13 june 2014
Rabbi Shai Piron, the Israeli minister of education, said that Israel is incomplete without al-Khalil and Nablus. "Israel’s land is incomplete without al-Khalil and Nablus, for they are vital parts of our cultural and spiritual Jewish legacy," Piron was quoted as saying by a local Hebrew radio on Thursday.
Prion, a member of the Zionist party Yesh Atid, made his remarks during a lecture he delivered at Ariel settlement university in the West Bank.
According to the radio, Prion said it would not be acceptable to visualize Israel's land within a limited scope.
However, head of Yesh Atid party and Israeli finance minister Yair Lapid called earlier this week for a withdrawal from some settlements in the West Bank and threatened that his party would leave the governmental coalition if any settlement was annexed.
The right-wing Israeli government has announced recently bids for the building of more than 1500 settlement units in the West Bank and east Jerusalem in response to the formation of the Palestinian unity government.
Prion, a member of the Zionist party Yesh Atid, made his remarks during a lecture he delivered at Ariel settlement university in the West Bank.
According to the radio, Prion said it would not be acceptable to visualize Israel's land within a limited scope.
However, head of Yesh Atid party and Israeli finance minister Yair Lapid called earlier this week for a withdrawal from some settlements in the West Bank and threatened that his party would leave the governmental coalition if any settlement was annexed.
The right-wing Israeli government has announced recently bids for the building of more than 1500 settlement units in the West Bank and east Jerusalem in response to the formation of the Palestinian unity government.
9 june 2014
The Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan stated by press release on Sunday on the decision regarding the construction of housing units in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
The Government of Japan deeply deplores that the Government of Israel has published tenders for the construction of a total of about 1500 housing units in the Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
The Israeli Government continues its plans for settlement construction, which clearly goes against the ongoing efforts by the international community toward realizing a two-state solution.
Settlement activities are a violation of international law, and Japan has repeatedly called upon Israel to fully freeze settlement activities. The Government of Japan strongly calls upon Israel to refrain from any unilateral act that changes the current status of East Jerusalem as well as the West Bank and to desist from implementing the above-mentioned plans of construction for the sake of progress in the peace process.
Japan once again strongly urges both Israeli and Palestinian sides to act to enhance mutual trust and continue to make steady efforts for peace.
The Government of Japan deeply deplores that the Government of Israel has published tenders for the construction of a total of about 1500 housing units in the Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
The Israeli Government continues its plans for settlement construction, which clearly goes against the ongoing efforts by the international community toward realizing a two-state solution.
Settlement activities are a violation of international law, and Japan has repeatedly called upon Israel to fully freeze settlement activities. The Government of Japan strongly calls upon Israel to refrain from any unilateral act that changes the current status of East Jerusalem as well as the West Bank and to desist from implementing the above-mentioned plans of construction for the sake of progress in the peace process.
Japan once again strongly urges both Israeli and Palestinian sides to act to enhance mutual trust and continue to make steady efforts for peace.
The Israeli occupation authorities announced on Monday bids to build new settlement units in Ramat Shlomo neighborhood, in Occupied Jerusalem, paying no heed to international disapprovals. According to the bids announced by the so-called Israeli Land Administration, more than 400 settlement units will be established over five areas outside the Green Line, surpassing the tenders promoted last year in Occupied Jerusalem and the West Bank.
“Such bids should’ve been announced long time ago but have been frozen following the visit of former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden to Israel,” the Israeli Channel 2 said.
The Israeli Ministry of Housing and Construction had already announced, earlier this week, bids to build 1500 settlement units in Occupied Jerusalem and the West Bank.
“Such bids should’ve been announced long time ago but have been frozen following the visit of former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden to Israel,” the Israeli Channel 2 said.
The Israeli Ministry of Housing and Construction had already announced, earlier this week, bids to build 1500 settlement units in Occupied Jerusalem and the West Bank.
8 june 2014
EU and Israeli officials shake hands during an agreement signing ceremony at Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, June 8, 2014
Israel on Sunday signed a key European-funded scientific research program despite guidelines barring funding to settlement-linked projects, officials said.
The signing of the Horizon 2020 agreement took place at a ceremony in Jerusalem presided over by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and outgoing European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.
"Horizon 2020 offers a huge opportunity to enhance the traditionally active cooperation between Israeli and EU innovators. Under terms of the agreement, Israel will have the same access to the program as EU member states," the European Commission said.
