29 sept 2014
The Israeli movement Peace Now said Sunday that about 25 percent of the new housing units which Israel had commenced building in occupied Jerusalem in the first half of 2014 are located in the eastern part of the holy city. The Israeli occupation authority started, from the first of January to 30 June, to build 2,100 housing units in both parts of Jerusalem, according to a statement released recently by the Israeli municipal council in the holy city.
Peace Now activist Hagit Ofran said that a quarter of these housing units, about 500 homes, are located in east Jerusalem.
About 200,000 Jewish settlers are living alongside with 306,000 Palestinian natives holding non-citizen ID cards, Ofran noted.
The Palestinian residents of Jerusalem constitute 38 percent of the total population of the city, according to Israeli municipal statistics.
Peace Now activist Hagit Ofran said that a quarter of these housing units, about 500 homes, are located in east Jerusalem.
About 200,000 Jewish settlers are living alongside with 306,000 Palestinian natives holding non-citizen ID cards, Ofran noted.
The Palestinian residents of Jerusalem constitute 38 percent of the total population of the city, according to Israeli municipal statistics.
24 sept 2014
Dr. Hanna Issa, Secretary General of the Islamic-Christian Committee to support Jerusalem and holy sites, warned Tuesday of Israeli forces and settlers’ escalated break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque. He pointed out that daily break-ins and Talmudic rituals have been carried out in al-Aqsa Mosque led by Israeli MKs, ministers, and members of Israeli Intelligence Services under heavy Israeli police protection.
Issa confirmed that dozens of Muslim graves were demolished on Sunday by the Israeli occupation near al-Yousfiya cemetery, adjacent to the eastern wall of holy al-Aqsa Mosque as part of the Israeli policy aiming to end Palestinian and Arab presence in occupied Jerusalem.
He strongly condemned the Israeli arbitrary measures against Jerusalemites, pointing out that more than 500 arrests were carried out in the holy city since June.
He also pointed out that the Israeli occupation authority had submitted new tenders for the establishment of 708 settlement units in the Gilo settlement neighborhood east of occupied Jerusalem as part of Israel’s ongoing settlement expansion policy.
Issa confirmed that dozens of Muslim graves were demolished on Sunday by the Israeli occupation near al-Yousfiya cemetery, adjacent to the eastern wall of holy al-Aqsa Mosque as part of the Israeli policy aiming to end Palestinian and Arab presence in occupied Jerusalem.
He strongly condemned the Israeli arbitrary measures against Jerusalemites, pointing out that more than 500 arrests were carried out in the holy city since June.
He also pointed out that the Israeli occupation authority had submitted new tenders for the establishment of 708 settlement units in the Gilo settlement neighborhood east of occupied Jerusalem as part of Israel’s ongoing settlement expansion policy.
23 sept 2014
The Israeli government on Monday allocated 886 dunums of Palestinian land in the western part of occupied Jerusalem for the building of several large commercial towers. According to Israel's channel 2, the government approved a plan to build 12 skyscrapers containing hotels, offices, apartments and shopping areas on 886 dunums of land in Jerusalem.
It noted that this commercial project would be established in area 1 in the holy city.
The channel did not give further information about the project and when it would be carried out.
For its part, the Jerusalem Post newspaper said that the Israeli construction and housing Ministry on Monday announced the approval of a massive urban project on more than 20 hectares of land at the western entrance to Jerusalem.
The announcement was made at a news conference at the Israeli premier's office and attended by finance minister Yair Lapid, head of the municipal council in Jerusalem Nir Barkat, transportation minister Israel Katz, construction and housing minister Uri Ariel, and Israel lands authority director Benzi Lieberman.
According to Uri Ariel, the complex will cost approximately 1.5 billion shekels and be constructed on 730,000 square meters of land, and will be serving as the official business district of Israel's capital.
"This is an exciting and important decision that will make the old entrance to the capital of Israel modern, accessible and convenient, creating the perfect connection between the present and past that represents the eternal city," he said.
The plan includes the construction of 12 high-rise buildings for offices, hotels, and cultural and tourism centers, according to the Israeli newspaper.
Moreover, Ariel said the project would upgrade the nearby international convention center, add 1,300 parking spaces, and expand public transportation into the city by building a 28-minute express train to Tel Aviv.
