9 aug 2013
Chief Palestinian Authority negotiator Saeb Erekat has slammed the Israeli regime over its preliminary approval for the construction of more illegal settler units in the occupied West Bank.
In a letter to US Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday, Erekat said the Tel Aviv regime’s recent announcement indicates its “bad faith and lack of seriousness” in the US-backed talks between Palestinians and Israelis.
On Thursday, Guy Inbar, spokesman for Israel’s military-run civil administration in the occupied West Bank, said initial plans to construct more than 800 new illegal settler homes had been approved.
The Palestinian negotiator further called on Washington to take necessary measures to “ensure that Israel does not advance any of its settlement plans.”
Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s executive committee, also urged Kerry on Thursday to take “real action” against the Israeli regime.
Erekat sent the letter on the same day that US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said talks between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Israeli regime will resume on August 14 in al-Quds (Jerusalem).
Psaki said that the United States “does not accept the legitimacy of continued settlement activity and opposes any efforts to legitimize settlement outpost.”
The representatives of Israel and the Palestinian Authority met in Washington in late July. The meeting was the first direct negotiations in three years.
More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 illegal settlements built since Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East al-Quds in 1967.
In a letter to US Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday, Erekat said the Tel Aviv regime’s recent announcement indicates its “bad faith and lack of seriousness” in the US-backed talks between Palestinians and Israelis.
On Thursday, Guy Inbar, spokesman for Israel’s military-run civil administration in the occupied West Bank, said initial plans to construct more than 800 new illegal settler homes had been approved.
The Palestinian negotiator further called on Washington to take necessary measures to “ensure that Israel does not advance any of its settlement plans.”
Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s executive committee, also urged Kerry on Thursday to take “real action” against the Israeli regime.
Erekat sent the letter on the same day that US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said talks between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Israeli regime will resume on August 14 in al-Quds (Jerusalem).
Psaki said that the United States “does not accept the legitimacy of continued settlement activity and opposes any efforts to legitimize settlement outpost.”
The representatives of Israel and the Palestinian Authority met in Washington in late July. The meeting was the first direct negotiations in three years.
More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 illegal settlements built since Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East al-Quds in 1967.
8 aug 2013
A Palestinian protester argues with Israeli troops at a demo against settlements in al-Massara.
Israeli authorities have moved forward on giving final approval on plans to build nearly 1,000 new settler homes in the occupied West Bank, an official told AFP on Thursday.
He said initial approval had been granted by Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon several months ago and plans were now being made public so that any objections could be raised before the process moves to the next stage.
Israeli settlement watchdog Peace Now said the move applied to 920 new homes, while 166 units that had already been built without going through the necessary procedure were given the preliminary approval retroactively.
The total of 1,086 homes was spread across seven settlements, the NGO's Lior Amihai said.
This comes as US-brokered preparatory talks are under way between Israel and the PLO on resuming direct peace negotiations that have been stalled for nearly three years.
The PLO has demanded that Israel freeze settlement construction before returning to talks, but Israel has rejected any preconditions.
Senior PLO official Hanan Ashrawi said on Thursday that settlement building was "the willful destruction of any chances of peace".
"If the US really wants peace they have to intervene immediately and effectively," she told AFP.
Peace Now's Amihai said the latest batch of approvals "showed the true intention of the government, putting a very heavy question mark on their intentions".
Israeli authorities have moved forward on giving final approval on plans to build nearly 1,000 new settler homes in the occupied West Bank, an official told AFP on Thursday.
He said initial approval had been granted by Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon several months ago and plans were now being made public so that any objections could be raised before the process moves to the next stage.
Israeli settlement watchdog Peace Now said the move applied to 920 new homes, while 166 units that had already been built without going through the necessary procedure were given the preliminary approval retroactively.
The total of 1,086 homes was spread across seven settlements, the NGO's Lior Amihai said.
This comes as US-brokered preparatory talks are under way between Israel and the PLO on resuming direct peace negotiations that have been stalled for nearly three years.
The PLO has demanded that Israel freeze settlement construction before returning to talks, but Israel has rejected any preconditions.
Senior PLO official Hanan Ashrawi said on Thursday that settlement building was "the willful destruction of any chances of peace".
"If the US really wants peace they have to intervene immediately and effectively," she told AFP.
Peace Now's Amihai said the latest batch of approvals "showed the true intention of the government, putting a very heavy question mark on their intentions".
Givat Ze'ev settlement
Civil Administration spokesman says construction waits gov't green light. New homes earmarked for 11 settlements, some deep in West Bank, NGO says
Israel has given preliminary approval for the construction of more than 800 new homes in Jewish settlements on occupied West Bank land where Palestinians seek statehood, an Israeli official said on Thursday. The move could complicate US-sponsored Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, which resumed last month after an almost three-year freeze over the settlement dispute and whose second round is expected to take place next week.
Guy Inbar, spokesman for Israel's military-run Civil Administration in the West Bank, said initial plans to build 800 new settler homes were approved on Wednesday, though actual construction would require a green light from the government.
"This is a lengthy process," said Inbar, who did not immediately provide further details on the plans.
Peace Now, an Israeli anti-settlement watchdog, put the number of new homes discussed by the Civil Administration on Wednesday at 1,096 and said they were earmarked for 11 settlements – some of them located deep within the West Bank.
Israel insists it would annex major West Bank settlement blocs, which are mainly situated close to the Israeli border, under any peace accord with the Palestinians. Most world powers regard all the settlements as illegal and Palestinians say the enclaves could deny them a viable and contiguous state.
Palestinian officials did not immediately comment on the new settlement initiative, which surfaced as Muslims celebrated the festival of Eid al-Fitr.
Some 500,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, areas captured in the 1967 War, amid 2.5 million Palestinians. Israel withdrew in 2005 from the Gaza Strip, which is now governed by Hamas Islamists opposed to permanent co-existence with the Jewish state.
On Sunday, the rightist Israeli government put 91 settlements on a national priority funding list, adding six to a roster of dozens of enclaves already eligible for supplemental state cash.
Last month, while US Secretary of State John Kerry was on a peace-brokering visit to the region, the Civil Administration granted initial approval for construction of 732 new homes in Modiin Ilit, a settlement midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
Civil Administration spokesman says construction waits gov't green light. New homes earmarked for 11 settlements, some deep in West Bank, NGO says
Israel has given preliminary approval for the construction of more than 800 new homes in Jewish settlements on occupied West Bank land where Palestinians seek statehood, an Israeli official said on Thursday. The move could complicate US-sponsored Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, which resumed last month after an almost three-year freeze over the settlement dispute and whose second round is expected to take place next week.
Guy Inbar, spokesman for Israel's military-run Civil Administration in the West Bank, said initial plans to build 800 new settler homes were approved on Wednesday, though actual construction would require a green light from the government.
"This is a lengthy process," said Inbar, who did not immediately provide further details on the plans.
Peace Now, an Israeli anti-settlement watchdog, put the number of new homes discussed by the Civil Administration on Wednesday at 1,096 and said they were earmarked for 11 settlements – some of them located deep within the West Bank.
Israel insists it would annex major West Bank settlement blocs, which are mainly situated close to the Israeli border, under any peace accord with the Palestinians. Most world powers regard all the settlements as illegal and Palestinians say the enclaves could deny them a viable and contiguous state.
Palestinian officials did not immediately comment on the new settlement initiative, which surfaced as Muslims celebrated the festival of Eid al-Fitr.
Some 500,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, areas captured in the 1967 War, amid 2.5 million Palestinians. Israel withdrew in 2005 from the Gaza Strip, which is now governed by Hamas Islamists opposed to permanent co-existence with the Jewish state.
On Sunday, the rightist Israeli government put 91 settlements on a national priority funding list, adding six to a roster of dozens of enclaves already eligible for supplemental state cash.
Last month, while US Secretary of State John Kerry was on a peace-brokering visit to the region, the Civil Administration granted initial approval for construction of 732 new homes in Modiin Ilit, a settlement midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
The Israeli regime is planning to build new illegal settlement units on Palestinian territory in East al-Quds (Jerusalem), despite widespread criticism, Press TV reports.