Signing the deal, which makes Israel the only non-European country to benefit from the program, was made possible after the sides reached an agreement over guidelines which bar all funding for entities operating on land seized during the 1967 Six Day War.
The guidelines angered Israel because it would have meant recognizing in writing that the settlements -- which are illegal under international law -- are not part of Israel in any future EU agreements.
But under terms of a compromise reached late last year, it was agreed that Israel could add an appendix stating its non-recognition of the new guidelines.
Since the EU said it would stop grants and funding for any Israeli entity operating over the 1967 lines, a growing number of international bodies have taken similar steps to cut ties, in a move that has sparked alarm in Israel.
Israel's ongoing settlement enterprise has been flagged up by Washington as a key factor in the collapse of the US-led peace talks in April and has triggered repeated problems in its relationship with Europe.
In an editorial in Israel's Haaretz newspaper on Sunday, Barroso warned that if there was no forward movement in peace efforts, the EU's "disengagement" from the settlements would speed up.
"If no peace negotiations take place and no progress is made, the EU and Israel will have to address contentious and divisive issues, including further acceleration of the EU's policy of disengagement from the settlements," he wrote.
Late last year, the EU's representative to the peace process warned that if the ongoing peace talks failed, the campaign to clearly label products as made in the settlements would gain pace.
Israel on Sunday signed a key European-funded scientific research program despite guidelines barring funding to settlement-linked projects, officials said.
The signing of the Horizon 2020 agreement took place at a ceremony in Jerusalem presided over by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and outgoing European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.
"Horizon 2020 offers a huge opportunity to enhance the traditionally active cooperation between Israeli and EU innovators. Under terms of the agreement, Israel will have the same access to the program as EU member states," the European Commission said.
Signing the deal, which makes Israel the only non-European country to benefit from the program, was made possible after the sides reached an agreement over guidelines which bar all funding for entities operating on land seized during the 1967 Six Day War.
The guidelines angered Israel because it would have meant recognizing in writing that the settlements -- which are illegal under international law -- are not part of Israel in any future EU agreements.
But under terms of a compromise reached late last year, it was agreed that Israel could add an appendix stating its non-recognition of the new guidelines.
Since the EU said it would stop grants and funding for any Israeli entity operating over the 1967 lines, a growing number of international bodies have taken similar steps to cut ties, in a move that has sparked alarm in Israel.
Israel's ongoing settlement enterprise has been flagged up by Washington as a key factor in the collapse of the US-led peace talks in April and has triggered repeated problems in its relationship with Europe.
In an editorial in Israel's Haaretz newspaper on Sunday, Barroso warned that if there was no forward movement in peace efforts, the EU's "disengagement" from the settlements would speed up.
"If no peace negotiations take place and no progress is made, the EU and Israel will have to address contentious and divisive issues, including further acceleration of the EU's policy of disengagement from the settlements," he wrote.
Late last year, the EU's representative to the peace process warned that if the ongoing peace talks failed, the campaign to clearly label products as made in the settlements would gain pace.
Israeli Finance Minister Yair Lapid said Sunday that he would bring down Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyuhu's government should the latter attempt to annex Jewish-only West Bank settlements, according to Israeli media.
"Extreme right-wing forces are pushing us toward the delusional idea of annexation, which will lead us to the disaster called a bi-national state," Haaretz quoted Lapid as saying at a conference for national policy.
"I don't know if this is a public relations exercise or a true intention, but we will not allow this to happen. If there is an attempt to annex even one settlement unilaterally, Yesh Atid will not only bolt the government, it will bring it down."
The phrase "bi-national state" refers to the idea of Israel as a country comprised of a comparable number of Palestinian Arabs and Israeli Jews, an idea many Israelis see as a threat to Israel's Jewish character.
Haaretz reported that Labid -- founder of the Yesh Atid political party -- also called on the Israeli PM to present a map of Israel's borders with a future Palestinian state.
Lapid, speaking at the annual Herzliya Conference, additionally presented a new Israeli-Palestinian plan for peace, the Israeli newspaper said.
The plan would involve the evacuation of "isolated" West Bank settlements during negotiations as a goodwill measure.
Additionally, Lapid told the conference that world powers' rejection of Netanyahu's calls to not to recognize the new Palestinian government implied that Israel was losing international support.
"We are in an unprecedented crisis with the United States," Lapid said as quoted by Haaretz.
