19 june 2013
Informed Palestinian official sources revealed that the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) changed the path of its segregation wall in Rantis village, northwest of Ramallah city in order to drill oil and gas wells. According to the sources, the IOA already started to extract oil and gas from Rantis village near the oil well Majd 5.
Youth activists posted on the internet pictures of heavy machinery which was placed at the oil extraction site.
They said that such oil production activities in addition to the Israeli military drills cause considerable environmental damage to the natural life in the Palestinian village.
Youth activists posted on the internet pictures of heavy machinery which was placed at the oil extraction site.
They said that such oil production activities in addition to the Israeli military drills cause considerable environmental damage to the natural life in the Palestinian village.
The Aqsa foundation for endowment and heritage warned that all events on the ground confirm that the Israeli occupation tends to realize its wishes about the building of the alleged temple of Solomon. In a press release published Tuesday by Palestine Today newspaper, head of the foundation Egbariya Zaki said that the Jewish groups used to prohibit its followers from visiting the Aqsa Mosque according to the teachings of their Torah, but now the situation is different and there are escalating Jewish calls to defile the Mosque and perform rituals inside it.
Zaki added that this new situation in addition to all steps taken to encourage the Jewish settlers to make offerings or their marriage vows at the Aqsa Mosque, which they falsely describe as the temple mount, portend a looming danger.
He noted that all these violations against the sanctity of the Aqsa Mosque are taking place simultaneously with a ferocious Judaization campaign against Jerusalem.
He said the settlement and Judaization activities almost erased the Arab and Islamic identity of the holy city, which has become strangled by settlement outposts and thus isolated from the other Palestinian cities.
Zaki added that this new situation in addition to all steps taken to encourage the Jewish settlers to make offerings or their marriage vows at the Aqsa Mosque, which they falsely describe as the temple mount, portend a looming danger.
He noted that all these violations against the sanctity of the Aqsa Mosque are taking place simultaneously with a ferocious Judaization campaign against Jerusalem.
He said the settlement and Judaization activities almost erased the Arab and Islamic identity of the holy city, which has become strangled by settlement outposts and thus isolated from the other Palestinian cities.
18 june 2013
Israel's national water company Mekorot and the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) declared a plan on Monday to dig an artesian well in Wadi Rababa neighborhood in Silwan district. The information center of Wadi Hilwa-Silwan said that the IOA plans to turn a public place (national park) in Wadi Rababa into a water facility under the administration of Mekorot, noting that the Palestinian residents of this neighborhood were allowed to raise their objections to the plan within 60 days as it was stated in the Israeli announcement.
The information center also said that this project would be carried out on an area of 30 dunums of land owned by Palestinian citizens in Wadi Rababa.
Wadi Rababa residents, according to Shadi Samreen who lives there, have always been banned from repairing, cultivating or building in their own lands at the pretext they are public places, although they possess deeds proving their ownership of these lands.
The information center warned that there are other Israeli plans to seize Wadi Rababa lands in order to carry out service projects for the settlers, noting that some settlers filed a request to open a restaurant in the neighborhood, but the residents officially objected to it.
The center noted that the Israeli municipal council in Jerusalem placed one year ago water tanks in Wadi Rababa neighborhood and used water pumps to fill these tanks with water from Ayoub and Ein Loza wells, while the natives are prevented from taking water from these wells.
The information center also said that this project would be carried out on an area of 30 dunums of land owned by Palestinian citizens in Wadi Rababa.
Wadi Rababa residents, according to Shadi Samreen who lives there, have always been banned from repairing, cultivating or building in their own lands at the pretext they are public places, although they possess deeds proving their ownership of these lands.
The information center warned that there are other Israeli plans to seize Wadi Rababa lands in order to carry out service projects for the settlers, noting that some settlers filed a request to open a restaurant in the neighborhood, but the residents officially objected to it.
The center noted that the Israeli municipal council in Jerusalem placed one year ago water tanks in Wadi Rababa neighborhood and used water pumps to fill these tanks with water from Ayoub and Ein Loza wells, while the natives are prevented from taking water from these wells.
Israeli daily, Haaretz, reported that the Israeli government budged, allotted for settlement activities in the occupied territories, is hundreds of millions over the allocated annual budget.
Haaretz said that, by investigating the general budget of the Israeli government, it became clear that the government spent millions of Israeli Shekels to finance settlement activities in violation of the original budget.
In 2012, Tel Aviv allocated NIS 60.3 Million shekels for settlement activities, but nearly 272 Million have been paid in that year.
In 2011, 50 Million NIS were approved for settlement activities, but the government spent 373 Million.
The money was paid to the Settlements Department of the World Zionist Organization; Haaretz said that the government transferred dozens to hundreds of millions in what was described as “additional funds”.
Haaretz said that the funds were transferred by the government despite the fact that the department is a formal part of the World Zionist Organization, and not a government run group.
The department owns the majority of the lands allotted for Israel’s illegal settlement activities, in the occupied territories.
It manages those lands and transfers them mainly to the settlement branch of the “Council of Jewish Settlements in the Judea and Samaria”.
Haaretz said that Tel Aviv authorized the department to build homes in West bank settlements to settlers who were evacuated from the Gaza Strip and from the Migron West bank settlement.
The authorization also includes constructions in the Negev and the Galilee. Former Foreign Minister, leader of the extremist Yisrael Beiteinu party, Avigdor Lieberman, appointed Danni Kritchman, to the head of the department.
Haaretz said that, by investigating the general budget of the Israeli government, it became clear that the government spent millions of Israeli Shekels to finance settlement activities in violation of the original budget.
In 2012, Tel Aviv allocated NIS 60.3 Million shekels for settlement activities, but nearly 272 Million have been paid in that year.
In 2011, 50 Million NIS were approved for settlement activities, but the government spent 373 Million.
The money was paid to the Settlements Department of the World Zionist Organization; Haaretz said that the government transferred dozens to hundreds of millions in what was described as “additional funds”.
Haaretz said that the funds were transferred by the government despite the fact that the department is a formal part of the World Zionist Organization, and not a government run group.
The department owns the majority of the lands allotted for Israel’s illegal settlement activities, in the occupied territories.
It manages those lands and transfers them mainly to the settlement branch of the “Council of Jewish Settlements in the Judea and Samaria”.
Haaretz said that Tel Aviv authorized the department to build homes in West bank settlements to settlers who were evacuated from the Gaza Strip and from the Migron West bank settlement.
The authorization also includes constructions in the Negev and the Galilee. Former Foreign Minister, leader of the extremist Yisrael Beiteinu party, Avigdor Lieberman, appointed Danni Kritchman, to the head of the department.
The Israeli government is planning one of its largest schemes to illegally confiscate 22.500 Dunams (5559.87 Acres) that belong to the Palestinians in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, as part of its illegal “Greater Jerusalem” settlement project.
Dr. Jad Ishaq, head of the Applied Research Institute (ARIJ) stated that Israel decided to rip-off 22.500 Dunams from Palestinians in Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour.
The lands are behind the illegal Apartheid Wall in the area, and illegally fall under the so-called “Absentee Property Law”.
Dr. Ishaq stated that the Legal Adviser of the Israeli Government recommended that the “guardian” of absentee property [in this case the Israeli occupation] can use the property and place it under his authority.
The “law” comes in direct violation of all related international laws and international treaties, including the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Dr. Ishaq further stated that an Israeli court plans to examine the Israeli decision in September of this year, and added that should Israel implement its plan, Bethlehem will be turned into a human warehouse with high density, as all uninhabited lands will be illegally confiscated from their owners.
He said that Israeli plan targets Palestinian lands in Khirbit Al-Mazmourya, Khallit Ar-Ribway, Luka Mountain, Jabal Skhour, Wad Al-Jamal, Jaroun Al-Hummus, Cremisan and all of the lands that became isolated behind the Annexation Wall and the Gilo illegal settlement, in addition to lands in West Jerusalem.
The Palestinian expert further said that all of the lands in question have been labeled by the Jerusalem Municipality under “Project 2020” as “Green Areas”.
