15 feb 2017
The European Parliament condemned late Tuesday the controversial "Regulation Law" which was recently adopted by the Israeli Knesset with the aim of legalizing settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Members of the European Parliament declared their total rejection of the recent adoption of the "Regulation Law" by the Israeli Knesset, calling for imposing sanctions on Israel.
The MEP Ian Borg said that the law provides for "legalizing" numerous settlements and outposts previously considered as illegal under international law.
For her part, MEP Margrete Auken stressed the need to stop the EU support to Israel.
The EU-funded projects all failed due to the Israeli obstacles, she added, calling on the EU to recognize Palestine as a state.
Earlier last week, the Israeli Knesset adopted the “Regulation law” which will legalize the seizure of Palestinian property rights and effectively authorizes the confiscation of privately owned Palestinian land in the occupied territory.
Members of the European Parliament declared their total rejection of the recent adoption of the "Regulation Law" by the Israeli Knesset, calling for imposing sanctions on Israel.
The MEP Ian Borg said that the law provides for "legalizing" numerous settlements and outposts previously considered as illegal under international law.
For her part, MEP Margrete Auken stressed the need to stop the EU support to Israel.
The EU-funded projects all failed due to the Israeli obstacles, she added, calling on the EU to recognize Palestine as a state.
Earlier last week, the Israeli Knesset adopted the “Regulation law” which will legalize the seizure of Palestinian property rights and effectively authorizes the confiscation of privately owned Palestinian land in the occupied territory.
The Israeli authorities declared intention to use the recently adopted “Regulation law” to legalize seven facilities built in Adi Ad illegal outpost, including roads constructed on private Palestinian lands in the West Bank, Haaretz Hebrew newspaper revealed.
According to the paper, the Israeli government reportedly informed Israel’s Supreme Court that they are considering using the controversial law to confiscate Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank.
The move came after Palestinians had petitioned the Supreme Court to demand the evacuation of Adi Ad.
The Israeli prosecutor has responded by saying that six structures in the outpost’s area were built on land that was not Israeli-declared state lands, including a “number of roads” and “paths within the outposts.”
The prosecutor wrote that "given the legislation of the Regulation Bill for Judea and Samaria [the Israeli term for the West Bank], the state needs to examine this law's ramifications regarding the structures in question."
According to the paper, the Israeli government reportedly informed Israel’s Supreme Court that they are considering using the controversial law to confiscate Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank.
The move came after Palestinians had petitioned the Supreme Court to demand the evacuation of Adi Ad.
The Israeli prosecutor has responded by saying that six structures in the outpost’s area were built on land that was not Israeli-declared state lands, including a “number of roads” and “paths within the outposts.”
The prosecutor wrote that "given the legislation of the Regulation Bill for Judea and Samaria [the Israeli term for the West Bank], the state needs to examine this law's ramifications regarding the structures in question."
The Palestinian Authority (PA) on Tuesday called on the United Nations and other international institutions to impose sanctions on Israeli banks for providing financial facilities to illegal settlement construction.
A statement by the PA Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) referred to a case of an Israeli bank providing funds to a pro-settlement organization to aid in the building of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The MFA condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli government's participation in the process of granting 'Amana' settlements company financial loans from an Israeli bank, in return for mortgaging occupied Palestinian land in the West Bank, and through explicit guidance from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Construction and Housing, as stated in the Israeli media.
The MFA went on to say that the report revealed the involvement of at least one Israeli bank, in granting financial facilitation to support settlements' construction and colonial occupational associations and companies.
"The ministry follows closely this serious issue with local, regional and, international specialized forums, demanding the United Nations and its institutions, in addition to international financial institutions to follow up this blatant violation of international law, and impose the necessary sanctions on the Israeli banking system, the Israeli banks involved in it, and all providers of financial facilities to settlers and settlements' construction," the statement concluded.
