26 mar 2016
The weekly Hebrew newspaper Iroshalim revealed in its latest edition an Israeli plan to build 900 new housing units in Pisgat Ze'ev settlement east of occupied Jerusalem.
The Israeli Municipality declared that the Building and Housing Ministry supports the establishment of 900 new housing units in Pisgat Ze'ev settlement, according to the newspaper.
Numerous meetings were held with representatives of nearby Israeli settlements to discuss the plan, the paper reported, saying that there is a tentative agreement on it.
Along the same line, the newspaper said that Israeli Antiquities Authority will soon start excavations near the Old City’s walls in occupied Jerusalem as a prelude to establish a public park in the area. Iroshalim claimed that the excavations started after obtaining a green light from the Greek-Orthodox Church which owns the land.
The new park is scheduled to be established on an area of five dunums near the Old City’s walls.
The Israeli Municipality declared that the Building and Housing Ministry supports the establishment of 900 new housing units in Pisgat Ze'ev settlement, according to the newspaper.
Numerous meetings were held with representatives of nearby Israeli settlements to discuss the plan, the paper reported, saying that there is a tentative agreement on it.
Along the same line, the newspaper said that Israeli Antiquities Authority will soon start excavations near the Old City’s walls in occupied Jerusalem as a prelude to establish a public park in the area. Iroshalim claimed that the excavations started after obtaining a green light from the Greek-Orthodox Church which owns the land.
The new park is scheduled to be established on an area of five dunums near the Old City’s walls.
23 mar 2016
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The Israeli “Regional Planning and Construction Council” approved, on Wednesday, the so-called “Kedem – City of David” colonialist project that would be undertaken at the main entrances of the Wadi Hilweh Palestinian neighborhood, in Silwan town, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center, in Silwan (Silwanic), said the approval came during a brief meeting held on Tuesday. It added that Palestinians from Wadi Hilweh attended the session, but had to withdraw after being constantly interrupted whenever they testified about the devastating outcome of such a project occurring on their lands. The residents also complained that they were denied the right to Arabic interpretation during the council meeting. Lawyer Sami Ersheid said that the Regional Council denied, Tuesday, all |
appeals filed against the Kedem project, and canceled the 2014 decision of the “Appeals Committee” of the “Higher Planning Council,” to completely void the project.
Ersheid added that the decision of the Appeals Council was very brief, barely two pages, in which it voided the 140-page decision of the appeals committee, issued in June of 2014, and never provided any justification for the legal, planning and construction reasons that pushed it for approval in the first place.
“The hearing at the Regional Council meeting demanding discussing all appeals against the project in just four hours, this is not enough because each section of the project needs at least 15 minutes”, Ersheid said, “Such deliberations in the previous session lasted for two days, each day for eight hours.”
He added that Wadi Hilweh residents, Ir Amim and Emek Shaveh organizations, along with several Israeli academics, have all filed appeals against the 2014 decision of the Regional Committee approving the project in 2014, and that the entire colonialist project was voided by the Appeals Committee in 2015.
“The decision of the Regional Committee is merely political,” he stated, “it is not legal, it was pushed by pressures from the higher political leadership; the Regional Council was just talking about the touristic importance of this project, and completely ignoring the harm and suffering that would be inflicted on the Palestinians in Silwan. We will file appeals and demand voiding the Regional Council’s decision; we will demand approving the decision of the Appeals Committee.”
He also stated that Israel wants to build a six-story building on 12.000 square/meters, for the use of the Israeli archeology department, in addition to a conference hall, educations rooms, parking lots for tourists and settlements, commercial stores, and offices run by the Elad colonialist organization, largely funded by millionaires from the United States.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center and Committee issues a joint statement denouncing the approval of the colonialist project, originally submitted by Elad, and said that this approval just goes to serve the illegitimate plans in replacing the indigenous Palestinians with colonialist settlers, and colonialist projects.
They said that the approval of this project, originally voided nine months ago, “came in a racist session, that was merely for show,” and denied the residents the right to present their case, or to present the devastating outcome of this colonialist project.
