30 june 2018

A former employee of Israel's Civil Administration declared a plot of land in the occupied West Bank to be state land and then, after leaving his job, set up an illegal outpost on it, Haaretz reported on Saturday.
The settlement outpost, located in Gush Etzion bloc and named Tzurei Ye'elim, now contains a farm and a guesthouse owned by the Israeli official Yossi Levitt and his partner, the Hebrew newspaper said.
Tzurei Ye'elim, which covers an area of 250 dunums, was built entirely without permits. A demolition order was issued against the buildings but has never been carried out.
According to Haaretz, the Civil Administration declared the site state land on 24th November 2013, and the outpost was illegally established in 2014. Aerial photographs show that Levitt began building the outpost immediately after he resigned from the Civil Administration.
The settlement outpost, located in Gush Etzion bloc and named Tzurei Ye'elim, now contains a farm and a guesthouse owned by the Israeli official Yossi Levitt and his partner, the Hebrew newspaper said.
Tzurei Ye'elim, which covers an area of 250 dunums, was built entirely without permits. A demolition order was issued against the buildings but has never been carried out.
According to Haaretz, the Civil Administration declared the site state land on 24th November 2013, and the outpost was illegally established in 2014. Aerial photographs show that Levitt began building the outpost immediately after he resigned from the Civil Administration.

Israeli soldiers injured, Saturday, dozens of Palestinians during processions in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank.
Hundreds of Palestinian protesters marched in the center of Beit Ummar, in addition to the junctions of at-Tarbeeqa and al-Ein, before the soldiers invaded the town, and forced store owners to close, in addition to stopping and searching dozens of cars.
The soldiers fired rubber-coated steel bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades at the protesters, causing dozens to suffer the effects of teargas inhalation.
In addition, a young man suffered a fracture in one of his arms after falling while several soldiers were chasing him; he received the needed treatment by Red Crescent Medics, who rushed him to a local hospital.
The soldiers also confiscated two Palestinian cars from the town and fired gas bombs and concussion grenades into a farmland, owned by a local farmer, causing fire and destroying his crops.
Hundreds of Palestinian protesters marched in the center of Beit Ummar, in addition to the junctions of at-Tarbeeqa and al-Ein, before the soldiers invaded the town, and forced store owners to close, in addition to stopping and searching dozens of cars.
The soldiers fired rubber-coated steel bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades at the protesters, causing dozens to suffer the effects of teargas inhalation.
In addition, a young man suffered a fracture in one of his arms after falling while several soldiers were chasing him; he received the needed treatment by Red Crescent Medics, who rushed him to a local hospital.
The soldiers also confiscated two Palestinian cars from the town and fired gas bombs and concussion grenades into a farmland, owned by a local farmer, causing fire and destroying his crops.

Several illegal Israeli colonizers invaded, Friday, Palestinian agricultural lands in Ein al-Qassis area in the al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem, and cut more than 20 trees and grapevines, in addition to destroying walls.
Ahmad Salah, the coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Annexation Wall and Colonies in al-Khader, said the attackers came from Sidi Boaz illegal colony, which was built on privately-owned Palestinian lands.
He added that the colonizers cut the trees and grapevines, in addition to stealing three rolls of barbed-wire fences.
The invaded lands, owned by Ahmad Rezeq Issa, as well as other lands owned by many Palestinians in the area, are subject to constant violations, carried out by illegal colonizers, and the army.
The farmers remain determined to remain on their lands, their only source of livelihood, despite the constant attacks, and the ongoing attempts to illegally annex them for the expansion of illegal colonies, built in direct violation of International Law.
Ahmad Salah, the coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Annexation Wall and Colonies in al-Khader, said the attackers came from Sidi Boaz illegal colony, which was built on privately-owned Palestinian lands.
He added that the colonizers cut the trees and grapevines, in addition to stealing three rolls of barbed-wire fences.
The invaded lands, owned by Ahmad Rezeq Issa, as well as other lands owned by many Palestinians in the area, are subject to constant violations, carried out by illegal colonizers, and the army.
The farmers remain determined to remain on their lands, their only source of livelihood, despite the constant attacks, and the ongoing attempts to illegally annex them for the expansion of illegal colonies, built in direct violation of International Law.
29 june 2018

