25 aug 2016
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat has said that a new cable-car planned for Occupied Jerusalem will include a stop in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, so that riders will “understand who really owns this city,” Israeli daily Haaretz reported Thursday.
In a video posted on his Facebook page last week, Barkat can be seen discussing the cable-car plans with Likud activists, and while giving the explanation he mentions a station in Silwan that wasn't originally planned.
The project, run by Jerusalem city council, has stoked controversy over the Israeli cable-car's planned route which passes through parts of mostly Arab east Jerusalem.
The original plan for the cable-car was made up of four stations, including the First Station complex in southern Jerusalem, the Kedem Center near Silwan, the 7 Arches Hotel on the Mount of Olives, and the churches of Gethsemane, near the Old City’s Lions Gate, Haaretz reported.
However, while speaking to the activists, Barkat said there will be another station located at the Pool of Siloam, which is located inside Silwan.
"Anyone who wants to immerse [in Siloam] and then go up toward the Temple Mount experience, anyone who does this will know exactly who the owner of this city is,” claimed Barkat.
“When they have this experience,” Barkat went on to say, “even leftists get totally confused, because they understand that this is real, and our ties to Jerusalem can never be unraveled. For this experience, it’s also necessary to create a means of transportation.”
In a video posted on his Facebook page last week, Barkat can be seen discussing the cable-car plans with Likud activists, and while giving the explanation he mentions a station in Silwan that wasn't originally planned.
The project, run by Jerusalem city council, has stoked controversy over the Israeli cable-car's planned route which passes through parts of mostly Arab east Jerusalem.
The original plan for the cable-car was made up of four stations, including the First Station complex in southern Jerusalem, the Kedem Center near Silwan, the 7 Arches Hotel on the Mount of Olives, and the churches of Gethsemane, near the Old City’s Lions Gate, Haaretz reported.
However, while speaking to the activists, Barkat said there will be another station located at the Pool of Siloam, which is located inside Silwan.
"Anyone who wants to immerse [in Siloam] and then go up toward the Temple Mount experience, anyone who does this will know exactly who the owner of this city is,” claimed Barkat.
“When they have this experience,” Barkat went on to say, “even leftists get totally confused, because they understand that this is real, and our ties to Jerusalem can never be unraveled. For this experience, it’s also necessary to create a means of transportation.”
24 aug 2016
The Palestinian Authority on Tuesday condemned an announcement the previous day by the Israeli government that they would allow the expansion of a Jewish-only settlement in Hebron to allow an additional 100 Israelis to construct houses on illegally-seized Palestinian land.
The new houses will be constructed on an Israeli military base inside the city of Hebron along al-Shuhada Street in the central city.
They will expand the Israeli settlement of Beit Romano, which houses a yeshiva school. It was previously a Palestinian boy’s school, which was shut down in the early 1980s by the Israeli military for ‘security reasons’ and then reopened as a Jewish-only school soon after.
The military base on the site, which will be part of the settlement expansion, was constructed in the 1980s as well, on what had been the Hebron bus station.
It is surrounded by watchtowers, most of which are located on Palestinian-owned buildings.
Israel’s decision to allow the expansion of the settlement was criticized by Israeli peace organizations, and by the Palestinian Authority.
The Governor of Hebron, Kamal Hmeid, said that this settlement expansion demonstrates a collusion between the government and the settlers.
The group Peace Now said the expansion of the Hebron settlement constitutes a “right of return for Jews only”. This is in reference to the internationally recognized right of return of refugees, which has been denied to Palestinians since their expulsion from what is now Israel when it was created in 1948.
Although Israeli settlers have been expanding outposts and settlements in the Hebron area continuously, this is the first expansion that has been pre-approved and sanctioned by the Israeli government in a decade.
The new houses will be constructed on an Israeli military base inside the city of Hebron along al-Shuhada Street in the central city.
They will expand the Israeli settlement of Beit Romano, which houses a yeshiva school. It was previously a Palestinian boy’s school, which was shut down in the early 1980s by the Israeli military for ‘security reasons’ and then reopened as a Jewish-only school soon after.