They added that its approval will be the gateway for the addition of many more colonialist projects on Palestinian lands in Silwan, and demanded the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to immediately intervene, especially since this project aims at destroying Arab and Palestinian heritage and archeology, and demanded the International Community to act in helping the residents to counter this illegal project.
The “Kedem” project aims at the illegal annexation of large areas of lands in Wadi Hilweh -- lands that, until Israel annexed East Jerusalem in 1967 -- were used for agriculture, before Israel illegally confiscated them, demolished a room owned by the Abda family, and turned the grounds into a parking lot.
In 2003, the Elad colonialist organization managed to gain control over the lands, and started planning before actually digging in al-Magharba Square, in addition to destroying Ottoman, Byzantine and Roman sites, and left just a few of them as an “archeological proof of the second temple.”
Ersheid added that the decision of the Appeals Council was very brief, barely two pages, in which it voided the 140-page decision of the appeals committee, issued in June of 2014, and never provided any justification for the legal, planning and construction reasons that pushed it for approval in the first place.
“The hearing at the Regional Council meeting demanding discussing all appeals against the project in just four hours, this is not enough because each section of the project needs at least 15 minutes”, Ersheid said, “Such deliberations in the previous session lasted for two days, each day for eight hours.”
He added that Wadi Hilweh residents, Ir Amim and Emek Shaveh organizations, along with several Israeli academics, have all filed appeals against the 2014 decision of the Regional Committee approving the project in 2014, and that the entire colonialist project was voided by the Appeals Committee in 2015.
“The decision of the Regional Committee is merely political,” he stated, “it is not legal, it was pushed by pressures from the higher political leadership; the Regional Council was just talking about the touristic importance of this project, and completely ignoring the harm and suffering that would be inflicted on the Palestinians in Silwan. We will file appeals and demand voiding the Regional Council’s decision; we will demand approving the decision of the Appeals Committee.”
He also stated that Israel wants to build a six-story building on 12.000 square/meters, for the use of the Israeli archeology department, in addition to a conference hall, educations rooms, parking lots for tourists and settlements, commercial stores, and offices run by the Elad colonialist organization, largely funded by millionaires from the United States.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center and Committee issues a joint statement denouncing the approval of the colonialist project, originally submitted by Elad, and said that this approval just goes to serve the illegitimate plans in replacing the indigenous Palestinians with colonialist settlers, and colonialist projects.
They said that the approval of this project, originally voided nine months ago, “came in a racist session, that was merely for show,” and denied the residents the right to present their case, or to present the devastating outcome of this colonialist project.
They added that its approval will be the gateway for the addition of many more colonialist projects on Palestinian lands in Silwan, and demanded the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to immediately intervene, especially since this project aims at destroying Arab and Palestinian heritage and archeology, and demanded the International Community to act in helping the residents to counter this illegal project.
The “Kedem” project aims at the illegal annexation of large areas of lands in Wadi Hilweh -- lands that, until Israel annexed East Jerusalem in 1967 -- were used for agriculture, before Israel illegally confiscated them, demolished a room owned by the Abda family, and turned the grounds into a parking lot.
In 2003, the Elad colonialist organization managed to gain control over the lands, and started planning before actually digging in al-Magharba Square, in addition to destroying Ottoman, Byzantine and Roman sites, and left just a few of them as an “archeological proof of the second temple.”
A senior UN rights official says that the continued development of illegal Israeli settlements is the root cause of a broad spectrum of human rights abuses across the occupied Palestinian territories.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein made the remarks in a statement at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), on Tuesday.
He noted that settlements only prolong the occupation and undermine the future of Palestinians. “The presence and continued development of Israeli settlements lie at the root of a broad spectrum of human rights violations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem (al-Quds),” al-Hussein said.
Al-Hussein also called on UN member states to end their businesses in illegal Israeli settlements and not to facilitate Israel’s violations of international law.
He urged all states, according to Press TV/Al Ray, “to ensure that they are not taking actions that either recognize or assist the expansion of settlements or construction of the wall in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem (al-Quds).”