A group of Israeli settlers on Friday afternoon set fire to vast areas of olive trees in the village of Beit Furik, to the east of the norther West Bank city of Nablus.
Local sources affirmed that the settlers were escorted by Israeli soldiers when carrying out their attack.
Dozens of olive trees were completely burned before locals succeeded to extinguish the flames, the sources added.
Settler violence against Palestinians and their property is routine in the West Bank and is rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities.
Local sources affirmed that the settlers were escorted by Israeli soldiers when carrying out their attack.
Dozens of olive trees were completely burned before locals succeeded to extinguish the flames, the sources added.
Settler violence against Palestinians and their property is routine in the West Bank and is rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities.
28 june 2018

The Dutch Foreign Ministry on Thursday condemned Israel for demolishing and seizing Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank.
Israel’s new settlement policy -- accelerating demolition procedure -- worries the Netherlands, the statement reads.
The statement said despite the Dutch government's insistence on bilateral talks or talks via EU, Israel had not changed its settlement policy positively.
Over the years, Israel has demolished hundreds of houses as part of its settlement policy, leaving thousands of Palestinians homeless.
International law views the West Bank and East Jerusalem as "occupied territories" and considers all Jewish settlement construction there as illegal.
Israel’s new settlement policy -- accelerating demolition procedure -- worries the Netherlands, the statement reads.
The statement said despite the Dutch government's insistence on bilateral talks or talks via EU, Israel had not changed its settlement policy positively.
Over the years, Israel has demolished hundreds of houses as part of its settlement policy, leaving thousands of Palestinians homeless.
International law views the West Bank and East Jerusalem as "occupied territories" and considers all Jewish settlement construction there as illegal.

