11 feb 2018
The Israeli government coalition on Sunday intends to explore the possibility of backing new legislation at the Knesset calling for annexing illegal settlements in the West Bank to Israel’s sovereignty.
The legislation, which was drafted by Knesset members Yoav Kisch (Likud) and Bezalel Smotrich (Jewish Home), seeks to impose Israeli sovereignty over Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, which are currently under military rule.
According to Haaretz newspaper, the draft law has received approval from across the government coalition’s political spectrum and will be discussed during a meeting between heads of the coalition blocs to be held on Sunday
The meeting is intended to explore whether to push forward the settlement annexation bill at the Knesset or shelve it for the time being to avoid angry international reactions, which could not be in Israel’s favor.
The legislation, which was drafted by Knesset members Yoav Kisch (Likud) and Bezalel Smotrich (Jewish Home), seeks to impose Israeli sovereignty over Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, which are currently under military rule.
According to Haaretz newspaper, the draft law has received approval from across the government coalition’s political spectrum and will be discussed during a meeting between heads of the coalition blocs to be held on Sunday
The meeting is intended to explore whether to push forward the settlement annexation bill at the Knesset or shelve it for the time being to avoid angry international reactions, which could not be in Israel’s favor.
10 feb 2018
Eyewitnesses reported that Israeli bulldozers on Saturday morning razed Palestinian lands north of Bruqin town in Salfit province in favor of the expansion of Bruchin settlement.
They added that the industrial area of Ariel settlement is also being expanded in the western area of Bruqin at the expense of Palestinian farmlands.
Anti-settlement researcher Khalid Ma'ali said that the Israeli bulldozing operations are in full swing in different villages and towns of Salfit including the four industrial areas located to the north and west of the province.
Ma'ali stressed that Israel's settlement expansion activity on occupied Palestinian territories is illegal under international humanitarian law.
They added that the industrial area of Ariel settlement is also being expanded in the western area of Bruqin at the expense of Palestinian farmlands.
Anti-settlement researcher Khalid Ma'ali said that the Israeli bulldozing operations are in full swing in different villages and towns of Salfit including the four industrial areas located to the north and west of the province.
Ma'ali stressed that Israel's settlement expansion activity on occupied Palestinian territories is illegal under international humanitarian law.
9 feb 2018
The Israeli government convened on Sunday, 4 February, 2018, to approve a new Jewish settlement in the West Bank.
The government said, according to Adalah Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, that it had decided to “regularize” the illegal Gilad settlement outpost, to connect it to the electrical and water grids, and to pave an access road for “security and humanitarian reasons”.
The government and the Ministerial Committee for Legislation also debated, on Sunday, a bill that would allow the transfer of Palestinian land in the West Bank – what the government considers to be “state” land in contradiction of the international consensus and international law – to the World Zionist Organization’s (WZO) Settlement Division for the purposes of settlement construction.
Suhad Bishara, Director of the Land and Planning Rights Unit at Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, sent an urgent letter to members of the Israeli government and the Committee for Legislation, and to Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, prior to Sunday’s meeting demanding that they reject the two proposals on the grounds that they violate international humanitarian law and international human rights law applicable in the occupied West Bank.
Regarding the establishment of a new Israeli settlement at the Gilad outpost, Attorney Bishara wrote:
“This proposal has a clear political purpose… and it would transform the Israeli military commander in the West Bank into the operational arm of the Israeli executive branch. The proposed decision would violate Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which forbids the transfer of a civilian population of the occupying power into occupied territory… The transfer of an occupying power’s civilian population into occupied territory is listed as a war crime in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.”
The bill that would grant the WZO’s Settlement Division management over West Bank lands is the latest attempt by Israel to apply Israeli civil law to occupied territories. It has many parallels to Israel’s controversial Settlement Regularization Law, which has drawn strong international criticism and is currently being challenged before the Israeli Supreme Court for its gross violation of international law.