UN urges probe into Israeli killing of Palestinians
Elsewhere in his remarks, the UN rights chief called for an immediate investigation into what he called Israel's unlawful killings of Palestinians in the occupied territories.
“Some of these responses strongly suggest unlawful killings, including possible extrajudicial executions and willful killings. Prompt, independent, impartial thorough and effective investigations should be carried out into all allegations of excessive use of force,” al-Hussein stated.
He also called on violators of international humanitarian law to be held accountable.
On March 21, Makarim Wibisono, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, stepped down, citing the Tel Aviv regime's refusal to let him into areas he was meant to investigate.
Since August 2015, the occupied Palestinian lands have been the scene of tensions after Israel’s imposition of restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East al-Quds (Jerusalem).
At least 206 Palestinians, including children and women, have lost their lives at the hands of Israeli forces since October 1, 2015.
Buying settlement products abets an act of war
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council, Ibrahim Khraishi, said those who purchase settlement products from Israel are an accomplice to its acts of war.
“Settlements only prolong the occupation and undermine the future of the Palestinians,” Khraishi said, adding, “Anyone who buys products of the settlements are accomplices to the Israeli authority and to acts which constitute acts of war.”
“The Israeli occupation has lasted almost 50 years. This has only generated violence and instability in the region. It must be ended if we are going to have human rights prevail in the region,” he said. In January, the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report that businesses should stop operating in, financing, servicing, or trading with settlement-related “activities that contribute to and benefit from an inherently unlawful and abusive system that violates the rights of Palestinians.” Arvind Ganesan, the director of the business and human rights division of HRW, said such businesses play a critical role in expanding settlements and encourage the Israeli authorities’ unlawful confiscation of Palestinian land and other resources.
“Settlement businesses unavoidably contribute to Israeli policies that dispossess and harshly discriminate against Palestinians, while profiting from Israel’s theft of Palestinian land and other resources,” Ganesan said, adding, “The only way for businesses to comply with their own human rights responsibilities is to stop working with and in Israeli settlements.”
More than half a million Israelis live in 237 settlements throughout the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including in East al-Quds.
The United Nations and most countries regard the Israeli settlements as illegal because the territories were captured by Israel in a war in 1967 and are hence subject to the Geneva Convention, which forbids construction on occupied lands.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein made the remarks in a statement at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), on Tuesday.
He noted that settlements only prolong the occupation and undermine the future of Palestinians. “The presence and continued development of Israeli settlements lie at the root of a broad spectrum of human rights violations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem (al-Quds),” al-Hussein said.
Al-Hussein also called on UN member states to end their businesses in illegal Israeli settlements and not to facilitate Israel’s violations of international law.
He urged all states, according to Press TV/Al Ray, “to ensure that they are not taking actions that either recognize or assist the expansion of settlements or construction of the wall in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem (al-Quds).”
UN urges probe into Israeli killing of Palestinians
Elsewhere in his remarks, the UN rights chief called for an immediate investigation into what he called Israel's unlawful killings of Palestinians in the occupied territories.
“Some of these responses strongly suggest unlawful killings, including possible extrajudicial executions and willful killings. Prompt, independent, impartial thorough and effective investigations should be carried out into all allegations of excessive use of force,” al-Hussein stated.
He also called on violators of international humanitarian law to be held accountable.
On March 21, Makarim Wibisono, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, stepped down, citing the Tel Aviv regime's refusal to let him into areas he was meant to investigate.
Since August 2015, the occupied Palestinian lands have been the scene of tensions after Israel’s imposition of restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East al-Quds (Jerusalem).
At least 206 Palestinians, including children and women, have lost their lives at the hands of Israeli forces since October 1, 2015.
Buying settlement products abets an act of war
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council, Ibrahim Khraishi, said those who purchase settlement products from Israel are an accomplice to its acts of war.
“Settlements only prolong the occupation and undermine the future of the Palestinians,” Khraishi said, adding, “Anyone who buys products of the settlements are accomplices to the Israeli authority and to acts which constitute acts of war.”
