21 june 2018

Dozens of Palestinians rallied on Wednesday evening in Lod city to protest Israel’s arbitrary demolition policy and abrupt crackdowns in the area.
The rally staged by the Popular Committee in Lod city called for intensifying efforts to face up to Israel’s demolition policy, often perpetrated under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
The rally also spoke out against the oppressive measures and ethnic cleansing agenda pursued by the Lod municipality against Palestinians living in the area.
The demonstrators urged the municipality, among other Israeli bodies in Lod, to grant the Palestinians construction permits.
The rally staged by the Popular Committee in Lod city called for intensifying efforts to face up to Israel’s demolition policy, often perpetrated under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
The rally also spoke out against the oppressive measures and ethnic cleansing agenda pursued by the Lod municipality against Palestinians living in the area.
The demonstrators urged the municipality, among other Israeli bodies in Lod, to grant the Palestinians construction permits.

A group of extremist Israeli colonialist settlers installed, Wednesday, a new illegal outpost on Palestinian agricultural lands in Bani Neim town, east of the southern West Bank city of Hebron.
The armed colonizers invaded the lands, owned by Ed’eis family in the al-Hamra area, and installed a tent, a mobile home, and a barn for their sheep.
The new outpost was installed in twenty Dunams of Palestinian lands, only dozens of meters away from the illegal Bnie Havar colony, which was also installed on private lands.
Younis Arar, the head of the Palestinian Committee against the Annexation Wall and Colonies in Hebron, said the new outpost aims at expanding the existing illegal colony, and added that Israeli soldiers invaded the area, and declared it a closed military zone, preventing the Palestinians, not the colonizers, from entering it.
He also said that the Committee will be installing a protest tent on the land and will challenge Israel’s illegal colonialist activities in international courts.
Dozens of activists and local farmers protested in the area, and chanted against the ongoing illegal Israeli occupation, and its colonialist activities in direct violation of International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention.
They called on the international community, and all related legal and human rights organizations, to intervene and end the Israeli escalation and the ongoing policies of illegal annexation, and theft, of Palestinian lands.
The armed colonizers invaded the lands, owned by Ed’eis family in the al-Hamra area, and installed a tent, a mobile home, and a barn for their sheep.
The new outpost was installed in twenty Dunams of Palestinian lands, only dozens of meters away from the illegal Bnie Havar colony, which was also installed on private lands.
Younis Arar, the head of the Palestinian Committee against the Annexation Wall and Colonies in Hebron, said the new outpost aims at expanding the existing illegal colony, and added that Israeli soldiers invaded the area, and declared it a closed military zone, preventing the Palestinians, not the colonizers, from entering it.
He also said that the Committee will be installing a protest tent on the land and will challenge Israel’s illegal colonialist activities in international courts.
Dozens of activists and local farmers protested in the area, and chanted against the ongoing illegal Israeli occupation, and its colonialist activities in direct violation of International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention.
They called on the international community, and all related legal and human rights organizations, to intervene and end the Israeli escalation and the ongoing policies of illegal annexation, and theft, of Palestinian lands.

