8 aug 2013
Givat Ze'ev settlement
Civil Administration spokesman says construction waits gov't green light. New homes earmarked for 11 settlements, some deep in West Bank, NGO says
Israel has given preliminary approval for the construction of more than 800 new homes in Jewish settlements on occupied West Bank land where Palestinians seek statehood, an Israeli official said on Thursday. The move could complicate US-sponsored Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, which resumed last month after an almost three-year freeze over the settlement dispute and whose second round is expected to take place next week.
Guy Inbar, spokesman for Israel's military-run Civil Administration in the West Bank, said initial plans to build 800 new settler homes were approved on Wednesday, though actual construction would require a green light from the government.
"This is a lengthy process," said Inbar, who did not immediately provide further details on the plans.
Peace Now, an Israeli anti-settlement watchdog, put the number of new homes discussed by the Civil Administration on Wednesday at 1,096 and said they were earmarked for 11 settlements – some of them located deep within the West Bank.
Israel insists it would annex major West Bank settlement blocs, which are mainly situated close to the Israeli border, under any peace accord with the Palestinians. Most world powers regard all the settlements as illegal and Palestinians say the enclaves could deny them a viable and contiguous state.
Palestinian officials did not immediately comment on the new settlement initiative, which surfaced as Muslims celebrated the festival of Eid al-Fitr.
Some 500,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, areas captured in the 1967 War, amid 2.5 million Palestinians. Israel withdrew in 2005 from the Gaza Strip, which is now governed by Hamas Islamists opposed to permanent co-existence with the Jewish state.
On Sunday, the rightist Israeli government put 91 settlements on a national priority funding list, adding six to a roster of dozens of enclaves already eligible for supplemental state cash.
Last month, while US Secretary of State John Kerry was on a peace-brokering visit to the region, the Civil Administration granted initial approval for construction of 732 new homes in Modiin Ilit, a settlement midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
Civil Administration spokesman says construction waits gov't green light. New homes earmarked for 11 settlements, some deep in West Bank, NGO says
Israel has given preliminary approval for the construction of more than 800 new homes in Jewish settlements on occupied West Bank land where Palestinians seek statehood, an Israeli official said on Thursday. The move could complicate US-sponsored Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, which resumed last month after an almost three-year freeze over the settlement dispute and whose second round is expected to take place next week.
Guy Inbar, spokesman for Israel's military-run Civil Administration in the West Bank, said initial plans to build 800 new settler homes were approved on Wednesday, though actual construction would require a green light from the government.
"This is a lengthy process," said Inbar, who did not immediately provide further details on the plans.
Peace Now, an Israeli anti-settlement watchdog, put the number of new homes discussed by the Civil Administration on Wednesday at 1,096 and said they were earmarked for 11 settlements – some of them located deep within the West Bank.
Israel insists it would annex major West Bank settlement blocs, which are mainly situated close to the Israeli border, under any peace accord with the Palestinians. Most world powers regard all the settlements as illegal and Palestinians say the enclaves could deny them a viable and contiguous state.
Palestinian officials did not immediately comment on the new settlement initiative, which surfaced as Muslims celebrated the festival of Eid al-Fitr.
Some 500,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, areas captured in the 1967 War, amid 2.5 million Palestinians. Israel withdrew in 2005 from the Gaza Strip, which is now governed by Hamas Islamists opposed to permanent co-existence with the Jewish state.
On Sunday, the rightist Israeli government put 91 settlements on a national priority funding list, adding six to a roster of dozens of enclaves already eligible for supplemental state cash.
Last month, while US Secretary of State John Kerry was on a peace-brokering visit to the region, the Civil Administration granted initial approval for construction of 732 new homes in Modiin Ilit, a settlement midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
7 aug 2013
MP Jamal Al-Khudari, the head of the popular committee against the siege, warned of the seriousness of Israeli calls to storm al-Aqsa mosque from all its gates on Wednesday. These Israeli serious calls to storm the holy Islamic site coincide with the Israeli excavations under the mosque and the Israeli attempts to divide it as what happened with the Ibrahimi mosque, MP Al-Khudari said.
He stressed the need to intensify the Palestinian presence in al-Aqsa mosque and called on Palestinians in the West Bank and inside the Green Line to flock to al-Aqsa mosque in order to address such Israeli provocative calls.
He pointed out that these extremist calls are fully supported by the Israeli government especially that senior politicians will participate in storming al-Aqsa mosque.
Meanwhile, more than 70 Israeli settlers tried to storm al-Aqsa mosque from Silsila Gate, however the Israeli police prevented them from doing so where clashes have erupted between the two sides.