“The Israeli occupation has lasted almost 50 years. This has only generated violence and instability in the region. It must be ended if we are going to have human rights prevail in the region,” he said. In January, the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report that businesses should stop operating in, financing, servicing, or trading with settlement-related “activities that contribute to and benefit from an inherently unlawful and abusive system that violates the rights of Palestinians.” Arvind Ganesan, the director of the business and human rights division of HRW, said such businesses play a critical role in expanding settlements and encourage the Israeli authorities’ unlawful confiscation of Palestinian land and other resources.
“Settlement businesses unavoidably contribute to Israeli policies that dispossess and harshly discriminate against Palestinians, while profiting from Israel’s theft of Palestinian land and other resources,” Ganesan said, adding, “The only way for businesses to comply with their own human rights responsibilities is to stop working with and in Israeli settlements.”
More than half a million Israelis live in 237 settlements throughout the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including in East al-Quds.
The United Nations and most countries regard the Israeli settlements as illegal because the territories were captured by Israel in a war in 1967 and are hence subject to the Geneva Convention, which forbids construction on occupied lands.
Palestinian farmers from the town of Deir Ballout to the west of Salfit appealed for halting the Israeli confiscation of their lands located in Bab al-Marah area to the east of the town.
Farmers of the town told the PIC reporter that Israeli bulldozers continued leveling agricultural lands on Tuesday for the purpose of expanding Leshem settlement.
Researcher Khaled Maali revealed that Israeli authorities claim that those lands have been already confiscated and the leveling works are "legal".
Maali affirmed that the confiscation runs contrary to the international humanitarian law which defines the lands of the West Bank as occupied territories where leveling of lands or constructing settlements are prohibited.
Farmers of the town told the PIC reporter that Israeli bulldozers continued leveling agricultural lands on Tuesday for the purpose of expanding Leshem settlement.
Researcher Khaled Maali revealed that Israeli authorities claim that those lands have been already confiscated and the leveling works are "legal".
Maali affirmed that the confiscation runs contrary to the international humanitarian law which defines the lands of the West Bank as occupied territories where leveling of lands or constructing settlements are prohibited.
Israeli soldiers invaded, Tuesday, the Soba area, east of Ethna town, west of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, bulldozed and uprooted 40 Dunams of farmlands, to prepare for building a gravel factory in an illegal colony, and demolished a barn in the al-Beetan area, in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron.
Abdul-Rahman Tmeizi, head of the Public Relations Department in Ethna Local Council, said the soldiers bulldozed the Palestinian lands in preparation for constructing a gravel factory for an illegal colony, built on Palestinian lands.
Tmeizi added that the Israel continues to rob the Palestinians of their natural resources, and lands, especially since that area has some of the best resources of gravel and natural construction materials that are also used in paving roads.
Rateb Jabour, the coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in southern Hebron, said that soldiers also invaded the Tabban village, and demolished a barn belonging to Nasser Khalil Abu ‘Obeid.
Jabour said the army has recently demolished many barns, sheds, wells and solar panels, and is preventing the shepherds from herding their cattle in Masafer Yatta area, under the pretext of a "closed military zone."
Abdul-Rahman Tmeizi, head of the Public Relations Department in Ethna Local Council, said the soldiers bulldozed the Palestinian lands in preparation for constructing a gravel factory for an illegal colony, built on Palestinian lands.
Tmeizi added that the Israel continues to rob the Palestinians of their natural resources, and lands, especially since that area has some of the best resources of gravel and natural construction materials that are also used in paving roads.
Rateb Jabour, the coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in southern Hebron, said that soldiers also invaded the Tabban village, and demolished a barn belonging to Nasser Khalil Abu ‘Obeid.
Jabour said the army has recently demolished many barns, sheds, wells and solar panels, and is preventing the shepherds from herding their cattle in Masafer Yatta area, under the pretext of a "closed military zone."