According to i24NEWS site, members of Amana have been arrested in the past for involvement in plots to buy land in the West Bank using forged documents and without the consent of the landowners.
The Haaretz daily reported earlier this week that in 2002, the leader of the organization Amana, signed two loans with Mizrahi-Tefahot Bank worth a total of NIS five million, or the equivalent of $1.05 million at the time.
According to the report, the funds were supplied by the Israeli government, and used to aid construction of the illegal Amona and Migron outposts.
Amana never had ownership rights of the Palestinian land it was mortgaging, said Haaretz.
The Israeli government last week passed the "Regularization Bill", which will retroactively legalize thousands of settler homes built illegally on privately-owned Palestinian lands, sparking fierce condemnations from the international community.
A statement by the PA Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) referred to a case of an Israeli bank providing funds to a pro-settlement organization to aid in the building of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The MFA condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli government's participation in the process of granting 'Amana' settlements company financial loans from an Israeli bank, in return for mortgaging occupied Palestinian land in the West Bank, and through explicit guidance from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Construction and Housing, as stated in the Israeli media.
The MFA went on to say that the report revealed the involvement of at least one Israeli bank, in granting financial facilitation to support settlements' construction and colonial occupational associations and companies.
"The ministry follows closely this serious issue with local, regional and, international specialized forums, demanding the United Nations and its institutions, in addition to international financial institutions to follow up this blatant violation of international law, and impose the necessary sanctions on the Israeli banking system, the Israeli banks involved in it, and all providers of financial facilities to settlers and settlements' construction," the statement concluded.
According to i24NEWS site, members of Amana have been arrested in the past for involvement in plots to buy land in the West Bank using forged documents and without the consent of the landowners.
The Haaretz daily reported earlier this week that in 2002, the leader of the organization Amana, signed two loans with Mizrahi-Tefahot Bank worth a total of NIS five million, or the equivalent of $1.05 million at the time.
According to the report, the funds were supplied by the Israeli government, and used to aid construction of the illegal Amona and Migron outposts.
Amana never had ownership rights of the Palestinian land it was mortgaging, said Haaretz.
The Israeli government last week passed the "Regularization Bill", which will retroactively legalize thousands of settler homes built illegally on privately-owned Palestinian lands, sparking fierce condemnations from the international community.
14 feb 2017
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has cancelled a joint summit with Netanyahu’s government scheduled for May following Israel’s recent approval of a bid to expand illegal settlement.
Sources within Berlin and Jerusalem said Israel’s recent vote to expand its illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank is the real cause for the cancellation.
German national security adviser Kristof Heusgen informed the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the postponed meeting just days after the Knesset passed the "Regularization Law", according to Haaretz, even though the German elections won’t be held until four and a half months after the summit in September.
One Israeli spokesman told Deutsche Welle that the summit was canceled due to a "variety of international appointments within the context of the German presidency of the G20."
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin also denounced the decision, saying that Israel could be "seen as an apartheid state" as a result of the vote.
The controversial bill was passed in early February and retroactively legalizes the homes of nearly 4,000 Israeli settlers built on Palestinian land.
Soon after the vote, national and international parties slammed the decision as a way to legalize theft, pointing out that Israeli settlements negate peace and the possibility of the two-state solution.
Anat Ben Nun, spokesman for the anti-settlement Peace Now organization, told Al Jazeera that "This law will make theft an official Israeli policy by retroactively legalizing illegal construction on private lands."
A German Foreign Ministry spokesman also condemned the decision saying, "Many in Germany . . . find themselves deeply disappointed by this move," and "our trust in the Israeli government's commitment to the two-state solution has been fundamentally shaken." according to Haaretz.
Sources within Berlin and Jerusalem said Israel’s recent vote to expand its illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank is the real cause for the cancellation.
German national security adviser Kristof Heusgen informed the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the postponed meeting just days after the Knesset passed the "Regularization Law", according to Haaretz, even though the German elections won’t be held until four and a half months after the summit in September.