“The [WZO’s] Settlement Division has no standing in international law and is not authorized to operate in occupied [West Bank] territory. It would not manage the land for the benefit of the Palestinian population, but rather in accordance with Israel Land Administration policy and directives from the Israeli government. In other words, [West Bank] land management would be in the hands of [Jewish] Israeli citizens for the benefit of Jewish Israeli citizens, in line with Zionist settlement policies,” argued Adalah.
The government said, according to Adalah Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, that it had decided to “regularize” the illegal Gilad settlement outpost, to connect it to the electrical and water grids, and to pave an access road for “security and humanitarian reasons”.
The government and the Ministerial Committee for Legislation also debated, on Sunday, a bill that would allow the transfer of Palestinian land in the West Bank – what the government considers to be “state” land in contradiction of the international consensus and international law – to the World Zionist Organization’s (WZO) Settlement Division for the purposes of settlement construction.
Suhad Bishara, Director of the Land and Planning Rights Unit at Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, sent an urgent letter to members of the Israeli government and the Committee for Legislation, and to Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, prior to Sunday’s meeting demanding that they reject the two proposals on the grounds that they violate international humanitarian law and international human rights law applicable in the occupied West Bank.
Regarding the establishment of a new Israeli settlement at the Gilad outpost, Attorney Bishara wrote:
“This proposal has a clear political purpose… and it would transform the Israeli military commander in the West Bank into the operational arm of the Israeli executive branch. The proposed decision would violate Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which forbids the transfer of a civilian population of the occupying power into occupied territory… The transfer of an occupying power’s civilian population into occupied territory is listed as a war crime in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.”
The bill that would grant the WZO’s Settlement Division management over West Bank lands is the latest attempt by Israel to apply Israeli civil law to occupied territories. It has many parallels to Israel’s controversial Settlement Regularization Law, which has drawn strong international criticism and is currently being challenged before the Israeli Supreme Court for its gross violation of international law.
“The [WZO’s] Settlement Division has no standing in international law and is not authorized to operate in occupied [West Bank] territory. It would not manage the land for the benefit of the Palestinian population, but rather in accordance with Israel Land Administration policy and directives from the Israeli government. In other words, [West Bank] land management would be in the hands of [Jewish] Israeli citizens for the benefit of Jewish Israeli citizens, in line with Zionist settlement policies,” argued Adalah.
8 feb 2018
Hebrew daily Haaretz, on Thursday, unveiled a new Israeli plan to build a park on the Mount of Olives overlooking Old Jerusalem, which will link two settlement outposts to the Jewish side of Jerusalem.
PNN reports that the park will be located on the western slopes of the Mount of Olives, and will link the settlement neighborhoods of “Beit Orot” and “Beit Hohchen.”
The report added that the establishment of this park requires taking private Palestinian land, where the municipality of the occupation in Jerusalem and the so-called “Authority for the development of Jerusalem,” are working on a plan for its establishment in order to present the plan to the District Planning Committee.
In the same context, the committee approved another plan for the west Jerusalem Israeli municipality and the Authority for the development of Jerusalem, to establish a visitor center in the Jewish cemetery in the Mount of Olives.The planned center is located near the settlement of Ma’ale Zitim,
The newspaper pointed out that development work has started on a site which is proclaimed by “Elad” organization. On the other side of the old town, Jabal Mukaber, the Jerusalem Development Authority is planning a restaurant and is building a bridge.
PNN reports that the park will be located on the western slopes of the Mount of Olives, and will link the settlement neighborhoods of “Beit Orot” and “Beit Hohchen.”
The report added that the establishment of this park requires taking private Palestinian land, where the municipality of the occupation in Jerusalem and the so-called “Authority for the development of Jerusalem,” are working on a plan for its establishment in order to present the plan to the District Planning Committee.
