9 dec 2016
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Beit Yehudi Chief Naftali Bennett reached an agreement to postpone a bid legitimizing illegal settlement outposts until Trump is sworn into office, an Israeli newspaper revealed Friday.
According to the Hebrew-language Maariv newspaper, the agreement comes as Netanyahu and Bennett raised fears that Obama would get in the way of an Israeli bid to legalize settlement homes built on Palestinian land across the occupied West Bank.
A bid meant to legalize 4,000 Israeli illegal settlement houses passed a first reading in the Knesset on Wednesday.
The bill was approved with 58 in favor and 51 opposed
As soon as final voting in favor of the bid sees the day, Israel will find no obstacles legitimizing 60 illegal outposts and giving go-ahead signs to 4,000 illegal settlement units which were built on Palestinian lands occupied in 1967. Israel will also hold sway over 8,000 dunums of Palestinian land.
According to the Hebrew-language Maariv newspaper, the agreement comes as Netanyahu and Bennett raised fears that Obama would get in the way of an Israeli bid to legalize settlement homes built on Palestinian land across the occupied West Bank.
A bid meant to legalize 4,000 Israeli illegal settlement houses passed a first reading in the Knesset on Wednesday.
The bill was approved with 58 in favor and 51 opposed
As soon as final voting in favor of the bid sees the day, Israel will find no obstacles legitimizing 60 illegal outposts and giving go-ahead signs to 4,000 illegal settlement units which were built on Palestinian lands occupied in 1967. Israel will also hold sway over 8,000 dunums of Palestinian land.
8 dec 2016
The European Union (EU) slammed Thursday the adoption of an Israeli bill that would “legalize” settlements in the occupied West Bank.
A spokesperson for EU High Representative Federica Mogherini in a statement said this step could lead to "legalisation of numerous illegal settlements and outposts, built on private Palestinian land in violation of Israeli and international law, by confiscating property rights of Palestinians for settler use."
"If it passes, this would be the first law adopted by the Knesset on the status of land in the West Bank, an occupied territory not under its jurisdiction,” the statement continued.
Recalling that settlements are illegal under international law, the statement added that they constitute an obstacle to peace and threaten to make the two-state solution impossible.
The EU reiterated "its strong opposition, in line with the position of the Middle East Quartet, to Israel's settlement policy and all actions taken in this context."
Israeli Knesset gave initial approval on Monday to a revised bill to legalize illegal settlement homes. It must pass three more votes at unspecified future dates before becoming law.
A spokesperson for EU High Representative Federica Mogherini in a statement said this step could lead to "legalisation of numerous illegal settlements and outposts, built on private Palestinian land in violation of Israeli and international law, by confiscating property rights of Palestinians for settler use."
"If it passes, this would be the first law adopted by the Knesset on the status of land in the West Bank, an occupied territory not under its jurisdiction,” the statement continued.
Recalling that settlements are illegal under international law, the statement added that they constitute an obstacle to peace and threaten to make the two-state solution impossible.
The EU reiterated "its strong opposition, in line with the position of the Middle East Quartet, to Israel's settlement policy and all actions taken in this context."
Israeli Knesset gave initial approval on Monday to a revised bill to legalize illegal settlement homes. It must pass three more votes at unspecified future dates before becoming law.
The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) approved a plan to construct 770 illegal settlement units on Palestinian land, Haaretz reported Thursday.
According to the Israeli daily Haaretz, the Jerusalem Municipality okayed a plan to build 770 homes for Israeli settlers on Palestinian land occupied in 1967.
The plan was brought for discussion and approval by the Israeli construction and planning committee in Occupied Jerusalem.
Quickly, the bid was given go-ahead by the occupation authorities, in another barefaced infringement of international law.
According to the Israeli daily Haaretz, the Jerusalem Municipality okayed a plan to build 770 homes for Israeli settlers on Palestinian land occupied in 1967.
The plan was brought for discussion and approval by the Israeli construction and planning committee in Occupied Jerusalem.
Quickly, the bid was given go-ahead by the occupation authorities, in another barefaced infringement of international law.
A bid meant to legalize 4,000 Israeli illegal settlement houses passed a first reading in the Knesset on Wednesday.
The bill was approved with 58 in favor and 51 opposed.
The bill brought to a vote on Wednesday would legalize houses that were built on private Palestinian land.
MK Shuli Moalem-Refaeli (Bayit Yehudi) presented the proposed law, amid nearly nonstop shouting from the opposition benches.
