23 apr 2016
The Israeli authorities on Saturday delivered notices to the Palestinian village of Jalud in the northern occupied West Bank, alerting residents that 5,000 dunams (1,250 acres) of private land were slated for confiscation in what appeared to be the retroactive legalization of illegal outposts in the area.
Officials from Jalud’s local council told Ma’an that the military identified areas of the Palestinian village expected to lose land to the confiscation as Khallat al-Wusta, Shieb Khallat al-Wusta, and Abu al-Kasbar.
However, the illegal outposts of Adei Ad, Esh Kodesh, Ahiya, and Kidah have already been established in the areas, marking the confiscation as Israel’s most recent retroactive legalization of unauthorized settlement construction.
Israel’s High Court of Justice last year declared its intention to retroactively formalize the string of outposts, established in violation of both Israeli and international law, according to the UN.
Jalud officials told Ma’an that the notice delivered to the Nablus-area village was signed by Israeli army’s head of Central Command Roni Numa, who said he believed “certain steps are needed to prevent terror attacks” and he as a result gave orders to confiscate the land “for security reasons.”
The land will be declared as “state land” and fall under full control of the Israeli military, the officials added.
A spokesperson for Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) was not immediately available for comment on the confiscation notice.
A PA official who monitors settlement activity in the northern West Bank, Ghassan Daghlas, told Ma’an that confiscation orders like those delivered to Jalud aim solely to expand illegal settlements, despite citing alleged security concerns.
“Security reasons are just a tool to cover up land robberies for settlement construction,” Daghlas said.
Daghlas warned that the retroactive confiscation would pave the way for continuing settlement expansion in the area, ultimately connecting the illegal outposts with the adjacent Shilo settlement via Alon Road, a bypass highway intended only for Israeli settler and military use.
Daghlas told Ma’an that Jalud’s local council had filed complaints to Israel’s High Court against settlement activity on their private land, which settlers have taken over and harvested illegally after the Israeli army designated the areas as closed military zones.
Some 12 illegal settlements and 27 settlement outposts are located in the Nablus district housing around 23,000 of the "most extremist settlers in the Palestinian territory," according to Daghlas.
The UN in January warned the Israeli authorities against legalizing the four outposts near Jalud, which have been widely acknowledged by the international community and Israel itself as a hotbed for both unlawful settlement activity and settler violence, coming as a detriment to Palestinian locals.
Outside of the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority, Palestinians living in the area have been forced to implement voluntary night guards in order to protect against settler attacks launched by outpost residents.
Israel has recently stepped up land confiscation in the occupied West Bank, with settlement watchdog Peace Now last month warning that Israel has not confiscated such large swathes of land for the purpose of settlement expansion since the pre-Oslo period in the 1980s.
Following Israel’s confiscation of land south of Jericho last month, Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah said the "systematic land grab" constituted "a flagrant violation of international law."
"The Israeli government is not interested in peace," Hamdallah said. "It rather implement(s) a policy designed to prevent the formation of a contiguous Palestinian state."
Officials from Jalud’s local council told Ma’an that the military identified areas of the Palestinian village expected to lose land to the confiscation as Khallat al-Wusta, Shieb Khallat al-Wusta, and Abu al-Kasbar.
However, the illegal outposts of Adei Ad, Esh Kodesh, Ahiya, and Kidah have already been established in the areas, marking the confiscation as Israel’s most recent retroactive legalization of unauthorized settlement construction.
Israel’s High Court of Justice last year declared its intention to retroactively formalize the string of outposts, established in violation of both Israeli and international law, according to the UN.
Jalud officials told Ma’an that the notice delivered to the Nablus-area village was signed by Israeli army’s head of Central Command Roni Numa, who said he believed “certain steps are needed to prevent terror attacks” and he as a result gave orders to confiscate the land “for security reasons.”
The land will be declared as “state land” and fall under full control of the Israeli military, the officials added.
A spokesperson for Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) was not immediately available for comment on the confiscation notice.