Local sources confirmed that group of settlers reached al-Aqsa mosque in a provocative attempt to break into it.
Jewish organizations have called for organizing a mass rally at the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday, demanding free access to and prayer in the Muslim holy site.
He stressed the need to intensify the Palestinian presence in al-Aqsa mosque and called on Palestinians in the West Bank and inside the Green Line to flock to al-Aqsa mosque in order to address such Israeli provocative calls.
He pointed out that these extremist calls are fully supported by the Israeli government especially that senior politicians will participate in storming al-Aqsa mosque.
Meanwhile, more than 70 Israeli settlers tried to storm al-Aqsa mosque from Silsila Gate, however the Israeli police prevented them from doing so where clashes have erupted between the two sides.
Local sources confirmed that group of settlers reached al-Aqsa mosque in a provocative attempt to break into it.
Jewish organizations have called for organizing a mass rally at the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday, demanding free access to and prayer in the Muslim holy site.
Israeli sources have reported Tuesday that Jerusalem City Council head, Nir Barkat, and Israeli Housing Minister, Uri Ariel, intend to place the cornerstone of a new settlement, in Jabal Al-Mokabbir, south of occupied East Jerusalem.
The sources said that the new settlement will be dedicated this coming Sunday, and will include dozens of units for Jewish settlers.
Palestinian researcher, specialized in settlements affairs, Ahmad Sob-Laban, stated that the Israeli “Construction and Planning Committee” authorized, on July 29, the construction of the new settlement in Jerusalem.
He added that the plan aims at building 63 units in three buildings, located close to a kindergarten in Jabal Al-Mokabbir.
The researcher said that this would be the second settlement to be built in the heart of Jabal Al-Mokabbir, as the first is called Nof Ezion, and added that Israel also illegally confiscated lands in Jabal Al-Mokabbir and Sur Baher to build the Armona Natzif settlement, west of the town.
“This is an old plan that was approved in 2008, a license to build foundations, parking lots, and infrastructure was granted”, Sob-Laban said, “The new issue here is authorizing new constructions for the settlement in the twon”.
He further stated that an Israeli company, known as Yumnah, is connected to financing and building various outposts in the heart of Arab neighborhoods in occupied East Jerusalem.
“This is a strategy meant at creating facts on the ground, to prevent any Israeli withdrawal from the occupied city”, the researcher added, “Those settlement activities aim at placing obstacles in front of any attempt to reach a peace agreement and a two-state solution”
The sources said that the new settlement will be dedicated this coming Sunday, and will include dozens of units for Jewish settlers.
Palestinian researcher, specialized in settlements affairs, Ahmad Sob-Laban, stated that the Israeli “Construction and Planning Committee” authorized, on July 29, the construction of the new settlement in Jerusalem.
He added that the plan aims at building 63 units in three buildings, located close to a kindergarten in Jabal Al-Mokabbir.
The researcher said that this would be the second settlement to be built in the heart of Jabal Al-Mokabbir, as the first is called Nof Ezion, and added that Israel also illegally confiscated lands in Jabal Al-Mokabbir and Sur Baher to build the Armona Natzif settlement, west of the town.
“This is an old plan that was approved in 2008, a license to build foundations, parking lots, and infrastructure was granted”, Sob-Laban said, “The new issue here is authorizing new constructions for the settlement in the twon”.
He further stated that an Israeli company, known as Yumnah, is connected to financing and building various outposts in the heart of Arab neighborhoods in occupied East Jerusalem.
“This is a strategy meant at creating facts on the ground, to prevent any Israeli withdrawal from the occupied city”, the researcher added, “Those settlement activities aim at placing obstacles in front of any attempt to reach a peace agreement and a two-state solution”
6 aug 2013
On Sunday afternoon, 14 July 2013, ‘Omar Hushiyeh, a 28-year-old Palestinian from the village of Khirbet al-Markez in the South Hebron Hills, was grazing sheep on his family’s land. The illegal settlement outpost of Mitzpe Yair lies about a kilometer to the west of this land. In his testimony, given the next day to B’Tselem researcher Musa Abu Hashhash at the ‘Alia governmental hospital in Hebron, Hushiyeh related how he had received a hard blow from behind that knocked him down as he was making his way back home with his flock:
At around 6:30 P.M., I was walking behind the sheep, not paying attention to anything in particular. Suddenly, someone pushed me from behind and I fell down. When I tried to get up, I saw three masked men. I could see that one of them had payot (sidecurls worn by Orthodox Jewish men). One of them stepped on my back. He pinned me down hard and wouldn’t let me get up. Then he started punching me in my head and face. Another guy picked up a stone that was lying there and hit me with it in the back of my head, a few times. I tried to resist and to protect my head with my hands, but they were too strong. The third one didn’t do anything. He stood nearby and looked around to make sure that no one could see what was happening.
