10 oct 2017
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) blocked on Tuesday morning Beersheba main road downtown al-Khalil city in the southern West Bank for the second day in a row.
The PIC reporter said that dozens of settlers were seen ordering Palestinians to close their commercial shops and leave the street and Bab al-Zawiya area to ensure settlers’ entry to one of the old houses, claiming the existence of an ancient tomb inside.
Hundreds of settlers stormed al-Ibrahimi Mosque in al-Khalil on Tuesday under the pretext of the Jewish holiday “Sukkot”. They performed Talmudic rituals in the holy site.
In a similar context, the Israeli government is supposed next week to decide on a resolution to establish 31 new settlement units in the heart of al-Khalil city.
The new housing units are to be constructed within a bus complex that was seized by Israeli forces 35 years ago. It is located on al-Shuhada Street and has many entrances to the Old City’s markets which suffer bad economic conditions.
The PIC reporter said that dozens of settlers were seen ordering Palestinians to close their commercial shops and leave the street and Bab al-Zawiya area to ensure settlers’ entry to one of the old houses, claiming the existence of an ancient tomb inside.
Hundreds of settlers stormed al-Ibrahimi Mosque in al-Khalil on Tuesday under the pretext of the Jewish holiday “Sukkot”. They performed Talmudic rituals in the holy site.
In a similar context, the Israeli government is supposed next week to decide on a resolution to establish 31 new settlement units in the heart of al-Khalil city.
The new housing units are to be constructed within a bus complex that was seized by Israeli forces 35 years ago. It is located on al-Shuhada Street and has many entrances to the Old City’s markets which suffer bad economic conditions.
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) condemned, on Monday, Israeli plans to build around 4,000 housing units in illegal settlements throughout the occupied West Bank.
“We strongly condemn Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approval of the construction of 3,829 illegal settlement units in the Occupied West Bank,” said Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, member of the PLO’s Executive Committee.
Reports said, according to WAFA, that Netanyahu is bent on approving, next week, the construction of 300 units in the settlement of Beit El, 206 in Tekoa, 158 in Kfar Etzion, 129 in Avnei Hefetz, 102 in Negohot, 97 in Rehelim, 48 housing units in Ma’ale Mikhmas, and 30 units in Jewish settlement in Hebron.
“Clearly, Israel is bent on entrenching the military occupation and its illegal settlement enterprise, further reaffirming its intentions of displacing Palestine and replacing it with ‘Greater Israel’,” said Ashrawi, in remarks made during her meeting with Norwegian Representative Hilde Haraldstad at the PLO headquarters in Ramallah.
“Rather than becoming party to Israel’s unlawful breach of international law and conventions, the global community should hold Israel accountable for acting outside the law before it destroys the prospects of a viable Palestinian state, peace and stability indefinitely,” she said.
Ashrawi expressed her appreciation to the Norwegian government for its consistent and positive position towards Palestine and its dedication to peace and justice. She also urged Norway to affirm its commitment to ending the occupation and achieving the two-state solution by recognizing the state of Palestine in the immediate future.
Ashrawi provided the Norwegian diplomat a critical assessment of the latest political and regional developments, including Israel’s deliberate and systematic efforts to impose the one-state solution with its persistent violations and illegal settlement activities.
“It is vital that European countries exhibit the political will necessary to take decisive action to end the occupation and to remove all of its manifestations from Palestinian soil,” said Ashrawi.
“We strongly condemn Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approval of the construction of 3,829 illegal settlement units in the Occupied West Bank,” said Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, member of the PLO’s Executive Committee.
Reports said, according to WAFA, that Netanyahu is bent on approving, next week, the construction of 300 units in the settlement of Beit El, 206 in Tekoa, 158 in Kfar Etzion, 129 in Avnei Hefetz, 102 in Negohot, 97 in Rehelim, 48 housing units in Ma’ale Mikhmas, and 30 units in Jewish settlement in Hebron.
