15 june 2020

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Monday distributed orders for the demolition of several Palestinian homes in Beit Sira village in the West Bank district of Ramallah.
Member of Beit Sira’s village council Hamed Hamdan said that the IOF stormed the village and handed a number of Palestinian families home demolition orders over “unlicensed construction”.
Meanwhile, the IOF destroyed a tent used as a sheep barn by Palestinian citizen Abed al-Rahman Qasem in the Jordan Valley.
Human rights activist Aref Daraghmeh said that the IOF soldiers, who were present in the area for military exercise, demolished Qasem’s tent without prior warning.
Member of Beit Sira’s village council Hamed Hamdan said that the IOF stormed the village and handed a number of Palestinian families home demolition orders over “unlicensed construction”.
Meanwhile, the IOF destroyed a tent used as a sheep barn by Palestinian citizen Abed al-Rahman Qasem in the Jordan Valley.
Human rights activist Aref Daraghmeh said that the IOF soldiers, who were present in the area for military exercise, demolished Qasem’s tent without prior warning.

In the agriculturally-rich northern West Bank area of Al-Aghwar, Israeli forces demolished a Palestinian-owned livestock tent, according to a local activist.
Palestinian activist, Aref Daraghma, told Palestinian media sources that Israeli soldiers invaded Um Liqya rural neighborhood and began tearing down a tent, used by local farmers as a livestock pen.
Daraghma said that the pen is owned by Palestinian resident, Abdelrahman Qasem, who was shocked to see his crude tin sheet animal pen had been destroyed by the army.
Noteworthy, many water pipelines in the Al-Aghwar area in the Jordan Valley, were recently severed, as a result of military exercises. In addition, a number of green houses, owned by local farmers, have also been dismantled by the military.
The Palestinian Al-Aghwar area is vast and fertile agricultural land, said to be a main source of produce for the entire West Bank population.
Commentators have speculated that the escalation of the violations of the Israeli authorities throughout the region is a sign of things to come, in the context of the Israeli agenda involving the annexation of the Al-Aghwar area.
High-ranking Israeli officials have signalled their intention to expropriate the Al-Aghwar area to the sovereignty of the occupation state, subjecting it to full Israeli control, by early next month.
Various international players including the United Nations (UN), European Union (UN), Russia and the Arab League have rejected Israel’s plan to take-over. These groups have warned that the consequences could be the loss of a chance for a just and lasting peace, based on the two-state solution.
The United States (US) as the main supporter of Israel, has asked the Israeli government to consider delaying the move, due to the current Coronavirus pandemic and the social unrest in the US.
Palestinian activist, Aref Daraghma, told Palestinian media sources that Israeli soldiers invaded Um Liqya rural neighborhood and began tearing down a tent, used by local farmers as a livestock pen.
Daraghma said that the pen is owned by Palestinian resident, Abdelrahman Qasem, who was shocked to see his crude tin sheet animal pen had been destroyed by the army.
Noteworthy, many water pipelines in the Al-Aghwar area in the Jordan Valley, were recently severed, as a result of military exercises. In addition, a number of green houses, owned by local farmers, have also been dismantled by the military.
The Palestinian Al-Aghwar area is vast and fertile agricultural land, said to be a main source of produce for the entire West Bank population.
Commentators have speculated that the escalation of the violations of the Israeli authorities throughout the region is a sign of things to come, in the context of the Israeli agenda involving the annexation of the Al-Aghwar area.
High-ranking Israeli officials have signalled their intention to expropriate the Al-Aghwar area to the sovereignty of the occupation state, subjecting it to full Israeli control, by early next month.
Various international players including the United Nations (UN), European Union (UN), Russia and the Arab League have rejected Israel’s plan to take-over. These groups have warned that the consequences could be the loss of a chance for a just and lasting peace, based on the two-state solution.
The United States (US) as the main supporter of Israel, has asked the Israeli government to consider delaying the move, due to the current Coronavirus pandemic and the social unrest in the US.

