11 nov 2015
The Israeli occupation municipality in Jerusalem, on Wednesday, approved the construction of 891 settlement units in the illegal settlement of Gilo, which was constructed on the Bethlehem territory of the occupied West Bank.
PNN reports that, according to The Israeli daily, Yedioth Ahronoth, the municipality claimed that the construction plan was approved in 2013 and that only the adoption of the plan is technical.
On Tuesday, Netanyahu approved the construction of 2,200 settlement units in Ma’ale Michmas settlement, to the east of Ramallah, despite the growing Palestinian frustration and the flare of resistance against the occupation.
PNN reports that, according to The Israeli daily, Yedioth Ahronoth, the municipality claimed that the construction plan was approved in 2013 and that only the adoption of the plan is technical.
On Tuesday, Netanyahu approved the construction of 2,200 settlement units in Ma’ale Michmas settlement, to the east of Ramallah, despite the growing Palestinian frustration and the flare of resistance against the occupation.
10 nov 2015
In yet another decision that violates International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention, the Higher Construction and Planning Committee of the Israeli ‘Civil Administration Office’ has approved a construction plan to ‘legalize’ two colonial outposts in Ramallah, in addition to building 2200 more units.
The Israeli plan includes the approval of a structural map for the Ma'ale Mikhmas illegal colony, built on illegally seized Palestinian lands east of Ramallah. The plan also calls for the construction of 2200 new units, and the ‘legalizing’ two outposts (this would make them legal under Israeli law, but they remain a direct violation of international law).
The plan, originally submitted in 2014 and approved by Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon last month, would lead to the construction of an additional 800 units in Ma'ale Mikhmas by the year 2030 and 300 units in Kokhav HaShahar. In total, the plan includes the construction of at least 2200 units in Kokhav HaShahar, Ramonim, Ma’ale Mikhmas and Psagot, to be completed by 2030.
The plan also includes the construction of new units in Tel Zion, and the area south of Ofra colony, in the northern part of the West Bank.
Israeli daily Haaretz said the approval comes ahead of a hearing in the High Court of Justice, scheduled for Wednesday, to look into a petition submitted by Yesh Din Israeli organization, on behalf of Palestinian land owners, calling for the removal of Mitzpeh Danny illegal outpost, built on private Palestinian property.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry denounced the Israeli plans, and considered it part of the comprehensive Israeli escalation, and crimes, against the Palestinian people, in addition to directly violating all related resolutions and agreements.
The Ministry added that Israeli plans would place “further obstacles in the efforts to resume direct peace talks to reach a comprehensive settlement of the conflict, by achieving the two-state solution.”
It stated that the timing of the new plan, ahead of the planned meeting between President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu places further tensions and obstacles that would further obstruction the conducts of the Quartet Committee (The United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations).
“Israel continues to commit its crimes with impunity, acting as a state that is above International Law,” the Ministry said, “Settlements are illegal, and are considered war crimes under International Law, signed agreements and the Fourth Geneva Conventions.”
The Ministry said Israel’s colonies in occupied Palestine are among the issues recently presented to the International Criminal Court.
It called on the Quartet Committee and the UN Security Council to require Israel to halt its violations, and abide by international law, in addition to stopping the escalating Israeli crimes and violations against the Palestinian people, and against their lands and holy sites.
The Ministry also called on the Security Council to provide the Palestinians, who are living under an illegal and immoral Israel occupation, with the necessary international protection.
While the number of Jewish settlers illegally living in the West Bank and Jerusalem by the end of 2013 was 350,000, the current number of settlers is around 54,.000, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories (B’Tselem) said.
It added that Israel established 125 settlements, dubbing them as “communities,” in the West Bank, in the period between 1967 and late 2013.
In addition, more than 100 colonial outposts were established without authorization from the Israeli government, yet these outposts received funding and support from government ministries despite their 'illegal' status. The Israeli government also directly funded and supported colonial outposts in the heart of Palestinian neighborhoods in occupied East Jerusalem.
The Israeli plan includes the approval of a structural map for the Ma'ale Mikhmas illegal colony, built on illegally seized Palestinian lands east of Ramallah. The plan also calls for the construction of 2200 new units, and the ‘legalizing’ two outposts (this would make them legal under Israeli law, but they remain a direct violation of international law).
