30 dec 2018

The Wall and Settlement Resistance Committee filed an appeal to the Israeli Supreme Court, on Sunday, denouncing the Israeli government’s seizure of 1,200 dunams (297 acres) of Palestinian-owned land south of the Bethlehem district, in the southern occupied West Bank.
The head of the committee, Hassan Bureija, told the Voice of Palestine radio that the Israeli government granted 1,182 dunams (292 acres) of the seized Palestinian land to the Israeli Ministry of Construction and Housing as a foundation for building an illegal Israeli outpost in the area.
According to settlement watchdog Peace Now, in the two years since United States President Trump took office some 14,454 unites in the West Bank has been approved, which is more then three times the amount that was approved in the year and a half before his inauguration (4,476 units).
Between 500,000 and 600,000 Israelis live in Jewish-only settlements across occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank in violation of international law.
The estimated 196 governments recognized Israeli settlements scattered across the Palestinian territory are all considered illegal under international law.
The head of the committee, Hassan Bureija, told the Voice of Palestine radio that the Israeli government granted 1,182 dunams (292 acres) of the seized Palestinian land to the Israeli Ministry of Construction and Housing as a foundation for building an illegal Israeli outpost in the area.
According to settlement watchdog Peace Now, in the two years since United States President Trump took office some 14,454 unites in the West Bank has been approved, which is more then three times the amount that was approved in the year and a half before his inauguration (4,476 units).
Between 500,000 and 600,000 Israelis live in Jewish-only settlements across occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank in violation of international law.
The estimated 196 governments recognized Israeli settlements scattered across the Palestinian territory are all considered illegal under international law.
28 dec 2018

Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee Member Hanan Ashrawi strongly condemned the Israeli Civil Administration's decision to approve for the establishment of 1,451 new settlement units in the occupied West Bank and to advance plans for the construction of 837 additional units.
Ashrawi said, in a statement released on Thursday, that “Today's announcement once again proves that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing and racist coalition government are pursuing systematic policies of settler colonialism, apartheid and ethnic cleansing to appease the violent and extremist settler population and to win votes ahead of Israel's upcoming elections in April.”
“The deafening silence from the international community and the current US administration's unyielding support of the military occupation have enabled the Israeli government to expand its illegal settlement enterprise which constitutes a war crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and a direct violation of international law and conventions, including UNSC resolution 2334.”
She added that “The enormity and severity of the situation and Israel's deliberate efforts to displace Palestine and replace it with "Greater Israel" should send a strong message to governments worldwide that they need to intervene immediately and to undertake concrete measures to hold Israel accountable with serious punitive measures and sanctions.”
Ashrawi also appealed to UN Secretary-General Ant nio Guterres to “ensure compliance with Security Council resolutions, including UNSC resolution 2334, and to make certain that Israel complies with them before the chances for a just peace and stability in the region and beyond are destroyed.”
Ashrawi said, in a statement released on Thursday, that “Today's announcement once again proves that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing and racist coalition government are pursuing systematic policies of settler colonialism, apartheid and ethnic cleansing to appease the violent and extremist settler population and to win votes ahead of Israel's upcoming elections in April.”
“The deafening silence from the international community and the current US administration's unyielding support of the military occupation have enabled the Israeli government to expand its illegal settlement enterprise which constitutes a war crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and a direct violation of international law and conventions, including UNSC resolution 2334.”
She added that “The enormity and severity of the situation and Israel's deliberate efforts to displace Palestine and replace it with "Greater Israel" should send a strong message to governments worldwide that they need to intervene immediately and to undertake concrete measures to hold Israel accountable with serious punitive measures and sanctions.”
Ashrawi also appealed to UN Secretary-General Ant nio Guterres to “ensure compliance with Security Council resolutions, including UNSC resolution 2334, and to make certain that Israel complies with them before the chances for a just peace and stability in the region and beyond are destroyed.”

Turkey's Foreign Ministry on Friday denounced Israel's decision to build about 2,200 new settlement units in the West Bank.
Early on Friday Turkey's Foreign Ministry issued a statement rejecting Israel's "illegal decision" saying that it "carelessly continues to violate international law, especially the relevant United Nations resolutions and the Fourth Geneva Convention."
The Israeli Peace Now movement on Thursday said that the government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, had approved plans for the construction of 2,193 housing units in West Bank settlements.
The move challenges the United Nations Security Council's Resolution 2334, which demands a complete halt of the Israeli settlement construction activity in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Israel had built 427 settler outposts that cover 46% of the West Bank area. About 700,000 Israelis live in these outposts and carry out almost daily attacks on the Palestinians.
Many observers believe that the Israeli government's decision, which came a day after Netanyahu announced early elections for April 2019, is mainly aimed at winning the votes of pro-settlement Israelis.
Early on Friday Turkey's Foreign Ministry issued a statement rejecting Israel's "illegal decision" saying that it "carelessly continues to violate international law, especially the relevant United Nations resolutions and the Fourth Geneva Convention."
The Israeli Peace Now movement on Thursday said that the government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, had approved plans for the construction of 2,193 housing units in West Bank settlements.
The move challenges the United Nations Security Council's Resolution 2334, which demands a complete halt of the Israeli settlement construction activity in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Israel had built 427 settler outposts that cover 46% of the West Bank area. About 700,000 Israelis live in these outposts and carry out almost daily attacks on the Palestinians.
Many observers believe that the Israeli government's decision, which came a day after Netanyahu announced early elections for April 2019, is mainly aimed at winning the votes of pro-settlement Israelis.