The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) on Monday morning displaced two Palestinian families after demolishing their building in Shu’afat refugee camp, east of Jerusalem, at the pretext of unlicensed construction. video
According to local sources, a large number of police forces escorting employees from the Israeli municipality and bulldozers stormed Ras Shahada neighborhood in Shu’afat camp and knocked down a house belonging to the families of Osama Ahmed Alkam and Iyhab Hasan Alkam. video
Two families of 10 individuals, including women and children, were living in that house.
Osama and Ihyhab had already received a demolition ultimatum against their house from the Israeli municipality, which justified the measure by claiming the house was built with no license.
The Jerusalemites have no choice but to build without licenses because there are no structural maps that respond to the natural increase in their numbers, and for that reason, they are denied house permits by the Israeli municipality.
According to local sources, a large number of police forces escorting employees from the Israeli municipality and bulldozers stormed Ras Shahada neighborhood in Shu’afat camp and knocked down a house belonging to the families of Osama Ahmed Alkam and Iyhab Hasan Alkam. video
Two families of 10 individuals, including women and children, were living in that house.
Osama and Ihyhab had already received a demolition ultimatum against their house from the Israeli municipality, which justified the measure by claiming the house was built with no license.
The Jerusalemites have no choice but to build without licenses because there are no structural maps that respond to the natural increase in their numbers, and for that reason, they are denied house permits by the Israeli municipality.

Jewish settlers on Sunday bulldozed a vast tract of Palestinian land in Jalud village, south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank.
Local official Ghassan Daghlas said that bulldozers belonging to Shvut Rachel settlers embarked on leveling swaths of land in Jalud village, particularly in the area known as Khafafish.
Settlers living in illegal West Bank settlements enjoy support from the right-wing government of premier Benjamin Netanyahu, whose recent pledge to annex parts of the West Bank, including the Jordan Valley, is intended to formalize existing settlements and take over more Palestinian lands for settlement construction and expansion.
Local official Ghassan Daghlas said that bulldozers belonging to Shvut Rachel settlers embarked on leveling swaths of land in Jalud village, particularly in the area known as Khafafish.
Settlers living in illegal West Bank settlements enjoy support from the right-wing government of premier Benjamin Netanyahu, whose recent pledge to annex parts of the West Bank, including the Jordan Valley, is intended to formalize existing settlements and take over more Palestinian lands for settlement construction and expansion.
14 june 2020

Israeli forces on Sunday morning demolished two Palestinian houses in Lod City in the 1948 occupied territories.
Eyewitnesses said that several bulldozers, escorted by police forces, stormed al-Mahatta neighborhood in Lod City, threw a cordon around the targeted houses, which are owned by the Abu Zayed family, and started to demolish them.
Local residents said that this is not the first time that the Israeli authorities have demolished homes owned by the same family.
Eyewitnesses said that several bulldozers, escorted by police forces, stormed al-Mahatta neighborhood in Lod City, threw a cordon around the targeted houses, which are owned by the Abu Zayed family, and started to demolish them.
Local residents said that this is not the first time that the Israeli authorities have demolished homes owned by the same family.

