21 apr 2015
A horde of Israeli settlers uprooted some 450 olive trees and seedlings planted in Palestinian land lots in Deir Estia town, north of Salfit governorate.
Local farmers said they were shocked as they caught sight of their uprooted olive trees and seedlings the minute they reached their cultivated land tracts near the Israeli illegal settlement of Amoniel.
For his part, researcher Khaled Ma’ali said the Amoniel settlement was built at the expense of Palestinian native lands in Deir Estia and has been annexed by the Israeli occupation as an industrial zone.
He further warned of Israeli intents to grab hold of the fertile Wadi Qana area, already declared a closed nature reserve by the Israeli occupation authorities.
Local farmers said they were shocked as they caught sight of their uprooted olive trees and seedlings the minute they reached their cultivated land tracts near the Israeli illegal settlement of Amoniel.
For his part, researcher Khaled Ma’ali said the Amoniel settlement was built at the expense of Palestinian native lands in Deir Estia and has been annexed by the Israeli occupation as an industrial zone.
He further warned of Israeli intents to grab hold of the fertile Wadi Qana area, already declared a closed nature reserve by the Israeli occupation authorities.
20 apr 2015
Soldiers, Settlers, Invade Olive Orchard Near Bethlehem
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Monday at dawn, several Palestinian communities in the West Bank different parts of the West Bank, and kidnapped twelve Palestinians, including four children. Soldiers stormed a telecommunications company in Hebron, while Israeli extremists prevented a Bethlehem farmer from entering his olive orchard.
Media sources in Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank, said the soldiers invaded several neighborhoods, including the in Old City, and kidnapped three Palestinians after interrogating their families and ransacking their property.
The sources said the army kidnapped Yazan Yosri Abu Sneina, 22, and two brothers identified as Ashraf, 22, and Sharaf Shukri al-Fakhouri. The soldiers beat the two brothers before kidnapping them.
Also, soldiers invaded the al-Jinan Telecommunications Company in the Al-Manara Junction area, in the center of Hebron city, and violently searched it while interrogating the employees.
In addition, army invaded Beit Fajjar town, south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, and kidnapped four Palestinians, after searching and ransacking their homes.
The kidnapped have been identified as Ibrahim Mustafa Taqatqa, 25, ‘Eid Ahmad Taqatqa, 27, Husam Kamel Taqatqa, 26, and Shawqi Nasser Taqatqa, 40.
Soldiers also invaded Husan nearby town, searched homes and kidnapped four Palestinian children identified as Mos’ab Daoud ash-Sha’er, 13, Amir Mohammad Zaghoul, 15, Abdullah Tareq Shousha, 15, and Abdul-Aziz Hamamra, 15.
Furthermore, soldiers and settlers invaded a Palestinian orchard in the al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem, and prevented a farmer from plowing his land.
Ahmad Salah, coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in al-Khader, said the soldiers, and armed guards of Efrat illegal settlement, invaded the 10-Dunam olive orchard, and ordered the owner, Emad Ahmad Da’doa’, to stop plowing his land.
Salah said the Da’doa’ owns the orchard, and have all legal deeds, yet, the soldiers are claiming it is a “state land” - the family filed an appeal against an Israeli decision to illegally annex its land, but the Israeli court is yet to respond.
Israel recently started bulldozing sections of the orchard to build new illegal settlement units to expand the Efrat, an issue that would surround al-Khader with a chain of settlements and outposts, and prevent any natural growth of the town.
In related news, soldiers invaded Faqqou’a village, east of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, stormed three homes and violently searched them before interrogating the families.
Soldiers also invaded Jalboun and Sielet al-Harethiyya nearby villages, and conducted live fire drills near homes in the al-Jalama village, east of Jenin.
Furthermore, soldiers invaded Qaffin town, north of the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem, and kidnapped a former political prisoner identified as Khaled Yacoub Kittana.
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Monday at dawn, several Palestinian communities in the West Bank different parts of the West Bank, and kidnapped twelve Palestinians, including four children. Soldiers stormed a telecommunications company in Hebron, while Israeli extremists prevented a Bethlehem farmer from entering his olive orchard.
