5 july 2015
Land confiscated from Palestinians for the purpose of security buffer zones around illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank is actually being utilized as "land reserves or for agriculture," according to an investigation by Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
The buffer zones were originally created during the Second Intifada reportedly as a way to curb attacks against illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
According to Israeli human rights group B'tselem, settlements control 42 percent of the land area in West Bank.
While thousands of dunams (hundreds of acres) of land have been confiscated for these so-called buffer zones, the investigation found that only three of the areas in which land has been confiscated are being used or their intended purposes.
For example, the investigation found in 2005 that a buffer zone was created by Israeli authorities outside the settlement of Karmei Tzurland in order to provide extra security in the north of the settlement, however a basketball court was erected inside the zone.
According to Ma'an, the report reveals that buffer zones in the Jewish-only settlements of Ateret, Pnei Hever, Nahliel and Kiryat Arba are currently being cultivated for agricultural purposes by settlement farmers.
In the settlement of Mevo Dotan a road was built in the buffer zone to connect the settlement to a nearby outpost.
Dror Etkes, a researcher on settlement policies in the territories, told Haaretz that the practice of re-purposing buffer zones to the advantage of settlements has become a "a de facto means of expanding the area under the control of the settlers."
"This is another manifestation of the attitude of the state [of Israel] that treats Palestinian property as if it was ownerless," Etkes said.
In addition to the official government sanctioned buffer zones, Haaretz also found that some settlements have created similar unofficial zones secured with the help of the Israeli forces well as settlement security heads. Haaretz's investigation claims that while Israel's Civil Administration is aware of both practices, the administration is "turning a blind eye," on the issue.
“In places where illegal construction exists, stop-work and demolition orders have been issued,” the Civil Administration told Haaretz, claiming that the Administration coordinates with Palestinians by issuing permits that allow previous Palestinian land owners to enter certain buffer zones in order to cultivate their land.
This process of obtaining such permits is lengthy and even if a permit is granted, it is sometimes revoked due to threats from settlements and other coordination issues.
The use of buffer zones is also practiced in the Gaza Strip, where the United Nations estimates 17 percent of Gazan territory has been confiscated for the use of buffer zones.
The buffer zones were originally created during the Second Intifada reportedly as a way to curb attacks against illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
According to Israeli human rights group B'tselem, settlements control 42 percent of the land area in West Bank.
While thousands of dunams (hundreds of acres) of land have been confiscated for these so-called buffer zones, the investigation found that only three of the areas in which land has been confiscated are being used or their intended purposes.
For example, the investigation found in 2005 that a buffer zone was created by Israeli authorities outside the settlement of Karmei Tzurland in order to provide extra security in the north of the settlement, however a basketball court was erected inside the zone.
According to Ma'an, the report reveals that buffer zones in the Jewish-only settlements of Ateret, Pnei Hever, Nahliel and Kiryat Arba are currently being cultivated for agricultural purposes by settlement farmers.
In the settlement of Mevo Dotan a road was built in the buffer zone to connect the settlement to a nearby outpost.
Dror Etkes, a researcher on settlement policies in the territories, told Haaretz that the practice of re-purposing buffer zones to the advantage of settlements has become a "a de facto means of expanding the area under the control of the settlers."
"This is another manifestation of the attitude of the state [of Israel] that treats Palestinian property as if it was ownerless," Etkes said.
In addition to the official government sanctioned buffer zones, Haaretz also found that some settlements have created similar unofficial zones secured with the help of the Israeli forces well as settlement security heads. Haaretz's investigation claims that while Israel's Civil Administration is aware of both practices, the administration is "turning a blind eye," on the issue.
“In places where illegal construction exists, stop-work and demolition orders have been issued,” the Civil Administration told Haaretz, claiming that the Administration coordinates with Palestinians by issuing permits that allow previous Palestinian land owners to enter certain buffer zones in order to cultivate their land.
This process of obtaining such permits is lengthy and even if a permit is granted, it is sometimes revoked due to threats from settlements and other coordination issues.
The use of buffer zones is also practiced in the Gaza Strip, where the United Nations estimates 17 percent of Gazan territory has been confiscated for the use of buffer zones.