Areas that will be sold to Israeli institutions in order to complete the separation between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, as well as its separation from the rest of the West Bank by a complete belt and chain of settlements around the occupied city of Jerusalem.
Ishaq called on the Palestinian Authority to act on the international level in order to raise awareness regarding this very dangerous Israeli plan, and added that “this plan is the biggest land theft carried out by Israel since its establishment in the historic land of Palestine in 1948”.
On his part, Bethlehem Governor, Abdul-Fattah Hamayel, said that Israel is violating and bypassing all related international laws and treaties, and added that the Israeli “Legal System” is legalizing crimes and violations against the Palestinians and their property.
Hamayel stated that the Palestinian Authority must act now in order to stop this illegal plan, and all of Israel’s illegal activities.
The Governor also said that the Palestinian Authority does not trust the Israeli legal system, and that even if the Israeli Supreme Court decided ruled against the plan, the Israeli government will find ways to legalize the project the same way it did with numerous previous settlement projects that were eventually deemed “legal” by the Supreme Court.
He also said that Israel is using these projects in order to foil any attempt to resume the peace process, and is aborting any chances of success of the efforts of U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry.
It is worth mentioning that Israel issued that “Absentee Property Law” in 1950 with the intention to illegally confiscate and rob Palestinian-owned lands that became part of the newly established state of Israel in the historic land of Palestine.
The so-called law also states, “Every person who lives outside the state of Israel, or lives in a hostile state, is considered absentee; his lands and property are taken over by the state, and are placed under the authority of the absentee property guardian of the Ministry of Justice”.
Dr. Jad Ishaq, head of the Applied Research Institute (ARIJ) stated that Israel decided to rip-off 22.500 Dunams from Palestinians in Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour.
The lands are behind the illegal Apartheid Wall in the area, and illegally fall under the so-called “Absentee Property Law”.
Dr. Ishaq stated that the Legal Adviser of the Israeli Government recommended that the “guardian” of absentee property [in this case the Israeli occupation] can use the property and place it under his authority.
The “law” comes in direct violation of all related international laws and international treaties, including the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Dr. Ishaq further stated that an Israeli court plans to examine the Israeli decision in September of this year, and added that should Israel implement its plan, Bethlehem will be turned into a human warehouse with high density, as all uninhabited lands will be illegally confiscated from their owners.
He said that Israeli plan targets Palestinian lands in Khirbit Al-Mazmourya, Khallit Ar-Ribway, Luka Mountain, Jabal Skhour, Wad Al-Jamal, Jaroun Al-Hummus, Cremisan and all of the lands that became isolated behind the Annexation Wall and the Gilo illegal settlement, in addition to lands in West Jerusalem.
The Palestinian expert further said that all of the lands in question have been labeled by the Jerusalem Municipality under “Project 2020” as “Green Areas”.
Areas that will be sold to Israeli institutions in order to complete the separation between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, as well as its separation from the rest of the West Bank by a complete belt and chain of settlements around the occupied city of Jerusalem.
Ishaq called on the Palestinian Authority to act on the international level in order to raise awareness regarding this very dangerous Israeli plan, and added that “this plan is the biggest land theft carried out by Israel since its establishment in the historic land of Palestine in 1948”.
On his part, Bethlehem Governor, Abdul-Fattah Hamayel, said that Israel is violating and bypassing all related international laws and treaties, and added that the Israeli “Legal System” is legalizing crimes and violations against the Palestinians and their property.
Hamayel stated that the Palestinian Authority must act now in order to stop this illegal plan, and all of Israel’s illegal activities.
The Governor also said that the Palestinian Authority does not trust the Israeli legal system, and that even if the Israeli Supreme Court decided ruled against the plan, the Israeli government will find ways to legalize the project the same way it did with numerous previous settlement projects that were eventually deemed “legal” by the Supreme Court.
He also said that Israel is using these projects in order to foil any attempt to resume the peace process, and is aborting any chances of success of the efforts of U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry.
It is worth mentioning that Israel issued that “Absentee Property Law” in 1950 with the intention to illegally confiscate and rob Palestinian-owned lands that became part of the newly established state of Israel in the historic land of Palestine.
The so-called law also states, “Every person who lives outside the state of Israel, or lives in a hostile state, is considered absentee; his lands and property are taken over by the state, and are placed under the authority of the absentee property guardian of the Ministry of Justice”.
17 june 2013
The location of the planned building
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) intends to build a huge Jewish building in Wadi Hilwa neighborhood, about 50 meters away from the Aqsa Mosque, according to the Jerusalem affairs department of the Palestinian liberation organization (PLO). The building is known as Kaidem or Givati parking lot and will be built on an area of 10,626 square meters on the outskirts of the southern walls of the old city of Jerusalem in Wadi Hilwa.
A large part of the land which the building will be built on belongs to Siyam family.
The area had been used in the past as a parking lot for Wadi Hilwa residents before the IOA seized it several years ago at the pretext of carrying out archeological excavations under the auspices of the Zionist settlement society Elad. During these diggings, Byzantine and Islamic finds were discovered.
The site itself exhibits vital archaeological finds: Byzantine remains, parts of the Umayyad Palaces (eighth century), and the Abbasid Quarter (tenth century), which is the only residential quarter discovered from this period.
It included a Muslim cemetery with approximately 100 tombs. The bones of the dead were removed and reburied in unknown places without the presence of a Muslim religious official. It is unimaginable that a building permit would be issued for a site that contains Jewish burial remains or remains from the biblical period.
The Jerusalem affairs department affirmed that the IOA approved the construction of this huge building as well as a bridge spanning from the building to Al-Maghariba Gate.
This building is part of a wider Judaization scheme aimed at expanding the Jewish control over the holy city and marketing Jerusalem as a Jewish historical city through blurring the Arab history of the city and promoting tourism.
Three Jewish foundations, Ir David, Elad and the wailing wall legacy fund will administer this building which will contain seven floors and underground parking lot for about 250 vehicles.
The building will include a Jewish museum, rooms for Israeli archeologists, visitors, educational halls and show rooms to display Arab and Islamic antiquities, which will be modified and presented as Jewish ones.
The building is located above a network of tunnels that have been established beneath the Aqsa Mosque and its vicinity.
Jerusalem is one of the most excavated cities in the world. Since the second half of the nineteenth century, archaeological excavations have been conducted without interruption. Most of the excavations are driven either by ideological Jewish greed or political interests and motivations.
The excavators, regardless of whether or not they were qualified, are either misguided by the texts of the old testament or Arab haters who want to prove by all means that the holy city is purely Jewish, although they have not found a piece of Jewish antiquities so far.
Even many of the Jewish antiquities and ancient artifacts which are displayed in different Israeli museums have been identified by international archeologists as being brought by Jewish immigrants from Yemen.
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) intends to build a huge Jewish building in Wadi Hilwa neighborhood, about 50 meters away from the Aqsa Mosque, according to the Jerusalem affairs department of the Palestinian liberation organization (PLO). The building is known as Kaidem or Givati parking lot and will be built on an area of 10,626 square meters on the outskirts of the southern walls of the old city of Jerusalem in Wadi Hilwa.
A large part of the land which the building will be built on belongs to Siyam family.
The area had been used in the past as a parking lot for Wadi Hilwa residents before the IOA seized it several years ago at the pretext of carrying out archeological excavations under the auspices of the Zionist settlement society Elad. During these diggings, Byzantine and Islamic finds were discovered.
The site itself exhibits vital archaeological finds: Byzantine remains, parts of the Umayyad Palaces (eighth century), and the Abbasid Quarter (tenth century), which is the only residential quarter discovered from this period.
It included a Muslim cemetery with approximately 100 tombs. The bones of the dead were removed and reburied in unknown places without the presence of a Muslim religious official. It is unimaginable that a building permit would be issued for a site that contains Jewish burial remains or remains from the biblical period.
The Jerusalem affairs department affirmed that the IOA approved the construction of this huge building as well as a bridge spanning from the building to Al-Maghariba Gate.
This building is part of a wider Judaization scheme aimed at expanding the Jewish control over the holy city and marketing Jerusalem as a Jewish historical city through blurring the Arab history of the city and promoting tourism.