“Clearly, Israel is bent on entrenching the military occupation and its illegal settlement enterprise, further reaffirming its intentions of displacing Palestine and replacing it with ‘Greater Israel’,” said Ashrawi, in remarks made during her meeting with Norwegian Representative Hilde Haraldstad at the PLO headquarters in Ramallah.
“Rather than becoming party to Israel’s unlawful breach of international law and conventions, the global community should hold Israel accountable for acting outside the law before it destroys the prospects of a viable Palestinian state, peace and stability indefinitely,” she said.
Ashrawi expressed her appreciation to the Norwegian government for its consistent and positive position towards Palestine and its dedication to peace and justice. She also urged Norway to affirm its commitment to ending the occupation and achieving the two-state solution by recognizing the state of Palestine in the immediate future.
Ashrawi provided the Norwegian diplomat a critical assessment of the latest political and regional developments, including Israel’s deliberate and systematic efforts to impose the one-state solution with its persistent violations and illegal settlement activities.
“It is vital that European countries exhibit the political will necessary to take decisive action to end the occupation and to remove all of its manifestations from Palestinian soil,” said Ashrawi.
9 oct 2017
The Israeli Civil Administration is reportedly set to approve almost 4,000 new settlement homes in the occupied West Bank.
According to Israeli news reports, 3,829 settlement units are slated to be built in various areas across the occupied West Bank, including in isolated settlement outposts.
The approval will include 30 units in the West Bank city of al-Khalil, around 300 units in the illegal settlement of Beit El, 453 in Givat Ze’ev, 102 in Naguhot, 97 in Rechalim, and 206 in Tekoa.
Recently, the Netanyahu government has promised a bump in building permits in settlements built on Palestinian land, most notably Beit El, following the demolition of a number of homes built on private Palestinian land.
According to the news reports, Israeli settlers lashed out at the Netanyahu government for approving the network of bypass roads and pushing off the approval of new industrial areas which the settlers had long hoped for.
According to Israeli news reports, 3,829 settlement units are slated to be built in various areas across the occupied West Bank, including in isolated settlement outposts.
The approval will include 30 units in the West Bank city of al-Khalil, around 300 units in the illegal settlement of Beit El, 453 in Givat Ze’ev, 102 in Naguhot, 97 in Rechalim, and 206 in Tekoa.
Recently, the Netanyahu government has promised a bump in building permits in settlements built on Palestinian land, most notably Beit El, following the demolition of a number of homes built on private Palestinian land.
According to the news reports, Israeli settlers lashed out at the Netanyahu government for approving the network of bypass roads and pushing off the approval of new industrial areas which the settlers had long hoped for.
7 oct 2017
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry described the international reaction towards Israeli settlement activity as shy especially by the states that claim supporting the two-state solution and keenness on human rights as well as adherence to settling the conflict through peaceful means.
In a statement on Saturday, the Ministry reiterated its position regarding settlements as being illegal and illegitimate.
“They are null and void, a crime and even a main obstacle on the way of the American efforts to resume negotiations”, the statement added.
The Ministry demanded a firm American and international stand that deters Israeli settlement activities and reinstates negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis.
In a statement on Saturday, the Ministry reiterated its position regarding settlements as being illegal and illegitimate.
“They are null and void, a crime and even a main obstacle on the way of the American efforts to resume negotiations”, the statement added.
The Ministry demanded a firm American and international stand that deters Israeli settlement activities and reinstates negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis.
Israel’s local and district planning committees in Occupied Jerusalem approved a plan to expand the light railroad line in the illegal settlement of Neve Ya’akov, in addition to the construction of two new train and bus stations.
According to the weekly Hebrew newspaper Kol Ha’ir, the Neve Ya’akov railroad will become three and a half kilometers long with five stop stations after building an additional half-kilometer line and a new passenger stop.
The project is part of a large-scale railroad plan in east Jerusalem, which had been prepared and submitted about four years ago by Israel’s municipality in the holy city and its transportation ministry.
According to the weekly Hebrew newspaper Kol Ha’ir, the Neve Ya’akov railroad will become three and a half kilometers long with five stop stations after building an additional half-kilometer line and a new passenger stop.
