18 june 2019

Israeli soldiers invaded, Tuesday, Jabal al-Mokabber neighborhood, southeast of occupied East Jerusalem, and demolished a hardware store, under the pretext of being unlicensed.
The soldiers surrounded the entire neighborhood before invading it, and prevented the Palestinians from entering or leaving it.
Local sources said dozens of soldiers surrounded and isolated the area before invading it, accompanied by bulldozers, and demolished the property.
On Tuesday morning, the army demolished a two-story residential building of four units, in Shu’fat refugee camp, in the center of Jerusalem.
On Monday at night, the soldiers demolished a two-story residential building in Silwan town, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in Jerusalem.
The soldiers surrounded the entire neighborhood before invading it, and prevented the Palestinians from entering or leaving it.
Local sources said dozens of soldiers surrounded and isolated the area before invading it, accompanied by bulldozers, and demolished the property.
On Tuesday morning, the army demolished a two-story residential building of four units, in Shu’fat refugee camp, in the center of Jerusalem.
On Monday at night, the soldiers demolished a two-story residential building in Silwan town, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in Jerusalem.

A group of illegal Israeli colonists and soldiers bulldozed and uprooted, Tuesday, Palestinian lands in Kisan village, east of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank.
Hasan Berjaya, the head of the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, stated that the colonists, accompanied by personnel of the “Civil Administration Office, and soldiers” invaded the lands and started bulldozing them.
The Civil Administration office, the administrative branch of Israel’s illegal occupation, is claiming that it is bulldozing the private Palestinian lands to install solar panels for the surrounding colonies.
Berjaya said that the lands, 660 Dunams (163.09 Acres), were illegally annexed by Israel under the pretext of being “state lands,” an issue which would lead to further confiscation of Palestinian lands for Israel’s colonialist activities, and would surround the village.
Hasan Berjaya, the head of the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, stated that the colonists, accompanied by personnel of the “Civil Administration Office, and soldiers” invaded the lands and started bulldozing them.
The Civil Administration office, the administrative branch of Israel’s illegal occupation, is claiming that it is bulldozing the private Palestinian lands to install solar panels for the surrounding colonies.
Berjaya said that the lands, 660 Dunams (163.09 Acres), were illegally annexed by Israel under the pretext of being “state lands,” an issue which would lead to further confiscation of Palestinian lands for Israel’s colonialist activities, and would surround the village.

Israeli soldiers invaded, on Tuesday morning, Shu’fat refugee camp, in occupied East Jerusalem, and demolished a two-story under-construction building.
Tha’er Fasfous, the spokesperson of Fateh Movement in Shu’fat, said the soldiers and armored bulldozers surrounded the refugee camp before invading it. video
He added that the soldiers demolished the building, owned by a Palestinian identified as Omran Alqam, under the pretext of being built without a permit. video
He also stated that, last week, Alqam demolished parts of his building, after the City Council ordered its destruction, and threatened for force him to pay heavy fines and fees.
Tha’er Fasfous, the spokesperson of Fateh Movement in Shu’fat, said the soldiers and armored bulldozers surrounded the refugee camp before invading it. video
He added that the soldiers demolished the building, owned by a Palestinian identified as Omran Alqam, under the pretext of being built without a permit. video
He also stated that, last week, Alqam demolished parts of his building, after the City Council ordered its destruction, and threatened for force him to pay heavy fines and fees.

A horde of Jewish settlers on Monday set fire to cultivated lands in the villages of Beitin and Burqa, east of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
The arson attack led to the destruction of about 30 olive and fig trees and grapevines as well as other crops in the villages.
According to local sources, a number of local residents were able to rush to the burning area and embarked on extinguishing the flames until civil defense crews arrived and controlled the fires.
The targeted lands are located near the illegal settlement of Givat Assaf, and the Israeli occupation army prevents local farmers from going to their lands there without prior coordination.
The arson attack led to the destruction of about 30 olive and fig trees and grapevines as well as other crops in the villages.
According to local sources, a number of local residents were able to rush to the burning area and embarked on extinguishing the flames until civil defense crews arrived and controlled the fires.
The targeted lands are located near the illegal settlement of Givat Assaf, and the Israeli occupation army prevents local farmers from going to their lands there without prior coordination.