22 mar 2016
Haaretz Hebrew newspaper revealed that the Israeli army had embarked on building a 9-meter-high concrete wall in the Galilee along the border with Lebanon.
The Israeli newspaper quoted an Israeli military source on Tuesday as saying that there are ongoing engineering efforts to enhance security in the northern areas including erecting cement walls as well as military checkpoints.
The Israeli army has recently started to build a series of obstacles and to put high cement blocks along the Lebanon border. It also reduced the number of its forces in patrols along the borders.
The Israeli security measures came in the wake of the escalation of tension between Israel and Hezbollah party on the issue of the assassination of Hezbollah leader Samir al-Qentar at the end of last year in Syria.
Israeli forces are planning to establish a network of walls along the borders with Jordan and Egypt as well as the border with Gaza in addition to the current Separation Wall in the West Bank and Jerusalem due to their fear of fighters who may sneak into 1948 Occupied Palestine to conduct anti-occupation attacks.
The Israeli newspaper quoted an Israeli military source on Tuesday as saying that there are ongoing engineering efforts to enhance security in the northern areas including erecting cement walls as well as military checkpoints.
The Israeli army has recently started to build a series of obstacles and to put high cement blocks along the Lebanon border. It also reduced the number of its forces in patrols along the borders.
The Israeli security measures came in the wake of the escalation of tension between Israel and Hezbollah party on the issue of the assassination of Hezbollah leader Samir al-Qentar at the end of last year in Syria.
Israeli forces are planning to establish a network of walls along the borders with Jordan and Egypt as well as the border with Gaza in addition to the current Separation Wall in the West Bank and Jerusalem due to their fear of fighters who may sneak into 1948 Occupied Palestine to conduct anti-occupation attacks.
18 mar 2016
The US, UK, French and German governments condemned Israel’s decision to further expand illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, this week.
According to the PNN, US State Department spokesman John Kirby, on Tuesday, said that the United States was “concerned” with Israel’s moves, noting that there was a “significant increase” over two conversions in 2014: nearly 1,000 acres near Bethlehem, in the Gush Etzion bloc, and another 250 acres in the same area.
“This decision is, in our view, the latest step in what appears to be an ongoing process of land expropriations, settlement expansions and legalization of outposts that is fundamentally undermining the prospects for a two-state solution. As we have said before, we strongly oppose any steps that accelerate settlement expansion, which raise serious questions about Israel’s long-term intentions. ” Kirby said.
The British government, on Wednesday, deemed the Israeli appropriation of the Palestinian land as “illegal,” urging Israel to reverse the situation.
“We condemn the Israeli government’s decision to take over 585 acres of land in the West Bank as ‘state land’. Such steps clearly damage the diminishing prospects for a two state solution. The UK and our international partners have consistently called for an end to settlement expansion, which is illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace” a British Foreign Office spokeswoman said in a statement.
A spokeswoman for Germany’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday Berlin fears the expropriated land will be used to expand Israeli settlements and make it harder to forge a peace deal with the Palestinians.
“This decision sends a wrong signal at the wrong time. Especially in the current tense situation, both parties in the Middle East conflict are called on to take steps for a de-escalation and to find ways that lead to an urgently needed resumption of peace negotiations,” the German Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
In Paris, Foreign Ministry spokesman Romain Nadal said that France was “extremely concerned” by the Israeli decision.
“Settlements constitute a violation of international law and contradict commitments made by Israeli authorities in favour of a two-state solution,” the spokesman said.
Paris is lobbying for an international peace conference before May that would outline incentives and give guarantees for Israelis and Palestinians to resume face-to-face talks before August.
Echoing Germany, France, UK and the United States statements, the EU’s foreign policy service also issued a statement criticizing Israel for its appropriation of Palestinian land.
“Israel’s decision … is a further step that risks undermining the viability of a future Palestinian state and therefore calls into question Israel’s commitment to a two-state solution,” the EU said in the statement.
“Any decision that could enable further settlement expansion, which is illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace, will only drive the parties to the conflict even further apart. The European Union remains firmly opposed to Israel’s settlement policy and actions taken in this context, including demolitions and confiscations, evictions, forced transfers or restrictions on movement and access,” the EU said.