Jewish settlers from the expanding settlement of Leshem are still embarking on carrying out construction activities on Palestinian agricultural lands belonging to three Palestinian towns west of Salfit, according to local sources.
Palestinian citizens said that the annexed lands are part of the towns of Kafr Addik, Deir Ballut and Rafat.
For his part, specialist in settlement affairs Khaled Maali said that heavy construction machinery has been used by the settlers to level the lands and break the rocks near the archeological village of Deir Samaan.
He said that the new Israeli settlement Leshem had been built on Palestinian-owned lands mostly belonging to Kafr Addik town.
Palestinian citizens said that the annexed lands are part of the towns of Kafr Addik, Deir Ballut and Rafat.
For his part, specialist in settlement affairs Khaled Maali said that heavy construction machinery has been used by the settlers to level the lands and break the rocks near the archeological village of Deir Samaan.
He said that the new Israeli settlement Leshem had been built on Palestinian-owned lands mostly belonging to Kafr Addik town.
4 july 2015
The Hebrew weekly newspaper Kol Ha'ir said on Saturday that the so-called Israeli Local Committee for Planning and Construction in Occupied Jerusalem approved last week the "Green Railway" blueprint of the light train which will connect the settlements with Jerusalem.
The newspaper clarified that the 19.6 Km-long railway will connect Gilo settlement with Al-Masharef Mountain (Mount Scopus) and it will be carrying about 145,000 passengers every day.
It is expected that the new railway will cross the "Red Railway" of the light train which is 13.8 km long and starts from Mount Herzl and ends in Pisgat Ze'ev settlement, according to the newspaper.
The newspaper clarified that the 19.6 Km-long railway will connect Gilo settlement with Al-Masharef Mountain (Mount Scopus) and it will be carrying about 145,000 passengers every day.
It is expected that the new railway will cross the "Red Railway" of the light train which is 13.8 km long and starts from Mount Herzl and ends in Pisgat Ze'ev settlement, according to the newspaper.
1 july 2015
Bennett with Netanyahu
Bayit Yehudi drafts letter to prime minister demanding continued construction in West Bank in wake of terror attacks; 'Bayit Yehudi will not ignore the murder of Jews.'
Bayit Yehudi Chairman Naftali Bennett expressed deep concern at a party meeting Wednesday evening over the recent wave of terror attacks against Israelis, sending a message to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he must cancel eased restrictions on Palestinians for the month of Ramadan and give government approval "for construction in Judea and Samaria and strengthening of the settlements.
"Bayit Yehudi will not ignore the murder of Jews," continued the strongly-worded letter to the prime minister.
Netanyahu's office has yet to the reply to Bennett's comments that included a demand "to cancel the exemptions granted to the Palestinian for Ramadan as they have become life threatening, along with a series of security measures and deterrence."
The prime minister was faced with public opposition as well on Wednesday, when dozens of Israeli residents of the West Bank protested in front of the Netanyahu's offices in Jerusalem, calling on the authorities to take greater action to stop attacks by Palestinians.
Partakers called on the government to continue settlement construction in the West Bank and to withhold funds passed to the Palestinian Authority.
Five attacks have taken place over the past two weeks, taking the lives of two Israeli civilians. The last victim was Malachi Rosenfeld, who was shot in a terror attack on Monday and passed away the following day.
Just 12 hours earlier, A Palestinian woman stabbed a female soldier during a security check at the Rachel Crossing, which leads to Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem. The soldier, who serves in military police, was seriously wounded.
Bayit Yehudi drafts letter to prime minister demanding continued construction in West Bank in wake of terror attacks; 'Bayit Yehudi will not ignore the murder of Jews.'
Bayit Yehudi Chairman Naftali Bennett expressed deep concern at a party meeting Wednesday evening over the recent wave of terror attacks against Israelis, sending a message to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he must cancel eased restrictions on Palestinians for the month of Ramadan and give government approval "for construction in Judea and Samaria and strengthening of the settlements.
"Bayit Yehudi will not ignore the murder of Jews," continued the strongly-worded letter to the prime minister.