The project is part of a large-scale railroad plan in east Jerusalem, which had been prepared and submitted about four years ago by Israel’s municipality in the holy city and its transportation ministry.
6 oct 2017
Eli Ben-Dahan, Deputy Minister of Israeli Army, said that the construction of thousands of settlement units will be approved immediately after the end of the Jewish holiday, Sukkot. This will include 300 units in the Beit El settlement, in the northern Ramallah.
According to Israel’s Channel 7, Ben-Dahan said that the Supreme Planning Council will agree on the settlement plans submitted by the settlement municipalities during its meeting. He called for the preparation of more settlement programs.
“There is no need to fear the political circumstances,” he said, adding, “the meeting will be held and thousands of housing units will be approved. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Army Minister Avigdor Lieberman are also committed to this.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s current government, Ben-Dahan added, “has agreed to build many more settlement units than previous governments, and we expect a lot from it. The current Israeli government is the best government for settlers.”
“I am not concerned about the repeated delays in the Israeli Supreme Planning Council’s meetings. It is expected to approve the construction of thousands of settlement units in Judea and Samaria [the Israeli name for the occupied West Bank],” he added.
The deputy minister denied that the council’s meetings were postponed due to pressure from the US, noting: “The meetings were postponed several times, and in the last time, the settlement plans were not approved merely for technical reasons.”
He revealed that since the beginning of 2017, the Israeli government has permitted the construction of more settlement units “more than was approved within the past ten years”.
He also said that there are plans to pave more by-pass roads to serve settlers and urged the government to allocate additional budgets for settlers.
According to Israel’s Channel 7, Ben-Dahan said that the Supreme Planning Council will agree on the settlement plans submitted by the settlement municipalities during its meeting. He called for the preparation of more settlement programs.
“There is no need to fear the political circumstances,” he said, adding, “the meeting will be held and thousands of housing units will be approved. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Army Minister Avigdor Lieberman are also committed to this.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s current government, Ben-Dahan added, “has agreed to build many more settlement units than previous governments, and we expect a lot from it. The current Israeli government is the best government for settlers.”
“I am not concerned about the repeated delays in the Israeli Supreme Planning Council’s meetings. It is expected to approve the construction of thousands of settlement units in Judea and Samaria [the Israeli name for the occupied West Bank],” he added.
The deputy minister denied that the council’s meetings were postponed due to pressure from the US, noting: “The meetings were postponed several times, and in the last time, the settlement plans were not approved merely for technical reasons.”
He revealed that since the beginning of 2017, the Israeli government has permitted the construction of more settlement units “more than was approved within the past ten years”.
He also said that there are plans to pave more by-pass roads to serve settlers and urged the government to allocate additional budgets for settlers.
5 oct 2017
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged his support for the so-called “Greater Jerusalem” bill, which is tantamount to the annexation of 19 illegal settlements in the Jerusalem area, including Maaleh Adumim, where between 125,000 and 150,000 Israeli settlers live.
Maale Adumim is the third largest settlement in population size, encompassing a large swath of land deep inside the occupied West Bank’s Jerusalem district. Many Israelis consider it an Israeli suburban city of Jerusalem, despite it being located on occupied Palestinian territory in contravention of international law.
“Maaleh Adumim will always be part of Israel and, in addition, I support the Greater Jerusalem bill,” The Jerusalem Post quoted Netanyahu as saying during a visit to the illegal settlement Tuesday. “I am also weighing placing Maaleh Adumim within the boundaries of Greater Jerusalem within the context of the Greater Jerusalem bill,” he said.
The legislation, Ma’an further reports, was authored by Likud minister Yisrael Katz who is reportedly expected to bring the bill to the Ministerial Committee for Legislation in the upcoming Knesset session. It would place 19 settlements, including those of the Gush Etzion settlement bloc and Givat Zeev within Israel’s municipal boundaries for Jerusalem.
The Israeli state annexed occupied East Jerusalem in 1980 in a move never recognized by the international community.