Three Jewish foundations, Ir David, Elad and the wailing wall legacy fund will administer this building which will contain seven floors and underground parking lot for about 250 vehicles.
The building will include a Jewish museum, rooms for Israeli archeologists, visitors, educational halls and show rooms to display Arab and Islamic antiquities, which will be modified and presented as Jewish ones.
The building is located above a network of tunnels that have been established beneath the Aqsa Mosque and its vicinity.
Jerusalem is one of the most excavated cities in the world. Since the second half of the nineteenth century, archaeological excavations have been conducted without interruption. Most of the excavations are driven either by ideological Jewish greed or political interests and motivations.
The excavators, regardless of whether or not they were qualified, are either misguided by the texts of the old testament or Arab haters who want to prove by all means that the holy city is purely Jewish, although they have not found a piece of Jewish antiquities so far.
Even many of the Jewish antiquities and ancient artifacts which are displayed in different Israeli museums have been identified by international archeologists as being brought by Jewish immigrants from Yemen.
15 june 2013
A general view of Ramat Shlomo settlement in the occupied Palestinian lands in al-Quds
Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon has criticized Israel’s settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, calling the move a “violation of international law.”
Ban’s spokesman Martin Nesirky said on Friday that the UN chief is deeply concerned about Israel moving forward with a plan to build more than 1,000 new illegal units in two West Bank settlements.
"They constitute a deeply worrisome trend at a moment of ongoing efforts to re-launch peace negotiations," Nesirky said.
The United States also on Friday slammed the Israeli regime for its settlement activates on the occupied Palestinian territories.
“The secretary has expressed his concern in the past both publicly and in private conversations.” State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said in a statement.
An Israeli regime spokesman said on Thursday that the new homes will be built in Itamar and Bruchin settlements, located in an area of the West Bank which Israel occupied in 1967.
On the same day, Nabil Shaath, an adviser to acting Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas, said the latest Israeli move shows Tel Aviv “is destroying the two-state solution and the prospects of a peace deal in deeds and words.”
The Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestine have created a major obstacle to the Middle East peace process.
A report released last month revealed that the Israeli regime confiscated 1,977 acres of the Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank for its settlement activity during 2012.
The settlements, which cover an area roughly equal to 1,035 soccer fields and twice as big as New York's Central Park, were approved by “military order,” the Israeli daily Haaretz reported on May 27.
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.
Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon has criticized Israel’s settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, calling the move a “violation of international law.”
Ban’s spokesman Martin Nesirky said on Friday that the UN chief is deeply concerned about Israel moving forward with a plan to build more than 1,000 new illegal units in two West Bank settlements.
"They constitute a deeply worrisome trend at a moment of ongoing efforts to re-launch peace negotiations," Nesirky said.
The United States also on Friday slammed the Israeli regime for its settlement activates on the occupied Palestinian territories.
“The secretary has expressed his concern in the past both publicly and in private conversations.” State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said in a statement.
An Israeli regime spokesman said on Thursday that the new homes will be built in Itamar and Bruchin settlements, located in an area of the West Bank which Israel occupied in 1967.
On the same day, Nabil Shaath, an adviser to acting Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas, said the latest Israeli move shows Tel Aviv “is destroying the two-state solution and the prospects of a peace deal in deeds and words.”
The Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestine have created a major obstacle to the Middle East peace process.
A report released last month revealed that the Israeli regime confiscated 1,977 acres of the Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank for its settlement activity during 2012.
The settlements, which cover an area roughly equal to 1,035 soccer fields and twice as big as New York's Central Park, were approved by “military order,” the Israeli daily Haaretz reported on May 27.
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.
14 june 2013
Minister of Housing and Construction, Uri Ariel, declared on Thursday plans to build on thousand new housing units in Gush Etzion settlement bloc built on Palestinian lands in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. The construction plan was approved after a meeting between the Israeli Housing and War Ministers and head of the Regional Council of Gush Etzion. Of the 1000 housing units, 650 are existing apartments that have now been approved by War Minister Moshe Ya'alon, Hebrew sources said.
Meanwhile, Yediot Ahronot Hebrew newspaper revealed on Wednesday Israeli plans to build 675 new housing units in the settlement of Itamar built on Beit Furik and Awarta villages in Nablus.
According to the plan, the settlement will be doubled 100%, the newspaper pointed.
"Netanyahu has decided to change the rules and ruin any chance of reviving talks. The government has become addicted to the construction of settlements that will not remain in Israel under any agreement. It will fall to Israel's citizens to pay the diplomatic and financial cost," the newspaper quoted the Israeli Peace Now organization as saying commenting on the Israeli new settlement plan.
Meanwhile, Yediot Ahronot Hebrew newspaper revealed on Wednesday Israeli plans to build 675 new housing units in the settlement of Itamar built on Beit Furik and Awarta villages in Nablus.
According to the plan, the settlement will be doubled 100%, the newspaper pointed.
"Netanyahu has decided to change the rules and ruin any chance of reviving talks. The government has become addicted to the construction of settlements that will not remain in Israel under any agreement. It will fall to Israel's citizens to pay the diplomatic and financial cost," the newspaper quoted the Israeli Peace Now organization as saying commenting on the Israeli new settlement plan.
Hamas has strongly condemned the Israeli continued Judaization projects, calling on the international community to pressure Israeli authorities to stop settlement projects in occupied Jerusalem and the West Bank. In a statement issued on Thursday, the movement also called on the PA to stand against Israeli settlement and to reject the so called economic peace that only serves the occupation’s criminal schemes.
Hamas's statement came in response to the Israeli building of hundreds of housing units, settlement expansion, and excavations conducted around Al-Magharba Gate and Al-Buraq Wall in Jerusalem.
The movement warned of those Judaization projects, stressing that the occupation authorities will not be able to blur the Palestinian Arab and Islamic identity and history.
The movement also called on the Palestinian national forces to stand behind their people’s aspirations to achieve the Palestinian national reconciliation and to stop security coordination with Israel in response to Israeli forces and settlers’ attacks.
Hamas's statement came in response to the Israeli building of hundreds of housing units, settlement expansion, and excavations conducted around Al-Magharba Gate and Al-Buraq Wall in Jerusalem.
The movement warned of those Judaization projects, stressing that the occupation authorities will not be able to blur the Palestinian Arab and Islamic identity and history.
The movement also called on the Palestinian national forces to stand behind their people’s aspirations to achieve the Palestinian national reconciliation and to stop security coordination with Israel in response to Israeli forces and settlers’ attacks.
13 june 2013
Israeli media sources have reported that despite efforts by the United States to resume the stalled peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, Tel Aviv decided to build 500 units in Brochin settlement, and 675 in Itamar.
The new units would be built on lands that belong to the villagers of Beit Forik and Awarta villages, in the northern West Bank district of Nablus.
Israeli Ynet News has reported that Israel prepared a plan to double the size of several settlements in the occupied West Bank.
It added that Israeli former Israel Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, has approved the plans before the general election. Back then, the plan included 538 units, and the rehabilitation of 137 units.
Furthermore, Israeli Walla News website has reported, Tuesday, that the Israeli government is also planning to construct 550 new units in Brochin settlement, in addition to building public facilities, a mall, sports areas, recreation center, streets and other infrastructure.
Walla news added that, back in April of 2012, the Israeli government officially approved the “rehabilitation plan” of the settlement that started as an illegal outpost, even by Israeli definition.
Israel is also planning the construction of 300 units in the Bet El settlement, near the central West Bank city of Ramallah.
Israeli Peace Now Movement stated that the Israeli government is breaking every rule, especially under the current conditions and changes in the region, and is acting on foiling any chances of resuming direct peace talks with the Palestinians.
The new units would be built on lands that belong to the villagers of Beit Forik and Awarta villages, in the northern West Bank district of Nablus.
Israeli Ynet News has reported that Israel prepared a plan to double the size of several settlements in the occupied West Bank.
It added that Israeli former Israel Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, has approved the plans before the general election. Back then, the plan included 538 units, and the rehabilitation of 137 units.