Hushiyeh related that, after a few moments, the two men beating him noticed three soldiers approaching, at which point they let him go and ran off towards Mitzpe Yair. He said that the soldiers made no attempt to pursue the assailants or detain them, although they were no more than fifty meters away.
In his testimony, Hushiyeh said that his face and other parts of his head were bleeding from the blows he had received. He added and that the soldiers came over to him but did not offer him first aid. He continued his account:
The soldiers stood next to me. One of them was talking to someone on a two-way radio. I understood that they were waiting for a medic to come and treat me. In the meantime, my father called my cell phone. I told him that settlers had attacked me. He said he was phoning because the sheep had come back to the village without me and he was worried that something might have happened to me.
At approximately 7:30 P.M., Hushiyeh’s parents arrived on the scene. According to Hushiyeh, his father rebuked the soldiers for not administering first aid to his son. They replied that they were waiting for a medic to arrive and asked him to wait patiently. Hushiyeh’s parents decided not to wait any longer. They helped their son walk back to the village, a kilometer away. When they got there, one of the villagers drove Hushiyeh and his father to the nearest paved road, where an ambulance summoned by the family was already waiting.
The ambulance transported Hushiyeh to the ‘Alia governmental hospital in Hebron, where he passed out. He was examined, received five stitches in his head, and was diagnosed with bruises and scratches on his face.
Three days later, Hushiyeh filed a complaint about the assault at the Israel Police station in the settlement of Kiryat Arba. In response to an inquiry by B’Tselem, the police stated that the investigation had been closed on grounds of “unknown assailant” just two weeks later. It is highly doubtful that, in an investigation closed so quickly, all the necessary action was taken in order to locate the assailants.
B’Tselem wrote to the police again, requesting that the file be reopened so that all possible avenues of investigation be exhausted, including locating and questioning the soldiers who witnessed the serious attack, checking security camera footage in the area, and following up on Hushiyeh’s statement that the assailants ran off to the Mitzpe Yair outpost. B’Tselem also demanded that, should the police decide not to reopen the file, it be sent all the material pertaining to the investigation so that it could decide whether to appeal the decision.
In addition, B’Tselem applied to OC Hebron Brigade, demanding that the soldiers who witnessed the incident be located so that they could testify before the police. B’Tselem also demanded that all soldiers be briefed on their legal duties, which include immediately reporting to the police any assault of Palestinians by settlers, attempting to capture the assailants, detaining them until police forces arrive, and supplying their own eyewitness accounts to the police.
At around 6:30 P.M., I was walking behind the sheep, not paying attention to anything in particular. Suddenly, someone pushed me from behind and I fell down. When I tried to get up, I saw three masked men. I could see that one of them had payot (sidecurls worn by Orthodox Jewish men). One of them stepped on my back. He pinned me down hard and wouldn’t let me get up. Then he started punching me in my head and face. Another guy picked up a stone that was lying there and hit me with it in the back of my head, a few times. I tried to resist and to protect my head with my hands, but they were too strong. The third one didn’t do anything. He stood nearby and looked around to make sure that no one could see what was happening.
Hushiyeh related that, after a few moments, the two men beating him noticed three soldiers approaching, at which point they let him go and ran off towards Mitzpe Yair. He said that the soldiers made no attempt to pursue the assailants or detain them, although they were no more than fifty meters away.
In his testimony, Hushiyeh said that his face and other parts of his head were bleeding from the blows he had received. He added and that the soldiers came over to him but did not offer him first aid. He continued his account:
The soldiers stood next to me. One of them was talking to someone on a two-way radio. I understood that they were waiting for a medic to come and treat me. In the meantime, my father called my cell phone. I told him that settlers had attacked me. He said he was phoning because the sheep had come back to the village without me and he was worried that something might have happened to me.
At approximately 7:30 P.M., Hushiyeh’s parents arrived on the scene. According to Hushiyeh, his father rebuked the soldiers for not administering first aid to his son. They replied that they were waiting for a medic to arrive and asked him to wait patiently. Hushiyeh’s parents decided not to wait any longer. They helped their son walk back to the village, a kilometer away. When they got there, one of the villagers drove Hushiyeh and his father to the nearest paved road, where an ambulance summoned by the family was already waiting.