A PA official who monitors settlement activity in the northern West Bank, Ghassan Daghlas, told Ma’an that confiscation orders like those delivered to Jalud aim solely to expand illegal settlements, despite citing alleged security concerns.
“Security reasons are just a tool to cover up land robberies for settlement construction,” Daghlas said.
Daghlas warned that the retroactive confiscation would pave the way for continuing settlement expansion in the area, ultimately connecting the illegal outposts with the adjacent Shilo settlement via Alon Road, a bypass highway intended only for Israeli settler and military use.
Daghlas told Ma’an that Jalud’s local council had filed complaints to Israel’s High Court against settlement activity on their private land, which settlers have taken over and harvested illegally after the Israeli army designated the areas as closed military zones.
Some 12 illegal settlements and 27 settlement outposts are located in the Nablus district housing around 23,000 of the "most extremist settlers in the Palestinian territory," according to Daghlas.
The UN in January warned the Israeli authorities against legalizing the four outposts near Jalud, which have been widely acknowledged by the international community and Israel itself as a hotbed for both unlawful settlement activity and settler violence, coming as a detriment to Palestinian locals.
Outside of the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority, Palestinians living in the area have been forced to implement voluntary night guards in order to protect against settler attacks launched by outpost residents.
Israel has recently stepped up land confiscation in the occupied West Bank, with settlement watchdog Peace Now last month warning that Israel has not confiscated such large swathes of land for the purpose of settlement expansion since the pre-Oslo period in the 1980s.
Following Israel’s confiscation of land south of Jericho last month, Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah said the "systematic land grab" constituted "a flagrant violation of international law."
"The Israeli government is not interested in peace," Hamdallah said. "It rather implement(s) a policy designed to prevent the formation of a contiguous Palestinian state."
The Palestinian Authority (PA) has declared it decided to officially halt its attempt to extract a resolution from the UN Security Council condemning Israel's settlement construction in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
The PA has taken this step at the behest of France that intends to hold a peace conference soon this summer. Palestinian foreign minister Riyadh al-Maliki stated that the PA would not push for a resolution at the UN SC against settlement construction in order to give a chance for the French peace conference initiative.
Maliki made his remarks on Friday in New York during president Mahmoud Abbas's visit to the UN headquarters.
The PA has taken this step at the behest of France that intends to hold a peace conference soon this summer. Palestinian foreign minister Riyadh al-Maliki stated that the PA would not push for a resolution at the UN SC against settlement construction in order to give a chance for the French peace conference initiative.
Maliki made his remarks on Friday in New York during president Mahmoud Abbas's visit to the UN headquarters.
An Israeli newspaper has revealed there are 415 new housing units being constructed in four settlements in Occupied Jerusalem.
According to the Hebrew weekly newspaper Kol Ha'ir, Euro-Israel company is embarking on building 24 housing units on eight plots of lands in Pisgat Ze'ev settlement north of Jerusalem.
Another construction company called Dona is building 72 housing units in Modi'in Illit settlement north of Jerusalem.
Construction of two six-story buildings, containing 72 units, and 13 five-story buildings, containing 180 units, are also underway in Har Homa settlement, east Jerusalem.
Furthermore, preparations are being made to build 53 units in Pisgah Park project in Pisgat Ze'ev settlement, and there are 14 others being built now in another project in Ma'ale Adumim.
According to the Hebrew weekly newspaper Kol Ha'ir, Euro-Israel company is embarking on building 24 housing units on eight plots of lands in Pisgat Ze'ev settlement north of Jerusalem.
Another construction company called Dona is building 72 housing units in Modi'in Illit settlement north of Jerusalem.
Construction of two six-story buildings, containing 72 units, and 13 five-story buildings, containing 180 units, are also underway in Har Homa settlement, east Jerusalem.
Furthermore, preparations are being made to build 53 units in Pisgah Park project in Pisgat Ze'ev settlement, and there are 14 others being built now in another project in Ma'ale Adumim.
22 apr 2016
The Palestinian Authority on Thursday sent contradictory signals as to whether it was still planning to submit a draft resolution to the UN Security Council condemning Israel's settlements.