“The Land of Israel belongs to the people of Israel. We returned after 2,000 years and established a state... A nation cannot be an occupier in its own land,” Moalem-Refaeli claimed.
During Moalem-Refaeli’s speech, MK Dov Henin (Joint List) appealed to her religious beliefs, shouting to her that the Torah says not to steal.
Joint Arab List MKs condemned the bill, saying it would rather pave the way for bringing the Israeli occupation government before the International Criminal Court for its “war crimes.”
Meretz MK Tamar Zandberg came out against the bill, saying that its passage would be an example of the tyranny of the majority.
“This Knesset could propose that the sun rises in the west and sets in the east and it could pass, because there’s a majority,” she said.
“In the name of the majority, this coalition is passing a law saying it is permissible to steal. And then these people say they’re speaking in the name of God and the Torah! “Shame on you,” Zandberg said to the coalition.
As soon as final voting in favor of the bid sees the day, Israel will find no obstacles legitimizing 60 illegal outposts and giving go-ahead signs to 4,000 illegal settlement units which were built on Palestinian lands occupied in 1967. Israel will also hold sway over 8,000 dunums of Palestinian lands.
The bill was approved with 58 in favor and 51 opposed.
The bill brought to a vote on Wednesday would legalize houses that were built on private Palestinian land.
MK Shuli Moalem-Refaeli (Bayit Yehudi) presented the proposed law, amid nearly nonstop shouting from the opposition benches.
“The Land of Israel belongs to the people of Israel. We returned after 2,000 years and established a state... A nation cannot be an occupier in its own land,” Moalem-Refaeli claimed.
During Moalem-Refaeli’s speech, MK Dov Henin (Joint List) appealed to her religious beliefs, shouting to her that the Torah says not to steal.
Joint Arab List MKs condemned the bill, saying it would rather pave the way for bringing the Israeli occupation government before the International Criminal Court for its “war crimes.”
Meretz MK Tamar Zandberg came out against the bill, saying that its passage would be an example of the tyranny of the majority.
“This Knesset could propose that the sun rises in the west and sets in the east and it could pass, because there’s a majority,” she said.
“In the name of the majority, this coalition is passing a law saying it is permissible to steal. And then these people say they’re speaking in the name of God and the Torah! “Shame on you,” Zandberg said to the coalition.
As soon as final voting in favor of the bid sees the day, Israel will find no obstacles legitimizing 60 illegal outposts and giving go-ahead signs to 4,000 illegal settlement units which were built on Palestinian lands occupied in 1967. Israel will also hold sway over 8,000 dunums of Palestinian lands.
7 dec 2016
The Israeli “Construction and Planning Committee” of the Jerusalem City Council is set to discuss and approve, Wednesday, 20 new colonialist projects to be built in illegal colonies, commercial and tourist centers on Palestinian lands.
The largest project is the construction of a new settlement on the southern hills of Gilo illegal colony, close to the Annexation Wall, on Palestinian lands belonging to the Al-Walaja village, in Bethlehem, southeast of occupied Jerusalem.
The plan includes constructing 770 new residential units in Gilo, in addition to tourist and commercial buildings, on approximately 142.846 Dunams of lands, while the constructions themselves will occupy around 98.927 square/meters.
3500 square/meters of them are set for tourism and hotels, 19.816 for public buildings, 73.788 for residential buildings, and 1050 for commercial structures. It also aims at constructing 891 buildings in Gilo, on approximately 269.411 Dunams.
The City Council is also set to discuss more structures in Ramot illegal colony, north of occupied Jerusalem, on 15 Dunams of lands. It calls for constructing 156 residential units, including 112 that were previously approved.
Furthermore, the Construction and Planning Committee will discuss building a large three-story synagogue in Jabal al-Mokabber Palestinian neighborhood, southeast of occupied Jerusalem, in an area that overlooks the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Old City.
The synagogue is planned to be built on 1.215 Dunams of Palestinian lands, with the total size of 1930 square/meters, that would be part of Nof Zion illegal colony, built on lands belonging to Jabal al-Mokabber Palestinian neighborhood.
Furthermore, the Committee will be discussing increasing the number of buildings, including a synagogue, in Ramot Shlomo illegal colony, north of Jerusalem, on 4925 of Palestinian lands, while the buildings themselves would occupy 7611.78 Dunams of lands.
Israel’s colonies in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are illegal under International Law, and the Fourth Geneva Convention to which Israeli is a signatory and a constant violator.