It noted that this commercial project would be established in area 1 in the holy city.
The channel did not give further information about the project and when it would be carried out.
For its part, the Jerusalem Post newspaper said that the Israeli construction and housing Ministry on Monday announced the approval of a massive urban project on more than 20 hectares of land at the western entrance to Jerusalem.
The announcement was made at a news conference at the Israeli premier's office and attended by finance minister Yair Lapid, head of the municipal council in Jerusalem Nir Barkat, transportation minister Israel Katz, construction and housing minister Uri Ariel, and Israel lands authority director Benzi Lieberman.
According to Uri Ariel, the complex will cost approximately 1.5 billion shekels and be constructed on 730,000 square meters of land, and will be serving as the official business district of Israel's capital.
"This is an exciting and important decision that will make the old entrance to the capital of Israel modern, accessible and convenient, creating the perfect connection between the present and past that represents the eternal city," he said.
The plan includes the construction of 12 high-rise buildings for offices, hotels, and cultural and tourism centers, according to the Israeli newspaper.
Moreover, Ariel said the project would upgrade the nearby international convention center, add 1,300 parking spaces, and expand public transportation into the city by building a 28-minute express train to Tel Aviv.
22 sept 2014
Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu decided on Sunday to postpone the cabinet’s vote on whether to complete the construction of a section of the separation wall adjacent to Battir town, a world heritage site, southern Bethlehem. Netanyahu’s decision was due to the pressures exerted by Jewish Home party led by Naftali Bennet against the construction of separation wall in the West Bank, Israeli sources said.
The sources added that Bennet’s rejection to the separation wall project in its proposed route was due to his disagreements with Israeli war minister Moshe Yaalon who proposed the project.
Netanyahu pointed to UNESCO’s rejection to the construction of a section of the separation wall at the expanse of Battir town land that was recently declared by the UN organization as a world heritage site.
Both Israeli settlers and the Palestinians declared their objection to the fence's planned route, each for their own reasons. The Palestinians said that the planned route of the wall would confiscate thousands of dunums of cultivated land lots, while Israeli settlers said that the fence will isolate Gush Etzion from Jerusalem.
The people of Battir have repeatedly protested against the establishment of a section of the separation wall in the town that is characterized by ancient irrigation systems dating back to the pre-Roman era.
The village of Battir, south of Jerusalem, renowned for 2000-year-old terraced plots and ancient olive trees, has been named in June 20 a World Heritage Site in Danger by a UNESCO committee meeting in Qatar.
The sources added that Bennet’s rejection to the separation wall project in its proposed route was due to his disagreements with Israeli war minister Moshe Yaalon who proposed the project.
Netanyahu pointed to UNESCO’s rejection to the construction of a section of the separation wall at the expanse of Battir town land that was recently declared by the UN organization as a world heritage site.
Both Israeli settlers and the Palestinians declared their objection to the fence's planned route, each for their own reasons. The Palestinians said that the planned route of the wall would confiscate thousands of dunums of cultivated land lots, while Israeli settlers said that the fence will isolate Gush Etzion from Jerusalem.
The people of Battir have repeatedly protested against the establishment of a section of the separation wall in the town that is characterized by ancient irrigation systems dating back to the pre-Roman era.
The village of Battir, south of Jerusalem, renowned for 2000-year-old terraced plots and ancient olive trees, has been named in June 20 a World Heritage Site in Danger by a UNESCO committee meeting in Qatar.
17 sept 2014
The Yesha Council of Settlements has reported that the number of Jewish settlers living in the occupied West Bank, including in and around occupied Jerusalem, has reached 382031, adding that 7500 Israelis have moved into West Bank and Jerusalem settlements in the last six months.
Yesha said that, back in January of 2014, 374469 settlers lived in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and that the current number of settlers (382031) is a 2% increase.
It said that the biggest settlement is Beitar Illit settlement, located southwest of occupied Jerusalem, with a population of 63087 Jewish settlers.
There are more than 200.000 Israeli settlers living in various settlements in occupied East Jerusalem.