Media reports on Thursday suggested PA Foreign Minister Riad al-Maliki, who is currently at the UN Headquarters in New York with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, was planning to shelf the draft resolution in order to focus instead on a French peace initiative.
"We have agreed that our move at the Security Council should not jeopardize in any way the French initiative," al-Maliki was quoted as telling reporters in New York. "We should really sail smoothly in a way that the French initiative will continue."
He reportedly made the comments after Abbas met for talks with Chinese Ambassador Liu Jieyi, who is chairing the Security Council this month.
Abbas' arrival in New York follows a tour of several state capitals, including Paris, where he met with French President Francois Hollande and welcomed a new French peace initiative.
As part of the initiative, France has said it will invite foreign ministers from across the world -- although initially not from Israel or Palestine -- to take part in a conference in Paris at the end of May.
Reporters understood al-Maliki to be putting the UN draft resolution on hold on Thursday, although the foreign minister's office quickly issued a statement denying it had postponed its efforts to seek a UN Security Council draft resolution.
The statement said there was a "need for the Security Council to issue a resolution calling for an end to settlement construction," and that it was still holding consultations with "Arab and 'friendly' countries" about the proposal.
The foreign ministry added that it was "totally convinced that heading to the Security Council is an important step," although it did not specify a timeframe.
Abbas is only in New York until Saturday, and a Palestinian official told Ma'an earlier this month that he would use the occasion to submit the draft resolution -- the first to condemn Israeli settlements as illegal under international law since the US vetoed a similar resolution in 2011.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the draft resolution, saying it would serve as an obstacle to peace talks, although, the Palestinian official, who wished to remain anonymous, noted that the move stemmed directly from decades of failed negotiations.
"If not now, when? There’s always an excuse when it comes to Palestinian issues. In 2011, people still had hopes for negotiations, but people don't believe in negotiations anymore," he said.
There have been hopes US President Barack Obama might be willing to back a UN resolution condemning Israel, which would be a break with all precedent for the US, which has, since 2000, used its veto a total of 10 times to protect Israel from critical draft resolutions.
In spite of this, diplomats have reportedly said that countries including Egypt and Saudi Arabia -- both allies of the US -- have discouraged the Palestinians from submitting the draft resolution.
Netanyahu, meanwhile, has also criticized the French initiative, reportedly saying earlier this week: "Can anyone explain what this initiative is about? Even the French don't know."
Media reports on Thursday suggested PA Foreign Minister Riad al-Maliki, who is currently at the UN Headquarters in New York with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, was planning to shelf the draft resolution in order to focus instead on a French peace initiative.
"We have agreed that our move at the Security Council should not jeopardize in any way the French initiative," al-Maliki was quoted as telling reporters in New York. "We should really sail smoothly in a way that the French initiative will continue."
He reportedly made the comments after Abbas met for talks with Chinese Ambassador Liu Jieyi, who is chairing the Security Council this month.
Abbas' arrival in New York follows a tour of several state capitals, including Paris, where he met with French President Francois Hollande and welcomed a new French peace initiative.
As part of the initiative, France has said it will invite foreign ministers from across the world -- although initially not from Israel or Palestine -- to take part in a conference in Paris at the end of May.
Reporters understood al-Maliki to be putting the UN draft resolution on hold on Thursday, although the foreign minister's office quickly issued a statement denying it had postponed its efforts to seek a UN Security Council draft resolution.
The statement said there was a "need for the Security Council to issue a resolution calling for an end to settlement construction," and that it was still holding consultations with "Arab and 'friendly' countries" about the proposal.
The foreign ministry added that it was "totally convinced that heading to the Security Council is an important step," although it did not specify a timeframe.
Abbas is only in New York until Saturday, and a Palestinian official told Ma'an earlier this month that he would use the occasion to submit the draft resolution -- the first to condemn Israeli settlements as illegal under international law since the US vetoed a similar resolution in 2011.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the draft resolution, saying it would serve as an obstacle to peace talks, although, the Palestinian official, who wished to remain anonymous, noted that the move stemmed directly from decades of failed negotiations.