Netanyahu's office has yet to the reply to Bennett's comments that included a demand "to cancel the exemptions granted to the Palestinian for Ramadan as they have become life threatening, along with a series of security measures and deterrence."
The prime minister was faced with public opposition as well on Wednesday, when dozens of Israeli residents of the West Bank protested in front of the Netanyahu's offices in Jerusalem, calling on the authorities to take greater action to stop attacks by Palestinians.
Partakers called on the government to continue settlement construction in the West Bank and to withhold funds passed to the Palestinian Authority.
Five attacks have taken place over the past two weeks, taking the lives of two Israeli civilians. The last victim was Malachi Rosenfeld, who was shot in a terror attack on Monday and passed away the following day.
Just 12 hours earlier, A Palestinian woman stabbed a female soldier during a security check at the Rachel Crossing, which leads to Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem. The soldier, who serves in military police, was seriously wounded.
29 june 2015
The then-new fence bordering Egypt seen in 2012
Fence along Egyptian border to be expanded as gov't fears illegal immigrants and armed militants may take advantage of porous border.
Israel's security cabinet has approved extending the fortified fence along its Egyptian border into a section of the frontier with neighboring Jordan, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday.
Jordan and Israel closely coordinate security for their 240 km (150 mile)-long border as well as for the strategic 95 km (60 mile)-long Jordan Valley within the West Bank.
But the Netanyahu government worries that African immigrants and armed jihadi infiltrators might try to reach Israel via Jordan after the Egyptian Sinai border was fenced off with a 5 meter (16 foot)-high razor-wire barrier in 2013. That fence runs from the Palestinian Gaza Strip to the southern Red Sea resort of Eilat.
Briefing Israeli lawmakers, Netanyahu said his security cabinet on Sunday gave the green light for a new 30 km (18 mile) stretch of fence that will run northward from Eilat along a now often porous Jordanian border.
He said the fence would help protect an Israeli airport due to open next year at Timna, 19 km (12 miles) from Eilat, and which has been billed as a wartime alternative should Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion airport come under rocket attack.
"This is an important matter. It is part of our national security," Netanyahu said.
"It is an addition security fence we built along our border in the Sinai, which prevented the entry of illegal infiltrators into Israel, and of course of the various terror organizations. This step is also an addition to the fence we built on our border in the Golan Heights.
The fence, he said would go up in Israeli territory, "without in any way harming the sovereignty or national interests of the Hashemite kingdom of Jordan".
Israel signed a peace treaty with Jordan in 1994 and one with Egypt in 1979.
The country has already built high-tech fences in the north on the Lebanon border and along the Golan Heights boundary with Syria. Much of the West Bank is also divided by a network of fences, barriers and walls, while the Gaza Strip is closed off behind high fences and walls.
A fence along the Jordan frontier would leave Israel surrounded by a steel and concrete ring.
Fence along Egyptian border to be expanded as gov't fears illegal immigrants and armed militants may take advantage of porous border.
Israel's security cabinet has approved extending the fortified fence along its Egyptian border into a section of the frontier with neighboring Jordan, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday.
Jordan and Israel closely coordinate security for their 240 km (150 mile)-long border as well as for the strategic 95 km (60 mile)-long Jordan Valley within the West Bank.
But the Netanyahu government worries that African immigrants and armed jihadi infiltrators might try to reach Israel via Jordan after the Egyptian Sinai border was fenced off with a 5 meter (16 foot)-high razor-wire barrier in 2013. That fence runs from the Palestinian Gaza Strip to the southern Red Sea resort of Eilat.
Briefing Israeli lawmakers, Netanyahu said his security cabinet on Sunday gave the green light for a new 30 km (18 mile) stretch of fence that will run northward from Eilat along a now often porous Jordanian border.
He said the fence would help protect an Israeli airport due to open next year at Timna, 19 km (12 miles) from Eilat, and which has been billed as a wartime alternative should Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion airport come under rocket attack.
"This is an important matter. It is part of our national security," Netanyahu said.
"It is an addition security fence we built along our border in the Sinai, which prevented the entry of illegal infiltrators into Israel, and of course of the various terror organizations. This step is also an addition to the fence we built on our border in the Golan Heights.