Settlements are illegal under International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention, to which Israel is a signatory. They are largely built on privately-owned Palestinian lands, and many on what Israel calls “State Lands” which, by itself, is illegal as the West Bank and Jerusalem are under illegitimate Israeli occupation.
Israel’s settlements and its Annexation Wall continue to cause Palestinians to lose more of their lands and orchards, while vast areas of lands and orchards are now completely isolated behind the Wall.
On July 9, 2004, the International Court at The Hague issued an advisory ruling stating that the Wall Israel is building in the occupied territories is illegal and must be dismantled. The court also ruled that Palestinians affected by the construction of this Wall must be compensated. Israeli ignored the ruling.
On July 21, 2004, the UN General Assembly voted today to support the July 9 ruling by the International Court.
Israel claims that the wall meant to protect it from attackers, especially suicide bombers, but facts on the ground show that the illegal Wall is built deep inside the occupied territories, separating Palestinian villages from their surroundings and even separating the villagers from their lands.
The Wall is also built far away from the Green Line that separates ‘Israel’ from the West Bank, and is designed to enable further construction and expansion of Jewish-only settlements in occupied Palestine.
Yesha said that, back in January of 2014, 374469 settlers lived in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and that the current number of settlers (382031) is a 2% increase.
It said that the biggest settlement is Beitar Illit settlement, located southwest of occupied Jerusalem, with a population of 63087 Jewish settlers.
There are more than 200.000 Israeli settlers living in various settlements in occupied East Jerusalem.
Settlements are illegal under International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention, to which Israel is a signatory. They are largely built on privately-owned Palestinian lands, and many on what Israel calls “State Lands” which, by itself, is illegal as the West Bank and Jerusalem are under illegitimate Israeli occupation.
Israel’s settlements and its Annexation Wall continue to cause Palestinians to lose more of their lands and orchards, while vast areas of lands and orchards are now completely isolated behind the Wall.
On July 9, 2004, the International Court at The Hague issued an advisory ruling stating that the Wall Israel is building in the occupied territories is illegal and must be dismantled. The court also ruled that Palestinians affected by the construction of this Wall must be compensated. Israeli ignored the ruling.
On July 21, 2004, the UN General Assembly voted today to support the July 9 ruling by the International Court.
Israel claims that the wall meant to protect it from attackers, especially suicide bombers, but facts on the ground show that the illegal Wall is built deep inside the occupied territories, separating Palestinian villages from their surroundings and even separating the villagers from their lands.
The Wall is also built far away from the Green Line that separates ‘Israel’ from the West Bank, and is designed to enable further construction and expansion of Jewish-only settlements in occupied Palestine.
16 sept 2014
Bedouin homes destroyed in E1 (archive image from activestills.org)
Israel is planning to forcibly transfer thousands of Palestinian Bedouins from their West Bank communities into a designated township to free up land for settlement expansion. Local and international groups are urging world leaders to pressure Israel to stop this violation of Palestinian rights.
The Israeli government publicized, last week, six plans to move Palestinian Bedouins out of their communities around Jericho, Ramallah, and Jerusalem. The plans include moving Bedouins out of the politically sensitive area referred to as the Jerusalem Periphery or “E1,” where Israel has long-intended to demolish 23 Bedouin villages in order to expand and link settlements. Settlement expansion in this area would cut the West Bank in two, further disrupting movement and social and economic ties between major Palestinian cities and limiting the little access Palestinians in the West Bank have to Jerusalem.
All of the Palestinian Bedouin communities slated for transfer are located in Area C, the 60 percent of the West Bank where Israel maintains full civil and military control. There are already around 341,000 Israeli settlers living in more than 100 settlements throughout Area C. Although Area C is within the internationally recognized 1967 borders of the occupied Palestinian territory, Israel only allows Palestinians to build on 1 percent of it.
International humanitarian organisations have noted that this lack of authority to build makes Palestinians vulnerable to home demolition, displacement, and forcible transfer and limits their ability to realize their rights to water, to adequate shelter, to education, health, and to livelihood.
Over 40 local and international agencies have called on world leaders to pressure Israel to cancel these plans.