Israeli soldiers demolished, late on Wednesday at night, the home of a Palestinian detainee, who is imprisoned on charges of crashing into a military roadblock on March 17, 2018, killing two soldiers.
The Israeli army has claimed that Ala’ Rateb Kabaha, 26, deliberately rammed soldiers at the military roadblocks, killing Lieutenant Ziv Daus, 21, from Azur town near Tel Aviv, and Sergeant Netanel Kahalani, 20, from Elyakim Moshav, in the Megiddo Regional Council, in the northern part of the country.
Media sources in Jenin said that on Wednesday night, at least twenty military vehicles and jeeps invaded Barta’a town, southwest of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, before invading the Kabaha family home.
They added that the Kabaha family lives on the third floor of a four-story building, owned by Ala’s father. The soldiers demolished the interior of the 150 square/meter apartment.
The destruction of the interior walls caused structural damage, which may result in the entire building needing to be torn down.
It is Israeli policy to engage in ‘punitive demolitions’ of the homes of Palestinians who are charged with crimes against the Israeli military occupiers. The army claims that the demolitions of the family homes act as a ‘deterrent’ against future attacks, but there is no evidence to support this claim.
In addition, the demolition of the homes of family members of those accused of crimes is considered a violation of international law, as it is a form of collective punishment.
It is worth mentioning that the family only received the official demolition order two weeks ago.
The Israeli army has claimed that Ala’ Rateb Kabaha, 26, deliberately rammed soldiers at the military roadblocks, killing Lieutenant Ziv Daus, 21, from Azur town near Tel Aviv, and Sergeant Netanel Kahalani, 20, from Elyakim Moshav, in the Megiddo Regional Council, in the northern part of the country.
Media sources in Jenin said that on Wednesday night, at least twenty military vehicles and jeeps invaded Barta’a town, southwest of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, before invading the Kabaha family home.
They added that the Kabaha family lives on the third floor of a four-story building, owned by Ala’s father. The soldiers demolished the interior of the 150 square/meter apartment.
The destruction of the interior walls caused structural damage, which may result in the entire building needing to be torn down.
It is Israeli policy to engage in ‘punitive demolitions’ of the homes of Palestinians who are charged with crimes against the Israeli military occupiers. The army claims that the demolitions of the family homes act as a ‘deterrent’ against future attacks, but there is no evidence to support this claim.
In addition, the demolition of the homes of family members of those accused of crimes is considered a violation of international law, as it is a form of collective punishment.
It is worth mentioning that the family only received the official demolition order two weeks ago.
20 june 2018

Israeli soldiers delivered, Wednesday, demolition orders targeting seven wells and a shed, in Teqoua’ town, south of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank.
The soldiers handed seven orders for the demolition of water wells built on private Palestinian lands.
The wells are owned by Ahmad Khalaf Jibreel, Ibrahim Mohammad Jibreel, and Salem Za’al Jibreel, Atiya Mousa Jibreel, Salam Abu Mfarreh, Ali Mahmoud Khatib and Ali Yousef Nuwwara.
Furthermore, the soldiers handed another demolition order targeting a shed, owned by Monir Mahmoud Suleiman.
The soldiers handed seven orders for the demolition of water wells built on private Palestinian lands.
The wells are owned by Ahmad Khalaf Jibreel, Ibrahim Mohammad Jibreel, and Salem Za’al Jibreel, Atiya Mousa Jibreel, Salam Abu Mfarreh, Ali Mahmoud Khatib and Ali Yousef Nuwwara.
Furthermore, the soldiers handed another demolition order targeting a shed, owned by Monir Mahmoud Suleiman.

Haaretz newspaper on Wednesday reported that Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had decided to delay the demolition of Susya village, south of al-Khalil, due to "political and security considerations".
Two sources confirmed to Haaretz that the demolition was scheduled to take place this week.
The Palestinian residents of Susya and al-Khan al-Ahmar villages, in al-Khalil and Jerusalem respectively, are about to face a mass deportation operation.
Both villages have dozens of mobile homes, mostly tents or tin houses, as a result of repeated demolitions.
Officials from Israel's War Ministry previously revealed that the demolition would take place in mid-2018, but Minister Avigdor Lieberman recently said that the Israeli National Security Council had requested a postponement of the demolition.
The demolition may have been postponed due to the upcoming visit of US President Donald Trump's special advisor Jared Kushner this weekend.
There is a widespread international and diplomatic interest in the two Palestinian villages which had been visited by many representatives of European governments.
Two sources confirmed to Haaretz that the demolition was scheduled to take place this week.
The Palestinian residents of Susya and al-Khan al-Ahmar villages, in al-Khalil and Jerusalem respectively, are about to face a mass deportation operation.
Both villages have dozens of mobile homes, mostly tents or tin houses, as a result of repeated demolitions.
Officials from Israel's War Ministry previously revealed that the demolition would take place in mid-2018, but Minister Avigdor Lieberman recently said that the Israeli National Security Council had requested a postponement of the demolition.
The demolition may have been postponed due to the upcoming visit of US President Donald Trump's special advisor Jared Kushner this weekend.
There is a widespread international and diplomatic interest in the two Palestinian villages which had been visited by many representatives of European governments.

