19 june 2016
The Israeli government voted, in its session today, to provide extensive funding for projects which aim to expand illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
According to Israeli TV, NIS 70-74 (approximately $18 million USD) will be allocated to enhance settlement security, under the pretext of “confronting Palestinian attacks,” according to Al Ray.
Haaretz additionally reported that the sum cited above will be added to NIS 350 million which has already been allocated for settlement construction, in an understanding signed between the Likud party and The Jewish Home party, at the time of the government’s formation.
The paper explained that this money will be used to improve settlements and to encourage tourism.
According to Israeli TV, NIS 70-74 (approximately $18 million USD) will be allocated to enhance settlement security, under the pretext of “confronting Palestinian attacks,” according to Al Ray.
Haaretz additionally reported that the sum cited above will be added to NIS 350 million which has already been allocated for settlement construction, in an understanding signed between the Likud party and The Jewish Home party, at the time of the government’s formation.
The paper explained that this money will be used to improve settlements and to encourage tourism.
Israel has finalized the establishment of the largest base in the Red Sea Basin, specifically in Eritrea, Eritrean sources said.
The local sources told the PIC that the base was established on an area overseeing Bab al-Mandab, some 135 kilometers away from the capital Asmara.
The expert in East African affairs, Dr. Osama al-Ashqar, said sources in the opposition confirmed the piece of news. He added that the base, which was built on the highest mountain in Eritrea, aims at monitoring the strategic Bab al-Mandab and eliminating any projected threats to Israel’s commercial interests.
Al-Ashqar added that the daily functions of the base include monitoring the Arab Coalition forces involved in the Yemen conflict against the forces of the ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh and his Houthi allies.
The base is also expected to monitor Iranian navy activity and the movement of the naval and air forces across the southern corners of the Red Sea. Among the projected functions is also spying on the Sudan on allegations that it helps delivering arms to the Palestinian resistance.
According to al-Aqshar, the move marks a watershed in the Israeli-Eritrean ties which have seen a setback over recent years due to Israeli military back-up to Ethiopia and illegal immigration from Eritrea to Israel.
According to learned sources over 40,000 Eritreans had migrated to Israel. In al-Ashqar’s terms, such a development in the Israeli-Eritrean relations comes at the expense of the Egyptian diplomacy and national security which has lost its presence in such a strategic area.
The local sources told the PIC that the base was established on an area overseeing Bab al-Mandab, some 135 kilometers away from the capital Asmara.
The expert in East African affairs, Dr. Osama al-Ashqar, said sources in the opposition confirmed the piece of news. He added that the base, which was built on the highest mountain in Eritrea, aims at monitoring the strategic Bab al-Mandab and eliminating any projected threats to Israel’s commercial interests.
Al-Ashqar added that the daily functions of the base include monitoring the Arab Coalition forces involved in the Yemen conflict against the forces of the ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh and his Houthi allies.
The base is also expected to monitor Iranian navy activity and the movement of the naval and air forces across the southern corners of the Red Sea. Among the projected functions is also spying on the Sudan on allegations that it helps delivering arms to the Palestinian resistance.
According to al-Aqshar, the move marks a watershed in the Israeli-Eritrean ties which have seen a setback over recent years due to Israeli military back-up to Ethiopia and illegal immigration from Eritrea to Israel.
According to learned sources over 40,000 Eritreans had migrated to Israel. In al-Ashqar’s terms, such a development in the Israeli-Eritrean relations comes at the expense of the Egyptian diplomacy and national security which has lost its presence in such a strategic area.
17 june 2016
The Israeli cabinet will vote at its weekly session on Sunday to add another 74 million shekels ($19 million) to 340 million already earmarked for Israeli settlement in the West Bank, Haaretz Hebrew newspaper revealed.
The Israeli cabinet will vote at its weekly Sunday session on a proposed addition of 74 million shekels ($19 million) to a budget of 340 million shekels for Jewish settlements, for a "unique security situation they face on a daily basis."
The draft proposal says: "Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria live in a unique security situation on a daily basis due to their geographic location and fabric of life in the region".
"Since October there has been an escalation in the security situation in the West Bank. The security escalation has a lot of effects on various parts of life, including a psychological and social impact, and an economic effect on businesses which calls for special responses and services."