In recent months, the government of Israel has used coercive tactics to heighten the pressure on Palestinian Bedouin communities, issuing eviction orders and demolishing homes and livelihood structures. Aid agencies report that Israel has also obstructed them from delivering assistance to these communities, including by seizing and destroying emergency shelters that international donors provided for families whose homes were demolished and confiscating a swing-set and a slide for a Bedouin school.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) reports that Israel has already demolished more than 350 Palestinian homes or livelihood structures in Area C in 2014, while demolitions in the Jerusalem periphery and E1 area have hit a five-year high, displacing 170 Bedouins, 91 of whom are children.
Israel is planning to forcibly transfer thousands of Palestinian Bedouins from their West Bank communities into a designated township to free up land for settlement expansion. Local and international groups are urging world leaders to pressure Israel to stop this violation of Palestinian rights.
The Israeli government publicized, last week, six plans to move Palestinian Bedouins out of their communities around Jericho, Ramallah, and Jerusalem. The plans include moving Bedouins out of the politically sensitive area referred to as the Jerusalem Periphery or “E1,” where Israel has long-intended to demolish 23 Bedouin villages in order to expand and link settlements. Settlement expansion in this area would cut the West Bank in two, further disrupting movement and social and economic ties between major Palestinian cities and limiting the little access Palestinians in the West Bank have to Jerusalem.
All of the Palestinian Bedouin communities slated for transfer are located in Area C, the 60 percent of the West Bank where Israel maintains full civil and military control. There are already around 341,000 Israeli settlers living in more than 100 settlements throughout Area C. Although Area C is within the internationally recognized 1967 borders of the occupied Palestinian territory, Israel only allows Palestinians to build on 1 percent of it.
International humanitarian organisations have noted that this lack of authority to build makes Palestinians vulnerable to home demolition, displacement, and forcible transfer and limits their ability to realize their rights to water, to adequate shelter, to education, health, and to livelihood.
Over 40 local and international agencies have called on world leaders to pressure Israel to cancel these plans.
In recent months, the government of Israel has used coercive tactics to heighten the pressure on Palestinian Bedouin communities, issuing eviction orders and demolishing homes and livelihood structures. Aid agencies report that Israel has also obstructed them from delivering assistance to these communities, including by seizing and destroying emergency shelters that international donors provided for families whose homes were demolished and confiscating a swing-set and a slide for a Bedouin school.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) reports that Israel has already demolished more than 350 Palestinian homes or livelihood structures in Area C in 2014, while demolitions in the Jerusalem periphery and E1 area have hit a five-year high, displacing 170 Bedouins, 91 of whom are children.
11 sept 2014
The Islamic-Christian Commission in Support of Jerusalem and Holy Sites condemned the escalation of the Israeli settlements' expansion policy and confiscation of lands during the last two years especially in occupied Jerusalem and the surrounding areas. Hanna Isa, the secretary-general of the commission, said: "in addition to the official Zionist governmental schemes aiming to confiscate the biggest amount possible of Palestinian lands, the settlers also took some self-initiatives to expand the settlements and occupy the lands adjacent to their settlements”.
The general-secretary continued: "and in this respect, we all remember what the then Foreign Minister Ariel Sharon said in 1998 when he addressed the settlers saying: Let everyone get a move on and take some hilltops! Whatever we take, will be ours, and whatever we don't take, will not be ours!"
Dr. Isa, who is a professor of International Law, confirmed that by sending Israeli citizens to the lands occupied in 1967, Israel is violating article no. 49 of the fourth Geneva Convention for the year 1949.
He noted that: "the so called political process and the agreements between the two sides; the Israeli and the Palestinian, did not put an end to the land confiscation and the Zionist settlement drive."
Isa noted that Israel makes up different excuses and arguments to justify confiscating the Palestinian lands, most commonly; claiming that these territories are state lands and military areas.
He charged that the main reasons for such confiscation are “expanding the settlements, paving bypass roads that connect the settlements with each other and with Israel, widening the existing streets, setting up public projects and establishing public facilities that provide services for the settlers”.
The general-secretary continued: "and in this respect, we all remember what the then Foreign Minister Ariel Sharon said in 1998 when he addressed the settlers saying: Let everyone get a move on and take some hilltops! Whatever we take, will be ours, and whatever we don't take, will not be ours!"