The plan, originally submitted in 2014 and approved by Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon last month, would lead to the construction of an additional 800 units in Ma'ale Mikhmas by the year 2030 and 300 units in Kokhav HaShahar. In total, the plan includes the construction of at least 2200 units in Kokhav HaShahar, Ramonim, Ma’ale Mikhmas and Psagot, to be completed by 2030.
The plan also includes the construction of new units in Tel Zion, and the area south of Ofra colony, in the northern part of the West Bank.
Israeli daily Haaretz said the approval comes ahead of a hearing in the High Court of Justice, scheduled for Wednesday, to look into a petition submitted by Yesh Din Israeli organization, on behalf of Palestinian land owners, calling for the removal of Mitzpeh Danny illegal outpost, built on private Palestinian property.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry denounced the Israeli plans, and considered it part of the comprehensive Israeli escalation, and crimes, against the Palestinian people, in addition to directly violating all related resolutions and agreements.
The Ministry added that Israeli plans would place “further obstacles in the efforts to resume direct peace talks to reach a comprehensive settlement of the conflict, by achieving the two-state solution.”
It stated that the timing of the new plan, ahead of the planned meeting between President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu places further tensions and obstacles that would further obstruction the conducts of the Quartet Committee (The United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations).
“Israel continues to commit its crimes with impunity, acting as a state that is above International Law,” the Ministry said, “Settlements are illegal, and are considered war crimes under International Law, signed agreements and the Fourth Geneva Conventions.”
The Ministry said Israel’s colonies in occupied Palestine are among the issues recently presented to the International Criminal Court.
It called on the Quartet Committee and the UN Security Council to require Israel to halt its violations, and abide by international law, in addition to stopping the escalating Israeli crimes and violations against the Palestinian people, and against their lands and holy sites.
The Ministry also called on the Security Council to provide the Palestinians, who are living under an illegal and immoral Israel occupation, with the necessary international protection.
While the number of Jewish settlers illegally living in the West Bank and Jerusalem by the end of 2013 was 350,000, the current number of settlers is around 54,.000, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories (B’Tselem) said.
It added that Israel established 125 settlements, dubbing them as “communities,” in the West Bank, in the period between 1967 and late 2013.
In addition, more than 100 colonial outposts were established without authorization from the Israeli government, yet these outposts received funding and support from government ministries despite their 'illegal' status. The Israeli government also directly funded and supported colonial outposts in the heart of Palestinian neighborhoods in occupied East Jerusalem.
9 nov 2015
A number of Israeli Knesset members called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to defend Israel’s settlement construction policy in West Bank and occupied Jerusalem, as he headed to Washington DC on Sunday to meet with US president Barack Obama.
21 MKs out of 120 deputies signed the letter, calling on Netanyahu to “clarify to the Honorable President that the State of Israel has a historic and legal right to hold and build in Jerusalem and West Bank.”
“The Israeli public, whom we were elected to represent, demands that this right be exercised and put into practice, and sees American opposition to building [in those areas] as unreasonable in the framework of relations between the two countries,” the letter reads.
For his part, Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett criticized Netanyahu’s reported plan to propose during his talks with Obama, that “Israel implement a series of goodwill gestures towards the Palestinians.”
"We are in the middle of a wave of terrorism. Giving gestures is like pouring fire on the bonfire of terror,” Bennett claimed on Twitter.
In his turn, MK Bezalel Smotrich (Bayit Yehudi) took the message another step and tweeted: “It is unfortunate that we are continuing to sit in his government without demanding and enforcing a change in policy.”
Last week, Israel's civilian planning committee for construction approved the recognition of two illegal settlements and the construction of thousands more housing units near Ramallah and occupied Jerusalem.
The plan came at a time Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Washington on Sunday to meet US President Barack Obama.
21 MKs out of 120 deputies signed the letter, calling on Netanyahu to “clarify to the Honorable President that the State of Israel has a historic and legal right to hold and build in Jerusalem and West Bank.”
“The Israeli public, whom we were elected to represent, demands that this right be exercised and put into practice, and sees American opposition to building [in those areas] as unreasonable in the framework of relations between the two countries,” the letter reads.
For his part, Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett criticized Netanyahu’s reported plan to propose during his talks with Obama, that “Israel implement a series of goodwill gestures towards the Palestinians.”
"We are in the middle of a wave of terrorism. Giving gestures is like pouring fire on the bonfire of terror,” Bennett claimed on Twitter.