The ambulance transported Hushiyeh to the ‘Alia governmental hospital in Hebron, where he passed out. He was examined, received five stitches in his head, and was diagnosed with bruises and scratches on his face.
Three days later, Hushiyeh filed a complaint about the assault at the Israel Police station in the settlement of Kiryat Arba. In response to an inquiry by B’Tselem, the police stated that the investigation had been closed on grounds of “unknown assailant” just two weeks later. It is highly doubtful that, in an investigation closed so quickly, all the necessary action was taken in order to locate the assailants.
B’Tselem wrote to the police again, requesting that the file be reopened so that all possible avenues of investigation be exhausted, including locating and questioning the soldiers who witnessed the serious attack, checking security camera footage in the area, and following up on Hushiyeh’s statement that the assailants ran off to the Mitzpe Yair outpost. B’Tselem also demanded that, should the police decide not to reopen the file, it be sent all the material pertaining to the investigation so that it could decide whether to appeal the decision.
In addition, B’Tselem applied to OC Hebron Brigade, demanding that the soldiers who witnessed the incident be located so that they could testify before the police. B’Tselem also demanded that all soldiers be briefed on their legal duties, which include immediately reporting to the police any assault of Palestinians by settlers, attempting to capture the assailants, detaining them until police forces arrive, and supplying their own eyewitness accounts to the police.
Jewish organizations have called for organizing a march and mass rally at the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday, demanding free access to and prayer in the Muslim holy site. The rally is speculated to start from the Mughrabi Gate near Buraq Wall at 7:30 am, and to go around al-Aqsa doors to pressure the Israeli police to allow them to storm the mosque from all doors.
Senior rabbis and politicians will participate in the rally including Rabbi Yisrael Ariel, paratrooper and founder of the Temple Institute, the extremist Rabbi Yehuda Glick, and Deputy Speaker of the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) Moshe Feiglin, in addition to journalists and members of the right-wing Likud party.
This Israeli attempts to storm al-Aqsa mosque came in light of the Israeli calls to divide the mosque and impose a new status quo.
Senior rabbis and politicians will participate in the rally including Rabbi Yisrael Ariel, paratrooper and founder of the Temple Institute, the extremist Rabbi Yehuda Glick, and Deputy Speaker of the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) Moshe Feiglin, in addition to journalists and members of the right-wing Likud party.
This Israeli attempts to storm al-Aqsa mosque came in light of the Israeli calls to divide the mosque and impose a new status quo.
The number of Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank grew by 2.2 % during the first six months of 2013, according to Israel Today newspaper. The newspaper confirmed that this year’s rate of increase is higher than the overall Israeli population increase rate that was estimated at 1.9% in 2012.
The highest settlers' increase rate was in the settlements built on al-Khalil Mount by 4.85%, while the settlers' number grew by 4.1% in Gush Etzion and by 3.2% in settlements built in the northern occupied West Bank.
The settler population in the occupied West Bank stood at 367,000 settlers at beginning of July 2013, the newspaper added, saying that 7,700 new settlers joined these settlements.
The Israeli newspaper stated that Har Homa settlement received new settlers with an increase by 21%, while Msheejut and Rotem settlements built in Jordan Valley recorded an increase by 14% in receiving new settlers and 10% in Nahaliel settlement built in Ramallah.
During the first six months of 2012, the number of Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank grew by 2.25% where 5,200 settlers have moved to settle in West Bank settlements, Israel Today said.
Assistant Secretary General of the West Bank settlements has called on the Israeli government to increase settlement construction in the occupied West Bank due to the increasing number of settlers moving to West Bank settlements.
Commenting on these facts, Peace Now organization stated that it would be impossible to achieve the two-state solution.
The highest settlers' increase rate was in the settlements built on al-Khalil Mount by 4.85%, while the settlers' number grew by 4.1% in Gush Etzion and by 3.2% in settlements built in the northern occupied West Bank.
The settler population in the occupied West Bank stood at 367,000 settlers at beginning of July 2013, the newspaper added, saying that 7,700 new settlers joined these settlements.
The Israeli newspaper stated that Har Homa settlement received new settlers with an increase by 21%, while Msheejut and Rotem settlements built in Jordan Valley recorded an increase by 14% in receiving new settlers and 10% in Nahaliel settlement built in Ramallah.
During the first six months of 2012, the number of Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank grew by 2.25% where 5,200 settlers have moved to settle in West Bank settlements, Israel Today said.
Assistant Secretary General of the West Bank settlements has called on the Israeli government to increase settlement construction in the occupied West Bank due to the increasing number of settlers moving to West Bank settlements.