Dr. Isa, who is a professor of International Law, confirmed that by sending Israeli citizens to the lands occupied in 1967, Israel is violating article no. 49 of the fourth Geneva Convention for the year 1949.
He noted that: "the so called political process and the agreements between the two sides; the Israeli and the Palestinian, did not put an end to the land confiscation and the Zionist settlement drive."
Isa noted that Israel makes up different excuses and arguments to justify confiscating the Palestinian lands, most commonly; claiming that these territories are state lands and military areas.
He charged that the main reasons for such confiscation are “expanding the settlements, paving bypass roads that connect the settlements with each other and with Israel, widening the existing streets, setting up public projects and establishing public facilities that provide services for the settlers”.
7 sept 2014
The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) have been taking advantage of the world’s preoccupation with the current developments in Gaza and the Middle East to step up illegal settlement activities across the West Bank and Occupied Jerusalem, the Palestinian National Bureau for Land Defense and against Settlement said in its weekly report on Saturday. The report spoke against Israel’s expropriation of 4000 dunums of land tract in the West Bank, near the Gush Etzion settlement bloc, after having claimed them “state lands.”
The move is the largest outspoken land grab carried out in the past 20 years as part of IOA’s schemes to alter the inherently Palestinian character of the region in favor of an overriding settlement expansion to be constantly mapped and re-mapped according to the avaricious impulses of the right-wing Netanyahu government.
IOA’s fraud culminated in misappropriating Palestinian lands in al-Khalil, giving green light to the construction of 2200 settlement lodgings in Occupied Jerusalem, approving bids to construct 283 settlement units in Qalqiliya province, and inaugurating a new settlement neighborhood in Nablus province.
Meanwhile, the Israeli economic newspaper Calcalist said on Thursday the annual budget of state funding for the so-called Israeli settlement division, which raises funds for the Galilee, Negev, Golan Heights, and West Bank settlements, rose by 600 percent since the start of 2014 , with the latter forever taking the lion’s share.
The move is the largest outspoken land grab carried out in the past 20 years as part of IOA’s schemes to alter the inherently Palestinian character of the region in favor of an overriding settlement expansion to be constantly mapped and re-mapped according to the avaricious impulses of the right-wing Netanyahu government.
IOA’s fraud culminated in misappropriating Palestinian lands in al-Khalil, giving green light to the construction of 2200 settlement lodgings in Occupied Jerusalem, approving bids to construct 283 settlement units in Qalqiliya province, and inaugurating a new settlement neighborhood in Nablus province.
Meanwhile, the Israeli economic newspaper Calcalist said on Thursday the annual budget of state funding for the so-called Israeli settlement division, which raises funds for the Galilee, Negev, Golan Heights, and West Bank settlements, rose by 600 percent since the start of 2014 , with the latter forever taking the lion’s share.
5 sept 2014
The Israeli government announced Thursday tenders for the construction of 283 units in an illegal settlement, west of the central West Bank city of Ramallah. The occupation authorities have prepared all maps and licenses for the new bid, a step that indicates Israel’s readiness to embark on the actual construction process.
The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) had illegally confiscated around 4,000 Dunums of Palestinian lands in Bethlehem, in order to expand the Gush Etzion settlement blocks.
In another context, the annual budget of the so-called Israeli settlement division rose by 600 percent since the start of 2014, the Israeli economic newspaper Calcalist revealed on Thursday.
The percentage of state funding for the division during the month of January had gone up to 58 million shekels.
The Israeli settlement division raises funds for the Galilee, Negev, Golan Heights, and West Bank settlements, with the latter forever taking the lion’s share.
The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) had illegally confiscated around 4,000 Dunums of Palestinian lands in Bethlehem, in order to expand the Gush Etzion settlement blocks.
In another context, the annual budget of the so-called Israeli settlement division rose by 600 percent since the start of 2014, the Israeli economic newspaper Calcalist revealed on Thursday.
The percentage of state funding for the division during the month of January had gone up to 58 million shekels.
The Israeli settlement division raises funds for the Galilee, Negev, Golan Heights, and West Bank settlements, with the latter forever taking the lion’s share.
4 sept 2014
The Israeli municipal council of occupied Jerusalem on Wednesday gave the green light for the construction of 2,200 housing units in east Jerusalem, but it needs several years before executing the plan. According to Israeli news reports, the municipal council launched the preparatory procedures for the plan that will take about eight years before initiating the construction works.