In his turn, MK Bezalel Smotrich (Bayit Yehudi) took the message another step and tweeted: “It is unfortunate that we are continuing to sit in his government without demanding and enforcing a change in policy.”
Last week, Israel's civilian planning committee for construction approved the recognition of two illegal settlements and the construction of thousands more housing units near Ramallah and occupied Jerusalem.
The plan came at a time Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Washington on Sunday to meet US President Barack Obama.
The Hebrew radio has claimed that Jordan and Israel will build a new border bridge between their territories as part of a joint industrial project they plan to establish in the Jordan Valley.
The radio report said that the Israeli ministry of regional cooperation invited tenders for the building of a bridge spanning the Jordan River as a prelude to establishing a joint industrial zone hosting Jordanian and Israeli factories.
The project will be established over 950 dunums of land, mostly on the Jordanian side (more than of 700 dunums).
The radio report said that the Israeli ministry of regional cooperation invited tenders for the building of a bridge spanning the Jordan River as a prelude to establishing a joint industrial zone hosting Jordanian and Israeli factories.
The project will be established over 950 dunums of land, mostly on the Jordanian side (more than of 700 dunums).
Israel's civilian planning committee for construction approved last week the recognition of two illegal settlements and the construction of thousands more housing units near Ramallah and occupied Jerusalem, Israeli media sources said.
Haaretz Hebrew newspaper revealed Monday that “Israel last week green lighted some 2,200 new housing units within existing settlements in the West Bank and retroactively recognized two outposts.”
According to Haaretz, the Higher Planning Council of the Civil Administration agreed to advance a master plan for the Ma’aleh Michmash area east of Ramallah and Tel Zion north of occupied Jerusalem.
The plan was initially suggested last year and was then approved in October 2015 by the Israeli war minister Moshe Yalon.
The Israeli move comes most likely in a bid to preempt legal attempts by Palestinians and rights groups that had appealed for the settlement evacuation, the newspaper added.
The report came at a time Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Washington on Sunday to meet US President Barack Obama.
Israel Approves Plan to ‘Legalize’ Colonial Outposts and Construct Thousands More Units
In yet another decision that violates International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention, the Higher Construction and Planning Committee of the Israeli ‘Civil Administration Office’ has approved a construction plan to ‘legalize’ two colonial outposts in Ramallah, in addition to building 2200 more units.
The Israeli plan includes the approval of a structural map for the Ma'ale Mikhmas illegal colony, built on illegally seized Palestinian lands east of Ramallah. The plan also calls for the construction of 2200 new units, and the ‘legalizing’ two outposts (this would make them legal under Israeli law, but they remain a direct violation of international law).
The plan, originally submitted in 2014 and approved by Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon last month, would lead to the construction of an additional 800 units in Ma'ale Mikhmas by the year 2030 and 300 units in Kokhav HaShahar. In total, the plan includes the construction of at least 2200 units in Kokhav HaShahar, Ramonim, Ma’ale Mikhmas and Psagot, to be completed by 2030.
The plan also includes the construction of new units in Tel Zion, and the area south of Ofra colony, in the northern part of the West Bank.
Israeli daily Haaretz said the approval comes ahead of a hearing in the High Court of Justice, scheduled for Wednesday, to look into a petition submitted by Yesh Din Israeli organization, on behalf of Palestinian land owners, calling for the removal of Mitzpeh Danny illegal outpost, built on private Palestinian property.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry denounced the Israeli plans, and considered it part of the comprehensive Israeli escalation, and crimes, against the Palestinian people, in addition to directly violating all related resolutions and agreements.
The Ministry added that Israeli plans would place “further obstacles in the efforts to resume direct peace talks to reach a comprehensive settlement of the conflict, by achieving the two-state solution.”
It stated that the timing of the new plan, ahead of the planned meeting between President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu places further tensions and obstacles that would further obstruction the conducts of the Quartet Committee (The United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations).
“Israel continues to commit its crimes with impunity, acting as a state that is above International Law,” the Ministry said, “Settlements are illegal, and are considered war crimes under International Law, signed agreements and the Fourth Geneva Conventions.”
The Ministry said Israel’s colonies in occupied Palestine are among the issues recently presented to the International Criminal Court.
It called on the Quartet Committee and the UN Security Council to require Israel to halt its violations, and abide by international law, in addition to stopping the escalating Israeli crimes and violations against the Palestinian people, and against their lands and holy sites.