According to The Jerusalem Post, the bill would allow the settlers to retain their autonomy but afford them voting rights in the city’s mayoral race. It would meanwhile create “independent municipalities” for some 100,000 Palestinian citizens or residents of Israel who live within Israel’s Jerusalem municipality borders, but are located on the other side of Israel’s illegal separation wall.
These neighborhoods, which have been referred to as a “no man’s land,” have not received proper municipal services since the wall’s construction. While most residents hold Jerusalem residency status and continue to pay taxes to the Israeli government, they are left severely neglected by Israeli authorities, as their neighborhoods are now located on the “West Bank side” of the separation barrier.
Residents now must pass through congested Israeli-controlled checkpoints to reach Jerusalem, while these neighborhoods face increasing problems from an absence of sewage infrastructure and other basic services traditionally provided by the Jerusalem municipality, including waste collection services, healthcare, and education assistance.
“We will intensify the momentum to develop Maaleh Adumim. We will build thousands of housing units here. We will add the necessary industrial areas and the expansion necessary to enable the accelerated development of this place. This place will be part of the State of Israel, ” Netanyahu continued in his remarks.
The Israeli premier further stated that he would advance plans for 4,000 new homes in settlements in the occupied West Bank after the Jewish holidays.
During the visit to Maaleh Adumin, Netanyahu also took the opportunity to address the reactivation of the Palestinian National Consensus Government and ongoing reconciliation talks with rival factions Fateh and Hamas.
“We expect everyone who talks about a peace process to recognize the State of Israel and, of course, to recognize a Jewish state and we are not prepared to accept bogus reconciliations in which the Palestinian side apparently reconciles at the expense of our existence.
“Whoever wants to make such a reconciliation, our understanding is very clear: Recognize the State of Israel, disband the Hamas military arm, sever the connection with Iran, which calls for our destruction, and so on and so forth. Even these very clear things must be clearly stated,” he said.
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Secretary General Saeb Erekat said in a statement Wednesday saying that now that Palestinian political reconciliation was underway, it was “time for Israel to abide by international law and to recognize the right of the State of Palestine to exist,” noting that the Palestine National Council has recognized the State of Israel.
“Some in Israel and the United States have called on Hamas to recognize Israel. Instead, Israel and the United States should recognize the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. This is the way to achieve the ultimate deal with the State of Israel to live side by side the State of Palestine in peace and security,” Erekat said.
Observers have attributed a increase in visits by Netanyahu to illegal settlements since Donald Trump was sworn in as US president in January.
Since Trump took office — and despite requests by the US president to hold back on settlement building — an emboldened Netanyahu government has pushed forward with a steady stream of announcements on settlement building.
In a recent interview with Israeli media, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman — who has been vocal in his support for Israeli settlements and his unflinching support for the Israeli government — referred to Israel’s presence in the West Bank as an “alleged occupation,” and said that settlements are “only occupying 2 percent of the West Bank” and that he considers them part of Israel.
Palestinian officials were quick to condemn Friedman for the remarks as disconnected from reality, with Erekat describing the assertions as “not only false and misleading but contradict international law, United Nations resolutions and also the historical US position.
“Israel is internationally recognized as the occupying power over 100 percent of Palestine, including in and around Occupied East Jerusalem. Such positions undermine ongoing efforts towards achieving a just and lasting peace between Israel and Palestine on the 1967 border,” he said.
PLO Executive Committee Member Hanan Ashrawi also slammed the US ambassador for his “blatant bias” toward Israel.
“The US Ambassador to Israel has proved once again that he is completely removed from reality. In addition to his long-standing support for Israeli settlements, and after referring to the ‘alleged occupation’ of Palestinian land, he has the audacity to maintain that Israel occupies only 2 percent of the West Bank and that illegal settlements that carve, annex, and steal Palestinian land are part of Israel,” she said.
Ashrawi said Friedman’s positions “are a mirror reflection of the settlers’ ideology in Israel’s right-wing coalition government rather than that of successive Administrations that have claimed to be invested in peace,” affirming that, “The occupation exists. Settlements are illegal under international law and constitute a war crime. These facts and realities are not in question.”