One Israeli spokesman told Deutsche Welle that the summit was canceled due to a "variety of international appointments within the context of the German presidency of the G20."
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin also denounced the decision, saying that Israel could be "seen as an apartheid state" as a result of the vote.
The controversial bill was passed in early February and retroactively legalizes the homes of nearly 4,000 Israeli settlers built on Palestinian land.
Soon after the vote, national and international parties slammed the decision as a way to legalize theft, pointing out that Israeli settlements negate peace and the possibility of the two-state solution.
Anat Ben Nun, spokesman for the anti-settlement Peace Now organization, told Al Jazeera that "This law will make theft an official Israeli policy by retroactively legalizing illegal construction on private lands."
A German Foreign Ministry spokesman also condemned the decision saying, "Many in Germany . . . find themselves deeply disappointed by this move," and "our trust in the Israeli government's commitment to the two-state solution has been fundamentally shaken." according to Haaretz.
13 feb 2017
Members of Likud Party issued a petition calling on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to intensify settlement construction in occupied West Bank.
The petition was signed by 250 people calling on Netanyahu to step up settlement expansion in West Bank and Jordan Valley prior his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The petition signers also declared their total rejection to the establishment of a Palestinian state.
The petition was signed by 250 people calling on Netanyahu to step up settlement expansion in West Bank and Jordan Valley prior his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The petition signers also declared their total rejection to the establishment of a Palestinian state.
10 feb 2017
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) has approved a plan to establish a new Israeli settlement on annexed Palestinian land in Jalud village, southeast of Nablus in the West Bank.
Chief of the village Abdullah al-Haj said that the new settlement would be established near the illegal settlement of Shvut Rachel, which was built on an agricultural area that belongs to local residents.
Al-Haj stated that the so-called sub-committee for settlement affairs, which is a division at the planning council of the Israeli army’s civil administration, sanctioned the construction of this new settlement.
He explained that the plan also includes the establishment of a sewage plant on lands belonging to Jalud village and farmers from the nearby village of Turmus’ayya.
He noted that the IOA had already declared the seized area, where the plan would be carried out, “state land” at the pretext that its owners neglected it during the past years.
According to this plan, about 600 dunums of land from Jalud village and 150 dunums of land from Turmus’ayya village will be appropriated.
Chief of the village Abdullah al-Haj said that the new settlement would be established near the illegal settlement of Shvut Rachel, which was built on an agricultural area that belongs to local residents.
Al-Haj stated that the so-called sub-committee for settlement affairs, which is a division at the planning council of the Israeli army’s civil administration, sanctioned the construction of this new settlement.
He explained that the plan also includes the establishment of a sewage plant on lands belonging to Jalud village and farmers from the nearby village of Turmus’ayya.
He noted that the IOA had already declared the seized area, where the plan would be carried out, “state land” at the pretext that its owners neglected it during the past years.
According to this plan, about 600 dunums of land from Jalud village and 150 dunums of land from Turmus’ayya village will be appropriated.
9 feb 2017
The Israeli committee, in charge of settlements’ affairs at the Higher Planning Council of the military-run “Civil Administration Office” in the occupied West Bank, has approved the construction of 1162 new units for illegal colonists.
Among the approved buildings is what was dubbed as “a new neighborhood,” near Shvut Rachel illegal colony, built on private Palestinian lands, in the northern part of the West Bank.
Some of the constructions are meant to house colonists who lived in the recently evacuated “Amona” outpost, while the settlers are still rejecting the plan and are demanding to rebuild their illegal outpost.
Yet, the Israeli government decided to go ahead with its plan to build the “neighborhood,” to house them, and many new colonists.
Also read: “New Settlement to be Erected for Evacuated Amona Settlers”
Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, of the Likud Party, announced that he was working on appointing a team tasked with creating a new colony in the occupied West Bank, to fulfill what he called “a promise” to the illegal colonists of Amona.