Haaretz reported two months ago that Netanyahu and former war minister Moshe Ya'alon had decided to advance the construction of hundreds of settlement homes.
The plan was quietly frozen for about a year, but there has recently been a decision to advance new plans to the Civil Administration's planning commission.
The Israeli cabinet will vote at its weekly Sunday session on a proposed addition of 74 million shekels ($19 million) to a budget of 340 million shekels for Jewish settlements, for a "unique security situation they face on a daily basis."
The draft proposal says: "Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria live in a unique security situation on a daily basis due to their geographic location and fabric of life in the region".
"Since October there has been an escalation in the security situation in the West Bank. The security escalation has a lot of effects on various parts of life, including a psychological and social impact, and an economic effect on businesses which calls for special responses and services."
Haaretz reported two months ago that Netanyahu and former war minister Moshe Ya'alon had decided to advance the construction of hundreds of settlement homes.
The plan was quietly frozen for about a year, but there has recently been a decision to advance new plans to the Civil Administration's planning commission.
16 june 2016
Head of the maps department at the Arab Studies Society Khalil Tufkaji has warned that the Israeli municipality intends to establish a new outpost for Jewish settlers soon in the heart of Silwan district, south of the Aqsa Mosque.
Tufkaji told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that this outpost would be the first building for settlers that was approved by the Israeli municipality without its departments sanctioning its structural plan.
Following political pressure by the government, the municipality's planning and building committee on Wednesday directly approved the plan of the settler group Ateret Cohanim in Silwan without taking other approvals from the competent authorities.
The new outpost, which is a three-floor apartment building for Jewish settlers, will be built on Palestinian land purchased by Ateret Cohanim in 2005. It will be located near Beit Yonatan outpost.
Tufkaji voiced concern that this new settlement building could be a prelude to carrying out more projects for settlers in Silwan, especially after right-winger Avigdor Lieberman recently became the war minister.
"The far-right alliance of the Israeli government has recently taken a series of decisions and pushed forward many projects that were frozen in the past in the settlements of Gilo and Ramat Shlomo, and in Sheikh Jarrah and finally in Silwan," he said.
Tufkaji told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that this outpost would be the first building for settlers that was approved by the Israeli municipality without its departments sanctioning its structural plan.
Following political pressure by the government, the municipality's planning and building committee on Wednesday directly approved the plan of the settler group Ateret Cohanim in Silwan without taking other approvals from the competent authorities.
The new outpost, which is a three-floor apartment building for Jewish settlers, will be built on Palestinian land purchased by Ateret Cohanim in 2005. It will be located near Beit Yonatan outpost.
Tufkaji voiced concern that this new settlement building could be a prelude to carrying out more projects for settlers in Silwan, especially after right-winger Avigdor Lieberman recently became the war minister.
"The far-right alliance of the Israeli government has recently taken a series of decisions and pushed forward many projects that were frozen in the past in the settlements of Gilo and Ramat Shlomo, and in Sheikh Jarrah and finally in Silwan," he said.
Israeli news site Ynet, on Thursday revealed the Israeli state’s plans to build a concrete wall along the Gaza-Israeli borders, reportedly to halt the use of tunnels from Gaza.
According to Ynet, the wall will be dug to a depth of several dozen meters underground and will also be built above it.
It will stretch along 60 miles of the southern border around the Gaza Strip, and will cost NIS 2.2 billion (approx $570 million).
The tunnels, dug by Hamas, the ruling party in Gaza, are used as the only breather for Gaza, especially after Israel and Egypt both have closed their crossings to Gaza.
The Israeli military has been increasing its use of bulldozers on the Palestinian side of the Gaza border fence, while Egyptian authorities have swamped them with seawater.
This wall, according to the PNN, will be the third of its kind that the Israeli government has built along the border.
Ynet said that, in addition, the Israeli army is currently erecting a wall around sections of the border with Lebanon, adjacent to which a number of Israeli towns are located.
In 2002, Israel erected the wall in the occupied West Bank which, in 2008, was 252 miles long, and will be eventually 491 miles long.
According to Ynet, the wall will be dug to a depth of several dozen meters underground and will also be built above it.