Israeli leaders sit down with David Friedman as PM’s planned July 1 start date for unilateral move nears and international pressure mounts against application of sovereignty to the region
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz met on Sunday with U.S. envoy David Friedman to discuss the planned annexation of territory in the West Bank.
Also present at the meeting were Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin.
The meeting concluded with no official statement released. Another meeting was scheduled for a later date.
On Monday, foreign ministers of the European Union are expected to hold a conference call with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over President Donald Trump’s peace plan, which Washington unveiled in February.
In a meeting between German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and Netanyahu last week, the visitor warned Israel of implementing annexation, stressing it is “incompatible” with international law.
On Friday, The United Arab Emirates also joined the warning calls, with its Ambassador to the U.S. Yousef al-Otaiba calling Jerusalem to choose between annexation and normalization with the Arab world.
Another voice that had come out in opposition to the U.S. initiative was that of the West Bank settlers' leadership, who implored Netanyahu to heed their advice.
“We all want you to be the first prime minister who applied sovereignty, but we don’t want you to be remembered as the prime minister who laid the foundations of a Palestinian State,” Yesha Council (the umbrella body of settlement municipal councils in the West Bank) said in a statement released ahead of the premier’s meeting with Friedman.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz met on Sunday with U.S. envoy David Friedman to discuss the planned annexation of territory in the West Bank.
Also present at the meeting were Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin.
The meeting concluded with no official statement released. Another meeting was scheduled for a later date.
On Monday, foreign ministers of the European Union are expected to hold a conference call with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over President Donald Trump’s peace plan, which Washington unveiled in February.
In a meeting between German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and Netanyahu last week, the visitor warned Israel of implementing annexation, stressing it is “incompatible” with international law.
On Friday, The United Arab Emirates also joined the warning calls, with its Ambassador to the U.S. Yousef al-Otaiba calling Jerusalem to choose between annexation and normalization with the Arab world.
Another voice that had come out in opposition to the U.S. initiative was that of the West Bank settlers' leadership, who implored Netanyahu to heed their advice.
“We all want you to be the first prime minister who applied sovereignty, but we don’t want you to be remembered as the prime minister who laid the foundations of a Palestinian State,” Yesha Council (the umbrella body of settlement municipal councils in the West Bank) said in a statement released ahead of the premier’s meeting with Friedman.
13 june 2020

Confrontations renewed on Friday evening between Palestinian protesters and Israeli police in Jaffa over a plan to demolish an ancient Muslim cemetery to build a Jewish shelter. video
Israeli police forces blocked several roads and deployed in large numbers in the city, while the angry protesters set trash cans on fire and launched fireworks, local sources reported. video
Tension has prevailed in Jaffa since last Monday when Israeli bulldozers, escorted by the police, began digging up graves in the cemetery, which is known by the native citizens as “al-Is’af” graveyard, in preparation for the construction of a Jewish shelter. video
Earlier on Friday, dozens of Palestinian residents of Jaffa gathered in a protest tent near al-Is’af graveyard for the Friday prayer, which was led by al-Aqsa Mosque’s preacher Sheikh Ekrima Sabri.
The worshipers took to the streets after the prayer to protest the demolition of the cemetery, and later in the evening, confrontations intensified.
Israeli police forces blocked several roads and deployed in large numbers in the city, while the angry protesters set trash cans on fire and launched fireworks, local sources reported. video
Tension has prevailed in Jaffa since last Monday when Israeli bulldozers, escorted by the police, began digging up graves in the cemetery, which is known by the native citizens as “al-Is’af” graveyard, in preparation for the construction of a Jewish shelter. video
Earlier on Friday, dozens of Palestinian residents of Jaffa gathered in a protest tent near al-Is’af graveyard for the Friday prayer, which was led by al-Aqsa Mosque’s preacher Sheikh Ekrima Sabri.
The worshipers took to the streets after the prayer to protest the demolition of the cemetery, and later in the evening, confrontations intensified.

Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) on Saturday forced a Palestinian family to demolish their own home in Sur Baher town southeast of Jerusalem.
The Rebaiya family said that the IOA weeks ago handed them an order to demolish their home. Otherwise, Israel’s Jerusalem municipality would carry out the demolition and force them to pay an 80,000 NIS fine.
The IOA claimed the house was built without an Israeli license.
The Rebaiya family said that when they received the order, they followed all possible legal procedures to freeze the demolition but nothing changed.
The Rebaiya family said that the IOA weeks ago handed them an order to demolish their home. Otherwise, Israel’s Jerusalem municipality would carry out the demolition and force them to pay an 80,000 NIS fine.
The IOA claimed the house was built without an Israeli license.
The Rebaiya family said that when they received the order, they followed all possible legal procedures to freeze the demolition but nothing changed.