"This crisis is the result of problematic and at times contemptuous handling of affairs on our side, but it is still possible -- and necessary -- to return our special relationship with the United States to the right path. This will be the first step on the way back to the negotiating table."
Israel announced plans to build thousands of settlement homes across the occupied West Bank throughout the last round of peace talks, infuriating Palestinians.
The international community considers Israel's settlement enterprise illegal.
"Extreme right-wing forces are pushing us toward the delusional idea of annexation, which will lead us to the disaster called a bi-national state," Haaretz quoted Lapid as saying at a conference for national policy.
"I don't know if this is a public relations exercise or a true intention, but we will not allow this to happen. If there is an attempt to annex even one settlement unilaterally, Yesh Atid will not only bolt the government, it will bring it down."
The phrase "bi-national state" refers to the idea of Israel as a country comprised of a comparable number of Palestinian Arabs and Israeli Jews, an idea many Israelis see as a threat to Israel's Jewish character.
Haaretz reported that Labid -- founder of the Yesh Atid political party -- also called on the Israeli PM to present a map of Israel's borders with a future Palestinian state.
Lapid, speaking at the annual Herzliya Conference, additionally presented a new Israeli-Palestinian plan for peace, the Israeli newspaper said.
The plan would involve the evacuation of "isolated" West Bank settlements during negotiations as a goodwill measure.
Additionally, Lapid told the conference that world powers' rejection of Netanyahu's calls to not to recognize the new Palestinian government implied that Israel was losing international support.
"We are in an unprecedented crisis with the United States," Lapid said as quoted by Haaretz.
"This crisis is the result of problematic and at times contemptuous handling of affairs on our side, but it is still possible -- and necessary -- to return our special relationship with the United States to the right path. This will be the first step on the way back to the negotiating table."
Israel announced plans to build thousands of settlement homes across the occupied West Bank throughout the last round of peace talks, infuriating Palestinians.
The international community considers Israel's settlement enterprise illegal.
7 june 2014
Israeli premier Benjamin Netanya declared a unilateral plan to separate the Jews from the Palestinians in the West Bank in order to maintain what he described as the Jewish character of Israel, according to the Israeli newspaper Makor Rishon on Friday. The newspaper said that Netanyahu shockingly tabled his plan during a meeting last Monday with members of the Knesset foreign affairs and defense committee.
Knesset members who attended the meeting told the newspaper that Netanyahu left some of them confused without clarifying how he would carry out such a plan.
Netanyahu also told the attendees that he would not engage in any contacts or talks with a Palestinian government backed by Hamas and that it would be the right time to take such a unilateral measure.
"I don't want one state from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea," the newspaper quoted Netanyahu as saying. "Even if the demographic balance does not change to our detriment and there is a Jewish majority, it is still obvious that we need to have a Jewish majority that is overwhelming and for that state to be democratic."
"And that is why we need to come to a separation," he noted.
The newspaper said that although Netanyahu did not table a clear-cut plan, it looked like the 2005 disengagement plan in Gaza, which had been executed by former premier Ariel Sharon.
Knesset members who attended the meeting told the newspaper that Netanyahu left some of them confused without clarifying how he would carry out such a plan.
Netanyahu also told the attendees that he would not engage in any contacts or talks with a Palestinian government backed by Hamas and that it would be the right time to take such a unilateral measure.
"I don't want one state from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea," the newspaper quoted Netanyahu as saying. "Even if the demographic balance does not change to our detriment and there is a Jewish majority, it is still obvious that we need to have a Jewish majority that is overwhelming and for that state to be democratic."
"And that is why we need to come to a separation," he noted.
The newspaper said that although Netanyahu did not table a clear-cut plan, it looked like the 2005 disengagement plan in Gaza, which had been executed by former premier Ariel Sharon.
6 june 2014
The Israeli civil administration of the Israeli occupation army on Thursday evening approved bids to resume the construction of 1800 settlement units in the occupied territories of the West Bank and Jerusalem, where settlement construction had been frozen over the past three months.
The approval comes following the decision of the Israeli premier on Thursday to resume settlement activities in response to the formation of the Palestinian unity government and the approval of a plan to build 1500 settlement units by the Israeli ministry of construction and housing.
According to Haaretz newspaper, the Israeli civil administration will be finalizing, next week, plans to set 550 settlement units in Brokhin settlement, south of Salfit, north of the Occupied West Bank.
