1 june 2015
Khalil Tafakji, a Palestinian expert in Maps and the head of the " and Geographic Information Systems Department" of the Arab Studies Center in Jerusalem, said the Palestinian Authority intends to submit 160 files to the International Criminal Court (ICC), documenting Israel’s illegal settlement activities.
Tafakji said the files will be submitted to the ICC during this month, June 2015; his statements came during an interview with the al-Ghad Jordanian paper, in which he said that the documents would include attached maps, and aerial photographs.
The pictures, although taken in 1997, document the structures of 145 illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and 15 in occupied Jerusalem, while the maps and data regarding those settlements is current.
Tafakji stated that the settlements house more than 500.000 Israeli settlers, including around 200.000 in occupied Jerusalem, living in colonies built on Palestinian lands that would be part of the anticipated Palestinian State.
He added that technical experts are working alongside International Law specialists, in order to gather all needed information, maps, photos and data regarding Israel’s ongoing illegal settlement construction and expansion activities.
“Every settlement has its own file, structural maps, documentation, photos, and all related military orders issued by Israel,” Tafakji said, “The info also includes the year of establishment of each settlement, in addition to lands confiscated for their construction, lands confiscated for expansion, and the lands Israel intends to confiscate for further expansion activities.”
He also said that aerial photographs provided a clear idea of sizes of the settlements when they were constructed, the current areas they occupy and the number of settlers living there.
The official stated that Israel uses different claims and “justifications” to illegally confiscate Palestinian lands, including declaring them as “natural reserves,” “green areas,” or the lands classified either as “State Property," or as “Closed Military Zones.”
The files and documentations were prepared and collected by the Higher National Committee, which was recently formed, under direct orders from President Mahmoud Abbas.
The Committee includes eleven International Law experts from various countries, who are reportedly preparing to submit the files of Israeli settlements, and its wars on Gaza, to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Wasel Abu Yousef, said the committee has finalized the two files, and is currently coordinating the moves for submitting it through its team of lawyers within two weeks.
Abu Yousef added that the Palestinians strongly believe heading to the ICC to sue Israel for its crimes, and repeated aggressions on Gaza, is a justified cause aiming at holding Israel accountable for its ongoing, and escalating, violations of International Law and all related United Nations and Security Council resolutions.
Tafakji said the files will be submitted to the ICC during this month, June 2015; his statements came during an interview with the al-Ghad Jordanian paper, in which he said that the documents would include attached maps, and aerial photographs.
The pictures, although taken in 1997, document the structures of 145 illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and 15 in occupied Jerusalem, while the maps and data regarding those settlements is current.
Tafakji stated that the settlements house more than 500.000 Israeli settlers, including around 200.000 in occupied Jerusalem, living in colonies built on Palestinian lands that would be part of the anticipated Palestinian State.
He added that technical experts are working alongside International Law specialists, in order to gather all needed information, maps, photos and data regarding Israel’s ongoing illegal settlement construction and expansion activities.
“Every settlement has its own file, structural maps, documentation, photos, and all related military orders issued by Israel,” Tafakji said, “The info also includes the year of establishment of each settlement, in addition to lands confiscated for their construction, lands confiscated for expansion, and the lands Israel intends to confiscate for further expansion activities.”
He also said that aerial photographs provided a clear idea of sizes of the settlements when they were constructed, the current areas they occupy and the number of settlers living there.
The official stated that Israel uses different claims and “justifications” to illegally confiscate Palestinian lands, including declaring them as “natural reserves,” “green areas,” or the lands classified either as “State Property," or as “Closed Military Zones.”
The files and documentations were prepared and collected by the Higher National Committee, which was recently formed, under direct orders from President Mahmoud Abbas.
The Committee includes eleven International Law experts from various countries, who are reportedly preparing to submit the files of Israeli settlements, and its wars on Gaza, to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Wasel Abu Yousef, said the committee has finalized the two files, and is currently coordinating the moves for submitting it through its team of lawyers within two weeks.
Abu Yousef added that the Palestinians strongly believe heading to the ICC to sue Israel for its crimes, and repeated aggressions on Gaza, is a justified cause aiming at holding Israel accountable for its ongoing, and escalating, violations of International Law and all related United Nations and Security Council resolutions.
Israeli military bulldozers have laid Sunday afternoon a settlement road at the expanse of Palestinian-owned land to the south of Nablus.
Eyewitnesses told PIC reporter that Israeli bulldozers have established under the protection of nearly 50 Israeli soldiers a new settlement road within about 150 meters in Assira town in the city.
The settlement road, that links between an Israeli military site with the main water tank in the area, will prevent nearly 20 Palestinian farmers from reaching their agricultural lands, the sources added.
Assira town is daily subjected to Israeli settlers’ systematic attacks under Israeli forces’ protection as it is located between Yitzhar and Bracha illegal settlements.
Eyewitnesses told PIC reporter that Israeli bulldozers have established under the protection of nearly 50 Israeli soldiers a new settlement road within about 150 meters in Assira town in the city.