The Ministry also called on the Security Council to provide the Palestinians, who are living under an illegal and immoral Israel occupation, with the necessary international protection.
While the number of Jewish settlers illegally living in the West Bank and Jerusalem by the end of 2013 was 350,000, the current number of settlers is around 54,.000, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories (B’Tselem) said.
It added that Israel established 125 settlements, dubbing them as “communities,” in the West Bank, in the period between 1967 and late 2013.
In addition, more than 100 colonial outposts were established without authorization from the Israeli government, yet these outposts received funding and support from government ministries despite their 'illegal' status. The Israeli government also directly funded and supported colonial outposts in the heart of Palestinian neighborhoods in occupied East Jerusalem.
Haaretz Hebrew newspaper revealed Monday that “Israel last week green lighted some 2,200 new housing units within existing settlements in the West Bank and retroactively recognized two outposts.”
According to Haaretz, the Higher Planning Council of the Civil Administration agreed to advance a master plan for the Ma’aleh Michmash area east of Ramallah and Tel Zion north of occupied Jerusalem.
The plan was initially suggested last year and was then approved in October 2015 by the Israeli war minister Moshe Yalon.
The Israeli move comes most likely in a bid to preempt legal attempts by Palestinians and rights groups that had appealed for the settlement evacuation, the newspaper added.
The report came at a time Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Washington on Sunday to meet US President Barack Obama.
Israel Approves Plan to ‘Legalize’ Colonial Outposts and Construct Thousands More Units
In yet another decision that violates International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention, the Higher Construction and Planning Committee of the Israeli ‘Civil Administration Office’ has approved a construction plan to ‘legalize’ two colonial outposts in Ramallah, in addition to building 2200 more units.
The Israeli plan includes the approval of a structural map for the Ma'ale Mikhmas illegal colony, built on illegally seized Palestinian lands east of Ramallah. The plan also calls for the construction of 2200 new units, and the ‘legalizing’ two outposts (this would make them legal under Israeli law, but they remain a direct violation of international law).
The plan, originally submitted in 2014 and approved by Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon last month, would lead to the construction of an additional 800 units in Ma'ale Mikhmas by the year 2030 and 300 units in Kokhav HaShahar. In total, the plan includes the construction of at least 2200 units in Kokhav HaShahar, Ramonim, Ma’ale Mikhmas and Psagot, to be completed by 2030.
The plan also includes the construction of new units in Tel Zion, and the area south of Ofra colony, in the northern part of the West Bank.
Israeli daily Haaretz said the approval comes ahead of a hearing in the High Court of Justice, scheduled for Wednesday, to look into a petition submitted by Yesh Din Israeli organization, on behalf of Palestinian land owners, calling for the removal of Mitzpeh Danny illegal outpost, built on private Palestinian property.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry denounced the Israeli plans, and considered it part of the comprehensive Israeli escalation, and crimes, against the Palestinian people, in addition to directly violating all related resolutions and agreements.
The Ministry added that Israeli plans would place “further obstacles in the efforts to resume direct peace talks to reach a comprehensive settlement of the conflict, by achieving the two-state solution.”
It stated that the timing of the new plan, ahead of the planned meeting between President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu places further tensions and obstacles that would further obstruction the conducts of the Quartet Committee (The United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations).
“Israel continues to commit its crimes with impunity, acting as a state that is above International Law,” the Ministry said, “Settlements are illegal, and are considered war crimes under International Law, signed agreements and the Fourth Geneva Conventions.”
The Ministry said Israel’s colonies in occupied Palestine are among the issues recently presented to the International Criminal Court.
It called on the Quartet Committee and the UN Security Council to require Israel to halt its violations, and abide by international law, in addition to stopping the escalating Israeli crimes and violations against the Palestinian people, and against their lands and holy sites.
The Ministry also called on the Security Council to provide the Palestinians, who are living under an illegal and immoral Israel occupation, with the necessary international protection.
While the number of Jewish settlers illegally living in the West Bank and Jerusalem by the end of 2013 was 350,000, the current number of settlers is around 54,.000, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories (B’Tselem) said.
It added that Israel established 125 settlements, dubbing them as “communities,” in the West Bank, in the period between 1967 and late 2013.
In addition, more than 100 colonial outposts were established without authorization from the Israeli government, yet these outposts received funding and support from government ministries despite their 'illegal' status. The Israeli government also directly funded and supported colonial outposts in the heart of Palestinian neighborhoods in occupied East Jerusalem.