"If not now, when? There’s always an excuse when it comes to Palestinian issues. In 2011, people still had hopes for negotiations, but people don't believe in negotiations anymore," he said.
There have been hopes US President Barack Obama might be willing to back a UN resolution condemning Israel, which would be a break with all precedent for the US, which has, since 2000, used its veto a total of 10 times to protect Israel from critical draft resolutions.
In spite of this, diplomats have reportedly said that countries including Egypt and Saudi Arabia -- both allies of the US -- have discouraged the Palestinians from submitting the draft resolution.
Netanyahu, meanwhile, has also criticized the French initiative, reportedly saying earlier this week: "Can anyone explain what this initiative is about? Even the French don't know."
The Israeli authorities have seized 115 dunams (28 acres) as "state land" in the northern occupied West Bank, Israeli settlement watchdog Peace Now said Thursday.
The watchdog confirmed earlier media reports that in its latest publication of amendments to past land seizures, Israel has confiscated 115 dunams in the village of al-Zawiya in the Salfit district -- in addition to 1,264 dunams (312 acres) already declared "state land" in the area.
The amendments, carried out by Israel's Blue Line Team, also said that 213 dunams (53 acres) were no longer considered "state land," although 30 dunams (7 acres) of this land has already been expropriated by Israel for the construction of a highway.
According to Peace Now, the latest land seizure takes place where a large new industrial zone -- Shaar HaShomron -- is being built inside occupied Palestinian territory.
The industrial zone is likely to fall under the jurisdiction of the Shomron Regional Council, which represents illegal settlements in the northern West Bank.
Peace Now noted that until recently, Israel's Blue Line Team, which makes amendments to state land declarations "inaccurately issued" in the 1980s and 1990s, was able to seize Palestinian land without landowners being given the chance to take legal action.
After landowners, together with Israeli human rights groups Bimkom and Yesh Din, petitioned the Israeli state, a new procedure was announced that would allow them to challenge the amendments.
However, this procedure does not allow for legal appeals to be made, but rather allows the landowners to submit "reservations."
Israeli seizures of Palestinian land have come under the spotlight in recent weeks, after Israel last month declared 2,342 dunams (580 acres) of land to the south of Jericho as "state land" to pave the way for the construction of 358 housing units in the illegal settlement of Almog.
The land grab followed another of around 5,000 dunams (1,240 acres) in Bethlehem district in 2014. Peace Now said it marked a return to an Israeli government policy not seen since the pre-Oslo period in the 1980s.
"Instead of trying to calm the situation, the government is adding fuel to the fire and sending a clear message to Palestinians, as well as to Israelis, that it has no intention to work towards peace and two states," the watchdog said.
The watchdog confirmed earlier media reports that in its latest publication of amendments to past land seizures, Israel has confiscated 115 dunams in the village of al-Zawiya in the Salfit district -- in addition to 1,264 dunams (312 acres) already declared "state land" in the area.
The amendments, carried out by Israel's Blue Line Team, also said that 213 dunams (53 acres) were no longer considered "state land," although 30 dunams (7 acres) of this land has already been expropriated by Israel for the construction of a highway.
According to Peace Now, the latest land seizure takes place where a large new industrial zone -- Shaar HaShomron -- is being built inside occupied Palestinian territory.
The industrial zone is likely to fall under the jurisdiction of the Shomron Regional Council, which represents illegal settlements in the northern West Bank.
Peace Now noted that until recently, Israel's Blue Line Team, which makes amendments to state land declarations "inaccurately issued" in the 1980s and 1990s, was able to seize Palestinian land without landowners being given the chance to take legal action.
After landowners, together with Israeli human rights groups Bimkom and Yesh Din, petitioned the Israeli state, a new procedure was announced that would allow them to challenge the amendments.
However, this procedure does not allow for legal appeals to be made, but rather allows the landowners to submit "reservations."
