15 apr 2020

In a step Israeli settlers often follow as a prelude to seize Palestinian land, several settlers today set up a mobile home in the northern West Bank village of Qaryout, south of Nablus, according to a local official.
Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian official who monitors Israeli settlement activities in the north of the West Bank, said settlers from the illegal Shilo settlement placed a mobile home on Qaryout village land.
He said the settlers are taking advantage of the lockdown in the West Bank in light of the coronavirus outbreak to seize Palestinian land and establish a settlement outpost.
Settlers yesterday also chopped 36 olive trees in the same village, said Daghlas.
Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian official who monitors Israeli settlement activities in the north of the West Bank, said settlers from the illegal Shilo settlement placed a mobile home on Qaryout village land.
He said the settlers are taking advantage of the lockdown in the West Bank in light of the coronavirus outbreak to seize Palestinian land and establish a settlement outpost.
Settlers yesterday also chopped 36 olive trees in the same village, said Daghlas.
13 apr 2020

Jewish settlers pitched a tent on Palestinian land in Tel Rumaida in al-Khalil in the West Bank on Sunday night.
A spokesman for the youth against settlement in al-Khalil said that dozens of settlers pitched the tent as a prelude to building a settlement outpost in the land plot that is planted with olives and belong to Natshe family. video
He said that the settlers who claim they own the land lot entered the land under protection of the Israeli occupation forces.
A spokesman for the youth against settlement in al-Khalil said that dozens of settlers pitched the tent as a prelude to building a settlement outpost in the land plot that is planted with olives and belong to Natshe family. video
He said that the settlers who claim they own the land lot entered the land under protection of the Israeli occupation forces.
25 mar 2020

An Israeli settler, on Monday, exploited the lockdown imposed in the occupied territories to raze Palestinian land between Rafat and Qalandia towns, northwest of Jerusalem, said a municipal source.
Mayor of Qalandia, Ra’fat Awad told Palestinian WAFA News Agency that the illegal colonist razed a tract of Palestinian-owned land between the aforementioned towns, planted it with saplings and erected a fence around it, before being spotted and repelled by staff from the Jerusalem Governor’s Office.
Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) Executive Committee member, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, condemned Israel for its accelerated annexation of Palestinian land.
Dr. Ashrawi tweeted “As we are in lockdown in Palestine and the settlers are on the rampage, Israel should take back its settlers and keep them there. It should release our vulnerable prisoners.”
Meanwhile, Director of the Anti-Wall and Settlement Commission, Hassan Breijah said that settlers constructed and paved a settler-only road and set up several mobile homes on Palestinian-owned land in Khallet An-Nahleh, south of Bethlehem.
Mayor of Qalandia, Ra’fat Awad told Palestinian WAFA News Agency that the illegal colonist razed a tract of Palestinian-owned land between the aforementioned towns, planted it with saplings and erected a fence around it, before being spotted and repelled by staff from the Jerusalem Governor’s Office.
Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) Executive Committee member, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, condemned Israel for its accelerated annexation of Palestinian land.
Dr. Ashrawi tweeted “As we are in lockdown in Palestine and the settlers are on the rampage, Israel should take back its settlers and keep them there. It should release our vulnerable prisoners.”
Meanwhile, Director of the Anti-Wall and Settlement Commission, Hassan Breijah said that settlers constructed and paved a settler-only road and set up several mobile homes on Palestinian-owned land in Khallet An-Nahleh, south of Bethlehem.
24 mar 2020

