forcibly transfer thousands of Palestinians living in farming-shepherding communities in the occupied West Bank.
The letter focuses on Khan al-Ahmar in particular, a community under imminent threat of demolition and forcible transfer.
According to B’Tselem human rights center, signatories include 90 members of parliament, many of whom are from the EU and UK Parliaments. Other notable signatories include playwright Eve Enslar, film directors Ken Loach, Amos Gitai, Costa-Gavras and Aki Kaurismäki, artists Marlene Dumas and Ai Weiwei, authors Alice Walker, Assaf Gavron and Iris Leal, choreographer Ohad Naharin, industrial designer Ron Arad, academics Noam Chomsky and Judith Butler, and musicians Peter Gabriel, Roger Waters and the members of Mashrou’ Leila.
The letter states: “Forcible transfer – by direct physical force or by creating a coercive environment that makes residents leave their homes – is a war crime.”
It goes on to detail the measures Israel employs to create this coercive environment, including “not allowing to build new private or public buildings, to be connected to water or power grids, or to pave access roads. When, in the absence of any other alternative, residents build without permits, they face threatened – or actual – demolition, and confiscation of essential equipment.”
The letter counters Israel’s attempts to relegate these policies to a mere issue of law enforcement, calling it disingenuous since “Israel’s planning policy in the West Bank all but precludes Palestinians from ever receiving the required permits”.
The letter clarifies that all people responsible for this war crime bear personal liability for it. This includes the Israeli Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, as well as the High Court Justices, whose recent decision to approve the demolition of the Khan al-Ahmar community implicates them “in what is nothing short of a war crime, no matter how much legal formalism is enlisted in an effort to excuse the inexcusable.”
The letter focuses on Khan al-Ahmar in particular, a community under imminent threat of demolition and forcible transfer.
According to B’Tselem human rights center, signatories include 90 members of parliament, many of whom are from the EU and UK Parliaments. Other notable signatories include playwright Eve Enslar, film directors Ken Loach, Amos Gitai, Costa-Gavras and Aki Kaurismäki, artists Marlene Dumas and Ai Weiwei, authors Alice Walker, Assaf Gavron and Iris Leal, choreographer Ohad Naharin, industrial designer Ron Arad, academics Noam Chomsky and Judith Butler, and musicians Peter Gabriel, Roger Waters and the members of Mashrou’ Leila.
The letter states: “Forcible transfer – by direct physical force or by creating a coercive environment that makes residents leave their homes – is a war crime.”
It goes on to detail the measures Israel employs to create this coercive environment, including “not allowing to build new private or public buildings, to be connected to water or power grids, or to pave access roads. When, in the absence of any other alternative, residents build without permits, they face threatened – or actual – demolition, and confiscation of essential equipment.”
The letter counters Israel’s attempts to relegate these policies to a mere issue of law enforcement, calling it disingenuous since “Israel’s planning policy in the West Bank all but precludes Palestinians from ever receiving the required permits”.
The letter clarifies that all people responsible for this war crime bear personal liability for it. This includes the Israeli Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, as well as the High Court Justices, whose recent decision to approve the demolition of the Khan al-Ahmar community implicates them “in what is nothing short of a war crime, no matter how much legal formalism is enlisted in an effort to excuse the inexcusable.”
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Tuesday afternoon took over a Palestinian house in the Old City of al-Khalil.
The IOF soldiers broke into the house, owned by the Qudsi family, in large numbers turning it into a military barracks.
In a related context, the IOF a few days ago handed evacuation orders to the owners of three Palestinian houses in al-Shuhadaa street in the Old City.
The IOF soldiers broke into the house, owned by the Qudsi family, in large numbers turning it into a military barracks.
In a related context, the IOF a few days ago handed evacuation orders to the owners of three Palestinian houses in al-Shuhadaa street in the Old City.
11 june 2018
Anger and anxiety has prevailed among the Palestinian citizens in Kafr Qasim town in the 1948 occupied territories after a number of houses were notified with demolition under the pretext of being unlicensed.
The Magistrate's Court in Petah Tikva settlement on Sunday, at the request of the Israeli police and the so-called Planning and Building Committee, decided to postpone demolition orders for four Palestinian houses in Kafr Qasim until Ramadan ends. The demolition is expected to take place during Eid al-Fitr.