Israeli soldiers invaded, Tuesday, the village of Qosra, southeast of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, demolished an agricultural shed, and uprooted several olive trees.
Resident Mousa Ahmad Hasan told the WAFA Palestinian News Agency that the soldiers invaded the Shu’ab al-Khasab area, and demolished an agricultural of 42 square/meters.
He added that the soldiers also uprooted many olive trees in the same area, before withdrawing.
It is worth mentioning that this is the second time the army demolishes this room since November of 2018, and the family managed to rebuild it with funding from international relief groups.
Resident Mousa Ahmad Hasan told the WAFA Palestinian News Agency that the soldiers invaded the Shu’ab al-Khasab area, and demolished an agricultural of 42 square/meters.
He added that the soldiers also uprooted many olive trees in the same area, before withdrawing.
It is worth mentioning that this is the second time the army demolishes this room since November of 2018, and the family managed to rebuild it with funding from international relief groups.

Two Palestinian siblings, identified as Bassem and Hatem al-Abbassi, were forced on Monday evening, to demolish their two-story residential building in Ein al-Louza neighborhood, in Silwan town, in occupied Jerusalem.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic) said the City Council in occupied Jerusalem, issued an order a month ago forcing the two siblings to demolish their building, or be forced to pay excessively high fines and fees, in addition to the cost of demolition, should the city demolish the building. video
Silwanic added that, last week, the Israeli court set Monday evening, June 17, 2019, as the last day for the family to self-demolish their property.
The family was still in the process of obtaining permits for their property, but the city kept refusing the applications. Each floor of the demolished two-story building was 170 square/metes.
Jerusalem Governor Adnan Gheith, said Israel violates all international laws by the constant denial of construction permits to the Palestinians, while it continues to build and expand its illegal colonies.
“Yesterday we were in Wadi ar-Rababa in Silwan and witnessed how Israel illegal annexed a Palestinian land allegedly because its owner was not using it, and today we are here witnessing the demolition of this home,” Gheith stated. video
“What is happening here in occupied Jerusalem are constant crimes committed by Israel against the Palestinians, their homes, property and lands,” Gheith added, “These violations and crimes are committed in front of the entire world, and our people continue to suffer.”
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic) said the City Council in occupied Jerusalem, issued an order a month ago forcing the two siblings to demolish their building, or be forced to pay excessively high fines and fees, in addition to the cost of demolition, should the city demolish the building. video
Silwanic added that, last week, the Israeli court set Monday evening, June 17, 2019, as the last day for the family to self-demolish their property.
The family was still in the process of obtaining permits for their property, but the city kept refusing the applications. Each floor of the demolished two-story building was 170 square/metes.
Jerusalem Governor Adnan Gheith, said Israel violates all international laws by the constant denial of construction permits to the Palestinians, while it continues to build and expand its illegal colonies.
“Yesterday we were in Wadi ar-Rababa in Silwan and witnessed how Israel illegal annexed a Palestinian land allegedly because its owner was not using it, and today we are here witnessing the demolition of this home,” Gheith stated. video
“What is happening here in occupied Jerusalem are constant crimes committed by Israel against the Palestinians, their homes, property and lands,” Gheith added, “These violations and crimes are committed in front of the entire world, and our people continue to suffer.”

The Jerusalem Center of Socio and Economic Rights, Monday, warned of the escalation of Israeli demolitions in occupied Jerusalem, noting it bears the nature of a collective form of punishment.
The director of the center Zeyad al-Hamouree warned, in a statement, that the Israeli municipality and civil administration are carrying out demolitions in Qalandia, Sur Baher, Silwan and al-Bustan neighborhoods.
He explained that Israel plans to demolish wide parts of Palestinian facilities to build Israeli facilities, noting the Israeli plans to establish the so-called National Park in Arrababh neighborhood.
He stressed, according to Al Ray, that the next phase in Jerusalem is so difficult, especially regarding residential buildings. He said that dozens of demolition orders are carried out without warning.
He called upon the international community for immediate action in stopping the illegal and collective demolition process in occupied Jerusalem, noting that Israel aims to evict all Palestinians from the city and to settle Israelis instead of them.
The director of the center Zeyad al-Hamouree warned, in a statement, that the Israeli municipality and civil administration are carrying out demolitions in Qalandia, Sur Baher, Silwan and al-Bustan neighborhoods.
He explained that Israel plans to demolish wide parts of Palestinian facilities to build Israeli facilities, noting the Israeli plans to establish the so-called National Park in Arrababh neighborhood.
He stressed, according to Al Ray, that the next phase in Jerusalem is so difficult, especially regarding residential buildings. He said that dozens of demolition orders are carried out without warning.
He called upon the international community for immediate action in stopping the illegal and collective demolition process in occupied Jerusalem, noting that Israel aims to evict all Palestinians from the city and to settle Israelis instead of them.
17 june 2019