The housing units will be built in the Arab neighborhood al-Sawahra east of Jabel Mukaber.
Head of the council Nir Barkat said, "The planning of neighborhoods in east Jerusalem by the Jerusalem municipality is a clear expression of Israel’s sovereignty over every part of the city."
The housing units will be built in the Arab neighborhood al-Sawahra east of Jabel Mukaber.
Head of the council Nir Barkat said, "The planning of neighborhoods in east Jerusalem by the Jerusalem municipality is a clear expression of Israel’s sovereignty over every part of the city."
3 sept 2014
The European Union (EU) has warned that it would halt its poultry and dairy imports from Israel if the latter does not separate “Israeli-made” products from those processed within the illegal West Bank settlements. The Israeli Maariv newspaper said on Tuesday the EU gave Israel a few weeks’ time to set a plan for the projected separation between the settlement-produced food items and those manufactured inside of the Green Line.
In case the plan is not put into effect, the EU vowed to boycott all of the aforementioned Israeli products.
The EU Commission sent a letter to the Israeli Minister of Agriculture on August 28 warning Israel against exporting settlement-based poultry.
The ministry has been taking time to consider the appeal for fear that the EU would blacklist such Israeli products.
Since the start of 2014 the EU has rejected Israeli food exports and commercial transactions with settlement-based companies in the Occupied West Bank.
The decision is an implementation of the EU’s commitment not to recognize Israeli sovereignty over occupied Palestinian territory as already decreed by the International Court of Justice in 2004 and by Article 49 of the Geneva Convention.
In case the plan is not put into effect, the EU vowed to boycott all of the aforementioned Israeli products.
The EU Commission sent a letter to the Israeli Minister of Agriculture on August 28 warning Israel against exporting settlement-based poultry.
The ministry has been taking time to consider the appeal for fear that the EU would blacklist such Israeli products.
Since the start of 2014 the EU has rejected Israeli food exports and commercial transactions with settlement-based companies in the Occupied West Bank.
The decision is an implementation of the EU’s commitment not to recognize Israeli sovereignty over occupied Palestinian territory as already decreed by the International Court of Justice in 2004 and by Article 49 of the Geneva Convention.
4 july 2014
Dozens of settlers installed, on Friday, a number of illegitimate settlement outposts, on Palestinian lands in the Bethlehem district, and in Hebron in the southern part of the occupied West Bank.
Head of the Teqoua’ town council east of Bethlehem, Taiseer Abu Mfarreh, stated that a number of settlers, of a nearby illegal outpost, installed four mobile homes on Palestinian lands, east of Teqoua’.
Abu Mfarreh stated that the settlers are trying to expand their outpost, adding that the settlers try to add more mobile homes year, the WAFA News Agency said.
In Surif, near Hebron, a number of settlers installed mobile homes, west of the town.
Head of the Surif town council stated that settlers from Beit Ayin illegal outpost, installed on Palestinian lands, brought a number of mobile homes on lands belonging to residents from Surif and al-Jab’a nearby village.
Meanwhile, the official Israeli Radio said the Israeli government has decided to build a new neighborhood in the Keryat Arba’ settlement, in Hebron city, in addition to two outposts in Gush Etzion settlement bloc, WAFA said.
Israeli settlers set up outposts near Hebron
Israeli settlers set up outposts early Friday in northern Hebron, an official said.
The secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative in the town of Surif in northern Hebron told Ma'an that locals found settlers, protected by Israeli soldiers, setting up an outpost on the al-Jreinat mountain between Surif and Jabaa Friday morning.
Shihada Hmeidat said that at 2 a.m. he heard the sounds of Israeli bulldozers and vehicles that were digging until morning.
Settlers set up six caravans on the top of the mountain.
Hmeidat said that this outpost is an extension of the Gush Etzion settlement near Surif, after the Israeli minister of defense ordered building more settlements.
The lands on which the outposts were set up belong to the al-Ghneimat and al-Hur families.
Head of the Teqoua’ town council east of Bethlehem, Taiseer Abu Mfarreh, stated that a number of settlers, of a nearby illegal outpost, installed four mobile homes on Palestinian lands, east of Teqoua’.