The settlement road, that links between an Israeli military site with the main water tank in the area, will prevent nearly 20 Palestinian farmers from reaching their agricultural lands, the sources added.
Assira town is daily subjected to Israeli settlers’ systematic attacks under Israeli forces’ protection as it is located between Yitzhar and Bracha illegal settlements.
30 may 2015
The “Appeals Commission in the Supreme Planning Council” held a session last Wednesday to listen to the objections submitted against the decision made by the District Committee for Planning and Building to ratify the settlement project “Kedem Compound- City of David- Old City of Jerusalem” which is intended to be built at the entrance of Silwan.
Wadi Hilweh Information center explained that the session lasted from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. where objections from the locals of the neighborhood of Wadi Hilweh represented by their lawyer Sami Arshid were submitted in addition to objections submitted by Wadi Hilweh committee, the organizations of “Eir Amim” and Amiq Shafih” and a group of Israelis. Also, the Mayor of the occupation municipality, Nir Barakat, also talked during the session amid objections by the locals regarding his performance and support to the building of the settlement center.
People who objected the settlement project submitted their objections separately as it conflicts with the rights of the locals of Silwan in general and the neighborhood of Wadi Hilweh in particular as well as ignoring their needs.
Lawyer Sami Arshid…the project is “political and Jerusalem is occupied”
Lawyer Arshid talked during the session about the occupation authorities’ negligence throughout the years to the needs of the residents of Wadi Hilweh as they are deprived from developing their neighborhood or even getting any building permits which is opposite to the structural plan that was valid in 1967 that gave the residents the right to build in this area.
The lawyer added that Kedem Compound project was presented by a political party which is Elad Settlement organization that aims at achieving political goals that contradicts with the benefits of the people and affects their daily lives.
The lawyer said: “Jerusalem is an occupied area according to the International Law, and Israel should stop carrying out one-sided actions that could negatively affect the life of the people. According to the agreements Israel signed including Oslo agreement, Israel has committed that the future of Jerusalem remains entrusted to talks and any future agreements and planning and building in this area is a violation to this commitment.”
The lawyer also ensured that the building of Kedem directly affects the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem and if it gets built then it will be the closest building to the walls and Al-Aqsa Mosque.
During the session, Jawad Siam who is a member of Wadi Hilweh committee talked about the problems the neighborhood of Wadi Hilweh faces and how their essential needs of schools and playgrounds are neglected. On the other hand, houses and commercial stores are constantly being demolished and high fines are imposed on the owners in addition to daily raids by the municipality’s staffs to the residential establishments which create a state of worry to the residents; he also talked about the negligence of the infrastructure in Silwan.
Barakat… Encourages tourism on the account of land owners!!!
The Mayor of the occupation municipality, Nir Barakat, asked the Supreme Planning Council to approve the settlement project as it will attract millions of tourists from around the world to the city of Jerusalem.
The residents responded and said: “We are talking about a settlement project and not a tourist project. We should take care of the residents before tourists and the presence of settlers in Jerusalem in particular and especially in Silwan was the reason behind the decline in the tourism sector in the city.”
A session to hear the settlers’ objections on Thursday
A session was also held on Thursday to listen to the claims of Elad settlement organization regarding the settlement project “Kedem”.
Kedem project
It is noteworthy that the project which has the Structural engineering figure of 13542 aims at establishing a tourists’ building for the use of scientists and the Department of the Israel Antiquities in addition to building to building conference halls, educational rooms and parking lots for the tourists and settlers. Also, special areas will be allocated for tourists’ purposes, commercial stores and an office for the settlement organization of “Elad”.
The settlement project will be established on the lands of the residents of Silwan which were used as farms until Jerusalem was occupied in 1967. After the occupation, the Israeli authorities confiscated the lands and demolished two rooms that were owned by Abdo family and then turned it into a parking lot. In 2003, Elad settlement organization took control of the lands and started planning for the implementation of the settlement project. The carried out continuous excavations in the area of “Dung Gate” and demolished an Islamic cemetery that was 1200 years old in addition to demolishing Umayyad, Ottoman, Byzantine and Roman ruins such as rooms, poles and arches and only left a few of them claiming they are they “ruins of the Second Temple”; note that pa of the project will be designed to show those alleged ruins.
Wadi Hilweh Information center explained that the session lasted from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. where objections from the locals of the neighborhood of Wadi Hilweh represented by their lawyer Sami Arshid were submitted in addition to objections submitted by Wadi Hilweh committee, the organizations of “Eir Amim” and Amiq Shafih” and a group of Israelis. Also, the Mayor of the occupation municipality, Nir Barakat, also talked during the session amid objections by the locals regarding his performance and support to the building of the settlement center.
People who objected the settlement project submitted their objections separately as it conflicts with the rights of the locals of Silwan in general and the neighborhood of Wadi Hilweh in particular as well as ignoring their needs.
Lawyer Sami Arshid…the project is “political and Jerusalem is occupied”
Lawyer Arshid talked during the session about the occupation authorities’ negligence throughout the years to the needs of the residents of Wadi Hilweh as they are deprived from developing their neighborhood or even getting any building permits which is opposite to the structural plan that was valid in 1967 that gave the residents the right to build in this area.
