13 nov 2019
The Israeli army, on Wednesday, began to bulldoze Palestinian land in Beit Ummar town, north of the southern occupied West Bank city of Hebron, in order to make way for the construction of a settler-only bypass road.
WAFA correspondent reported that Israeli bulldozers, under military protection, proceeded to raze about 400 dunams of Palestinian land belonging to the Hebron-district towns of Halhul and Beit Ummar to make room for the settler-only bypass road.
The road is planned to extend several kilometres on private Palestinian fertile lands from the Gush Etzion settlement junction, north of Hebron, to the Nabi Younes junction, at the eastern entrance of Halhul town, passing through Beit Al Baraka church compound, opposite to al-Arroub refugee camp, and Jabal al-Qarn natural reserve.
Over the last two decades, Jewish-only settlements have expanded rapidly across the occupied West Bank, severely hindering the possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state.
The Israeli government provides roads, electricity, water, and sewage systems to over 600,000 illegal settlers in the West Bank, while the same services remain inaccessible to most of the neighbouring Palestinians.
While the international community has been vocal in its condemnation of Israeli settlement activity, it has taken few steps to pressure Israel into ceasing the enterprise.
WAFA correspondent reported that Israeli bulldozers, under military protection, proceeded to raze about 400 dunams of Palestinian land belonging to the Hebron-district towns of Halhul and Beit Ummar to make room for the settler-only bypass road.
The road is planned to extend several kilometres on private Palestinian fertile lands from the Gush Etzion settlement junction, north of Hebron, to the Nabi Younes junction, at the eastern entrance of Halhul town, passing through Beit Al Baraka church compound, opposite to al-Arroub refugee camp, and Jabal al-Qarn natural reserve.
Over the last two decades, Jewish-only settlements have expanded rapidly across the occupied West Bank, severely hindering the possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state.
The Israeli government provides roads, electricity, water, and sewage systems to over 600,000 illegal settlers in the West Bank, while the same services remain inaccessible to most of the neighbouring Palestinians.
While the international community has been vocal in its condemnation of Israeli settlement activity, it has taken few steps to pressure Israel into ceasing the enterprise.
8 nov 2019
Palestinians express dismay as Israel advances a highly-controversial plan to link the western part of the occupied city of Jerusalem to its eastern part, which they want as the capital of their future state.
Slated for inauguration in 2021, the transportation system is planned to shuttle some 3,000 people per hour from a former railway station in western Jerusalem to the eastern Old City .
“The Israeli cable car project is an obscene violation of the cultural, historical, spiritual, geographic & demographic character of Jerusalem,” Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), tweeted on Thursday.
Besides peeking right into the part of the city, which is endeared by the Palestinians due to its housing the al-Aqsa Mosques compound — Islam’s holiest site –, the cable car would be passing by major Palestinian parts in the city, thus ignoring a good part of its demography. The $63-milloin plan, however, moved forward this week when a special committee headed by Israel’s finance minister gave it the green light.
“The foundations of the project will be built on our land,” said Khaled al-Zeer, a Palestinian from Silwan, neighborhood in East Jerusalem, AFP reported. “(It) will give the impression that it is a Jewish city and remove the Palestinian heritage from it,” he added.
Yotanan Mizrachi, an Israeli archaeologist opposing the plan, called it a “political project” that will cause “irreversible damage to the historic city.” “(It is) going to influence the way we see and understand the archaeology and the antiquity” of the city, he noted.
In 2015, France-based utility giant Suez Environnement said that because of political sensitivities, it had decided not to take part in the project.
“To avoid any political interpretation, Suez Environnement has decided not to take part in this project,” it said.
Israel captured the Palestinian territory of the West Bank in a war in 1967, and then annexed East Jerusalem. Ever since, Tel Aviv has continued to expand its illegal settlements and other projects in the area.
Tel Aviv’s attempts at manipulating the cultural and demographic configuration of the Palestinian territories comes while the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) approved a resolution in May 2015 that described the regime as an “occupying power” and rejected its sovereignty claims over all of Jerusalem.
Slated for inauguration in 2021, the transportation system is planned to shuttle some 3,000 people per hour from a former railway station in western Jerusalem to the eastern Old City .