The proposed Greater Jerusalem bill also comes as the Israeli government has advanced a plan to forcibly expel the Palestinian Bedouin community of Khan al-Ahmar, under threat of relocation for being located in the contentious “E1 corridor” set up by the Israeli government to link annexed East Jerusalem with Maale Adumim.
Israeli rights group B’Tselem slammed the Israeli government for the plan in a letter to Netanyahu, saying that such a move would constitute a “war crime.”
Maale Adumim is the third largest settlement in population size, encompassing a large swath of land deep inside the occupied West Bank’s Jerusalem district. Many Israelis consider it an Israeli suburban city of Jerusalem, despite it being located on occupied Palestinian territory in contravention of international law.
“Maaleh Adumim will always be part of Israel and, in addition, I support the Greater Jerusalem bill,” The Jerusalem Post quoted Netanyahu as saying during a visit to the illegal settlement Tuesday. “I am also weighing placing Maaleh Adumim within the boundaries of Greater Jerusalem within the context of the Greater Jerusalem bill,” he said.
The legislation, Ma’an further reports, was authored by Likud minister Yisrael Katz who is reportedly expected to bring the bill to the Ministerial Committee for Legislation in the upcoming Knesset session. It would place 19 settlements, including those of the Gush Etzion settlement bloc and Givat Zeev within Israel’s municipal boundaries for Jerusalem.
The Israeli state annexed occupied East Jerusalem in 1980 in a move never recognized by the international community.
According to The Jerusalem Post, the bill would allow the settlers to retain their autonomy but afford them voting rights in the city’s mayoral race. It would meanwhile create “independent municipalities” for some 100,000 Palestinian citizens or residents of Israel who live within Israel’s Jerusalem municipality borders, but are located on the other side of Israel’s illegal separation wall.
These neighborhoods, which have been referred to as a “no man’s land,” have not received proper municipal services since the wall’s construction. While most residents hold Jerusalem residency status and continue to pay taxes to the Israeli government, they are left severely neglected by Israeli authorities, as their neighborhoods are now located on the “West Bank side” of the separation barrier.
Residents now must pass through congested Israeli-controlled checkpoints to reach Jerusalem, while these neighborhoods face increasing problems from an absence of sewage infrastructure and other basic services traditionally provided by the Jerusalem municipality, including waste collection services, healthcare, and education assistance.
“We will intensify the momentum to develop Maaleh Adumim. We will build thousands of housing units here. We will add the necessary industrial areas and the expansion necessary to enable the accelerated development of this place. This place will be part of the State of Israel, ” Netanyahu continued in his remarks.
The Israeli premier further stated that he would advance plans for 4,000 new homes in settlements in the occupied West Bank after the Jewish holidays.
During the visit to Maaleh Adumin, Netanyahu also took the opportunity to address the reactivation of the Palestinian National Consensus Government and ongoing reconciliation talks with rival factions Fateh and Hamas.
“We expect everyone who talks about a peace process to recognize the State of Israel and, of course, to recognize a Jewish state and we are not prepared to accept bogus reconciliations in which the Palestinian side apparently reconciles at the expense of our existence.
“Whoever wants to make such a reconciliation, our understanding is very clear: Recognize the State of Israel, disband the Hamas military arm, sever the connection with Iran, which calls for our destruction, and so on and so forth. Even these very clear things must be clearly stated,” he said.
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Secretary General Saeb Erekat said in a statement Wednesday saying that now that Palestinian political reconciliation was underway, it was “time for Israel to abide by international law and to recognize the right of the State of Palestine to exist,” noting that the Palestine National Council has recognized the State of Israel.
“Some in Israel and the United States have called on Hamas to recognize Israel. Instead, Israel and the United States should recognize the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. This is the way to achieve the ultimate deal with the State of Israel to live side by side the State of Palestine in peace and security,” Erekat said.
Observers have attributed a increase in visits by Netanyahu to illegal settlements since Donald Trump was sworn in as US president in January.