The military base on the site, which will be part of the settlement expansion, was constructed in the 1980s as well, on what had been the Hebron bus station.
It is surrounded by watchtowers, most of which are located on Palestinian-owned buildings.
Israel’s decision to allow the expansion of the settlement was criticized by Israeli peace organizations, and by the Palestinian Authority.
The Governor of Hebron, Kamal Hmeid, said that this settlement expansion demonstrates a collusion between the government and the settlers.
The group Peace Now said the expansion of the Hebron settlement constitutes a “right of return for Jews only”. This is in reference to the internationally recognized right of return of refugees, which has been denied to Palestinians since their expulsion from what is now Israel when it was created in 1948.
Although Israeli settlers have been expanding outposts and settlements in the Hebron area continuously, this is the first expansion that has been pre-approved and sanctioned by the Israeli government in a decade.
23 aug 2016
Israel's antiquities authority has revealed that it built a 580-meter tunnel stretching underground from the southwestern corner of the Aqsa Mosque to Ein Silwan district.
According to Qpress website on Tuesday, a recent report released by the Israeli antiquities authority said the tunnel was funded by the right-wing settler group Ir David Foundation, known locally as Elad.
The report noted that the construction of this tunnel started in July 2013 and ended in late 2014.
In previous reports issued between 2008 and 2015, the Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage (closed and banned by the Israeli government) had revealed several secret tunnel diggings in different locations extending underground from the central area of Silwan district to al-Maghariba Gate of the Aqsa Mosque.
According to Qpress website on Tuesday, a recent report released by the Israeli antiquities authority said the tunnel was funded by the right-wing settler group Ir David Foundation, known locally as Elad.
The report noted that the construction of this tunnel started in July 2013 and ended in late 2014.
In previous reports issued between 2008 and 2015, the Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage (closed and banned by the Israeli government) had revealed several secret tunnel diggings in different locations extending underground from the central area of Silwan district to al-Maghariba Gate of the Aqsa Mosque.
22 aug 2016
The Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu and its “Housing Ministry” are planning the construction of new colonialist residential units for Jewish settlers in the heart of Hebron city, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank.
Israeli daily Haaretz has reported that, a few months ago, former Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon authorized the construction of the new colony, in area H2 of Hebron, under full Israeli control.
Describing it as “only a handful of homes,” Haaretz stated that the plan calls for building the constructions in an area where the Mitkanim military base currently stands, located between the “Jewish Neighborhood” (Avraham Avinu colony) and the Shuhada Street.
Israel is alleging that the land, where the new construction is planned to take place, “was inhabited by Jewish families prior to the establishment of Israel.”
It remains unclear the number of units and the exact size of the new illegal colony, while the area of the military base in question is nearly two Dunams (0.49 Acres).
Less than two weeks ago, the Hebron Construction Committee revealed to Maan News Agency that a number of illegal Israeli colonists installed a new outpost in the old bus station area, in the center of Hebron city, close to the Beit Romano outpost that was illegally established in property belonging to Osama Bin al-Monqith school, in Hebron.
Emad Hammad, the head of the Hebron Construction Committee, told Maan that the colonists added twelve new mobile homes in the yard of the old bus station, which was illegally occupied by the army in the 1980’s, and was used as a military base.
Israeli daily Haaretz has reported that, a few months ago, former Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon authorized the construction of the new colony, in area H2 of Hebron, under full Israeli control.
Describing it as “only a handful of homes,” Haaretz stated that the plan calls for building the constructions in an area where the Mitkanim military base currently stands, located between the “Jewish Neighborhood” (Avraham Avinu colony) and the Shuhada Street.
Israel is alleging that the land, where the new construction is planned to take place, “was inhabited by Jewish families prior to the establishment of Israel.”
It remains unclear the number of units and the exact size of the new illegal colony, while the area of the military base in question is nearly two Dunams (0.49 Acres).