Palestinians have slammed the move by Israel to build a new settlement on occupied land in Jabal Mukaber, southeast of al-Quds, calling it a blatant violation of international law.
“This is part of intensifying the settlements in and around Jerusalem. Lately, in the last ten years, they took a decision in order to build settlements in the middle of the Palestinian-populated areas in Jerusalem,” said coordinator of Stop the Wall Campaign Jamal Juma.
Israel’s Housing Minister Uri Ariel and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat are planning to attend a ceremony to lay the foundation for the illegal settlement units.
“Now we are talking about 11 so-called outposts or settlements inside the Palestinian villages and the Palestinian neighborhoods,” Juma stated.
He also said there are about 90 buildings where Israeli settlers have already taken over in Muslim and Christian neighborhoods of the Old City.
More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East al-Quds.
Much of the international community regards the settlements illegal because the territories were captured by Israel in a war in 1967 and are hence subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbid construction on occupied lands.
On July 19, the European Union published new guidelines banning its 28 members from funding projects in Israeli settlements in East al-Quds, the West Bank and the Golan Heights, which the Tel Aviv regime occupied during the 1967 war.(Video on the link)
Palestinians have slammed the move by Israel to build a new settlement on occupied land in Jabal Mukaber, southeast of al-Quds, calling it a blatant violation of international law.
“This is part of intensifying the settlements in and around Jerusalem. Lately, in the last ten years, they took a decision in order to build settlements in the middle of the Palestinian-populated areas in Jerusalem,” said coordinator of Stop the Wall Campaign Jamal Juma.
Israel’s Housing Minister Uri Ariel and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat are planning to attend a ceremony to lay the foundation for the illegal settlement units.
“Now we are talking about 11 so-called outposts or settlements inside the Palestinian villages and the Palestinian neighborhoods,” Juma stated.
He also said there are about 90 buildings where Israeli settlers have already taken over in Muslim and Christian neighborhoods of the Old City.
More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East al-Quds.
Much of the international community regards the settlements illegal because the territories were captured by Israel in a war in 1967 and are hence subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbid construction on occupied lands.
On July 19, the European Union published new guidelines banning its 28 members from funding projects in Israeli settlements in East al-Quds, the West Bank and the Golan Heights, which the Tel Aviv regime occupied during the 1967 war.(Video on the link)
7 aug 2013
The FCO Director General for Political Affairs, Simon Gass, concluded a two day visit to the West Bank and Jerusalem, British Consulate-General in Jerusalem said in a press release Wednesday. Gass reiterated the UK's strong support for US efforts on the Middle East Peace Process. He praised the courage of leaders on both sides in resuming negotiations, and stressed that both sides must continue to show leadership to overcome the challenges ahead.
During his visit, Simon Gass met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at his office in Ramallah to discuss progress in the Middle East Peace Process. He also met Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat, and senior Palestinian officials Hanan Ashrawi and Yasser Abed Rabbo.
Gass said, "Peace in the Middle East remains a top priority for the British Government. I have been encouraged by the leadership of President Abbas in leading his people back to talks with Israel. The need for peace is both urgent and pressing."
He added, " Secretary Kerry has the full support of the UK, and we will continue to do all that we can to ensure that talks are successful."
In regards to recent reports on Israeli settlements, FCO Minister for Middle East Alistair Burt tweeted: "Concerned by inclusion of 91 settlements on #Israel's National Priority Area list. US-led efforts towards peace must be the priority"
Earlier this month, Foreign Secretary William Hague welcomed the return to direct talks between the two parties. He said:
"The resumption of talks has been possible because of the courageous leadership already shown by Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas, as well as the commitment of negotiators on both sides. Determined leadership from the United States has also been critical and will remain so in the months to come.
As President Obama and Secretary Kerry have set out, hard work and difficult choices lie ahead. We do not underestimate the challenges but firmly believe that if both parties continue to show bold leadership, peace is possible. It is also urgent: 2013 must be the decisive year for peace. Britain will do all it can to support the Israelis, Palestinians and the United States to achieve a two-state solution and the lasting peace that the people of the region deserve."
During his visit, Simon Gass met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at his office in Ramallah to discuss progress in the Middle East Peace Process. He also met Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat, and senior Palestinian officials Hanan Ashrawi and Yasser Abed Rabbo.
Gass said, "Peace in the Middle East remains a top priority for the British Government. I have been encouraged by the leadership of President Abbas in leading his people back to talks with Israel. The need for peace is both urgent and pressing."
He added, " Secretary Kerry has the full support of the UK, and we will continue to do all that we can to ensure that talks are successful."
In regards to recent reports on Israeli settlements, FCO Minister for Middle East Alistair Burt tweeted: "Concerned by inclusion of 91 settlements on #Israel's National Priority Area list. US-led efforts towards peace must be the priority"
Earlier this month, Foreign Secretary William Hague welcomed the return to direct talks between the two parties. He said:
"The resumption of talks has been possible because of the courageous leadership already shown by Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas, as well as the commitment of negotiators on both sides. Determined leadership from the United States has also been critical and will remain so in the months to come.
As President Obama and Secretary Kerry have set out, hard work and difficult choices lie ahead. We do not underestimate the challenges but firmly believe that if both parties continue to show bold leadership, peace is possible. It is also urgent: 2013 must be the decisive year for peace. Britain will do all it can to support the Israelis, Palestinians and the United States to achieve a two-state solution and the lasting peace that the people of the region deserve."
"The Israeli Occupation Municipality, along with the Israeli Housing Ministry in Jerusalem, have reaffirmed their commitment to colonization by trying to sabotage civilized attempts to achieve a two-state solution" said Chief Palestinian Negotiator Dr. Saeb Erekat, referring to the recently announced project to build a new Israeli settlement in Jabal Moukabber, southern Jerusalem.
The settlement, consisting of 63 settlement units, will be built on land confiscated from the people of Jabal Moukabber and Eam Laisun.
"Some people in Israel continue to believe that the endgame for negotiations should not be peace but rather, further colonization. We call upon all parties that had vigorously advocated for the resumption of negotiations to do whatever is needed to block and to punish the latest decisions made by the Israeli government and the Occupation Municipality in Jerusalem." said Dr. Erekat.
Dr. Erekat concluded that "we hope that the Israeli government understands that their impunity is evaporating and that it is in Israel's interest to go for justice and peace rather settlements and Apartheid. Settlement construction shows a lack of seriousness towards the idea of a Palestine and Israel living side by side in peace and security. We will be contacting different members within the international community in order to make clear to those who are trying to sabotage our efforts that settlement construction has a price and that this price will continue to grow."
The settlement, consisting of 63 settlement units, will be built on land confiscated from the people of Jabal Moukabber and Eam Laisun.
"Some people in Israel continue to believe that the endgame for negotiations should not be peace but rather, further colonization. We call upon all parties that had vigorously advocated for the resumption of negotiations to do whatever is needed to block and to punish the latest decisions made by the Israeli government and the Occupation Municipality in Jerusalem." said Dr. Erekat.
Dr. Erekat concluded that "we hope that the Israeli government understands that their impunity is evaporating and that it is in Israel's interest to go for justice and peace rather settlements and Apartheid. Settlement construction shows a lack of seriousness towards the idea of a Palestine and Israel living side by side in peace and security. We will be contacting different members within the international community in order to make clear to those who are trying to sabotage our efforts that settlement construction has a price and that this price will continue to grow."
Israeli sources have reported Tuesday that Jerusalem City Council head, Nir Barkat, and Israeli Housing Minister, Uri Ariel, intend to place the cornerstone of a new settlement, in Jabal Al-Mokabbir, south of occupied East Jerusalem.
The sources said that the new settlement will be dedicated this coming Sunday, and will include dozens of units for Jewish settlers.
Palestinian researcher, specialized in settlements affairs, Ahmad Sob-Laban, stated that the Israeli “Construction and Planning Committee” authorized, on July 29, the construction of the new settlement in Jerusalem.