The lawyer added that Kedem Compound project was presented by a political party which is Elad Settlement organization that aims at achieving political goals that contradicts with the benefits of the people and affects their daily lives.
The lawyer said: “Jerusalem is an occupied area according to the International Law, and Israel should stop carrying out one-sided actions that could negatively affect the life of the people. According to the agreements Israel signed including Oslo agreement, Israel has committed that the future of Jerusalem remains entrusted to talks and any future agreements and planning and building in this area is a violation to this commitment.”
The lawyer also ensured that the building of Kedem directly affects the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem and if it gets built then it will be the closest building to the walls and Al-Aqsa Mosque.
During the session, Jawad Siam who is a member of Wadi Hilweh committee talked about the problems the neighborhood of Wadi Hilweh faces and how their essential needs of schools and playgrounds are neglected. On the other hand, houses and commercial stores are constantly being demolished and high fines are imposed on the owners in addition to daily raids by the municipality’s staffs to the residential establishments which create a state of worry to the residents; he also talked about the negligence of the infrastructure in Silwan.
Barakat… Encourages tourism on the account of land owners!!!
The Mayor of the occupation municipality, Nir Barakat, asked the Supreme Planning Council to approve the settlement project as it will attract millions of tourists from around the world to the city of Jerusalem.
The residents responded and said: “We are talking about a settlement project and not a tourist project. We should take care of the residents before tourists and the presence of settlers in Jerusalem in particular and especially in Silwan was the reason behind the decline in the tourism sector in the city.”
A session to hear the settlers’ objections on Thursday
A session was also held on Thursday to listen to the claims of Elad settlement organization regarding the settlement project “Kedem”.
Kedem project
It is noteworthy that the project which has the Structural engineering figure of 13542 aims at establishing a tourists’ building for the use of scientists and the Department of the Israel Antiquities in addition to building to building conference halls, educational rooms and parking lots for the tourists and settlers. Also, special areas will be allocated for tourists’ purposes, commercial stores and an office for the settlement organization of “Elad”.
The settlement project will be established on the lands of the residents of Silwan which were used as farms until Jerusalem was occupied in 1967. After the occupation, the Israeli authorities confiscated the lands and demolished two rooms that were owned by Abdo family and then turned it into a parking lot. In 2003, Elad settlement organization took control of the lands and started planning for the implementation of the settlement project. The carried out continuous excavations in the area of “Dung Gate” and demolished an Islamic cemetery that was 1200 years old in addition to demolishing Umayyad, Ottoman, Byzantine and Roman ruins such as rooms, poles and arches and only left a few of them claiming they are they “ruins of the Second Temple”; note that pa of the project will be designed to show those alleged ruins.
The Israeli Local Planning and Building Committee in Jerusalem endorsed a few days ago 90 new building permits and started marketing 142 other new units in Har Homa outpost in Occupied Jerusalem.
Israeli media sources revealed on Friday that the endorsed 90 units will be distributed to four buildings including elevators, stories and underground parking lots.
The 142 units to be marketed are expected to be constructed in three separate buildings of 9 stories, the sources disclosed.
The Member of Jerusalem Municipality Council and Meretz leftist party, Vava Luo, slammed the Israeli continuation of settlement construction as it provokes disputes in the Jewish outposts, regardless of the negative international results.
Israeli media sources revealed on Friday that the endorsed 90 units will be distributed to four buildings including elevators, stories and underground parking lots.
The 142 units to be marketed are expected to be constructed in three separate buildings of 9 stories, the sources disclosed.
The Member of Jerusalem Municipality Council and Meretz leftist party, Vava Luo, slammed the Israeli continuation of settlement construction as it provokes disputes in the Jewish outposts, regardless of the negative international results.
27 may 2015
The Israeli occupation Premier Benjamin Netanyahu announced during his government’s weekly meeting on Tuesday his decision to allot a one 100-million-shekel-batch (25 million dollars) to Judaization projects in the environs of the Buraq Wall, in Occupied Jerusalem.
Netanyahu claimed the transfer of such a cash-batch is primarily prompted by the upsurge in the numbers of Israelis popping in the Buraq wall over the past five years.
“The Western Wall is for all Israelis’” he said. “Today’s decision reflects the ministers’ and my own commitment to continue construction works in Jerusalem.”
The decision comes just a few hours after Israel’s notorious Netanyahu appointed a pro-illegal settlement activist residing in the West Bank as a Minister for Jerusalem Affairs.
Earlier, last week, Netanyahu threatened to prop up illegal settlement and Judaization projects in eastern Occupied Jerusalem, dubbing Jerusalem the eternal capital of the self-proclaimed Jewish state.
His standpoint as regards Occupied Jerusalem and attempt to wipe out the city’s typically Islamic idiosyncrasy have sparked rage across and outside the occupied Palestinian territories.
Netanyahu claimed the transfer of such a cash-batch is primarily prompted by the upsurge in the numbers of Israelis popping in the Buraq wall over the past five years.