“The Israeli cable car project is an obscene violation of the cultural, historical, spiritual, geographic & demographic character of Jerusalem,” Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), tweeted on Thursday.
Besides peeking right into the part of the city, which is endeared by the Palestinians due to its housing the al-Aqsa Mosques compound — Islam’s holiest site –, the cable car would be passing by major Palestinian parts in the city, thus ignoring a good part of its demography. The $63-milloin plan, however, moved forward this week when a special committee headed by Israel’s finance minister gave it the green light.
“The foundations of the project will be built on our land,” said Khaled al-Zeer, a Palestinian from Silwan, neighborhood in East Jerusalem, AFP reported. “(It) will give the impression that it is a Jewish city and remove the Palestinian heritage from it,” he added.
Yotanan Mizrachi, an Israeli archaeologist opposing the plan, called it a “political project” that will cause “irreversible damage to the historic city.” “(It is) going to influence the way we see and understand the archaeology and the antiquity” of the city, he noted.
In 2015, France-based utility giant Suez Environnement said that because of political sensitivities, it had decided not to take part in the project.
“To avoid any political interpretation, Suez Environnement has decided not to take part in this project,” it said.
Israel captured the Palestinian territory of the West Bank in a war in 1967, and then annexed East Jerusalem. Ever since, Tel Aviv has continued to expand its illegal settlements and other projects in the area.
Tel Aviv’s attempts at manipulating the cultural and demographic configuration of the Palestinian territories comes while the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) approved a resolution in May 2015 that described the regime as an “occupying power” and rejected its sovereignty claims over all of Jerusalem.
6 nov 2019
Hanan Ashrawi, member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) said today that the Israeli cable car project is an obscene violation of the cultural, historical, spiritual, geographic & demographic character of Jerusalem.
It is also an illegal assault on the occupied Palestinian city and its people who have been living there for centuries.
It is also an illegal assault on the occupied Palestinian city and its people who have been living there for centuries.
Jerusalem Affairs Minister Ze’ev Elkin said, “This is a strategic project to promote tourism in the Old City. Step by step, we are transforming a vision into a new reality.”
The Housing Cabinet approved on Monday a controversial 1.4 km.-long cable car project for Jerusalem’s Old City that will help visitors access the Western Wall.
The move to ease traffic congestion to one of Israel’s most popular sites, both for citizens and tourists, has generated controversy at home and abroad.
Opponents fear the cable car will mar the Old City’s historic landscape. The Old City is also one of the flash-points for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and any building project is often routinely condemned by the international community and the Palestinians.
Once it is built, the cable cars will be able to transport some 3,000 people an hour in both directions from Jerusalem’s First Station to the Western Wall, which draws about 135,000 visitors a week.
Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon said that the project goes far beyond transportation and tourism, and is a national initiative to make the area accessible to all. After waiting 2,000 years for the Western Wall, traffic jams shouldn’t prevent people from visiting it, Kahlon said.
Jerusalem Affairs Minister Ze’ev Elkin said, “This is a strategic project to promote tourism in the Old City. Step by step, we are transforming a vision into a new reality.”
The NGO Emek Shaveh, which works to preserve cultural heritage, has opposed the project. Its CEO, Jonathan Mizrahi, said that the group plans to appeal the decision to the High Court of Justice, noting that a project of this importance should not be approved by a transitional government.
“The appeal to the High Court is intended to prevent the destructive impact that a cable car will have on the Old City landscape and on the fragile political situation in Jerusalem,” Emek Shaveh said in a statement.
“The government has not been able to approve budgets for the disabled and for health, yet it manages to approve a budget of NIS 220 million for a tourism venture,” the NGO added. “This indeed summarizes the priorities of the outgoing government.”
The Housing Cabinet approved on Monday a controversial 1.4 km.-long cable car project for Jerusalem’s Old City that will help visitors access the Western Wall.
The move to ease traffic congestion to one of Israel’s most popular sites, both for citizens and tourists, has generated controversy at home and abroad.
Opponents fear the cable car will mar the Old City’s historic landscape. The Old City is also one of the flash-points for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and any building project is often routinely condemned by the international community and the Palestinians.
Once it is built, the cable cars will be able to transport some 3,000 people an hour in both directions from Jerusalem’s First Station to the Western Wall, which draws about 135,000 visitors a week.
Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon said that the project goes far beyond transportation and tourism, and is a national initiative to make the area accessible to all. After waiting 2,000 years for the Western Wall, traffic jams shouldn’t prevent people from visiting it, Kahlon said.
Jerusalem Affairs Minister Ze’ev Elkin said, “This is a strategic project to promote tourism in the Old City. Step by step, we are transforming a vision into a new reality.”
The NGO Emek Shaveh, which works to preserve cultural heritage, has opposed the project. Its CEO, Jonathan Mizrahi, said that the group plans to appeal the decision to the High Court of Justice, noting that a project of this importance should not be approved by a transitional government.
“The appeal to the High Court is intended to prevent the destructive impact that a cable car will have on the Old City landscape and on the fragile political situation in Jerusalem,” Emek Shaveh said in a statement.
“The government has not been able to approve budgets for the disabled and for health, yet it manages to approve a budget of NIS 220 million for a tourism venture,” the NGO added. “This indeed summarizes the priorities of the outgoing government.”
By: Madeeha Araj/ NBPRS/
The National Bureau for Defending Land and Resisting Settlements said in its latest weekly report , that the Israeli right-wing Government and the extremist settlers continue their policies to undermine the two-state solution, and confiscate more lands to build new settlement housing units in the occupied West Bank, where the so-called “Supreme Planning Council” affiliated to the Israeli Civil Administration approved on Oct. 10th the construction of 2342 new housing units, bringing the number of settlement units planned by the Netanyahu government to 8,337 units, an increase of nearly 50% compared to the year 2018.
Among the settlements that the Occupation Authorities intend to expand is the “Bracha settlement” that is adjacent to the city of Nablus from the south, where 207 settlement units will be built there, the “Dolev settlement” built on the lands of the Jniya village, where 382 settlement units, and “Mofot settlement,” where 182 housing units will be built, too.
Under the pretext of the construction of the wall that Israel has begun to build in June 2002 in the Jenin Governorate in the West Bank, the Israeli army has also announced new confiscation orders for hundreds of dunums in Jenin and Tulkarem Governorates for the construction of the annexation and separation wall, where the Israeli Occupation Authorities have handed over orders of confiscating of 409 dunums of the lands of the towns of Ya’bad, Barta’a, Tora, Waifeen, Al-Arqah, Zebda, Nazlet Zaid and Sahr-Abed in Jenin, and they also informed of the seizure of 3,000 dunams of land east of Yatta south of Hebron, extending from Khirbet Menzel, to the Arabs of the Jahalin on the outskirts of the Dead Sea.
On the other hand, the Israeli Minister of Transportation, Smutrich began implementing his plan to build new streets and activate trains and public transport regularly with the aim of contributing to the imposition of sovereignty on these areas. A total of NIS one billion has been allocated for the tunnel plan between Jerusalem and Gush Etzion. And soon a bypass road around the Al-Aroub Camp north of Hebron will be opened at a cost of NIS 800,000,000.
Moreover, the Israeli Government has opened with the presence of the mayor of Jerusalem and the chief rabbis of Israel, the first underground cemetery in the occupied Jerusalem, it is the first of such in the world. The project includes the construction of about 24,000 graves at a depth of 50 meters underground, in the first phase, about 8,000 burial graves expected to be available for burial at the end of 2019.
The National Bureau for Defending Land and Resisting Settlements said in its latest weekly report , that the Israeli right-wing Government and the extremist settlers continue their policies to undermine the two-state solution, and confiscate more lands to build new settlement housing units in the occupied West Bank, where the so-called “Supreme Planning Council” affiliated to the Israeli Civil Administration approved on Oct. 10th the construction of 2342 new housing units, bringing the number of settlement units planned by the Netanyahu government to 8,337 units, an increase of nearly 50% compared to the year 2018.
Among the settlements that the Occupation Authorities intend to expand is the “Bracha settlement” that is adjacent to the city of Nablus from the south, where 207 settlement units will be built there, the “Dolev settlement” built on the lands of the Jniya village, where 382 settlement units, and “Mofot settlement,” where 182 housing units will be built, too.