Less than two weeks ago, the Hebron Construction Committee revealed to Maan News Agency that a number of illegal Israeli colonists installed a new outpost in the old bus station area, in the center of Hebron city, close to the Beit Romano outpost that was illegally established in property belonging to Osama Bin al-Monqith school, in Hebron.
Emad Hammad, the head of the Hebron Construction Committee, told Maan that the colonists added twelve new mobile homes in the yard of the old bus station, which was illegally occupied by the army in the 1980’s, and was used as a military base.
20 aug 2016
Israeli sources revealed that Israeli authorities are about to launch over the few coming weeks a judaziation project under the claim of developing the infrastructure of the New Gate area in the Old City of Occupied Jerusalem.
The project aims at transforming the historical area to an attractive touristic site whereby water, electricity and sewage networks as well as floor tiles are going to be renovated, according to a report issued by QPress center for Jerusalem and the Aqsa affairs.
The project is planned to be implemented by cooperation of the so-called Jerusalem development authority along with Jerusalem municipality, Ministries of Jerusalem and Tourism and the water company.
The project costs 10 million shekels and is expected to be completed by 2017.
The project aims at transforming the historical area to an attractive touristic site whereby water, electricity and sewage networks as well as floor tiles are going to be renovated, according to a report issued by QPress center for Jerusalem and the Aqsa affairs.
The project is planned to be implemented by cooperation of the so-called Jerusalem development authority along with Jerusalem municipality, Ministries of Jerusalem and Tourism and the water company.
The project costs 10 million shekels and is expected to be completed by 2017.
The Israeli Land Authority (ILA) and the Maale Adumim Economic Development Company Saturday opened four tenders for leasing land, establishing a hotel, and constructing a park in the illegal Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, according to Israeli media.
Two tenders were published to lease land for renewable 49 year contracts, while the others were for building a hotel and a park near the industrial zone of the settlement, according to the Israeli newspaper Kol Hair.
The six-story hotel will reportedly be the first in the settlement, and is planned to be built over 3000 square meters. It will also be located near the mall.
A park taking over 100 dunums (25 acres) of land is also planned to be constructed to the east of the industrial zone to serve the residents of Maale Adumum.
The mayor of Maale Adumim Benny Kashriel said in a statement that the industrial zone is expected to double its capacity over the next decade, Kol Hair reported.
Maale Adumim, located just seven kilometers east of Occupied Jerusalem, is the third largest settlement in population size, encompassing a large swath of land deep inside the West Bank.
Two tenders were published to lease land for renewable 49 year contracts, while the others were for building a hotel and a park near the industrial zone of the settlement, according to the Israeli newspaper Kol Hair.
The six-story hotel will reportedly be the first in the settlement, and is planned to be built over 3000 square meters. It will also be located near the mall.
A park taking over 100 dunums (25 acres) of land is also planned to be constructed to the east of the industrial zone to serve the residents of Maale Adumum.
The mayor of Maale Adumim Benny Kashriel said in a statement that the industrial zone is expected to double its capacity over the next decade, Kol Hair reported.
Maale Adumim, located just seven kilometers east of Occupied Jerusalem, is the third largest settlement in population size, encompassing a large swath of land deep inside the West Bank.
19 aug 2016
The Islamic Christian Committee to Defend Jerusalem and Holy Sites warned, on Thursday, against an Israeli project called the “New Face of Modern Jerusalem,” which targets the main western entrance of the city.
The committee said, in a press release, that the plan aims to give Jerusalem a Jewish character, obliterate its Arab Muslim and Christian identity, deface its history and create a new face that doesn’t relate to the original Arab Jerusalem.
Secretary General of the Committee Hanna Isaa said, according to WAFA correspondence, that the plan is proposed on around 720,000 meter square of land and would cost 1.4 billion shekels ($370 million USD).
Issa said that Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barakat’s statement that Jerusalem will become an advanced and more modern commercial center with many technological projects is a blatant declaration of Israel’s intent to give Jerusalem a Jewish character, something rejected by all international laws.
The committee further stated that Israel is working day and night to make Jerusalem Israel’s eternal capital controlled by a Jewish majority. Israel is escalating settlement construction and the apartheid wall, as well as many other projects to serve the purpose of making Jerusalem a Jewish-only capital.