381 more settlement units will be established in Giv’at Ze’ev in Occupied Jerusalem, along with 40 in El Matan, 38 in Kokhav Ya’akov, 25 in Alfie Menashe, 54 in Soviet, and 10 in Oranit..
In addition to that, 683 housing units will be built in Eli Zahaf near Salfit as well as other units in Ariel, Oranit, Ma’ale Adumim, Beitar Illit, and other settlements throughout the West Bank.
The approval comes following the decision of the Israeli premier on Thursday to resume settlement activities in response to the formation of the Palestinian unity government and the approval of a plan to build 1500 settlement units by the Israeli ministry of construction and housing.
According to Haaretz newspaper, the Israeli civil administration will be finalizing, next week, plans to set 550 settlement units in Brokhin settlement, south of Salfit, north of the Occupied West Bank.
381 more settlement units will be established in Giv’at Ze’ev in Occupied Jerusalem, along with 40 in El Matan, 38 in Kokhav Ya’akov, 25 in Alfie Menashe, 54 in Soviet, and 10 in Oranit..
In addition to that, 683 housing units will be built in Eli Zahaf near Salfit as well as other units in Ariel, Oranit, Ma’ale Adumim, Beitar Illit, and other settlements throughout the West Bank.
5 june 2014
The European Union expressed its "deep disappointment" on Thursday about Israel's announcement of a new move to build around 1,500 homes in Jewish-only settlements across the occupied West Bank.
"We call on the Israeli authorities to reverse this decision and to direct all their efforts towards an early resumption of the peace talks," the EU said in a statement, stressing that the move was "unhelpful" for peace efforts.
"The EU and its Member States have repeatedly called on all sides -- most recently in May -- to exercise maximum restraint and to avoid any unilateral action which may further undermine peace efforts and the viability of a two-state-solution, such as continued settlement expansion," the statement continued.
"What is needed right now is constructive engagement, in order to create a climate conducive to resumed negotiations."
Earlier Thursday, Israel announced that it would be building 1,500 new settlement homes in the Occupied Territories, including 400 in East Jerusalem and the rest elsewhere in the West Bank.
The move comes in response to a Palestinian unity deal that brought together Fatah and Hamas into one government for the first time in seven years.
Israel rejects the deal, however, because it considers Hamas a terrorist organization.
"We call on the Israeli authorities to reverse this decision and to direct all their efforts towards an early resumption of the peace talks," the EU said in a statement, stressing that the move was "unhelpful" for peace efforts.
"The EU and its Member States have repeatedly called on all sides -- most recently in May -- to exercise maximum restraint and to avoid any unilateral action which may further undermine peace efforts and the viability of a two-state-solution, such as continued settlement expansion," the statement continued.
"What is needed right now is constructive engagement, in order to create a climate conducive to resumed negotiations."
Earlier Thursday, Israel announced that it would be building 1,500 new settlement homes in the Occupied Territories, including 400 in East Jerusalem and the rest elsewhere in the West Bank.
The move comes in response to a Palestinian unity deal that brought together Fatah and Hamas into one government for the first time in seven years.
Israel rejects the deal, however, because it considers Hamas a terrorist organization.
The PLO is to appeal to the UN Security Council over Israel's settlement construction, after it invited tenders for another 1,500 settler homes, a senior official said Thursday.
"The executive committee of the PLO views this latest escalation with the utmost of seriousness," Hanan Ashrawi said in an English-language statement.
The executive committee "will counter it by addressing both the United Nations Security Council and the General Assembly as the proper way of curbing this grave violation and ensuring accountability," she added.
Overnight, Israel's housing ministry unveiled plans for the new homes, 400 of them in annexed East Jerusalem, in what it said was a "fitting Zionist response" to the formation of a Palestinian unity government which includes Hamas.
The PLO threatened an "unprecedented" response to the move, with one senior official telling AFP the leadership was considering an appeal to the international justice system.
"The Palestinian leadership is looking seriously into going to international courts against settlement activity," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The option of legal action against Israeli settlement building at the International Criminal Court in The Hague opened up after the Palestinians won observer state status at the United Nations in 2012.
But they agreed to hold off on any such recourse for the duration of US-brokered peace negotiations with Israel, which collapsed earlier this year.