“The Western Wall is for all Israelis’” he said. “Today’s decision reflects the ministers’ and my own commitment to continue construction works in Jerusalem.”
The decision comes just a few hours after Israel’s notorious Netanyahu appointed a pro-illegal settlement activist residing in the West Bank as a Minister for Jerusalem Affairs.
Earlier, last week, Netanyahu threatened to prop up illegal settlement and Judaization projects in eastern Occupied Jerusalem, dubbing Jerusalem the eternal capital of the self-proclaimed Jewish state.
His standpoint as regards Occupied Jerusalem and attempt to wipe out the city’s typically Islamic idiosyncrasy have sparked rage across and outside the occupied Palestinian territories.
25 may 2015
Israeli forces destroy Bedouin structures in an East Jerusalem neighborhood
Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah of the Palestinian Authority pledged $50,000 to the Bedouin community of Abu Nuwwar east of Jerusalem that is currently being displaced by Israeli forces.
According to Ma'an, Hamdallah made the pledge on Sunday during a visit to the community accompanied by the EU envoy to the Palestinian Territories John Gatt-Rutter, and UN Humanitarian Coordinator James W. Rawley, as well as four government ministers.
The pledge comes two weeks after Palestinian families were told they have to evacuate in order for the illegal Israeli settlement of Ma'ale Adumim to be expanded.
Abu Nuwwar is one of many Bedouin communities facing displacement by the Israeli government in order for settlements to be built in the "E1" district that, if constructed in, could effectively split the West Bank and make forming a Palestinian state much more difficult.
Netanyahu's new government coalition heavily supports settlement expansion in occupied East Jerusalem and across the West Bank, and vehemently opposes the establishment of an independent Palestine.
This is just one of literally hundreds of instances in which Palestinian have been forcibly uprooted from their land by Israeli authorities in order to build or expand on the illegal settlements littering the West Bank.
Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah of the Palestinian Authority pledged $50,000 to the Bedouin community of Abu Nuwwar east of Jerusalem that is currently being displaced by Israeli forces.
According to Ma'an, Hamdallah made the pledge on Sunday during a visit to the community accompanied by the EU envoy to the Palestinian Territories John Gatt-Rutter, and UN Humanitarian Coordinator James W. Rawley, as well as four government ministers.
The pledge comes two weeks after Palestinian families were told they have to evacuate in order for the illegal Israeli settlement of Ma'ale Adumim to be expanded.
Abu Nuwwar is one of many Bedouin communities facing displacement by the Israeli government in order for settlements to be built in the "E1" district that, if constructed in, could effectively split the West Bank and make forming a Palestinian state much more difficult.
Netanyahu's new government coalition heavily supports settlement expansion in occupied East Jerusalem and across the West Bank, and vehemently opposes the establishment of an independent Palestine.
This is just one of literally hundreds of instances in which Palestinian have been forcibly uprooted from their land by Israeli authorities in order to build or expand on the illegal settlements littering the West Bank.
21 may 2015
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) established a nightclub and café over an Islamic historic cemetery in Occupied Jerusalem within the Israeli accelerated moves to Judaize the Islamic landmarks in the city.
In a press statement, the Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage condemned the Israeli continuation of desecrating the cemetery.
The Foundation which visited the cemetery asked the Islamic and Arab countries as well as the Palestinian people to urgently work on confronting such desecration of the cemetery in which a number of the Sahaba (Prophet Mohammad’s friends) and many of the Islamic scientists were buried over 1400 years.
It added that the construction and equipment of the nightclub has been completed for a soon opening after confiscating the cemetery and turning it into a public park. The cemetery is the biggest and oldest graveyard in Palestine.
According to Israeli media sources, the facility will be opened in May. It lies on an area of 250 square meters over a land of an area of 450 square meters. It is equipped for public ceremonies with 110 chairs including a bar and a wide courtyard and will be run by an Israeli company.
In a press statement, the Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage condemned the Israeli continuation of desecrating the cemetery.
The Foundation which visited the cemetery asked the Islamic and Arab countries as well as the Palestinian people to urgently work on confronting such desecration of the cemetery in which a number of the Sahaba (Prophet Mohammad’s friends) and many of the Islamic scientists were buried over 1400 years.
It added that the construction and equipment of the nightclub has been completed for a soon opening after confiscating the cemetery and turning it into a public park. The cemetery is the biggest and oldest graveyard in Palestine.
According to Israeli media sources, the facility will be opened in May. It lies on an area of 250 square meters over a land of an area of 450 square meters. It is equipped for public ceremonies with 110 chairs including a bar and a wide courtyard and will be run by an Israeli company.
20 may 2015
The Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee approved on Wednesday the construction of 90 settlement units in the Har Homa outpost in southern Occupied Jerusalem.
Israeli sources revealed that Jerusalem municipality along with Israeli government have decided to continue settlement construction in the neighborhoods of East Jerusalem.
The sources underlined that Israeli government is continuing the establishment of settlements in Har Homa outpost in particular regardless of the opposition of the international community.