He added that the plan aims at building 63 units in three buildings, located close to a kindergarten in Jabal Al-Mokabbir.
The researcher said that this would be the second settlement to be built in the heart of Jabal Al-Mokabbir, as the first is called Nof Ezion, and added that Israel also illegally confiscated lands in Jabal Al-Mokabbir and Sur Baher to build the Armona Natzif settlement, west of the town.
“This is an old plan that was approved in 2008, a license to build foundations, parking lots, and infrastructure was granted”, Sob-Laban said, “The new issue here is authorizing new constructions for the settlement in the twon”.
He further stated that an Israeli company, known as Yumnah, is connected to financing and building various outposts in the heart of Arab neighborhoods in occupied East Jerusalem.
“This is a strategy meant at creating facts on the ground, to prevent any Israeli withdrawal from the occupied city”, the researcher added, “Those settlement activities aim at placing obstacles in front of any attempt to reach a peace agreement and a two-state solution”
The sources said that the new settlement will be dedicated this coming Sunday, and will include dozens of units for Jewish settlers.
Palestinian researcher, specialized in settlements affairs, Ahmad Sob-Laban, stated that the Israeli “Construction and Planning Committee” authorized, on July 29, the construction of the new settlement in Jerusalem.
He added that the plan aims at building 63 units in three buildings, located close to a kindergarten in Jabal Al-Mokabbir.
The researcher said that this would be the second settlement to be built in the heart of Jabal Al-Mokabbir, as the first is called Nof Ezion, and added that Israel also illegally confiscated lands in Jabal Al-Mokabbir and Sur Baher to build the Armona Natzif settlement, west of the town.
“This is an old plan that was approved in 2008, a license to build foundations, parking lots, and infrastructure was granted”, Sob-Laban said, “The new issue here is authorizing new constructions for the settlement in the twon”.
He further stated that an Israeli company, known as Yumnah, is connected to financing and building various outposts in the heart of Arab neighborhoods in occupied East Jerusalem.
“This is a strategy meant at creating facts on the ground, to prevent any Israeli withdrawal from the occupied city”, the researcher added, “Those settlement activities aim at placing obstacles in front of any attempt to reach a peace agreement and a two-state solution”
6 aug 2013
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) has endorsed the construction of new settlement units in occupied Jerusalem. Hebrew daily Ha’aretz on Tuesday quoted minister of economy Naftali Bennett as saying that the government was intent on resuming construction of settlement units especially in Jerusalem.
He said that his party would not endorse any government decision to freeze construction of settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
Bennett said that tenders would be put out within the few coming days for the construction of new housing units in Jerusalem and in other areas.
He also denied press reports that his party had agreed to the release of 104 Palestinian prisoners as a goodwill gesture to coincide with the re-launching of negotiations with the Palestinians.
He said that his party would not endorse any government decision to freeze construction of settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
Bennett said that tenders would be put out within the few coming days for the construction of new housing units in Jerusalem and in other areas.
He also denied press reports that his party had agreed to the release of 104 Palestinian prisoners as a goodwill gesture to coincide with the re-launching of negotiations with the Palestinians.
PLO Executive Committee member Dr. Hanan Ashrawi met on Monday with Sir Simon Gass, Political Director and the UK Prime Minister's Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as representatives from the British Consulate and DFID, PLO Executive Committee said in a press release.
In the meeting, Dr. Ashrawi stressed, "The facts on the ground speak for themselves. There will never be a contiguous Palestinian state as long as settlements remain intact. The Palestinian position has been constant: all settlements and outposts are illegal under international law."
She added, "Extreme right-wing officials have hijacked the Israeli political agenda which serves the settlers at the expense of peace. They are responsible for the emergence of the language and culture of hate, racism and violence in Israel."
"Israel is not used to paying a price or to being held accountable for its military occupation of Palestine and its persistent violations. If U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's peace initiative is to succeed then Israel much comply with international law and conventions, particularly in the case of the 1967 borders, Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees," concluded Dr. Ashrawi.
In the meeting, Dr. Ashrawi stressed, "The facts on the ground speak for themselves. There will never be a contiguous Palestinian state as long as settlements remain intact. The Palestinian position has been constant: all settlements and outposts are illegal under international law."
She added, "Extreme right-wing officials have hijacked the Israeli political agenda which serves the settlers at the expense of peace. They are responsible for the emergence of the language and culture of hate, racism and violence in Israel."
"Israel is not used to paying a price or to being held accountable for its military occupation of Palestine and its persistent violations. If U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's peace initiative is to succeed then Israel much comply with international law and conventions, particularly in the case of the 1967 borders, Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees," concluded Dr. Ashrawi.
The French Foreign Ministry strongly denounced an Israeli decision, made on Sunday August 4, to add 20 settlements, including four isolated settlement outposts, to its national priority fund as part of a plan to develop what was dubbed as “cities” that receive a priority funding and attention.
France said that the number of settlements placed on this national priority fund has significantly increased from an earlier list of settlements published in 2009.
"This figure has increased in relation to the preceding list of priority localities announced by Tel Aviv in 2009”, The French Foreign Ministry stated, “The list includes isolated settlements in the West bank; this damages the prospects of a future peace accord”.
The settlements include isolated illegal settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank.
The French Government said that Israel’s settlement activities obstruct the efforts to achieve the desired final status peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, based on the two-state solution.
It added that settlements are illegal under International Law, and are a main obstacle to the two-state solution, and stressed on the importance of resuming and maintaining direct peace talks by refraining from any unilateral moves that jeopardize the future peace talks.
France said that the number of settlements placed on this national priority fund has significantly increased from an earlier list of settlements published in 2009.
"This figure has increased in relation to the preceding list of priority localities announced by Tel Aviv in 2009”, The French Foreign Ministry stated, “The list includes isolated settlements in the West bank; this damages the prospects of a future peace accord”.
The settlements include isolated illegal settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank.
The French Government said that Israel’s settlement activities obstruct the efforts to achieve the desired final status peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, based on the two-state solution.
It added that settlements are illegal under International Law, and are a main obstacle to the two-state solution, and stressed on the importance of resuming and maintaining direct peace talks by refraining from any unilateral moves that jeopardize the future peace talks.
The Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in Hebron have reported that Israel approved the construction of 230 units in the Ma’on illegal settlement, built on Palestinian lands east of Yatta town, near the southern West Bank city of Hebron.
Rateb Jabour, Coordinator of the Popular Committee, told the Radio Bethlehem 2000 that Israel plans to illegally confiscate nearly 4000 Dunams of Palestinian lands that belong to the families of Ash-Sha’abeen, Roomy, Abu Sabha, Ash-Shawaheen, al-Hathaleen, and Shinraan.
The lands in question are located in the local communities of Um Al-Kheir, Um Hatba, and Khalayel Az-Zattoun.
Jabour added that Israel plans to start the construction in 60 days.
Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine, including in occupied Jerusalem, are built in direct violation of the International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The West Bank and East Jerusalem are considered occupied territories under International Law and all related United Nations and Security Council resolutions.
Under Article 49 of the 1949 Geneva Convention (IV) Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, all Israeli settlement activities constitute a violation of international humanitarian law, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) reported.
The recently resumed direct talks between Tel Aviv and Ramallah are facing various obstacles that could topple all international efforts to resume and maintain talks meant to achieve a final-status peace agreement.
Israel insists in continuing its illegal settlement construction and expansion activities in the occupied territories, including in and around occupied East Jerusalem. Israel’s settlements and its Annexation Wall have isolated the Palestinian communities from each other, and isolated the villagers from their lands and orchards.
Other vital issues that obstruct talks are Israel refusal to recognize the internationally guaranteed Right of Return of the Palestinian refugees, its rejection to talks on borders, natural resources, and its rejection to a full withdrawal from all territories it illegally captured in 1967, including Jerusalem.
Rateb Jabour, Coordinator of the Popular Committee, told the Radio Bethlehem 2000 that Israel plans to illegally confiscate nearly 4000 Dunams of Palestinian lands that belong to the families of Ash-Sha’abeen, Roomy, Abu Sabha, Ash-Shawaheen, al-Hathaleen, and Shinraan.