Under the pretext of the construction of the wall that Israel has begun to build in June 2002 in the Jenin Governorate in the West Bank, the Israeli army has also announced new confiscation orders for hundreds of dunums in Jenin and Tulkarem Governorates for the construction of the annexation and separation wall, where the Israeli Occupation Authorities have handed over orders of confiscating of 409 dunums of the lands of the towns of Ya’bad, Barta’a, Tora, Waifeen, Al-Arqah, Zebda, Nazlet Zaid and Sahr-Abed in Jenin, and they also informed of the seizure of 3,000 dunams of land east of Yatta south of Hebron, extending from Khirbet Menzel, to the Arabs of the Jahalin on the outskirts of the Dead Sea.
On the other hand, the Israeli Minister of Transportation, Smutrich began implementing his plan to build new streets and activate trains and public transport regularly with the aim of contributing to the imposition of sovereignty on these areas. A total of NIS one billion has been allocated for the tunnel plan between Jerusalem and Gush Etzion. And soon a bypass road around the Al-Aroub Camp north of Hebron will be opened at a cost of NIS 800,000,000.
Moreover, the Israeli Government has opened with the presence of the mayor of Jerusalem and the chief rabbis of Israel, the first underground cemetery in the occupied Jerusalem, it is the first of such in the world. The project includes the construction of about 24,000 graves at a depth of 50 meters underground, in the first phase, about 8,000 burial graves expected to be available for burial at the end of 2019.
Israel’s policy of seizing Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem al-Quds has not come to an end but has gained momentum, over the past years.
Authorities have decided to seize over 50 hectares of private Palestinian lands in the town of Hizma, east of occupied Jerusalem.
The mayor of Hizma said that large swaths of the town’s lands had been confiscated in the past and that two settlements had been built. The mayor expects that, this time, the lands will be used to expand the roads used by Israeli forces and settlers leading to the illegal Adam settlement.
The lands of Hizma, like many other towns to the east of Jerusalem, for example Anata and Shu’fat, are surrounded and isolated by Israel’s apartheid wall.
According to one of the land owners, Khayry Askar, Israeli authorities seized part of his family land in 1977, annexing it to the nearby settlement Giv’at Ze’ev, and now he’s facing the same scenario , again.
Hizma town is surrounded by four settlements, Al Ray further reports. It is considered to the main link between the northern and southern cities of the occupied West Bank. It is also one of the main gates of the holy city of Jerusalem al-Quds.
At the end of the day, Palestinians warn against the Israeli defiance of international calls to stop its aggression against the people in the occupied territories. They said that Israel continues to seize Palestinian lands, in violation of international laws, to expand its settlements and military projects.
Authorities have decided to seize over 50 hectares of private Palestinian lands in the town of Hizma, east of occupied Jerusalem.
The mayor of Hizma said that large swaths of the town’s lands had been confiscated in the past and that two settlements had been built. The mayor expects that, this time, the lands will be used to expand the roads used by Israeli forces and settlers leading to the illegal Adam settlement.
The lands of Hizma, like many other towns to the east of Jerusalem, for example Anata and Shu’fat, are surrounded and isolated by Israel’s apartheid wall.
According to one of the land owners, Khayry Askar, Israeli authorities seized part of his family land in 1977, annexing it to the nearby settlement Giv’at Ze’ev, and now he’s facing the same scenario , again.
Hizma town is surrounded by four settlements, Al Ray further reports. It is considered to the main link between the northern and southern cities of the occupied West Bank. It is also one of the main gates of the holy city of Jerusalem al-Quds.
At the end of the day, Palestinians warn against the Israeli defiance of international calls to stop its aggression against the people in the occupied territories. They said that Israel continues to seize Palestinian lands, in violation of international laws, to expand its settlements and military projects.
5 nov 2019
The European Union (EU), on Tuesday, denounced Israeli plans to build thousands of new housing units as well as opening settlement roads in the occupied West Bank and stressed that all settlement activities are illegal under international law.
“In October 2019, Israeli authorities approved the advancement of well over 2,000 housing units in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank,” said an EU spokesperson in a statement.
“The European Union’s position on Israeli settlement policy in the occupied Palestinian territory is clear and remains unchanged: all settlement activity is illegal under international law and it erodes the viability of the two-state solution and the prospects for a lasting peace, as reaffirmed by UN Security Council Resolution 2334.”