Furthermore, Israeli Walla News website has reported, Tuesday, that the Israeli government is also planning to construct 550 new units in Brochin settlement, in addition to building public facilities, a mall, sports areas, recreation center, streets and other infrastructure.
Walla news added that, back in April of 2012, the Israeli government officially approved the “rehabilitation plan” of the settlement that started as an illegal outpost, even by Israeli definition.
Israel is also planning the construction of 300 units in the Bet El settlement, near the central West Bank city of Ramallah.
Israeli Peace Now Movement stated that the Israeli government is breaking every rule, especially under the current conditions and changes in the region, and is acting on foiling any chances of resuming direct peace talks with the Palestinians.
Hamas movement called on the world community pressure the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) into stopping its Judaization of and settlement drive in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem. Hamas strongly condemned the IOA endorsement of the construction of hundreds of new housing units in the West Bank and the continuation of excavations and diggings in the vicinity of the Aqsa mosque.
The statement on Thursday also called on the Palestinian Authority to halt all forms of security coordination and “absurd negotiations” with the IOA in response to such activity.
Hamas asked the PA to adopt daring decisions against the settlement drive and not to be lured by an alleged “economic peace” plan.
Hamas said that the IOA ferocious settlement and Judaization activity would never succeed in changing history or impose new de facto conditions.
The statement on Thursday also called on the Palestinian Authority to halt all forms of security coordination and “absurd negotiations” with the IOA in response to such activity.
Hamas asked the PA to adopt daring decisions against the settlement drive and not to be lured by an alleged “economic peace” plan.
Hamas said that the IOA ferocious settlement and Judaization activity would never succeed in changing history or impose new de facto conditions.
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) is planning to expand many West Bank settlements and the latest plan was to build 675 new housing units south of Nablus. Yediot Ahronot newspaper said on Wednesday night that the new plan envisages expanding a number of settlements in the West Bank at a rate of 100%.
It said that the new housing units would be added to Itamar settlement established on lands owned by villagers in Beit Furik and Orta villages, south of Nablus.
It said that the building would increase the area of Itamar, inhabited by 100 families, by 100%, noting that former war minister Ehud Barak had authorized the building before the latest parliamentary elections.
The scheme stipulates building 538 new units and rehabilitating 137 others that were already built.
It said that the new housing units would be added to Itamar settlement established on lands owned by villagers in Beit Furik and Orta villages, south of Nablus.
It said that the building would increase the area of Itamar, inhabited by 100 families, by 100%, noting that former war minister Ehud Barak had authorized the building before the latest parliamentary elections.
The scheme stipulates building 538 new units and rehabilitating 137 others that were already built.
The Israeli antiquities authority started new diggings near Al-Maghariba Gate square in Silwan district, north of the Aqsa Mosque, as a prelude to building a huge Jewish center. Wadi Hilwa information center said on Wednesday that the Israeli antiquities authority started its construction works on a piece of land belonging to Siyam family and erected metal poles inside holes that had been made last Monday at the entrance of a residential alley in Wadi Hilwa neighborhood.
The center added that the Israeli police escorted the Israeli workmen at the digging sites at the pretext they had permits allowing them to do their jobs. However, the workmen refused to show these permits to the residents.
Residents from Silwan district had managed to prevent two three days ago the workmen from continuing their digging works and setting up tin sheets at the entrance of their populated alley where their homes are located, but the workmen came again on Thursday under police guard and resumed the diggings.
According to the center, the Israeli occupation authority wants to establish a Jewish archaeological center of seven floors in Al-Maghariba Gate square. The center extends over an area of 3,000 square meters.
The center added that the Israeli police escorted the Israeli workmen at the digging sites at the pretext they had permits allowing them to do their jobs. However, the workmen refused to show these permits to the residents.
Residents from Silwan district had managed to prevent two three days ago the workmen from continuing their digging works and setting up tin sheets at the entrance of their populated alley where their homes are located, but the workmen came again on Thursday under police guard and resumed the diggings.
According to the center, the Israeli occupation authority wants to establish a Jewish archaeological center of seven floors in Al-Maghariba Gate square. The center extends over an area of 3,000 square meters.
A view of the illegal Israeli settlement of Itamar
The Tel Aviv regime may approve the construction of more than 1,000 illegal settler units in the occupied West Bank, Israeli media reports say.
According to the reports on Thursday, Israeli settlers have submitted plans to build 538 new homes in the northern West Bank settlement of Itamar, seeking approval for construction.
The settlers also seek to legalize 137 existing units in the settlement.
In addition, the settlers submitted for review plans for 550 new homes in the settlement of Bruchin.
The reports come despite widespread international criticism over the construction of settlements on occupied Palestinian territories.
On June 11, Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr called on Tel Aviv to halt its illegal settlement activities in the occupied West Bank and withdraw settlers from Palestinian territories.
Last month, the Israeli regime also announced plans to build 1,000 new settler units in East al-Quds (Jerusalem).
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.
The Tel Aviv regime may approve the construction of more than 1,000 illegal settler units in the occupied West Bank, Israeli media reports say.
According to the reports on Thursday, Israeli settlers have submitted plans to build 538 new homes in the northern West Bank settlement of Itamar, seeking approval for construction.
The settlers also seek to legalize 137 existing units in the settlement.
In addition, the settlers submitted for review plans for 550 new homes in the settlement of Bruchin.
The reports come despite widespread international criticism over the construction of settlements on occupied Palestinian territories.
On June 11, Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr called on Tel Aviv to halt its illegal settlement activities in the occupied West Bank and withdraw settlers from Palestinian territories.
Last month, the Israeli regime also announced plans to build 1,000 new settler units in East al-Quds (Jerusalem).
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.
12 june 2013
Israeli government has approved a plan to expand 9 settlements in the West Bank, most notably Borjan west of Salfit northern West Bank. The so-called Supreme Israeli Council for organization, the settlement subcommittee in Bethel City Administration, declared a new settlement project to build new settlement units in 9 West Bank settlements.
Khalil Tafakji, director of the maps section at the Orient House in occupied Jerusalem, said that this settlement project includes the establishment of 550 new housing units.
He also pointed to the presence of another Israeli scheme (No. 163/3) to expand Itamar settlement built on land of the Palestinian village of Awarta. The project includes changing agricultural land to residential land, he added.
He affirmed that this settlement project stretches along five square kilometers over Nablus and Jordan Valley land, where a number of outposts were already built.
According to the plan, Borjan illegal settlement will be expanded to five times its size, where it will include 550 new housing units in addition to playgrounds and commercial centers over 2572 dunums.
Al-Tufkaji pointed out that the Israeli authorities legalized the settlement in April 2012 as a prelude to implement this scheme, saying that the settlement includes currently 100 housing units that will be doubled within one year.
Khalil Tafakji, director of the maps section at the Orient House in occupied Jerusalem, said that this settlement project includes the establishment of 550 new housing units.
He also pointed to the presence of another Israeli scheme (No. 163/3) to expand Itamar settlement built on land of the Palestinian village of Awarta. The project includes changing agricultural land to residential land, he added.
He affirmed that this settlement project stretches along five square kilometers over Nablus and Jordan Valley land, where a number of outposts were already built.
According to the plan, Borjan illegal settlement will be expanded to five times its size, where it will include 550 new housing units in addition to playgrounds and commercial centers over 2572 dunums.
Al-Tufkaji pointed out that the Israeli authorities legalized the settlement in April 2012 as a prelude to implement this scheme, saying that the settlement includes currently 100 housing units that will be doubled within one year.
11 june 2013
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Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his government's refusal to halt settlement expansion activities and respond to Palestinian demands in this regard. Netanyahu stated on Monday that the construction in West Bank settlements would continue and denounced the "preconditions" made by the Palestinian authority for the resumption of the peace talks as incapacitating.
He added that the settlement expansion activities cannot change significantly any chance to reach a political settlement with the Palestinians and that the real question is whether the other party is sincere about recognizing the Jewish state. Netanyahu made his remarks during a session held by the Knesset committee on foreign and defense affairs. |
Netanyahu: Settlement construction will continue, but Israel must be smart about it
Deputy minister in PMO says past has shown settlement freeze drives Palestinians away from negotiations; Lieberman confirms Israel has observed partial freeze in East Jerusalem.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that construction in major settlement blocs does not substantially affect Israel's ability to come to an agreement with the Palestinians and the substantial question is whether the Palestinians have the will to accept the Jewish state.
