30 june 2013
Maariv newspaper said that the Israeli ministry of housing and the municipal council in occupied Jerusalem intend to approve on Monday a plan to build 930 housing units in Abu Ghuneim Mount (Har Homa) settlement, east of the holy city. The newspaper noted that this plan was declared despite the efforts being made by US secretary of state John Kerry during his current visit to the region to revive the peace process.
It affirmed that the financial committee of the Israeli municipal council has embarked on studying the financial aspects of the plan before approving it on Monday.
The plan was first approved in 2011, but the Israeli decision was then shelved due to European political pressures.
Israel 'sweetens deal for 930 East Jerusalem homes'
Israel is poised to approve incentives for buyers of nearly 1,000 new homes in annexed East Jerusalem despite a major US push to revive peace talks, reports said on Sunday.
The plan, which will offer prospective buyers a huge discount on 930 new homes to be built in Har Homa, will be discussed by Jerusalem municipality's finance committee on Monday, army radio and the Maariv newspaper reported.
The reports emerged as US Secretary of State John Kerry was wrapping up an intensive four days of shuttle diplomacy toing and froing between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Mahmoud Abbas in a bid to coax them back to direct negotiations.
If approved, the plan will lower the price of each new home by 100,000 shekels ($27,500) in a move which will be funded by the housing ministry.
Har Homa is located on east Jerusalem's southern outskirts, and construction there is likely to have a serious impact on the sector's boundary with the rest of the West Bank, analysts say.
Last week, on the eve of Kerry's arrival, the municipal planning committee granted final approval for a further 69 new homes in another area of Har Homa.
The plan to build more than 900 houses in Har Homa was approved in 2011, with tenders issued and construction companies waiting in the wings to start work, but it has been on hold because of its sensitivity, Maariv said.
Jerusalem councillor Elisha Peleg, a member of Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party, made no effort to hide his delight.
"The temporary suspension of construction in east Jerusalem is over, despite the visit of Secretary of State Kerry," he told army radio.
"There is no reason to halt construction any more, because it is now proved that stopping construction in east Jerusalem has not brought about a renewal of negotiations with the Palestinians but has caused a severe shortage of housing," he said.
The reports were not well received in Ramallah, where chief PLO negotiator Saeb Erakat said it proved how serious Israel was about restarting talks.
"This is Netanyahu's response to everything Kerry said, to his ideas and to all his efforts," he told AFP, noting that the news emerged "before Kerry wraps up his tour".
"We on the Palestinian side tried every possible effort to help Kerry succeed, but it is obvious today... that Netanyahu is putting 930 obstacles in front of Secretary Kerry's efforts," he charged.
"Netanyahu alone is responsible for ruining Kerry's efforts and trying to abort his mission and destroying the two-state solution which is supported by the entire international community."
Asked earlier whether settlement building had hampered efforts to achieve a breakthrough, Kerry said: "The answer is no, there are any number of obstacles, but we are working through them."
"I am pleased to tell you that we have made real progress on this trip and I believe that with a little more work, the start of final status negotiations could be within reach," Kerry told reporters at Ben Gurion airport just before leaving for Brunei.
PLO official Erekat said there had been "no breakthrough so far and there is still a gap between the Palestinian and Israeli positions."
Earlier this month, Housing Minister Uri Ariel, himself a hardline settler, implied that there had been a de facto freeze on new housing projects in the West Bank including East Jerusalem since the start of the year.
And in May, settlement watchdog Peace Now said that no new tenders had been issued for West Bank homes as press reports suggested Netanyahu had agreed to "rein in" construction to help Kerry's efforts.
Israel seized East Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it in a move never accepted by the international community. It does not see construction there as settlement building.
Islamic-Christian committee condemns Israeli decision to build 930 housing units
Secretary General of Islamic-Christian Committee for Support of Jerusalem and holy sites Hanna Issa denounced the decision of Israeli Ministry of Housing and Municipality to build 930 settlement units in Jabal Abu Ghneim (Har Homa). Dr. Issa said in a press statement on Sunday that this decision proves the continuation of settlement construction and expansion by the occupation forces.
He stressed that the presence of settlers and settlements in the West Bank and the eastern part of Jerusalem represents a violation of the Palestinian people’s rights and a flagrant breach of the resolutions of international legitimacy, which condemn all forms of settlement in the occupied Palestinian territories.
He also warned that Israel aims to increase the Jewish population in the Palestinian territories through building thousands of new settlement units for the Jewish immigrants.