The lands in question are located in the local communities of Um Al-Kheir, Um Hatba, and Khalayel Az-Zattoun.
Jabour added that Israel plans to start the construction in 60 days.
Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine, including in occupied Jerusalem, are built in direct violation of the International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The West Bank and East Jerusalem are considered occupied territories under International Law and all related United Nations and Security Council resolutions.
Under Article 49 of the 1949 Geneva Convention (IV) Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, all Israeli settlement activities constitute a violation of international humanitarian law, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) reported.
The recently resumed direct talks between Tel Aviv and Ramallah are facing various obstacles that could topple all international efforts to resume and maintain talks meant to achieve a final-status peace agreement.
Israel insists in continuing its illegal settlement construction and expansion activities in the occupied territories, including in and around occupied East Jerusalem. Israel’s settlements and its Annexation Wall have isolated the Palestinian communities from each other, and isolated the villagers from their lands and orchards.
Other vital issues that obstruct talks are Israel refusal to recognize the internationally guaranteed Right of Return of the Palestinian refugees, its rejection to talks on borders, natural resources, and its rejection to a full withdrawal from all territories it illegally captured in 1967, including Jerusalem.
5 aug 2013
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) is planning to build 60 new settlement units in Yatta, south of Al-Khalil province. Ratib Al-Jabour, an anti-settlement activist in Yatta, told the PIC that Israeli occupation forces quelled Palestinians who tried to enter their land in Um Al-Khair hamlet.
He said that the soldiers showed those citizens photos of a new settlement plan that envisages the construction of more than 60 settlement units that would be built on their land.
The IOA had endorsed a scheme a few years ago that stipulated the demolition of eight villages and hamlets near Yatta town to pave the way for the expansion of Jewish settlements.
He said that the soldiers showed those citizens photos of a new settlement plan that envisages the construction of more than 60 settlement units that would be built on their land.
The IOA had endorsed a scheme a few years ago that stipulated the demolition of eight villages and hamlets near Yatta town to pave the way for the expansion of Jewish settlements.
Sharon mayors oppose construction of housing units
The mayors of Ramat Hasharon, Hod Hasharon and Herzliya announced at a press conference on Monday their opposition to government plans to build thousands of housing units on shared territory the size of 7,000 dunam and belonging to the military industries. The three suggested instead the construction of a park for the benefit of all citizens.
Mayors Itzik Rochberger, Yehonatan Yas'ur, and Hai Adev said, "We have a historic responsibility to future generations and we will not agree that the region become one concrete block."
The mayors of Ramat Hasharon, Hod Hasharon and Herzliya announced at a press conference on Monday their opposition to government plans to build thousands of housing units on shared territory the size of 7,000 dunam and belonging to the military industries. The three suggested instead the construction of a park for the benefit of all citizens.
Mayors Itzik Rochberger, Yehonatan Yas'ur, and Hai Adev said, "We have a historic responsibility to future generations and we will not agree that the region become one concrete block."
'Suffocating the city.' Beitar Illit
Residents of ultra-Orthodox settlement criticize 'cruel' decision to make it ineligible for State benefits. 'We may not be there when Bennett needs us for fight against evacuation,' local politician says
"We were here before this government was established and we will remain here after it's gone": The residents of Beitar Illit were not shocked by the removal of the large haredi settlement from the new list of more than 600 towns and communities that are eligible for State benefits.
At a time when the haredi public is feeling the pain of the new government's austerity measures and its Knesset members are sitting in the opposition, the ultra-Orthodox are just waiting for the next blow to come. This time the blow came in the form of the Beitat Illit's ineligibility for benefits the residents of the Gush Etzion community had grown accustomed to receiving. Other Jewish communities in the West Bank - some of them remote - were added to the national priority list.
"This government is simply cruel," said Yaakov Hershkop, a contractor and real state entrepreneur who resides in Beitar Illit. "There are no other words to describe what is happening here. Our public is being 'attacked' on a daily basis, and they are taking away the milk and bread we have left."
Hershkop called Beitar Illit "the classical haredi city in which the next generation of the haredi public is being raised. The government's first message - after it had already imposed severe measures in last year's budget – is that it is taking away the little that is left. It is going to hurt those who suffered the most painful economic blows and deny them the last rights they still have.
"We will have to take matters into our own hands and seek the support of the Diaspora Jews, who will stand by us," he said. "As someone who grew up in the United States, I have no choice but embark - together with the community leaders – on a fund-raising trip abroad. Maybe our salvation will come from there."
Yitzhak Ravitz, chairman of Degel HaTorah's Beitar Illit chapter, pointed a finger at Economy Minister Naftali Bennett, claiming that the inclusion of numerous settlements in the new national priority map indicates that Habayit Hayehudi, Bennett's party, was behind the initiative. "Bennett is pushing us, the haredim, into the arms of the Left. He shouldn't be surprised if we will not be there when he needs us for the fight against the uprooting of settlements," Ravitz told Ynet.
"The government has made every possible mistake since its inception six months ago – at first against the Torah of Israel and now also against the Land of Israel. They have pushed the haredi public into a corner with another vengeful act. In this situation, even the most gentle and peaceful animal goes wild when its back is against the wall."
Ravitz, the son of the late lawmaker and deputy minister Avraham Ravitz, who was one of the leaders of United Torah Judaism, said Beitar Illit was the second largest city on the eastern side of the Green Line (after Ma'aleh Adumim) and has the highest population growth rate in the West Bank. "For every apartment here there are a hundred people who want to buy it, and suffocating this city is a foolish act. It is a stupid and irresponsible decision as far as the settlement enterprise is concerned. It is also malicious."
The mayor of Beitar Illit, Rabbi Meir Rubinstein, said "all of Israel's past government's, including the leftist ones, did not dare take measures similar to those being taken by (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu's government." Ultra-Orthodox politicians were also quick to level harsh criticism at Netanyahu, Bennett and Finance Minister Yair Lapid. "This decision joins a long list of miserable decisions made by the malicious Netanyahu-Bennett-Lapid government," said MK Meir Porush (United Torah Judaism).
Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri said, "The Israeli government has once again proven its insensitivity with the immoral decision to remove the cities of Beitar Illit and Harish from the national priority map and including dozens of isolated settlements. The brothers Bennett and Lapid will not rest until they will deprive the haredi citizens of the State of Israel and the residents of the large (settlement) blocs of all funding."
The southern cities of Kiryat Gat and Kiryat Malachi were also left out of the new national priority map. "It's all politics," said Kiryat Malachi Mayor Yossi Hadad, a longtime Likud party member. "When rockets fall we are part of the south, but when it's time to give a little, distribute goodies, they prefer to say we are residents of central Israel. The government has forgotten one thing: Some 25% of the city's residents are new olim. Our situation is very bad; we do not have the right lobby." Avichai Osadon, an activist from Kiryat Gat said, "The fact that we are not receiving any assistance is indicative of the State's faulty list of priorities. The State prefers the frontline communities, which are actually the settlements. The State prefers settlements over the periphery."
Residents of ultra-Orthodox settlement criticize 'cruel' decision to make it ineligible for State benefits. 'We may not be there when Bennett needs us for fight against evacuation,' local politician says
"We were here before this government was established and we will remain here after it's gone": The residents of Beitar Illit were not shocked by the removal of the large haredi settlement from the new list of more than 600 towns and communities that are eligible for State benefits.
At a time when the haredi public is feeling the pain of the new government's austerity measures and its Knesset members are sitting in the opposition, the ultra-Orthodox are just waiting for the next blow to come. This time the blow came in the form of the Beitat Illit's ineligibility for benefits the residents of the Gush Etzion community had grown accustomed to receiving. Other Jewish communities in the West Bank - some of them remote - were added to the national priority list.
"This government is simply cruel," said Yaakov Hershkop, a contractor and real state entrepreneur who resides in Beitar Illit. "There are no other words to describe what is happening here. Our public is being 'attacked' on a daily basis, and they are taking away the milk and bread we have left."