Israeli forces today razed Palestinian lands near the northern West Bank village of Jalud, south of Nablus, in order to expand a nearby illegal Israeli settlement, sources said.
Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement activities in the northern West Bank, told WAFA that the razed land is located several hundred meters from Jalud high school and is intended to expand the illegal Israeli settlement of Shvut Rachel and to build a road connecting it to other Israeli settlements and outposts.
He noted that Jalud is a village surrounded by a number of Jewish-only settlements, warning that the majority of its lands has been taken for the settlements.
Daghlas said that these settlements pose a real threat to the Arab and Palestinian population as the Israeli government has seized over 10,000 dunums of land in favor of settlements, while 85% of the village's lands were declared military zones to provide protection for the settlers.
Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement activities in the northern West Bank, told WAFA that the razed land is located several hundred meters from Jalud high school and is intended to expand the illegal Israeli settlement of Shvut Rachel and to build a road connecting it to other Israeli settlements and outposts.
He noted that Jalud is a village surrounded by a number of Jewish-only settlements, warning that the majority of its lands has been taken for the settlements.
Daghlas said that these settlements pose a real threat to the Arab and Palestinian population as the Israeli government has seized over 10,000 dunums of land in favor of settlements, while 85% of the village's lands were declared military zones to provide protection for the settlers.
19 mar 2020

The follow-up committee in the Jerusalem district of Issawiya has warned of a Judaization plan underway aimed at separating the towns and villages in the holy city as well as the neighborhoods around the Aqsa Mosque from each other.
In press remarks to the Palestinian Information Center (PIC), member of the committee Mohamed Abul-Hems explained that the Israeli occupation state started to carry out settlement projects as part of the E1 plan on the lands of Issawiya, at-Tur and Anata in the eastern areas of Jerusalem.
Abul-Hems said that the occupation state seeks to create besieged Palestinian villages and towns without contiguity or zoning and expansion plans as it had done already when it isolated Issawiya and at-Tur from each other with bypass roads for Jewish settlers.
He also affirmed that the occupation state seeks to isolate the Jerusalemite citizens from each other, demolish their homes, displace them from Jerusalem to the West Bank, and connect Jewish settlements and outposts with each other.
“The E1 project will separate the northern West Bank from its south and Occupied Jerusalem,” the Jerusalemite official pointed out, adding that all roads linking Jericho city with Jerusalem and its neighborhoods like al-Eizariya with Ramallah would change.
He called for necessarily supporting the Jerusalemite people financially, morally and politically and strengthening their steadfastness to protect their existence and curb the Judaization of the holy city.
In press remarks to the Palestinian Information Center (PIC), member of the committee Mohamed Abul-Hems explained that the Israeli occupation state started to carry out settlement projects as part of the E1 plan on the lands of Issawiya, at-Tur and Anata in the eastern areas of Jerusalem.
Abul-Hems said that the occupation state seeks to create besieged Palestinian villages and towns without contiguity or zoning and expansion plans as it had done already when it isolated Issawiya and at-Tur from each other with bypass roads for Jewish settlers.
He also affirmed that the occupation state seeks to isolate the Jerusalemite citizens from each other, demolish their homes, displace them from Jerusalem to the West Bank, and connect Jewish settlements and outposts with each other.
“The E1 project will separate the northern West Bank from its south and Occupied Jerusalem,” the Jerusalemite official pointed out, adding that all roads linking Jericho city with Jerusalem and its neighborhoods like al-Eizariya with Ramallah would change.
He called for necessarily supporting the Jerusalemite people financially, morally and politically and strengthening their steadfastness to protect their existence and curb the Judaization of the holy city.
9 mar 2020

