9 jan 2020
Israeli Defense Minister, Neftali Bennet, has formed a special committee tasked with boosting and strengthening the colonialist activities on Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Israeli daily Haaretz has reported that Naftali’s “Task Force” aims at legalizing the colonialist outposts, which were built on Palestinian lands without Israel’s approval.
Haaretz added that the task force also allows Israelis to buy lands in Area C of occupied West Bank, which constitutes about %60 of the Palestinian territory.
It said that the proposed plans are a “series of controversial proposals that legal sources are effectively equivalent to annexation.”
The plan aims at granting the colonists permits for “buy lands” in the West Bank, in addition to creating a geographic link between the illegal outposts and providing them with running water and electricity, and other infrastructure.
It also aims at barring the evacuation and the dismantling “random” (illegal outposts, which weren’t approved by Israel) in order to boost the colonies prior to the new Israeli general election.
The process would lead to the “legalization” of around thirty colonialist outposts, which previously received demolition and evacuation orders by Israel itself.
Haaretz added that Bennet, who heads the New Right-Wing Party, said the campaign started a month ago and aims as implementing Israel’s policy, which states that “Area C of the West Bank belongs to Israel.”
It is worth mentioning that Itay Hershkowitz, the Chief of Staff of Bennet’s office, has invited, over the past several weeks, various leaders of Israel’s colonialist movement who, according to Haaretz, discussed many issues that could advance in the coming months, despite the current limitation of the caretaker government, still headed by Netanyahu, until the Knesset election, planned to be held on March 2nd of this year.
Netanyahu recently said that he will never allow the removal and eviction of any settlement under any possible political agreement.
“Under my leadership, there will be no evacuation of any settlement in all territories west of the Jordan River,” Netanyahu said, “Military, security and political control will always be in Israel’s hands; no settlement will ever be removed, and Jerusalem will never be divided.”
All of Israel’s colonies in the occupied West Bank, including those in and around occupied East Jerusalem, are illegal under International Law, the Fourth Geneva Convention, and all related United Nations and Security Council resolutions.
The colonies do not only violate International Humanitarian L they also violate the United Nations Charters which prohibits the acquisition of territory by force, in addition to Article 49(6) of the Fourth Geneva Convention which prohibits an occupying power from moving its population into territories in occupies regardless whether the transfer was forced or voluntary.
They, along with the Annexation Wall, are meant to fragment the Palestinian territory, and isolate dozens of Palestinian communities, in addition to further illegal annexation of their lands.
Israeli daily Haaretz has reported that Naftali’s “Task Force” aims at legalizing the colonialist outposts, which were built on Palestinian lands without Israel’s approval.
Haaretz added that the task force also allows Israelis to buy lands in Area C of occupied West Bank, which constitutes about %60 of the Palestinian territory.
It said that the proposed plans are a “series of controversial proposals that legal sources are effectively equivalent to annexation.”
The plan aims at granting the colonists permits for “buy lands” in the West Bank, in addition to creating a geographic link between the illegal outposts and providing them with running water and electricity, and other infrastructure.
It also aims at barring the evacuation and the dismantling “random” (illegal outposts, which weren’t approved by Israel) in order to boost the colonies prior to the new Israeli general election.
The process would lead to the “legalization” of around thirty colonialist outposts, which previously received demolition and evacuation orders by Israel itself.
Haaretz added that Bennet, who heads the New Right-Wing Party, said the campaign started a month ago and aims as implementing Israel’s policy, which states that “Area C of the West Bank belongs to Israel.”
It is worth mentioning that Itay Hershkowitz, the Chief of Staff of Bennet’s office, has invited, over the past several weeks, various leaders of Israel’s colonialist movement who, according to Haaretz, discussed many issues that could advance in the coming months, despite the current limitation of the caretaker government, still headed by Netanyahu, until the Knesset election, planned to be held on March 2nd of this year.
Netanyahu recently said that he will never allow the removal and eviction of any settlement under any possible political agreement.