The fence, he said would go up in Israeli territory, "without in any way harming the sovereignty or national interests of the Hashemite kingdom of Jordan".
Israel signed a peace treaty with Jordan in 1994 and one with Egypt in 1979.
The country has already built high-tech fences in the north on the Lebanon border and along the Golan Heights boundary with Syria. Much of the West Bank is also divided by a network of fences, barriers and walls, while the Gaza Strip is closed off behind high fences and walls.
A fence along the Jordan frontier would leave Israel surrounded by a steel and concrete ring.
21 june 2015
Israel’s war minister Moshe Ya’alon has approved continued renovation of a church compound in the southern West Bank that was purchased by representatives of U.S. billionaire Irving Moskowitz and earmarked for settlers.
On May 22, Haaretz reported that Moskowitz's representatives had purchased the compound, opposite al-Arroub refugee camp, from an overseas fake Swedish entity masquerading as a church headed by a woman from Norway.
After the piece of news had been propagated, it was decided to stop the work and scrutinize the legality of the purchase.
A meeting held in Ya’alon’s office shortly afterwards culminated in a decision that there was no legal impediment to continuing the renovation.
Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation forces quelled a series of rallies and sit-ins staged in protest at the misappropriation of the eight-story building, covering an overall area of some 40 dunums.
Ya’alon approves renovation of seized West Bank church for settlement expansion
Israeli occupation defense minister, Moshe Ya’alon today approved the renovation of a building which is part of Beit Al-Baraka church near Al-Arroub refugee camp south Bethlehem, central West Bank. Israeli newspaper Haaretz about a month ago exposed seizure of the church by a Jewish billionaire, through a fake Norwegian real estate company headed by a Norwegian woman who claimed she was member of an American church.
Days after the publication, the reconstruction of the building has stopped to find the legal status of the renovation. Later, Haaretz said that IOF decided there was no law preventnig the renovation of the building and today Ya’alon has approved it.
On May 22, Haaretz reported that Moskowitz's representatives had purchased the compound, opposite al-Arroub refugee camp, from an overseas fake Swedish entity masquerading as a church headed by a woman from Norway.
After the piece of news had been propagated, it was decided to stop the work and scrutinize the legality of the purchase.
A meeting held in Ya’alon’s office shortly afterwards culminated in a decision that there was no legal impediment to continuing the renovation.
Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation forces quelled a series of rallies and sit-ins staged in protest at the misappropriation of the eight-story building, covering an overall area of some 40 dunums.
Ya’alon approves renovation of seized West Bank church for settlement expansion
Israeli occupation defense minister, Moshe Ya’alon today approved the renovation of a building which is part of Beit Al-Baraka church near Al-Arroub refugee camp south Bethlehem, central West Bank. Israeli newspaper Haaretz about a month ago exposed seizure of the church by a Jewish billionaire, through a fake Norwegian real estate company headed by a Norwegian woman who claimed she was member of an American church.
Days after the publication, the reconstruction of the building has stopped to find the legal status of the renovation. Later, Haaretz said that IOF decided there was no law preventnig the renovation of the building and today Ya’alon has approved it.
20 june 2015
French Foreign Minister: Continued Israeli settlement is a road block to peace
At the start of his Middle East tour in Cairo, Laurant Fabius offered a statement regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Fabious criticized Israel's settlement policy, saying the settlements policy is illegal under international law, and a major obstacle to peace.
He continued to say that Israel's security must be a consideration; however Palestinian rights must be recognized.
Fabious will arrive in Israel on Sunday, and is expected to push a new French imitative to restart peace talks in the region in meetings with Netanyahu and Abbas.
At the start of his Middle East tour in Cairo, Laurant Fabius offered a statement regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Fabious criticized Israel's settlement policy, saying the settlements policy is illegal under international law, and a major obstacle to peace.
He continued to say that Israel's security must be a consideration; however Palestinian rights must be recognized.
Fabious will arrive in Israel on Sunday, and is expected to push a new French imitative to restart peace talks in the region in meetings with Netanyahu and Abbas.