It will stretch along 60 miles of the southern border around the Gaza Strip, and will cost NIS 2.2 billion (approx $570 million).
The tunnels, dug by Hamas, the ruling party in Gaza, are used as the only breather for Gaza, especially after Israel and Egypt both have closed their crossings to Gaza.
The Israeli military has been increasing its use of bulldozers on the Palestinian side of the Gaza border fence, while Egyptian authorities have swamped them with seawater.
This wall, according to the PNN, will be the third of its kind that the Israeli government has built along the border.
Ynet said that, in addition, the Israeli army is currently erecting a wall around sections of the border with Lebanon, adjacent to which a number of Israeli towns are located.
In 2002, Israel erected the wall in the occupied West Bank which, in 2008, was 252 miles long, and will be eventually 491 miles long.
15 june 2016
The planning and building unit at Israeli municipality of Jerusalem endorsed a construction project to establish a three-story building in central Silwan to the south of the Aqsa Mosque.
Israeli Housing Minister Yoav Galant had previously declared that no settlement construction plans would be implemented in the city of Jerusalem at the current time, but this endorsement refutes his statement.
Israeli TV Channel Seven quoted the MK lawyer Eldad Rabinovitch as welcoming the decision along with the municipality’s other settlement projects in Silwan.
The Israeli occupation authorities have been establishing housing units in Occupied Jerusalem under different themes, while in reality they aim at emptying the holy city from Palestinian inhabitants.
Israeli Housing Minister Yoav Galant had previously declared that no settlement construction plans would be implemented in the city of Jerusalem at the current time, but this endorsement refutes his statement.
Israeli TV Channel Seven quoted the MK lawyer Eldad Rabinovitch as welcoming the decision along with the municipality’s other settlement projects in Silwan.
The Israeli occupation authorities have been establishing housing units in Occupied Jerusalem under different themes, while in reality they aim at emptying the holy city from Palestinian inhabitants.
13 june 2016
Head of the Quds Center for Socio-economic Rights, Ziad al-Hamouri, slammed on Sunday Israeli ongoing efforts to distort Jerusalem’s Islamic character and swap its demographic idiosyncrasy in favor of illegal settlement.
Al-Hamouri said in a press statement that enhancing Jerusalem’s socio-economic situation is among the possible ways to respond to Israel’s Judaization schemes.
Al-Hamouri called for a comprehensive roadmap to defend Occupied Jerusalem against Israeli Judaization schemes. He warned of the so-called Israeli Zamosh project, a large part of which was already accomplished allegedly in order to boost tourism around Occupied Jerusalem.
The project culminated in the establishment of the so-called “Lower Jerusalem” beneath the Old City, with a new network of roads and means of transport that “have gobbled up everything and everybody,” in al-Hamouri’s terms.
The activist added that Muslim cemeteries have also been affected by Israel’s settlement activity and that Palestinian neighborhoods have been torn from limb to limb by a net of illegal settlement outposts engulfing Occupied Jerusalem from all sides.
He called for serious steps to meet Jerusalemites’ urgent needs and back them up throughout their struggle against the Israeli occupation. “We largely bet on our sense of belonging and deep-rootedness in Jerusalem’s soil to oust the Israeli colonizer,” al-Hamouri concluded.
Al-Hamouri said in a press statement that enhancing Jerusalem’s socio-economic situation is among the possible ways to respond to Israel’s Judaization schemes.
Al-Hamouri called for a comprehensive roadmap to defend Occupied Jerusalem against Israeli Judaization schemes. He warned of the so-called Israeli Zamosh project, a large part of which was already accomplished allegedly in order to boost tourism around Occupied Jerusalem.
The project culminated in the establishment of the so-called “Lower Jerusalem” beneath the Old City, with a new network of roads and means of transport that “have gobbled up everything and everybody,” in al-Hamouri’s terms.
The activist added that Muslim cemeteries have also been affected by Israel’s settlement activity and that Palestinian neighborhoods have been torn from limb to limb by a net of illegal settlement outposts engulfing Occupied Jerusalem from all sides.
He called for serious steps to meet Jerusalemites’ urgent needs and back them up throughout their struggle against the Israeli occupation. “We largely bet on our sense of belonging and deep-rootedness in Jerusalem’s soil to oust the Israeli colonizer,” al-Hamouri concluded.