"The recent Israeli construction in the occupied territories gives the occupation forces new opportunity to continue its plans to Judaize occupied Palestine through settlement activities, which has continued since the nineteenth century," Dr. Hanna Issa added in his statement.
He stressed that giving orders for building more settlement units violates the international humanitarian law.
It affirmed that the financial committee of the Israeli municipal council has embarked on studying the financial aspects of the plan before approving it on Monday.
The plan was first approved in 2011, but the Israeli decision was then shelved due to European political pressures.
Israel 'sweetens deal for 930 East Jerusalem homes'
Israel is poised to approve incentives for buyers of nearly 1,000 new homes in annexed East Jerusalem despite a major US push to revive peace talks, reports said on Sunday.
The plan, which will offer prospective buyers a huge discount on 930 new homes to be built in Har Homa, will be discussed by Jerusalem municipality's finance committee on Monday, army radio and the Maariv newspaper reported.
The reports emerged as US Secretary of State John Kerry was wrapping up an intensive four days of shuttle diplomacy toing and froing between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Mahmoud Abbas in a bid to coax them back to direct negotiations.
If approved, the plan will lower the price of each new home by 100,000 shekels ($27,500) in a move which will be funded by the housing ministry.
Har Homa is located on east Jerusalem's southern outskirts, and construction there is likely to have a serious impact on the sector's boundary with the rest of the West Bank, analysts say.
Last week, on the eve of Kerry's arrival, the municipal planning committee granted final approval for a further 69 new homes in another area of Har Homa.
The plan to build more than 900 houses in Har Homa was approved in 2011, with tenders issued and construction companies waiting in the wings to start work, but it has been on hold because of its sensitivity, Maariv said.
Jerusalem councillor Elisha Peleg, a member of Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party, made no effort to hide his delight.
"The temporary suspension of construction in east Jerusalem is over, despite the visit of Secretary of State Kerry," he told army radio.
"There is no reason to halt construction any more, because it is now proved that stopping construction in east Jerusalem has not brought about a renewal of negotiations with the Palestinians but has caused a severe shortage of housing," he said.
The reports were not well received in Ramallah, where chief PLO negotiator Saeb Erakat said it proved how serious Israel was about restarting talks.
"This is Netanyahu's response to everything Kerry said, to his ideas and to all his efforts," he told AFP, noting that the news emerged "before Kerry wraps up his tour".
"We on the Palestinian side tried every possible effort to help Kerry succeed, but it is obvious today... that Netanyahu is putting 930 obstacles in front of Secretary Kerry's efforts," he charged.
"Netanyahu alone is responsible for ruining Kerry's efforts and trying to abort his mission and destroying the two-state solution which is supported by the entire international community."
Asked earlier whether settlement building had hampered efforts to achieve a breakthrough, Kerry said: "The answer is no, there are any number of obstacles, but we are working through them."
"I am pleased to tell you that we have made real progress on this trip and I believe that with a little more work, the start of final status negotiations could be within reach," Kerry told reporters at Ben Gurion airport just before leaving for Brunei.
PLO official Erekat said there had been "no breakthrough so far and there is still a gap between the Palestinian and Israeli positions."
Earlier this month, Housing Minister Uri Ariel, himself a hardline settler, implied that there had been a de facto freeze on new housing projects in the West Bank including East Jerusalem since the start of the year.
And in May, settlement watchdog Peace Now said that no new tenders had been issued for West Bank homes as press reports suggested Netanyahu had agreed to "rein in" construction to help Kerry's efforts.
Israel seized East Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it in a move never accepted by the international community. It does not see construction there as settlement building.
Islamic-Christian committee condemns Israeli decision to build 930 housing units
Secretary General of Islamic-Christian Committee for Support of Jerusalem and holy sites Hanna Issa denounced the decision of Israeli Ministry of Housing and Municipality to build 930 settlement units in Jabal Abu Ghneim (Har Homa). Dr. Issa said in a press statement on Sunday that this decision proves the continuation of settlement construction and expansion by the occupation forces.
He stressed that the presence of settlers and settlements in the West Bank and the eastern part of Jerusalem represents a violation of the Palestinian people’s rights and a flagrant breach of the resolutions of international legitimacy, which condemn all forms of settlement in the occupied Palestinian territories.
He also warned that Israel aims to increase the Jewish population in the Palestinian territories through building thousands of new settlement units for the Jewish immigrants.