Israeli seizures of Palestinian land have come under the spotlight in recent weeks, after Israel last month declared 2,342 dunams (580 acres) of land to the south of Jericho as "state land" to pave the way for the construction of 358 housing units in the illegal settlement of Almog.
The land grab followed another of around 5,000 dunams (1,240 acres) in Bethlehem district in 2014. Peace Now said it marked a return to an Israeli government policy not seen since the pre-Oslo period in the 1980s.
"Instead of trying to calm the situation, the government is adding fuel to the fire and sending a clear message to Palestinians, as well as to Israelis, that it has no intention to work towards peace and two states," the watchdog said.
20 apr 2016
The Franch government have pressured the Palestinian Authority (PA) to suspend its effort to extract a UN resolution condemning Israel's settlement construction activities in the West Bank and Jerusalem, Haaretz newspaper said Wednesday.
According to top Palestinian and Israeli officials, the French government fears that such a resolution could scuttle the peace conference it is attempting to organize this summer, and is therefore leaning on the Palestinians to freeze their new anti-settlement move at the UN Security Council.
Haaretz newspaper pointed out that other countries, including Egypt and Jordan, supported the French position in this regard.
As a result, the PA is seemingly mulling over suspending its anti-settlement bid at the Security Council to please the French side. "The opportunity to go to the Security Council will always be there and we want to give a chance to the French initiative because, in the end, this is an initiative that serves us and not one that hurts us," a PA official told Haaretz on condition of anonymity.
This development reportedly emerged during a meeting in Paris on Friday between French president Francois Hollande and PA president Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas is said to be fully supporting the French peace initiative.
According to top Palestinian and Israeli officials, the French government fears that such a resolution could scuttle the peace conference it is attempting to organize this summer, and is therefore leaning on the Palestinians to freeze their new anti-settlement move at the UN Security Council.
Haaretz newspaper pointed out that other countries, including Egypt and Jordan, supported the French position in this regard.
As a result, the PA is seemingly mulling over suspending its anti-settlement bid at the Security Council to please the French side. "The opportunity to go to the Security Council will always be there and we want to give a chance to the French initiative because, in the end, this is an initiative that serves us and not one that hurts us," a PA official told Haaretz on condition of anonymity.
This development reportedly emerged during a meeting in Paris on Friday between French president Francois Hollande and PA president Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas is said to be fully supporting the French peace initiative.
13 apr 2016
Israeli settlement plans in occupied West Bank have been doubled three times in the first three months of 2016 in comparison with the same period of the previous year, an Israeli watchdog organization revealed Tuesday.
Peace Now said that from January to March this year, the Israeli government pushed forward plans for building 674 housing units in settlements in occupied Palestinian territory -- considered illegal under international law -- despite its declared "planning freeze."
This is compared to 194 homes in the first quarter of 2015, the watchdog added. Hagit Ofran of the Peace Now said that the numbers show that the supposed “freeze” in planning, was “not a freeze at all. Quietly and behind the scenes, West Bank construction is being promoted, including in isolated settlements.”
Ofran pointed out that settlement construction projects must pass through five administrative steps before receiving the final approval from the Israeli war minister Moshe Yaalon.
Such increase in settlement construction promoted by Netanyahu’s government makes achieving the two-state solution impossible, Ofran said. There are now some 550,000 Israeli settlers living in Jewish settlements across the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem.
Peace Now said that from January to March this year, the Israeli government pushed forward plans for building 674 housing units in settlements in occupied Palestinian territory -- considered illegal under international law -- despite its declared "planning freeze."
This is compared to 194 homes in the first quarter of 2015, the watchdog added. Hagit Ofran of the Peace Now said that the numbers show that the supposed “freeze” in planning, was “not a freeze at all. Quietly and behind the scenes, West Bank construction is being promoted, including in isolated settlements.”
Ofran pointed out that settlement construction projects must pass through five administrative steps before receiving the final approval from the Israeli war minister Moshe Yaalon.
Such increase in settlement construction promoted by Netanyahu’s government makes achieving the two-state solution impossible, Ofran said. There are now some 550,000 Israeli settlers living in Jewish settlements across the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem.