In the same context, the committee approved another plan for the west Jerusalem Israeli municipality and the Authority for the development of Jerusalem, to establish a visitor center in the Jewish cemetery in the Mount of Olives.The planned center is located near the settlement of Ma’ale Zitim,
The newspaper pointed out that development work has started on a site which is proclaimed by “Elad” organization. On the other side of the old town, Jabal Mukaber, the Jerusalem Development Authority is planning a restaurant and is building a bridge.
A bid has been forwarded by Israel’s so-called Jerusalem development authority to build a promenade in al-Zaytoun Mont (Mount of Olives) in Occupied Jerusalem.
According to a Thursday report by Haaretz daily, the Jerusalem development authority advanced a plan to build a promenade in al-Zaytoun Mount connecting two settlement compounds in the Palestinian A-Tur neighborhood.
The local planning and construction committee also okayed the construction of a visitors’ center in the Jewish cemetery in al-Zaytoun Mount.
At the same time, Elad settlement organization is planning the construction of a restaurant at a site in the Old City, in Jabal al-Mukabbir.
According to Ir Amim organization, the plan makes part of Israeli attempts to Judaize the eastern zones of the Old City, attempts which have, themselves, been propped up by the hindrances set by the Israeli occupation authorities before Palestinians’ demands to obtain construction licenses, as opposed to the unrestrained services offered to settlement projects.
According to a Thursday report by Haaretz daily, the Jerusalem development authority advanced a plan to build a promenade in al-Zaytoun Mount connecting two settlement compounds in the Palestinian A-Tur neighborhood.
The local planning and construction committee also okayed the construction of a visitors’ center in the Jewish cemetery in al-Zaytoun Mount.
At the same time, Elad settlement organization is planning the construction of a restaurant at a site in the Old City, in Jabal al-Mukabbir.
According to Ir Amim organization, the plan makes part of Israeli attempts to Judaize the eastern zones of the Old City, attempts which have, themselves, been propped up by the hindrances set by the Israeli occupation authorities before Palestinians’ demands to obtain construction licenses, as opposed to the unrestrained services offered to settlement projects.
6 feb 2018
Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu along with Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and Housing and Construction Minister Yoav Galant on Tuesday signed an agreement to build more than 13,000 new housing units in the western neighborhoods of Netivot settlement to the south of 1948 Occupied Palestine.
After signing the agreement, Netanyahu hailed the assassination of al-Qassam Brigades fighter Ahmad Jarrar who was killed by Israeli occupation forces earlier on Tuesday.
After signing the agreement, Netanyahu hailed the assassination of al-Qassam Brigades fighter Ahmad Jarrar who was killed by Israeli occupation forces earlier on Tuesday.
4 feb 2018
The Israeli Peace Now movement on Saturday warned of the repercussions of the Israeli government's legalization of Havat Gilad settlement outpost located south of Nablus city in the West Bank.
The Movement said in a report on Saturday that since the incident on 9th January 2018 when the Israeli settler Raziel Shevach was killed by Palestinian gunmen, the Israeli war minister Avigdor Lieberman has pushed for the authorization of the illegal outpost of Havat Gilad to which Shevach belonged.
Rather than conducting a serious examination on how to rectify the security and political burden that settlements and outposts place on Israelis, the report added, Lieberman prefers to exploit this situation to appease the right-wing base and support their one-state agenda.
Peace Now stressed that it would be a grave mistake to officially recognize Havat Gilad outpost for several reasons.
First, it would further undermine the possibility of reaching a two-state solution. Havat Gilad is located deep inside the West Bank about 20 km away from the Green Line and is wedged in between some Palestinian villages near Nablus. Israel would have to evacuate the outpost in any future two-state solution.
Second, according to Peace Now, Legalizing the outpost will lead to the establishment of a new settlement.
Third, it would reward criminals. Havat Gilad was founded by dozens of families who decided to establish "facts on the ground" by building houses themselves in violation of Israeli law (not to mention international humanitarian law) without a plan or permit on lands they did not own.