A group of illegal Israeli colonizers started, Thursday, the construction of a new colonialist outpost on Palestinian lands, in Qana Valley area, west of Deir Istiya town, north of Salfit in Central West Bank.
The Mayor of Salfit, Sa’id Zidan, said the so-called Civil Administration Office, run by the army in the West Bank, decided to build 108 colonialist units on 59 Dunams of Palestinian lands in three basins, to build the new colony.
He added that Israel “legalized” the construction of many homes for colonialist settlers in what was previously declared as a protected “Natural Reserve,” where the Palestinians have been denied the right to even plant trees, installed hot houses or irrigation pipes.
“We contacted various official sides, including the National Committee against the Wall and Colonies, the Department of Local Government, and the Agriculture Ministry, to file all needed applications to counter this illegal Israeli measure,” he said, “We only have two months to get all documents and appeals filed with Israeli courts.”
Nathmi Salman, a local farmer and a member of the Deir Istiya Town Council said Israel uses the excuse of “Natural Reserve,” in order to “legalize” its takeover of Palestinian lands, and to prevent the locals from planting and taking care of their lands.
“This is happening while illegal Israeli colonists continue the building and expanding of their outposts on these lands,” Nathmi added, “This means the complete and illegal annexation of hundreds of Dunams of Palestinian lands.”
It is worth mentioning that Israel started targeting Qana Valley area since the early days of its illegal occupation of the West Bank in 1967, but the colonialist activities escalated in the late 1970’s, after Israel declared the area a “closed military zone,” and in 1983, it changed the classification of the Palestinian lands to “Natural Reserve.”
Qana Valley is more than 10.000 Dunams surrounded by illegal Israeli colonies, built on Palestinian lands and gradually expanding.
IOA annexes and bulldozes vast tract of land in Wadi Qana
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) has seized and started to bulldoze a vast tract of land in Wadi Qana, a Palestinian agricultural valley west of Deir Istiya town in Salfit.
The Israeli army’s civil administration told the Palestinian municipality of Deir Istiya that the annexed area amounts to 59 dunums of land and would be used for the construction of 108 housing units for Jewish settlers.
In this regard, local field researcher Khaled Maali said that Wadi Qana is encircled by eight settlements that keep expanding over annexed land.
He noted that Israel already declared the area a nature reserve in order to control it and prevent the Palestinian natives from using it for agricultural purposes.
Israel had tried in 1979 to declare Wadi Qana a “closed military zone, before it announced it in 1983 an Israeli nature reserve. This means that local Palestinian farmers are threatened with fines and arrest if they work their land, while settlements are built, expanded, and allowed to contaminate the valley with sewage.
The Mayor of Salfit, Sa’id Zidan, said the so-called Civil Administration Office, run by the army in the West Bank, decided to build 108 colonialist units on 59 Dunams of Palestinian lands in three basins, to build the new colony.
He added that Israel “legalized” the construction of many homes for colonialist settlers in what was previously declared as a protected “Natural Reserve,” where the Palestinians have been denied the right to even plant trees, installed hot houses or irrigation pipes.
“We contacted various official sides, including the National Committee against the Wall and Colonies, the Department of Local Government, and the Agriculture Ministry, to file all needed applications to counter this illegal Israeli measure,” he said, “We only have two months to get all documents and appeals filed with Israeli courts.”
Nathmi Salman, a local farmer and a member of the Deir Istiya Town Council said Israel uses the excuse of “Natural Reserve,” in order to “legalize” its takeover of Palestinian lands, and to prevent the locals from planting and taking care of their lands.
“This is happening while illegal Israeli colonists continue the building and expanding of their outposts on these lands,” Nathmi added, “This means the complete and illegal annexation of hundreds of Dunams of Palestinian lands.”
It is worth mentioning that Israel started targeting Qana Valley area since the early days of its illegal occupation of the West Bank in 1967, but the colonialist activities escalated in the late 1970’s, after Israel declared the area a “closed military zone,” and in 1983, it changed the classification of the Palestinian lands to “Natural Reserve.”
Qana Valley is more than 10.000 Dunams surrounded by illegal Israeli colonies, built on Palestinian lands and gradually expanding.
IOA annexes and bulldozes vast tract of land in Wadi Qana
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) has seized and started to bulldoze a vast tract of land in Wadi Qana, a Palestinian agricultural valley west of Deir Istiya town in Salfit.
The Israeli army’s civil administration told the Palestinian municipality of Deir Istiya that the annexed area amounts to 59 dunums of land and would be used for the construction of 108 housing units for Jewish settlers.
In this regard, local field researcher Khaled Maali said that Wadi Qana is encircled by eight settlements that keep expanding over annexed land.
He noted that Israel already declared the area a nature reserve in order to control it and prevent the Palestinian natives from using it for agricultural purposes.
Israel had tried in 1979 to declare Wadi Qana a “closed military zone, before it announced it in 1983 an Israeli nature reserve. This means that local Palestinian farmers are threatened with fines and arrest if they work their land, while settlements are built, expanded, and allowed to contaminate the valley with sewage.

Israeli bulldozers on Thursday demolished two Palestinian homes in Jaljouliya village, in territories occupied in 1948.
Two-story buildings under construction in Jaljouliya were reduced to rubble by Israeli forces, escorted by demolition bulldozers.
Israeli policemen cordoned off the demolition scene and prevented Palestinian locals from reaching their homes to protest the arbitrary measure.
Two-story buildings under construction in Jaljouliya were reduced to rubble by Israeli forces, escorted by demolition bulldozers.
Israeli policemen cordoned off the demolition scene and prevented Palestinian locals from reaching their homes to protest the arbitrary measure.
27 june 2018

Dozens of Palestinians living in Menshiyet Zabda in the Galilee region took to the streets on Wednesday morning, protesting an Israeli demolition order.
Tension has flared up in Menshiyet Zabda shortly after Israeli police and demolition bulldozers showed up in the area, paving the way for the demolition of a Palestinian home.
A number of Palestinians were arrested by Israeli policemen as they protested the arbitrary demolition order.
Tension has flared up in Menshiyet Zabda shortly after Israeli police and demolition bulldozers showed up in the area, paving the way for the demolition of a Palestinian home.
A number of Palestinians were arrested by Israeli policemen as they protested the arbitrary demolition order.