9 apr 2016
Israeli occupation authorities have recently published four new tenders for the establishment of hotels, commercial offices, and park in Ma'aleh Adumim settlement illegally built in occupied east Jerusalem, Kol Ha'ir Hebrew newspaper revealed.
According to the weekly newspaper, a hotel will be established on an area of 2.2 acres near the municipality headquarters.
The 6-story hotel will be the first of its kind to be built in Ma'aleh Adumim illegal settlement. Commercial shops and offices will be also established in the industrial zone in Mishor Adumim.
Israeli municipality said that the tenders include leasing lands for the establishment of commercial shops and offices for 49 years with the possibility of expending the leasing period for another 49 years.
The tenders also include two other pieces of lands estimated at 45 dunums near Rami Levy area. A park is scheduled to be built on an area of 100 acres east of the industrial zone.
According to the weekly newspaper, a hotel will be established on an area of 2.2 acres near the municipality headquarters.
The 6-story hotel will be the first of its kind to be built in Ma'aleh Adumim illegal settlement. Commercial shops and offices will be also established in the industrial zone in Mishor Adumim.
Israeli municipality said that the tenders include leasing lands for the establishment of commercial shops and offices for 49 years with the possibility of expending the leasing period for another 49 years.
The tenders also include two other pieces of lands estimated at 45 dunums near Rami Levy area. A park is scheduled to be built on an area of 100 acres east of the industrial zone.
3 apr 2016
Head of the Palestinian National Initiative Mustafa al-Barghouthi has accused Israel of using the negotiations with the Palestinians as a cover to expand its settlements.
In remarks during his meeting on Saturday with a delegation of German lawmakers, Barghouthi said that Israel's settlement activities escalate following any agreement it signs with Palestinian or Arab parties.
He underlined that Israel's persistent settlement expansion in the West Bank and Jerusalem is aimed at killing the idea of establishing an independent Palestinian state.
He also emphasized the importance of healing the rift in the Palestinian arena and restoring the role of the legislative council as a prelude to holding democratic elections in order to get the Palestinian political life back on course.
Additionally, Barghouthi briefed the German delegation on the human rights violations which Israel and its security and military forces commit against the Palestinians.
In remarks during his meeting on Saturday with a delegation of German lawmakers, Barghouthi said that Israel's settlement activities escalate following any agreement it signs with Palestinian or Arab parties.
He underlined that Israel's persistent settlement expansion in the West Bank and Jerusalem is aimed at killing the idea of establishing an independent Palestinian state.
He also emphasized the importance of healing the rift in the Palestinian arena and restoring the role of the legislative council as a prelude to holding democratic elections in order to get the Palestinian political life back on course.
Additionally, Barghouthi briefed the German delegation on the human rights violations which Israel and its security and military forces commit against the Palestinians.
2 apr 2016
The Israeli Occupation Authorities (IOA) started implementing a new settlement plan that includes building 1,800 housing units in four illegal settlements east of occupied Jerusalem, Iroshalim weekly newspaper revealed Friday.
The paper said that the Israeli municipality allocated nine million shekels for the construction of 1,600 new housing units in clear challenge to the US administration that declared its rejection of the settlement plan nearly six years ago.
US Vice President Joe Biden visited Tel Aviv in 2010 to activate the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis.
During his visit, the Planning and Construction Committee in occupied Jerusalem announced plans to build 1,600 housing units. Biden had expressed then his country’s rejection of the settlement plan causing a media and diplomatic row over the issue.
The plan was frozen over the past six years to be revived recently as “a political reaction to the ongoing Jerusalem Intifada,” according to the paper.
On the other hand, the Israeli Kol Ha'ir newspaper revealed that Euro Israel Company has sold, during February, 12 housing units under construction in Nabi Yacob settlement north of occupied Jerusalem.
Nabi Yacob settlement project includes the reconstruction of four nine-storey buildings which consist of 78 new housing units, according to the paper.