Fourth, it is a heinous exploitation of the murder of Shevach, the Israeli Movement added. The Israeli government has repeatedly exploited such incidents to entrench occupation and apartheid in the West Bank even though it is clear to all that a future Palestinian state is to be established there.
The Movement said in a report on Saturday that since the incident on 9th January 2018 when the Israeli settler Raziel Shevach was killed by Palestinian gunmen, the Israeli war minister Avigdor Lieberman has pushed for the authorization of the illegal outpost of Havat Gilad to which Shevach belonged.
Rather than conducting a serious examination on how to rectify the security and political burden that settlements and outposts place on Israelis, the report added, Lieberman prefers to exploit this situation to appease the right-wing base and support their one-state agenda.
Peace Now stressed that it would be a grave mistake to officially recognize Havat Gilad outpost for several reasons.
First, it would further undermine the possibility of reaching a two-state solution. Havat Gilad is located deep inside the West Bank about 20 km away from the Green Line and is wedged in between some Palestinian villages near Nablus. Israel would have to evacuate the outpost in any future two-state solution.
Second, according to Peace Now, Legalizing the outpost will lead to the establishment of a new settlement.
Third, it would reward criminals. Havat Gilad was founded by dozens of families who decided to establish "facts on the ground" by building houses themselves in violation of Israeli law (not to mention international humanitarian law) without a plan or permit on lands they did not own.
Fourth, it is a heinous exploitation of the murder of Shevach, the Israeli Movement added. The Israeli government has repeatedly exploited such incidents to entrench occupation and apartheid in the West Bank even though it is clear to all that a future Palestinian state is to be established there.
The Israeli government is expected in its weekly meeting on Sunday to approve a plan to legalize Havat Gilad outpost after it had postponed the vote last week.
Havat Gilad outpost was established in 2002 on Palestinian lands belonging to Nablus city.
Israel regularly pushes for the establishment of new settlements or the legalization of existing ones in the West Bank under various pretexts. Such moves are usually taken following Palestinian anti-occupation attacks in order to win the international community's sympathy.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had vowed to put the project, which was prepared by the war minister Avigdor Lieberman, forward for a vote during this week's session.
Netanyahu had also instructed the Israeli Ministry of Public Security to provide Havat Gilad with an electricity network and improve its infrastructure.
Havat Gilad outpost, which is built on privately-owned Palestinian lands, is considered illegal under Israeli law. That's why the government had refrained from voting on the legalization plan last week.
Havat Gilad outpost was established in 2002 on Palestinian lands belonging to Nablus city.
Israel regularly pushes for the establishment of new settlements or the legalization of existing ones in the West Bank under various pretexts. Such moves are usually taken following Palestinian anti-occupation attacks in order to win the international community's sympathy.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had vowed to put the project, which was prepared by the war minister Avigdor Lieberman, forward for a vote during this week's session.
Netanyahu had also instructed the Israeli Ministry of Public Security to provide Havat Gilad with an electricity network and improve its infrastructure.
Havat Gilad outpost, which is built on privately-owned Palestinian lands, is considered illegal under Israeli law. That's why the government had refrained from voting on the legalization plan last week.
1 feb 2018
The United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) released a report, on Wednesday, identifying 206 companies from around the world that are doing business linked to Israeli settlements, built in the occupied West Bank and in violation of international law.
The long-delayed report was initially intended to include the names of companies, but, reportedly, after intense pressure from the US and Israel, the published report included only the number of companies from each country, rather than naming them.
“Businesses play a central role in furthering the establishment, maintenance and expansion of Israeli settlements,” the UN report said.
“In doing so, they are contributing to Israel’s confiscation of land, facilitate the transfer of its population into the Occupied Palestinian Territory and are involved in the exploitation of Palestine’s natural resources.”
The report noted that the majority of the countries on the list, 143, are located inside Israel and the settlements themselves, while the second largest group, number 22 countries, are located in the US.