On Tuesday this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon approved the designation of 580 acres in the occupied West Bank near the Dead Sea and the Jericho as “Israeli state land”, according to [Israeli] Army Radio.
The Israeli policy of expanding the illegal West Bank settlements is opposed by the international community and widely seen as a violation of the international law.
Peace Now, an NGO which tracks and opposes illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, said the reported seizure of 579 acres (234 hectares) represented the largest land confiscation in the occupied West Bank in recent years.
The group said that plans for expanding nearby Jewish settlements, along with building tourism and other commercial facilities in the area, were already on Israel’s drawing board.
More than half a million Jewish settlers live in 237 illegal settlements throughout the occupied West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Israel administers approximately 20 industrial zones covering 1,365 hectares, in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli settlers additionally enjoy the cultivation of 9,300 hectares of agricultural land, and settlement businesses that operate 187 shopping centers inside settlements as well as 11 quarries that supply around 25 percent of Israel’s gravel market.
According to the PNN, US State Department spokesman John Kirby, on Tuesday, said that the United States was “concerned” with Israel’s moves, noting that there was a “significant increase” over two conversions in 2014: nearly 1,000 acres near Bethlehem, in the Gush Etzion bloc, and another 250 acres in the same area.
“This decision is, in our view, the latest step in what appears to be an ongoing process of land expropriations, settlement expansions and legalization of outposts that is fundamentally undermining the prospects for a two-state solution. As we have said before, we strongly oppose any steps that accelerate settlement expansion, which raise serious questions about Israel’s long-term intentions. ” Kirby said.
The British government, on Wednesday, deemed the Israeli appropriation of the Palestinian land as “illegal,” urging Israel to reverse the situation.
“We condemn the Israeli government’s decision to take over 585 acres of land in the West Bank as ‘state land’. Such steps clearly damage the diminishing prospects for a two state solution. The UK and our international partners have consistently called for an end to settlement expansion, which is illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace” a British Foreign Office spokeswoman said in a statement.
A spokeswoman for Germany’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday Berlin fears the expropriated land will be used to expand Israeli settlements and make it harder to forge a peace deal with the Palestinians.
“This decision sends a wrong signal at the wrong time. Especially in the current tense situation, both parties in the Middle East conflict are called on to take steps for a de-escalation and to find ways that lead to an urgently needed resumption of peace negotiations,” the German Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
In Paris, Foreign Ministry spokesman Romain Nadal said that France was “extremely concerned” by the Israeli decision.
“Settlements constitute a violation of international law and contradict commitments made by Israeli authorities in favour of a two-state solution,” the spokesman said.
Paris is lobbying for an international peace conference before May that would outline incentives and give guarantees for Israelis and Palestinians to resume face-to-face talks before August.
Echoing Germany, France, UK and the United States statements, the EU’s foreign policy service also issued a statement criticizing Israel for its appropriation of Palestinian land.
“Israel’s decision … is a further step that risks undermining the viability of a future Palestinian state and therefore calls into question Israel’s commitment to a two-state solution,” the EU said in the statement.
“Any decision that could enable further settlement expansion, which is illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace, will only drive the parties to the conflict even further apart. The European Union remains firmly opposed to Israel’s settlement policy and actions taken in this context, including demolitions and confiscations, evictions, forced transfers or restrictions on movement and access,” the EU said.
On Tuesday this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon approved the designation of 580 acres in the occupied West Bank near the Dead Sea and the Jericho as “Israeli state land”, according to [Israeli] Army Radio.
The Israeli policy of expanding the illegal West Bank settlements is opposed by the international community and widely seen as a violation of the international law.
Peace Now, an NGO which tracks and opposes illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, said the reported seizure of 579 acres (234 hectares) represented the largest land confiscation in the occupied West Bank in recent years.
The group said that plans for expanding nearby Jewish settlements, along with building tourism and other commercial facilities in the area, were already on Israel’s drawing board.