"The recent Israeli construction in the occupied territories gives the occupation forces new opportunity to continue its plans to Judaize occupied Palestine through settlement activities, which has continued since the nineteenth century," Dr. Hanna Issa added in his statement.
He stressed that giving orders for building more settlement units violates the international humanitarian law.
29 june 2013
The popular committee for land defense in Umm Al-Fahm city said that the Israeli authority intends to establish a high-pressure power grid in Rouha territory. According to this Israeli plan, the committee stated, hundreds of dunums of Palestinian land will be seized to install this network and thousands of other dunums will be exposed to environmental damage by this project.
This project will also prevent the urban development of the nearby Arab towns and their natural territorial expansion into Rouha area.
The popular committee for land defense held a meeting at the municipal council of Umm Al-Fahm to discuss the steps to be taken to stop this Israeli plan.
The committee believes that this plan is aimed at stealing the land from its Arab owners after a previous attempt in 1998 had failed to turn the land of Rouha into a closed military zone as a result of the Palestinian massive protests that prompted the Israeli government then to backtrack on its annexation decision.
This project will also prevent the urban development of the nearby Arab towns and their natural territorial expansion into Rouha area.
The popular committee for land defense held a meeting at the municipal council of Umm Al-Fahm to discuss the steps to be taken to stop this Israeli plan.
The committee believes that this plan is aimed at stealing the land from its Arab owners after a previous attempt in 1998 had failed to turn the land of Rouha into a closed military zone as a result of the Palestinian massive protests that prompted the Israeli government then to backtrack on its annexation decision.
28 june 2013
The British Government denounced Thursday [June 27 2013] the recent Israeli decision granting a final approval for the construction of 69 new units in the Har Homa [Jabal Abu Ghneim] illegal settlement between occupied Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
Britain said that the Israeli decision, made by the Jerusalem City council, is another obstacle to the efforts to resume direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
Alistair Pert, British Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, in charge of Middle East, North Africa and South Asian Affairs, stated that Britain strongly believes that settlements built on the occupied territories are illegal, illegitimate under International Law, and are an obstacle to peace in the Middle East.
Pert added that he made it clear during his visit to the region earlier this month that, that both Israel and the Palestinians, need to act courageously in order to boost the American efforts to resume direct and unconditional peace talks.
“Both parties must refrain from unilateral moves that could jeopardize the efforts to resume the political process”, he added, “The failure to resume talks could have very serious effects on the Israelis and Palestinians”.
Israel’s settlements are also a direct violation to the Fourth Geneva Convention to which Israel is a signatory.
Britain said that the Israeli decision, made by the Jerusalem City council, is another obstacle to the efforts to resume direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
Alistair Pert, British Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, in charge of Middle East, North Africa and South Asian Affairs, stated that Britain strongly believes that settlements built on the occupied territories are illegal, illegitimate under International Law, and are an obstacle to peace in the Middle East.
Pert added that he made it clear during his visit to the region earlier this month that, that both Israel and the Palestinians, need to act courageously in order to boost the American efforts to resume direct and unconditional peace talks.
“Both parties must refrain from unilateral moves that could jeopardize the efforts to resume the political process”, he added, “The failure to resume talks could have very serious effects on the Israelis and Palestinians”.
Israel’s settlements are also a direct violation to the Fourth Geneva Convention to which Israel is a signatory.
27 june 2013
Palestinian sources said the Israeli authorities began to build the largest synagogue in the West Bank on the foot of Daniel settlement built on Palestinian lands in Bethlehem in an area close to the south of occupied Jerusalem. Sohail Khalilia, director of settlement's control unit at the Institute of Applied Research ARIJ in Bethlehem, reported that the settlers have begun to build a synagogue in an outpost, that will be transformed into a settlement to be added to Gush Etzion settlement complex
Khalilia said in a press statement on Thursday: "The Palestinians have become trapped from all sides, in light of this settlement expansion and the implementation of the settlement schemes."
He pointed out that the Jewish rabbis have called for the construction of the synagogues in the occupied West Bank in an attempt to impose a fait accompli on the ground and reinforce the Jewish presence in the region.
Khalilia said in a press statement on Thursday: "The Palestinians have become trapped from all sides, in light of this settlement expansion and the implementation of the settlement schemes."
He pointed out that the Jewish rabbis have called for the construction of the synagogues in the occupied West Bank in an attempt to impose a fait accompli on the ground and reinforce the Jewish presence in the region.