Israeli bulldozers on Wednesday morning demolished the al-Araqib village in the southern Negev area for the 130th time.
Local sources said the Israeli occupation army forced the natives of the Araqib village out of their tents and shacks, leaving them without roofs over their heads.
The Araqib village has been demolished 130 times since 27th July 2010 under the pretext that its land is an Israeli “state property”.
Historical chronicles and documents prove that the village was built during the Ottoman era on lands purchased by the village's residents at that time.
Araqib is one of 45 Arab villages in the Negev unrecognized by the Israeli government and constantly targeted with demolition and displacement in favor of settlement expansion projects.
About 240,000 Palestinians live in the Negev Desert in villages and communities established hundreds of years ago. Israel does not recognize these communities, refuses to provide them with basic services such as water and electricity, and cracks down on them in every possible way to push them to leave their lands.
Local sources said the Israeli occupation army forced the natives of the Araqib village out of their tents and shacks, leaving them without roofs over their heads.
The Araqib village has been demolished 130 times since 27th July 2010 under the pretext that its land is an Israeli “state property”.
Historical chronicles and documents prove that the village was built during the Ottoman era on lands purchased by the village's residents at that time.
Araqib is one of 45 Arab villages in the Negev unrecognized by the Israeli government and constantly targeted with demolition and displacement in favor of settlement expansion projects.
About 240,000 Palestinians live in the Negev Desert in villages and communities established hundreds of years ago. Israel does not recognize these communities, refuses to provide them with basic services such as water and electricity, and cracks down on them in every possible way to push them to leave their lands.

Dozens of Israeli soldiers invaded, on Wednesday at dawn, many homes in Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, conducted violent searches of homes and abducted two Palestinians, in addition to illegally confiscating cash.
Media sources said the soldiers abducted Sobhi Abu Shakhdam, after searching and ransacking his home, and summoned his father, Suleiman, for interrogation in Etzion military base and security center, north of Hebron.
They added that the soldiers also invaded homes in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, and abducted Mahmoud Mohammad Abu Ayyash.
Furthermore, the soldiers invaded the homes of Ismael al-Hashlamoun, and his sons, Soheib and Hamza, in Khallet Hadour area, and searched them before illegally confiscating 25.000 Shekels.
The soldiers also installed roadblocks at the entrances of ath-Thaheriyya town and the al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron, in addition to several areas in Hebron city, before stopping and searching dozens of cars, and interrogated many Palestinians while inspecting their ID cards.
Media sources said the soldiers abducted Sobhi Abu Shakhdam, after searching and ransacking his home, and summoned his father, Suleiman, for interrogation in Etzion military base and security center, north of Hebron.
They added that the soldiers also invaded homes in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron, and abducted Mahmoud Mohammad Abu Ayyash.
Furthermore, the soldiers invaded the homes of Ismael al-Hashlamoun, and his sons, Soheib and Hamza, in Khallet Hadour area, and searched them before illegally confiscating 25.000 Shekels.
The soldiers also installed roadblocks at the entrances of ath-Thaheriyya town and the al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron, in addition to several areas in Hebron city, before stopping and searching dozens of cars, and interrogated many Palestinians while inspecting their ID cards.
26 june 2018

Israeli forces escorted by teams of the municipality of Occupied Jerusalem on Tuesday stormed al-Tour neighborhood east of the occupied city and demolished a metal wall at the pretext of lacking construction permit.
According to Quds Press, the length of the razed metal wall, which was owned by two Jerusalemite citizens, was estimated at 100 meters.
According to Quds Press, the length of the razed metal wall, which was owned by two Jerusalemite citizens, was estimated at 100 meters.

Israeli settlers on Tuesday morning uprooted dozens of Palestinian grapes in Khilet al-Natash, adjacent to Kiryat Arba settlement, east of al-Khalil province.
The landowners said they were shocked as they caught sight of Israeli settlers cutting down grapes using an electric chainsaw.
The locals also said Israeli settlers spray-painted racist graffiti on nearby buildings.
The majority of settler attacks and property-theft assaults against Palestinians are met with impunity, with Israelis rarely facing consequences for such crimes.
The landowners said they were shocked as they caught sight of Israeli settlers cutting down grapes using an electric chainsaw.
The locals also said Israeli settlers spray-painted racist graffiti on nearby buildings.
The majority of settler attacks and property-theft assaults against Palestinians are met with impunity, with Israelis rarely facing consequences for such crimes.