The spokesperson also stressed that construction of separate roads for settlers and Palestinians entrenches fragmentation of the West Bank.
“Israeli authorities also approved a building permit for the construction of a new tunnel road, which bypasses Bethlehem to the west. The progressive construction of a separate road network, connecting settlements and outposts to each other and to the road network in Israel while circumventing Palestinian towns and communities, is entrenching the fragmentation of the West Bank.”
The EU called on Israel “to end all settlement activity, in line with its obligations as an occupying power.”
It said that it “will continue to support a resumption of a meaningful process towards a negotiated two-state solution, the only realistic and viable way to fulfill the legitimate aspirations of both parties.”
“In October 2019, Israeli authorities approved the advancement of well over 2,000 housing units in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank,” said an EU spokesperson in a statement.
“The European Union’s position on Israeli settlement policy in the occupied Palestinian territory is clear and remains unchanged: all settlement activity is illegal under international law and it erodes the viability of the two-state solution and the prospects for a lasting peace, as reaffirmed by UN Security Council Resolution 2334.”
The spokesperson also stressed that construction of separate roads for settlers and Palestinians entrenches fragmentation of the West Bank.
“Israeli authorities also approved a building permit for the construction of a new tunnel road, which bypasses Bethlehem to the west. The progressive construction of a separate road network, connecting settlements and outposts to each other and to the road network in Israel while circumventing Palestinian towns and communities, is entrenching the fragmentation of the West Bank.”
The EU called on Israel “to end all settlement activity, in line with its obligations as an occupying power.”
It said that it “will continue to support a resumption of a meaningful process towards a negotiated two-state solution, the only realistic and viable way to fulfill the legitimate aspirations of both parties.”
4 nov 2019
Israel seized 2522 dunums in the occupied West Bank in favor of the construction of illegal settlements, said municipal sources and a cartographer.
Mayor of Al-Jab'a Dhyab Masha'la told WAFA that several Palestinian farmers entered their olive groves adjacent to the nearby illegal settlement of Eli, and were shocked to find Israeli military orders informing them of Israel’s plan to seize their olive groves, which occupy an area of 2,000 dunams (494 acres).
Meanwhile, Israeli forces posted military orders to seize 372 dunams (92 acres) of land in the southern West Bank district of Hebron.
Palestinian cartographer Abdul-Hadi Hantash told WAFA that the so-called “commander of the Israeli military” issued a military order to seize 129 dunums (32 acres) of land belonging to Adh-Dhahiriya and As-Samou' towns, south of Hebron.
Mayor of Surif town, Mohammad Adwan, that Palestinian farmers went this morning to pick their olive groves near the encroaching Israeli settlement of Bet Ayn, but found notices to seize 243 (60 acres) dunams of their groves. The land owner was identified as the Ghneimat family.
In the meantime, the Office of Beit Liqya, a town to the southwest of Ramallah city, confirmed that Israeli forces handed them a military order to seize approximately 150 dunams (37 acres) of Palestinian land located to the south of the town and adjacent to the section of Israel’s apartheid wall.
Mayor of Al-Jab'a Dhyab Masha'la told WAFA that several Palestinian farmers entered their olive groves adjacent to the nearby illegal settlement of Eli, and were shocked to find Israeli military orders informing them of Israel’s plan to seize their olive groves, which occupy an area of 2,000 dunams (494 acres).
Meanwhile, Israeli forces posted military orders to seize 372 dunams (92 acres) of land in the southern West Bank district of Hebron.
Palestinian cartographer Abdul-Hadi Hantash told WAFA that the so-called “commander of the Israeli military” issued a military order to seize 129 dunums (32 acres) of land belonging to Adh-Dhahiriya and As-Samou' towns, south of Hebron.
Mayor of Surif town, Mohammad Adwan, that Palestinian farmers went this morning to pick their olive groves near the encroaching Israeli settlement of Bet Ayn, but found notices to seize 243 (60 acres) dunams of their groves. The land owner was identified as the Ghneimat family.
In the meantime, the Office of Beit Liqya, a town to the southwest of Ramallah city, confirmed that Israeli forces handed them a military order to seize approximately 150 dunams (37 acres) of Palestinian land located to the south of the town and adjacent to the section of Israel’s apartheid wall.