"It is time to hold Israel accountable in front of international organizations in light of international law," chief negotiator Saeb Erekat told AFP.
"Those who fear the international courts should stop their war crimes against the Palestinian people, first and foremost of which is settlement activity."
"The executive committee of the PLO views this latest escalation with the utmost of seriousness," Hanan Ashrawi said in an English-language statement.
The executive committee "will counter it by addressing both the United Nations Security Council and the General Assembly as the proper way of curbing this grave violation and ensuring accountability," she added.
Overnight, Israel's housing ministry unveiled plans for the new homes, 400 of them in annexed East Jerusalem, in what it said was a "fitting Zionist response" to the formation of a Palestinian unity government which includes Hamas.
The PLO threatened an "unprecedented" response to the move, with one senior official telling AFP the leadership was considering an appeal to the international justice system.
"The Palestinian leadership is looking seriously into going to international courts against settlement activity," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The option of legal action against Israeli settlement building at the International Criminal Court in The Hague opened up after the Palestinians won observer state status at the United Nations in 2012.
But they agreed to hold off on any such recourse for the duration of US-brokered peace negotiations with Israel, which collapsed earlier this year.
"It is time to hold Israel accountable in front of international organizations in light of international law," chief negotiator Saeb Erekat told AFP.
"Those who fear the international courts should stop their war crimes against the Palestinian people, first and foremost of which is settlement activity."
Israeli housing ministry and lands administration issued on Wednesday at night tenders for 1,500 illegal settlement housing units in the West Bank and occupied east Jerusalem , a step described as a response to Hamas- Fatah unity government . Of the 1,500 settlement, 223 will be built in Efrat, 484 in Beitar Ilit, 38 in Geva Binyamin (Adam), 76 in Ariel, 78 in Alfe Menashe, 155 in Givat Zeev, , and 400 in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood of Jerusalem.
Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestine are the Jewish civilian communities built on lands occupied by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War. Such settlements currently exist in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and in the Golan Heights.
The announcement of further construction comes amid a serious policy of disagreement with the US over its approach to the new Palestinian unity government.
Israeli Housing Minister Uri Ariel said Wednesday night that he was “very gladdened by the appropriate Zionist response to the establishment of what he called the Palestinian 'terrorist' government.
“I believe that these homes will be just the beginning of a larger development effort in West Bank and Jerusalem," Ariel added.
Israel continues to expand its settlements and settle new areas in the West Bank in spite of the Oslo Accords, which specified in article 31 that neither side would take any step that would change the status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip pending the outcome of the permanent status negotiations.
However, Israeli settlement expansion has continued unabated, despite being condemned by almost all other nations and the UN.
Hundreds of Israeli settlement units to be built in OJ, WB
The Israeli Walla website uncovered Israeli bids to embark on the construction of hundreds of settler housing-units in Occupied Jerusalem at a time when the Ministry of Housing and Construction has set off the first marketing strategies to build 1,100 settler units in the West Bank. According to Israeli sources, such a construction batch is the fourth in a series of settler projects that were expected to be announced following the release of the fourth prisoner-batch.
The same source divulged ongoing plans to announce a new settlement batch in the West Bank over areas to be lingering under Israeli rule in any future agreement, the source added.
In the same context, the Israeli Ministry of Housing and Construction announced on Wednesday evening the launch of the first marketing steps to build 1,100 housing units mostly located in the so-called settlement communities in the West Bank, most notably Ariel , south of Nablus, Gush Etzion , south of Bethlehem, and Alfe Menashe, east of Qalqilya .
The proposal came during a meeting held on Wednesday between the so-called Israeli settler leadership in the West Bank and the Minister of Housing, Uri Ariel , who vowed marketing bargains are due to be initiated soon so as to start off the construction process.
Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestine are the Jewish civilian communities built on lands occupied by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War. Such settlements currently exist in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and in the Golan Heights.
The announcement of further construction comes amid a serious policy of disagreement with the US over its approach to the new Palestinian unity government.
Israeli Housing Minister Uri Ariel said Wednesday night that he was “very gladdened by the appropriate Zionist response to the establishment of what he called the Palestinian 'terrorist' government.
“I believe that these homes will be just the beginning of a larger development effort in West Bank and Jerusalem," Ariel added.
Israel continues to expand its settlements and settle new areas in the West Bank in spite of the Oslo Accords, which specified in article 31 that neither side would take any step that would change the status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip pending the outcome of the permanent status negotiations.
