27 may 2020

A Palestinian family was forced to tear down parts of its home in Silwan neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem after receiving demolition order from the Israeli municipality of West Jerusalem, according to the family.
The Siam family said that the Israeli municipality of West Jerusalem delivered three demolition orders to the family under the pretext of building without an Israeli issued permit. video
The family was forced to demolish parts of the house with their own hands to avoid paying exorbitant costs if the Israeli West Jerusalem municipality demolishes it. video
The Siam family said that the Israeli municipality of West Jerusalem delivered three demolition orders to the family under the pretext of building without an Israeli issued permit. video
The family was forced to demolish parts of the house with their own hands to avoid paying exorbitant costs if the Israeli West Jerusalem municipality demolishes it. video

Israeli forces today dismantled a number of vegetable stalls in the northern Jordan valley.
Aref Daraghmeh, a local activist, said that Israeli forces dismantled four stalls set up by residents of Bardala and Ein al-Bayda villages. The stalls were used to sell vegetables, fruits, and other items to travelers on the road.
The soldiers confiscated large quantities of fruits and vegetables after dismantling the stalls, he said.
The stalls, besides being the main source of income for their owners, are also a preferred market for Palestinian workers who daily commute to Israel and back.
Aref Daraghmeh, a local activist, said that Israeli forces dismantled four stalls set up by residents of Bardala and Ein al-Bayda villages. The stalls were used to sell vegetables, fruits, and other items to travelers on the road.
The soldiers confiscated large quantities of fruits and vegetables after dismantling the stalls, he said.
The stalls, besides being the main source of income for their owners, are also a preferred market for Palestinian workers who daily commute to Israel and back.

Israeli forces Wednesday demolished three structures in the southern West Bank district of Hebron.
WAFA correspondent said that Israeli forces escorted a bulldozer into Farsh al-Hawa area, west of Hebron city, where the heavy machinery tore down three agricultural structures, purportedly for being built without permits.
Soldiers razed a plot of land planted with summer crops in the same area.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces ordered the demolition of three tents in Masafer Yatta in the southern Hebron hills.
Local activist Fuad al-'Amur said that forces handed military notices to demolish a residential tent in al-Fakhit community, a tin-sheet structure in al-Markez community besides to a makeshift clinic designed to fight the outbreak of coronavirus at the entrance of Maghayir al-Abeed community.
Masafer Yatta is a collection of almost 19 hamlets which rely heavily on animal husbandry as the main source of livelihood.
Located in Area C of the West Bank, under full Israeli administrative and military control, the area has been subjected to repeated Israeli violations by settlers and soldiers targeting their main source of living - livestock.
It has been designated as a closed Israeli military zone for training since 1980s and accordingly referred to as Firing Zone 918.
Israeli violations against the area include demolition of animal barns, homes and residential structures. Issuance of construction permits by Israel to local Palestinians in the area is non-existent.
WAFA correspondent said that Israeli forces escorted a bulldozer into Farsh al-Hawa area, west of Hebron city, where the heavy machinery tore down three agricultural structures, purportedly for being built without permits.
Soldiers razed a plot of land planted with summer crops in the same area.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces ordered the demolition of three tents in Masafer Yatta in the southern Hebron hills.
Local activist Fuad al-'Amur said that forces handed military notices to demolish a residential tent in al-Fakhit community, a tin-sheet structure in al-Markez community besides to a makeshift clinic designed to fight the outbreak of coronavirus at the entrance of Maghayir al-Abeed community.
Masafer Yatta is a collection of almost 19 hamlets which rely heavily on animal husbandry as the main source of livelihood.
Located in Area C of the West Bank, under full Israeli administrative and military control, the area has been subjected to repeated Israeli violations by settlers and soldiers targeting their main source of living - livestock.
It has been designated as a closed Israeli military zone for training since 1980s and accordingly referred to as Firing Zone 918.
Israeli violations against the area include demolition of animal barns, homes and residential structures. Issuance of construction permits by Israel to local Palestinians in the area is non-existent.