A group of American Palestinians from the West Bank have filed a lawsuit in a Washington court against a string of US-based tycoons, companies and organizations supporting settlement construction on Palestinian land.
The suit was filed in the Federal District Court of Washington DC last Monday, June 6, 2016, according to Israeli newspapers.
Brought by Washington lawyer Martin McMahon on behalf of Basem Attamimi, a resident of the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, and about 35 others, the suit says that the respondents contravened American law against money laundering, in terms of which the transfer of money for the purposes of committing a crime is illegal.
According to the plaintiffs, the establishment of settlements in the occupied territories has been accompanied by violence, death and injury, the destruction of houses and the burning of trees and is thus criminal.
The suit also includes other accusations against the respondents.
Among those named in the suit are casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, sponsor of settler groups in Jerusalem Irving Moskowitz, evangelist John Hagee, Israeli businessman Lev Leviev, media mogul and film producer Haim Saban, and former diplomat Elliot Abrams.
The American organizations named in the suit include Friends of the IDF in the US, Friends of Ariel, Honenu, the Hebron Fund, the Karnei Shomron Fund and the Falic Family Foundation as well as a group of pro-settlements lawyers.
Among the businesses named in the suit are Bank Leumi, Bank Hapoalim, Volvo (whose vehicles are allegedly used in house demolitions,) Africa-Israel, Motorola, Hewlett Packard and RE/MAX real estate.
Tamimi is a long-time anti-settlement activist. The current suit complements one he brought in December against the US Treasury for allowing tax-free donations to settlements. The federal court accepted the lawsuit and will convene a hearing on this case in early October.
The suit was filed in the Federal District Court of Washington DC last Monday, June 6, 2016, according to Israeli newspapers.
Brought by Washington lawyer Martin McMahon on behalf of Basem Attamimi, a resident of the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, and about 35 others, the suit says that the respondents contravened American law against money laundering, in terms of which the transfer of money for the purposes of committing a crime is illegal.
According to the plaintiffs, the establishment of settlements in the occupied territories has been accompanied by violence, death and injury, the destruction of houses and the burning of trees and is thus criminal.
The suit also includes other accusations against the respondents.
Among those named in the suit are casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, sponsor of settler groups in Jerusalem Irving Moskowitz, evangelist John Hagee, Israeli businessman Lev Leviev, media mogul and film producer Haim Saban, and former diplomat Elliot Abrams.
The American organizations named in the suit include Friends of the IDF in the US, Friends of Ariel, Honenu, the Hebron Fund, the Karnei Shomron Fund and the Falic Family Foundation as well as a group of pro-settlements lawyers.
Among the businesses named in the suit are Bank Leumi, Bank Hapoalim, Volvo (whose vehicles are allegedly used in house demolitions,) Africa-Israel, Motorola, Hewlett Packard and RE/MAX real estate.
Tamimi is a long-time anti-settlement activist. The current suit complements one he brought in December against the US Treasury for allowing tax-free donations to settlements. The federal court accepted the lawsuit and will convene a hearing on this case in early October.
12 june 2016
Khalil al-Tafakji, expert of settlement affairs, said that the acceleration of settlement establishment within the project called Jerusalem 2020 which consists of 58,000 housing units threatens the Palestinian existence in Jerusalem.
In a press statement, Tafakji said that the project aims at expanding the Israeli municipality zone and cancelling the airport of Jerusalem in Qalandya as well as Judaizing the city of Occupied Jerusalem in order to pave the way for the establishment of the "Jewish State".
He pointed out that the construction of 15,000 settlement units in the vicinity of Qalandya aims at preventing the establishment of Jerusalem airport anticipated by the Palestinian independent state.
The project is a phase of the Israeli plan to get rid of the Arab residents in the city and to draw a new map of the occupied city of Jerusalem, Tafakji said.
In a press statement, Tafakji said that the project aims at expanding the Israeli municipality zone and cancelling the airport of Jerusalem in Qalandya as well as Judaizing the city of Occupied Jerusalem in order to pave the way for the establishment of the "Jewish State".