Commenting on these facts, Peace Now organization stated that it would be impossible to achieve the two-state solution.
A video released by B’Tselem shows a clash between Palestinians and settlers in the West Bank last week, Yedioth Ahranoth Israeli newspaper reported Tuesday.
B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights watch organization, caught the conflict on video, but the cause is still unknown. The video shows at least two settlers with drawn weapons.
The Palestinians indicated the conflict began when Jewish settlers entered a reservoir and were asked to step out by the local residents. The locals said the settlers refused and began throwing stones toward a nearby house. That was how the clash began.
The settlers, on the other hand, said Palestinians were throwing stones at them as they traveled through, and that they called for help. When the help arrived warning shots were fired because, they said, the Palestinians were throwing stones. The settlers said that was how the clash began.
B’Tselem’s video does not show what happened before the start of the clashes, but it does show the settlers’ weapons being aimed at Palestinians.
IOF troops arrived shortly thereafter and detained six settlers, according to Yedioth Ahranoth. Although the police motioned for the remand to be extended, the court decided to release the settlers.
LINK TO VIDEO
B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights watch organization, caught the conflict on video, but the cause is still unknown. The video shows at least two settlers with drawn weapons.
The Palestinians indicated the conflict began when Jewish settlers entered a reservoir and were asked to step out by the local residents. The locals said the settlers refused and began throwing stones toward a nearby house. That was how the clash began.
The settlers, on the other hand, said Palestinians were throwing stones at them as they traveled through, and that they called for help. When the help arrived warning shots were fired because, they said, the Palestinians were throwing stones. The settlers said that was how the clash began.
B’Tselem’s video does not show what happened before the start of the clashes, but it does show the settlers’ weapons being aimed at Palestinians.
IOF troops arrived shortly thereafter and detained six settlers, according to Yedioth Ahranoth. Although the police motioned for the remand to be extended, the court decided to release the settlers.
LINK TO VIDEO
5 aug 2013
"The Israeli government has approved a confidence destruction measure," said PLO Executive Committee Member Dr. Hanan Ashrawi referring to the Israeli government decision to include 90 illegal Israeli settlements in the list of "national priority areas," 20 of them new Israeli settlements.
PLO Department of Culture and Information revealed Sunday that such settlements will receive added benefits from the state, giving further incentives for Israeli settlers to remain inside the Occupied State of Palestine.
"At a moment when the international community has made great efforts to foster a resumption of negotiations between Palestine and Israel, the Israeli cabinet has approved a plan that further incentivizes illegal settlement in the occupied State of Palestine."
Dr. Ashrawi continued, "While Palestine has cooperated with international efforts to seek a two-state solution on the 1967 border, Israel is responding once again by destroying the 1967 border and violating international law." Dr. Ashrawi said. "Israeli attempts to grab more Palestinian land and to provide settlers with preferential treatment will not be tolerated."
"Such criminal acts must be met with strong international action. It must be made clear to Israel that negotiations are about peacefully ending the occupation that began in 1967, and that Israel may not use the protective cover of negotiations as a means to pre-empt their outcome or as a means to persist in acting with impunity in further entrenching its illegal practices." Dr. Ashrawi concluded.
PLO Department of Culture and Information revealed Sunday that such settlements will receive added benefits from the state, giving further incentives for Israeli settlers to remain inside the Occupied State of Palestine.
"At a moment when the international community has made great efforts to foster a resumption of negotiations between Palestine and Israel, the Israeli cabinet has approved a plan that further incentivizes illegal settlement in the occupied State of Palestine."
Dr. Ashrawi continued, "While Palestine has cooperated with international efforts to seek a two-state solution on the 1967 border, Israel is responding once again by destroying the 1967 border and violating international law." Dr. Ashrawi said. "Israeli attempts to grab more Palestinian land and to provide settlers with preferential treatment will not be tolerated."
"Such criminal acts must be met with strong international action. It must be made clear to Israel that negotiations are about peacefully ending the occupation that began in 1967, and that Israel may not use the protective cover of negotiations as a means to pre-empt their outcome or as a means to persist in acting with impunity in further entrenching its illegal practices." Dr. Ashrawi concluded.
From my recent visit to Hebron, I was especially struck by the clear and intentional lines dividing life under the occupation. Above a richly diverse Old City market sits an Israeli settlement, separated only by a wire covering that captures the trash, rocks, and any other objects that settlers choose to throw off their balconies onto the Palestinians.