However, Israeli settlement expansion has continued unabated, despite being condemned by almost all other nations and the UN.
Hundreds of Israeli settlement units to be built in OJ, WB
The Israeli Walla website uncovered Israeli bids to embark on the construction of hundreds of settler housing-units in Occupied Jerusalem at a time when the Ministry of Housing and Construction has set off the first marketing strategies to build 1,100 settler units in the West Bank. According to Israeli sources, such a construction batch is the fourth in a series of settler projects that were expected to be announced following the release of the fourth prisoner-batch.
The same source divulged ongoing plans to announce a new settlement batch in the West Bank over areas to be lingering under Israeli rule in any future agreement, the source added.
In the same context, the Israeli Ministry of Housing and Construction announced on Wednesday evening the launch of the first marketing steps to build 1,100 housing units mostly located in the so-called settlement communities in the West Bank, most notably Ariel , south of Nablus, Gush Etzion , south of Bethlehem, and Alfe Menashe, east of Qalqilya .
The proposal came during a meeting held on Wednesday between the so-called Israeli settler leadership in the West Bank and the Minister of Housing, Uri Ariel , who vowed marketing bargains are due to be initiated soon so as to start off the construction process.
4 june 2014
Israeli forces told residents of Um al-Kher village in the southern Hebron hills to evacuate parts of their property on Wednesday, in a move activists say is intended to pave the way for the expansion of a Jewish-only settlement nearby.
Rateb al-Jubur, a coordinator of the National Committee Against Settlements and the Wall, said that Israeli forces handed the Hathaleen family from the village east of Yatta notices telling them to remove gardens and barbed wire from lands they own in order for the lands to be annexed to the settlement of Karmel.
Al-Jubur said that the same family had been handed notices a few days earlier telling them to remove the barbed wire that surrounds 150 dunams (37 acres) of their land in the village, which is located in Area C and thus falls under full Israeli military control.
Al-Jubur also said that the Israeli forces on Wednesday seized a tractor that belongs to resident Omar Hasan Hoshieh from Yatta, and three cars that belong to Bedouins who live east of Yatta.
Al Jubur called upon all international and human-rights institutions to intervene and limit these acts that aim to force out the owners of these lands from them.
Um al-Kher is frequently targeted by settlers living in Karmel, and Israeli authorities have pressured villagers to leave areas near the settlement in order to facilitate its expansion.
The South Hebron Hills, known locally as Masafer Yatta, lie almost entirely in Area C, the 62 percent of the West Bank under full Israeli civil and military control since the 1993 Oslo Accords.
Around 3,000 Israeli settlers live in illegal Jewish-only settlements in the Yatta region, according to the Applied Research Institute Jerusalem.
The safety of these settlers is often given as an excuse for forced displacement of Palestinians who live in villages in the area.
Rateb al-Jubur, a coordinator of the National Committee Against Settlements and the Wall, said that Israeli forces handed the Hathaleen family from the village east of Yatta notices telling them to remove gardens and barbed wire from lands they own in order for the lands to be annexed to the settlement of Karmel.
Al-Jubur said that the same family had been handed notices a few days earlier telling them to remove the barbed wire that surrounds 150 dunams (37 acres) of their land in the village, which is located in Area C and thus falls under full Israeli military control.
Al-Jubur also said that the Israeli forces on Wednesday seized a tractor that belongs to resident Omar Hasan Hoshieh from Yatta, and three cars that belong to Bedouins who live east of Yatta.
Al Jubur called upon all international and human-rights institutions to intervene and limit these acts that aim to force out the owners of these lands from them.
Um al-Kher is frequently targeted by settlers living in Karmel, and Israeli authorities have pressured villagers to leave areas near the settlement in order to facilitate its expansion.
The South Hebron Hills, known locally as Masafer Yatta, lie almost entirely in Area C, the 62 percent of the West Bank under full Israeli civil and military control since the 1993 Oslo Accords.
Around 3,000 Israeli settlers live in illegal Jewish-only settlements in the Yatta region, according to the Applied Research Institute Jerusalem.
The safety of these settlers is often given as an excuse for forced displacement of Palestinians who live in villages in the area.
Israeli authorities on Wednesday began work on a number of settlement units in Elazar settlement in the southern West Bank after razing nearby Palestinian lands, activists said.