The Israeli Judaization and displacement schemes have escalated especially in Jaffa city, north of Occupied Palestine, as the Israeli Authorities approved new settlement schemes targeting the city which was occupied in 1948.
The so-called Israel Lands Administration (ILA) and Israeli Planning and Building Committee in Tel Aviv endorsed a huge Judaization and settlement scheme which will be established on the ruins of the Palestinian homes and lands in Nozha neighborhood in Jaffa.
The first phase of the scheme includes building 1500 settlement units on 200 acres over a period of 3 years and will be allocated to the rich Jews.
ILA claims that the Palestinian residents who live in this area will be expelled under pretext that these lands are “state owned” and that the Palestinians are illegally living in them and they will be compensated if they agree to leave.
First phase
Abdul-Qadir Satal, head of the Popular Committee in Jaffa, told Quds Press that this settlement project is part of the Israeli government policy to Judaize the city, and it aims to build 5000 settlement units and not only 1500 settlement units as declared. He clarified that this malicious scheme complements previous Israeli Judaization schemes.
Satal added: "The residents of Nozha neighborhood are being subjected to displacement for the third time; as they were expelled to Ajmi neighborhood after destroying about 3000 homes so as to build homes for the Jewish settlers, then they were forcibly displaced to Nozha neighborhood and now they are being displaced again but this time they don't know where to go."
Satal pointed to the fact that the Palestinians in Jaffa are living in their homes as protected tenants; meaning that the authorities have the right to 60 percent of the home and only 40 percent of the home is for the Palestinian families. Moreover, the lands are owned by ILA and it has the right to dispose of them at any time against payment of compensation to the residents on the grounds that these properties are not owned by the Arabs who live in them but rather by the ILA under the Absentee Property Law.
Close danger
Satal stressed that the situation in Jaffa in critical; as the number of Palestinians is decreasing while the number of the Jewish settlers is increasing on daily basis, and the Palestinians in Jaffa, who insist to stay in their lands, have sought support from the Palestinian institutions, associations, and committees abroad to face the ongoing Israeli schemes which target the city and provide alternatives to the Palestinian residents so that they would abandon the city.
"We've dismissed the last employee in the Popular Committee due to the lack of financial resources, so now there is no one in the Committee to follow up on the cases that need urgent attention," Satal said.
Satal said that Palestinian notables in Jaffa city will hold a meeting soon to come up with a plan to face this scheme, and expressed his fear that the constant harassment the Palestinians in Jaffa are suffering from may force some of them to consider leaving the city, which is "a grave danger that we've been trying to prevent for many years."
The so-called Israel Lands Administration (ILA) and Israeli Planning and Building Committee in Tel Aviv endorsed a huge Judaization and settlement scheme which will be established on the ruins of the Palestinian homes and lands in Nozha neighborhood in Jaffa.
The first phase of the scheme includes building 1500 settlement units on 200 acres over a period of 3 years and will be allocated to the rich Jews.
ILA claims that the Palestinian residents who live in this area will be expelled under pretext that these lands are “state owned” and that the Palestinians are illegally living in them and they will be compensated if they agree to leave.
First phase
Abdul-Qadir Satal, head of the Popular Committee in Jaffa, told Quds Press that this settlement project is part of the Israeli government policy to Judaize the city, and it aims to build 5000 settlement units and not only 1500 settlement units as declared. He clarified that this malicious scheme complements previous Israeli Judaization schemes.
Satal added: "The residents of Nozha neighborhood are being subjected to displacement for the third time; as they were expelled to Ajmi neighborhood after destroying about 3000 homes so as to build homes for the Jewish settlers, then they were forcibly displaced to Nozha neighborhood and now they are being displaced again but this time they don't know where to go."
Satal pointed to the fact that the Palestinians in Jaffa are living in their homes as protected tenants; meaning that the authorities have the right to 60 percent of the home and only 40 percent of the home is for the Palestinian families. Moreover, the lands are owned by ILA and it has the right to dispose of them at any time against payment of compensation to the residents on the grounds that these properties are not owned by the Arabs who live in them but rather by the ILA under the Absentee Property Law.
