6 mar 2017
Israeli Haaretz newspaper disclosed that Israeli transportation and intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz announced that he is working to advance plans to build an artificial island off the coast of Gaza.
Katz has been trying for a year and a half to table the plan called "the separation island". He previously expressed his support for the prospect of a seaport in Gaza as part of efforts to completely cut off the Gaza Strip from Israel.
In his call for a port in the coastal Palestinian territory, Katz proposed that the international community should oversee access to such a terminal under Israeli security control.
Katz’s plan stipulates the establishment of an artificial island over 8-kilometer area connected to the Gaza Strip through a bridge with a security checkpoint.
"The off-shore project could provide Gaza with an economic and humanitarian gateway to the world without endangering Israeli security," he said.
According to Haaretz newspaper, senior Israeli officials support the plan, while it is rejected, however, by Israeli war minister Avigdor Lieberman.
Katz has been trying for a year and a half to table the plan called "the separation island". He previously expressed his support for the prospect of a seaport in Gaza as part of efforts to completely cut off the Gaza Strip from Israel.
In his call for a port in the coastal Palestinian territory, Katz proposed that the international community should oversee access to such a terminal under Israeli security control.
Katz’s plan stipulates the establishment of an artificial island over 8-kilometer area connected to the Gaza Strip through a bridge with a security checkpoint.
"The off-shore project could provide Gaza with an economic and humanitarian gateway to the world without endangering Israeli security," he said.
According to Haaretz newspaper, senior Israeli officials support the plan, while it is rejected, however, by Israeli war minister Avigdor Lieberman.
Israeli bulldozers leveled on Monday morning large areas of Palestinian lands in the Jordan Valley as a prelude to establish new settlement projects in the area, the PIC reporter revealed.
Photos taken by a PIC photographer showed that Israeli razing operations are carried out in Palestinian lands earlier confiscated by Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) and declared as closed military zone.
The IOA earlier declared intention to grant each settler 50 dunums in the Jordan Valley with the aim of implementing settlement projects.
Over the past two days, large areas of land in the Jordan Valley were fenced for unknown reasons.
The local activist Hamza Aqrabawi told the PIC reporter that Israeli Judaization projects are scheduled to be established in the area at the expense of Palestinian agricultural facilities.
Photos taken by a PIC photographer showed that Israeli razing operations are carried out in Palestinian lands earlier confiscated by Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) and declared as closed military zone.
The IOA earlier declared intention to grant each settler 50 dunums in the Jordan Valley with the aim of implementing settlement projects.
Over the past two days, large areas of land in the Jordan Valley were fenced for unknown reasons.
The local activist Hamza Aqrabawi told the PIC reporter that Israeli Judaization projects are scheduled to be established in the area at the expense of Palestinian agricultural facilities.
5 mar 2017
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) started leveling works of agricultural lands at the entrance of Nahalin town in southern Bethlehem in order to pave the way for the establishment of a new settlement project in the area.
Head of Nahalin council Ibrahim Shakarneh said that Israeli bulldozers began leveling lands in the main street of the town, which has been closed for years. The road is adjacent to the Israeli Daniel settlement which was established by force over the town’s land, he pointed out.
Israeli occupation authorities intend to construct a public park for settlers over the site, Shakarneh elaborated. He told Quds Press that this step followed a petition by the town's council that was filed at Israeli courts demanding re-opening the street, which has been closed since 2002.
Head of Nahalin council Ibrahim Shakarneh said that Israeli bulldozers began leveling lands in the main street of the town, which has been closed for years. The road is adjacent to the Israeli Daniel settlement which was established by force over the town’s land, he pointed out.
Israeli occupation authorities intend to construct a public park for settlers over the site, Shakarneh elaborated. He told Quds Press that this step followed a petition by the town's council that was filed at Israeli courts demanding re-opening the street, which has been closed since 2002.
4 mar 2017
The Israeli government launched new Judaization projects last week near Gilo settlement and the industrial area of Qalandia, north of occupied Jerusalem, according to Iroshalim weekly newspaper on Saturday.
The Hebrew paper reported that the construction of a temporary road had already started, supervised by Gal-Or company, to link between a new settlement location on the foothills of Gilo settlement and Ein Yael area, which would speed up the construction of the new settlement neighborhood there.
The paper said that the work on the new road began following an approval issued by the Israeli Ministry of Housing which is in charge of the development of the infrastructure in the site.
Ofer Ayoubi, the head of Gilo's community administration, said that despite the fact that the temporary road is just a limited step after the massive efforts that were exerted, it is still considered a first step in the right direction.
Ayoubi added that efforts will continue to obtain the approval of the authorized parties to convert the road to a permanent one and link it to the settlement as an emergency exit.
Meanwhile, Both Ze'ev Elkin, the Minister of Jerusalem affairs, and Nir Barkat, the mayor of Jerusalem, announced launching the project "Atarot-C" in the Qalandia industrial area.
According to Kol Ha'ir newspaper, the project will be implemented on an area of about 100 dunums. 12 pieces of lands with an area of 70 dunums will be allocated for the first phase of the project to build 12 factories including food and mineral factories.