Jewish settlers from Yitzhar Settlement on Friday set fire to large tracts of Palestinian farmland, burning down crops and trees in Madama village in the West Bank district of Nablus.
Eyewitnesses reported that a group of settlers torched lands owned by Palestinian citizens from Madama, causing severe damages.
They said that Israeli occupation forces fired gas bombs towards the fire crews and volunteering youths while they were trying to put out the fire.
Two arson attacks launched by Israeli settlers on Palestinian-owned farmland were reported yesterday in the neighboring villages of al-Sawiya and Yatma in Nablus.
Eyewitnesses reported that a group of settlers torched lands owned by Palestinian citizens from Madama, causing severe damages.
They said that Israeli occupation forces fired gas bombs towards the fire crews and volunteering youths while they were trying to put out the fire.
Two arson attacks launched by Israeli settlers on Palestinian-owned farmland were reported yesterday in the neighboring villages of al-Sawiya and Yatma in Nablus.
12 june 2020

On Thursday at dawn, Israeli soldiers invaded Ya’bad town, southwest of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, and mapped out the house of Nazmi Abu Bakr, a 49-year-old Palestinian imprisoned by Israel. video
The Israeli army is claiming that Abu Bakr is the Palestinian who dropped a brick on soldiers invading the town, in May of 2020, killing one, identified as Amit Ben Ygal, 21.
The Israeli Shin Bet security agency claimed that Abu Baker was the person who dropped the brick from the rooftop of his own home, during the invasion.
Hours after the incident, the IOF launched repeated wide-campaigns of violent invasions and detentions in the town.
Lawyer for the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, Khaled Mahajneh, refuted the Israeli allegations that link Abu Bakr, and said that these allegations are fabricated, adding that prisoner Abu Bakr is totally denying all the charges directed against him.
The detainee has been subjected to harsh living conditions and interrogations since he was taken prisoner and is being held in a cell that lacks key ingredients to life.
He also has been prevented from meetings with his lawyer for a period that lasted for more than two weeks.
The Israeli army is claiming that Abu Bakr is the Palestinian who dropped a brick on soldiers invading the town, in May of 2020, killing one, identified as Amit Ben Ygal, 21.
The Israeli Shin Bet security agency claimed that Abu Baker was the person who dropped the brick from the rooftop of his own home, during the invasion.
Hours after the incident, the IOF launched repeated wide-campaigns of violent invasions and detentions in the town.
Lawyer for the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, Khaled Mahajneh, refuted the Israeli allegations that link Abu Bakr, and said that these allegations are fabricated, adding that prisoner Abu Bakr is totally denying all the charges directed against him.
The detainee has been subjected to harsh living conditions and interrogations since he was taken prisoner and is being held in a cell that lacks key ingredients to life.
He also has been prevented from meetings with his lawyer for a period that lasted for more than two weeks.

Israeli armored tanks last night destroyed a water pipe serving Palestinian communities in the northern Jordan Valley region, northeast of the occupied West Bank, according to local sources.
Derar Sawafta, member of the local council of Bardala village, in the northern Jordan Valley, told WAFA that a 200-meter-long water pipe was destroyed as the Israeli armored vehicles ran over it during a military exercise, which involved the use of gunfire, in the area.
In the meantime, dozens of armored vehicles deployed for the first time at the outskirts of the villages of Tayasir and al-Aqaba, east of Tubas town.
Palestinian residents of the Jordan Valley regularly face evictions due to Israeli military exercises on or near their land. Only last month, Israeli forces evicted the village’s population three times for the same purpose.
The majority of the Jordan Valley is under full Israeli military control, and at least 44 percent of the total land in the Jordan Valley has been appropriated by Israeli forces for military exercises.
Derar Sawafta, member of the local council of Bardala village, in the northern Jordan Valley, told WAFA that a 200-meter-long water pipe was destroyed as the Israeli armored vehicles ran over it during a military exercise, which involved the use of gunfire, in the area.
In the meantime, dozens of armored vehicles deployed for the first time at the outskirts of the villages of Tayasir and al-Aqaba, east of Tubas town.
Palestinian residents of the Jordan Valley regularly face evictions due to Israeli military exercises on or near their land. Only last month, Israeli forces evicted the village’s population three times for the same purpose.
The majority of the Jordan Valley is under full Israeli military control, and at least 44 percent of the total land in the Jordan Valley has been appropriated by Israeli forces for military exercises.