“Under my leadership, there will be no evacuation of any settlement in all territories west of the Jordan River,” Netanyahu said, “Military, security and political control will always be in Israel’s hands; no settlement will ever be removed, and Jerusalem will never be divided.”
All of Israel’s colonies in the occupied West Bank, including those in and around occupied East Jerusalem, are illegal under International Law, the Fourth Geneva Convention, and all related United Nations and Security Council resolutions.
The colonies do not only violate International Humanitarian L they also violate the United Nations Charters which prohibits the acquisition of territory by force, in addition to Article 49(6) of the Fourth Geneva Convention which prohibits an occupying power from moving its population into territories in occupies regardless whether the transfer was forced or voluntary.
They, along with the Annexation Wall, are meant to fragment the Palestinian territory, and isolate dozens of Palestinian communities, in addition to further illegal annexation of their lands.
The Jordanian government denounced, Wednesday, the Israeli decision to build additional 1936 units in its illegal colonies in the occupied West Bank.
Ambassador Daifallah al-Fayez, the spokesperson of the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, said that all of Israel’s colonies are illegal as they also constitute a serious breach of International Law and International Humanitarian Law.
Al-Fayez added that the International Community must act and uphold its responsibilities to stop Israel’s illegal policies, especially the construction and expansion of its colonies.
He also said that these violations are placing more obstacles to the efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, and called on obliging Israel to implement all related international legitimacy resolutions, including UN Security Council resolution #2334.
Ambassador Daifallah al-Fayez, the spokesperson of the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, said that all of Israel’s colonies are illegal as they also constitute a serious breach of International Law and International Humanitarian Law.
Al-Fayez added that the International Community must act and uphold its responsibilities to stop Israel’s illegal policies, especially the construction and expansion of its colonies.
He also said that these violations are placing more obstacles to the efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, and called on obliging Israel to implement all related international legitimacy resolutions, including UN Security Council resolution #2334.
8 jan 2020
The National Bureau for Defending Land and Resisting Settlements stated, in its latest weekly report, that the Israeli government still ignores the international community’s stance, along with resolutions of international legitimacy which consider Israeli settlements a war crime.
Israel acts as a state above the law, as a result of the American support that considers settlements in the occupied West Bank as legitimate, and does not contradict with international law.
Furthermore, the United States is expected to firmly oppose the opening of the International Criminal Court an investigation into war crimes committed by Israel in the Palestinian territories.
Within this context, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he would achieve more historical accomplishments, in the coming years, if he wins the upcoming elections.
Netanyahu put forth a plan of 6 points that includes setting final borders for the occupying state, pushing the United States to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan Valley and the northern Dead Sea, and exerting pressure on the United States to recognize Israeli sovereignty over all settlements in the West Bank, without exception.
It was noted that the joint Israeli ministerial team will meet to discuss the annexation of the above-mentioned areas, early next week.
The American administration’s stance has encouraged the Israeli government and settlement societies to escalate settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, including Jerusalem. The pace of settlement expansion, in the year 2019, increased by 70% over 2018.
The number of settlement units submitted for approval, during the past year, amounted to about 10,000 settlement units, compared to 6,800 over the last two years, at a time when the occupation authorities demolished some 617 buildings in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, over the year 2019, which led to the displacement of 898 Palestinian families.
On the other hand, the Israeli Civil Administration intends to approve the construction of 2.000 housing units at settlements in the occupied West Bank, while the Israeli High Council for Planning announced the approval of the structural map of the Harash settlement: 258 housing units that were illegally constructed in an Talmon settlement, 147 housing units in the Mitzpe settlement in the Jordan Valley, 100 housing units in the Neve Tzof settlement, 72 housing units in the Ariel settlement in Salfit Governorate, and 107 units in the settlement Elon Moreh will be soon approved.
In Qalqilia, Israeli occupation forces bulldozed lands in Izbat Wadi al-Basha, to the south of the city, in order to open a road that serves the Alf Manashe settlement, which has been built on Palestinian lands since 1981, and is expanded annually at their expense.