Israeli forces ordered a halt on the construction of some structures in al-Walaja village, west of the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem, said a local source.
Coordinator of the local Anti-Wall and Settlement Committee Hassan Breija and the village mayor Khader al-'Araj said that Israeli forces raided Ein Jowaize area in the village, where they handed a villager a military order to stop the construction of his retaining walls.
Soldier delivered military orders to stop the construction of several house basements and a water well.
They also handed several other villagers notices, ordering them to appear before intelligence for interrogation over the construction of their houses and warehouses.
Located at a horizontal distance of 5 kilometers to the west of Bethlehem, al-Walaja has a population of some 2,800 and occupies a total area of 4,328 dunams.
Under the Oslo Accords, an agreement made 25 years ago that was supposed to last just five years towards a self-governing country alongside Israel, the Palestinian Authority was given ed control over a small pocket of land occupying 113 dunams and accounting for only 2.6 percent of the village’s total area.
This area is classified as Area B. In contrast, Israel maintains control over the remainder, classified as Area C.
An area of 4,209 dunams of the village, accounting for 97 percent, is completely isolated by the section of Israel’s apartheid wall. The majority of this land is agricultural land, forests and open spaces.
The village is flanked by two Israeli colonial settlements; Gilo from the east and Har Gilo from the south.
Using the pretext of illegal building, Israel demolishes houses on a regular basis to restrict Palestinian expansion in occupied Jerusalem.
At the same time, the municipality and government build tens of thousands of housing units in illegal settlements for Jews with a goal to offset the demographic balance in favor of the Jewish settlers in the occupied city of Jerusalem.
Israel refuses to permit virtually any Palestinian construction in Area C, which constitutes 60 percent of the occupied West Bank and falls under full Israeli military rule, forcing residents to build without obtaining rarely-granted permits to provide shelters for their families.
In contrast, Israel much more easily gives the estimated 550,000 Jewish Israeli settlers there building permits and provides them with roads, electricity, water and sewage systems that remain inaccessible to many neighboring Palestinians.
Coordinator of the local Anti-Wall and Settlement Committee Hassan Breija and the village mayor Khader al-'Araj said that Israeli forces raided Ein Jowaize area in the village, where they handed a villager a military order to stop the construction of his retaining walls.
Soldier delivered military orders to stop the construction of several house basements and a water well.
They also handed several other villagers notices, ordering them to appear before intelligence for interrogation over the construction of their houses and warehouses.
Located at a horizontal distance of 5 kilometers to the west of Bethlehem, al-Walaja has a population of some 2,800 and occupies a total area of 4,328 dunams.
Under the Oslo Accords, an agreement made 25 years ago that was supposed to last just five years towards a self-governing country alongside Israel, the Palestinian Authority was given ed control over a small pocket of land occupying 113 dunams and accounting for only 2.6 percent of the village’s total area.
This area is classified as Area B. In contrast, Israel maintains control over the remainder, classified as Area C.
An area of 4,209 dunams of the village, accounting for 97 percent, is completely isolated by the section of Israel’s apartheid wall. The majority of this land is agricultural land, forests and open spaces.
The village is flanked by two Israeli colonial settlements; Gilo from the east and Har Gilo from the south.
Using the pretext of illegal building, Israel demolishes houses on a regular basis to restrict Palestinian expansion in occupied Jerusalem.
At the same time, the municipality and government build tens of thousands of housing units in illegal settlements for Jews with a goal to offset the demographic balance in favor of the Jewish settlers in the occupied city of Jerusalem.
Israel refuses to permit virtually any Palestinian construction in Area C, which constitutes 60 percent of the occupied West Bank and falls under full Israeli military rule, forcing residents to build without obtaining rarely-granted permits to provide shelters for their families.
In contrast, Israel much more easily gives the estimated 550,000 Jewish Israeli settlers there building permits and provides them with roads, electricity, water and sewage systems that remain inaccessible to many neighboring Palestinians.