5 nov 2015
In challenge to the international community, Israeli government has doubled settlement contraction in occupied West Bank as Israeli settlers’ numbers have reached 655,000, Palestinian rights activist said.
The official responsible for monitoring settlement activity in the northern West Bank, Ghassan Douglas, told reporters in a press conference held Wednesday in Nablus that Israeli authorities have notified recently ten Palestinian homes, housing 70 Palestinian citizens, with demolition as a prelude to hand them to Israeli settlers.
Ten Israeli settlements and outposts have been illegally built at the expense of Palestinian lands in Jalud village after hundreds of local residents were forcibly displaced, Douglas pointed out.
Dozens of Palestinian homes were demolished under the pretexts of being built without permits although many of those demolished homes were built before the establishment of the Israeli state, he underlined.
He stressed the urgent need for an international intervention to put an end to the Israeli demolition policy. He also called for organizing sit-ins and rallies in Jalud village in protest against Israeli racial discrimination policy against Palestinian villages.
For his part, head of the village council Abduallah Haj Mohamed pointed out that Palestinian local farmers are prevented from having access to their agricultural lands as 85 per cent of the village's land was confiscated by Israeli authorities.
The official responsible for monitoring settlement activity in the northern West Bank, Ghassan Douglas, told reporters in a press conference held Wednesday in Nablus that Israeli authorities have notified recently ten Palestinian homes, housing 70 Palestinian citizens, with demolition as a prelude to hand them to Israeli settlers.
Ten Israeli settlements and outposts have been illegally built at the expense of Palestinian lands in Jalud village after hundreds of local residents were forcibly displaced, Douglas pointed out.
Dozens of Palestinian homes were demolished under the pretexts of being built without permits although many of those demolished homes were built before the establishment of the Israeli state, he underlined.
He stressed the urgent need for an international intervention to put an end to the Israeli demolition policy. He also called for organizing sit-ins and rallies in Jalud village in protest against Israeli racial discrimination policy against Palestinian villages.
For his part, head of the village council Abduallah Haj Mohamed pointed out that Palestinian local farmers are prevented from having access to their agricultural lands as 85 per cent of the village's land was confiscated by Israeli authorities.
1 nov 2015
The Israeli occupation authorities announced their intents to seize 102 dunums of Palestinian lands in Bethlehem and Beit Sahour.
Director of the cartography department in the Arab Studies Association, Khalil al-Tafkaji, said the confiscation decision has been issued by the Israeli Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon for military usage.
The official said the decisions, propagated by Israeli media outlets, will be in effect for 10 years under the security pretext.
Earlier, some few days ago, Israeli news sources said the Israeli occupation government approved the construction of three illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank at the expense of Palestinians’ own land rights.
Director of the cartography department in the Arab Studies Association, Khalil al-Tafkaji, said the confiscation decision has been issued by the Israeli Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon for military usage.
The official said the decisions, propagated by Israeli media outlets, will be in effect for 10 years under the security pretext.
Earlier, some few days ago, Israeli news sources said the Israeli occupation government approved the construction of three illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank at the expense of Palestinians’ own land rights.
30 oct 2015
Israeli Envoy to the UN Danny Danon described the resolution as 'destructive instead of being constructive'
Israel reiterated its rejection today of the draft resolution proposed by New Zealand in the UN Security Council calling for the revival of the settlement process to resolve the Palestinian issue.
Israeli radio quoted the Israeli Envoy to the UN Danny Danon as saying that the aforementioned resolution was rejected by Israel, describing it as “destructive instead of being constructive.”
“The only way to achieve peace is through direct talks between the parties,” Damon added, and that “the best way to reduce tensions in the region is to urge President Abbas to accept Prime Minister Netanyahu's call to meet with him.”
New Zealand presented the draft resolution, which aims to revive settlement negotiations to resolve the Palestinian issue, to the Security Council last night.
The draft resolution calls on Israel and the Palestinians to take steps “to end the violence, avoid incitement and protect civilians.” It also urges both sides to refrain from “provocative acts, including acts which threaten the historic status quo of holy sites in Jerusalem,” including the Holy Mosque of Al-Aqsa.
In addition to this, New Zealand’s resolution demands that Israel stop building settlements and demolishing Palestinian homes, and that Israel stop attempting to prevent the Palestinians from taking action in the International Criminal Court.