"This means that Israel is going into confrontation rather than political agreement to end the conflict,” the sources added.
Israeli sources revealed that Jerusalem municipality along with Israeli government have decided to continue settlement construction in the neighborhoods of East Jerusalem.
The sources underlined that Israeli government is continuing the establishment of settlements in Har Homa outpost in particular regardless of the opposition of the international community.
"This means that Israel is going into confrontation rather than political agreement to end the conflict,” the sources added.
The Euromid Observer held a media conference, on Wednesday, highlighting the consequences of economic siege on Gaza which has now lasted eight years. A United Nations (UN) envoy warned about Israeli settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories, saying that the Israeli move is a major causes of instability in the Middle East.
"It has been nine months since Israel agreed to a ceasefire that ended its third and most massive military offensive against the 1.8 million residents of the Gaza Strip. However, despite promises by Israel to loosen its nine-year blockade, by Egypt to facilitate further negotiations and by the international community to fund the massive reconstruction needed, none of those promises have been kept," the Euromid Observer stated, according to Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency.
The report stated that the Israeli army continues to regularly shoot at fishermen, or confiscate their boats, when they merely are trying to make a living. In April alone, 15 shooting incidents, including one that ended in injury and property damage, were documented.
Related: Report states Israel has violated the ceasefire “more than 400” times
The report estimated the cost of relief, recovery and reconstruction due to last summer’s war is $4 billion, and international donors pledged $3.5 billion for Gaza’s reconstruction, but only $954 million had been disbursed as of early April.
"It's not surprising, then, UNRWA has suspended its cash-assistance program for repairs and rent due to lack of funds, and that the Israeli organization Gisha reports that of the 5 million tons of construction materials required, only 9 percent of that total has actually entered Gaza," Euromid commented.
The observer blamed Egypt, who has joined Israel as Gaza’s jailers, pointing to the 2014 annual statistics of the Gaza Interior Ministry that reported that Rafah crossing was closed for 66 percent of the time. That trend has continued. On April 19, the ministry noted that the Rafah crossing had been closed for 100 days since the beginning of 2015, marking the longest closure since 2009.
"The consequences are predictable. Unemployment has soared to 43 percent, and according to the International Monetary Fund, the Strip’s gross domestic product plunged 24 percent in the third quarter of 2014. This, is an economy that already was on life support," Euromid added.
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor concluded the report with urgent calls on the international community force Israel to end its blockade in addition to other demands for help the steadfastness Palestinians.
-- --
World Bulletin further reports, via Al Ray, that UN Special Coordinator for the so-called "Middle East Peace Process", Nickolay Mladenov, raised concerns about the illegal settlement activities by the Israeli regime in the occupied West Bank including East al-Quds (Jerusalem) during a session of the UN Security Council, on Tuesday.
More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 settlements built since Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank, including East al-Quds (Jerusalem), in 1967.
The UN envoy said that the 15-member council must have “no illusions about the impact of these unilateral actions” by Israel on destabilizing the situation in the occupied territories and in the whole region.
The UN envoy warned about the repercussions of the continuation of tensions in the Palestinian territories, saying the conflict should be settled in order to avoid instability in the region.
“This hard-earned belief in peace and negotiations must not be allowed to wither away,” he demanded, referring to efforts to establish peace in the Palestinian territories through negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian authorities.
He warned that failure to establish peace in the occupied territories "can further destabilize the Middle East for decades.”
He further referred to the Israeli onslaught on the besieged Gaza Strip and the continuation of the Israeli blockade on the territory as one of the developments harming peace and security in the region. On July 7, 2014, Israel launched a 50-day war on Gaza, in which over 2,130 Palestinians lost their lives and some 11,000 others were injured.
About 1,500 buildings and structures were also demolished during the Israeli offensive. Many Gazans remain homeless as a result of the war.
See VIDEO: Gaza City's Devastated Al-Shuja'eyya Suburb
The Gaza Strip has been under an Egyptian-backed Israeli economic blockade since June 2007.
“No one can remain untouched by the scale of devastation, the slow pace of reconstruction, and the vast needs to rebuild lives and livelihoods” in the besieged Gaza Strip, Mladenov said, stressing that people in the blockaded area remain “desperate and angry” at the isolation imposed by the ongoing blockade on the territory, at the closure of the Rafah border crossing, and with donors for “not honouring their financial commitments for reconstruction.”
“There is a clear moral and humanitarian imperative not just for the United Nations and the international community, but primarily for the Israeli and Palestinian authorities to prevent the implosion of Gaza,” he stressed.
Mladenov further referred to the large number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon and the spillover of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon, calling on the international community to increase and expedite support for Lebanon. Syria has been grappling with a deadly crisis since March 2011.
Mladenov concluded that the growing tensions and “a vicious tide of terror and extremism” in the Middle East indicate that “peace cannot be achieved through violence, but at the negotiating table.”
He further warned about the dire consequences of unabated conflicts in the region, saying that the UN should step up efforts to establish peace in the Middle East.