Naftali Bennett
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned today the announcement by Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennett that he intends to build what he described as “sovereignty road” in the occupied West Bank that would isolate Palestinian towns and separate Palestinian from Israeli commuters on roads east of Jerusalem.
The Israeli media said Bennett ordered his office to advance planning of a highway dubbed “sovereignty road” for Palestinians only to separate them from Israeli commuters in preparation to build the highly controversial settlement in E1 area, east of occupied Jerusalem.
The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it “condemns in the strongest terms the apartheid practices of the Occupying Power in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
It said the road will isolate Palestinian towns in the Jerusalem vicinity as Israel proceeds to build E1 settlement, which would “close the door once and for all to the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital,” and “deliver a severe blow to all international efforts aimed at launching a peace process and serious negotiations leading to the implementation of the two-state solution.”
The ministry called on the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council and the European Union, to act immediately to stop Israel’s aggression against the Palestinian territories, warning that not holding Israel accountable for its violations of international laws and UN resolutions would encourage it to continue on this path and eventually annex large areas of the occupied Palestinian territory.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned today the announcement by Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennett that he intends to build what he described as “sovereignty road” in the occupied West Bank that would isolate Palestinian towns and separate Palestinian from Israeli commuters on roads east of Jerusalem.
The Israeli media said Bennett ordered his office to advance planning of a highway dubbed “sovereignty road” for Palestinians only to separate them from Israeli commuters in preparation to build the highly controversial settlement in E1 area, east of occupied Jerusalem.
The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it “condemns in the strongest terms the apartheid practices of the Occupying Power in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
It said the road will isolate Palestinian towns in the Jerusalem vicinity as Israel proceeds to build E1 settlement, which would “close the door once and for all to the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital,” and “deliver a severe blow to all international efforts aimed at launching a peace process and serious negotiations leading to the implementation of the two-state solution.”
The ministry called on the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council and the European Union, to act immediately to stop Israel’s aggression against the Palestinian territories, warning that not holding Israel accountable for its violations of international laws and UN resolutions would encourage it to continue on this path and eventually annex large areas of the occupied Palestinian territory.
3 mar 2020