It asks members of the Quartet of Middle East mediators, as well as the sponsors of the Arab peace initiative and Security Council members, to assist the Palestinians and Israelis in preparing for the resumption of negotiations.
The PA Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki announced that the New Zealand resolution is being considered by the Palestinians in order to respond to it.
Israel reiterated its rejection today of the draft resolution proposed by New Zealand in the UN Security Council calling for the revival of the settlement process to resolve the Palestinian issue.
Israeli radio quoted the Israeli Envoy to the UN Danny Danon as saying that the aforementioned resolution was rejected by Israel, describing it as “destructive instead of being constructive.”
“The only way to achieve peace is through direct talks between the parties,” Damon added, and that “the best way to reduce tensions in the region is to urge President Abbas to accept Prime Minister Netanyahu's call to meet with him.”
New Zealand presented the draft resolution, which aims to revive settlement negotiations to resolve the Palestinian issue, to the Security Council last night.
The draft resolution calls on Israel and the Palestinians to take steps “to end the violence, avoid incitement and protect civilians.” It also urges both sides to refrain from “provocative acts, including acts which threaten the historic status quo of holy sites in Jerusalem,” including the Holy Mosque of Al-Aqsa.
In addition to this, New Zealand’s resolution demands that Israel stop building settlements and demolishing Palestinian homes, and that Israel stop attempting to prevent the Palestinians from taking action in the International Criminal Court.
It asks members of the Quartet of Middle East mediators, as well as the sponsors of the Arab peace initiative and Security Council members, to assist the Palestinians and Israelis in preparing for the resumption of negotiations.
The PA Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki announced that the New Zealand resolution is being considered by the Palestinians in order to respond to it.
The Israeli occupation government has issued construction permits for three illegal settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank, the Hebrew radio said on Friday.
It added that one week after issuing construction permits for Itamar settlement, southeast of Nablus city, similar licenses were issued to build more units in the illegal outposts of Shvut Rachel, Sansana and Yakir in order to turn them into settlement blocs.
The Israeli new settlement plans are seen as attempts to confer legitimacy on the three outposts.
It added that one week after issuing construction permits for Itamar settlement, southeast of Nablus city, similar licenses were issued to build more units in the illegal outposts of Shvut Rachel, Sansana and Yakir in order to turn them into settlement blocs.
The Israeli new settlement plans are seen as attempts to confer legitimacy on the three outposts.
29 oct 2015
Israeli press reports revealed that New Zealand has drafted a UN resolution that reportedly calls for a freeze on Israeli settlement building in the West Bank and for Palestinians to abandon their bid to take legal action against Israel at the International Criminal Court. This came within latest effort to revive direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
New Zealand is preparing a UN Security Council resolution calling on Israel to freeze construction and home demolitions in the West Bank, as well as urging the Palestinians to desist from taking steps against Israel at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, as part of a series of confidence-building steps ahead of a hoped-for resumption of peace talks, Haaretz reported on Wednesday.
New Zealand, a non-permanent Security Council member for the last year, has planned to disseminate the draft resolution for some time, but relented following a request by the United States. In view of the escalation of tension around the Temple Mount, it has decided to renew its motion, handing it out last Friday to the other 14 Security Council members. Haaretz has obtained a copy.
The newspaper quoted an Israeli official as saying that New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs, Murry McCully, offered the initiative to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Tel Aviv two months ago and Netanyahu did not refuse the initiative. A few days ago, New Zealand officially sent the initiative to Israel and the latter did not refuse it as well.
The draft called on both sides “to take the necessary measures to rebuild confidence and prepare for the resumption of negotiations.” This includes halting settlement expansion, demolition of Palestinian homes and other provocative actions especially those threatening the Aqsa Mosque as well as to stop plans to prosecute Israel at the ICC.
New Zealand is preparing a UN Security Council resolution calling on Israel to freeze construction and home demolitions in the West Bank, as well as urging the Palestinians to desist from taking steps against Israel at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, as part of a series of confidence-building steps ahead of a hoped-for resumption of peace talks, Haaretz reported on Wednesday.
New Zealand, a non-permanent Security Council member for the last year, has planned to disseminate the draft resolution for some time, but relented following a request by the United States. In view of the escalation of tension around the Temple Mount, it has decided to renew its motion, handing it out last Friday to the other 14 Security Council members. Haaretz has obtained a copy.