Down the road from an established settlement, complete with a sign that misrepresents the land as "stolen" by Arabs, is a well-guarded passageway to enter the mosque and Palestinian market. Across a tiny space between two yards, settler families from America look out over Palestinian advocates of nonviolent resistance, whose names and personalities they know, but who, in other situation, they treat with condescension, stone-throwing, verbal abuse, and vandalism. Encroaching upon a set of villages in the South Hebron Hills is Firing Zone 918, an area the Israeli military has designated as a training site, and which currently threatens 1,300 Palestinians with home demolitions and eviction from their villages.
Down the road from an established settlement, complete with a sign that misrepresents the land as "stolen" by Arabs, is a well-guarded passageway to enter the mosque and Palestinian market. Across a tiny space between two yards, settler families from America look out over Palestinian advocates of nonviolent resistance, whose names and personalities they know, but who, in other situation, they treat with condescension, stone-throwing, verbal abuse, and vandalism. Encroaching upon a set of villages in the South Hebron Hills is Firing Zone 918, an area the Israeli military has designated as a training site, and which currently threatens 1,300 Palestinians with home demolitions and eviction from their villages.
Israeli human rights organization B'tselem has pointed to one element of the problem, the fact that soldiers will often turn a blind eye to blatant settler violence. It is particularly striking, when visiting Hebron, to hear about the many forms that Palestinian nonviolence has taken, from a friendly greeting to settlers on the streets, to nonviolent demonstrations against the closure of Shuhada Street, to educating tourists on the realities and challenging conditions of Hebron life for Palestinians. In contrast, there is violence both in language and in action, perpetrated by Hebron settlers.
One weapon is the simple and sweeping denial of Palestinian identity, labeling Palestinians in Hebron as the "Arabs of Eretz Yisrael," for example. This negation of identity falls treacherously into the larger pattern of Palestinian displacement and militarily sanctioned discrimination in Hebron, such as the use of checkpoints, street closures, and a consistent soldier presence. It facilitates misguided settler claims to a historic and religious entitlement to the land, and makes it possible for the tense coexistence, in Hebron, of competing realities: one in which the occupation is real, and restrictive, and a blight to human dignity, and another in which occupation cannot be conceived of, because it would require recognition of the legitimacy of Palestinian identity.
While nonviolent resistance, education, and solidarity from the international community play a key role in stimulating a change in the power balance, the language of occupation still poses an insidious threat to the respect for a thriving Palestinian identity.
One weapon is the simple and sweeping denial of Palestinian identity, labeling Palestinians in Hebron as the "Arabs of Eretz Yisrael," for example. This negation of identity falls treacherously into the larger pattern of Palestinian displacement and militarily sanctioned discrimination in Hebron, such as the use of checkpoints, street closures, and a consistent soldier presence. It facilitates misguided settler claims to a historic and religious entitlement to the land, and makes it possible for the tense coexistence, in Hebron, of competing realities: one in which the occupation is real, and restrictive, and a blight to human dignity, and another in which occupation cannot be conceived of, because it would require recognition of the legitimacy of Palestinian identity.
While nonviolent resistance, education, and solidarity from the international community play a key role in stimulating a change in the power balance, the language of occupation still poses an insidious threat to the respect for a thriving Palestinian identity.
4 aug 2013
It took the police nearly three hours to reach a Palestinian’s home in Hebron after it had been fired on. When the police arrived, they asked the victim to do their job for them.
Welcome to Hebron, where the rule of law is nonexistent
By Yesh Din (written by Yossi Gurvitz)
Issa Amro, a resident of Hebron, is a noted activist who is often targeted for harassment by both the army and the settlers. He recently made it to the headlines in Israel (Heb) after IDF soldiers stormed his house during an Iftar dinner, choosing it as their training site. Yesh Din has already covered this phenomenon, which allows the IDF to show the Palestinians who’s boss. In Amro’s case, one suspects this harassment was anything but accidental, and was intended to intimidate an activist who gives the occupation forces a major headache.
Amro has other troubles. He is out of favor with the settlers, as he is one of the organizers of protests against the closing of Shuhada Street. Remember Baruch Goldstein’s massacre in Hebron? Following the massacre, the IDF decided that for security reasons, a main road in Palestinian Hebron must be closed. Some sort of occupation logic, I assume. A massacre took place? Make sure to punish the group which has just been massacred. That’ll be sure to deter the population which supports the murderer.