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) strongly denounced, today, the endorsement of Israel’s annexation of occupied Palestinian territory, by senior United States officials .
“The public endorsement of Israel’s annexation of occupied Palestinian and Syrian territory, by the US Ambassador (David Friedman) to Israel and the so-called ‘Middle East envoy’ (Jason Greenblatt), reflect (US President Donald) Trump administration’s determined steps to undermine and circumvent the requirements of peace in the region,” said Hanan Ashrawi, member of the PLO’s Executive Committee.
“They also mirror the administration’s abject disregard for international law and the United Nations Charter. This is an extension of the Trump administration’s endorsement of the Israeli theft of the occupied capital of Palestine, Jerusalem, then the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, by way of annexation.”
The PLO official stressed, in a statement, that annexation is an illegal act and a violation of international law, WAFA further reports..
“Annexation is an illegal act that strikes at the heart of the international rules-based system, requiring the unequivocal condemnation and rebuke of the international community. Endorsing this multi-faceted crime makes this administration complicit in this crime, which is founded in the racist colonial attitude that excuses and empowers Israel in its colonial endeavor to annex the remainder of the occupied Palestinian territory and crush the inalienable rights of Palestinians to self-determination and freedom through political bullying and extortion.”
Ashrawi said that Palestinian leadership “unequivocally condemns these illegal and irresponsible positions by these senior US administration officials, whose affiliations to the fundamentalist, extremist, and racist right-wing in Israel are unquestionable,’ calling “on all responsible international actors to confront the dangerous ramifications of the reckless behavior by the US administration, which threatens to plunge the region and world into chaos and instability by normalizing grave violations of international law like annexation and land grab.”
She stressed that “all realities resulting from the illegal act of annexation are null and void and of no binding legal significance. The Palestinian people and leadership will continue to work with responsible international partners to protect the region from further chaos and instability, defend the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, as well as the standing and relevance of international law.”
“The public endorsement of Israel’s annexation of occupied Palestinian and Syrian territory, by the US Ambassador (David Friedman) to Israel and the so-called ‘Middle East envoy’ (Jason Greenblatt), reflect (US President Donald) Trump administration’s determined steps to undermine and circumvent the requirements of peace in the region,” said Hanan Ashrawi, member of the PLO’s Executive Committee.
“They also mirror the administration’s abject disregard for international law and the United Nations Charter. This is an extension of the Trump administration’s endorsement of the Israeli theft of the occupied capital of Palestine, Jerusalem, then the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, by way of annexation.”
The PLO official stressed, in a statement, that annexation is an illegal act and a violation of international law, WAFA further reports..
“Annexation is an illegal act that strikes at the heart of the international rules-based system, requiring the unequivocal condemnation and rebuke of the international community. Endorsing this multi-faceted crime makes this administration complicit in this crime, which is founded in the racist colonial attitude that excuses and empowers Israel in its colonial endeavor to annex the remainder of the occupied Palestinian territory and crush the inalienable rights of Palestinians to self-determination and freedom through political bullying and extortion.”
Ashrawi said that Palestinian leadership “unequivocally condemns these illegal and irresponsible positions by these senior US administration officials, whose affiliations to the fundamentalist, extremist, and racist right-wing in Israel are unquestionable,’ calling “on all responsible international actors to confront the dangerous ramifications of the reckless behavior by the US administration, which threatens to plunge the region and world into chaos and instability by normalizing grave violations of international law like annexation and land grab.”
She stressed that “all realities resulting from the illegal act of annexation are null and void and of no binding legal significance. The Palestinian people and leadership will continue to work with responsible international partners to protect the region from further chaos and instability, defend the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, as well as the standing and relevance of international law.”