The Palestinians are constantly losing more lands to these illegal constructions, and remain denied access to large areas of agricultural lands, isolated behind the Annexation Wall.
The largest project is the construction of a new settlement on the southern hills of Gilo illegal colony, close to the Annexation Wall, on Palestinian lands belonging to the Al-Walaja village, in Bethlehem, southeast of occupied Jerusalem.
The plan includes constructing 770 new residential units in Gilo, in addition to tourist and commercial buildings, on approximately 142.846 Dunams of lands, while the constructions themselves will occupy around 98.927 square/meters.
3500 square/meters of them are set for tourism and hotels, 19.816 for public buildings, 73.788 for residential buildings, and 1050 for commercial structures. It also aims at constructing 891 buildings in Gilo, on approximately 269.411 Dunams.
The City Council is also set to discuss more structures in Ramot illegal colony, north of occupied Jerusalem, on 15 Dunams of lands. It calls for constructing 156 residential units, including 112 that were previously approved.
Furthermore, the Construction and Planning Committee will discuss building a large three-story synagogue in Jabal al-Mokabber Palestinian neighborhood, southeast of occupied Jerusalem, in an area that overlooks the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Old City.
The synagogue is planned to be built on 1.215 Dunams of Palestinian lands, with the total size of 1930 square/meters, that would be part of Nof Zion illegal colony, built on lands belonging to Jabal al-Mokabber Palestinian neighborhood.
Furthermore, the Committee will be discussing increasing the number of buildings, including a synagogue, in Ramot Shlomo illegal colony, north of Jerusalem, on 4925 of Palestinian lands, while the buildings themselves would occupy 7611.78 Dunams of lands.
Israel’s colonies in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are illegal under International Law, and the Fourth Geneva Convention to which Israeli is a signatory and a constant violator.
The Palestinians are constantly losing more lands to these illegal constructions, and remain denied access to large areas of agricultural lands, isolated behind the Annexation Wall.
UN special coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, on Tuesday, released a statement on Israel’s “legalization bill,” which has the objective of protecting illegal settlements and outposts built on private Palestinian property, in the occupied West Bank. Some have pronounced it to be a step towards the total annexation of the West Bank.
“If adopted, it will have far reaching legal consequences for Israel, across the occupied West Bank and will greatly diminish the prospect of Arab-Israeli peace,” Mladenov said, in a statement.
Mladenov also encouraged Israeli legislators to reconsider the move, according to the PNN.
“I reiterate that all settlement activities are illegal, under international law, and run counter to the Middle East Quartet position that settlements are one of the main obstacles to peace,” he concluded.
“If adopted, it will have far reaching legal consequences for Israel, across the occupied West Bank and will greatly diminish the prospect of Arab-Israeli peace,” Mladenov said, in a statement.
Mladenov also encouraged Israeli legislators to reconsider the move, according to the PNN.
“I reiterate that all settlement activities are illegal, under international law, and run counter to the Middle East Quartet position that settlements are one of the main obstacles to peace,” he concluded.
6 dec 2016
Jared Kushner
US tax records indicate that Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, directs with his siblings a family foundation which has donated tens of thousands of dollars to settlement organizations in the West Bank.
US tax records show that President-elect Donald Trump's son-in-law co-directs a family foundation that has donated tens of thousands of dollars to Jewish settlement organizations in the West Bank.
Trump has said Jared Kushner, who serves as a close adviser, could help negotiate a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. The donations by Kushner's parents' foundation raise questions about Trump's previous statements in which he said that his administration would endeavor to remain neutral in any mediation efforts.
Risa Heller, a spokeswoman for the Kushner companies, declined to comment on the donations to the settlement groups. She says the family is "extremely generous" and has given away over $100 million to charitable causes.
US tax records indicate that Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, directs with his siblings a family foundation which has donated tens of thousands of dollars to settlement organizations in the West Bank.
US tax records show that President-elect Donald Trump's son-in-law co-directs a family foundation that has donated tens of thousands of dollars to Jewish settlement organizations in the West Bank.
Trump has said Jared Kushner, who serves as a close adviser, could help negotiate a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. The donations by Kushner's parents' foundation raise questions about Trump's previous statements in which he said that his administration would endeavor to remain neutral in any mediation efforts.
Risa Heller, a spokeswoman for the Kushner companies, declined to comment on the donations to the settlement groups. She says the family is "extremely generous" and has given away over $100 million to charitable causes.
Palestinian lawmaker Mustafa al-Barghouthi on Tuesday said the legitimization of settlement outposts by the Israeli Knesset is “a war on the Palestinian people.”