Close danger
Satal stressed that the situation in Jaffa in critical; as the number of Palestinians is decreasing while the number of the Jewish settlers is increasing on daily basis, and the Palestinians in Jaffa, who insist to stay in their lands, have sought support from the Palestinian institutions, associations, and committees abroad to face the ongoing Israeli schemes which target the city and provide alternatives to the Palestinian residents so that they would abandon the city.
"We've dismissed the last employee in the Popular Committee due to the lack of financial resources, so now there is no one in the Committee to follow up on the cases that need urgent attention," Satal said.
Satal said that Palestinian notables in Jaffa city will hold a meeting soon to come up with a plan to face this scheme, and expressed his fear that the constant harassment the Palestinians in Jaffa are suffering from may force some of them to consider leaving the city, which is "a grave danger that we've been trying to prevent for many years."
17 june 2015
Yisrael Beitenu chairman Avigdor Lieberman stated on Wednesday that he would reconsider joining Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's new government, if settlement construction resumed in occupied Jerusalem.
Lieberman stated that he was reconsidering joining the government if Netanyahu agreed to build one thousand new housing units in Ma'ale Adumim settlement to the east of occupied Jerusalem.
Lieberman had earlier decided to remain outside Netanyahu's 4th government due to "his inability to destroy Hamas in Gaza and to expand settlement construction in occupied Jerusalem."
The United States and the European Union have warned Netanyahu more than once of any attempt to expand Ma'ale Adumim settlement.
Lieberman stated that he was reconsidering joining the government if Netanyahu agreed to build one thousand new housing units in Ma'ale Adumim settlement to the east of occupied Jerusalem.
Lieberman had earlier decided to remain outside Netanyahu's 4th government due to "his inability to destroy Hamas in Gaza and to expand settlement construction in occupied Jerusalem."
The United States and the European Union have warned Netanyahu more than once of any attempt to expand Ma'ale Adumim settlement.
13 june 2015
The Norwegian insurance giant, KLP Kapitalforvaltning has divested from two international building material companies from its investment portfolio because of their operations in the West Bank settlements.
According to Haaretz, KLP divested of its shares in these companies effectively on June 1, citing international law as set in the Hague and Geneva conventions. The Norwegian firm insures all municipal workers in the Scandinavian nation and holds 35 billion dollars worth of assets.
Haaretz added that the move is part of KLP’s half-yearly review of companies in its portfolio, alongside excluding five more companies because of their income from coal-based operations, one for corruption, one for severe environmental damage and one for production of tobacco.
The two companies, Heidelberg Cement, a German company, and Cemex, a Mexican firm, acquired smaller companies with Israeli subsidiaries operating quarries in parts of the West Bank known as Area C, under complete Israeli civilian and military control as defined by the Oslo accords, Haaretz reported.
Earlier this month, KLP wrote that “no such agreement can override the rules relating to occupation set out in the Hague Regulations and the Fourth Geneva Convention.”
In response, head of responsible investment at KLP, Jeanett Bergan stated that “From the perspective of international law, an assessment of this case has proved more difficult than similar assessments with respect to Western Sahara. Nevertheless, the international legal principle that occupation should be temporary has carried the most weight. New exploitation of natural resources in occupied territory offers a strong incentive to prolong a conflict.”
KLP before taking any steps asked the companies for clarifications about their West Bank operations.
Heidelberg confirmed that one of its subsidiaries operated quarries in the West Bank and was aware of the criticism about this operation, with no intents of stopping. Cemex asserted that most of the workers at its West Bank quarry were Palestinians, and that they received the same conditions as their Israeli colleagues. Cemex also asserted that its operation in the West Bank was legal because the Oslo Accords allow Israel to maintain full control of Area C pending a permanent settlement, Haaretz said.
KLP rejected these arguments.
“KLP considers that the ethical arguments carry the heaviest weight in this case,” the company announced. “The extraction of non-renewable resources in occupied territory may weaken the future income potential of the local population, including the Palestinian residents. Moreover, when this is undertaken in a way that is difficult to justify within the requirements of the law of belligerent occupation, KLP considers that this activity represents an unacceptable risk of violating fundamental ethical norms.”