The committee renewed calls upon international and Arab institutions especially the United Nations, UNESCO and the Arab Leagues to interfere immediately, and pressure Israeli into putting an end to all violations committed in this regard.
The committee said, in a press release, that the plan aims to give Jerusalem a Jewish character, obliterate its Arab Muslim and Christian identity, deface its history and create a new face that doesn’t relate to the original Arab Jerusalem.
Secretary General of the Committee Hanna Isaa said, according to WAFA correspondence, that the plan is proposed on around 720,000 meter square of land and would cost 1.4 billion shekels ($370 million USD).
Issa said that Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barakat’s statement that Jerusalem will become an advanced and more modern commercial center with many technological projects is a blatant declaration of Israel’s intent to give Jerusalem a Jewish character, something rejected by all international laws.
The committee further stated that Israel is working day and night to make Jerusalem Israel’s eternal capital controlled by a Jewish majority. Israel is escalating settlement construction and the apartheid wall, as well as many other projects to serve the purpose of making Jerusalem a Jewish-only capital.
The committee renewed calls upon international and Arab institutions especially the United Nations, UNESCO and the Arab Leagues to interfere immediately, and pressure Israeli into putting an end to all violations committed in this regard.
18 aug 2016
Israeli ministries of internal security, religious affairs and tourism in cooperation with Israeli municipality of Jerusalem approved the cable car project which is going to link the Magharebah gate, David city in Silwan town, Scopus Mount and Lions Gate all together at the expense of Palestinians’ Awqaf lands in Bab al-Rahma gate cemetery.
This project is one of 19 Judaization settlement projects within the "Jerusalem new vision" schema most of which in the southern area of the Old City of Jerusalem.
The cost of which is estimated at 400 million dollars and it is expected to be finished in 2030. For his part, head of the Islamic supreme authority Sheikh Ekrema Sabri condemned the cable car project and called for its cancellation.
Establishing a cable car over the walls of the Aqsa Mosque violates the sanctity of the Islamic Waqf in Occupied Jerusalem and the Aqsa holy site, he underlined.
Establishing the cable car project will involve changing the traffic routes for constructing a huge bridge from the Maghareba gate towards Silwan town in addition to widening of roads in the area in order to fit to the expected severe traffic in the area especially after building up new facilities within the coming five years.
This project is one of 19 Judaization settlement projects within the "Jerusalem new vision" schema most of which in the southern area of the Old City of Jerusalem.
The cost of which is estimated at 400 million dollars and it is expected to be finished in 2030. For his part, head of the Islamic supreme authority Sheikh Ekrema Sabri condemned the cable car project and called for its cancellation.
Establishing a cable car over the walls of the Aqsa Mosque violates the sanctity of the Islamic Waqf in Occupied Jerusalem and the Aqsa holy site, he underlined.
Establishing the cable car project will involve changing the traffic routes for constructing a huge bridge from the Maghareba gate towards Silwan town in addition to widening of roads in the area in order to fit to the expected severe traffic in the area especially after building up new facilities within the coming five years.
A Palestinian expert in settlement affairs warned of an Israeli settlement scheme to connect illegal outposts on both sides of the Green Line under the economic pretext.
According to expert Abdul Hadi Hantesh, an Israeli settlement scheme in southern al-Khalil aims at seizing hundreds of dunums of Palestinian lands and wiping out all traces of Palestinian existence near the Green Line by expanding illegal settlements near the apartheid wall, in 1948 Occupied Palestine.
He added that the Israeli occupation is planning the construction of an industrial zone near the Tarqumiya crossing, in southern al-Khalil, to pull Israeli entrepreneurs towards Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu’s so-called economic peace project.
The plot also includes the establishment of a commercial complex in the Tina Omarim illegal settlement.
Over recent weeks, Israeli bulldozers leveled Palestinian lands in the area, paving the way for the launch of construction works.