"It has been nine months since Israel agreed to a ceasefire that ended its third and most massive military offensive against the 1.8 million residents of the Gaza Strip. However, despite promises by Israel to loosen its nine-year blockade, by Egypt to facilitate further negotiations and by the international community to fund the massive reconstruction needed, none of those promises have been kept," the Euromid Observer stated, according to Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency.
The report stated that the Israeli army continues to regularly shoot at fishermen, or confiscate their boats, when they merely are trying to make a living. In April alone, 15 shooting incidents, including one that ended in injury and property damage, were documented.
Related: Report states Israel has violated the ceasefire “more than 400” times
The report estimated the cost of relief, recovery and reconstruction due to last summer’s war is $4 billion, and international donors pledged $3.5 billion for Gaza’s reconstruction, but only $954 million had been disbursed as of early April.
"It's not surprising, then, UNRWA has suspended its cash-assistance program for repairs and rent due to lack of funds, and that the Israeli organization Gisha reports that of the 5 million tons of construction materials required, only 9 percent of that total has actually entered Gaza," Euromid commented.
The observer blamed Egypt, who has joined Israel as Gaza’s jailers, pointing to the 2014 annual statistics of the Gaza Interior Ministry that reported that Rafah crossing was closed for 66 percent of the time. That trend has continued. On April 19, the ministry noted that the Rafah crossing had been closed for 100 days since the beginning of 2015, marking the longest closure since 2009.
"The consequences are predictable. Unemployment has soared to 43 percent, and according to the International Monetary Fund, the Strip’s gross domestic product plunged 24 percent in the third quarter of 2014. This, is an economy that already was on life support," Euromid added.
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor concluded the report with urgent calls on the international community force Israel to end its blockade in addition to other demands for help the steadfastness Palestinians.
-- --
World Bulletin further reports, via Al Ray, that UN Special Coordinator for the so-called "Middle East Peace Process", Nickolay Mladenov, raised concerns about the illegal settlement activities by the Israeli regime in the occupied West Bank including East al-Quds (Jerusalem) during a session of the UN Security Council, on Tuesday.
More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 settlements built since Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank, including East al-Quds (Jerusalem), in 1967.
The UN envoy said that the 15-member council must have “no illusions about the impact of these unilateral actions” by Israel on destabilizing the situation in the occupied territories and in the whole region.
The UN envoy warned about the repercussions of the continuation of tensions in the Palestinian territories, saying the conflict should be settled in order to avoid instability in the region.
“This hard-earned belief in peace and negotiations must not be allowed to wither away,” he demanded, referring to efforts to establish peace in the Palestinian territories through negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian authorities.
He warned that failure to establish peace in the occupied territories "can further destabilize the Middle East for decades.”
He further referred to the Israeli onslaught on the besieged Gaza Strip and the continuation of the Israeli blockade on the territory as one of the developments harming peace and security in the region. On July 7, 2014, Israel launched a 50-day war on Gaza, in which over 2,130 Palestinians lost their lives and some 11,000 others were injured.
About 1,500 buildings and structures were also demolished during the Israeli offensive. Many Gazans remain homeless as a result of the war.
See VIDEO: Gaza City's Devastated Al-Shuja'eyya Suburb
The Gaza Strip has been under an Egyptian-backed Israeli economic blockade since June 2007.
“No one can remain untouched by the scale of devastation, the slow pace of reconstruction, and the vast needs to rebuild lives and livelihoods” in the besieged Gaza Strip, Mladenov said, stressing that people in the blockaded area remain “desperate and angry” at the isolation imposed by the ongoing blockade on the territory, at the closure of the Rafah border crossing, and with donors for “not honouring their financial commitments for reconstruction.”
“There is a clear moral and humanitarian imperative not just for the United Nations and the international community, but primarily for the Israeli and Palestinian authorities to prevent the implosion of Gaza,” he stressed.
Mladenov further referred to the large number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon and the spillover of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon, calling on the international community to increase and expedite support for Lebanon. Syria has been grappling with a deadly crisis since March 2011.
Mladenov concluded that the growing tensions and “a vicious tide of terror and extremism” in the Middle East indicate that “peace cannot be achieved through violence, but at the negotiating table.”
He further warned about the dire consequences of unabated conflicts in the region, saying that the UN should step up efforts to establish peace in the Middle East.
17 may 2015
Erdan urges PM to stop talking of building, and actually build in the capital, while Bennett tells world: 'Jerusalem is our soul, and you don't divide a soul'.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday night that Israel's answer to terrorist attacks aimed at its citizens should be to continue construction in Jerusalem.
"We are determined to go after the terrorists and stand against those who wish to harm us as a fortified wall," Netanyahu said at the annual Jerusalem Day ceremony at the Mercaz HaRav yeshiva. "And we have another decisive answer: We keep building in Jerusalem all the time, developing it and paving new roads to it," he added.
"Jerusalem is our eternal united capital. It will never be divided again," Netanyahu vowed, describing the liberation and reunification of Jerusalem as a "drama on a Biblical scale."