"Construction in communities in Judea and Samaria will continue, and is continuing still today, but we must be aware of what is happening around us," said Netanyahu.
"We must be smart, not just right," he added. "Settlement in the [West Bank and East Jerusalem] blocs does not significantly change our ability to reach an agreement – that is a false claim. The real question is whether there is or isn't a willingness [among the Palestinians] to accept a Jewish state."
Ofir Akunis, a deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Office, backed the prime minister's remarks by asserting that past experience has shown that a halt to construction has only driven the Palestinians away from negotiating with Israel. "The Likud policy is very consistent. Our call to the Palestinians to enter into direct peace negotiations without precondition is in effect," he said.
Netanyahu and Akunis made his remarks shortly after Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Avigdor Lieberman confirmed that Israel has observed a de facto building freeze in Jerusalem neighborhoods located beyond the Green Line since the beginning of the year, despite repeated denial to that effect by Netanyahu and Akunis.
City planning officials in Jerusalem had previously stated that in practice, construction in Jewish neighborhoods of East Jerusalem is on hold. But Lieberman offered the first official confirmation.
In his remarks Monday, Netanyahu declared that construction in West Bank settlements was ongoing and would continue. "It is continuing now," he said, but added: "you need to understand what is going on around us."
He also said that the imposition of more and more preconditions on the part of the Palestinians presents what he called "an insurmountable obstacle," but the alternative to negotiations is a bi-national state, which Israel does not want. Israel, he added, was not imposing preconditions, while the Palestinians have been deliberately interjecting unacceptable demands "just to avoid entering negotiations."
If a Palestinian state is established, the prime minister said, it would have to be demilitarized and with arrangements that rely fully on the Israel Defense Forces for security. In an apparent reference to the failure of United Nations peacekeeping troops to maintain order on the Syrian side of the cease-fire line in the Golan Heights and the withdrawal of the Austrian contingent, Netanyahu added: "International forces could be in the area, but there cannot be reliance on them. We've seen what is happening with the international forces in the Golan Heights.
The discussion pertaining to Jerusalem construction came after Army Radio reported that since the beginning of 2013, not one apartment has been marketed beyond the Green Line in Jerusalem, citing information it had obtained from the Housing and Construction Ministry. Sources at the Israel Lands Administration told the radios tation they blamed the Prime Minister's Office for the delay. The Prime Minister's Office declined to comment.
Lieberman made clear in his confirmation that while the halt to new construction hasn't been made official, no new tenders are being issued. However, work on projects already approved is continuing.
"This should be viewed as a temporary hiatus," Lieberman told a session of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday. "We have an interest in [U.S. Secretary of State John] Kerry succeeding. You don't always have to be right. You can also be smart."
Referring to the crisis in relations with Washington that occurred in 2010 when public housing tenders were issued for Jewish neighborhoods of East Jerusalem during a visit by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, Lieberman said those tenders were poorly timed, while Israel's current approach is "measured and correct."
When it comes to settlement construction in the West Bank, in March Lieberman said that his Yisrael Beiteinu party would seek to prevent any renewal of a construction freeze. He told reporters at a press conference that after "seeing no results" from a freeze, he would "oppose every effort" to try again. "We are prepared to make gestures, but they cannot be unilateral," Lieberman said. "All members of Yisrael Beiteinu will oppose a freeze if such [a suggestion] is raised."
Deputy minister in PMO says past has shown settlement freeze drives Palestinians away from negotiations; Lieberman confirms Israel has observed partial freeze in East Jerusalem.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that construction in major settlement blocs does not substantially affect Israel's ability to come to an agreement with the Palestinians and the substantial question is whether the Palestinians have the will to accept the Jewish state.
"Construction in communities in Judea and Samaria will continue, and is continuing still today, but we must be aware of what is happening around us," said Netanyahu.
"We must be smart, not just right," he added. "Settlement in the [West Bank and East Jerusalem] blocs does not significantly change our ability to reach an agreement – that is a false claim. The real question is whether there is or isn't a willingness [among the Palestinians] to accept a Jewish state."
Ofir Akunis, a deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Office, backed the prime minister's remarks by asserting that past experience has shown that a halt to construction has only driven the Palestinians away from negotiating with Israel. "The Likud policy is very consistent. Our call to the Palestinians to enter into direct peace negotiations without precondition is in effect," he said.
Netanyahu and Akunis made his remarks shortly after Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Avigdor Lieberman confirmed that Israel has observed a de facto building freeze in Jerusalem neighborhoods located beyond the Green Line since the beginning of the year, despite repeated denial to that effect by Netanyahu and Akunis.
City planning officials in Jerusalem had previously stated that in practice, construction in Jewish neighborhoods of East Jerusalem is on hold. But Lieberman offered the first official confirmation.
In his remarks Monday, Netanyahu declared that construction in West Bank settlements was ongoing and would continue. "It is continuing now," he said, but added: "you need to understand what is going on around us."
He also said that the imposition of more and more preconditions on the part of the Palestinians presents what he called "an insurmountable obstacle," but the alternative to negotiations is a bi-national state, which Israel does not want. Israel, he added, was not imposing preconditions, while the Palestinians have been deliberately interjecting unacceptable demands "just to avoid entering negotiations."
If a Palestinian state is established, the prime minister said, it would have to be demilitarized and with arrangements that rely fully on the Israel Defense Forces for security. In an apparent reference to the failure of United Nations peacekeeping troops to maintain order on the Syrian side of the cease-fire line in the Golan Heights and the withdrawal of the Austrian contingent, Netanyahu added: "International forces could be in the area, but there cannot be reliance on them. We've seen what is happening with the international forces in the Golan Heights.
The discussion pertaining to Jerusalem construction came after Army Radio reported that since the beginning of 2013, not one apartment has been marketed beyond the Green Line in Jerusalem, citing information it had obtained from the Housing and Construction Ministry. Sources at the Israel Lands Administration told the radios tation they blamed the Prime Minister's Office for the delay. The Prime Minister's Office declined to comment.
Lieberman made clear in his confirmation that while the halt to new construction hasn't been made official, no new tenders are being issued. However, work on projects already approved is continuing.
"This should be viewed as a temporary hiatus," Lieberman told a session of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday. "We have an interest in [U.S. Secretary of State John] Kerry succeeding. You don't always have to be right. You can also be smart."
Referring to the crisis in relations with Washington that occurred in 2010 when public housing tenders were issued for Jewish neighborhoods of East Jerusalem during a visit by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, Lieberman said those tenders were poorly timed, while Israel's current approach is "measured and correct."
When it comes to settlement construction in the West Bank, in March Lieberman said that his Yisrael Beiteinu party would seek to prevent any renewal of a construction freeze. He told reporters at a press conference that after "seeing no results" from a freeze, he would "oppose every effort" to try again. "We are prepared to make gestures, but they cannot be unilateral," Lieberman said. "All members of Yisrael Beiteinu will oppose a freeze if such [a suggestion] is raised."
Ahmad Salah, coordinator of the popular committee against the wall and settlements, warned of the escalated Israeli construction of settlements and housing units in Al-Khader town and the surrounding villages. Extensive building work was launched in Khallet Al Ain area in Al-Khader town to establish a "Jewish Synagogue".
Salah confirmed on Monday that the construction of the synagogue began on a land of more than 1000 square meters that belongs to Salah's family.
In the same context, settlers, from Eliezer settlement built on Palestinian lands, have established a new building with very elaborate old design inspired from “Jewish Archaeology and History” in an attempt to create a Jewish heritage in Palestine.
Salah warned of settlement expansion and land confiscation in different parts of Bethlehem city, saying that settlement construction in the al-Khader town is a continuation of Israeli plans to control the whole area.
He confirmed that many Palestinian lands in Bethlehem were confiscated and seized by Israeli authorities under various pretexts in the framework of implementing "the Greater Jerusalem project".
Salah confirmed on Monday that the construction of the synagogue began on a land of more than 1000 square meters that belongs to Salah's family.