Commenting on the anti-settlement position recently adopted by the U.S., particularly over the Susiya village, in al-Khalil, the expert said that it might serve as a pressure card to reduce the speed of Israeli illegal settlement activity.
“But such a possibility cannot materialize on the ground if it is not propped up by a Palestinian official appeal to the International Criminal Court so as to impeach Israel for its illegal settlement projects,” said Hantesh.
Over 8,500 Israelis have been residing in 15 illegal settlements built on Palestinian lands in Jabal al-Khalil area, in the southern occupied West Bank.
According to expert Abdul Hadi Hantesh, an Israeli settlement scheme in southern al-Khalil aims at seizing hundreds of dunums of Palestinian lands and wiping out all traces of Palestinian existence near the Green Line by expanding illegal settlements near the apartheid wall, in 1948 Occupied Palestine.
He added that the Israeli occupation is planning the construction of an industrial zone near the Tarqumiya crossing, in southern al-Khalil, to pull Israeli entrepreneurs towards Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu’s so-called economic peace project.
The plot also includes the establishment of a commercial complex in the Tina Omarim illegal settlement.
Over recent weeks, Israeli bulldozers leveled Palestinian lands in the area, paving the way for the launch of construction works.
Commenting on the anti-settlement position recently adopted by the U.S., particularly over the Susiya village, in al-Khalil, the expert said that it might serve as a pressure card to reduce the speed of Israeli illegal settlement activity.
“But such a possibility cannot materialize on the ground if it is not propped up by a Palestinian official appeal to the International Criminal Court so as to impeach Israel for its illegal settlement projects,” said Hantesh.
Over 8,500 Israelis have been residing in 15 illegal settlements built on Palestinian lands in Jabal al-Khalil area, in the southern occupied West Bank.
The Israeli occupation army on Wednesday evening notified a Palestinian citizen of its intention to demolish a water well in Yatta town, south of al-Khalil city.
Local activist Rateb al-Jabour said the well is located in Umm Neir south of the town and belongs to Mohamed al-Jabour.
This is the second and final demolition notice against the well, according to Jabour.
In another context, Israeli minister of construction Yoav Galant has declared Israel's intention to increase the number of settlers in Gush Etzion settlement bloc, north of al-Khalil, to half a million.
Galant made remarks in this regard during a visit on Tuesday to Gush Etzion, according to Jerusalem Post newspaper. "We have an obligation to build in Gush Etzion. This place is important historically and strategically," he told reporters.
Local activist Rateb al-Jabour said the well is located in Umm Neir south of the town and belongs to Mohamed al-Jabour.
This is the second and final demolition notice against the well, according to Jabour.
In another context, Israeli minister of construction Yoav Galant has declared Israel's intention to increase the number of settlers in Gush Etzion settlement bloc, north of al-Khalil, to half a million.
Galant made remarks in this regard during a visit on Tuesday to Gush Etzion, according to Jerusalem Post newspaper. "We have an obligation to build in Gush Etzion. This place is important historically and strategically," he told reporters.
16 aug 2016
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) is embarking nowadays on carrying out new deep diggings several meters away from the southern side of the Aqsa Mosque and the historical wall of Jerusalem.
According to local sources, the Israeli antiquities authority started, with funding from the settler group Elad, to carry out widespread diggings at the entrance to Wadi Hilweh neighborhood of Silwan district.
Truckloads of dirt and rock have been removed from the site, where the depth of these diggings are estimated to have reached four meters so far.
According to a recent field visit to the site conducted by Qpress news agency, the new excavations seem to be aimed at connecting the network of underground tunnels beneath the Givati parking lot and the so-called City of David area with each other.
According to local sources, the Israeli antiquities authority started, with funding from the settler group Elad, to carry out widespread diggings at the entrance to Wadi Hilweh neighborhood of Silwan district.
Truckloads of dirt and rock have been removed from the site, where the depth of these diggings are estimated to have reached four meters so far.
According to a recent field visit to the site conducted by Qpress news agency, the new excavations seem to be aimed at connecting the network of underground tunnels beneath the Givati parking lot and the so-called City of David area with each other.