Media sources in Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank, said the soldiers invaded several neighborhoods, including the in Old City, and kidnapped three Palestinians after interrogating their families and ransacking their property.
The sources said the army kidnapped Yazan Yosri Abu Sneina, 22, and two brothers identified as Ashraf, 22, and Sharaf Shukri al-Fakhouri. The soldiers beat the two brothers before kidnapping them.
Also, soldiers invaded the al-Jinan Telecommunications Company in the Al-Manara Junction area, in the center of Hebron city, and violently searched it while interrogating the employees.
In addition, army invaded Beit Fajjar town, south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, and kidnapped four Palestinians, after searching and ransacking their homes.
The kidnapped have been identified as Ibrahim Mustafa Taqatqa, 25, ‘Eid Ahmad Taqatqa, 27, Husam Kamel Taqatqa, 26, and Shawqi Nasser Taqatqa, 40.
Soldiers also invaded Husan nearby town, searched homes and kidnapped four Palestinian children identified as Mos’ab Daoud ash-Sha’er, 13, Amir Mohammad Zaghoul, 15, Abdullah Tareq Shousha, 15, and Abdul-Aziz Hamamra, 15.
Furthermore, soldiers and settlers invaded a Palestinian orchard in the al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem, and prevented a farmer from plowing his land.
Ahmad Salah, coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in al-Khader, said the soldiers, and armed guards of Efrat illegal settlement, invaded the 10-Dunam olive orchard, and ordered the owner, Emad Ahmad Da’doa’, to stop plowing his land.
Salah said the Da’doa’ owns the orchard, and have all legal deeds, yet, the soldiers are claiming it is a “state land” - the family filed an appeal against an Israeli decision to illegally annex its land, but the Israeli court is yet to respond.
Israel recently started bulldozing sections of the orchard to build new illegal settlement units to expand the Efrat, an issue that would surround al-Khader with a chain of settlements and outposts, and prevent any natural growth of the town.
In related news, soldiers invaded Faqqou’a village, east of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, stormed three homes and violently searched them before interrogating the families.
Soldiers also invaded Jalboun and Sielet al-Harethiyya nearby villages, and conducted live fire drills near homes in the al-Jalama village, east of Jenin.
Furthermore, soldiers invaded Qaffin town, north of the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem, and kidnapped a former political prisoner identified as Khaled Yacoub Kittana.
11 apr 2015
About a week ago, Israeli settlers from the illegal settlement of Mezad, in the southern West Bank near the city of Hebron, cut down approximately 1,200 Palestinian olive trees in an act of environmental terrorism, a vindictive act aimed at intimidating their Palestinian neighbours and economically crippling many Palestinian farmers who rely on harvesting olives to make a living.
Not only is the harvesting of olives a major part of the Palestinian economy, supporting over 80,000 families, but it is also central to Palestinian culture and lifestyle.
Olives and olive oil are regularly served with Palestinian meals. The fruit and its oil have affectionately been called “green gold” by Palestinians, while ancient olive trees are incorporated into Palestinian art including paintings and embroidery.
This was the third attack on the olive trees, which belonged to Muhammad al Ayayadah, over a period of several months.
Mezad settlement is built on Palestinian land that was confiscated by Israel and the settlers appear to be trying to take over more land for expansion of their settlement.
The regular cutting down of olive trees, and the prevention of access to these trees by Israeli security forces, often forces Palestinian farmers off their land as crop losses can cripple them financially.
According to the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Applied Research Institute Jerusalem (ARIJ), approximately 800,000 olive trees have been uprooted since Israel occupied the West Bank and Gaza in 1967.
Following the farmers’ eviction, Israel settlers can argue that the land has been abandoned and then move in and take it over with Palestinians having little legal recourse.
“No action will be taken against the settlers by the Israeli police. The police will say they are coming to investigate but most times they don’t even show up,” ARIJ spokesman Suhail Khalilieh, “Even if they do show up, they will say there is no hard evidence that settlers were behind the attack or they will say that the attack was in retaliation for Palestinians throwing stones".
“Moreover, most of the settler attacks take place under the guard of the Israeli military who do nothing to stop the vandalism,” added Khalilieh.
Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians and their property have also included the burning of homes and cars, the killing of livestock, stone-throwing attacks, running school children over and poisoning water wells.
One of the more serious acts of vandalism, in the eyes of a conservative and religious Palestinian society, has been the numerous arson attacks on mosques throughout the West Bank.
According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 324 incidents of settler violence against Palestinians and their property were reported during 2014 alone.
While Palestinian farmers are struggling to survive, a simultaneous development in East Jerusalem has Palestinians concerned.
The Israeli authorities plan to build a construction waste site on land in occupied East Jerusalem.
The construction of the facility involves further expropriation of privately owned Palestinian land in the Shuafat and Issawiya neighbourhoods of East Jerusalem.
Thousands of tonnes of construction waste from all over Jerusalem will be brought in to the site over the next 20 years.
The land grab will also see the eviction of Bedouin families living in an encampment between Jerusalem and the Israeli settlement of Ma’aleh Adumim.
The area between Jerusalem and Ma’aleh Adumim is a controversial corridor known as E1. Israeli settlement expansion and construction there has caused friction between the U.S. administration and the Israeli government because the West Bank has effectively been cut off from Jerusalem.
Legal action taken by a number of Israeli rights groups on behalf of the Palestinians in Israeli civilian courts has so far not helped.
“The Israeli courts have not ruled against the construction in the E1 corridor as they have no civil authority over the West Bank which falls under Israeli military jurisdiction and this military rule is behind the continued expansion of the E1 corridor,” affirmed Khalilieh.
“Even if the Israeli civilian courts had ruled against this land expropriation and settlement building, it could not over ride decisions taken by Israel’s civil administration, or military rule, which will always justify its action under security or state needs.”
Not only is the harvesting of olives a major part of the Palestinian economy, supporting over 80,000 families, but it is also central to Palestinian culture and lifestyle.
Olives and olive oil are regularly served with Palestinian meals. The fruit and its oil have affectionately been called “green gold” by Palestinians, while ancient olive trees are incorporated into Palestinian art including paintings and embroidery.
This was the third attack on the olive trees, which belonged to Muhammad al Ayayadah, over a period of several months.
Mezad settlement is built on Palestinian land that was confiscated by Israel and the settlers appear to be trying to take over more land for expansion of their settlement.
The regular cutting down of olive trees, and the prevention of access to these trees by Israeli security forces, often forces Palestinian farmers off their land as crop losses can cripple them financially.
According to the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Applied Research Institute Jerusalem (ARIJ), approximately 800,000 olive trees have been uprooted since Israel occupied the West Bank and Gaza in 1967.
Following the farmers’ eviction, Israel settlers can argue that the land has been abandoned and then move in and take it over with Palestinians having little legal recourse.
“No action will be taken against the settlers by the Israeli police. The police will say they are coming to investigate but most times they don’t even show up,” ARIJ spokesman Suhail Khalilieh, “Even if they do show up, they will say there is no hard evidence that settlers were behind the attack or they will say that the attack was in retaliation for Palestinians throwing stones".
“Moreover, most of the settler attacks take place under the guard of the Israeli military who do nothing to stop the vandalism,” added Khalilieh.
Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians and their property have also included the burning of homes and cars, the killing of livestock, stone-throwing attacks, running school children over and poisoning water wells.
One of the more serious acts of vandalism, in the eyes of a conservative and religious Palestinian society, has been the numerous arson attacks on mosques throughout the West Bank.
According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 324 incidents of settler violence against Palestinians and their property were reported during 2014 alone.
While Palestinian farmers are struggling to survive, a simultaneous development in East Jerusalem has Palestinians concerned.
The Israeli authorities plan to build a construction waste site on land in occupied East Jerusalem.
The construction of the facility involves further expropriation of privately owned Palestinian land in the Shuafat and Issawiya neighbourhoods of East Jerusalem.
Thousands of tonnes of construction waste from all over Jerusalem will be brought in to the site over the next 20 years.
The land grab will also see the eviction of Bedouin families living in an encampment between Jerusalem and the Israeli settlement of Ma’aleh Adumim.
The area between Jerusalem and Ma’aleh Adumim is a controversial corridor known as E1. Israeli settlement expansion and construction there has caused friction between the U.S. administration and the Israeli government because the West Bank has effectively been cut off from Jerusalem.