Israeli soldiers uprooted, Monday, dozens of Palestinian olive trees in the western area of the al-‘Isawiya town, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, reportedly “obscuring the view of surveillance cameras in the area.” video
Mohammad Abu al-Hummus, a member of the Follow-Up Committee in al-‘Isawiya said the soldiers invaded the town since morning hours, and were extensively deployed in various roads and neighborhoods.
He added that Israeli police officers also ticketed several Palestinian cars, and searched them, in addition to examining the ID cards of many Palestinians.
Abu al-Hummus also said the uprooting of the trees was made under false pretenses, especially since it came shortly after the army distributed demolition and eviction orders of Palestinian property, as part of the so-called “National Gardens.”
Mohammad Abu al-Hummus, a member of the Follow-Up Committee in al-‘Isawiya said the soldiers invaded the town since morning hours, and were extensively deployed in various roads and neighborhoods.
He added that Israeli police officers also ticketed several Palestinian cars, and searched them, in addition to examining the ID cards of many Palestinians.
Abu al-Hummus also said the uprooting of the trees was made under false pretenses, especially since it came shortly after the army distributed demolition and eviction orders of Palestinian property, as part of the so-called “National Gardens.”

Israeli soldiers invaded, earlier Monday, Masafer Yatta area, east of Yatta town, south of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, and destroyed four residential sheds, and solar panels.
Rateb Jabour, the coordinator of the National and Popular Committee against the Annexation Wall and Colonies in southern West Bank, said the soldiers invaded Khallet ad-Dabe’ area in al-Masafer ash-Sharqiya, and demolished four residential sheds.
The sheds, built with tin and bricks, housed ten members of the family of Mohammad Ali Jaber Dababsa.
The soldiers also destroyed solar panels, which were used to provide electricity to the Palestinians.
The army frequently targets the Palestinians in the area, including the demolition of homes, tents and property, in addition to causing damage to structures, agricultural lands, wells and water networks.
Rateb Jabour, the coordinator of the National and Popular Committee against the Annexation Wall and Colonies in southern West Bank, said the soldiers invaded Khallet ad-Dabe’ area in al-Masafer ash-Sharqiya, and demolished four residential sheds.
The sheds, built with tin and bricks, housed ten members of the family of Mohammad Ali Jaber Dababsa.
The soldiers also destroyed solar panels, which were used to provide electricity to the Palestinians.
The army frequently targets the Palestinians in the area, including the demolition of homes, tents and property, in addition to causing damage to structures, agricultural lands, wells and water networks.

Israeli settlers on Sunday chopped off dozens of Palestinian-owned olive trees in Bani Na'im town, east of al-Khalil city.
Anti-settlement activist Rateb al-Jabour said that groups of Israeli settlers uprooted olive trees planted in Palestinian lands that were seized by the Israeli authorities last month in Bani Na'im town.
The Israeli occupation authorities last month handed Palestinian citizens notices informing them that 4,800 dunums of their lands in Bani Na'im would be seized.
Al-Jabour said the residents were told to stop any kind of work they were undertaking on these lands and that they have 45 days to object to this order starting 25 May.
He explained that Israel wants to use the targeted lands to expand the Jewish settlement of Bani Haifer which was illegally built on Palestinian land southeast of Bani Na'im.
Anti-settlement activist Rateb al-Jabour said that groups of Israeli settlers uprooted olive trees planted in Palestinian lands that were seized by the Israeli authorities last month in Bani Na'im town.
The Israeli occupation authorities last month handed Palestinian citizens notices informing them that 4,800 dunums of their lands in Bani Na'im would be seized.
Al-Jabour said the residents were told to stop any kind of work they were undertaking on these lands and that they have 45 days to object to this order starting 25 May.
He explained that Israel wants to use the targeted lands to expand the Jewish settlement of Bani Haifer which was illegally built on Palestinian land southeast of Bani Na'im.

The plot to destroy 2000 fully mature olive trees near the city of Bethlehem, in southern West Bank, was rubber-stamped by the Israeli occupation authorities, according to WAFA News Agency.
The 2000 trees, extend over a 1600 meter long road connecting two Palestinian villages, Taqou’ town and al-Minya, and take up 80 dunums of land, belonging to Palestinians.
Local activist Hasan Brijiyeh, an anti-settlement, anti-wall activist told WAFA that the Israeli regime has intensified it’s arrest of the youth, theft of land, and road closures in the area.
Article 49 of the 4th Geneva Convention of 1949 states that the occupying force is forbidden from transferring members of its own population onto the land that it occupied.
Israel occupied Palestine in 1948, and regularly demolishes Palestinian homes to make room for Jewish-only settlements across the West Bank.
Today, about 600,000 illegal Israeli settlers reside in the occupied Palestinian Territories, in defiance of International Law.
The 2000 trees, extend over a 1600 meter long road connecting two Palestinian villages, Taqou’ town and al-Minya, and take up 80 dunums of land, belonging to Palestinians.
Local activist Hasan Brijiyeh, an anti-settlement, anti-wall activist told WAFA that the Israeli regime has intensified it’s arrest of the youth, theft of land, and road closures in the area.
Article 49 of the 4th Geneva Convention of 1949 states that the occupying force is forbidden from transferring members of its own population onto the land that it occupied.
Israel occupied Palestine in 1948, and regularly demolishes Palestinian homes to make room for Jewish-only settlements across the West Bank.
Today, about 600,000 illegal Israeli settlers reside in the occupied Palestinian Territories, in defiance of International Law.