The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Wednesday morning closed a Palestinian agricultural road to the northwest of the West Bank city of Salfit.
Palestinian farmers reported that they were surprised by the closure of the only agricultural road in the northern area of the city.
Anti-settlement researcher Khaled Ma'ali said that the blocked road serves dozens of Palestinian farmers from Haris and Kifl Haris towns.
Ma'ali added that this move is aimed at pushing Palestinian farmers to abandon their lands in favor of the expansion of the illegal Israeli settlement of Ariel.
He pointed out that the IOF had razed vast tracts of Palestinian farmlands in the northern and western areas of Salfit with the aim of making Ariel settlement the capital of "Samaria", according to senior Israeli officials, which blatantly violates international law.
Palestinian farmers reported that they were surprised by the closure of the only agricultural road in the northern area of the city.
Anti-settlement researcher Khaled Ma'ali said that the blocked road serves dozens of Palestinian farmers from Haris and Kifl Haris towns.
Ma'ali added that this move is aimed at pushing Palestinian farmers to abandon their lands in favor of the expansion of the illegal Israeli settlement of Ariel.
He pointed out that the IOF had razed vast tracts of Palestinian farmlands in the northern and western areas of Salfit with the aim of making Ariel settlement the capital of "Samaria", according to senior Israeli officials, which blatantly violates international law.

Israeli bulldozers demolished on Wednesday morning a Palestinian-owned house in the village of Qalandia, to the north of the occupied Jerusalem.
The local journalist Mahmoud Awadallah reported that Israeli forces, accompanied by two bulldozers, raided the village and proceeded to demolish the two-room house.
Nearby trees were also uprooted during the demolition process, he added.
The house was demolished despite an Israeli court ruling banning its demolition, Awadallah underlined.
20 Palestinian buildings in the village are also threatened with demolition for being allegedly built without Israeli permit.
The local journalist Mahmoud Awadallah reported that Israeli forces, accompanied by two bulldozers, raided the village and proceeded to demolish the two-room house.
Nearby trees were also uprooted during the demolition process, he added.
The house was demolished despite an Israeli court ruling banning its demolition, Awadallah underlined.
20 Palestinian buildings in the village are also threatened with demolition for being allegedly built without Israeli permit.
19 june 2018