According to Haaretz, KLP divested of its shares in these companies effectively on June 1, citing international law as set in the Hague and Geneva conventions. The Norwegian firm insures all municipal workers in the Scandinavian nation and holds 35 billion dollars worth of assets.
Haaretz added that the move is part of KLP’s half-yearly review of companies in its portfolio, alongside excluding five more companies because of their income from coal-based operations, one for corruption, one for severe environmental damage and one for production of tobacco.
The two companies, Heidelberg Cement, a German company, and Cemex, a Mexican firm, acquired smaller companies with Israeli subsidiaries operating quarries in parts of the West Bank known as Area C, under complete Israeli civilian and military control as defined by the Oslo accords, Haaretz reported.
Earlier this month, KLP wrote that “no such agreement can override the rules relating to occupation set out in the Hague Regulations and the Fourth Geneva Convention.”
In response, head of responsible investment at KLP, Jeanett Bergan stated that “From the perspective of international law, an assessment of this case has proved more difficult than similar assessments with respect to Western Sahara. Nevertheless, the international legal principle that occupation should be temporary has carried the most weight. New exploitation of natural resources in occupied territory offers a strong incentive to prolong a conflict.”
KLP before taking any steps asked the companies for clarifications about their West Bank operations.
Heidelberg confirmed that one of its subsidiaries operated quarries in the West Bank and was aware of the criticism about this operation, with no intents of stopping. Cemex asserted that most of the workers at its West Bank quarry were Palestinians, and that they received the same conditions as their Israeli colleagues. Cemex also asserted that its operation in the West Bank was legal because the Oslo Accords allow Israel to maintain full control of Area C pending a permanent settlement, Haaretz said.
KLP rejected these arguments.
“KLP considers that the ethical arguments carry the heaviest weight in this case,” the company announced. “The extraction of non-renewable resources in occupied territory may weaken the future income potential of the local population, including the Palestinian residents. Moreover, when this is undertaken in a way that is difficult to justify within the requirements of the law of belligerent occupation, KLP considers that this activity represents an unacceptable risk of violating fundamental ethical norms.”
11 june 2015
Several Israeli military vehicles, and armored bulldozers, invaded, Thursday, Palestinian agricultural lands in Wadi Fukin village, in the West Bank district of Bethlehem, and bulldozed around 17 Dunams of farmlands.
The Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committee said the bulldozers started uprooting the Palestinian lands, after surrounding the area and declaring it a closed military zone.
The Committee added that the bulldozed and uprooted lands, are located between Beitar Illit and Tzur Hadassah illegal colonies. The owner has been identified as Sabri Rashad Manasra.
Head of the Wadi Fukin Village Council Ahmad Sukkar said Israel intends to use the lands, totaling 20 Dunams, to build a Trade and Industry Zone for the two settlements.
Israel is planning further constructions and expansion in the area, for the “Industrial Zone,” and the expansion of settlements, an issue that would lead to the illegal confiscation of hundreds of Dunams of Palestinian lands.
The Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committee said the bulldozers started uprooting the Palestinian lands, after surrounding the area and declaring it a closed military zone.
The Committee added that the bulldozed and uprooted lands, are located between Beitar Illit and Tzur Hadassah illegal colonies. The owner has been identified as Sabri Rashad Manasra.
Head of the Wadi Fukin Village Council Ahmad Sukkar said Israel intends to use the lands, totaling 20 Dunams, to build a Trade and Industry Zone for the two settlements.
Israel is planning further constructions and expansion in the area, for the “Industrial Zone,” and the expansion of settlements, an issue that would lead to the illegal confiscation of hundreds of Dunams of Palestinian lands.
9 june 2015
Riyad al-Maliki
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki, stated that the files of Israel’s illegal settlement activities in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, and the repeated Israeli aggression on the besieged coastal Gaza Strip, will be submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on June 25.
Al-Maliki said that all preparations for submitting the two important have been conducted by Palestinian and international experts.
He stated that the Israeli leadership is not interested in any real progress in political talks, in addition to its ongoing construction and expansion of its illegal colonies.