Furthermore, the so-called “Civil Administration” announced the confiscation of 165 dunams from Qalqilia lands, in favor of the above-mentioned bypass road and the “El-Yahoo” checkpoint.
In Jerusalem, Israeli settlement societies have established a biblical museum of three floors with an area of 1390m2 in the Al-Ein Al-Fawqa area of Silwan, meters away from Al-Aqsa Mosque, on the southern side, with the aim of promoting it from an allegedly Jewish historical perspective, at the expense of the Christian/Islamic version.
To further challenge the feelings of the Palestinian people in Hebron, Israeli Minister of Defense Naftali Bennett stormed Al-Ibrahimi Mosque, in conjunction with the Hanukkah lighting ceremony.
He was accompanied by Israeli commander Itamar Bin Haiem, the head of the “Kiryat Arba” settlement bloc, Eliyahu Liebman, and the head of the religious school, Hanniel Atruj. During the raid, Bennett said that he couldn’t think of a better place than Hebron to light the last Hanukkah candle.
In a dangerous development, the occupation municipality in Jerusalem approved the establishment of educational institutions affiliated to the Israeli occupation instead of the UNRWA’s schools in Jerusalem.
The occupation municipality began this strong step with support from both the Israeli government and the American administration. against the UNRWA, to prevent its activities and presence, there, by the beginning of 2020, arguing that it prolongs the issue of Palestinian refugees.
Israel acts as a state above the law, as a result of the American support that considers settlements in the occupied West Bank as legitimate, and does not contradict with international law.
Furthermore, the United States is expected to firmly oppose the opening of the International Criminal Court an investigation into war crimes committed by Israel in the Palestinian territories.
Within this context, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he would achieve more historical accomplishments, in the coming years, if he wins the upcoming elections.
Netanyahu put forth a plan of 6 points that includes setting final borders for the occupying state, pushing the United States to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan Valley and the northern Dead Sea, and exerting pressure on the United States to recognize Israeli sovereignty over all settlements in the West Bank, without exception.
It was noted that the joint Israeli ministerial team will meet to discuss the annexation of the above-mentioned areas, early next week.
The American administration’s stance has encouraged the Israeli government and settlement societies to escalate settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, including Jerusalem. The pace of settlement expansion, in the year 2019, increased by 70% over 2018.
The number of settlement units submitted for approval, during the past year, amounted to about 10,000 settlement units, compared to 6,800 over the last two years, at a time when the occupation authorities demolished some 617 buildings in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, over the year 2019, which led to the displacement of 898 Palestinian families.
On the other hand, the Israeli Civil Administration intends to approve the construction of 2.000 housing units at settlements in the occupied West Bank, while the Israeli High Council for Planning announced the approval of the structural map of the Harash settlement: 258 housing units that were illegally constructed in an Talmon settlement, 147 housing units in the Mitzpe settlement in the Jordan Valley, 100 housing units in the Neve Tzof settlement, 72 housing units in the Ariel settlement in Salfit Governorate, and 107 units in the settlement Elon Moreh will be soon approved.
In Qalqilia, Israeli occupation forces bulldozed lands in Izbat Wadi al-Basha, to the south of the city, in order to open a road that serves the Alf Manashe settlement, which has been built on Palestinian lands since 1981, and is expanded annually at their expense.
Furthermore, the so-called “Civil Administration” announced the confiscation of 165 dunams from Qalqilia lands, in favor of the above-mentioned bypass road and the “El-Yahoo” checkpoint.
In Jerusalem, Israeli settlement societies have established a biblical museum of three floors with an area of 1390m2 in the Al-Ein Al-Fawqa area of Silwan, meters away from Al-Aqsa Mosque, on the southern side, with the aim of promoting it from an allegedly Jewish historical perspective, at the expense of the Christian/Islamic version.
To further challenge the feelings of the Palestinian people in Hebron, Israeli Minister of Defense Naftali Bennett stormed Al-Ibrahimi Mosque, in conjunction with the Hanukkah lighting ceremony.