A boy runs past a road under construction in the Palestinian neighborhood of Beit Safafa in Jerusalem February 28, 2013
Residents of Beit Safafa in East Jerusalem are awaiting an Israeli court decision expected Wednesday that will decide whether plans to build a highway through their neighborhood will go ahead.
Residents have been protesting for months against the construction of Route 4, which would effectively divide Beit Safafa into two parts.
The six-lane highway is being built to allow settlers to speed down to Israel's coastal plains, unhindered by traffic lights or roundabouts.
Palestinian residents will see no benefits from the infrastructure project, and will have to use underpasses and bridges to reach the other side of Beit Safafa.
"Building the highway is a political decision not a planning issue," an engineer from Beit Safafa, Abdul-Karim Lafi, told Ma'an.
"The real goal behind the highway is to destroy lands of Beit Safafa in order to serve settlers who live near Hebron in the south so they can easily drive to Jerusalem at the expense of our lands."
Over 50 acres of private Palestinian land will be confiscated for the highway and the construction will destroy the territorial contiguity of Beit Safafa, Lafi said.
Israel started constructing the highway in late 2012 and locals have staged regular protests and court petitions against the project.
Residents of Beit Safafa in East Jerusalem are awaiting an Israeli court decision expected Wednesday that will decide whether plans to build a highway through their neighborhood will go ahead.
Residents have been protesting for months against the construction of Route 4, which would effectively divide Beit Safafa into two parts.
The six-lane highway is being built to allow settlers to speed down to Israel's coastal plains, unhindered by traffic lights or roundabouts.
Palestinian residents will see no benefits from the infrastructure project, and will have to use underpasses and bridges to reach the other side of Beit Safafa.
"Building the highway is a political decision not a planning issue," an engineer from Beit Safafa, Abdul-Karim Lafi, told Ma'an.
"The real goal behind the highway is to destroy lands of Beit Safafa in order to serve settlers who live near Hebron in the south so they can easily drive to Jerusalem at the expense of our lands."
Over 50 acres of private Palestinian land will be confiscated for the highway and the construction will destroy the territorial contiguity of Beit Safafa, Lafi said.
Israel started constructing the highway in late 2012 and locals have staged regular protests and court petitions against the project.
Abu Ghneim Settlement
Israeli Radio, Reseht Bet, reported Wednesday evening [June 26 2013] that the Construction and Planning Committee of the Jerusalem City Council, approved the construction of additional 69 units in the Abu Ghneim (Har Homa) illegal settlement, east of Bethlehem.
Reseht Bet said that the decision to build the new units is final, and does not need any further approval from the City Council or the government.
The plan aims at building additional 33 units in an apartment building in the settlement, and 36 more units in another building.
The decision came just before the visit of U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, who will be holding a meeting on Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel’s ongoing illegal settlement activities are among the main reasons that pushed the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank to quit direct peace talks with Tel Aviv.
Erekat says Israel Wiping out Two-State Solution
Israel’s settlement activity is wiping out the two-state solution, member of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s negotiating team said Thursday. Erekat was reacting to an Israeli decision to build 69 new housing units in the illegal settlement of Jabal Abu Ghneim (Har Homa) south of Jerusalem.
Erekat, who called on the international community to hold Israel accountable for its “systematic violations of international law,” said in a statement issued by the Negotiations Affairs Department that “settlement activity in and around Occupied East Jerusalem is one of the main reasons why the two-state solution is disappearing, as without East Jerusalem there will be no Palestinian state.”
The Israeli decision is taken on the eve of a visit to the region for US Secretary of State John Kerry.
“Israel has a selected repertoire awaiting US officials, like what happened to Mr. Biden (the US vice president), which includes settlements, settlements and more settlements,” he said. “It has played the same symphony since the signature of the Oslo Agreement in 1993 by almost tripling the number of settlers in 20 years, taking Palestinian land, lives and livelihoods in the process.”
Erekat said that in spite of an accelerated settlement activity, forced displacement, identity card revocations and home demolitions, Israel has signed several free trade agreements, including an Association Agreement with the European Union.
“In other words, Israel has been rewarded for its crimes, leaving Tel Aviv with no incentive to move for peace,” said Erekat.
“The international community should understand that in order to create the right environment for negotiations it should not grant impunity to Israel over its repeated crimes and violations. On the contrary, accountability is the best incentive to realign negotiations with international law. This is the only path towards a just and lasting peace between Israel and Palestine,” said Erekat.