In the same context, settlers, from Eliezer settlement built on Palestinian lands, have established a new building with very elaborate old design inspired from “Jewish Archaeology and History” in an attempt to create a Jewish heritage in Palestine.
Salah warned of settlement expansion and land confiscation in different parts of Bethlehem city, saying that settlement construction in the al-Khader town is a continuation of Israeli plans to control the whole area.
He confirmed that many Palestinian lands in Bethlehem were confiscated and seized by Israeli authorities under various pretexts in the framework of implementing "the Greater Jerusalem project".
Egypt Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr has called on the Israeli regime to halt all its illegal settlement activities in the occupied West Bank and withdraw the settlers from the Palestinian lands.
The Egyptian minister also said on Tuesday that “Israel must end its policy toward Palestine.”
Kamel Amr went on to say that Cairo tries to restore and protect Palestinian rights.
On May 27, Israeli daily Haaretz said Tel-Aviv confiscated 1,977 acres of the Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank for its settlement activity during 2012.
The Israeli regime increased its settlement activities after an upgrade in the Palestinian status at the United Nations General Assembly on November 29, 2012. The 193-member General Assembly voted 138-9 with 41 abstentions to upgrade Palestine’s status to non-member observer state.
However, the Israeli ministry for foreign affairs issued a statement and slammed the UN human rights report shortly after it was published.
On January 29, Tel Aviv refused to attend a UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) review session in Geneva to examine the Israeli regime’s violations of the rights of Palestinians.
In December 2012, Palestinians threatened to take Israel to the International Criminal Court over its latest decision to build more settler units in the occupied territories.
The Israeli settlements are considered illegal by much of the international community. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the settlement construction is part of Tel Aviv’s policy and will not stop.
The Egyptian minister also said on Tuesday that “Israel must end its policy toward Palestine.”
Kamel Amr went on to say that Cairo tries to restore and protect Palestinian rights.
On May 27, Israeli daily Haaretz said Tel-Aviv confiscated 1,977 acres of the Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank for its settlement activity during 2012.
The Israeli regime increased its settlement activities after an upgrade in the Palestinian status at the United Nations General Assembly on November 29, 2012. The 193-member General Assembly voted 138-9 with 41 abstentions to upgrade Palestine’s status to non-member observer state.
However, the Israeli ministry for foreign affairs issued a statement and slammed the UN human rights report shortly after it was published.
On January 29, Tel Aviv refused to attend a UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) review session in Geneva to examine the Israeli regime’s violations of the rights of Palestinians.
In December 2012, Palestinians threatened to take Israel to the International Criminal Court over its latest decision to build more settler units in the occupied territories.
The Israeli settlements are considered illegal by much of the international community. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the settlement construction is part of Tel Aviv’s policy and will not stop.
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) is planning to build 550 new housing units in Burkhin settlement to the west of Salfit on Palestinian land in the villages of Brukhin and Kufr Al-Deek. The Hebrew website Walla said that the settlement of Burkhin, which until late last year was deemed “illegal”, would now expand into five times its current area.
It recalled that the Israeli government had decided in April last year to turn this settlement into a “legal” one, adding that the settlement contains at present 100 settlement units.
Jewish settlements in Salfit and the West Bank in general are currently undergoing expansion plans at the expense of Palestinian land.
It recalled that the Israeli government had decided in April last year to turn this settlement into a “legal” one, adding that the settlement contains at present 100 settlement units.
Jewish settlements in Salfit and the West Bank in general are currently undergoing expansion plans at the expense of Palestinian land.
9 june 2013
Laborers work at the construction site of a housing project at the illegal Israeli settlement of Har Homa in East al-Quds
The number of the building starts on settler homes in the West Bank in the Occupied Palestinian Territories has hit a seven-year high in the first quarter of 2013, an Israeli NGO says.
"Between January 2013 and March 2013, construction of 865 new housing units began," Israeli watchdog Peace Now said in a statement on Sunday, AFP reported.
"This is three times as many construction starts compared to the same quarter last year (January-March 2012)," it noted, adding that "if compared to the final quarter of last year (October-December 2012), this is an astonishing 355 percent increase."
The presence and continued expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestine has created a major obstacle for the efforts made to establish peace in the Middle East.
If Tel Aviv regime was committed to peace, it “would not allow, nor continue, to build settlements that inevitably harm the chances for peace," Peace Now said.
"These findings provide further evidence of a continuing…policy to prioritize settlement expansion," it pointed out.
A report released last month revealed that the Israeli regime confiscated 1,977 acres of the Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank for its settlement activity during 2012.
The settlements, which cover an area roughly equal to 1,035 soccer fields and twice as big as New York's Central Park, were approved by “military order,” the Israeli daily Haaretz reported on May 27.
The report said most of the new settlements were located deep in the Palestinian-inhabited West Bank.
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 [Jerusalem] in 1967.
The United Nations and most countries regard the Israeli settlements as illegal because the territories were captured by Israel in the war of 1967 and are hence subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbid construction on occupied lands.
The number of the building starts on settler homes in the West Bank in the Occupied Palestinian Territories has hit a seven-year high in the first quarter of 2013, an Israeli NGO says.
"Between January 2013 and March 2013, construction of 865 new housing units began," Israeli watchdog Peace Now said in a statement on Sunday, AFP reported.
"This is three times as many construction starts compared to the same quarter last year (January-March 2012)," it noted, adding that "if compared to the final quarter of last year (October-December 2012), this is an astonishing 355 percent increase."
The presence and continued expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestine has created a major obstacle for the efforts made to establish peace in the Middle East.
If Tel Aviv regime was committed to peace, it “would not allow, nor continue, to build settlements that inevitably harm the chances for peace," Peace Now said.
"These findings provide further evidence of a continuing…policy to prioritize settlement expansion," it pointed out.
A report released last month revealed that the Israeli regime confiscated 1,977 acres of the Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank for its settlement activity during 2012.
The settlements, which cover an area roughly equal to 1,035 soccer fields and twice as big as New York's Central Park, were approved by “military order,” the Israeli daily Haaretz reported on May 27.
The report said most of the new settlements were located deep in the Palestinian-inhabited West Bank.
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 [Jerusalem] in 1967.
The United Nations and most countries regard the Israeli settlements as illegal because the territories were captured by Israel in the war of 1967 and are hence subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbid construction on occupied lands.
8 june 2013
A new settlement project to build more housing units and to expand settlements built on Palestinian villages in the West Bank was announced by the Israeli occupation authority. Khalil Tafakji, director of the maps section at the Orient House in occupied Jerusalem, said that this settlement project includes the establishment of 550 new housing units.
He also pointed to the presence of another Israeli scheme (No. 163/3) to expand Itamar settlement built on land of the Palestinian village of Awarta. The project includes changing agricultural land to residential land, he added.
He affirmed that this settlement project stretches along five square kilometers over Nablus and Jordan Valley land, where a number of outposts were already built.
He also pointed to the presence of another Israeli scheme (No. 163/3) to expand Itamar settlement built on land of the Palestinian village of Awarta. The project includes changing agricultural land to residential land, he added.
He affirmed that this settlement project stretches along five square kilometers over Nablus and Jordan Valley land, where a number of outposts were already built.
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) initiated a plan to build a new road connecting east Jerusalem with Ma'ale Adumim settlement in the West Bank. The plan was sanctioned despite international criticism of Israel's settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories, especially its E-1 settlement plan which would divide the West Bank into two parts if implemented.
A senior Israeli municipal official in Jerusalem said that the planning commission of the municipal council approved the plan last Wednesday.
He explained that the new road is part of the E-1 project in east Jerusalem and aimed at creating territorial contiguity between the settlements and outposts in the holy city and Ma'ale Adumim in the West Bank.
For her part, Peace Now official Hagit Ofran stated that the new part of the road is about 100 to 200 meters long, but it would have a great political impact.
Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu had already declared that his government would activate the E-1 plan, which has been frozen since 2005 following international pressures.
A senior Israeli municipal official in Jerusalem said that the planning commission of the municipal council approved the plan last Wednesday.