Israeli forces Wednesday morning demolished two tourist facilities in the northern West Bank district of Nablus, said a municipal source.
Head of Zwata town, west of Nablus, said that Israeli forces escorted a bulldozer into the town, where the heavy machinery demolished Maxim Land, which belongs to a town resident.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Azem, the mayor of Sebastia town, said that Israeli military vehicles raided the town, where soldiers tore down a tourist facility under construction, close to the Roman amphitheater at the archeological site of Sebastia.
He added that he was assaulted by Israeli soldiers, who sealed off the site and seized a number of artifacts.
Located 11 kilometers to the northwest of Nablus, Sebastia is a small historical town located on a hill with panoramic views across the West Bank and has a population of some 3,000 Palestinians.
A prominent settlement during the Iron Age as well as the Hellenistic and Roman eras, the town embraces a Roman amphitheater, temples, a Byzantine and a crusader churches, dedicated to Saint John the Forerunner, who baptized Jesus Christ in the Jordan River, besides to a mosque built in honor of the saint. Christians and Muslims believe the town to be the burial place of the saint.
Israel has been attempting to take over the town, which has become a site of heated cultural conflict, preventing the Palestinian Authority from conducting restoration works at the site, prohibiting providing tourist services to visitors from around the world, and stealing antiquities from it.
Palestinians complain that Israeli settlers have repeatedly attacked the town and fenced parts of its antiquities, where they hold religious rituals.
Twelve dunums of the archaeological area is located within (B) areas, which are controlled by Israeli military and Palestinian administrative authority, while the other part of the area lies within (C) areas, which falls under complete Israeli administrative and military control.
Owners of restaurants and hotels complain about the Israeli acts in the town which have caused them severe damages and losses.
Israel uses the Jewish nationalist name “Judea and Samaria” to refer to the occupied West Bank to reinforce its bogus claims to the territory and to give them a veneer of historical and religious legitimacy.
There are almost 834,000 Israeli settlers living in settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Head of Zwata town, west of Nablus, said that Israeli forces escorted a bulldozer into the town, where the heavy machinery demolished Maxim Land, which belongs to a town resident.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Azem, the mayor of Sebastia town, said that Israeli military vehicles raided the town, where soldiers tore down a tourist facility under construction, close to the Roman amphitheater at the archeological site of Sebastia.
He added that he was assaulted by Israeli soldiers, who sealed off the site and seized a number of artifacts.
Located 11 kilometers to the northwest of Nablus, Sebastia is a small historical town located on a hill with panoramic views across the West Bank and has a population of some 3,000 Palestinians.
A prominent settlement during the Iron Age as well as the Hellenistic and Roman eras, the town embraces a Roman amphitheater, temples, a Byzantine and a crusader churches, dedicated to Saint John the Forerunner, who baptized Jesus Christ in the Jordan River, besides to a mosque built in honor of the saint. Christians and Muslims believe the town to be the burial place of the saint.
Israel has been attempting to take over the town, which has become a site of heated cultural conflict, preventing the Palestinian Authority from conducting restoration works at the site, prohibiting providing tourist services to visitors from around the world, and stealing antiquities from it.
Palestinians complain that Israeli settlers have repeatedly attacked the town and fenced parts of its antiquities, where they hold religious rituals.
Twelve dunums of the archaeological area is located within (B) areas, which are controlled by Israeli military and Palestinian administrative authority, while the other part of the area lies within (C) areas, which falls under complete Israeli administrative and military control.
Owners of restaurants and hotels complain about the Israeli acts in the town which have caused them severe damages and losses.
Israel uses the Jewish nationalist name “Judea and Samaria” to refer to the occupied West Bank to reinforce its bogus claims to the territory and to give them a veneer of historical and religious legitimacy.
There are almost 834,000 Israeli settlers living in settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Israeli forces Wednesday demolished a house under construction in Furush Beit Dajan village, to the east of the occupied West Bank city of Nablus.
Ghassan Daghlas, a local official in charge of monitoring settlement activities, told WAFA that Israeli forces raided the village and demolished a three-room house under construction belonging to Ibrahim Ebnayat, purportedly for being built without a permit.
Furush Beit Dajan is located in the West Bank’s Area C, under full Israeli administrative and military control, where Israel rarely issues construction permits to Palestinians, forcing many to build without permits.
Israel has seized hundreds of dunums from Furush Beit Dajan for the construction of al-Hamra colonial settlement, located to the west of the village, al-Hamra military base and checkpoint as well as the by-pass road No. 57, which connects the Jordan Valley to Nablus area.
Israel demolishes Palestinian houses and structures almost on a daily basis as a means to achieve “demographic control” of the occupied territories.
Israel denies planning permits for Palestinians to build on their own land or to extend existing houses to accommodate natural growth, particularly in Jerusalem and Area C, which constitutes 60 percent of the occupied West Bank and falls under full Israeli military rule, forcing residents to build without obtaining rarely-granted permits to provide shelters for their families.
In contrast, Israel argues that building within existing colonial settlements is necessary to accommodate the “natural growth” of settlers.
Therefore, it much more easily gives the estimated 550,000 Jewish Israeli settlers there building permits and provides them with roads, electricity, water and sewage systems that remain inaccessible to many neighboring Palestinians.
Ghassan Daghlas, a local official in charge of monitoring settlement activities, told WAFA that Israeli forces raided the village and demolished a three-room house under construction belonging to Ibrahim Ebnayat, purportedly for being built without a permit.
Furush Beit Dajan is located in the West Bank’s Area C, under full Israeli administrative and military control, where Israel rarely issues construction permits to Palestinians, forcing many to build without permits.
Israel has seized hundreds of dunums from Furush Beit Dajan for the construction of al-Hamra colonial settlement, located to the west of the village, al-Hamra military base and checkpoint as well as the by-pass road No. 57, which connects the Jordan Valley to Nablus area.
Israel demolishes Palestinian houses and structures almost on a daily basis as a means to achieve “demographic control” of the occupied territories.
Israel denies planning permits for Palestinians to build on their own land or to extend existing houses to accommodate natural growth, particularly in Jerusalem and Area C, which constitutes 60 percent of the occupied West Bank and falls under full Israeli military rule, forcing residents to build without obtaining rarely-granted permits to provide shelters for their families.
In contrast, Israel argues that building within existing colonial settlements is necessary to accommodate the “natural growth” of settlers.
Therefore, it much more easily gives the estimated 550,000 Jewish Israeli settlers there building permits and provides them with roads, electricity, water and sewage systems that remain inaccessible to many neighboring Palestinians.
26 may 2020