Israeli Radio, Reseht Bet, reported Wednesday evening [June 26 2013] that the Construction and Planning Committee of the Jerusalem City Council, approved the construction of additional 69 units in the Abu Ghneim (Har Homa) illegal settlement, east of Bethlehem.
Reseht Bet said that the decision to build the new units is final, and does not need any further approval from the City Council or the government.
The plan aims at building additional 33 units in an apartment building in the settlement, and 36 more units in another building.
The decision came just before the visit of U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, who will be holding a meeting on Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel’s ongoing illegal settlement activities are among the main reasons that pushed the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank to quit direct peace talks with Tel Aviv.
Erekat says Israel Wiping out Two-State Solution
Israel’s settlement activity is wiping out the two-state solution, member of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s negotiating team said Thursday. Erekat was reacting to an Israeli decision to build 69 new housing units in the illegal settlement of Jabal Abu Ghneim (Har Homa) south of Jerusalem.
Erekat, who called on the international community to hold Israel accountable for its “systematic violations of international law,” said in a statement issued by the Negotiations Affairs Department that “settlement activity in and around Occupied East Jerusalem is one of the main reasons why the two-state solution is disappearing, as without East Jerusalem there will be no Palestinian state.”
The Israeli decision is taken on the eve of a visit to the region for US Secretary of State John Kerry.
“Israel has a selected repertoire awaiting US officials, like what happened to Mr. Biden (the US vice president), which includes settlements, settlements and more settlements,” he said. “It has played the same symphony since the signature of the Oslo Agreement in 1993 by almost tripling the number of settlers in 20 years, taking Palestinian land, lives and livelihoods in the process.”
Erekat said that in spite of an accelerated settlement activity, forced displacement, identity card revocations and home demolitions, Israel has signed several free trade agreements, including an Association Agreement with the European Union.
“In other words, Israel has been rewarded for its crimes, leaving Tel Aviv with no incentive to move for peace,” said Erekat.
“The international community should understand that in order to create the right environment for negotiations it should not grant impunity to Israel over its repeated crimes and violations. On the contrary, accountability is the best incentive to realign negotiations with international law. This is the only path towards a just and lasting peace between Israel and Palestine,” said Erekat.
26 june 2013
Saber al-Hariny, member of Tawana village council, told PIC's correspondent that the villagers have been exposed to settlers' daily attempts to confiscate lands adjacent to the settlements that surround the village. Tawana village, east of Yatta town in the southern part of al-Khalil district, which has a population of about 400 people, is surrounded by four Israeli settlements; Fatah Sedro, Ma'on, Karmiel and Umm Arayes.
Al-Hariny pointed out that the Zionist establishment has been trying to expel the residents of the village and force them to leave their properties, amid the absence of support from the Palestinian Authority.
Tawana village has experienced since 1967 many attempts to Judaize it for its proximity to the Jordanian border. The occupation separated it from the city of Yatta, and surrounded it by settlements.
Al-Hariny said that "the occupation has been increasingly intensifying its repressive procedures against the village and its inhabitants over the past decade. Israeli Building Department implemented dozens of demolition and confiscation resolutions."
Suleiman Khader Amour, 29, said the occupation was trying hard to force the villagers to leave their lands, through the settlers' ongoing attacks against the population, the agricultural lands, the farmers, the school students and the mosques.
Mahmoud Rab'i, 58, criticized the Palestinian Authority's inaction regarding the issue of the villages east of Yatta and said: "PA is not providing the support and services that will enhance the steadfastness of the villagers against the settlers and the Israeli measures against them."
Former Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak issued last year a decree to demolish eight Palestinian villages east of Yatta for military purposes.
Al-Hariny pointed out that the Zionist establishment has been trying to expel the residents of the village and force them to leave their properties, amid the absence of support from the Palestinian Authority.
Tawana village has experienced since 1967 many attempts to Judaize it for its proximity to the Jordanian border. The occupation separated it from the city of Yatta, and surrounded it by settlements.
Al-Hariny said that "the occupation has been increasingly intensifying its repressive procedures against the village and its inhabitants over the past decade. Israeli Building Department implemented dozens of demolition and confiscation resolutions."
Suleiman Khader Amour, 29, said the occupation was trying hard to force the villagers to leave their lands, through the settlers' ongoing attacks against the population, the agricultural lands, the farmers, the school students and the mosques.
Mahmoud Rab'i, 58, criticized the Palestinian Authority's inaction regarding the issue of the villages east of Yatta and said: "PA is not providing the support and services that will enhance the steadfastness of the villagers against the settlers and the Israeli measures against them."