He explained that the new road is part of the E-1 project in east Jerusalem and aimed at creating territorial contiguity between the settlements and outposts in the holy city and Ma'ale Adumim in the West Bank.
For her part, Peace Now official Hagit Ofran stated that the new part of the road is about 100 to 200 meters long, but it would have a great political impact.
Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu had already declared that his government would activate the E-1 plan, which has been frozen since 2005 following international pressures.
7 june 2013
The Israeli regime is scrambling to finish the construction of a 45-mile fence along the Syrian border in the occupied Golan Heights, a report says.
According to a Friday report by the Washington Post, the new “smart fence” is equipped with concertina and razor wire, touch sensors, motion detectors, infrared cameras and ground radar.
The Tel Aviv regime claims to be bolstering an already broken-down fence built in the area for the fear that the foreign-backed turmoil in Syria might spill over into the occupied Palestinian territories, the report said.
On Thursday, anti-Syria militants briefly took over the Quneitra crossing between Syria and the Golan Heights. However, the Syrian army later moved in and recaptured the area.
According to the Post, some Israelis, however, believe that the regime’s barricading itself has increased a ‘sense of isolation.’
While the Israeli fence network is almost complete, the Israeli military is also drawing up plans for a final stretch along the Jordanian barrier. Watch towers, patrol roads, intelligence centers and military brigades would also be built along the fence line, the report said.
In January, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the regime had completed the construction of the main part of a 230-kilometer-long fence along the Egyptian border.
From the north, the Tel Aviv regime has also built a similar fence along the Lebanese border.
According to a Friday report by the Washington Post, the new “smart fence” is equipped with concertina and razor wire, touch sensors, motion detectors, infrared cameras and ground radar.
The Tel Aviv regime claims to be bolstering an already broken-down fence built in the area for the fear that the foreign-backed turmoil in Syria might spill over into the occupied Palestinian territories, the report said.
On Thursday, anti-Syria militants briefly took over the Quneitra crossing between Syria and the Golan Heights. However, the Syrian army later moved in and recaptured the area.
According to the Post, some Israelis, however, believe that the regime’s barricading itself has increased a ‘sense of isolation.’
While the Israeli fence network is almost complete, the Israeli military is also drawing up plans for a final stretch along the Jordanian barrier. Watch towers, patrol roads, intelligence centers and military brigades would also be built along the fence line, the report said.
In January, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the regime had completed the construction of the main part of a 230-kilometer-long fence along the Egyptian border.
From the north, the Tel Aviv regime has also built a similar fence along the Lebanese border.
6 june 2013
Israeli border police evacuate a Palestinian protester near Maale Adumim on March 24
A plan to build a new interchange between Jerusalem and the West Bank settlement of Maale Adumim was expected to be approved by an Israeli planning committee on Thursday, Haaretz newspaper reported.
It is the latest phase of construction in the contentious E1 zone east of Jerusalem, which has drawn protests from the United States and Europe.
Hagit Ofran of settlement watchdog Peace Now confirmed details of the plan, saying that although the new stretch of road was only 100-200 meters (yards) long, it would have political impact as it would connect Jewish settlements in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem with Maaleh Adumim.
"At the same time it will let Palestinians cross E1 in way that will allow Israel to say there's no problem."
Experts have warned that settlement construction in E1 could practically cut the West Bank in two and prevent the creation of a contiguous Palestinian state.
Haaretz said the interchange, which had been approved by Jerusalem planning committee on Wednesday and likely to win approval at district level on Thursday, would facilitate future building in E1.
"The planned new interchange will enable Palestinian vehicular traffic to use the same highway as the settlers, although in different lanes separated by a high wall," Haaretz wrote.
"This is the only highway in the West Bank that will have a separation wall running right down the middle. For that reason, the plan's opponents are already dubbing it 'Apartheid Road', " the paper added.
News about the new road emerged a week before US Secretary of State John Kerry was poised to make his fifth trip to the region since February in a bid to draw the parties back into direct negotiations.
Talks broke down nearly three years ago over a dispute about Israeli settlement building.
Washington last week warned Israel that its continued settlement activity was "counterproductive" to efforts to reach a peace deal with the Palestinians.
A plan to build a new interchange between Jerusalem and the West Bank settlement of Maale Adumim was expected to be approved by an Israeli planning committee on Thursday, Haaretz newspaper reported.
It is the latest phase of construction in the contentious E1 zone east of Jerusalem, which has drawn protests from the United States and Europe.
Hagit Ofran of settlement watchdog Peace Now confirmed details of the plan, saying that although the new stretch of road was only 100-200 meters (yards) long, it would have political impact as it would connect Jewish settlements in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem with Maaleh Adumim.
"At the same time it will let Palestinians cross E1 in way that will allow Israel to say there's no problem."
Experts have warned that settlement construction in E1 could practically cut the West Bank in two and prevent the creation of a contiguous Palestinian state.
Haaretz said the interchange, which had been approved by Jerusalem planning committee on Wednesday and likely to win approval at district level on Thursday, would facilitate future building in E1.
"The planned new interchange will enable Palestinian vehicular traffic to use the same highway as the settlers, although in different lanes separated by a high wall," Haaretz wrote.
"This is the only highway in the West Bank that will have a separation wall running right down the middle. For that reason, the plan's opponents are already dubbing it 'Apartheid Road', " the paper added.
News about the new road emerged a week before US Secretary of State John Kerry was poised to make his fifth trip to the region since February in a bid to draw the parties back into direct negotiations.
Talks broke down nearly three years ago over a dispute about Israeli settlement building.
Washington last week warned Israel that its continued settlement activity was "counterproductive" to efforts to reach a peace deal with the Palestinians.
The European Union demanded Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to stop Israel’s illegal settlement activities, and stated that the EU would support the Palestinian Authority in joining the International Criminal Court should Israel fail to stop its violations.
Several senior EU leaders said that they fear Netanyahu is obstructing the efforts of U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, aimed at resuming peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
They said that Israel’s settlement construction and expansion activities, especially in occupied Jerusalem, are serious threats to the prospects of resuming direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
Israeli sources have reported that the E.U warned Netanyahu that Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, would resume the “unilateral” international diplomatic moves by trying to achieve full international recognition, and joining the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The sources added that the EU would even support Palestine in joining the ICC should Israel fail to stop its settlement activities.
Israel recently declared it would be constructing thousands of units for Jewish settlers in occupied East Jerusalem.
Several senior EU leaders said that they fear Netanyahu is obstructing the efforts of U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, aimed at resuming peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
They said that Israel’s settlement construction and expansion activities, especially in occupied Jerusalem, are serious threats to the prospects of resuming direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
Israeli sources have reported that the E.U warned Netanyahu that Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, would resume the “unilateral” international diplomatic moves by trying to achieve full international recognition, and joining the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The sources added that the EU would even support Palestine in joining the ICC should Israel fail to stop its settlement activities.
Israel recently declared it would be constructing thousands of units for Jewish settlers in occupied East Jerusalem.
4 june 2013
Israeli High Court of Justice allowed an Israeli construction company to carry on with the construction in Alei Zahav settlement that was built on a private Palestinian property. 'Zahav' Company is constructing another 150 settlement units within a plan that includes the construction of 700 units to expand the settlement. The settlement is constructed on a private Palestinian land belonging to the resident Shahrat Abu Sharifa, a Palestinian woman from Kufr Deik village.
The company has confessed it annexed the private land by "mistake" to the structural map of the new settlement neighborhood and that the land is used as a road leading to the area where the settler's buildings are built on. Yet, the company refused to evacuate the land.
The Palestinian Abu Sharifa, through the lawyer Alaa Mahajneh, is to ask the Israeli court to evacuate the invaders from her land, yet the court claimed settlers who bought the settlement buildings will be affected by the absence of an alternative routes for the road that passes through her land, therefore the court gave the authority to the company to use the land for another year until they find an alternative road.
The company has confessed it annexed the private land by "mistake" to the structural map of the new settlement neighborhood and that the land is used as a road leading to the area where the settler's buildings are built on. Yet, the company refused to evacuate the land.