Israeli settlers, backed by Israeli forces, seized today vast areas of land located between the towns of Deir Dibwan and Rammun to the east of Ramallah, in the central occupied West Bank, according to a local official.
Head of Deir Dibwan municipality, Mansour Mansour, told WAFA dozens of settlers stormed an area between the said towns and seized around 47 dunums.
Settlers used bulldozers to raze the land belonging to residents from both towns.
Israeli forces, who provided the settlers with protection, prevented residents’ access to their lands and forced them to leave the area.
Head of Deir Dibwan municipality, Mansour Mansour, told WAFA dozens of settlers stormed an area between the said towns and seized around 47 dunums.
Settlers used bulldozers to raze the land belonging to residents from both towns.
Israeli forces, who provided the settlers with protection, prevented residents’ access to their lands and forced them to leave the area.

Israeli forces dismantled today an agricultural shed belonging to a local resident in the town of Aqraba to the south of Nablus, the northern occupied West Bank, said a local source.
Yousef Deriyeh, member of the local anti-settlements committee, said Israeli forces stormed the outskirts of the town and proceeded to dismantle an agricultural shed belonging to local resident Marwan Abu Kotob.
Yousef Deriyeh, member of the local anti-settlements committee, said Israeli forces stormed the outskirts of the town and proceeded to dismantle an agricultural shed belonging to local resident Marwan Abu Kotob.