Hershkop called Beitar Illit "the classical haredi city in which the next generation of the haredi public is being raised. The government's first message - after it had already imposed severe measures in last year's budget – is that it is taking away the little that is left. It is going to hurt those who suffered the most painful economic blows and deny them the last rights they still have.
"We will have to take matters into our own hands and seek the support of the Diaspora Jews, who will stand by us," he said. "As someone who grew up in the United States, I have no choice but embark - together with the community leaders – on a fund-raising trip abroad. Maybe our salvation will come from there."
Yitzhak Ravitz, chairman of Degel HaTorah's Beitar Illit chapter, pointed a finger at Economy Minister Naftali Bennett, claiming that the inclusion of numerous settlements in the new national priority map indicates that Habayit Hayehudi, Bennett's party, was behind the initiative. "Bennett is pushing us, the haredim, into the arms of the Left. He shouldn't be surprised if we will not be there when he needs us for the fight against the uprooting of settlements," Ravitz told Ynet.
"The government has made every possible mistake since its inception six months ago – at first against the Torah of Israel and now also against the Land of Israel. They have pushed the haredi public into a corner with another vengeful act. In this situation, even the most gentle and peaceful animal goes wild when its back is against the wall."
Ravitz, the son of the late lawmaker and deputy minister Avraham Ravitz, who was one of the leaders of United Torah Judaism, said Beitar Illit was the second largest city on the eastern side of the Green Line (after Ma'aleh Adumim) and has the highest population growth rate in the West Bank. "For every apartment here there are a hundred people who want to buy it, and suffocating this city is a foolish act. It is a stupid and irresponsible decision as far as the settlement enterprise is concerned. It is also malicious."
The mayor of Beitar Illit, Rabbi Meir Rubinstein, said "all of Israel's past government's, including the leftist ones, did not dare take measures similar to those being taken by (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu's government." Ultra-Orthodox politicians were also quick to level harsh criticism at Netanyahu, Bennett and Finance Minister Yair Lapid. "This decision joins a long list of miserable decisions made by the malicious Netanyahu-Bennett-Lapid government," said MK Meir Porush (United Torah Judaism).
Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri said, "The Israeli government has once again proven its insensitivity with the immoral decision to remove the cities of Beitar Illit and Harish from the national priority map and including dozens of isolated settlements. The brothers Bennett and Lapid will not rest until they will deprive the haredi citizens of the State of Israel and the residents of the large (settlement) blocs of all funding."
The southern cities of Kiryat Gat and Kiryat Malachi were also left out of the new national priority map. "It's all politics," said Kiryat Malachi Mayor Yossi Hadad, a longtime Likud party member. "When rockets fall we are part of the south, but when it's time to give a little, distribute goodies, they prefer to say we are residents of central Israel. The government has forgotten one thing: Some 25% of the city's residents are new olim. Our situation is very bad; we do not have the right lobby." Avichai Osadon, an activist from Kiryat Gat said, "The fact that we are not receiving any assistance is indicative of the State's faulty list of priorities. The State prefers the frontline communities, which are actually the settlements. The State prefers settlements over the periphery."
[Sunday August 4, 2013] Israeli Minister, Silvan Shalom, alleged that the Palestinian Authority (P.A.) in the occupied West Bank rejected an Israeli “offer” to freeze construction activities in settlements located outside of settlement blocs, and said that the P.A. insisted on the release of Palestinian political prisoners.
Talking to the Israeli Radio, Shalom said that the offer was presented by Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, but was directly rejected by the P.A.
The Israeli Minister claimed that the decision to release Palestinian political prisoners was “very difficult”, and that the stances of the United States, the mediator of direct political talks, and the new situation in the region, gave Israel no other options.
He said that Israel offered a freeze, not a full stop, of settlement construction and expansion activities, in settlements in the occupied West Bank, excluding settlement blocs such as Ariel, Ma’ale Adumim and Gush Etzion.
Israel will be releasing Palestinian detainees who have been imprisoned since before the first Oslo Peace Agreement of 1993, on several stages, starting next week.
According to Israel, the release depends on the “progress” in direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
Various Palestinian officials stated that Israel is using its illegal settlement activities as a bargaining chip in order to oblige the Palestinians to adhere to its preconditions.
Talking to the Israeli Radio, Shalom said that the offer was presented by Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, but was directly rejected by the P.A.
The Israeli Minister claimed that the decision to release Palestinian political prisoners was “very difficult”, and that the stances of the United States, the mediator of direct political talks, and the new situation in the region, gave Israel no other options.
He said that Israel offered a freeze, not a full stop, of settlement construction and expansion activities, in settlements in the occupied West Bank, excluding settlement blocs such as Ariel, Ma’ale Adumim and Gush Etzion.
Israel will be releasing Palestinian detainees who have been imprisoned since before the first Oslo Peace Agreement of 1993, on several stages, starting next week.
According to Israel, the release depends on the “progress” in direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
Various Palestinian officials stated that Israel is using its illegal settlement activities as a bargaining chip in order to oblige the Palestinians to adhere to its preconditions.
Palestinian Presidency Spokesperson, Nabil Abu Rodeina, stated that the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu is ongoing with its violations and illegal settlement activities, and is obstructing U.S. efforts to resume direct peace talks.
His statements came responding to an Israeli decision to add 20 more settlements, and occupied Jerusalem, to its development plan.
“We denounce this Israeli decision, we denounce the Israeli policies obstructing peace”, Abu Rodeina said, “Tel Aviv is obstructing the American efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East”.
He also stated that all of Israel’s settlement activities in occupied Palestine, including in occupied Jerusalem, are illegitimate under International law regardless of what decisions Israel makes.
“Nothing can change this fact, settlements are illegal and illegitimate”, the Palestinian official said.
On Sunday, August 04, 2013, and approved a plan meant for developing “Israeli cities and towns of a high national priority”.
The Israeli decision includes putting 91 Jewish settlements in the occupied territories on a what is called a “national priority fund”.
The decision comes just as direct political talks between Israel and the Palestinians have resumed under direct American mediation. The second round of talks is scheduled to be held on August 14.
Areas that have the national priority status are around 700 communities, including border towns and settlements that require extra funds that exceed the regular normal budget.
They are located near the border with Lebanon, across the border with Egypt in the south and 91 settlements in the occupied West Bank.
All settlements are illegal International Law, and violate the Fourth Geneva Convention to which Israel is a signatory.
Dr. Ashrawi: "The Israeli Government has Approved a Confidence Destruction Measure"
"The Israeli government has approved a confidence destruction measure," said PLO Executive Committee Member Dr. Hanan Ashrawi referring to the Israeli government decision to include 90 illegal Israeli settlements in the list of "national priority areas," 20 of them new Israeli settlements.
PLO Department of Culture and Information revealed Sunday that such settlements will receive added benefits from the state, giving further incentives for Israeli settlers to remain inside the Occupied State of Palestine.
"At a moment when the international community has made great efforts to foster a resumption of negotiations between Palestine and Israel, the Israeli cabinet has approved a plan that further incentivizes illegal settlement in the occupied State of Palestine."
Dr. Ashrawi continued, "While Palestine has cooperated with international efforts to seek a two-state solution on the 1967 border, Israel is responding once again by destroying the 1967 border and violating international law." Dr. Ashrawi said. "Israeli attempts to grab more Palestinian land and to provide settlers with preferential treatment will not be tolerated."
"Such criminal acts must be met with strong international action. It must be made clear to Israel that negotiations are about peacefully ending the occupation that began in 1967, and that Israel may not use the protective cover of negotiations as a means to pre-empt their outcome or as a means to persist in acting with impunity in further entrenching its illegal practices." Dr. Ashrawi concluded.
His statements came responding to an Israeli decision to add 20 more settlements, and occupied Jerusalem, to its development plan.
“We denounce this Israeli decision, we denounce the Israeli policies obstructing peace”, Abu Rodeina said, “Tel Aviv is obstructing the American efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East”.