Former Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak issued last year a decree to demolish eight Palestinian villages east of Yatta for military purposes.
25 june 2013
Israeli bulldozers started on Tuesday to raze lands near the fence of Najohout settlement built on Palestinian land in southern al-Khalil district. The Israeli authorities have approved the work construction in the settlement in order to expand the settlement and establish new housing units, eyewitnesses said.
The sources added that the Israeli authorities prevented the Palestinian residents to have access to their lands near the mentioned settlement especially after the approval of 900 housing units in the West Bank.
The sources added that the Israeli authorities prevented the Palestinian residents to have access to their lands near the mentioned settlement especially after the approval of 900 housing units in the West Bank.
Israeli bulldozers started on Tuesday to bulldoze lands near the fence of Nijhout settlement built on Palestinian lands south of al-Khalil. Eyewitnesses told PIC that Israeli bulldozers began working in areas adjacent to the fence of Nijhout settlement established on the lands belonging to Khirbet Salama residents, south of al-Khalil in the southern West Bank.
The bulldozers are working on expanding spaces for creating new settlement units in the western side of the settlement, overlooking the villages of al-Majd and Beit Awwa.
The witnesses added that the Israeli occupation forces have prevented in recent months the citizens from approaching their lands adjacent to the settlement as these lands will be used for building tens of settlement units after the Israeli government approved construction of 800 new units in the south of the West Bank.
The bulldozers are working on expanding spaces for creating new settlement units in the western side of the settlement, overlooking the villages of al-Majd and Beit Awwa.
The witnesses added that the Israeli occupation forces have prevented in recent months the citizens from approaching their lands adjacent to the settlement as these lands will be used for building tens of settlement units after the Israeli government approved construction of 800 new units in the south of the West Bank.
24 june 2013
The Israeli authorities have approved the establishment of 900 new housing units in southern al-Khalil in the occupied West Bank, a Palestinian expert in settlement affairs said. Abdul-Hadi Hantash, member of the Land Defense Committee in al-Khalil, told Quds Press that the Israeli authorities issued recently new tenders to construct 900 housing units in several settlements in West Bank, pointing out that the construction work will be focused in smaller settlements in an attempt to impart legitimacy.
325 housing units will be established between Ochklot and Sansana settlements built on Palestinian lands in al-Khalil in order to expand and link the two settlements, he added.
The Palestinian expert pointed out that the Israeli authorities used to declare the tenders after carrying out the settlement construction as part of the Israeli policy to impose a fait accompli on the region and to prevent any Palestinian appeal against the Israeli settlement projects.
325 housing units will be established between Ochklot and Sansana settlements built on Palestinian lands in al-Khalil in order to expand and link the two settlements, he added.
The Palestinian expert pointed out that the Israeli authorities used to declare the tenders after carrying out the settlement construction as part of the Israeli policy to impose a fait accompli on the region and to prevent any Palestinian appeal against the Israeli settlement projects.
22 june 2013
A Palestinian informed source revealed a new Israeli plan prepared by the Israeli interior ministry's district committee for planning and building to connect the Jewish neighborhood in the Old City of Jerusalem with Al-Buraq plaza, west of the Aqsa Mosque. Lawyer Qais Nasser, a specialist in Jerusalem affairs, stated on Saturday that the district committee prepared a blueprint to build corridors and install elevators underground to connect the Jewish neighborhood directly with Al-Buraq plaza.
Nasser added that the plan includes the building of a center for visitors and a business zone near the plaza.
He explained that according to this plan, the stairs of rabbi Yehuda Halevi would be replaced with two elevators to facilitate the movement of visitors up and down the corridors' entrances.
Nasser added that the plan includes the building of a center for visitors and a business zone near the plaza.
He explained that according to this plan, the stairs of rabbi Yehuda Halevi would be replaced with two elevators to facilitate the movement of visitors up and down the corridors' entrances.
The Israeli government approved a new plan to build hundreds of settlement units in the south of Jabal al-Khalil. Israeli Walla news website reported on Friday that the Israeli Civil Administration submitted a construction plan to legitimize the new settlement of Sansana, outside the Green Line, and pointed out that the plan includes building 325 new units in the settlement.
For its part, Peace Now movement said that the Israeli government has put aside the peace process and continued to build dozens of new settlements.
This land has been classified by the Israeli government as a settlement site about a year and a half. The Civil Administration had refused to legitimize that site and submitted a proposal to annex it to another settlement, which is located only about four kilometers away.