The Palestinian Abu Sharifa, through the lawyer Alaa Mahajneh, is to ask the Israeli court to evacuate the invaders from her land, yet the court claimed settlers who bought the settlement buildings will be affected by the absence of an alternative routes for the road that passes through her land, therefore the court gave the authority to the company to use the land for another year until they find an alternative road.
3 june 2013
In its monthly report, the Settlement and Wall Information Center said that May has witnessed an Israeli escalation in settlement building, demolition processes, and settlers' attacks. Nealy 600 housing units were established in May, in addition to the demolition of 50 Palestinian facilities, the burning of about one thousand dunums, and 148 assaults on Mosques, the report said.
The report also referred to the Israeli continued Judaization projects in occupied Jerusalem including the monorail project that will facilitate the arrival of thousands of settlers to the Buraq Wall and the excavation process at Umayyad palaces south of al-Aqsa mosque as a prelude to establish the so-called house Strauss Jewish center.
Israeli raids into al-Aqsa mosque and settlers' attacks on Islamic and Christian religious sites have escalated during May, according to the report.
The report documented 50 demolition cases, where 17 houses were demolished in Jenin, 16 other facilities were demolished in occupied Jerusalem, 8 others in Jericho and 6 in al-Khalil, in addition to 3 demolished houses in Bethlehem. The report also noted that 69 houses are threatened with demolition.
The monthly report confirmed that the Israeli government approved the establishment of nearly 600 housing units including 296 housing units in Beit Eil settlement built on Ramallah land, 121 housing units in Givat Ze'ev built on Jerusalem lands, in addition to other settlement projects in Tukarem and al-Khalil.
The center affirmed in the report that 977 dunums in Ramallah, Nablus and Qalqilya were burned in addition to damaging 2,988 trees in Nablus, Ramallah and al-Khalil by the Israeli settlers who escalated their attacks against Palestinian farmers where 45 of them were injured.
The report also stated that many peace activists and journalists were injured during the the repression of peaceful marches against the wall and settlements in Nabi Saleh, Bil'in, Kafr Qadum, Maasara, and Beit Ummar villages.
The report also referred to the Israeli continued Judaization projects in occupied Jerusalem including the monorail project that will facilitate the arrival of thousands of settlers to the Buraq Wall and the excavation process at Umayyad palaces south of al-Aqsa mosque as a prelude to establish the so-called house Strauss Jewish center.
Israeli raids into al-Aqsa mosque and settlers' attacks on Islamic and Christian religious sites have escalated during May, according to the report.
The report documented 50 demolition cases, where 17 houses were demolished in Jenin, 16 other facilities were demolished in occupied Jerusalem, 8 others in Jericho and 6 in al-Khalil, in addition to 3 demolished houses in Bethlehem. The report also noted that 69 houses are threatened with demolition.
The monthly report confirmed that the Israeli government approved the establishment of nearly 600 housing units including 296 housing units in Beit Eil settlement built on Ramallah land, 121 housing units in Givat Ze'ev built on Jerusalem lands, in addition to other settlement projects in Tukarem and al-Khalil.
The center affirmed in the report that 977 dunums in Ramallah, Nablus and Qalqilya were burned in addition to damaging 2,988 trees in Nablus, Ramallah and al-Khalil by the Israeli settlers who escalated their attacks against Palestinian farmers where 45 of them were injured.
The report also stated that many peace activists and journalists were injured during the the repression of peaceful marches against the wall and settlements in Nabi Saleh, Bil'in, Kafr Qadum, Maasara, and Beit Ummar villages.
2 june 2013
Palestinian Ahrar movement considered that the escalation of settlement in Jerusalem is one of the outcomes of the subservience shown by Ramallah authority in the recent Davos conference. Ahrar movement noted in a statement on Saturday that the occupation is still practicing its settlement policy and Judaization projects.
It is stealing the lands, especially in Jerusalem, in order to implement settlement schemes and build housing units, Ahrar said, referring to the new plan to construct 4,195 new housing units in settlements in Jerusalem.
This comes in conjunction with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's tours, the latest of which was the Davos conference that aims to embellish the occupation's image and resume the direct negotiations with the occupation without preconditions, the movement said.
It condemned the subservience shown by Mahmoud Abbas at Davos, stressing that the escalation of settlement activities in the city of Jerusalem is one of the results of the ongoing concessions made by the Authority.
Ahrar said the Israeli extremist rightist government is based on settlement construction and expansion, and aims to displace the indigenous people from the Holy City after confiscating their lands.
This policy will not succeed in changing the Arab and Islamic reality of the Holy City and the other Palestinian cities, the movement asserted.
It is stealing the lands, especially in Jerusalem, in order to implement settlement schemes and build housing units, Ahrar said, referring to the new plan to construct 4,195 new housing units in settlements in Jerusalem.
This comes in conjunction with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's tours, the latest of which was the Davos conference that aims to embellish the occupation's image and resume the direct negotiations with the occupation without preconditions, the movement said.
It condemned the subservience shown by Mahmoud Abbas at Davos, stressing that the escalation of settlement activities in the city of Jerusalem is one of the results of the ongoing concessions made by the Authority.
Ahrar said the Israeli extremist rightist government is based on settlement construction and expansion, and aims to displace the indigenous people from the Holy City after confiscating their lands.
This policy will not succeed in changing the Arab and Islamic reality of the Holy City and the other Palestinian cities, the movement asserted.
1 june 2013
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) approved the building of 4,195 new housing units in settlements in occupied Jerusalem, according to the Hebrew newspaper Yerushalayim. The newspaper said that the settlement expansion plans are ready for implementation after they were sanctioned by the Israeli district planning committee in Jerusalem.
The approved plans included the establishment of 1,500 housing unis in Ramat Shlomo settlement, 695 units in Pisgat Ze'ev, and 2,000 others in Gilo settlement,
Minister of housing Uri Ariel had said lately during a Knesset session that he had plans for the marketing of 2,500 units immediately.
In turn, head of the Israeli municipal council in Jerusalem Nir Barkat also pledged to build more hotels in east Jerusalem to accommodate the growing number of tourists who visit the holy city. These hotels are feared to be built on annexed Palestinian lands
The newspaper also claimed that Israel had built 2,199 settlement units in Jerusalem from 2009 to 2012, although it had approved the building of 8,460 units during these years.
The approved plans included the establishment of 1,500 housing unis in Ramat Shlomo settlement, 695 units in Pisgat Ze'ev, and 2,000 others in Gilo settlement,
Minister of housing Uri Ariel had said lately during a Knesset session that he had plans for the marketing of 2,500 units immediately.
In turn, head of the Israeli municipal council in Jerusalem Nir Barkat also pledged to build more hotels in east Jerusalem to accommodate the growing number of tourists who visit the holy city. These hotels are feared to be built on annexed Palestinian lands
The newspaper also claimed that Israel had built 2,199 settlement units in Jerusalem from 2009 to 2012, although it had approved the building of 8,460 units during these years.
The European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton Friday called on Israel to bring to a total halt all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories, which she said threaten the two-state solution. Ashton reiterated in a statement on renewed plans for Israeli settlements in and around East Jerusalem the long-standing EU position on settlements.
“Settlements are illegal under international law and threaten to make a two-state solution impossible,” said Ashton. “The EU has repeatedly urged the Government of Israel to immediately end all settlement activities in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem, in line with its obligations under the Roadmap.”
She said that the EU “will not recognize any changes to the pre-1967 borders, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties.”
Ashton said that while the EU “has consistently maintained that negotiations remain the best way forward for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” it reiterates that “unilateral action by either party cannot prejudge the outcome of negotiations and will not be recognized by the international community.”
“Settlements are illegal under international law and threaten to make a two-state solution impossible,” said Ashton. “The EU has repeatedly urged the Government of Israel to immediately end all settlement activities in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem, in line with its obligations under the Roadmap.”
She said that the EU “will not recognize any changes to the pre-1967 borders, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties.”
Ashton said that while the EU “has consistently maintained that negotiations remain the best way forward for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” it reiterates that “unilateral action by either party cannot prejudge the outcome of negotiations and will not be recognized by the international community.”