He also stated that all of Israel’s settlement activities in occupied Palestine, including in occupied Jerusalem, are illegitimate under International law regardless of what decisions Israel makes.
“Nothing can change this fact, settlements are illegal and illegitimate”, the Palestinian official said.
On Sunday, August 04, 2013, and approved a plan meant for developing “Israeli cities and towns of a high national priority”.
The Israeli decision includes putting 91 Jewish settlements in the occupied territories on a what is called a “national priority fund”.
The decision comes just as direct political talks between Israel and the Palestinians have resumed under direct American mediation. The second round of talks is scheduled to be held on August 14.
Areas that have the national priority status are around 700 communities, including border towns and settlements that require extra funds that exceed the regular normal budget.
They are located near the border with Lebanon, across the border with Egypt in the south and 91 settlements in the occupied West Bank.
All settlements are illegal International Law, and violate the Fourth Geneva Convention to which Israel is a signatory.
Dr. Ashrawi: "The Israeli Government has Approved a Confidence Destruction Measure"
"The Israeli government has approved a confidence destruction measure," said PLO Executive Committee Member Dr. Hanan Ashrawi referring to the Israeli government decision to include 90 illegal Israeli settlements in the list of "national priority areas," 20 of them new Israeli settlements.
PLO Department of Culture and Information revealed Sunday that such settlements will receive added benefits from the state, giving further incentives for Israeli settlers to remain inside the Occupied State of Palestine.
"At a moment when the international community has made great efforts to foster a resumption of negotiations between Palestine and Israel, the Israeli cabinet has approved a plan that further incentivizes illegal settlement in the occupied State of Palestine."
Dr. Ashrawi continued, "While Palestine has cooperated with international efforts to seek a two-state solution on the 1967 border, Israel is responding once again by destroying the 1967 border and violating international law." Dr. Ashrawi said. "Israeli attempts to grab more Palestinian land and to provide settlers with preferential treatment will not be tolerated."
"Such criminal acts must be met with strong international action. It must be made clear to Israel that negotiations are about peacefully ending the occupation that began in 1967, and that Israel may not use the protective cover of negotiations as a means to pre-empt their outcome or as a means to persist in acting with impunity in further entrenching its illegal practices." Dr. Ashrawi concluded.
The Israeli government on Sunday added 20 illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank to a list drawn up in 2009 of communities prioritized for aid.
Hundreds of communities in the occupied Palestinian territory figure on the list for public aid in housing, infrastructure, education, cultural activities and security spending.
The settlements added to the priority list include communities outside the main blocks over which Israel aims to keep control under any peace settlement with the Palestinians, said Haaretz newspaper.
It said most of them are strongholds of Jewish Home, a nationalist party in the coalition government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who refused to declare a freeze on settlement construction as demanded by the Palestinians as a condition for a renewal of peace talks.
Talks resumed in Washington last week after a three-year hiatus.
Hundreds of communities in the occupied Palestinian territory figure on the list for public aid in housing, infrastructure, education, cultural activities and security spending.
The settlements added to the priority list include communities outside the main blocks over which Israel aims to keep control under any peace settlement with the Palestinians, said Haaretz newspaper.
It said most of them are strongholds of Jewish Home, a nationalist party in the coalition government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who refused to declare a freeze on settlement construction as demanded by the Palestinians as a condition for a renewal of peace talks.
Talks resumed in Washington last week after a three-year hiatus.
4 aug 2013
Settlement of Rechelim
Four remote settlements once considered illegal included in national priority list, to be eligible for governmental funding. Peretz: This is political, not national priority
The government on Sunday approved the new national priority list. A record number of 90 settlements were included in a list of more than 600 towns and communities eligible for state benefits, among them several new settlements once considered illegal. Beitar Illit, a large haredi settlement, was not on the list. During the meeting, an argument broke out between Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and Economy Minister Naftali Bennett. Livni asserted that "dangerous" communities should not be put on the list and Bennett replied, "It's lucky that the founders of Hanita (a kibbutz in the western Galilee) were not of the same opinion.
"Driving in Judea and Samaria is indeed dangerous but many things are dangerous. We should keep encouraging construction in Judea and Samaria."
The list passed the government vote without opposition, but four ministers abstained: Hatnua 's Livni and Amir Peretz and Yesh Atid 's Yael German and Yaakov Peri.
"This is political, not national priority which goes against efforts to promote peace," Peretz said. "It's unacceptable that struggling cities like Kiryat Gat and Kiryat Malachi are out of the list because they're close to the center while settlements that were illegal not so long ago are added under the security threat clause."
The State legalized the status of four settlements in the past year – Negohot and Sansana in south Mount Hebron and Rechelim and Bruchin in the West Bank.
Four remote settlements once considered illegal included in national priority list, to be eligible for governmental funding. Peretz: This is political, not national priority
The government on Sunday approved the new national priority list. A record number of 90 settlements were included in a list of more than 600 towns and communities eligible for state benefits, among them several new settlements once considered illegal. Beitar Illit, a large haredi settlement, was not on the list. During the meeting, an argument broke out between Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and Economy Minister Naftali Bennett. Livni asserted that "dangerous" communities should not be put on the list and Bennett replied, "It's lucky that the founders of Hanita (a kibbutz in the western Galilee) were not of the same opinion.
"Driving in Judea and Samaria is indeed dangerous but many things are dangerous. We should keep encouraging construction in Judea and Samaria."
The list passed the government vote without opposition, but four ministers abstained: Hatnua 's Livni and Amir Peretz and Yesh Atid 's Yael German and Yaakov Peri.
"This is political, not national priority which goes against efforts to promote peace," Peretz said. "It's unacceptable that struggling cities like Kiryat Gat and Kiryat Malachi are out of the list because they're close to the center while settlements that were illegal not so long ago are added under the security threat clause."
The State legalized the status of four settlements in the past year – Negohot and Sansana in south Mount Hebron and Rechelim and Bruchin in the West Bank.
Bruchin
Towns on the national priority list are eligible for various grants and receive aid in development schemes. However, funding for infrastructure and housing beyond the West Bank requires a special decree by the prime minister, to avoid any diplomatic embarrassment.
Towns on the list will get government funding for 30% of the cost of hotels and other tourist ventures, as well as reduced costs for housing and infrastructure and aid in culture and environmental projects. The State invests tens of millions of shekels in total.
Local authorities engage in heavy campaigning to get on the list which is determined by year of establishment, proximity to the periphery, and security hazard.
Towns on the national priority list are eligible for various grants and receive aid in development schemes. However, funding for infrastructure and housing beyond the West Bank requires a special decree by the prime minister, to avoid any diplomatic embarrassment.
Towns on the list will get government funding for 30% of the cost of hotels and other tourist ventures, as well as reduced costs for housing and infrastructure and aid in culture and environmental projects. The State invests tens of millions of shekels in total.
Local authorities engage in heavy campaigning to get on the list which is determined by year of establishment, proximity to the periphery, and security hazard.
The Hebrew media revealed a deal between Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu and Naftali Bennett, leader of the Jewish Home party, to expand settlement activities in exchange for the latter's support for the release of Palestinian prisoners as a goodwill gesture towards the peace process. The deal took place after Bennett had threatened to withdraw his far-right Zionist party from the government coalition if the government agrees to hold negotiations around the 1967 borders and release Palestinian prisoners.
The deal includes a pledge from Netanyahu to build 5,000 settlement units in the West Bank.
The Hebrew media also reported that the Labor party's Knesset member Merav Michaeli had asked the legal advisor to the government to investigate the deal.
She expressed her strong opposition to the deal and said that such deals must not be struck in exchange for settlement construction.
The deal includes a pledge from Netanyahu to build 5,000 settlement units in the West Bank.
The Hebrew media also reported that the Labor party's Knesset member Merav Michaeli had asked the legal advisor to the government to investigate the deal.
She expressed her strong opposition to the deal and said that such deals must not be struck in exchange for settlement construction.