The European Union (EU) has strongly denounced new Israeli plans to build more than 2,000 housing units in the occupied West Bank.
The EU on Thursday reiterated its opposition to Israel's settlement activities in the West Bank after the Israeli occupation authority advanced plans for nearly 2,200 settlement homes there.
"The European Union's position on Israeli settlement construction and related activities is clear and remains unchanged. All settlement activity is illegal under international law and it undermines the viability of the two-state solution and the prospects for a lasting peace," EU spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy Maja Kocijancic said a statement.
On Wednesday, a settlement watchdog, Peace Now, said the plans were at various stages in the approval process, with 1,159 housing units having received the final approvals before building permits can be issued, and 1,032 at an earlier stage.
The EU on Thursday reiterated its opposition to Israel's settlement activities in the West Bank after the Israeli occupation authority advanced plans for nearly 2,200 settlement homes there.
"The European Union's position on Israeli settlement construction and related activities is clear and remains unchanged. All settlement activity is illegal under international law and it undermines the viability of the two-state solution and the prospects for a lasting peace," EU spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy Maja Kocijancic said a statement.
On Wednesday, a settlement watchdog, Peace Now, said the plans were at various stages in the approval process, with 1,159 housing units having received the final approvals before building permits can be issued, and 1,032 at an earlier stage.

Peace Now movement stated, Wednesday evening, that the Israeli Administration Supreme Planning Council has approved the construction of 2,191 housing units in West Bank settlements.
The movement explained, in a statement, according to Al Ray, that 87% of the housing units will be built in isolated settlements that are located outside of the settlement blocs. It noted that about 1,908 units are planned to be built east of the Apartheid Wall, in the occupied West Bank, and 283 units in settlements west of the Wall.
While the Higher Planning Committee approved plans for building 1,100 housing units in the West Bank, Walla reported that the committee seeks to back the building of 450 additional units.
The committee approved 150 housing units at Hebron Mount, in the southern West Bank, 300 units in the Givat Ze’ev settlement, north of occupied Jerusalem, 300 units in the Neveh Daniel settlements, “Karmei Tsur”, in Gush Etzion settlement bloc south of Bethlehem.
It also discussed plans to build 129 units in the settlement of Avnei Hefetz, 121 housing units in the Yitzhar settlement, to the south of Nablus, which is considered the stronghold of extremist settlers, 55 units in the settlement of Tzofim, and 42 units in the Alfei Menashe settlement.
The committee also discussed plans to establish two industrial zones near the settlements of Avni Hefts and Betar Illit.
Peace Now added that that two plans seeks to legitimize two outposts and grant them a legal status, namely, “Ibi Hanahal” and “Gafa’ot”, while another plan calls for the establishment of a new settlement near the settlement outpost of “Mitzpeh Danny”, in the form of an internal educational institution that constitutes housing.
Israeli authorities have issued plans to build 5,618 housing units in 2018, including 4,672 housing units in “isolated” settlements east of the Apartheid Wall. This confirms Israel’s rejection of a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The movement explained, in a statement, according to Al Ray, that 87% of the housing units will be built in isolated settlements that are located outside of the settlement blocs. It noted that about 1,908 units are planned to be built east of the Apartheid Wall, in the occupied West Bank, and 283 units in settlements west of the Wall.
While the Higher Planning Committee approved plans for building 1,100 housing units in the West Bank, Walla reported that the committee seeks to back the building of 450 additional units.
The committee approved 150 housing units at Hebron Mount, in the southern West Bank, 300 units in the Givat Ze’ev settlement, north of occupied Jerusalem, 300 units in the Neveh Daniel settlements, “Karmei Tsur”, in Gush Etzion settlement bloc south of Bethlehem.
It also discussed plans to build 129 units in the settlement of Avnei Hefetz, 121 housing units in the Yitzhar settlement, to the south of Nablus, which is considered the stronghold of extremist settlers, 55 units in the settlement of Tzofim, and 42 units in the Alfei Menashe settlement.
The committee also discussed plans to establish two industrial zones near the settlements of Avni Hefts and Betar Illit.
Peace Now added that that two plans seeks to legitimize two outposts and grant them a legal status, namely, “Ibi Hanahal” and “Gafa’ot”, while another plan calls for the establishment of a new settlement near the settlement outpost of “Mitzpeh Danny”, in the form of an internal educational institution that constitutes housing.
Israeli authorities have issued plans to build 5,618 housing units in 2018, including 4,672 housing units in “isolated” settlements east of the Apartheid Wall. This confirms Israel’s rejection of a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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