Ahmad Salah, coordinator of the popular committee against the wall and settlements in the village of al-Khader near Bethlehem, said that Israeli settlers had begun work on four settlement units on lands belonging to the Mousa family near the existing Eliazar Jewish settlement.
Salah said that the lands where the construction is taking place are near the settlement but are not inside the fence surrounding the settlement, meaning that the expansion constitutes a land grab of the neighboring village's territory.
He added that the Jewish settlers had taken over a dunam of land south of al-Khader, planted it, and surrounded it with a fence.
Salah pointed out that the move was not an isolated incident, as Israeli occupation authorities had razed lands belonging to Palestinians in the nearby area of Um-Muhammedin south of the town in order to connect the nearby Efrat settlement to others in the area.
Salah said that acts of razing and leveling lands near al-Khader have been occurring "constantly," highlighting that Israeli forces have frequently prevented local farmers from reaching their lands.
Elazar was built in 1975 on land confiscated from a number of Palestinian families in nearby al-Khader.
A 2007 report by Israeli organization Peace Now says that 32 percent of the settlement land sits directly on top of private Palestinian property.
Many settlements are also built atop of private Palestinian land that has been previously declared "state land" and confiscated.
More than 500,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law.
The internationally recognized Palestinian territories of which the West Bank and East Jerusalem form a part have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
Ahmad Salah, coordinator of the popular committee against the wall and settlements in the village of al-Khader near Bethlehem, said that Israeli settlers had begun work on four settlement units on lands belonging to the Mousa family near the existing Eliazar Jewish settlement.
Salah said that the lands where the construction is taking place are near the settlement but are not inside the fence surrounding the settlement, meaning that the expansion constitutes a land grab of the neighboring village's territory.
He added that the Jewish settlers had taken over a dunam of land south of al-Khader, planted it, and surrounded it with a fence.
Salah pointed out that the move was not an isolated incident, as Israeli occupation authorities had razed lands belonging to Palestinians in the nearby area of Um-Muhammedin south of the town in order to connect the nearby Efrat settlement to others in the area.
Salah said that acts of razing and leveling lands near al-Khader have been occurring "constantly," highlighting that Israeli forces have frequently prevented local farmers from reaching their lands.
Elazar was built in 1975 on land confiscated from a number of Palestinian families in nearby al-Khader.
A 2007 report by Israeli organization Peace Now says that 32 percent of the settlement land sits directly on top of private Palestinian property.
Many settlements are also built atop of private Palestinian land that has been previously declared "state land" and confiscated.
More than 500,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law.
The internationally recognized Palestinian territories of which the West Bank and East Jerusalem form a part have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
2 june 2014
A number of Israeli settlers of the Abigail illegal settlement outpost, east of Yatta, south of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, invaded Palestinian lands near the outpost, and started preparation work meant for expanding it.
Rateb Jabour, coordinator of the Popular and National Committee against Settlements and the Wall in Hebron, stated that the settlers brought, on Sunday at night, several bulldozers and construction materials, and started preparation work on Palestinian lands, to expand their illegitimate outpost, built on Palestinian property.
Jabour said the settlers aim at replacing the mobile homes with concrete structures in an attempt to expand their outpost, and attempt to legalize it.
He added that recent violation is part of ongoing illegal policies aiming at “legalizing” outposts, and illegally occupying more Palestinian lands to expand the settlements in the area, and create geographical contiguity between them by isolating Palestinian communities and deny the Palestinians access to their own lands.
Settlements in the occupied territories are illegal under International Law, all basic resolutions, and international agreements, including the Fourth Geneva Convention to which Israel is a signatory.
Rateb Jabour, coordinator of the Popular and National Committee against Settlements and the Wall in Hebron, stated that the settlers brought, on Sunday at night, several bulldozers and construction materials, and started preparation work on Palestinian lands, to expand their illegitimate outpost, built on Palestinian property.
Jabour said the settlers aim at replacing the mobile homes with concrete structures in an attempt to expand their outpost, and attempt to legalize it.
He added that recent violation is part of ongoing illegal policies aiming at “legalizing” outposts, and illegally occupying more Palestinian lands to expand the settlements in the area, and create geographical contiguity between them by isolating Palestinian communities and deny the Palestinians access to their own lands.
Settlements in the occupied territories are illegal under International Law, all basic resolutions, and international agreements, including the Fourth Geneva Convention to which Israel is a signatory.