The so-called Moriah Jerusalem Development Corporation supervised drawing the plans for the Israel Land Authority and the Ministry of Economy. The Project is expected to cost 45 million shekels beside the 12 million shekels allocated for the infrastructure works. A discount of 31% will be offered on the prices of lands.
The Hebrew paper reported that the construction of a temporary road had already started, supervised by Gal-Or company, to link between a new settlement location on the foothills of Gilo settlement and Ein Yael area, which would speed up the construction of the new settlement neighborhood there.
The paper said that the work on the new road began following an approval issued by the Israeli Ministry of Housing which is in charge of the development of the infrastructure in the site.
Ofer Ayoubi, the head of Gilo's community administration, said that despite the fact that the temporary road is just a limited step after the massive efforts that were exerted, it is still considered a first step in the right direction.
Ayoubi added that efforts will continue to obtain the approval of the authorized parties to convert the road to a permanent one and link it to the settlement as an emergency exit.
Meanwhile, Both Ze'ev Elkin, the Minister of Jerusalem affairs, and Nir Barkat, the mayor of Jerusalem, announced launching the project "Atarot-C" in the Qalandia industrial area.
According to Kol Ha'ir newspaper, the project will be implemented on an area of about 100 dunums. 12 pieces of lands with an area of 70 dunums will be allocated for the first phase of the project to build 12 factories including food and mineral factories.
The so-called Moriah Jerusalem Development Corporation supervised drawing the plans for the Israel Land Authority and the Ministry of Economy. The Project is expected to cost 45 million shekels beside the 12 million shekels allocated for the infrastructure works. A discount of 31% will be offered on the prices of lands.
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) started last week to build a road for settlers near Gilo settlement in Jerusalem as well as factories in Qalandiya, north of the holy city.
According to Iroshalim newspaper, a new road is being built nowadays to connect Ein Yael area with the mountainous area of Gilo settlement.
The newspaper said that the construction of the road started after the Israeli housing ministry approved a plan to develop infrastructure in the area.
For its part, Kol Ha'ir newspaper said that Israeli minister of Jerusalem affairs Ze’ev Elkin and chief of the Jerusalem municipality Nir Barkat launched a few days ago the industrial zone project (Atarot-C) in Qalandiya.
The newspaper said that 12 factories would be built as part of this project on nearly 100 dunums of land.
According to Iroshalim newspaper, a new road is being built nowadays to connect Ein Yael area with the mountainous area of Gilo settlement.
The newspaper said that the construction of the road started after the Israeli housing ministry approved a plan to develop infrastructure in the area.
For its part, Kol Ha'ir newspaper said that Israeli minister of Jerusalem affairs Ze’ev Elkin and chief of the Jerusalem municipality Nir Barkat launched a few days ago the industrial zone project (Atarot-C) in Qalandiya.
The newspaper said that 12 factories would be built as part of this project on nearly 100 dunums of land.
3 mar 2017
After delaying a bill at the Knesset calling for annexing the West Bank illegal settlement of Ma’ale Adumim to Occupied Jerusalem until the new US administration assumes office, right-wing Israeli lawmakers intend on Sunday to table it again.
According to Haaretz newspaper, the Ma’ale Adumim annexation bill will be introduced at the Knesset’s ministerial committee for legislation on Sunday by members of the Knesset Yoav Kish (Likud) and Bezalel Smotrich (Jewish Home).
Israel's education minister Naftali Bennett (Jewish home) is a keen advocate of the bill.
Recently, Bennett asserted that the arrival of Trump’s administration would see a shift in Israel’s West Bank settlement activities, including the annexation of Ma’ale Adumim, a massive settlement with some 40,000 Jewish residents.
Introducers and sponsors of the bill intend for the legislation to not only annex Ma’ale Adumim under Israel’s sovereignty, but also the surrounding E1 area (occupied in the 1967 war), where Israel has launched a vicious demolition campaign against Bedouin Palestinian communities over the past year.
According to Haaretz newspaper, the Ma’ale Adumim annexation bill will be introduced at the Knesset’s ministerial committee for legislation on Sunday by members of the Knesset Yoav Kish (Likud) and Bezalel Smotrich (Jewish Home).
Israel's education minister Naftali Bennett (Jewish home) is a keen advocate of the bill.
Recently, Bennett asserted that the arrival of Trump’s administration would see a shift in Israel’s West Bank settlement activities, including the annexation of Ma’ale Adumim, a massive settlement with some 40,000 Jewish residents.
Introducers and sponsors of the bill intend for the legislation to not only annex Ma’ale Adumim under Israel’s sovereignty, but also the surrounding E1 area (occupied in the 1967 war), where Israel has launched a vicious demolition campaign against Bedouin Palestinian communities over the past year.
25 feb 2017
The Israeli municipal authority in Occupied Jerusalem plans to seize a large tract of Palestinian land on Mount of Azzeitun (Olives) to carry out a touristic park.
According to a report published by Iroshalim newspaper, a master plan for the park was submitted recently to the district planning and building committee in Occupied Jerusalem to obtain approval.