Netanyahu stated that the soldiers and officers who are removing Amona outpost, were acting under direct orders following a High Court decision deeming it illegal, because it was built on private Palestinian lands.
Encouraged by U.S. President Donald Trump, who vowed for support to Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and his government, announced plans for building thousands of new colonialist units in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Among the new plans are 3000 units in the West Bank, that were announced a week ago, and the 25000 units that were approved two weeks ago.
|EU Summit With Israel Delayed Over Settlements Bill|
Among the approved buildings is what was dubbed as “a new neighborhood,” near Shvut Rachel illegal colony, built on private Palestinian lands, in the northern part of the West Bank.
Some of the constructions are meant to house colonists who lived in the recently evacuated “Amona” outpost, while the settlers are still rejecting the plan and are demanding to rebuild their illegal outpost.
Yet, the Israeli government decided to go ahead with its plan to build the “neighborhood,” to house them, and many new colonists.
Also read: “New Settlement to be Erected for Evacuated Amona Settlers”
Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, of the Likud Party, announced that he was working on appointing a team tasked with creating a new colony in the occupied West Bank, to fulfill what he called “a promise” to the illegal colonists of Amona.
Netanyahu stated that the soldiers and officers who are removing Amona outpost, were acting under direct orders following a High Court decision deeming it illegal, because it was built on private Palestinian lands.
Encouraged by U.S. President Donald Trump, who vowed for support to Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and his government, announced plans for building thousands of new colonialist units in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Among the new plans are 3000 units in the West Bank, that were announced a week ago, and the 25000 units that were approved two weeks ago.
|EU Summit With Israel Delayed Over Settlements Bill|
8 feb 2017
The Israeli municipality approved on Wednesday the construction of 181 new settlement units in occupied Jerusalem.
Israel Radio said that the local Planning and Building Committee of the municipality ratified a plan to build 181 settlement units in Gilo settlement, south of Jerusalem, and Ramat Shlomo, north of the city.
The same committee had approved in the past two weeks the construction of more than 700 settlement units east of occupied Jerusalem. The Israeli government also adopted a scheme to build 5,500 settlement units in the West Bank.
The decision came two days after the Knesset passed a new bill that legalized thousands of settlement units and 53 settlement outposts and endorsed the confiscation of 8,000 dunums of privately-owned Palestinian lands in the West Bank.
The bill was met with Arab and international condemnation which described it as "racist, unethical and illegal", and affirmed that "it undermines the chances of the two-state solution."
Tzipi Hotovely, the Israeli Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, defended the bill and rejected the international criticism.
The Israeli Knesset issued a final approval on Monday evening for the new bill which is aimed at legalizing the unauthorized outposts built on private Palestinian lands in the West Bank.
The bill prevents Israeli courts from taking any decision providing for dismantling these outposts, and adopts the principle of compensation either by money or lands.
Israel Radio said that the local Planning and Building Committee of the municipality ratified a plan to build 181 settlement units in Gilo settlement, south of Jerusalem, and Ramat Shlomo, north of the city.
The same committee had approved in the past two weeks the construction of more than 700 settlement units east of occupied Jerusalem. The Israeli government also adopted a scheme to build 5,500 settlement units in the West Bank.
The decision came two days after the Knesset passed a new bill that legalized thousands of settlement units and 53 settlement outposts and endorsed the confiscation of 8,000 dunums of privately-owned Palestinian lands in the West Bank.
The bill was met with Arab and international condemnation which described it as "racist, unethical and illegal", and affirmed that "it undermines the chances of the two-state solution."
Tzipi Hotovely, the Israeli Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, defended the bill and rejected the international criticism.
The Israeli Knesset issued a final approval on Monday evening for the new bill which is aimed at legalizing the unauthorized outposts built on private Palestinian lands in the West Bank.
The bill prevents Israeli courts from taking any decision providing for dismantling these outposts, and adopts the principle of compensation either by money or lands.