Iroshalim also revealed that the Israeli municipality’s Finance Committee allocated last week 17 million shekels to develop the industrial zone of Atarot northeast of the occupied city.
The paper said that the Israeli municipality allocated nine million shekels for the construction of 1,600 new housing units in clear challenge to the US administration that declared its rejection of the settlement plan nearly six years ago.
US Vice President Joe Biden visited Tel Aviv in 2010 to activate the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis.
During his visit, the Planning and Construction Committee in occupied Jerusalem announced plans to build 1,600 housing units. Biden had expressed then his country’s rejection of the settlement plan causing a media and diplomatic row over the issue.
The plan was frozen over the past six years to be revived recently as “a political reaction to the ongoing Jerusalem Intifada,” according to the paper.
On the other hand, the Israeli Kol Ha'ir newspaper revealed that Euro Israel Company has sold, during February, 12 housing units under construction in Nabi Yacob settlement north of occupied Jerusalem.
Nabi Yacob settlement project includes the reconstruction of four nine-storey buildings which consist of 78 new housing units, according to the paper.
Iroshalim also revealed that the Israeli municipality’s Finance Committee allocated last week 17 million shekels to develop the industrial zone of Atarot northeast of the occupied city.
17 mar 2016
Britain on Thursday condemned the Israeli government's decision to further expand settlements in the West Bank, calling the move "an obstacle to peace".
"We condemn the Israeli government's decision to take over 585 acres of land in the West Bank as 'state land'. Such steps clearly damage the diminishing prospects for a two state solution," a British Foreign Office spokeswoman said in a statement.
The British government deemed the appropriation of the land as "illegal," urging Israel to reverse the situation. "The UK and our international partners have consistently called for an end to settlement expansion, which is illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace," the spokeswoman noted.
"If the Israeli government is truly committed to a two-state solution then it will reverse its decision," she added. Israel has appropriated a large tract of fertile land and declared it as "state land" in the West Bank, Israeli officials and local media said Tuesday. The Israeli policy of expanding the West Bank settlements is opposed by the international community and widely seen as a violation of the international law.
"We condemn the Israeli government's decision to take over 585 acres of land in the West Bank as 'state land'. Such steps clearly damage the diminishing prospects for a two state solution," a British Foreign Office spokeswoman said in a statement.
The British government deemed the appropriation of the land as "illegal," urging Israel to reverse the situation. "The UK and our international partners have consistently called for an end to settlement expansion, which is illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace," the spokeswoman noted.
"If the Israeli government is truly committed to a two-state solution then it will reverse its decision," she added. Israel has appropriated a large tract of fertile land and declared it as "state land" in the West Bank, Israeli officials and local media said Tuesday. The Israeli policy of expanding the West Bank settlements is opposed by the international community and widely seen as a violation of the international law.
4 mar 2016
An Israeli weekly newspaper revealed that Israeli government is advancing construction plans to build about 1,000 housing units in four illegal settlements in occupied Jerusalem despite the stiff international criticism.
Kol Ha'ir Hebrew newspaper said that Israeli settlement construction is continuing within the existing settlements in occupied Jerusalem under the supervision of the Israeli government.
The 1,000 housing units are scheduled to be built in Har Homa, Pisgat Ze'ev, Maale Adumim, and Modi'in settlements. Har Homa settlement, which was established in 1977, houses nearly 30,000 settlers.
Israeli authorities work at expanding the settlement to house 40,000 settlers. Israel’s construction of settlements in occupied Jerusalem, which Palestinians seek as their future capital, and other Palestinian territories is illegal under international law.
Israel’s refusal to cease settlement-building activities has been widely condemned as an obstacle to achieving lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. The housing announcement would greatly escalate tensions in occupied Jerusalem, which has been the scene of violent unrest for months.
Kol Ha'ir Hebrew newspaper said that Israeli settlement construction is continuing within the existing settlements in occupied Jerusalem under the supervision of the Israeli government.