For its part, Peace Now movement said that the Israeli government has put aside the peace process and continued to build dozens of new settlements.
This land has been classified by the Israeli government as a settlement site about a year and a half. The Civil Administration had refused to legitimize that site and submitted a proposal to annex it to another settlement, which is located only about four kilometers away.
A high-profile US delegation headed by Vice Adm. Harry B Harris secretly visited the disputed E1 area between Jerusalem and the West Bank this week, according to Israeli media.
Israel’s Channel 2 TV reported Saturday that the delegation, under supervision of US Secretary of State John Kerry, went to see if construction in the E1 area threatened the territorial contiguity of a future Palestinian state.
Israel’s coordinator of government activities in the West Bank Eita Dangot escorted the delegation and tried to explain that E1 construction would not affect the contiguity, according to the report.
The mayor of Maale Adumim, an Israeli settlement near E1, was angered because he was not invited to welcome the delegation.
“It is unacceptable that a mayor of a city in Israel is not invited to a top-level visit to his own city,” the mayor said in a letter to Netanyahu’s office. The response was that the purpose of the visit was security, and there was no need to publicize it.
The US consulate in Jerusalem did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Israel’s Channel 2 TV reported Saturday that the delegation, under supervision of US Secretary of State John Kerry, went to see if construction in the E1 area threatened the territorial contiguity of a future Palestinian state.
Israel’s coordinator of government activities in the West Bank Eita Dangot escorted the delegation and tried to explain that E1 construction would not affect the contiguity, according to the report.
The mayor of Maale Adumim, an Israeli settlement near E1, was angered because he was not invited to welcome the delegation.
“It is unacceptable that a mayor of a city in Israel is not invited to a top-level visit to his own city,” the mayor said in a letter to Netanyahu’s office. The response was that the purpose of the visit was security, and there was no need to publicize it.
The US consulate in Jerusalem did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
21 june 2013
In its monthly report on the Israeli Settlement and Judaization projects in the West Bank, Hamas revealed that 11 apartments were demolished on May 21 in occupied Jerusalem resulting in the displacement of 100 citizens mostly children and women.
The report warned of the seriousness of the Israeli Judaization projects in the vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the holy city in an attempt to impose a fait accompli in order to pressure any possible negotiation with the Palestinian side.
The report noted that the Israeli demolition policy in occupied Jerusalem and West Bank districts is a part of the Israeli collective punishment.
The report that monitored the Israeli settlement plans between May 16 to June 15, 2013, stated that the Israeli occupation has canceled the visit of UNESCO delegation to document the Israeli violations against the monuments in Jerusalem in an attempt to hide its continued crimes and violations against holy sites.
The monthly report pointed out to the Israeli settlers' attacks and break-ins in al-Aqsa mosque under Israeli forces protection aiming to divide it and to provide Jews with access to the Muslim holy site to perform their rituals and prayers.
The report also documented an escalation in Israeli settlement projects in West Bank including the establishment of a new road to link Kiryat Arba settlement with the Ibrahimi Mosque in al-Khalil, in addition to the approval of the construction of thousands of new housing units in existing settlement and settlement expansion where thousands of dunums of Palestinian lands were confiscated and burned.
Furthermore the report documented the Israeli settlers' attacks against Palestinians and their properties including burning and destroying the agricultural crops, deliberate hit-and-run incidents, uprooting of olive trees, provocative break-ins into al-Aqsa mosque and writing racist graffiti.
The report warned of the seriousness of the Israeli Judaization projects in the vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the holy city in an attempt to impose a fait accompli in order to pressure any possible negotiation with the Palestinian side.
The report noted that the Israeli demolition policy in occupied Jerusalem and West Bank districts is a part of the Israeli collective punishment.
The report that monitored the Israeli settlement plans between May 16 to June 15, 2013, stated that the Israeli occupation has canceled the visit of UNESCO delegation to document the Israeli violations against the monuments in Jerusalem in an attempt to hide its continued crimes and violations against holy sites.
The monthly report pointed out to the Israeli settlers' attacks and break-ins in al-Aqsa mosque under Israeli forces protection aiming to divide it and to provide Jews with access to the Muslim holy site to perform their rituals and prayers.
The report also documented an escalation in Israeli settlement projects in West Bank including the establishment of a new road to link Kiryat Arba settlement with the Ibrahimi Mosque in al-Khalil, in addition to the approval of the construction of thousands of new housing units in existing settlement and settlement expansion where thousands of dunums of Palestinian lands were confiscated and burned.