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Friday arrested six Palestinian citizens during home raids in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
A local source reported that the IOF kidnapped ex-detainees Ammar Salah, 24, and Abed Salah, 24, after breaking into their homes and wreaking havoc on them in Burqa village north of the West Bank city of Nablus.
The IOF soldiers assaulted the detainees’ families and seized their cell phones.
In Jerusalem the IOF stormed Abu Dis town and arrested four Palestinian minors whose identities have not been revealed yet.
Israeli media sources claimed that the four youths were arrested over a Molotov cocktail-throwing attack on a military base for Israeli border guards in Abu Dis three weeks ago.
A local source reported that the IOF kidnapped ex-detainees Ammar Salah, 24, and Abed Salah, 24, after breaking into their homes and wreaking havoc on them in Burqa village north of the West Bank city of Nablus.
The IOF soldiers assaulted the detainees’ families and seized their cell phones.
In Jerusalem the IOF stormed Abu Dis town and arrested four Palestinian minors whose identities have not been revealed yet.
Israeli media sources claimed that the four youths were arrested over a Molotov cocktail-throwing attack on a military base for Israeli border guards in Abu Dis three weeks ago.
11 june 2020

Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu had decided to initially annex three illegal settlement blocs in the occupied West Bank and delay the annexation of the Jordan Valley and other Palestinian areas, Israeli officials said on Wednesday.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to Zman Yisrael, the Hebrew sister site of The Times of Israel, said Netanyahu would postpone most annexations and only focus on the major blocs of Ma’ale Adumim, Ariel and Gush Etzion.
The three settlement blocs are home to almost 80 percent of the Jewish settler population in the occupied West Bank.
Netanyahu's government plans to hold a cabinet vote next month to annex parts of the West Bank, which was occupied by Israel during the 1967 Middle East war.
The Israeli premier has repeatedly said he would annex all settlement blocs and the Jordan Valley as of July 1st under an agreement with his government partner. Benny Gantz, head of the Blue and White party.
Earlier this week, Netanyahu told settler leaders that the annexation of no-settlement areas could be delayed and not be seized in this time.
The West Bank, including east Jerusalem, is considered an occupied territory under international law, thus making all Jewish settlements there as well as the planned annexations illegal.
Israel’s annexation plan is seen as part of US president Donald Trump’s "Deal of the Century", which was announced on January 28. It refers to Occupied Jerusalem as “Israel’s undivided capital” and recognizes Israeli sovereignty over large parts of the West Bank.
The plan allows the Palestinians to establish a dismembered state in the form of an archipelago connected through bridges and tunnels.
Palestinian officials say that under the US plan, Israel will annex 30-40 percent of the West Bank, including all of east Jerusalem.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to Zman Yisrael, the Hebrew sister site of The Times of Israel, said Netanyahu would postpone most annexations and only focus on the major blocs of Ma’ale Adumim, Ariel and Gush Etzion.
The three settlement blocs are home to almost 80 percent of the Jewish settler population in the occupied West Bank.
Netanyahu's government plans to hold a cabinet vote next month to annex parts of the West Bank, which was occupied by Israel during the 1967 Middle East war.
The Israeli premier has repeatedly said he would annex all settlement blocs and the Jordan Valley as of July 1st under an agreement with his government partner. Benny Gantz, head of the Blue and White party.
Earlier this week, Netanyahu told settler leaders that the annexation of no-settlement areas could be delayed and not be seized in this time.
The West Bank, including east Jerusalem, is considered an occupied territory under international law, thus making all Jewish settlements there as well as the planned annexations illegal.
Israel’s annexation plan is seen as part of US president Donald Trump’s "Deal of the Century", which was announced on January 28. It refers to Occupied Jerusalem as “Israel’s undivided capital” and recognizes Israeli sovereignty over large parts of the West Bank.
The plan allows the Palestinians to establish a dismembered state in the form of an archipelago connected through bridges and tunnels.
Palestinian officials say that under the US plan, Israel will annex 30-40 percent of the West Bank, including all of east Jerusalem.
Page: 36 - 35 - 34 - 33 - 32 - 31 - 30 - 29 - 28 - 27 - 26 - 25 - 24 - 23 - 22 - 21 - 20 - 19 - 18 - 17 - 16 - 15