The official also denied reports claiming that Foreign Ministers from Germany, Canada and New Zealand have delivered messages from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “expressing willingness to meet President Mahmoud Abbas.”
He added that the Palestinian leadership is not seeking “media talks," false statements and lies that aim at creating fake developments in the political situation."
In addition, Al-Maliki rejected the idea of a small-scale “international peace conference,” adding that Israel is facing more international isolation, and that such a conference would only help it overcome this isolation without any real progress in the political situation.
Related:
“160 Files On Israeli Settlements To Be Submitted To ICC," Expert Says
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki, stated that the files of Israel’s illegal settlement activities in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, and the repeated Israeli aggression on the besieged coastal Gaza Strip, will be submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on June 25.
Al-Maliki said that all preparations for submitting the two important have been conducted by Palestinian and international experts.
He stated that the Israeli leadership is not interested in any real progress in political talks, in addition to its ongoing construction and expansion of its illegal colonies.
The official also denied reports claiming that Foreign Ministers from Germany, Canada and New Zealand have delivered messages from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “expressing willingness to meet President Mahmoud Abbas.”
He added that the Palestinian leadership is not seeking “media talks," false statements and lies that aim at creating fake developments in the political situation."
In addition, Al-Maliki rejected the idea of a small-scale “international peace conference,” adding that Israel is facing more international isolation, and that such a conference would only help it overcome this isolation without any real progress in the political situation.
Related:
“160 Files On Israeli Settlements To Be Submitted To ICC," Expert Says
8 june 2015
Moshe Kahlon
China has demanded that the Israeli government should sign a bilateral labour cooperation agreement so that Chinese construction workers sent to Israel are not employed in settlements in the occupied West Bank, Haaretz newspaper revealed on Sunday.
The newspaper pointed out that the Chinese government has agreed to send thousands of construction workers to Israel, but demanded that they are employed only within Israel. Each worker is to be paid $6,000.
While the Israeli government has agreed to pay the wages demanded, said Haaretz, it is refusing to accept the condition that workers should not be employed on settlement expansion contracts. It is not known if the deal will go ahead with the Chinese compromising on the issue.
Israeli Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon said that the plan to bring thousands of Chinese workers into the country is intended to speed up construction work to solve the housing problem and bring down prices.
China has demanded that the Israeli government should sign a bilateral labour cooperation agreement so that Chinese construction workers sent to Israel are not employed in settlements in the occupied West Bank, Haaretz newspaper revealed on Sunday.
The newspaper pointed out that the Chinese government has agreed to send thousands of construction workers to Israel, but demanded that they are employed only within Israel. Each worker is to be paid $6,000.
While the Israeli government has agreed to pay the wages demanded, said Haaretz, it is refusing to accept the condition that workers should not be employed on settlement expansion contracts. It is not known if the deal will go ahead with the Chinese compromising on the issue.
Israeli Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon said that the plan to bring thousands of Chinese workers into the country is intended to speed up construction work to solve the housing problem and bring down prices.
Member of Hamas's political bureau Ezzat al-Resheq strongly denounced Israel's new settlement project in a Palestinian neighborhood in occupied Jaffa and described it as ethnic cleansing.
"The settlement project to be carried out on the ruins of Palestinian homes in Nozha neighborhood is new ethnic cleansing and mass displacement of its residents," Resheq stated on his Facebook page.
The Hamas official emphasized that only a unified national struggle project can defend the Palestinian land and rights, and confront Israel's settlement plans in all occupied territories.
"Since the occupation of Jaffa city in 1948, the displacement plans have not stopped and the occupation has persisted in its terrorism, but the will of the Palestinian people and their steadfastness on their land will triumph even after a while," he said.
"The settlement project to be carried out on the ruins of Palestinian homes in Nozha neighborhood is new ethnic cleansing and mass displacement of its residents," Resheq stated on his Facebook page.
The Hamas official emphasized that only a unified national struggle project can defend the Palestinian land and rights, and confront Israel's settlement plans in all occupied territories.
"Since the occupation of Jaffa city in 1948, the displacement plans have not stopped and the occupation has persisted in its terrorism, but the will of the Palestinian people and their steadfastness on their land will triumph even after a while," he said.