The Islamic Christian Commission for the Support of Jerusalem and Holy Sites has warned of a draft law for a project which allows the Israeli occupation government to confiscate land sold by the Orthodox Church to private investors.
According to Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency, the organization stressed, in a statement on Tuesday, its rejection of the imposition of taxes on the churches of Jerusalem and the destruction of their property, which runs contrary to the historical position of the churches in the Holy City over centuries..
The Armenian and Orthodox churches of the Holy Land were called upon to stop the draft law, which aims to confiscate their land, four months after a major crisis led to the closure of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
The Secretary-General of the Commission, Hanna Issa, stressed the need to oblige the Israeli occupation to abide by the historical situation of the Holy City, based on the Ottoman and the Jordanian guardianship of the Islamic and Christian sanctuaries in Jerusalem.
He stressed that imposing taxes on churches and confiscating their lands, undermines the sacred character of the occupied city, and hinders the churches from performing their role and activities.
The Christian Islamic Organization pointed out that the churches’ commitment to the historical situation of the city of Jerusalem and the rejection of any change to its reality, which is to preserve the historical heritage of the occupied city and to fight systematic methods of Judaization practiced by the occupation against the city and its Islamic and Christian sanctuaries, stressing the Arab nature of Jerusalem culture.
According to Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency, the organization stressed, in a statement on Tuesday, its rejection of the imposition of taxes on the churches of Jerusalem and the destruction of their property, which runs contrary to the historical position of the churches in the Holy City over centuries..
The Armenian and Orthodox churches of the Holy Land were called upon to stop the draft law, which aims to confiscate their land, four months after a major crisis led to the closure of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
The Secretary-General of the Commission, Hanna Issa, stressed the need to oblige the Israeli occupation to abide by the historical situation of the Holy City, based on the Ottoman and the Jordanian guardianship of the Islamic and Christian sanctuaries in Jerusalem.
He stressed that imposing taxes on churches and confiscating their lands, undermines the sacred character of the occupied city, and hinders the churches from performing their role and activities.
The Christian Islamic Organization pointed out that the churches’ commitment to the historical situation of the city of Jerusalem and the rejection of any change to its reality, which is to preserve the historical heritage of the occupied city and to fight systematic methods of Judaization practiced by the occupation against the city and its Islamic and Christian sanctuaries, stressing the Arab nature of Jerusalem culture.

Israeli bulldozers, on Tuesday, leveled land belonging to Palestinians in the northern Jordan Valley area, without providing any reasons.
Mutaz Bisharat, an activist from Tubas, said that Israeli bulldozers leveled more than 40 dunams of land (approximately 10 acres) belonging to Palestinians in the area, despite having ownership deeds, known as tabu.
The land is located near the illegal Israeli settlement of Hamdat, according to WAFA.
Mutaz Bisharat, an activist from Tubas, said that Israeli bulldozers leveled more than 40 dunams of land (approximately 10 acres) belonging to Palestinians in the area, despite having ownership deeds, known as tabu.
The land is located near the illegal Israeli settlement of Hamdat, according to WAFA.

Israeli soldiers started, Tuesday, preparation work for the construction of a new military base on Palestinian lands, east of the southern West Bank city of Hebron.
Dozens of soldiers invaded the Palestinian lands in Wad al-Hasseen area, east of Hebron city, and started the preparation work.
They brought heavy equipment, and concrete walls, and started the work on private Palestinian lands owned by Jaber family.
The area where the military is preparing for its new camp is located near Keryat Arba’ illegal colony.
Dozens of soldiers invaded the Palestinian lands in Wad al-Hasseen area, east of Hebron city, and started the preparation work.
They brought heavy equipment, and concrete walls, and started the work on private Palestinian lands owned by Jaber family.
The area where the military is preparing for its new camp is located near Keryat Arba’ illegal colony.

Groups of extremist illegal Israeli colonizers invaded, Tuesday, Palestinian farmlands near Tiwana village, east of Yatta town, south of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, and uprooted dozens of trees.
Rateb Jabour, the media coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Annexation Wall and Colonies in southern Hebron, said the Israeli assailants brought electric saws, and bulldozers, before uprooting the trees.
He added that the attacked lands are owned by Palestinians from the families of Morr, Abu Qbeita and Moghannam.
Jabour also stated that the attack is part of the ongoing attempts to expand the illegal Ma’on and Havat Ma’on colonialist outposts, built on private Palestinian lands east of Yatta town.
The colonizers have been conducting repeated violations and invasions into the Palestinian lands in the area to expand many nearby colonies and outposts, such as Karmiel, Avigal, Mitzpe Yair, in addition to Ma’on and Havat Ma’on.
It is worth mentioning that the Palestinians have been denied access to their own lands for several years, due to illegal Israeli policies aiming at removing them from their lands, to build and expand the colonies and outposts.
Rateb Jabour, the media coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Annexation Wall and Colonies in southern Hebron, said the Israeli assailants brought electric saws, and bulldozers, before uprooting the trees.
He added that the attacked lands are owned by Palestinians from the families of Morr, Abu Qbeita and Moghannam.
Jabour also stated that the attack is part of the ongoing attempts to expand the illegal Ma’on and Havat Ma’on colonialist outposts, built on private Palestinian lands east of Yatta town.
The colonizers have been conducting repeated violations and invasions into the Palestinian lands in the area to expand many nearby colonies and outposts, such as Karmiel, Avigal, Mitzpe Yair, in addition to Ma’on and Havat Ma’on.
It is worth mentioning that the Palestinians have been denied access to their own lands for several years, due to illegal Israeli policies aiming at removing them from their lands, to build and expand the colonies and outposts.