He pointed out that the construction of 15,000 settlement units in the vicinity of Qalandya aims at preventing the establishment of Jerusalem airport anticipated by the Palestinian independent state.
The project is a phase of the Israeli plan to get rid of the Arab residents in the city and to draw a new map of the occupied city of Jerusalem, Tafakji said.
The Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative, Mustafa al-Barghouti, charged the international community with responsibility for the escalation of the pace of settlement expansion in the West Bank and Occupied Jerusalem due to its failure to impose sanctions on the Israeli occupation.
Barghouti said, in a statement on Saturday, that the Israeli decisions of establishing 82 new settlement units in Shufat hill and 150 new other units in Gilo outpost in addition to hundreds of others in Har Homa settlement reflects Israeli exploitation of the silence of the international community which turns a blind eye to the Israeli violations and refrains from imposing sanctions on Israel.
The Hebrew weekly newspaper, Iroshalim, revealed that Israeli authorities have recently endorsed two settlement projects in Occupied Jerusalem after being reluctant for years because of worries about the objection of the international community and the United States.
Barghouti said, in a statement on Saturday, that the Israeli decisions of establishing 82 new settlement units in Shufat hill and 150 new other units in Gilo outpost in addition to hundreds of others in Har Homa settlement reflects Israeli exploitation of the silence of the international community which turns a blind eye to the Israeli violations and refrains from imposing sanctions on Israel.
The Hebrew weekly newspaper, Iroshalim, revealed that Israeli authorities have recently endorsed two settlement projects in Occupied Jerusalem after being reluctant for years because of worries about the objection of the international community and the United States.
11 june 2016
Israeli authorities approved two settlement projects in occupied Jerusalem despite the U.S. and international community’s rejection of the step, Iroshalim Hebrew newspaper revealed.
According to Friday's issue of the weekly newspaper, the Israeli Committee for Planning and Construction in occupied Jerusalem approved in two separate sessions two settlement projects. One of the approved projects includes the construction of 82 housing units in the settlement of Ramat Shlomo.
The Israeli move came in coincidence with the 49th anniversary of Jerusalem occupation. The settlement projects also include the construction of 150 housing units in Gilo settlement, south of the occupied city.
Israel's planning committee chair Meir Turgeman claimed that Jerusalem lacks the sufficient lands for construction. The municipality will support any construction plan in any area in the city, he added.
Turgeman had earlier asked Israel’s Finance Minister to start the implementation of all the settlement projects that have been hampered in Givat Hmreis settlement in Beit Safafa area which include 2,600 housing units. On the other hand, Kol Ha'ir Hebrew newspaper disclosed the construction of new housing units in Novi Adumim in Ma'aleh Adumim settlement.
The project includes the establishment of two buildings which consist of six and eight housing units. Another settlement project that consists of 35 housing units has already started in Pisgat Ze'ev settlement, the sources added. Israel has accelerated expansion of illegal settlements across the West Bank in defiance of international calls for a halt to such activity that ran contrary to the international laws and resolutions.
According to Friday's issue of the weekly newspaper, the Israeli Committee for Planning and Construction in occupied Jerusalem approved in two separate sessions two settlement projects. One of the approved projects includes the construction of 82 housing units in the settlement of Ramat Shlomo.
The Israeli move came in coincidence with the 49th anniversary of Jerusalem occupation. The settlement projects also include the construction of 150 housing units in Gilo settlement, south of the occupied city.
Israel's planning committee chair Meir Turgeman claimed that Jerusalem lacks the sufficient lands for construction. The municipality will support any construction plan in any area in the city, he added.
Turgeman had earlier asked Israel’s Finance Minister to start the implementation of all the settlement projects that have been hampered in Givat Hmreis settlement in Beit Safafa area which include 2,600 housing units. On the other hand, Kol Ha'ir Hebrew newspaper disclosed the construction of new housing units in Novi Adumim in Ma'aleh Adumim settlement.
The project includes the establishment of two buildings which consist of six and eight housing units. Another settlement project that consists of 35 housing units has already started in Pisgat Ze'ev settlement, the sources added. Israel has accelerated expansion of illegal settlements across the West Bank in defiance of international calls for a halt to such activity that ran contrary to the international laws and resolutions.