Legal action taken by a number of Israeli rights groups on behalf of the Palestinians in Israeli civilian courts has so far not helped.
“The Israeli courts have not ruled against the construction in the E1 corridor as they have no civil authority over the West Bank which falls under Israeli military jurisdiction and this military rule is behind the continued expansion of the E1 corridor,” affirmed Khalilieh.
“Even if the Israeli civilian courts had ruled against this land expropriation and settlement building, it could not over ride decisions taken by Israel’s civil administration, or military rule, which will always justify its action under security or state needs.”
8 apr 2015
A group of Israeli extremists invaded Palestinian olive orchards in the al-Jab’a village, near the West Bank city of Bethlehem, for the fifth time in a row, and cut more than 150 olive trees belonging to the villagers.
Resident Mahmoud Masha’la, a teacher in a local school in Husan nearby town, said the villagers depend on their orchards as their main source of livelihood, the Quds News has reported.
“This if the fifth attack in a row, they are waging a war not only on us, but on our daily bread, our livelihood,” Masha’la said, “They repeatedly attack our lands and orchards, my orchards, my cousins, and many other villagers; this is a systematic policy.”
“We really do not know what to do; this is an ongoing war, ongoing aggression," he added, “We appeal our officials to intervene, and expose the Israeli crimes.”
Resident Mahmoud Masha’la, a teacher in a local school in Husan nearby town, said the villagers depend on their orchards as their main source of livelihood, the Quds News has reported.
“This if the fifth attack in a row, they are waging a war not only on us, but on our daily bread, our livelihood,” Masha’la said, “They repeatedly attack our lands and orchards, my orchards, my cousins, and many other villagers; this is a systematic policy.”
“We really do not know what to do; this is an ongoing war, ongoing aggression," he added, “We appeal our officials to intervene, and expose the Israeli crimes.”
5 apr 2015
Activists preparing for olive tree planting in Bruqin.
On 4th April 2015 over 25 Palestinian activists from Bruqin and the surrounding area of Salfit region of the West Bank, gathered on top of a near by hill to plant roughly 30 olive saplings.
The group were joined by international activists who accompanied the locals in planting the young trees across the hill side.
Unusually, this time the protesters managed to successfully plant all trees mere meters from the settlement without facing harassment or violence from settlers or military. Locals are planning further actions to continue their grass-roots non-violent struggle.
Today’s tree planting was an act of resistance against the expansion of Ariel West Industrial Park, an illegal Israeli settlement originally colonized by Israel in 1999. As in the rest of the West Bank, this settlement growth is causing daily life of Palestinians in the villages of Bruqin and Kufr al-Dik to steadily deteriorate. Land is progressively being confiscated for settlement growth, sewage from settlements flows freely onto Palestinian owned land, including between the village houses. Despite plentiful water resources, water for the Palestinians is highly restricted. There is not nearly enough land to support Palestinian population growth.
To the north of the villages is the settlement of Bruchin, to the north west are Alei Zahav and Lesham, to the north east is Ariel, to the west is the Industrial Zone, and to the South-West Peduel settlement. This illegal expansion is referred to by some as the ‘long finger of the occupation'; it’s aim is to divide the occupied West Bank in two halves, separating Nablus from Ramallah. Ariel West forms part of the “Ariel Finger”- a zone of settlements stretching from the 1948 Green Line towards the Jordan Valley. If completed, this settlement area would cut the West Bank in half. Salfit, Nablus and Jenin would be separated from the southern West Bank.
Areas in and around illegal Israeli settlements are classified as “Area C” under the Oslo Agreement. Palestinians who own land in area C are banned from doing almost any work or making any changes on their land. They can neither plant a tree, nor move a stone; if they do, the Israeli military will come and order them to return the land back to its original state or face demolition. At the same time if the land is not worked on for three years Israel will confiscate it using an old Ottoman law. In almost all such cases, the land confiscated from Palestinians would be handed over to illegal settlements.
By planting trees in the shadow of Ariel West settlement, Palestinians are reaffirming their ownership of the land in the face of the Occupation.