Furthermore the report documented the Israeli settlers' attacks against Palestinians and their properties including burning and destroying the agricultural crops, deliberate hit-and-run incidents, uprooting of olive trees, provocative break-ins into al-Aqsa mosque and writing racist graffiti.
20 june 2013
Senior official of the Arab studies society Khalil Tufkaji said that the escalation of settlement activities since Benjamin Netanyahu took power led to radical changes in the demographic and geographic landscape of the West Bank. Tufkaji, who is the director of the society's maps department, told the Palestinian information center (PIC) that the Palestinian natives have become isolated in very limited areas of the West Bank, which are classified as areas A and B.
He added that the Palestinians in these areas are exposed to systematic attacks by the Jewish settlers.
He also said that the Israeli government has increased its settlement expansion activities in more than 60 percent of the West Bank in the area classified as C and dealt with it as a purely Israeli area under the authority of its civil administration.
Other parts of the West Bank was classified by Israel as military zones, nature reserves or archeological sites and the Palestinian natives are banned from accessing these parts, Tufkaji stated.
The specialist underlined that there is also an ongoing process to legitimize the settlement outposts and create demographic changes in this area in order to create a Jewish majority.
He added that the Palestinians in these areas are exposed to systematic attacks by the Jewish settlers.
He also said that the Israeli government has increased its settlement expansion activities in more than 60 percent of the West Bank in the area classified as C and dealt with it as a purely Israeli area under the authority of its civil administration.
Other parts of the West Bank was classified by Israel as military zones, nature reserves or archeological sites and the Palestinian natives are banned from accessing these parts, Tufkaji stated.
The specialist underlined that there is also an ongoing process to legitimize the settlement outposts and create demographic changes in this area in order to create a Jewish majority.
Arab Studies Society's Land Research Center revealed that the occupation is carrying out construction works in Susiya settlement, built on confiscated lands of the town of Yatta, south of al-Khalil in the southern West Bank. The center said in a statement on Thursday that the settlement has witnessed in the last two years expansion works, and that nearly twenty new settlement units were built in the south-eastern side of the settlement.
The Land Research Center pointed out that the settlers bulldozed about two dunums of citizens' lands, which have been recently confiscated, in the northern side of the settlement, in preparation to construct new settlement units and roads.
It added that the settlers have also constructed a new building on the ruins of the ancient archaeological area of Susiya from which Palestinian residents had been displaced.
For its part, Hamas movement confirmed the continuation of the Israeli settlement schemes in the West Bank and Jerusalem, in light of the international silence and complicity and inaction of the Arab and Muslim world.
Hamas's monthly report on settlement and Judaization schemes, released on Thursday, revealed that on 21st May the occupation demolished 11 apartments in a number of districts in the occupied city of Jerusalem, displacing more than one hundred Jerusalemites, most of them women and children.
Hamas revealed in its report the seriousness of the fierce Israeli attack that aims to Judaize the Al-Aqsa Mosque and of the Jewish extremists' attempts to desecrate the Mosque's courtyards and to divide it.
The report also monitors the dangerous escalation of settlement projects in the occupied West Bank and documents Israeli attacks committed under the protection of the occupation forces against Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Islamic and Christian places of worship, and against the Palestinian citizens as well as their properties and agricultural lands.
The Land Research Center pointed out that the settlers bulldozed about two dunums of citizens' lands, which have been recently confiscated, in the northern side of the settlement, in preparation to construct new settlement units and roads.
It added that the settlers have also constructed a new building on the ruins of the ancient archaeological area of Susiya from which Palestinian residents had been displaced.
For its part, Hamas movement confirmed the continuation of the Israeli settlement schemes in the West Bank and Jerusalem, in light of the international silence and complicity and inaction of the Arab and Muslim world.
Hamas's monthly report on settlement and Judaization schemes, released on Thursday, revealed that on 21st May the occupation demolished 11 apartments in a number of districts in the occupied city of Jerusalem, displacing more than one hundred Jerusalemites, most of them women and children.
Hamas revealed in its report the seriousness of the fierce Israeli attack that aims to Judaize the Al-Aqsa Mosque and of the Jewish extremists' attempts to desecrate the Mosque's courtyards and to divide it.
The report also monitors the dangerous escalation of settlement projects in the occupied West Bank and documents Israeli attacks committed under the protection of the occupation forces against Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Islamic and Christian places of worship, and against the Palestinian citizens as well as their properties and agricultural lands.