Kafr Qasim town was occupied in 1948 and witnessed one of the bloodiest massacres in history in 1956. On 29th October of the same year, 49 Palestinian civilians were shot dead by the Israel Border Police while they were returning from their work on the eve of the Tripartite Aggression on Egypt.
Kafr Qasim, also known as "the city of martyrs", was established in the seventeenth century and it is over 300 years old.
The town was named after its founder Sheikh Qasim who was a resident of Masha village, west of the West Bank city of Salfit, before he settled there.
The Magistrate's Court in Petah Tikva settlement on Sunday, at the request of the Israeli police and the so-called Planning and Building Committee, decided to postpone demolition orders for four Palestinian houses in Kafr Qasim until Ramadan ends. The demolition is expected to take place during Eid al-Fitr.
Kafr Qasim town was occupied in 1948 and witnessed one of the bloodiest massacres in history in 1956. On 29th October of the same year, 49 Palestinian civilians were shot dead by the Israel Border Police while they were returning from their work on the eve of the Tripartite Aggression on Egypt.
Kafr Qasim, also known as "the city of martyrs", was established in the seventeenth century and it is over 300 years old.
The town was named after its founder Sheikh Qasim who was a resident of Masha village, west of the West Bank city of Salfit, before he settled there.
The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) ordered on Monday a halt on the construction of a Palestinian house in al-Khader town south of Bethlehem.
Anti-settlement activist Ahmad Salah told Quds Press that the so-called Civil Administration crews, accompanied by Israeli military vehicles, stormed al-Khader town and ordered the construction work in the house of the Palestinian citizen Majdy Issa to stop.
Salah said that the IOA issued another stop-work order against an agricultural facility in the town under the pretext of being built without an Israeli permit.
Al-Khader town is located in Area C, which is exclusively administered by Israel, and the Palestinian citizens are rarely allowed to build in that area.
The Israeli authorities regularly target the Palestinian houses in Area C, which covers 60% of the West Bank lands, with demolition in an attempt to tighten their control over the area and push the Palestinians living there to leave.
Anti-settlement activist Ahmad Salah told Quds Press that the so-called Civil Administration crews, accompanied by Israeli military vehicles, stormed al-Khader town and ordered the construction work in the house of the Palestinian citizen Majdy Issa to stop.
Salah said that the IOA issued another stop-work order against an agricultural facility in the town under the pretext of being built without an Israeli permit.
Al-Khader town is located in Area C, which is exclusively administered by Israel, and the Palestinian citizens are rarely allowed to build in that area.
The Israeli authorities regularly target the Palestinian houses in Area C, which covers 60% of the West Bank lands, with demolition in an attempt to tighten their control over the area and push the Palestinians living there to leave.
The so-called Committee of Foreign Affairs and Security of the Israeli Knesset on Monday approved a bill to deduct the salaries paid to the families of Palestinian prisoners and martyrs from the tax revenues transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA).
The Hebrew TV channel 7 reported that the committee ratified the bill in the second and third readings and cancelled the item which provides the government flexibility in deciding whether or not to deduct the payments.
The bill stipulates that Israel's Minister of Finance cut the monthly salaries paid by the PA to the families of martyrs and prisoners from the tax revenues Israel allegedly hands over to the PA.
According to the bill's proposal, the PA transfers 7% of its budget, estimated at 1.1 billion shekels ($ 300 million), financed largely by US and European aid, to pay salaries for the families of Palestinian prisoners and martyrs involved in anti-occupation attacks.
Except for MK for Meretz party Issawi Frej, the other members of the Committee of Foreign Affairs and Security voted in favor of a new bill to deduct funds from the tax revenues paid to the PA to compensate the farmers of the Israeli settlements neighboring the Gaza Strip for the damages caused in their lands by fires sparked by burning kites sent from the coastal enclave.
The Hebrew TV channel 7 reported that the committee ratified the bill in the second and third readings and cancelled the item which provides the government flexibility in deciding whether or not to deduct the payments.
The bill stipulates that Israel's Minister of Finance cut the monthly salaries paid by the PA to the families of martyrs and prisoners from the tax revenues Israel allegedly hands over to the PA.