The Israeli army forced on Tuesday 16 Palestinian families to leave their homes in the village of Khirbet Humsa al-Fouqa in the Northern Jordan Valley under the pretext of upcomig military drills.
According to human rights activist Aref Daraghmeh, 16 Palestinian families were forced to leave their homes at six in the morning and will not be allowed back before the Israeli army wraps up its war games in the area.
Human rights groups say the army uses the guise of military exercises in the Jordan Valley in order to force Palestinian families to leave the area as part of an ethnic cleansing policy.
The army has ordered families in the Jordan Valley to leave their homes for military drills dozens of times in the past few years.
According to human rights activist Aref Daraghmeh, 16 Palestinian families were forced to leave their homes at six in the morning and will not be allowed back before the Israeli army wraps up its war games in the area.
Human rights groups say the army uses the guise of military exercises in the Jordan Valley in order to force Palestinian families to leave the area as part of an ethnic cleansing policy.
The army has ordered families in the Jordan Valley to leave their homes for military drills dozens of times in the past few years.

Israeli soldiers demolished, Tuesday, a Palestinian home in Beit Hanina neighborhood, north of occupied East Jerusalem, while two families were forced to demolish their own homes, in Sur Baher and Silwan.
The soldiers invaded Beit Hanina neighborhood, after surrounding and isolating it, and demolished a home, under the pretext of being built without a permit.
The army prevented the Palestinians from entering the area and removed local journalists, before demolishing the property.
On Monday evening, resident Ibrahim Amira had to demolish his home in Sur Baher town, southeast of Jerusalem, to avoid fines exceeding 90.000 Shekels. video video
The Palestinian said he filed numerous requests to license his home, which he built, two years ago, on his own land to shelter himself, his wife and four children, but his requests were denied, and the City Council decided to demolish it just as he and his family moved in.
Amira filed various appeals with Israeli courts, including the Hight Court, but all of his applications were denied.
In Silwan town, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, resident Wael Shweiki and his family had to demolish their two under-construction homes after the City Council issued demolition orders and threatened to impose excessively high fines and fees if its workers are the ones who demolish the property.
The family said it started the construction in early May of this year, and their applications for construction permits were denied. video
The soldiers invaded Beit Hanina neighborhood, after surrounding and isolating it, and demolished a home, under the pretext of being built without a permit.
The army prevented the Palestinians from entering the area and removed local journalists, before demolishing the property.
On Monday evening, resident Ibrahim Amira had to demolish his home in Sur Baher town, southeast of Jerusalem, to avoid fines exceeding 90.000 Shekels. video video
The Palestinian said he filed numerous requests to license his home, which he built, two years ago, on his own land to shelter himself, his wife and four children, but his requests were denied, and the City Council decided to demolish it just as he and his family moved in.
Amira filed various appeals with Israeli courts, including the Hight Court, but all of his applications were denied.
In Silwan town, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, resident Wael Shweiki and his family had to demolish their two under-construction homes after the City Council issued demolition orders and threatened to impose excessively high fines and fees if its workers are the ones who demolish the property.
The family said it started the construction in early May of this year, and their applications for construction permits were denied. video

A group of Israeli colonialist settlers installed, Tuesday, an outpost on Palestinian lands in the al-Boweira area, close to the illegal Kharsina colony, east Hebron city, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank.
Locals said the colonizers installed four mobile homes on the Palestinian lands, owned by several families, including Jweihan, Eada and Abu al-Halawa.
They added that the Israeli assailants are trying to illegally occupy 70 Dunams of Palestinian lands, to build a new colony on top of a mountain that overlooks many neighborhoods in Hebron city.
Several months ago, the colonists uprooted dozens of olive saplings, planted by the Palestinians from Eada family, on their own lands, in the same area.
Locals said the colonizers installed four mobile homes on the Palestinian lands, owned by several families, including Jweihan, Eada and Abu al-Halawa.
They added that the Israeli assailants are trying to illegally occupy 70 Dunams of Palestinian lands, to build a new colony on top of a mountain that overlooks many neighborhoods in Hebron city.
Several months ago, the colonists uprooted dozens of olive saplings, planted by the Palestinians from Eada family, on their own lands, in the same area.
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