Be that as it may, several days ago, as Amro was sitting down for the Iftar dinner, there was a sudden loud noise. The guests were quick to take cover – Hebronites are well-drilled. A quick survey found a bullet casing nearby, which indicates a shooting. Amro went to the military checkpoint near his house, and spoke to the soldier there, asking him to call his captain. The soldier refused. Amro informed him his house was shot at. The soldier remained apathetic: “I don’t care, call the police.” As a common Israeli soldier, this one was unaware of his duty to defend Palestinians, including the duty to secure a crime scene.
Amro went back home, called the police, and they said they were on their way. Twenty minutes later, he called again. They were still on their way. And indeed, just 150 minutes after the second phone call, a police car moseyed up to the crime scene. The police were quick to show outstanding professionalism by asking Amro where the shot came from. Amro, sadly not a ballistic expert, reminded them this was their job. They said they’d do it.
A few minutes later, Amro joined the cops on their way to the police station in Kiryat Arba. That’s when the incident took a particularly Hebronic twist: a well-known settler and notorious felon blocked the road, informing the cops that “Issa won’t pass here.” Instead of informing the settler he isn’t going to order them around, the cops chose the path of better discretion and went down another road, which quite amused Amro.
Finally, Amro made his statement. The cops promised to return to the crime scene so as to actually examine it. So far, they haven’t. We shall patiently wait for the police to close the case without arresting any suspects. A reminder: 84 percent of cases are closed due to police negligence, due to the “unknown perpetrator clause.”
To sum things up: a house was shot up during a holiday dinner. A soldier did not know – or pretended not to know – his duty, nor did he hear the shot. A police force needed close to three hours to reach the scene. The police ask the victim to do their job for them, and later allow a settler to block their way and meekly turn to another road.
Welcome to occupied Hebron, where the rule of law crawls to die.
Written by Yossi Gurvitz in his capacity as a blogger for Yesh Din, Volunteers for Human Rights. A version of this post was first published on Yesh Din’s blog.
Welcome to Hebron, where the rule of law is nonexistent
By Yesh Din (written by Yossi Gurvitz)
Issa Amro, a resident of Hebron, is a noted activist who is often targeted for harassment by both the army and the settlers. He recently made it to the headlines in Israel (Heb) after IDF soldiers stormed his house during an Iftar dinner, choosing it as their training site. Yesh Din has already covered this phenomenon, which allows the IDF to show the Palestinians who’s boss. In Amro’s case, one suspects this harassment was anything but accidental, and was intended to intimidate an activist who gives the occupation forces a major headache.
Amro has other troubles. He is out of favor with the settlers, as he is one of the organizers of protests against the closing of Shuhada Street. Remember Baruch Goldstein’s massacre in Hebron? Following the massacre, the IDF decided that for security reasons, a main road in Palestinian Hebron must be closed. Some sort of occupation logic, I assume. A massacre took place? Make sure to punish the group which has just been massacred. That’ll be sure to deter the population which supports the murderer.
Be that as it may, several days ago, as Amro was sitting down for the Iftar dinner, there was a sudden loud noise. The guests were quick to take cover – Hebronites are well-drilled. A quick survey found a bullet casing nearby, which indicates a shooting. Amro went to the military checkpoint near his house, and spoke to the soldier there, asking him to call his captain. The soldier refused. Amro informed him his house was shot at. The soldier remained apathetic: “I don’t care, call the police.” As a common Israeli soldier, this one was unaware of his duty to defend Palestinians, including the duty to secure a crime scene.
Amro went back home, called the police, and they said they were on their way. Twenty minutes later, he called again. They were still on their way. And indeed, just 150 minutes after the second phone call, a police car moseyed up to the crime scene. The police were quick to show outstanding professionalism by asking Amro where the shot came from. Amro, sadly not a ballistic expert, reminded them this was their job. They said they’d do it.
A few minutes later, Amro joined the cops on their way to the police station in Kiryat Arba. That’s when the incident took a particularly Hebronic twist: a well-known settler and notorious felon blocked the road, informing the cops that “Issa won’t pass here.” Instead of informing the settler he isn’t going to order them around, the cops chose the path of better discretion and went down another road, which quite amused Amro.
Finally, Amro made his statement. The cops promised to return to the crime scene so as to actually examine it. So far, they haven’t. We shall patiently wait for the police to close the case without arresting any suspects. A reminder: 84 percent of cases are closed due to police negligence, due to the “unknown perpetrator clause.”
To sum things up: a house was shot up during a holiday dinner. A soldier did not know – or pretended not to know – his duty, nor did he hear the shot. A police force needed close to three hours to reach the scene. The police ask the victim to do their job for them, and later allow a settler to block their way and meekly turn to another road.
Welcome to occupied Hebron, where the rule of law crawls to die.