The local residents in Azzeitun area, however, are deprived of using the land where the park project would take place for building homes or establishing projects for their own benefit.
The new project will be 6.3 kilometers long and extend to the Hebrew University on al-Masharif (Scopus) Mount.
It will overlook the Old City of Jerusalem and include roads, bistros, public toilets, an information center, a souvenir store, a parking lot and other structures.
Israel seeks to carry out many Judaization plans in Jerusalem as part of its effort to change the historical Arab character and identity of the city.
According to a report published by Iroshalim newspaper, a master plan for the park was submitted recently to the district planning and building committee in Occupied Jerusalem to obtain approval.
The local residents in Azzeitun area, however, are deprived of using the land where the park project would take place for building homes or establishing projects for their own benefit.
The new project will be 6.3 kilometers long and extend to the Hebrew University on al-Masharif (Scopus) Mount.
It will overlook the Old City of Jerusalem and include roads, bistros, public toilets, an information center, a souvenir store, a parking lot and other structures.
Israel seeks to carry out many Judaization plans in Jerusalem as part of its effort to change the historical Arab character and identity of the city.
24 feb 2017
Jewish settlers under military protection have continued to bulldoze vast tracts of land in Wadi Qana area, west of Deir Istiya town in Salfit province, in order to build more housing units and infrastructures for their settlements.
Eyewitnesses told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that the bulldozing activities were still taking place inside and outside the boundaries of Yakir settlement and Havat Yair outpost.
They added that Wadi Qana is exposed to escalating settlement expansion despite the fact that the Israeli occupation authority considers the area a natural reserve.
Farmers from Deir Istiya town always complain that the Israeli army does not allow them to cultivate their own lands in Wadi Qana at the pretext it is a natural reserve. However, it allows the construction of new housing units, roads and infrastructure for the setters there.
Eyewitnesses told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that the bulldozing activities were still taking place inside and outside the boundaries of Yakir settlement and Havat Yair outpost.
They added that Wadi Qana is exposed to escalating settlement expansion despite the fact that the Israeli occupation authority considers the area a natural reserve.
Farmers from Deir Istiya town always complain that the Israeli army does not allow them to cultivate their own lands in Wadi Qana at the pretext it is a natural reserve. However, it allows the construction of new housing units, roads and infrastructure for the setters there.
23 feb 2017
Israeli government allocated $186 million for settlement projects in occupied Jerusalem, Ynet Hebrew newspaper said.
The Israeli government and the Jerusalem Municipality have reached an agreement that will see $190 million allocated to Israeli municipality’s 2017 budget, the paper added.
The approved funds would help support the Israeli municipality’s recent Judaization projects.
Israeli Minister for Jerusalem Affairs Ze’ev Elkin said that “This is a strategic budget that will help move Jerusalem one step forward and I hope it’s just the first step in many of steps.”
The Israeli government and the Jerusalem Municipality have reached an agreement that will see $190 million allocated to Israeli municipality’s 2017 budget, the paper added.
The approved funds would help support the Israeli municipality’s recent Judaization projects.
Israeli Minister for Jerusalem Affairs Ze’ev Elkin said that “This is a strategic budget that will help move Jerusalem one step forward and I hope it’s just the first step in many of steps.”
Israeli forces, on Thursday morning, leveled Palestinian lands in Salfit city, northern occupied West Bank, for the purpose of settlement expansion.
Palestinian farmers in Qarawat Bani Hassan and Deir Istiya, to the west of Salift, said that Israeli bulldozers have been leveling their land lots in an attempt to expand the adjacent (and illegal) Hafat Yair settlement outpost.
PNN reports that, according to the Palestine Information Center (PIC), Israeli forces and settlers declared the razed area a “nature reserve”, preventing Palestinians from growing crops or reclaiming their private lands.
“The Israeli occupation authorities have made use of the nature reserve pretext not to protect nature, as it might seem upon first glance, but rather to grab more land in favor of illegal settlement expansion, as has been the case with Havat Yathir illegal outpost,” researcher Khaled Maali warned.
Maali added that occupation authorities and settlers have both been doing harm to the ecological system and damaging Salfit’s fauna and flora by uprooting olive trees and razing pastoral lands, as they pave the way for the construction of more illegal homes in the area.
Palestinian farmers in Qarawat Bani Hassan and Deir Istiya, to the west of Salift, said that Israeli bulldozers have been leveling their land lots in an attempt to expand the adjacent (and illegal) Hafat Yair settlement outpost.
PNN reports that, according to the Palestine Information Center (PIC), Israeli forces and settlers declared the razed area a “nature reserve”, preventing Palestinians from growing crops or reclaiming their private lands.
“The Israeli occupation authorities have made use of the nature reserve pretext not to protect nature, as it might seem upon first glance, but rather to grab more land in favor of illegal settlement expansion, as has been the case with Havat Yathir illegal outpost,” researcher Khaled Maali warned.
Maali added that occupation authorities and settlers have both been doing harm to the ecological system and damaging Salfit’s fauna and flora by uprooting olive trees and razing pastoral lands, as they pave the way for the construction of more illegal homes in the area.