Israeli soldiers abducted, on Tuesday at dawn, thirteen Palestinians from their homes in several parts of the occupied West Bank, and illegally confiscated cash from some of the invaded homes, in addition to seizing one car.
The Israeli army claimed the soldiers located weapons in some of the homes, and confiscated cash “used to arm Palestinian fighters,” in Hebron and Tulkarem.
The army said it confiscated thousands of Shekels from Tulkarem, and Nablus, in northern West Bank, in addition to Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank.
The soldiers invaded and searched many homes in Bethlehem governorate, and abducted two former political prisoners, identified as Shadi Nayef al-‘Amour 23, and Jamal Sabah, 20, from Teqoua’ town, east of the city.
The soldiers also abducted another young man, identified as Yazan al-Bal’awi, 22, from his home in Beit Jala city, northwest of Bethlehem, after breaking into his property and violently searching it, causing serious damage.
In addition, the soldiers stormed and ransacked many homes in Hebron city, in the southern part of the West Bank, and fired concussion grenades at Palestinians, protesting the invasion.
In Nablus, in northern West Bank, the soldiers invaded Madama and ‘Aseera al-Qibliyya towns, south of the city, before searching many homes.
Many local youngsters hurled stones at the invading soldiers, while the army fired gas bombs and concussion grenades, in addition to many flares.
In Jenin, in northern West Bank, the soldiers invaded Sanour town, south of the city, before storming the home of Allam Gharbiyya, and interrogated him along with his family, while ransacking the property, causing damage.
The soldiers also installed roadblocks at the main road of the town and prevented the Palestinians from entering or leaving it for several hours.
In Tulkarem, also in northern West Bank, the soldiers invaded the Southern Neighborhood, before storming the home of a former political prisoner, identified as Rami al-Battah, and confiscated his car.
The soldiers were extensively deployed in various streets in Tulkarem and installed many roadblocks.
In related news, several army jeeps invaded Nabi Saleh village, northwest of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, before searching many homes.
The Israeli army claimed the soldiers located weapons in some of the homes, and confiscated cash “used to arm Palestinian fighters,” in Hebron and Tulkarem.
The army said it confiscated thousands of Shekels from Tulkarem, and Nablus, in northern West Bank, in addition to Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank.
The soldiers invaded and searched many homes in Bethlehem governorate, and abducted two former political prisoners, identified as Shadi Nayef al-‘Amour 23, and Jamal Sabah, 20, from Teqoua’ town, east of the city.
The soldiers also abducted another young man, identified as Yazan al-Bal’awi, 22, from his home in Beit Jala city, northwest of Bethlehem, after breaking into his property and violently searching it, causing serious damage.
In addition, the soldiers stormed and ransacked many homes in Hebron city, in the southern part of the West Bank, and fired concussion grenades at Palestinians, protesting the invasion.
In Nablus, in northern West Bank, the soldiers invaded Madama and ‘Aseera al-Qibliyya towns, south of the city, before searching many homes.
Many local youngsters hurled stones at the invading soldiers, while the army fired gas bombs and concussion grenades, in addition to many flares.
In Jenin, in northern West Bank, the soldiers invaded Sanour town, south of the city, before storming the home of Allam Gharbiyya, and interrogated him along with his family, while ransacking the property, causing damage.
The soldiers also installed roadblocks at the main road of the town and prevented the Palestinians from entering or leaving it for several hours.
In Tulkarem, also in northern West Bank, the soldiers invaded the Southern Neighborhood, before storming the home of a former political prisoner, identified as Rami al-Battah, and confiscated his car.
The soldiers were extensively deployed in various streets in Tulkarem and installed many roadblocks.
In related news, several army jeeps invaded Nabi Saleh village, northwest of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, before searching many homes.
18 june 2018