Abu Mfarreh stated that the settlers are trying to expand their outpost, adding that the settlers try to add more mobile homes year, the WAFA News Agency said.
In Surif, near Hebron, a number of settlers installed mobile homes, west of the town.
Head of the Surif town council stated that settlers from Beit Ayin illegal outpost, installed on Palestinian lands, brought a number of mobile homes on lands belonging to residents from Surif and al-Jab’a nearby village.
Meanwhile, the official Israeli Radio said the Israeli government has decided to build a new neighborhood in the Keryat Arba’ settlement, in Hebron city, in addition to two outposts in Gush Etzion settlement bloc, WAFA said.
Israeli settlers set up outposts near Hebron
Israeli settlers set up outposts early Friday in northern Hebron, an official said.
The secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative in the town of Surif in northern Hebron told Ma'an that locals found settlers, protected by Israeli soldiers, setting up an outpost on the al-Jreinat mountain between Surif and Jabaa Friday morning.
Shihada Hmeidat said that at 2 a.m. he heard the sounds of Israeli bulldozers and vehicles that were digging until morning.
Settlers set up six caravans on the top of the mountain.
Hmeidat said that this outpost is an extension of the Gush Etzion settlement near Surif, after the Israeli minister of defense ordered building more settlements.
The lands on which the outposts were set up belong to the al-Ghneimat and al-Hur families.
3 july 2014
In a blatantly strategical move, a group of Israeli settlers led by mayor of the illegal Ma’ale Adumim settlement, Benny Kashriel, have set up a tent in Area E1, between the settlement and Jerusalem.
Mayor Kashriel has requested that Israeli authorities build new settlement units in the area, in response to the deaths of the three Israeli settlers, the Palestinian News Network has reported.
Construction in E1 is very controversial, according to the PNN, as the construction of settlements in this region will create a physical link between Ma'ale Adumim and Jerusalem, dividing East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank and its Palestinian population centers.
Additionally, such a move would divide the West Bank into two distinct parts, further jeopardizing any prospect of a contiguous Palestinian state.
Israeli right-wing women's group, Women in Green, have also set up a tent, in an attempt to pressure authorities into building new settlements in the area between what is known as Jeba’at Auz and Gush Etzion, north Hebron.
According to B'Tselem, over 300,000 Israelis currently live in more than 200 settlements and settlement outposts throughout the West Bank -- all established in contravention of international law, some even in contravention of Israeli law.
Mayor Kashriel has requested that Israeli authorities build new settlement units in the area, in response to the deaths of the three Israeli settlers, the Palestinian News Network has reported.
Construction in E1 is very controversial, according to the PNN, as the construction of settlements in this region will create a physical link between Ma'ale Adumim and Jerusalem, dividing East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank and its Palestinian population centers.
Additionally, such a move would divide the West Bank into two distinct parts, further jeopardizing any prospect of a contiguous Palestinian state.
Israeli right-wing women's group, Women in Green, have also set up a tent, in an attempt to pressure authorities into building new settlements in the area between what is known as Jeba’at Auz and Gush Etzion, north Hebron.
According to B'Tselem, over 300,000 Israelis currently live in more than 200 settlements and settlement outposts throughout the West Bank -- all established in contravention of international law, some even in contravention of Israeli law.
30 june 2014
The chairman of Israeli Knesset " Yuli Edelstein " laid on Sunday evening the cornerstone for a settlement neighborhood in " Kochav Jacob " near Ramallah, with the presence of the former chairman of Shas Party " Eli Yishai " and " Avi Roaier", chairman of Ramallah region settlements board. The project includes building 60 settlement units, 3 synagogues and a new wedding hall . Edelstein said that it is a unique day when all Jewish spectrums unite to send a message to the world that religious people live with secularists in peace and love.
It is noteworthy that Israeli occupation continues its settlement action in the West Bank at the expense of Palestinians' lands and their property, in a bid to consolidate its presence and expel Palestinians.
It is noteworthy that Israeli occupation continues its settlement action in the West Bank at the expense of Palestinians' lands and their property, in a bid to consolidate its presence and expel Palestinians.