Israeli forces late Monday night notified to demolish 10 wells built to collect rain water in the town of Az-Zawiya to the west of Salfit, the northern occupied West Bank, according to local sources.
Sources told WAFA Israeli forces handed notices for the demolition of 10 wells belonging to local residents in the western part of Az-Zawyia.
Israeli army to raze 10 water wells in W. Bank town of Zawiya
The Israeli occupation army last night threatened to demolish several water wells in az-Zawiya town in the West Bank province of Salfit.
According to local sources, Israeli soldiers notified nine citizens in az-Zawiya town of a military decision to demolish 10 water wells belonging to them in the western area of the town.
The Israeli army claimed the wells, which are used mainly for agricultural purposes, were unlicensed.
The legacy of Israel’s 50-year occupation of the Palestinian territories has been full of systematic human rights violations on a mass scale, including its discriminatory policies on Palestinians’ access to adequate supplies of clean and safe water.
Soon after Israel occupied the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in June 1967, its military authorities consolidated complete power over all water resources and water-related infrastructure in the occupied Palestinian territories. 50 years on, Israel continues to control and restrict Palestinian access to water in their own areas to a level which neither meets their minimum needs.
Sources told WAFA Israeli forces handed notices for the demolition of 10 wells belonging to local residents in the western part of Az-Zawyia.
Israeli army to raze 10 water wells in W. Bank town of Zawiya
The Israeli occupation army last night threatened to demolish several water wells in az-Zawiya town in the West Bank province of Salfit.
According to local sources, Israeli soldiers notified nine citizens in az-Zawiya town of a military decision to demolish 10 water wells belonging to them in the western area of the town.
The Israeli army claimed the wells, which are used mainly for agricultural purposes, were unlicensed.
The legacy of Israel’s 50-year occupation of the Palestinian territories has been full of systematic human rights violations on a mass scale, including its discriminatory policies on Palestinians’ access to adequate supplies of clean and safe water.
Soon after Israel occupied the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in June 1967, its military authorities consolidated complete power over all water resources and water-related infrastructure in the occupied Palestinian territories. 50 years on, Israel continues to control and restrict Palestinian access to water in their own areas to a level which neither meets their minimum needs.
25 may 2020

An Israeli settler ran over and killed three sheep while injuring a dozen others as other settlers set fire to crops in the south of the West Bank, according to local activists.
Rateb Jabour, from the anti-wall, anti-settlements popular committees in the south of the West Bank, told WAFA that a settler driving a 4-wheel-drive vehicle, sped when he saw sheep in the fields in the al-Dirat village and ran them over killing three and injuring 12 others before running away.
Raising sheep and herding is an important source of income for thousands of Palestinians who live in Masafer Yatta in the south of the West Bank.
In another incident, settlers from the illegal Havat Maon outpost in Masafer Yatta, set fire to more than 30 dunums of land planted with wheat and barley, totally destroying them, according to Fouad al-Imour, from the land defense committee in Masafer Yatta.
Rateb Jabour, from the anti-wall, anti-settlements popular committees in the south of the West Bank, told WAFA that a settler driving a 4-wheel-drive vehicle, sped when he saw sheep in the fields in the al-Dirat village and ran them over killing three and injuring 12 others before running away.
Raising sheep and herding is an important source of income for thousands of Palestinians who live in Masafer Yatta in the south of the West Bank.
In another incident, settlers from the illegal Havat Maon outpost in Masafer Yatta, set fire to more than 30 dunums of land planted with wheat and barley, totally destroying them, according to Fouad al-Imour, from the land defense committee in Masafer Yatta.

Israeli forces today demolished an animal barn and a tent in the Zaatra wilderness, east of the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem, owned by a local Palestinian, under the pretext they were built without a permit, according to Palestinian security sources.
Soldiers raided the area, classified as C, which is under full Israeli military rule, demolished the barn and the tent and hauled them away, the sources told WAFA.
The owner was held for several hours before he was released, they said.
Israel does not allow Palestinian development in Area C, which makes over 60 percent of the total area of the occupied West Bank.
Soldiers raided the area, classified as C, which is under full Israeli military rule, demolished the barn and the tent and hauled them away, the sources told WAFA.
The owner was held for several hours before he was released, they said.
Israel does not allow Palestinian development in Area C, which makes over 60 percent of the total area of the occupied West Bank.
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