More than half a million Jewish settlers live in 237 illegal settlements throughout the occupied West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Israel administers approximately 20 industrial zones covering 1,365 hectares, in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli settlers additionally enjoy the cultivation of 9,300 hectares of agricultural land, and settlement businesses that operate 187 shopping centers inside settlements as well as 11 quarries that supply around 25 percent of Israel’s gravel market.
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Thursday evening embarked on placing blocks of the Separation Wall on the land of Yabad town in southern Jenin.
President of Yabad municipality, Samer Abu Baker, said in a statement that Israeli forces started separating the lands of the town by a two-meter-long wall along the main road of the town.
The inhabitants of Yabad are worried of the Israeli intention to confiscate their land plots and prevent them from accessing their fields especially those located near Mabo Dothan settlement which is established by force over their lands, Abu Baker pointed out.
President of Yabad municipality, Samer Abu Baker, said in a statement that Israeli forces started separating the lands of the town by a two-meter-long wall along the main road of the town.
The inhabitants of Yabad are worried of the Israeli intention to confiscate their land plots and prevent them from accessing their fields especially those located near Mabo Dothan settlement which is established by force over their lands, Abu Baker pointed out.
17 mar 2016
Britain on Thursday condemned the Israeli government's decision to further expand settlements in the West Bank, calling the move "an obstacle to peace".
"We condemn the Israeli government's decision to take over 585 acres of land in the West Bank as 'state land'. Such steps clearly damage the diminishing prospects for a two state solution," a British Foreign Office spokeswoman said in a statement.
The British government deemed the appropriation of the land as "illegal," urging Israel to reverse the situation. "The UK and our international partners have consistently called for an end to settlement expansion, which is illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace," the spokeswoman noted.
"If the Israeli government is truly committed to a two-state solution then it will reverse its decision," she added. Israel has appropriated a large tract of fertile land and declared it as "state land" in the West Bank, Israeli officials and local media said Tuesday. The Israeli policy of expanding the West Bank settlements is opposed by the international community and widely seen as a violation of the international law.
"We condemn the Israeli government's decision to take over 585 acres of land in the West Bank as 'state land'. Such steps clearly damage the diminishing prospects for a two state solution," a British Foreign Office spokeswoman said in a statement.
The British government deemed the appropriation of the land as "illegal," urging Israel to reverse the situation. "The UK and our international partners have consistently called for an end to settlement expansion, which is illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace," the spokeswoman noted.
"If the Israeli government is truly committed to a two-state solution then it will reverse its decision," she added. Israel has appropriated a large tract of fertile land and declared it as "state land" in the West Bank, Israeli officials and local media said Tuesday. The Israeli policy of expanding the West Bank settlements is opposed by the international community and widely seen as a violation of the international law.
Israeli national council for planning and building will be holding on Tuesday, March 22 a lengthy session in Occupied Jerusalem to discuss again the objections on the construction plan of the alleged Temple of Solomon.
According to QPress center, which is concerned with the affairs of Occupied Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque, the meeting will open again the door for the endorsement of the plan and the reconstruction of the alleged temple.
This runs contrary to the previous resolutions of the same council which were issued last May and stipulate for reduction in the size of the building.
The project will be constructed only 20 meters away from the historical wall of the Aqsa Mosque and 100 meters from the Aqsa Mosque itself. The project is upheld by the Israeli government and Jerusalem municipality headed by Nir Barakat. It will be built on an area estimated at 16,000 square meters.
According to QPress center, which is concerned with the affairs of Occupied Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque, the meeting will open again the door for the endorsement of the plan and the reconstruction of the alleged temple.
This runs contrary to the previous resolutions of the same council which were issued last May and stipulate for reduction in the size of the building.
The project will be constructed only 20 meters away from the historical wall of the Aqsa Mosque and 100 meters from the Aqsa Mosque itself. The project is upheld by the Israeli government and Jerusalem municipality headed by Nir Barakat. It will be built on an area estimated at 16,000 square meters.