3 aug 2013
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) plans to convert a historical Islamic mosque in occupied Jerusalem to a synagogue, Haaretz newspaper said. The newspaper said that the Israeli antiquities authority intends to remove all Islamic features of Nabi Dawoud (Prophet David) Mosque in Jerusalem after it was vandalized by Jewish settlers.
Extremist Jewish settlers stormed the Mosque recently and embarked on smashing its ceramic and marble walls, which dates back to the Ottoman era.
Instead of repairing the damage caused by the settlers, the Israeli antiquities authority decided to Judaize the Mosque, which was built in the seventh century, and turn it into a synagogue.
Extremist Jewish settlers stormed the Mosque recently and embarked on smashing its ceramic and marble walls, which dates back to the Ottoman era.
Instead of repairing the damage caused by the settlers, the Israeli antiquities authority decided to Judaize the Mosque, which was built in the seventh century, and turn it into a synagogue.
31 july 2013
On the same day Secretary of State John Kerry spoke about renewed peace talks, an official said that Israel was likely to build more settlements.
Israel will likely build more settlements in the West Bank despite renewed peace talks, a State Department official said yesterday. The admission will add to the already ubiquitous skepticism about the renewed peace talks that kicked off earlier this week in Washington, D.C.
An unnamed White House official was joined by a State Department official for a background briefing for reporters yesterday to discuss details surrounding the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Here's the relevant passage (h/t Josh Ruebner):
QUESTION: Yes. My question is what happens when the Israelis decide to go on and expand settlements, as their behavior has indicated in the past over and over again? Are the Palestinians – have they given any commitment to stay in the talks, or should they walk out of the talks?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Well, first I would reiterate the United States position on the settlements remains unchanged. We’ve made that very, very clear the parties all the way along. As we’ve said, we hope they will take steps to create a positive atmosphere for negotiations. But I think it’s also safe to say that whereas last time we did an extensive amount of work to create a settlement moratorium or a settlement freeze, we haven’t gone down that path now. And so I think it would be fair to say that you are likely to see Israeli settlement continue – activity continue, and we’ve made our position very clear on that to the Israelis.
The official's frank admission that Israel will continue to gobble up the West Bank while negotiating was aired the day before it was reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had struck a deal for more settlement building.
Maariv reports today that "Netanyahu has promised to advance construction of thousands of housing units in the West Bank and East Jerusalem." The move was made to "temper Jewish Home’s resistance to the release of over a hundred long-time Palestinian prisoners." The Jewish Home party had threatened to walk out of the Israeli coalition ruling the government, according to the report.
A spokesman for the Housing Minister, Jewish Home's Uri Ariel, denied the report. But Haaretz reported last week that Netanyahu told Secretary of State John Kerry that 1,000 building tenders for settlement units will be issued for the major settlement blocs during talks. The State Department now seems to have resigned themselves to that reality.
Many critics of the peace process paradigm have predicted continued Israeli settlement expansion during the renewed talks. "If Israelis and Palestinians are negotiating towards a peace agreement, that takes a lot of pressure off of Israel, and allows them to continue colonization," said Ruebner, the national advocacy director at the U.S. Campaign to End the Occupation, in a radio interview I conducted over the weekend.
Past periods of high-level peace talks have seen the continued expansion of settlements. When the Oslo peace process was in its hey-day, in the 1990s, Israeli settlement expansion increased. The number of settlers doubled from 1993-2001--when peace talks collapsed.
And in fact, Netanyahu admitted in 2001 that the peace process was no impediment to continued settlement expansion. In an exchange that was caught on camera, Netanyahu told settlers that while prime minister in the 1990s, he said he interpreted "the accords in such a way that would allow me to put an end to this galloping forward to the ’67 borders. How did we do it? Nobody said what defined military zones were. Defined military zones are security zones; as far as I’m concerned, the entire Jordan Valley is a defined military zone."
What's old is new again in peace process land.
Israel will likely build more settlements in the West Bank despite renewed peace talks, a State Department official said yesterday. The admission will add to the already ubiquitous skepticism about the renewed peace talks that kicked off earlier this week in Washington, D.C.
An unnamed White House official was joined by a State Department official for a background briefing for reporters yesterday to discuss details surrounding the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Here's the relevant passage (h/t Josh Ruebner):
QUESTION: Yes. My question is what happens when the Israelis decide to go on and expand settlements, as their behavior has indicated in the past over and over again? Are the Palestinians – have they given any commitment to stay in the talks, or should they walk out of the talks?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: Well, first I would reiterate the United States position on the settlements remains unchanged. We’ve made that very, very clear the parties all the way along. As we’ve said, we hope they will take steps to create a positive atmosphere for negotiations. But I think it’s also safe to say that whereas last time we did an extensive amount of work to create a settlement moratorium or a settlement freeze, we haven’t gone down that path now. And so I think it would be fair to say that you are likely to see Israeli settlement continue – activity continue, and we’ve made our position very clear on that to the Israelis.
The official's frank admission that Israel will continue to gobble up the West Bank while negotiating was aired the day before it was reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had struck a deal for more settlement building.
Maariv reports today that "Netanyahu has promised to advance construction of thousands of housing units in the West Bank and East Jerusalem." The move was made to "temper Jewish Home’s resistance to the release of over a hundred long-time Palestinian prisoners." The Jewish Home party had threatened to walk out of the Israeli coalition ruling the government, according to the report.
A spokesman for the Housing Minister, Jewish Home's Uri Ariel, denied the report. But Haaretz reported last week that Netanyahu told Secretary of State John Kerry that 1,000 building tenders for settlement units will be issued for the major settlement blocs during talks. The State Department now seems to have resigned themselves to that reality.
Many critics of the peace process paradigm have predicted continued Israeli settlement expansion during the renewed talks. "If Israelis and Palestinians are negotiating towards a peace agreement, that takes a lot of pressure off of Israel, and allows them to continue colonization," said Ruebner, the national advocacy director at the U.S. Campaign to End the Occupation, in a radio interview I conducted over the weekend.
Past periods of high-level peace talks have seen the continued expansion of settlements. When the Oslo peace process was in its hey-day, in the 1990s, Israeli settlement expansion increased. The number of settlers doubled from 1993-2001--when peace talks collapsed.
And in fact, Netanyahu admitted in 2001 that the peace process was no impediment to continued settlement expansion. In an exchange that was caught on camera, Netanyahu told settlers that while prime minister in the 1990s, he said he interpreted "the accords in such a way that would allow me to put an end to this galloping forward to the ’67 borders. How did we do it? Nobody said what defined military zones were. Defined military zones are security zones; as far as I’m concerned, the entire Jordan Valley is a defined military zone."
What's old is new again in peace process land.
The Aqsa foundation for endowment and heritage said that the Israeli government intends to build a settlement outpost and a synagogue to the northeast of the Aqsa Mosque. The Aqsa foundation stated on Tuesday that the Israeli plan includes the building of a Jewish neighborhood of 21 housing units and a synagogue within the walls of the old city of Jerusalem, specifically near Al-Sahera Gate in Burj Al-Laqlaq area.
It warned that Uri Ariel, the Israeli housing minister, is seeking to speed up this plan, which will contribute to the Judaization of Jerusalem, especially the vicinity of the Aqsa Mosque.
It warned that Uri Ariel, the Israeli housing minister, is seeking to speed up this plan, which will contribute to the Judaization of Jerusalem, especially the vicinity of the Aqsa Mosque.
30 july 2013
Settlements
Israeli TV, Channel 10, has reported that, despite an Israeli decision to release 104 Palestinian detainees and resume direct negotiations with the Palestinians, the Israeli Housing Ministry approved a new settlement “neighborhood” in the heart of occupied East Jerusalem.
Direct peace talks, mediated by the United States, are supposed to start on Monday evening.
Channel 10 said that Israeli Housing Minister, Uri Ariel, approved the plan, and added that various Israeli political analysts believe this decision is a sharp blow to efforts to resume and maintain direct talks.
The plan was first presented by the Israeli “Construction and Planning Committee” in 2004, but the application was voided because the planned constructions have high walls that violate the construction code of the Jerusalem City Council.