In a press statement, leader of the Palestinian National Initiative al-Barghouti said the misappropriation of private Palestinian land in favor of illegal settlement amounts to “a death sentence against the longed-for Palestinian State.”
He slammed the Israeli government as a fascist body that enforces policies of apartheid, racial oppression, and land grab across the occupied Palestinian territories.
Al-Barghouthi called for a unified national strategy to face up to the Israeli occupation and for ceasing all forms of normalization and coordination with such a colonizing entity.
According to al-Barghouthi, the Palestinians should no longer lay a bet on “stalled peace talks” with the Israeli occupation and the so-called two-state solution, dubbing them as signs of “hypocrisy” and an involvement in Israeli crimes against the Palestinians.
“The Palestinians are determined to retrieve their freedom and dignity no matter the price,” he vowed.
An Israeli bill legitimizing illegal settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank passed its first reading in the Knesset on Monday, with 60 MKs voting in favor of the bid while 49 vetoed it.
The bid will culminate in the legalization of 4,000 settlement units, along with dozens of other isolated houses and will also bring about a legalization of 3,125 illegal settlement units established on Palestinian lands covering an overall area of 5,014 dunums.
In a press statement, leader of the Palestinian National Initiative al-Barghouti said the misappropriation of private Palestinian land in favor of illegal settlement amounts to “a death sentence against the longed-for Palestinian State.”
He slammed the Israeli government as a fascist body that enforces policies of apartheid, racial oppression, and land grab across the occupied Palestinian territories.
Al-Barghouthi called for a unified national strategy to face up to the Israeli occupation and for ceasing all forms of normalization and coordination with such a colonizing entity.
According to al-Barghouthi, the Palestinians should no longer lay a bet on “stalled peace talks” with the Israeli occupation and the so-called two-state solution, dubbing them as signs of “hypocrisy” and an involvement in Israeli crimes against the Palestinians.
“The Palestinians are determined to retrieve their freedom and dignity no matter the price,” he vowed.
An Israeli bill legitimizing illegal settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank passed its first reading in the Knesset on Monday, with 60 MKs voting in favor of the bid while 49 vetoed it.
The bid will culminate in the legalization of 4,000 settlement units, along with dozens of other isolated houses and will also bring about a legalization of 3,125 illegal settlement units established on Palestinian lands covering an overall area of 5,014 dunums.
The Israeli Knesset approved late Monday the controversial settlement bill which would recognize West Bank settlement outposts built on Palestinian private lands.
The bill, passing with 60 voting in favor and 49 against, would see thousands of dunums of privately-owned Palestinian land seized and dozens of illegal Israeli outposts in the occupied West Bank retroactively legalized.
However, the bill would not be applicable to Amona.
A clause demanding that the symbolic Amona outpost be retroactively legalized was removed from the bill, according to Israeli media sources.
Following the vote, the bill will be brought to a first reading in the Knesset on Tuesday.
The revised version allows the "state of Israel" to give settlers “usage rights” to privately-owned Palestinian land, but not ownership rights, while Palestinians who can prove ownership of land would receive “compensation,” according to the Hebrew daily Haaretz.
UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov reacted immediately to the passage of the bill, saying that the bill will annex parts of the West Bank to Israel.
Such steps would undermine any chance for peace, he added.
Human rights groups and international leaders have strongly condemned Israel’s settlement construction, saying it is a strategic maneuver to prevent the establishment of a contiguous, independent Palestinian state by changing the facts on the ground.
The bill, passing with 60 voting in favor and 49 against, would see thousands of dunums of privately-owned Palestinian land seized and dozens of illegal Israeli outposts in the occupied West Bank retroactively legalized.
However, the bill would not be applicable to Amona.
A clause demanding that the symbolic Amona outpost be retroactively legalized was removed from the bill, according to Israeli media sources.
Following the vote, the bill will be brought to a first reading in the Knesset on Tuesday.
The revised version allows the "state of Israel" to give settlers “usage rights” to privately-owned Palestinian land, but not ownership rights, while Palestinians who can prove ownership of land would receive “compensation,” according to the Hebrew daily Haaretz.
UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov reacted immediately to the passage of the bill, saying that the bill will annex parts of the West Bank to Israel.
Such steps would undermine any chance for peace, he added.
Human rights groups and international leaders have strongly condemned Israel’s settlement construction, saying it is a strategic maneuver to prevent the establishment of a contiguous, independent Palestinian state by changing the facts on the ground.