He was accompanied by Israeli commander Itamar Bin Haiem, the head of the “Kiryat Arba” settlement bloc, Eliyahu Liebman, and the head of the religious school, Hanniel Atruj. During the raid, Bennett said that he couldn’t think of a better place than Hebron to light the last Hanukkah candle.
In a dangerous development, the occupation municipality in Jerusalem approved the establishment of educational institutions affiliated to the Israeli occupation instead of the UNRWA’s schools in Jerusalem.
The occupation municipality began this strong step with support from both the Israeli government and the American administration. against the UNRWA, to prevent its activities and presence, there, by the beginning of 2020, arguing that it prolongs the issue of Palestinian refugees.
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) has approved the construction of 1,950 new settler homes in the occupied Palestinian territories, an anti-settlement watchdog group said on Monday.
Peace Now said that nearly 800 housing units received the final approvals needed for construction to begin, while initial approvals were given for an additional 1,150 homes.
The green light was given on Sunday and Monday, the watchdog group said, adding that 89 percent of the new homes will be built in "settlements that Israel may have to evacuate under a future peace agreement with the Palestinians".
According to Peace Now, settlement building has vastly increased under premier Benjamin Netanyahu and his ally US president Donald Trump.
Netanyahu has been fighting for his political survival after being charged with corruption and after failing to form a new coalition government following April and September elections.
Netanyahu, who was indicted in November on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, is now facing a third general election in March.
Peace Now said that despite lacking a clear mandate, Netanyahu’s caretaker government continues, as usual, the massive promotion of harmful and unnecessary construction in occupied territory and in places that Israel will have to evacuate.
"Netanyahu continues to sabotage the prospects of peace, dragging Israel into an anti-democratic one-state reality resembling apartheid," the human rights group added.
Israeli settlements are deemed illegal under international law and widely seen as the main obstacle to peace.
Some 600,000 Israeli settlers live in the occupied West Bank and Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem among around 2.9 million Palestinians.
Late last year, the Trump administration said it would no longer consider Israeli settlements in the occupied territories illegal.
The move, which was hailed by Netanyahu, angered the Palestinians and the international community.
The European Union, United Nations and others have stressed, however, that they continue to consider the settlements illegal.
Peace Now said that nearly 800 housing units received the final approvals needed for construction to begin, while initial approvals were given for an additional 1,150 homes.
The green light was given on Sunday and Monday, the watchdog group said, adding that 89 percent of the new homes will be built in "settlements that Israel may have to evacuate under a future peace agreement with the Palestinians".
According to Peace Now, settlement building has vastly increased under premier Benjamin Netanyahu and his ally US president Donald Trump.
Netanyahu has been fighting for his political survival after being charged with corruption and after failing to form a new coalition government following April and September elections.
Netanyahu, who was indicted in November on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, is now facing a third general election in March.
Peace Now said that despite lacking a clear mandate, Netanyahu’s caretaker government continues, as usual, the massive promotion of harmful and unnecessary construction in occupied territory and in places that Israel will have to evacuate.
"Netanyahu continues to sabotage the prospects of peace, dragging Israel into an anti-democratic one-state reality resembling apartheid," the human rights group added.
Israeli settlements are deemed illegal under international law and widely seen as the main obstacle to peace.
Some 600,000 Israeli settlers live in the occupied West Bank and Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem among around 2.9 million Palestinians.
Late last year, the Trump administration said it would no longer consider Israeli settlements in the occupied territories illegal.
The move, which was hailed by Netanyahu, angered the Palestinians and the international community.
The European Union, United Nations and others have stressed, however, that they continue to consider the settlements illegal.
2 jan 2020
The Israeli municipality in Occupied Jerusalem intends to replace UNRWA schools with new ones, in Shu’fat refugee camp and Anata village, affiliated with the Israeli education ministry.
This project, which will cost 7,1 million shekels, has been backed and promoted by chief of the Israeli municipality Moshe Lion with the aim of curtailing the influence and presence of UNRWA in east Jerusalem.