Nevertheless, the plan was resubmitted and was approved by the City Council, and the constructions are planned to be built on five Dunams of lands in the occupied city.
Although the P.A expressed rejection to the plan, it seems to be determined to hold the first session of direct talks with Israel on Monday.
Direct talks have been obstructed since September of 2009 when a temporary settlement freeze expired and Israel started massive constructions.
Israel’s illegal settlement activities violate International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention to which it is a signatory. Settlements were one of the main reasons that obstructed direct talks.
Settlements are spread across the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem; they along with the Annexation Wall are turning the Palestinians communities into isolated cantons.
The occupied West Bank is 5655 square/kilometers long, and 40-65 kilometers in width, while the Gaza Strip is 365 square/kilometers, 45 kilometers longs and 5-12 kilometers in width. The total size of the Palestinian territory is 6020 square/kilometers.
Israel was established in 1948 on about %78 of historic Palestine, then after the war of 1967, Israel imposed its military occupation on the rest of Palestine and started building and expanding Jewish settlements considering them part of the state.
Areas that the P.A “control” are around 210 square/kilometers, divided and largely surrounded in the West Bank by settlements and the Wall.
Israeli TV, Channel 10, has reported that, despite an Israeli decision to release 104 Palestinian detainees and resume direct negotiations with the Palestinians, the Israeli Housing Ministry approved a new settlement “neighborhood” in the heart of occupied East Jerusalem.
Direct peace talks, mediated by the United States, are supposed to start on Monday evening.
Channel 10 said that Israeli Housing Minister, Uri Ariel, approved the plan, and added that various Israeli political analysts believe this decision is a sharp blow to efforts to resume and maintain direct talks.
The plan was first presented by the Israeli “Construction and Planning Committee” in 2004, but the application was voided because the planned constructions have high walls that violate the construction code of the Jerusalem City Council.
Nevertheless, the plan was resubmitted and was approved by the City Council, and the constructions are planned to be built on five Dunams of lands in the occupied city.
Although the P.A expressed rejection to the plan, it seems to be determined to hold the first session of direct talks with Israel on Monday.
Direct talks have been obstructed since September of 2009 when a temporary settlement freeze expired and Israel started massive constructions.
Israel’s illegal settlement activities violate International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention to which it is a signatory. Settlements were one of the main reasons that obstructed direct talks.
Settlements are spread across the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem; they along with the Annexation Wall are turning the Palestinians communities into isolated cantons.
The occupied West Bank is 5655 square/kilometers long, and 40-65 kilometers in width, while the Gaza Strip is 365 square/kilometers, 45 kilometers longs and 5-12 kilometers in width. The total size of the Palestinian territory is 6020 square/kilometers.
Israel was established in 1948 on about %78 of historic Palestine, then after the war of 1967, Israel imposed its military occupation on the rest of Palestine and started building and expanding Jewish settlements considering them part of the state.
Areas that the P.A “control” are around 210 square/kilometers, divided and largely surrounded in the West Bank by settlements and the Wall.
27 july 2013
Minister Ariel: PM should prove there will be no construction freeze
In light of tje cabinet vote on Sunday, Housing and Construction Minister Uri Ariel (Habayit Hayehudi) said: "I call on the prime minister to unequivocally prove that there isn't and there won't be a (construction) freeze, and allow massive marketing of thousands of housing units in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria." "The addition of releasing Arab-Israeli prisoners is a serious harm to the institutions of law and justice in Israel, as well as a moral and human distortion," Ariel added
In light of tje cabinet vote on Sunday, Housing and Construction Minister Uri Ariel (Habayit Hayehudi) said: "I call on the prime minister to unequivocally prove that there isn't and there won't be a (construction) freeze, and allow massive marketing of thousands of housing units in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria." "The addition of releasing Arab-Israeli prisoners is a serious harm to the institutions of law and justice in Israel, as well as a moral and human distortion," Ariel added
Jewish settlers on Friday expanded a settlement outpost built on Palestinian lands in the town of Khedr near Bethlehem to the south of the occupied West Bank. Ahmed Salah, coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlement in Khedr village, told Quds Press correspondent that a group of settlers began on Friday morning to build two new settlement units in Sidi Boaz outpost built on Palestinian lands in Kheder village.
He said the settlers constructed two new buildings on the outskirts of the town in violation of the decision of the Israeli Supreme Court to stop construction work in the area.
He said the settlers constructed two new buildings on the outskirts of the town in violation of the decision of the Israeli Supreme Court to stop construction work in the area.
Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative (PNI), said that Israel’s railway plan is its ultimate attempt to annex the West Bank. The Israeli Civil Administration's approval to go ahead with the railway plan in the West Bank targets foiling any Palestinian attempt to establish a Palestinian state on West Bank territories, Barghouthi said.
He stressed that the Civil Administration's decision came in total disregard to the PA and the peace process and negotiations.
The railway plan is part of the Israeli racist policy in addition to the Apartheid wall, checkpoints, bypass roads, and the unfair military laws, he added.
MP Barghouthi stressed the need to address this Israeli racist plan through heading to the International Criminal Court, and not to negotiations.
The Israel Civil Administration revealed on Wednesday the grandiose railway plan that links all West Bank cities with one another and the Israeli settlements. The plan includes 473 kilometers of rail with 30 stations on 11 lines and dozens of bridges and tunnels.
He stressed that the Civil Administration's decision came in total disregard to the PA and the peace process and negotiations.
The railway plan is part of the Israeli racist policy in addition to the Apartheid wall, checkpoints, bypass roads, and the unfair military laws, he added.
MP Barghouthi stressed the need to address this Israeli racist plan through heading to the International Criminal Court, and not to negotiations.
The Israel Civil Administration revealed on Wednesday the grandiose railway plan that links all West Bank cities with one another and the Israeli settlements. The plan includes 473 kilometers of rail with 30 stations on 11 lines and dozens of bridges and tunnels.
Israeli occupation authorities issued on Thursday evening building permits for 40 new settlement units to expand the settlement of Pisgat Zeev, north of occupied Jerusalem. Researcher in settlement Affairs Ahmed Sub Laban said in a press statement on Friday that these units are part of the settlement project which was approved in 2007, pointing out that it will expand Pisgat Zeev settlement towards the town of Enata, which is separated from the settlement by the Israeli segregation wall.
Sub Laban said these successive steps in approving settlement projects and building more units clearly prove the occupation authorities' neglect to calls for freezing the settlement construction in Jerusalem.
"These steps raise questions about the fate of the city of Jerusalem and Jerusalemites in light of talk about a return to the negotiating table, especially as the occupation administration continues to ignore Palestinian demands," the researcher added.
Sub Laban said these successive steps in approving settlement projects and building more units clearly prove the occupation authorities' neglect to calls for freezing the settlement construction in Jerusalem.
"These steps raise questions about the fate of the city of Jerusalem and Jerusalemites in light of talk about a return to the negotiating table, especially as the occupation administration continues to ignore Palestinian demands," the researcher added.
26 july 2013
Ahmad Salah, Coordinator of the Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements in the Al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem, has reported that a number of settlers started the construction of two units near Boaz illegal settlement.
Salah added that the settlers placed the corner stones for the new constructions on lands that belong to resident Khader Issa, in Khirbit Abu Ghlaion area.
He said that the two units are being built in direct violation of a ruling by an Israeli court preventing the settlers from building in the area.
Salah further stated that the area in question has been subject to frequent Israeli attacks, as the settlers illegally confiscated local Palestinian lands and repeatedly prevented the residents from entering their lands.
Salah added that the settlers placed the corner stones for the new constructions on lands that belong to resident Khader Issa, in Khirbit Abu Ghlaion area.
He said that the two units are being built in direct violation of a ruling by an Israeli court preventing the settlers from building in the area.
Salah further stated that the area in question has been subject to frequent Israeli attacks, as the settlers illegally confiscated local Palestinian lands and repeatedly prevented the residents from entering their lands.