On 4th April 2015 over 25 Palestinian activists from Bruqin and the surrounding area of Salfit region of the West Bank, gathered on top of a near by hill to plant roughly 30 olive saplings.
The group were joined by international activists who accompanied the locals in planting the young trees across the hill side.
Unusually, this time the protesters managed to successfully plant all trees mere meters from the settlement without facing harassment or violence from settlers or military. Locals are planning further actions to continue their grass-roots non-violent struggle.
Today’s tree planting was an act of resistance against the expansion of Ariel West Industrial Park, an illegal Israeli settlement originally colonized by Israel in 1999. As in the rest of the West Bank, this settlement growth is causing daily life of Palestinians in the villages of Bruqin and Kufr al-Dik to steadily deteriorate. Land is progressively being confiscated for settlement growth, sewage from settlements flows freely onto Palestinian owned land, including between the village houses. Despite plentiful water resources, water for the Palestinians is highly restricted. There is not nearly enough land to support Palestinian population growth.
To the north of the villages is the settlement of Bruchin, to the north west are Alei Zahav and Lesham, to the north east is Ariel, to the west is the Industrial Zone, and to the South-West Peduel settlement. This illegal expansion is referred to by some as the ‘long finger of the occupation'; it’s aim is to divide the occupied West Bank in two halves, separating Nablus from Ramallah. Ariel West forms part of the “Ariel Finger”- a zone of settlements stretching from the 1948 Green Line towards the Jordan Valley. If completed, this settlement area would cut the West Bank in half. Salfit, Nablus and Jenin would be separated from the southern West Bank.
Areas in and around illegal Israeli settlements are classified as “Area C” under the Oslo Agreement. Palestinians who own land in area C are banned from doing almost any work or making any changes on their land. They can neither plant a tree, nor move a stone; if they do, the Israeli military will come and order them to return the land back to its original state or face demolition. At the same time if the land is not worked on for three years Israel will confiscate it using an old Ottoman law. In almost all such cases, the land confiscated from Palestinians would be handed over to illegal settlements.
By planting trees in the shadow of Ariel West settlement, Palestinians are reaffirming their ownership of the land in the face of the Occupation.
2 apr 2015
Israeli settlers have uprooted last month approximately 1350 olive trees in the southern West Bank city of al-Khalil, a Palestinian official report revealed.
The Palestinian Ministry of Information has issued a new report stating that Israeli settlers’ attacks against Palestinian and their properties in al-Khalil have sharply intensified.
The report pointed out that 90 Palestinians were also arrested during March in al-Khalil.
It also documented dozens of Israeli night raids into Palestinian homes under the pretext of summoning minors for investigation, most of the reported summonses were mainly delivered in Aroub and Fawar refugee camps.
During March, hundreds of local residents suffered breathing problems after inhaling tear gas fired by Israeli soldiers, while seven people suffered different injuries and bruises during setters’ attacks.
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman had stormed last month the Ibrahimi Mosque under heavy military protection, the report pointed out.
Israeli authorities have also issued during the reported period 13 demolition orders against local homes and buildings under construction.
The Palestinian Ministry of Information has issued a new report stating that Israeli settlers’ attacks against Palestinian and their properties in al-Khalil have sharply intensified.
The report pointed out that 90 Palestinians were also arrested during March in al-Khalil.
It also documented dozens of Israeli night raids into Palestinian homes under the pretext of summoning minors for investigation, most of the reported summonses were mainly delivered in Aroub and Fawar refugee camps.
During March, hundreds of local residents suffered breathing problems after inhaling tear gas fired by Israeli soldiers, while seven people suffered different injuries and bruises during setters’ attacks.
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman had stormed last month the Ibrahimi Mosque under heavy military protection, the report pointed out.
Israeli authorities have also issued during the reported period 13 demolition orders against local homes and buildings under construction.
1 apr 2015
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) rounded up a foreign solidarity activist in the Old City of al-Khalil while quelling a peaceful march for planting olive saplings on Wednesday.
Local sources said the IOF soldiers assaulted the Palestinians as well as foreigners who participated in the activity. The IOF fired gas bombs at the participants, arrested a female foreigner and took her to an unknown destination, the sources elaborated.