Since Trump took office — and despite requests by the US president to hold back on settlement building — an emboldened Netanyahu government has pushed forward with a steady stream of announcements on settlement building.
In a recent interview with Israeli media, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman — who has been vocal in his support for Israeli settlements and his unflinching support for the Israeli government — referred to Israel’s presence in the West Bank as an “alleged occupation,” and said that settlements are “only occupying 2 percent of the West Bank” and that he considers them part of Israel.
Palestinian officials were quick to condemn Friedman for the remarks as disconnected from reality, with Erekat describing the assertions as “not only false and misleading but contradict international law, United Nations resolutions and also the historical US position.
“Israel is internationally recognized as the occupying power over 100 percent of Palestine, including in and around Occupied East Jerusalem. Such positions undermine ongoing efforts towards achieving a just and lasting peace between Israel and Palestine on the 1967 border,” he said.
PLO Executive Committee Member Hanan Ashrawi also slammed the US ambassador for his “blatant bias” toward Israel.
“The US Ambassador to Israel has proved once again that he is completely removed from reality. In addition to his long-standing support for Israeli settlements, and after referring to the ‘alleged occupation’ of Palestinian land, he has the audacity to maintain that Israel occupies only 2 percent of the West Bank and that illegal settlements that carve, annex, and steal Palestinian land are part of Israel,” she said.
Ashrawi said Friedman’s positions “are a mirror reflection of the settlers’ ideology in Israel’s right-wing coalition government rather than that of successive Administrations that have claimed to be invested in peace,” affirming that, “The occupation exists. Settlements are illegal under international law and constitute a war crime. These facts and realities are not in question.”
The proposed Greater Jerusalem bill also comes as the Israeli government has advanced a plan to forcibly expel the Palestinian Bedouin community of Khan al-Ahmar, under threat of relocation for being located in the contentious “E1 corridor” set up by the Israeli government to link annexed East Jerusalem with Maale Adumim.
Israeli rights group B’Tselem slammed the Israeli government for the plan in a letter to Netanyahu, saying that such a move would constitute a “war crime.”
3 oct 2017
Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday pledged to build thousands of new housing units in the illegal settlement of Ma’ale Adumim, one of the West Bank's biggest Jewish settlements, and threatened to annex it to Israel.
During a visit to Ma’ale Adumim, Netanyahu said that he was announcing a period of "enhanced development."
"We will build thousands of housing units here," he said. "We will add the industrial zone needed and the expansion needed to allow for the advanced development of this place.”
His remarks have drawn an angry condemnation from the Palestinians and created a new test for the Trump administration, which has been trying for months to restart peace talks between the Palestinians and Israelis.
Ma’ale Adumim was founded in 1975 on vast tracts of annexed Palestinian land in east Jerusalem near the towns of Eizariya and Abu Dis. It is one of the most dangerous settlements in the West Bank as it is posing a geographic threat to the creation of a contiguous Palestinian state.
During a visit to Ma’ale Adumim, Netanyahu said that he was announcing a period of "enhanced development."
"We will build thousands of housing units here," he said. "We will add the industrial zone needed and the expansion needed to allow for the advanced development of this place.”
His remarks have drawn an angry condemnation from the Palestinians and created a new test for the Trump administration, which has been trying for months to restart peace talks between the Palestinians and Israelis.
Ma’ale Adumim was founded in 1975 on vast tracts of annexed Palestinian land in east Jerusalem near the towns of Eizariya and Abu Dis. It is one of the most dangerous settlements in the West Bank as it is posing a geographic threat to the creation of a contiguous Palestinian state.
2 oct 2017
A Palestinian research study unveiled Israeli systematic targeting of over 60% of the West Bank lands for settlement expansion.
Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in Ramallah conducted a study on the West Bank lands classified as Area C based on Oslo Accords. The study found out that Palestinians residing in these areas are suffering harsh living conditions at all levels.
The study showed that 300,000 Palestinians are distributed in 532 residential compounds as a result of Israeli security measures. These measures include tightened restrictions on housing, construction, development and economic development in addition to absolute neglect of their needs.