The 1,000 housing units are scheduled to be built in Har Homa, Pisgat Ze'ev, Maale Adumim, and Modi'in settlements. Har Homa settlement, which was established in 1977, houses nearly 30,000 settlers.
Israeli authorities work at expanding the settlement to house 40,000 settlers. Israel’s construction of settlements in occupied Jerusalem, which Palestinians seek as their future capital, and other Palestinian territories is illegal under international law.
Israel’s refusal to cease settlement-building activities has been widely condemned as an obstacle to achieving lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. The housing announcement would greatly escalate tensions in occupied Jerusalem, which has been the scene of violent unrest for months.
26 feb 2016
Cameron describes East Jerusalem as "shocking"
Secretary of State John Kerry, on Wednesday, urged Israeli and Palestinian officials to resume a “genuine” peace process, stressing that continued settlement construction is not helpful.
According to World Bulletin/Al Ray, the top diplomat warned of a “downward spiral” in violence in the absence of an active process.
In order to dampen the uptick in violence, Kerry said it was imperative to have a process that people “can grab onto and understand with respect to the creation of a state.”
“If that can happen, then I think it's possible to have progress, but you know, it's not in our hands,” he told a congressional committee, acknowledging difficulties in gaining momentum on all sides of the conflict. "I don't think that the situation is helped by additional settlement construction and building," he added.
In related news, British Prime Minister David Cameron severely criticized the Netanyahu government's policy and said that construction in east Jerusalem settlements is "genuinely shocking."
The British prime minister was speaking during a parliamentary question period in response to a query from opposition Labor MP Imran Hussain, who asked: "Does the prime minister agree with me that illegal settlements and constructions are a major roadblock that hinder peaceful negotiations?"
Cameron replied: “I am well-known as being a strong friend of Israel, but I have to say the first time I visited Jerusalem and had a proper tour around that wonderful city and saw what has happened with the effective encirclement of occupied East Jerusalem it is genuinely shocking."
He stressed that British government is a supporter of Israel, but it does not support the illegal settlements. He explained that they do not support what is happening in east Jerusalem and that it is very important to maintain Jerusalem in the way it was in the past.
Haaterz reported that senior Israeli officials noted that his criticism may have been meant to balance his government's recent decision against boycotts of Israel. The UK has been reported to give over £6billion to Israel, annually, in aid, and a similar amount in arms -- over twice the official figure attributed to the US.
Secretary of State John Kerry, on Wednesday, urged Israeli and Palestinian officials to resume a “genuine” peace process, stressing that continued settlement construction is not helpful.
According to World Bulletin/Al Ray, the top diplomat warned of a “downward spiral” in violence in the absence of an active process.
In order to dampen the uptick in violence, Kerry said it was imperative to have a process that people “can grab onto and understand with respect to the creation of a state.”
“If that can happen, then I think it's possible to have progress, but you know, it's not in our hands,” he told a congressional committee, acknowledging difficulties in gaining momentum on all sides of the conflict. "I don't think that the situation is helped by additional settlement construction and building," he added.
In related news, British Prime Minister David Cameron severely criticized the Netanyahu government's policy and said that construction in east Jerusalem settlements is "genuinely shocking."
The British prime minister was speaking during a parliamentary question period in response to a query from opposition Labor MP Imran Hussain, who asked: "Does the prime minister agree with me that illegal settlements and constructions are a major roadblock that hinder peaceful negotiations?"
Cameron replied: “I am well-known as being a strong friend of Israel, but I have to say the first time I visited Jerusalem and had a proper tour around that wonderful city and saw what has happened with the effective encirclement of occupied East Jerusalem it is genuinely shocking."
He stressed that British government is a supporter of Israel, but it does not support the illegal settlements. He explained that they do not support what is happening in east Jerusalem and that it is very important to maintain Jerusalem in the way it was in the past.
Haaterz reported that senior Israeli officials noted that his criticism may have been meant to balance his government's recent decision against boycotts of Israel. The UK has been reported to give over £6billion to Israel, annually, in aid, and a similar amount in arms -- over twice the official figure attributed to the US.