Dozens of Israeli police officers invaded, Sunday, Sur Baher Palestinian town, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, and demanded the Palestinians to remove a tent, which was installed to protest a Supreme Court ruling to demolish 16 residential buildings of more than 100 flats.
The Israeli decision came after the City Council in the occupied city claimed that the buildings are close to the illegal Annexation Wall, which was installed on Palestinian lands.
Hamada Hamada, the head of the Services Committee of Wad al-Hummus, al-Mintar and Deir al-Amoud neighborhoods, in Sur Baher town, said the neighborhoods are in Areas A, B and C, and the lands are owned by the Palestinians, including the Local Government of the Palestinian Authority.
Hamada added that the targeted Palestinian buildings are 25 apartment buildings of around 250 flats, and said that Israel issued various demolition orders, in addition to orders halting the construction of most buildings in that area alone.
16 of the apartment buildings, which contain altogether more than 100 flats, are under the immediate threat of demolition.
He also stated that, a week ago, the Israeli Supreme Court denied the appeal, which was filed by the residents, and ordered the immediate demolition of the buildings, but without setting a date.
The Palestinians then decided to install a protest tent, and remain there, and the police has since been ordering them to remove it and leave the area.
The Israeli decision came after the City Council in the occupied city claimed that the buildings are close to the illegal Annexation Wall, which was installed on Palestinian lands.
Hamada Hamada, the head of the Services Committee of Wad al-Hummus, al-Mintar and Deir al-Amoud neighborhoods, in Sur Baher town, said the neighborhoods are in Areas A, B and C, and the lands are owned by the Palestinians, including the Local Government of the Palestinian Authority.
Hamada added that the targeted Palestinian buildings are 25 apartment buildings of around 250 flats, and said that Israel issued various demolition orders, in addition to orders halting the construction of most buildings in that area alone.
16 of the apartment buildings, which contain altogether more than 100 flats, are under the immediate threat of demolition.
He also stated that, a week ago, the Israeli Supreme Court denied the appeal, which was filed by the residents, and ordered the immediate demolition of the buildings, but without setting a date.
The Palestinians then decided to install a protest tent, and remain there, and the police has since been ordering them to remove it and leave the area.

Israeli soldiers invaded, Sunday, Palestinian lands, west of Ya’bad town, near the northern West Bank city of Jenin, and started the expansion of an illegal outpost, which was installed on private lands several months ago.
Tareq al-‘Amarna, the head of Thaher al-‘Abed Village Council, said that several months ago, illegal colonists and soldiers started the installation of a new colonialist outpost on private Palestinian lands in Khirbat Masoud area, west of Ya’bad town.
He added that the outpost started with one colonist, who came for the soldiers claiming to be a shepherd, before the army installed mobile homes, brought more colonists, and started preparing for roads, in addition linking the lands with water and electricity.
Amarna stated that this incident is very serious, as large areas of private Palestinian lands will be illegally annexed by Israel for the new outpost, and for the new roads and other infrastructure.
“The Palestinians already suffer from the constant violations and attacks targeting them and their lands,” he said, “They face ongoing harassment and violations by both the soldiers and the colonists.”
Tareq al-‘Amarna, the head of Thaher al-‘Abed Village Council, said that several months ago, illegal colonists and soldiers started the installation of a new colonialist outpost on private Palestinian lands in Khirbat Masoud area, west of Ya’bad town.
He added that the outpost started with one colonist, who came for the soldiers claiming to be a shepherd, before the army installed mobile homes, brought more colonists, and started preparing for roads, in addition linking the lands with water and electricity.
Amarna stated that this incident is very serious, as large areas of private Palestinian lands will be illegally annexed by Israel for the new outpost, and for the new roads and other infrastructure.
“The Palestinians already suffer from the constant violations and attacks targeting them and their lands,” he said, “They face ongoing harassment and violations by both the soldiers and the colonists.”
16 june 2019