The newspaper quoted an Israeli official as saying that New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs, Murry McCully, offered the initiative to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Tel Aviv two months ago and Netanyahu did not refuse the initiative. A few days ago, New Zealand officially sent the initiative to Israel and the latter did not refuse it as well.
The draft called on both sides “to take the necessary measures to rebuild confidence and prepare for the resumption of negotiations.” This includes halting settlement expansion, demolition of Palestinian homes and other provocative actions especially those threatening the Aqsa Mosque as well as to stop plans to prosecute Israel at the ICC.
26 oct 2015
Israeli settlement in foreground, with Sho'afat camp behind the Wall
The Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, in a recent Cabinet meeting, proposed revoking the residency rights of 80,000 Jerusalemites, which would mean that the people of Sho'afat refugee camp and Kafr Aqab, as well as other neighborhoods, would be cut off from the rest of Jerusalem.
The proposal was considered by the Israeli Cabinet in their recent meeting, but no decision was made.
Already, the 3 million Palestinians living in the West Bank have been severed from Jerusalem due to the Israeli construction of a massive Wall over the past 13 years. The Wall has annexed large sections of Palestinian land and made them a de facto part of the state of Israel, in direct violation of the responsibilities of an occupier under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Israel's government signed the Convention in 1957, requiring it to provide for the needs of civilian populations under occupation. The Convention also requires that an Occupying Power must not transfer any civilians into the land it has militarily occupied. But Israel has transferred over half a million people into settlements constructed on Palestinian land that was militarily occupied, then illegally seized, since the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and the Golan Heights began in 1967.
In Jerusalem, the Israeli Annexation Wall has been constructed in such a way as to annex as much of Jerusalem as possible for the Israeli state, while forcing the Palestinian population into smaller and smaller enclaves. Now, under the Israeli Prime Minister's proposal, residents of those enclaves would lose their residency rights altogether.
Israel has an identity card system for the residents of Jerusalem that is completely unique in the world. Jewish Israelis who live in Jerusalem or in paramilitary colonies in the West Bank are afforded full Israeli citizenship. But Palestinians who live on their ancestral land in Jerusalem are given a different kind of identity card, which ensures that they have far fewer rights than Jewish residents of the city.
If a Palestinian resident of Jerusalem, for example, were to travel abroad for more than a year, Israel would consider that person to be an 'absentee property owner', and would seize their land and home and annex it to Israel, denying the Palestinian owner the right to return to their home. The rule only applies to Palestinian residents of Jerusalem, and not to Jewish residents of the city.
According to the Israeli paper Yedioth Ahranoth, following the construction of new walls and barricades in recent weeks to further separate and segregate Palestinian residents of Jerusalem from Jewish residents, the Israeli Prime Minister told his Cabinet ministers, "We need to examine the possibility of canceling their [Palestinian Jerusalemites] residency. There needs to be a discussion about it."
Some Israeli ministers voiced opposition to the plan, not because they were concerned about the Palestinian Jerusalemites losing their residency rights, but because they believe such a division would "give up territory" that some Israelis believe should belong to Israel.
That claim is based on a military takeover of the land by Israeli forces. Neither international law nor signed agreements recognize military takeover of land as a legitimate way of expanding state territory.
The Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, in a recent Cabinet meeting, proposed revoking the residency rights of 80,000 Jerusalemites, which would mean that the people of Sho'afat refugee camp and Kafr Aqab, as well as other neighborhoods, would be cut off from the rest of Jerusalem.
The proposal was considered by the Israeli Cabinet in their recent meeting, but no decision was made.
Already, the 3 million Palestinians living in the West Bank have been severed from Jerusalem due to the Israeli construction of a massive Wall over the past 13 years. The Wall has annexed large sections of Palestinian land and made them a de facto part of the state of Israel, in direct violation of the responsibilities of an occupier under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Israel's government signed the Convention in 1957, requiring it to provide for the needs of civilian populations under occupation. The Convention also requires that an Occupying Power must not transfer any civilians into the land it has militarily occupied. But Israel has transferred over half a million people into settlements constructed on Palestinian land that was militarily occupied, then illegally seized, since the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and the Golan Heights began in 1967.
In Jerusalem, the Israeli Annexation Wall has been constructed in such a way as to annex as much of Jerusalem as possible for the Israeli state, while forcing the Palestinian population into smaller and smaller enclaves. Now, under the Israeli Prime Minister's proposal, residents of those enclaves would lose their residency rights altogether.