Moving from the Israeli-controlled Area C to the Palestinian Authority-controlled Area A has become one of the most difficult challenges Palestinians are facing, the study said, adding that Palestinian citizens have been increasingly moving out of area C due to the economic difficulties in addition to settlers attacks and violations.
Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in Ramallah conducted a study on the West Bank lands classified as Area C based on Oslo Accords. The study found out that Palestinians residing in these areas are suffering harsh living conditions at all levels.
The study showed that 300,000 Palestinians are distributed in 532 residential compounds as a result of Israeli security measures. These measures include tightened restrictions on housing, construction, development and economic development in addition to absolute neglect of their needs.
Moving from the Israeli-controlled Area C to the Palestinian Authority-controlled Area A has become one of the most difficult challenges Palestinians are facing, the study said, adding that Palestinian citizens have been increasingly moving out of area C due to the economic difficulties in addition to settlers attacks and violations.
Hebrew sources unraveled behind-closed-doors cooperation between the Israeli government and the US administration to construct new settlement units on Palestinian land in al-Khalil.
The Hebrew-speaking 0404 news site quoted sources close to the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, as denying reports that the construction of new settlement homes is the product of pressure by Israel's Interior Minister, Aryeh Deri, and Education Minister, Naftali Bennett.
According to the same sources, last month, Netanyahu told the US administration about his decision to construct dozens of new homes for Israeli settlers in the southern occupied West Bank province of al-Khalil.
On Sunday, the Israeli government approved a plan to construct 31 settlement homes in al-Khalil, in a move that is said to be forwarded by Deri and Bennett.
Israeli settlements across the occupied Palestinian territories are deemed illegitimate under international law.
The Hebrew-speaking 0404 news site quoted sources close to the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, as denying reports that the construction of new settlement homes is the product of pressure by Israel's Interior Minister, Aryeh Deri, and Education Minister, Naftali Bennett.
According to the same sources, last month, Netanyahu told the US administration about his decision to construct dozens of new homes for Israeli settlers in the southern occupied West Bank province of al-Khalil.
On Sunday, the Israeli government approved a plan to construct 31 settlement homes in al-Khalil, in a move that is said to be forwarded by Deri and Bennett.
Israeli settlements across the occupied Palestinian territories are deemed illegitimate under international law.
1 oct 2017
The Israeli government on Sunday ratified the construction of 31 settlement units in the Jewish neighborhood of Hezekiah in al-Khalil, according to the Hebrew website "0404".
The website reported that the scheme was initiated by Israel's Education Minister, Naftali Bennett (Jewish Home) and Interior Minister, Aryeh Deri, (Shas).
Israel's Minister of Environmental Protection, Ze'ev Elkin, said that the construction project in Hezekiah will be "an appropriate response" to the Palestinians joining Interpol, noting that all government ministers have approved the plan.
Minister of Justice, Ayelet Shaked, said that time had come to boost the settlement construction in al-Khalil in defiance of UNESCO's decision.
The UN Security Council on 23rd December 2016 adopted resolution No. (2334) which demanded an immediate and complete halt for all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories. The resolution was welcomed by the Palestinian Authority and several countries, but it provoked the dissatisfaction of Tel Aviv and the US president, Donald Trump.
The website reported that the scheme was initiated by Israel's Education Minister, Naftali Bennett (Jewish Home) and Interior Minister, Aryeh Deri, (Shas).
Israel's Minister of Environmental Protection, Ze'ev Elkin, said that the construction project in Hezekiah will be "an appropriate response" to the Palestinians joining Interpol, noting that all government ministers have approved the plan.
Minister of Justice, Ayelet Shaked, said that time had come to boost the settlement construction in al-Khalil in defiance of UNESCO's decision.
The UN Security Council on 23rd December 2016 adopted resolution No. (2334) which demanded an immediate and complete halt for all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories. The resolution was welcomed by the Palestinian Authority and several countries, but it provoked the dissatisfaction of Tel Aviv and the US president, Donald Trump.