The remaining companies are located in 19 other countries. The UN report added that the database was not yet complete.
Israel’s envoy to the UN Danny Danon, who himself lives in an illegal settlement, strongly condemned the report, calling it shameful and a “disgraceful blacklist.”
According to Ma’an, between 500,000 and 600,000 Israelis live in Jewish-only settlements across occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank in violation of international law.
The long-delayed report was initially intended to include the names of companies, but, reportedly, after intense pressure from the US and Israel, the published report included only the number of companies from each country, rather than naming them.
“Businesses play a central role in furthering the establishment, maintenance and expansion of Israeli settlements,” the UN report said.
“In doing so, they are contributing to Israel’s confiscation of land, facilitate the transfer of its population into the Occupied Palestinian Territory and are involved in the exploitation of Palestine’s natural resources.”
The report noted that the majority of the countries on the list, 143, are located inside Israel and the settlements themselves, while the second largest group, number 22 countries, are located in the US.
The remaining companies are located in 19 other countries. The UN report added that the database was not yet complete.
Israel’s envoy to the UN Danny Danon, who himself lives in an illegal settlement, strongly condemned the report, calling it shameful and a “disgraceful blacklist.”
According to Ma’an, between 500,000 and 600,000 Israelis live in Jewish-only settlements across occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank in violation of international law.
31 jan 2018
Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu and his transportation minister Yisrael Katz on Tuesday inaugurated a bypass on Highway 55 around the occupied West Bank village of Nabi Ilyas, east of Qalqilya city.
According to Israel’s Channel 7, the new road will connect the settlements in the area and central Israel (1948 occupied lands) with each other.
The channel quoted Katz as saying that this road was part of the government’s plan to develop infrastructure for the safety and well-being of settlers.
In a related context, the Israeli occupation forces on the same day blocked the entrances to all eastern villages and towns located along the Qalqilya-Nablus road and the eastern entrance to the district of Qalqilya.
The IOF set up makeshift checkpoints at all entrances and obstructed the movement of Palestinian citizens and vehicles.
The reason for such road closures was Netanyahu’s inauguration of that new bypass for Israeli settlers, which was built on an annexed tract of land belonging to the Palestinian villages of Nabi Ilyas and Izbat al-Tabib.
According to Israel’s Channel 7, the new road will connect the settlements in the area and central Israel (1948 occupied lands) with each other.
The channel quoted Katz as saying that this road was part of the government’s plan to develop infrastructure for the safety and well-being of settlers.
In a related context, the Israeli occupation forces on the same day blocked the entrances to all eastern villages and towns located along the Qalqilya-Nablus road and the eastern entrance to the district of Qalqilya.
The IOF set up makeshift checkpoints at all entrances and obstructed the movement of Palestinian citizens and vehicles.
The reason for such road closures was Netanyahu’s inauguration of that new bypass for Israeli settlers, which was built on an annexed tract of land belonging to the Palestinian villages of Nabi Ilyas and Izbat al-Tabib.
30 jan 2018
Many residents of the Palestinian village of Wadi Fukin were unable to sleep last Friday night for fear of being flooded by rainwater channeled from a nearby settlement towards their homes, according to Haaretz newspaper,
As on every rainy day this winter, the villagers dug ditches and built mud and stone barricades, as they sought to hold back the strong currents of water streaming into the village and threatening to flood their homes.
The floods in Wadi Fukin are a recent man-made phenomenon and caused by the expansion of the illegal settlement of Tzur Hadassah, which is located above the village.
Construction activities at the settlement turned natural areas that would absorb rainwater and slow their flow into asphalt and concrete, which funnel the water quickly down the mountain towards the village.
“Another problem, no less serious, is that the water is no longer sinking into the ground to feed the Wadi Fukin springs, which residents use for irrigation throughout the year. The residents report a sharp decline in the springs’ water flow,” the newspaper said.