Israel has an identity card system for the residents of Jerusalem that is completely unique in the world. Jewish Israelis who live in Jerusalem or in paramilitary colonies in the West Bank are afforded full Israeli citizenship. But Palestinians who live on their ancestral land in Jerusalem are given a different kind of identity card, which ensures that they have far fewer rights than Jewish residents of the city.
If a Palestinian resident of Jerusalem, for example, were to travel abroad for more than a year, Israel would consider that person to be an 'absentee property owner', and would seize their land and home and annex it to Israel, denying the Palestinian owner the right to return to their home. The rule only applies to Palestinian residents of Jerusalem, and not to Jewish residents of the city.
According to the Israeli paper Yedioth Ahranoth, following the construction of new walls and barricades in recent weeks to further separate and segregate Palestinian residents of Jerusalem from Jewish residents, the Israeli Prime Minister told his Cabinet ministers, "We need to examine the possibility of canceling their [Palestinian Jerusalemites] residency. There needs to be a discussion about it."
Some Israeli ministers voiced opposition to the plan, not because they were concerned about the Palestinian Jerusalemites losing their residency rights, but because they believe such a division would "give up territory" that some Israelis believe should belong to Israel.
That claim is based on a military takeover of the land by Israeli forces. Neither international law nor signed agreements recognize military takeover of land as a legitimate way of expanding state territory.
25 oct 2015
The Israeli occupation authorities and settlers have proceeded with the construction of dozens of illegal settlement units near the Rotem settlement in the northern Jordan Valley at the expense of Palestinians’ own lands, Palestinian sources reported Sunday.
Local sources said Israeli settlers from the illegal Rotem settlement in northern Jordan Valley have started construction work to expand the settlement and build dozens of Israeli settlement units in the eastern corners of the area.
The same sources spoke out against the arbitrary and illegal misappropriation of Palestinian lands by the Israeli authorities and settlers as part of intents to stretch the boundaries of the illegal settlement.
Bedouins’ village council in the northern Jordan Valley warned of the escalated pace of Israeli illegal settlement and misappropriation of Palestinian lands along with the demolition of native homes in an attempt to mar Palestinians’ lives and pave the way for forcible deportation.
Local sources said Israeli settlers from the illegal Rotem settlement in northern Jordan Valley have started construction work to expand the settlement and build dozens of Israeli settlement units in the eastern corners of the area.
The same sources spoke out against the arbitrary and illegal misappropriation of Palestinian lands by the Israeli authorities and settlers as part of intents to stretch the boundaries of the illegal settlement.
Bedouins’ village council in the northern Jordan Valley warned of the escalated pace of Israeli illegal settlement and misappropriation of Palestinian lands along with the demolition of native homes in an attempt to mar Palestinians’ lives and pave the way for forcible deportation.
Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu denied he made a commitment to the US to stop sanctioning new settlement projects in the West Bank.
"In contrast to Palestinian claims, Israel has made no commitment not to approve new building plans in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank)," Netanyahu tweeted on Saturday.
However, the website of Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper quoted chief negotiator of the Palestinian Authority Saeb Erekat as saying that US secretary of state John Kerry relayed Netanyahu's pledge to freeze settlement expansion activities in the occupied lands.
"In contrast to Palestinian claims, Israel has made no commitment not to approve new building plans in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank)," Netanyahu tweeted on Saturday.
However, the website of Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper quoted chief negotiator of the Palestinian Authority Saeb Erekat as saying that US secretary of state John Kerry relayed Netanyahu's pledge to freeze settlement expansion activities in the occupied lands.
23 oct 2015
Israeli civil administration endorsed on Wednesday evening an order to build hundreds of settlement units in Itamar settlement outpost close to Nablus city, Israeli Channel Ten revealed.
The endorsement was made after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Yossi Dagan, head of the northern West Bank settlements council, the channel stated.
It was agreed, in the meeting, to support new settlements with security forces and special budgets.
This agreement followed a deal between Netanyahu and Dagan for cancelling the latter a demonstration he was to lead against Netanyahu.
The endorsement was made after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Yossi Dagan, head of the northern West Bank settlements council, the channel stated.
It was agreed, in the meeting, to support new settlements with security forces and special budgets.
This agreement followed a deal between Netanyahu and Dagan for cancelling the latter a demonstration he was to lead against Netanyahu.