Eyewitnesses on Monday reported that a new expansion project has been launched in Tzofim settlement, northeast of Qalqilya city, at the expense of neighboring Palestinian farmlands in Jayyous village.
The witnesses told the PIC reporter that the owners of the farmlands adjacent to the settlement have been long denied access to their lands.
Anti-settlement researcher Khaled Ma'ali said that Tzofim was established in 1989. The largest part of the settlement was built in Jayyous village while the remaining part is located on lands belonging to Azzun village.
Ma'ali added that Tzofim is located 2 km northeast of Qalqilya city and is only 800 meters away from the Green Line.
The witnesses told the PIC reporter that the owners of the farmlands adjacent to the settlement have been long denied access to their lands.
Anti-settlement researcher Khaled Ma'ali said that Tzofim was established in 1989. The largest part of the settlement was built in Jayyous village while the remaining part is located on lands belonging to Azzun village.
Ma'ali added that Tzofim is located 2 km northeast of Qalqilya city and is only 800 meters away from the Green Line.

Israeli soldiers attacked, Monday several Palestinian farmers in Halhoul and Beit Ummar towns, north of Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, and stole their produce.
Media sources in Hebron said the farmers were selling their fruits and vegetables near their farmlands, and in front of their homes, near the main Jerusalem-Hebron Road.
They added that the soldiers assaulted the farmers and stole their produce before loading it into trucks before driving away.
The farmers depend on the produce of their lands to support themselves and their families, but are subjected to constant assaults by both Israeli soldiers and colonialist settlers, living on stolen Palestinian lands.
Media sources in Hebron said the farmers were selling their fruits and vegetables near their farmlands, and in front of their homes, near the main Jerusalem-Hebron Road.
They added that the soldiers assaulted the farmers and stole their produce before loading it into trucks before driving away.
The farmers depend on the produce of their lands to support themselves and their families, but are subjected to constant assaults by both Israeli soldiers and colonialist settlers, living on stolen Palestinian lands.

Israeli settler groups on Monday resumed their daily break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque under police protection.
Spokesman for Jerusalem's Islamic Awqaf Department Feras al-Dibs said that about 30 settlers, escorted by the Israeli police, broke into al-Aqsa Mosque via al-Maghareba Gate in the early morning hours.
Al-Dibs added that the Israeli police arrested the head of the Awqaf security department at al-Aqsa Mosque Abdullah Abu Taleb near al-Rahma Gate.
The arrest came after settler groups claimed on social media websites that the cleaning campaign launched in al-Rahma Gate area following some restorations there is an "act of vandalism".
The Israeli police further uprooted olive trees planted in the area and destroyed the new stairs built of al-Aqsa Mosque stones.
Spokesman for Jerusalem's Islamic Awqaf Department Feras al-Dibs said that about 30 settlers, escorted by the Israeli police, broke into al-Aqsa Mosque via al-Maghareba Gate in the early morning hours.
Al-Dibs added that the Israeli police arrested the head of the Awqaf security department at al-Aqsa Mosque Abdullah Abu Taleb near al-Rahma Gate.
The arrest came after settler groups claimed on social media websites that the cleaning campaign launched in al-Rahma Gate area following some restorations there is an "act of vandalism".
The Israeli police further uprooted olive trees planted in the area and destroyed the new stairs built of al-Aqsa Mosque stones.
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