The sources also revealed that IOF soldiers barred the Palestinians from implanting the olive seedlings.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Israeli forces attacked members of al-Sharabati family on the Land Day in al-Khalil.
Local sources said the IOF soldiers assaulted the Palestinians as well as foreigners who participated in the activity. The IOF fired gas bombs at the participants, arrested a female foreigner and took her to an unknown destination, the sources elaborated.
The sources also revealed that IOF soldiers barred the Palestinians from implanting the olive seedlings.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Israeli forces attacked members of al-Sharabati family on the Land Day in al-Khalil.
An Israeli settlers afternoon Tuesday bulldozed Palestinian cultivated land lots east of Salem town, in the northern West Bank city of Nablus.
Eye-witnesses told the PIC reporter that an Israeli settler, residing in the illegal Elon Moreh settlement, razed cultivated land tracts belonging to Palestinian families, for the third time running.
The Israeli occupation authorities claimed that the targeted lands are nature reserves.
The land owners informed the Palestinian Liaison Office about the ongoing bulldozing of their lands, estimated at some 170 tracts, covering an overall area of 1,000 dunums.
Earlier, a horde of Israeli extremist settlers uprooted over 300 olive trees in the targeted land lots.
Eye-witnesses told the PIC reporter that an Israeli settler, residing in the illegal Elon Moreh settlement, razed cultivated land tracts belonging to Palestinian families, for the third time running.
The Israeli occupation authorities claimed that the targeted lands are nature reserves.
The land owners informed the Palestinian Liaison Office about the ongoing bulldozing of their lands, estimated at some 170 tracts, covering an overall area of 1,000 dunums.
Earlier, a horde of Israeli extremist settlers uprooted over 300 olive trees in the targeted land lots.
30 mar 2015 Landday
On Land Day anniversary, Palestinian activists managed to plant dozens of olive trees in a land threatened with confiscation to the south Jenin despite the heavy presence of Israeli occupation forces (IOF).
Local sources said that a number of Palestinian youths planted olive saplings in a land threatened with confiscation over the past four years in Jenin’s town of Arraba.
Arraba mayor Ahmed Aradaa said that planting the seedlings proves the Palestinians’ strong adherence to their land.
He stressed the need to provide protection to the lands threatened with confiscation.
In Gaza Strip, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) opened fire at dozens of youths near the border fence east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip as they were commemorating Land Day anniversary.
Dozens of Palestinians rallied on the Land Day and marched towards the border fence east of Khan Younis, before setting fire to a number of tires.
The participants chanted slogans against the occupation and managed to place Palestinian flag on the fence before IOF soldiers opened their machineguns at them. No casualties were reported.
On the annual Land Day, demonstrations are held to remember six Arab protesters who were shot dead by Israeli police and troops during mass demonstrations in 1976 against plans to confiscate Arab land in the Galilee.
Local sources said that a number of Palestinian youths planted olive saplings in a land threatened with confiscation over the past four years in Jenin’s town of Arraba.
Arraba mayor Ahmed Aradaa said that planting the seedlings proves the Palestinians’ strong adherence to their land.
He stressed the need to provide protection to the lands threatened with confiscation.
In Gaza Strip, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) opened fire at dozens of youths near the border fence east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip as they were commemorating Land Day anniversary.
Dozens of Palestinians rallied on the Land Day and marched towards the border fence east of Khan Younis, before setting fire to a number of tires.
The participants chanted slogans against the occupation and managed to place Palestinian flag on the fence before IOF soldiers opened their machineguns at them. No casualties were reported.
On the annual Land Day, demonstrations are held to remember six Arab protesters who were shot dead by Israeli police and troops during mass demonstrations in 1976 against plans to confiscate Arab land in the Galilee.
29 mar 2015
Jewish settlers uprooted hundreds of olive and almond trees in al-Khalil on Saturday evening and stole stones in Salfit governorate on Sunday.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that groups of settlers uprooted more than 1,200 olive trees and more than 40 almond trees in al-Shuyukh town to the northeast of al-Khalil city.
The olive and almond trees belong to two Palestinian brothers of al-Ayaydeh family, the sources added.
The Israeli occupation forces carried out large-scale land leveling works in the area one month ago to annex it to the nearby settlements established on the town’s land by force.