In a move aimed at gaining more support from the already-enthusiastic Donald Trump for their policies of land expropriation and expansion, Israeli authorities on Sunday established a new development they coined “Trump Heights”, with Binyamin Netanyahu presiding over the unveiling ceremony alongside U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman.
The location for the new colony is on land stolen by Israel from Syria in the 1967 war, an area known as the Golan Heights, and illegally occupied by the Israeli military since that time. Donald Trump recently announced that he recognizes Israel’s claim to the territory – despite no internationally-recognized treaty or agreement ever having been signed ceding the territory.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu held a ceremony on the site on Sunday, renaming the colonial settlement of Bruchim to ‘Trump Heights’.
In his statement, Netanyahu said, “We are going to do two things — establish a new community on the Golan Heights, something that has not been done for many years. This is an act of Zionism and it is paramount. The second thing is to honor our friend, a very great friend of the State of Israel — President Donald Trump, who recently recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights.”
Next to Netanyahu stood David Friedman, the Trump-appointed U.S. Ambassador to Israel who has long been criticized for his blatant support of Israel’s illegal annexation of neighboring territory (including heading an organization in the U.S. that helps to fund this illegal colonization activity).
Friedman has also been criticized for a complete absence of diplomatic experience — his only apparent qualifications for the job of Ambassador being his work as Trump’s bankruptcy lawyer and his virulent support for Zionist expansionist politics.
“It’s absolutely beautiful,” said Friedman, adding, “I can’t think of a more appropriate and a more beautiful birthday present [for Donald Trump, who just had a birthday].”
Israeli journalists have pointed out that the ceremony is likely little more than a political maneuver aimed at feeding Donald Trump’s ego, since no action has actually been taken to establish the colony.
If action were taken to settle the area with Israeli civilians, it would be a direct violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention on the obligations of an occupying power.
The location for the new colony is on land stolen by Israel from Syria in the 1967 war, an area known as the Golan Heights, and illegally occupied by the Israeli military since that time. Donald Trump recently announced that he recognizes Israel’s claim to the territory – despite no internationally-recognized treaty or agreement ever having been signed ceding the territory.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu held a ceremony on the site on Sunday, renaming the colonial settlement of Bruchim to ‘Trump Heights’.
In his statement, Netanyahu said, “We are going to do two things — establish a new community on the Golan Heights, something that has not been done for many years. This is an act of Zionism and it is paramount. The second thing is to honor our friend, a very great friend of the State of Israel — President Donald Trump, who recently recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights.”
Next to Netanyahu stood David Friedman, the Trump-appointed U.S. Ambassador to Israel who has long been criticized for his blatant support of Israel’s illegal annexation of neighboring territory (including heading an organization in the U.S. that helps to fund this illegal colonization activity).
Friedman has also been criticized for a complete absence of diplomatic experience — his only apparent qualifications for the job of Ambassador being his work as Trump’s bankruptcy lawyer and his virulent support for Zionist expansionist politics.
“It’s absolutely beautiful,” said Friedman, adding, “I can’t think of a more appropriate and a more beautiful birthday present [for Donald Trump, who just had a birthday].”
Israeli journalists have pointed out that the ceremony is likely little more than a political maneuver aimed at feeding Donald Trump’s ego, since no action has actually been taken to establish the colony.
If action were taken to settle the area with Israeli civilians, it would be a direct violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention on the obligations of an occupying power.

Israeli bulldozers continued on Sunday to level the lands located to the north of Khirbat Yanun, south of Nablus, for settlement expansion.
Bulldozing activities have been taking place for three days on Palestinian lands near the illegal settlement of Gado'nim, according to local official Ghassan Daghlas.
Khirbat Yanun (village) have lost about 85 percent of its land after the Israeli occupation authority declared hundreds of dunums a nature reserve and built five settlements and outposts in the area.
Bulldozing activities have been taking place for three days on Palestinian lands near the illegal settlement of Gado'nim, according to local official Ghassan Daghlas.
Khirbat Yanun (village) have lost about 85 percent of its land after the Israeli occupation authority declared hundreds of dunums a nature reserve and built five settlements and outposts in the area.
Page: 30 - 29 - 28 - 27 - 26 - 25 - 24 - 23 - 22 - 21 - 20 - 19 - 18 - 17 - 16 - 15 - 14 - 13 - 12 - 11 - 10 - 9