According to the bill's proposal, the PA transfers 7% of its budget, estimated at 1.1 billion shekels ($ 300 million), financed largely by US and European aid, to pay salaries for the families of Palestinian prisoners and martyrs involved in anti-occupation attacks.
Except for MK for Meretz party Issawi Frej, the other members of the Committee of Foreign Affairs and Security voted in favor of a new bill to deduct funds from the tax revenues paid to the PA to compensate the farmers of the Israeli settlements neighboring the Gaza Strip for the damages caused in their lands by fires sparked by burning kites sent from the coastal enclave.
Palestinian farmers in the northern West Bank town of Aqraba, south of Nablus, complained on Monday that Israeli army military training, in their area, has destroyed their crops.
WAFA reported that, according to Yousef Dirieh, an activist in the anti-settlement committee of Aqraba, the Israeli army was conducting training with live ammunition in Khirbet al-Tawil, an area in Aqraba.
He said that the exercises are being conducted in the vicinity of residential homes and between them, and in agricultural land, destroying crops and causing serious loss to farmers.
WAFA reported that, according to Yousef Dirieh, an activist in the anti-settlement committee of Aqraba, the Israeli army was conducting training with live ammunition in Khirbet al-Tawil, an area in Aqraba.
He said that the exercises are being conducted in the vicinity of residential homes and between them, and in agricultural land, destroying crops and causing serious loss to farmers.
Israeli soldiers abducted, on Monday at dawn, eleven young Palestinian men, including a journalist, in the southern West Bank governorate of Hebron, and one in Jenin, in northern West Bank.
The Hebron office of the Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS) said the soldiers invaded many neighborhoods in the city, and Doura town, searched and ransacked several homes causing damage, and abducted Bashir Hafith Zahda, Khader Dandees, Amro Obeid, Bara’ Talahma, Tareq Ayman Ashour, and a photojournalist, identified as Bilal Tawil, 25.
Tawil is a freelance photojournalist who deals with various local and international media outlets. The soldiers also confiscated his computer, before moving him to an unknown destination.
He, along with Tawil, Zahda, Talahma and al-Hroub are members of a Palestinian folk troupe in Hebron.
The soldiers also invaded the ath-Thaher area and al-Hara at-Tihta neighborhood, in Beit Ummar town north of Hebron, searched homes and abducted Samar Samir Abu Mariya, 19, and Mo’tasem Jamal ‘Alqam.
It is worth mentioning that the soldiers caused excessive damage to the home of Abu Mariya, wile searching it using K9 units, and removed many of its tiles.
One Palestinian was injured by shrapnel after the soldiers fired live rounds at the main door of one of the invaded homes, before breaking into it. The wounded young man was moved to a medical center in Beit Ummar.
In related news, the soldiers invaded Arraba town, southwest of Jenin, searched homes and abducted a young man, identified as Bassel Sa’id Rahhal.
During the invasions, the soldiers fired many gas bombs and concussion grenades, at locals who protested the invasion.
The Hebron office of the Palestinian Prisoner Society (PPS) said the soldiers invaded many neighborhoods in the city, and Doura town, searched and ransacked several homes causing damage, and abducted Bashir Hafith Zahda, Khader Dandees, Amro Obeid, Bara’ Talahma, Tareq Ayman Ashour, and a photojournalist, identified as Bilal Tawil, 25.
Tawil is a freelance photojournalist who deals with various local and international media outlets. The soldiers also confiscated his computer, before moving him to an unknown destination.
He, along with Tawil, Zahda, Talahma and al-Hroub are members of a Palestinian folk troupe in Hebron.
The soldiers also invaded the ath-Thaher area and al-Hara at-Tihta neighborhood, in Beit Ummar town north of Hebron, searched homes and abducted Samar Samir Abu Mariya, 19, and Mo’tasem Jamal ‘Alqam.
It is worth mentioning that the soldiers caused excessive damage to the home of Abu Mariya, wile searching it using K9 units, and removed many of its tiles.
One Palestinian was injured by shrapnel after the soldiers fired live rounds at the main door of one of the invaded homes, before breaking into it. The wounded young man was moved to a medical center in Beit Ummar.
In related news, the soldiers invaded Arraba town, southwest of Jenin, searched homes and abducted a young man, identified as Bassel Sa’id Rahhal.
During the invasions, the soldiers fired many gas bombs and concussion grenades, at locals who protested the invasion.
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