In a similar context, eyewitnesses from Salfit district reported that the settlers of Leshem settlement, using huge bulldozers, crushed and stole rocks in western Salfit towns.
The researcher Khaled Maali said rock crusher machines belonging to settlers of Leshem settlement were used for crushing the rocks of six villages and towns to the west of Salfit to be used later for street paving in the settlement.
Maali said settlement expansion has escalated recently in the cities and towns of Salfit and of the West Bank in general especially in the wake of Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu’s election victory.
He added that the settlers’ aggressive practices run contrary to the international law and Geneva Fourth convention, which prohibits changing landmarks or establishing structures in occupied territories.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that groups of settlers uprooted more than 1,200 olive trees and more than 40 almond trees in al-Shuyukh town to the northeast of al-Khalil city.
The olive and almond trees belong to two Palestinian brothers of al-Ayaydeh family, the sources added.
The Israeli occupation forces carried out large-scale land leveling works in the area one month ago to annex it to the nearby settlements established on the town’s land by force.
In a similar context, eyewitnesses from Salfit district reported that the settlers of Leshem settlement, using huge bulldozers, crushed and stole rocks in western Salfit towns.
The researcher Khaled Maali said rock crusher machines belonging to settlers of Leshem settlement were used for crushing the rocks of six villages and towns to the west of Salfit to be used later for street paving in the settlement.
Maali said settlement expansion has escalated recently in the cities and towns of Salfit and of the West Bank in general especially in the wake of Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu’s election victory.
He added that the settlers’ aggressive practices run contrary to the international law and Geneva Fourth convention, which prohibits changing landmarks or establishing structures in occupied territories.
24 mar 2015
Israeli soldiers, accompanied by armored bulldozers, invaded Tuesday Ta’nak village, west of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, and demolished a deep artesian well, in addition to uprooting ten Palestinian olive trees.
The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) said ten military vehicles, and an armored bulldozer invaded the village before demolishing a 50-meter deep artesian well.
The well provides water for agricultural lands belonging to residents of Ta’nak, Rommana, Zabbouba, Sielet al-Haretheyya, and al-Yamoun.
In addition, soldiers demolished a wall, and uprooted more than ten olive trees without providing any explanation for their attack.
The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) said ten military vehicles, and an armored bulldozer invaded the village before demolishing a 50-meter deep artesian well.
The well provides water for agricultural lands belonging to residents of Ta’nak, Rommana, Zabbouba, Sielet al-Haretheyya, and al-Yamoun.
In addition, soldiers demolished a wall, and uprooted more than ten olive trees without providing any explanation for their attack.
19 mar 2015
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) uprooted Wednesday more than 150 olive trees in Mualla area to the south of al-Khalil.
Local sources said that Israeli bulldozers uprooted more than 150 olive trees belonging to a local family under the pretext of being located in an area that falls under Israeli control.
The uprooted trees are located near Tina settlement built illegally at the expense of Palestinian lands in Dahriya area, the sources added.
Meanwhile, IOF demolished also on Wednesday more than 20 housing units during a large-scale military operation in the northern Jordan Valley to the north of the West Bank.
Eyewitnesses reported that Israeli soldiers stormed Hodeidah and Makhoul areas in the Jordan Valley accompanied with military bulldozers and demolished a number of housing units and livestock barns.
Approximately ten vehicles of Israeli Civil Administration crews have stormed on Tuesday the area and filmed a number of facilities.
Local sources said that Israeli bulldozers uprooted more than 150 olive trees belonging to a local family under the pretext of being located in an area that falls under Israeli control.
The uprooted trees are located near Tina settlement built illegally at the expense of Palestinian lands in Dahriya area, the sources added.
Meanwhile, IOF demolished also on Wednesday more than 20 housing units during a large-scale military operation in the northern Jordan Valley to the north of the West Bank.
Eyewitnesses reported that Israeli soldiers stormed Hodeidah and Makhoul areas in the Jordan Valley accompanied with military bulldozers and demolished a number of housing units and livestock barns.
Approximately ten vehicles of Israeli Civil Administration crews have stormed on Tuesday the area and filmed a number of facilities.