"Our feet are standing within thy gates, O Jerusalem; Jerusalem, that art builded as a city that is compact together," the prime minister said, quoting from Psalms 122. "Compact together and will never be divided again," he added. He promised "to continue protecting Jerusalem. To develop Jerusalem of below, and draw strength from Jerusalem of above, from Torah studying and from all of the spiritual treasures of the people of Israel."
Netanyahu also quoted Rabbi Zvi Yehuda Kook, who was among the first to arrive at the Western Wall on the day of Jerusalem's liberation in 1967 and was asked to make a radio address to mark the historic occasion, saying, "We have arrived and returned home, and we will never leave here!"
"From the days of the Bible and until this very day, Jerusalem has been the basis of our existence... Jews throughout the generations prayed for 'Next Year in Jerusalem'. The Prophet Isaiah made his prophecies here in Jerusalem. There are some among our enemies who say we are a foreign element. Have you heard that?! The Prophet Isaiah and King David were here 3,000 years ago. They prophesized here, reigned here, fought here - until the days of the Maccabees and later. We are not a foreign element! This is our land, and this is our city! This is how it has been and this is how it will continue to be!" the prime minister said.
Education Minister Naftali Bennett also vowed to never allow Jerusalem to be divided again. "To those who sit abroad and think there's some piece of real estate that is negotiable, we say: Jerusalem is the soul of the land of Israel, and you don't divide a soul!" Earlier in the evening, Bennett attended the traditional Jerusalem Day march to the Western Wall that ended with a ceremony. "Soon, in our time, Jews would be able to go up and pray on the Temple Mount, because the Temple Mount is ours," he said at the ceremony.
Likud MK Gilad Erdan, who chose not to join the fourth Netanyahu government, was also at the ceremony at the Western Wall. "The City of David, the Mount of Olives, the Old City, the Temple Mount - they will all remain in our hands forever," Erdan said. He also had a message to Netanyahu: "We need to build in Jerusalem. Not talk about building in Jerusalem, but actually build. Building in Jerusalem should not be a response to an event or a terror attack, it should be routine."
He expressed concern of the changes to the demographic balance in Jerusalem in recent years, saying current construction was not enough to meet the needs of the city's development.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday night that Israel's answer to terrorist attacks aimed at its citizens should be to continue construction in Jerusalem.
"We are determined to go after the terrorists and stand against those who wish to harm us as a fortified wall," Netanyahu said at the annual Jerusalem Day ceremony at the Mercaz HaRav yeshiva. "And we have another decisive answer: We keep building in Jerusalem all the time, developing it and paving new roads to it," he added.
"Jerusalem is our eternal united capital. It will never be divided again," Netanyahu vowed, describing the liberation and reunification of Jerusalem as a "drama on a Biblical scale."
"Our feet are standing within thy gates, O Jerusalem; Jerusalem, that art builded as a city that is compact together," the prime minister said, quoting from Psalms 122. "Compact together and will never be divided again," he added. He promised "to continue protecting Jerusalem. To develop Jerusalem of below, and draw strength from Jerusalem of above, from Torah studying and from all of the spiritual treasures of the people of Israel."
Netanyahu also quoted Rabbi Zvi Yehuda Kook, who was among the first to arrive at the Western Wall on the day of Jerusalem's liberation in 1967 and was asked to make a radio address to mark the historic occasion, saying, "We have arrived and returned home, and we will never leave here!"
"From the days of the Bible and until this very day, Jerusalem has been the basis of our existence... Jews throughout the generations prayed for 'Next Year in Jerusalem'. The Prophet Isaiah made his prophecies here in Jerusalem. There are some among our enemies who say we are a foreign element. Have you heard that?! The Prophet Isaiah and King David were here 3,000 years ago. They prophesized here, reigned here, fought here - until the days of the Maccabees and later. We are not a foreign element! This is our land, and this is our city! This is how it has been and this is how it will continue to be!" the prime minister said.
Education Minister Naftali Bennett also vowed to never allow Jerusalem to be divided again. "To those who sit abroad and think there's some piece of real estate that is negotiable, we say: Jerusalem is the soul of the land of Israel, and you don't divide a soul!" Earlier in the evening, Bennett attended the traditional Jerusalem Day march to the Western Wall that ended with a ceremony. "Soon, in our time, Jews would be able to go up and pray on the Temple Mount, because the Temple Mount is ours," he said at the ceremony.
Likud MK Gilad Erdan, who chose not to join the fourth Netanyahu government, was also at the ceremony at the Western Wall. "The City of David, the Mount of Olives, the Old City, the Temple Mount - they will all remain in our hands forever," Erdan said. He also had a message to Netanyahu: "We need to build in Jerusalem. Not talk about building in Jerusalem, but actually build. Building in Jerusalem should not be a response to an event or a terror attack, it should be routine."
He expressed concern of the changes to the demographic balance in Jerusalem in recent years, saying current construction was not enough to meet the needs of the city's development.
16 may 2015
An Israeli construction company on Saturday called for tenders to estimate the prices of and to rebuild nine Palestinian neighborhoods in the Old City of Occupied Jerusalem which have been confiscated and partially destroyed.