Persisting in ignoring the expansion’s consequences for the Palestinian village, Israel’s Jerusalem regional planning commission will discuss soon the Tzur Hadassah master plan, which calls for tripling the community’s size.
Under the plan, two additional neighborhoods with thousands of homes will be built that are expected to make the flooding worse and dry up the springs even further.
As on every rainy day this winter, the villagers dug ditches and built mud and stone barricades, as they sought to hold back the strong currents of water streaming into the village and threatening to flood their homes.
The floods in Wadi Fukin are a recent man-made phenomenon and caused by the expansion of the illegal settlement of Tzur Hadassah, which is located above the village.
Construction activities at the settlement turned natural areas that would absorb rainwater and slow their flow into asphalt and concrete, which funnel the water quickly down the mountain towards the village.
“Another problem, no less serious, is that the water is no longer sinking into the ground to feed the Wadi Fukin springs, which residents use for irrigation throughout the year. The residents report a sharp decline in the springs’ water flow,” the newspaper said.
Persisting in ignoring the expansion’s consequences for the Palestinian village, Israel’s Jerusalem regional planning commission will discuss soon the Tzur Hadassah master plan, which calls for tripling the community’s size.
Under the plan, two additional neighborhoods with thousands of homes will be built that are expected to make the flooding worse and dry up the springs even further.
28 jan 2018
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a Likud ministerial meeting that a bill to okay the Havat Gilad outpost as a settlement will be approved in next week's Cabinet meeting.
Netanyahu said during Sunday’s meeting of the Likud ministers that the issue of Havat Gilad will be raised at the cabinet meeting next week and be approved.
Netanyahu added that the approbation will be issued in partnership with Israel’s War Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
Netanyahu claimed the delay in raising the status issue was due to tactical reasons, and that the issue will be raised next week, in coordination with Lieberman.
Havat Gilad is an Israeli outpost built on Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank. It has been considered an unauthorized outpost by the Israeli government and is on a list of outposts the international community expects to be dismantled.
Then, on January 9 this year, an extremist rabbi died in an anti-occupation shooting attack in the area. The Israelis vowed that the outpost will be regulated and restored as an act of revenge.
Netanyahu said during Sunday’s meeting of the Likud ministers that the issue of Havat Gilad will be raised at the cabinet meeting next week and be approved.
Netanyahu added that the approbation will be issued in partnership with Israel’s War Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
Netanyahu claimed the delay in raising the status issue was due to tactical reasons, and that the issue will be raised next week, in coordination with Lieberman.
Havat Gilad is an Israeli outpost built on Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank. It has been considered an unauthorized outpost by the Israeli government and is on a list of outposts the international community expects to be dismantled.
Then, on January 9 this year, an extremist rabbi died in an anti-occupation shooting attack in the area. The Israelis vowed that the outpost will be regulated and restored as an act of revenge.
27 jan 2018
The Danish government has recently decided by a majority vote to exclude the Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank from bilateral agreements with Israel. It was also decided to strengthen the government guidelines against investing in projects in both private and public bodies in the settlements.
Haaretz newspaper said that Denmark, through these decisions, has adopted the UN Security Council resolution 2334 wherein settlements are defined as a violation of international law and a distinction is made between Israel and Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem. The same view is held by the European Union in all agreements with Israel.
These decisions express support for the efforts made by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to formulate a black list of Israeli companies operating in the settlements.
The decision was raised in a formal query to the Danish Foreign Ministry in November 2017 after a number of Danish pension funds were forced to withdraw their investments in Israel following a wave of public outcry.
According to Israeli Foreign Ministry data, Israel and Denmark have 13 direct bilateral agreements in the fields of aviation, culture, education, law, industry, taxes and visas. The latest resolutions will affect future agreements between the two countries. Existing agreements might be effected pending updates.
Danish Foreign Minister, Anders Samuelsen, in December 2017 announced that his country would toughen the terms of support for Palestinian NGOs following Israeli pressure to stop Danish funding of Palestinian organizations allegedly involved in anti-Israel incitement and boycott activities.
Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, had sent to Samuelsen a list of Palestinian organizations which receive Danish funding and which, Israel claims, are involved in activities led by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.
A few months after receiving the list, Denmark decided to freeze the remainder of the support and to formulate more strict criteria for the future.
However, Denmark stressed that it would continue to support organizations focusing on human rights in Palestine.
Haaretz newspaper said that Denmark, through these decisions, has adopted the UN Security Council resolution 2334 wherein settlements are defined as a violation of international law and a distinction is made between Israel and Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem. The same view is held by the European Union in all agreements with Israel.
These decisions express support for the efforts made by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to formulate a black list of Israeli companies operating in the settlements.
The decision was raised in a formal query to the Danish Foreign Ministry in November 2017 after a number of Danish pension funds were forced to withdraw their investments in Israel following a wave of public outcry.
According to Israeli Foreign Ministry data, Israel and Denmark have 13 direct bilateral agreements in the fields of aviation, culture, education, law, industry, taxes and visas. The latest resolutions will affect future agreements between the two countries. Existing agreements might be effected pending updates.
Danish Foreign Minister, Anders Samuelsen, in December 2017 announced that his country would toughen the terms of support for Palestinian NGOs following Israeli pressure to stop Danish funding of Palestinian organizations allegedly involved in anti-Israel incitement and boycott activities.
Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, had sent to Samuelsen a list of Palestinian organizations which receive Danish funding and which, Israel claims, are involved in activities led by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.
A few months after receiving the list, Denmark decided to freeze the remainder of the support and to formulate more strict criteria for the future.
However, Denmark stressed that it would continue to support organizations focusing on human rights in Palestine.
24 jan 2018
Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit on Wednesday initially approved to legitimize the status of a settlement outpost in the northern West Bank.
Israeli channel ten said that Mandelblit will assign a special team in the Ministry of Justice to address the problem of the road that leads to the site which is located within a planted area.
The Hebrew TV channel quoted Ministers Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked as saying that the Attorney General has already approved a proposal to establish a new settlement north of the West Bank over “a state land”, but it will be brought to the Knesset on Sunday.
Israeli channel ten said that Mandelblit will assign a special team in the Ministry of Justice to address the problem of the road that leads to the site which is located within a planted area.
The Hebrew TV channel quoted Ministers Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked as saying that the Attorney General has already approved a proposal to establish a new settlement north of the West Bank over “a state land”, but it will be brought to the Knesset on Sunday.
22 jan 2018
Israeli bulldozers on Monday leveled Palestinian lands in Salfit’s western town of Kafr al-Dik, paving the way for illegal settlement expansion.
Speaking with PIC, eye-witnesses said Israeli bulldozers razed Palestinian land tracts in Kafr al-Dik, west of Salfit.
Nayefa al-Dik said she has been prevented by the Israeli forces from entering her land due to the ongoing bulldozing activity.
Researcher Khaled Maali warned of ongoing Israeli attempts to hold sway over Palestinian lands in the area so as to expand nearby settlement outposts and industrial zones extending from the Zaatara checkpoint to Kafr Kasem, in territories occupied in 1948.
Maali said Israel’s annexation of Palestinian lands in the area stand in sharp contrast to internal law and the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Speaking with PIC, eye-witnesses said Israeli bulldozers razed Palestinian land tracts in Kafr al-Dik, west of Salfit.
Nayefa al-Dik said she has been prevented by the Israeli forces from entering her land due to the ongoing bulldozing activity.
Researcher Khaled Maali warned of ongoing Israeli attempts to hold sway over Palestinian lands in the area so as to expand nearby settlement outposts and industrial zones extending from the Zaatara checkpoint to Kafr Kasem, in territories occupied in 1948.
Maali said Israel’s annexation of Palestinian lands in the area stand in sharp contrast to internal law and the Fourth Geneva Convention.