Likud leader repeats pledge to annex West Bank settlements and Jordan Valley, boasts of his relations with world leaders, saying that 'peace agreements with other Arab countries is just a matter of time'; party faithful call for AG Mandelblit who indicted PM on corruption charges to 'go home'
Benjamin Netanyahu claimed victory in the Israel's elections on Monday night, despite exit polls pointing to his right-wing bloc being below the 61-MK target he needs to form a government.
"What joy we have tonight," he told supporters in Tel Aviv. "It's a night of huge victory."
The Likud leader also said that there would be more party Knesset members, as "we have significantly increased the Likud list."
His supporters at the party's headquarters chanted "Mandelblit go home," a reference to Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit who has charged Netanyahu with fraud, bribery and breach of trust in a trial set to begin on March 17.
The prime minister also boasted of his relations with world leaders, saying that, "peace agreements with other Arab countries is just a matter of time - and not much."
Israel has a peace agreement with Jordan and Egypt and low-key or unofficial ties with primarily Gulf states in the Arab world. Netanyahu has made developing relations with the Arab world a central feature in his election campaign, claiming to be the only one who can achieve this goal.
To a rapturous reception from supporters at the Likud campaign headquarters in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu also reiterated his promise to annex the West Bank settlements and the Jordan Valley.
Israel went to the polls for the third time in less than a year on Monday, after two earlier rounds of voting left both the right-wing and center-left blocs unable to muster the 61 Knesset members needed to form a government.
As the exit polls released as the ballot closed at 10pm showed Likud on 36 or 37 seats in the 120-strong Knesset, Netanyahu tweeted out a simple "thank you" with a heart emoji.
Netanyahu's right-wing bloc was uniformly predicted to take 59 seats, while the center-left bloc headed by Blue & White leader Benny Gantz was tipped to take just 55 seats.
Just moments after the exit polls were released, Netanyahu called the heads of the parties in his right-wing bloc and pledged to immediately start work on forming a government.
"This is clearly an achievement from Netanyahu's standpoint but by no means is it a clear, decisive outcome that enables him to form a stable, functioning government," said Yohanan Plesner, president of the non-partisan Israel Democracy Institute. "The country is heading toward constitutional uncertainty."
Netanyahu's defense minister and Yamina party leader Naftali Bennett called the night a victory for the right and reiterated his commitment to the bloc.
"The right has won, we will make sure that the path of the right also wins," wrote Bennett on Twitter.
"As we promised, we will recommend Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for prime minister. We are committed to the right-wing bloc led by Netanyahu to establish a government that will continue to keep Israeli citizens safe, continue to provide support to IDF soldiers, protect the Land of Israel and the values of the right."
Yamina co-leader Ayelet Shaked also took to Twitter to celebrate the right-wing bloc's result.
"The religious-Zionist movement enlisted, with its thousands of activists, young and old, to this campaign with great determination. The Israeli democracy is strong and vibrant and the people have decided – a right-wing government with Netanyahu at the helm."
Transportation Minister Bezalel Smotrich, also of Yamina, celebrated the results and called them a "great achievement."
"This is a great evening for the State of Israel. I thank the thousands of sons and daughters of religious Zionism who took responsibility for the State of Israel and the right-wing bloc, flocked to the polls in droves and brought about a great achievement," Smotrich said.
"This great spirit will be translated, with the help of God, into a national government that is good for Israel. Keep going forward with full force!"
Benjamin Netanyahu claimed victory in the Israel's elections on Monday night, despite exit polls pointing to his right-wing bloc being below the 61-MK target he needs to form a government.
"What joy we have tonight," he told supporters in Tel Aviv. "It's a night of huge victory."
The Likud leader also said that there would be more party Knesset members, as "we have significantly increased the Likud list."
His supporters at the party's headquarters chanted "Mandelblit go home," a reference to Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit who has charged Netanyahu with fraud, bribery and breach of trust in a trial set to begin on March 17.
The prime minister also boasted of his relations with world leaders, saying that, "peace agreements with other Arab countries is just a matter of time - and not much."
Israel has a peace agreement with Jordan and Egypt and low-key or unofficial ties with primarily Gulf states in the Arab world. Netanyahu has made developing relations with the Arab world a central feature in his election campaign, claiming to be the only one who can achieve this goal.
To a rapturous reception from supporters at the Likud campaign headquarters in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu also reiterated his promise to annex the West Bank settlements and the Jordan Valley.
Israel went to the polls for the third time in less than a year on Monday, after two earlier rounds of voting left both the right-wing and center-left blocs unable to muster the 61 Knesset members needed to form a government.
As the exit polls released as the ballot closed at 10pm showed Likud on 36 or 37 seats in the 120-strong Knesset, Netanyahu tweeted out a simple "thank you" with a heart emoji.
Netanyahu's right-wing bloc was uniformly predicted to take 59 seats, while the center-left bloc headed by Blue & White leader Benny Gantz was tipped to take just 55 seats.
Just moments after the exit polls were released, Netanyahu called the heads of the parties in his right-wing bloc and pledged to immediately start work on forming a government.
"This is clearly an achievement from Netanyahu's standpoint but by no means is it a clear, decisive outcome that enables him to form a stable, functioning government," said Yohanan Plesner, president of the non-partisan Israel Democracy Institute. "The country is heading toward constitutional uncertainty."
Netanyahu's defense minister and Yamina party leader Naftali Bennett called the night a victory for the right and reiterated his commitment to the bloc.
"The right has won, we will make sure that the path of the right also wins," wrote Bennett on Twitter.
"As we promised, we will recommend Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for prime minister. We are committed to the right-wing bloc led by Netanyahu to establish a government that will continue to keep Israeli citizens safe, continue to provide support to IDF soldiers, protect the Land of Israel and the values of the right."
Yamina co-leader Ayelet Shaked also took to Twitter to celebrate the right-wing bloc's result.
"The religious-Zionist movement enlisted, with its thousands of activists, young and old, to this campaign with great determination. The Israeli democracy is strong and vibrant and the people have decided – a right-wing government with Netanyahu at the helm."
Transportation Minister Bezalel Smotrich, also of Yamina, celebrated the results and called them a "great achievement."
"This is a great evening for the State of Israel. I thank the thousands of sons and daughters of religious Zionism who took responsibility for the State of Israel and the right-wing bloc, flocked to the polls in droves and brought about a great achievement," Smotrich said.
"This great spirit will be translated, with the help of God, into a national government that is good for Israel. Keep going forward with full force!"