In a press statement on Saturday, Khalil al-Tafakji, expert in settlement at the Arab Studies Society, said most of the targeted areas in the Old City are endowment territories belonging to Jerusalemite families.
These Arab neighborhoods were confiscated in 1968 after seizing 116 dunums for the public benefit. Their Palestinian inhabitants were displaced as well. The Israelis claim it as a Jewish district, while only 5 dunums out of 116 were inhabited by Jews.
He pointed out that the call for tenders is very dangerous as it means transferring the ownership of all the Palestinian neighborhoods to Jews who will be occupying them.
"Three years ago, the Israeli government announced its intention to register the properties of the Old City by new Jewish names to replace the Palestinians," Tafakji said.
He disclosed the endorsement of detailed plan to renovate and reconstruct an Israeli Synagogue for the Sephardic Jews in the Old City of Jerusalem with an area of 1,400 square meters and an altitude of 23 meters.
This decision followed the construction of a synagogue for the western Jews just 30 meters far from the location of the new synagogue to be built.
In a press statement on Saturday, Khalil al-Tafakji, expert in settlement at the Arab Studies Society, said most of the targeted areas in the Old City are endowment territories belonging to Jerusalemite families.
These Arab neighborhoods were confiscated in 1968 after seizing 116 dunums for the public benefit. Their Palestinian inhabitants were displaced as well. The Israelis claim it as a Jewish district, while only 5 dunums out of 116 were inhabited by Jews.
He pointed out that the call for tenders is very dangerous as it means transferring the ownership of all the Palestinian neighborhoods to Jews who will be occupying them.
"Three years ago, the Israeli government announced its intention to register the properties of the Old City by new Jewish names to replace the Palestinians," Tafakji said.
He disclosed the endorsement of detailed plan to renovate and reconstruct an Israeli Synagogue for the Sephardic Jews in the Old City of Jerusalem with an area of 1,400 square meters and an altitude of 23 meters.
This decision followed the construction of a synagogue for the western Jews just 30 meters far from the location of the new synagogue to be built.
United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned Tel Aviv’s latest plans to construct illegal settlement units in Palestinian territories, calling on the Israeli regime to scrap the projects.
Ban "strongly deplores the advancement of settlement activities on three occasions over the past three consecutive weeks" in the West Bank and in East al-Quds (Jerusalem), the UN chief's spokesperson said in a statement released on Friday.
The UN chief reiterated that Israeli settlements are “illegal under international law” and urged Tel Aviv “to halt and reverse such decisions in the interest of peace and a just final status agreement."
"The international community will not recognize unilateral actions on the ground and that the status of Jerusalem can only be resolved through negotiations," Ban added.
The remarks came a day after the Israeli Housing Ministry issued new tenders for the constructions of 85 settlement units just five kilometers northwest of occupied al-Quds and of 1,500 hotel rooms in the city’s Jabal al-Mokabber neighborhood.
On May 7, Tel Aviv approved the construction of 900 new illegal settler units in East al-Quds, the move was criticized by the European Union (EU), which described it as an obstacle to the so-called peace process between Israelis and Palestinians.
The Israeli Interior Ministry had already announced a plan to build hundreds of settler homes in the same neighborhood in East al-Quds. However, construction was delayed because the planning committee said new roads need to be built first.
More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 illegal settlements built since Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories in 1967.
Israel occupied and then annexed the West Bank and East al-Quds in the Six-Day War of 1967, but the move has never been recognized by the international community.
Palestinians are seeking to create an independent state on the territories of the West Bank, East al-Quds, and the besieged Gaza Strip and are demanding that Israel withdraw from the occupied Palestinian territories.
Ban "strongly deplores the advancement of settlement activities on three occasions over the past three consecutive weeks" in the West Bank and in East al-Quds (Jerusalem), the UN chief's spokesperson said in a statement released on Friday.
The UN chief reiterated that Israeli settlements are “illegal under international law” and urged Tel Aviv “to halt and reverse such decisions in the interest of peace and a just final status agreement."
"The international community will not recognize unilateral actions on the ground and that the status of Jerusalem can only be resolved through negotiations," Ban added.
The remarks came a day after the Israeli Housing Ministry issued new tenders for the constructions of 85 settlement units just five kilometers northwest of occupied al-Quds and of 1,500 hotel rooms in the city’s Jabal al-Mokabber neighborhood.
On May 7, Tel Aviv approved the construction of 900 new illegal settler units in East al-Quds, the move was criticized by the European Union (EU), which described it as an obstacle to the so-called peace process between Israelis and Palestinians.
The Israeli Interior Ministry had already announced a plan to build hundreds of settler homes in the same neighborhood in East al-Quds. However, construction was delayed because the planning committee said new roads need to be built first.
More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 illegal settlements built since Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories in 1967.
Israel occupied and then annexed the West Bank and East al-Quds in the Six-Day War of 1967, but the move has never been recognized by the international community.
Palestinians are seeking to create an independent state on the territories of the West Bank, East al-Quds, and the besieged Gaza Strip and are demanding that Israel withdraw from the occupied Palestinian territories.