With the help of the US administration, the Israeli occupation state started two years ago a frenzied campaign against UNRWA in an attempt to liquidate the refugee agency and the Palestinian right of return.
UNRWA was established in 1949 after about 700,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced from their homes by Zionist militias in the run-up to the establishment of the state of Israel.
The agency currently provides services for five million Palestinian refugees in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, as well as Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
The Palestinian natives of east Jerusalem have Israeli residency cards, but they are not Israeli citizens. For decades, they have complained of systematic discrimination by the Israeli occupation authority, especially with regard to municipal services.
This project, which will cost 7,1 million shekels, has been backed and promoted by chief of the Israeli municipality Moshe Lion with the aim of curtailing the influence and presence of UNRWA in east Jerusalem.
With the help of the US administration, the Israeli occupation state started two years ago a frenzied campaign against UNRWA in an attempt to liquidate the refugee agency and the Palestinian right of return.
UNRWA was established in 1949 after about 700,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced from their homes by Zionist militias in the run-up to the establishment of the state of Israel.
The agency currently provides services for five million Palestinian refugees in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, as well as Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
The Palestinian natives of east Jerusalem have Israeli residency cards, but they are not Israeli citizens. For decades, they have complained of systematic discrimination by the Israeli occupation authority, especially with regard to municipal services.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Wednesday prevented Palestinian participants in a peaceful march from reaching the hills in northern Nablus where the illegal settlement of Homesh was once situated.
Burqa town mayor Jihad Salah said that dozens of local residents participated in a march, organized by his municipality, towards the hills of al-Qubaibat area, where the settlement of Homesh was once there before its evacuation and demolition in 2005.
Salah explained that Israeli forces blocked the main way leading to the abandoned site of the settlement and barred them from continuing their march, which provoked the participants to engage in a verbal altercation with the soldiers.
He added that he showed the soldiers officials documents from the Israeli high court of justice and the Israeli army commandership that allow them to enter the area any time.
This was the third time the IOF prevented the local residents from going to the area in recent weeks.
Two weeks ago, the IOF banned the municipality from holding an activity intended to plant trees in the same area.
The Israeli occupation regime had evacuated and dismantled Homesh in 2005, but local residents from Burqa town managed some years later to obtain a verdict from the Israeli high court proving their ownership of the land in al-Qubaibat area — the same location of the evacuated settlement.
Burqa town mayor Jihad Salah said that dozens of local residents participated in a march, organized by his municipality, towards the hills of al-Qubaibat area, where the settlement of Homesh was once there before its evacuation and demolition in 2005.
Salah explained that Israeli forces blocked the main way leading to the abandoned site of the settlement and barred them from continuing their march, which provoked the participants to engage in a verbal altercation with the soldiers.
He added that he showed the soldiers officials documents from the Israeli high court of justice and the Israeli army commandership that allow them to enter the area any time.
This was the third time the IOF prevented the local residents from going to the area in recent weeks.
Two weeks ago, the IOF banned the municipality from holding an activity intended to plant trees in the same area.
The Israeli occupation regime had evacuated and dismantled Homesh in 2005, but local residents from Burqa town managed some years later to obtain a verdict from the Israeli high court proving their ownership of the land in al-Qubaibat area — the same location of the evacuated settlement.
1 jan 2020
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) on Tuesday bulldozed Palestinian lands in Wadi al-Rasha village in the south of Qalqilya in order to build a road for Jewish settlers.
According to local sources, Israeli bulldozers and construction vehicles embarked on preparing a vast tract of land for the building of a road in Wadi al-Rasha village near the villages of Ras Atiya and al-Dabaa in Qalqilya.
The road will be built for settlers from the illegal settlement of Alfei Menashe, which has been expanding since it was built in 1981.
According to local sources, Israeli bulldozers and construction vehicles embarked on preparing a vast tract of land for the building of a road in Wadi al-Rasha village near the villages of Ras Atiya and al-Dabaa in Qalqilya.
The road will be built for settlers from the illegal settlement of Alfei Menashe, which has been expanding since it was built in 1981.
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