Written by Yossi Gurvitz in his capacity as a blogger for Yesh Din, Volunteers for Human Rights. A version of this post was first published on Yesh Din’s blog.
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This week, settlers from Yitzhar attacked the Asira village water project and its workers, once again. Israeli occupation forces who went to the scene did not to stop the settlers and instead occupied the roof of a Palestinian house located nearby.
On July 31st settlers from the illegal settlement of Yitzhar attacked workers at the water reservoir project above the village of Asira. The Israeli army came to intervene and then in order to “check” invaded the house closest to the water project belonging to a family with small children. The army then stationed themselves on the roof of the water project for the remainder of the day. The water reservoir project is aimed at providing residents from Asira with running water. |
Attacks on the project have been happening every day that there are workers present in the last months. Settlers trespass on to Asira village land and attack the workers often making “demonstrations” against the water project which will not affect the settlement in any way.
Asira al Qibliya, an ancient village with the current population of 3,500, and the other villages which surround the illegal settlement of Yitzhar face daily violence from its settlers.
In mid-1980s, the illegal settler colony of Yitzhar was established on the hilltop located around six Palestinian villages. Before the colony, the hilltop area was the locals’ breadbasket, thanks largely to its generous water resources. The nearby natural spring used to be Asira’s main source of water but the illegal settler colony, backed up by the Israeli government and the army, has completely blocked Palestinian access to the spring. Since then, villagers are forced to rely on water tanks; one such tank costs NIS 130 (US $36) in a place where unemployment is high; it is enough for a family for only a week. residents of Asira hope that when the project is completed, they will have access to water.
Residents of the illegal Israeli settler colony of Yitzhar are considered to be among the most violent in occupied Palestine; they physically attack Palestinian villagers (often children), set their land and property on fire, destroy houses, and cut or burn olive trees together with other vital sources of livelihood.
Asira al Qibliya, an ancient village with the current population of 3,500, and the other villages which surround the illegal settlement of Yitzhar face daily violence from its settlers.
In mid-1980s, the illegal settler colony of Yitzhar was established on the hilltop located around six Palestinian villages. Before the colony, the hilltop area was the locals’ breadbasket, thanks largely to its generous water resources. The nearby natural spring used to be Asira’s main source of water but the illegal settler colony, backed up by the Israeli government and the army, has completely blocked Palestinian access to the spring. Since then, villagers are forced to rely on water tanks; one such tank costs NIS 130 (US $36) in a place where unemployment is high; it is enough for a family for only a week. residents of Asira hope that when the project is completed, they will have access to water.
Residents of the illegal Israeli settler colony of Yitzhar are considered to be among the most violent in occupied Palestine; they physically attack Palestinian villagers (often children), set their land and property on fire, destroy houses, and cut or burn olive trees together with other vital sources of livelihood.
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) rounded up three Palestinians at dawn Sunday including a municipality chairman and two young men. Local sources told Quds Press that IOF soldiers stormed the village of Deir Salah in Bethlehem and took away its municipality chairman Khalil Mubarak.
Other IOF units broke into Doheisha refugee camp also in Bethlehem and arrested a 19-year-old youth after ransacking his family home.
IOF soldiers also arrested Omar Salaime from his home in the Old City of Al-Khalil.
Meanwhile, locals in Yatta said that IOF soldiers and Jewish settlers prevented farmers from reaching their fields in Um El-Khair area near Yatta and assaulted them.
Other IOF units broke into Doheisha refugee camp also in Bethlehem and arrested a 19-year-old youth after ransacking his family home.
IOF soldiers also arrested Omar Salaime from his home in the Old City of Al-Khalil.
Meanwhile, locals in Yatta said that IOF soldiers and Jewish settlers prevented farmers from reaching their fields in Um El-Khair area near Yatta and assaulted them.
3 aug 2013
Video- Soldiers assault a twelve-year-old Palestinian while settlers invade family rooftop in Hebron
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Saturday August 3rd was not a peaceful Saturday for the Palestinians in Hebron. At approximately 16.30 two settlers invaded the roof of the Abu Shamsiya family in Tel Rumeida, whilst three soldiers attacked a twelve year old boy in the street nearby.
When the settlers on the roof were approached by internationals and told that they were on private property and therefore had to leave, they refused and said they came there every week. The fact that they had entered a private home without consent of the family did not concern them, on the contrary they expressed that they felt it was their right. When asked to leave the settlers behaved aggressively by yelling and continuously refusing to do so. |
After having argued with internationals one of the settlers threatened to lie to the soldiers and say that they had been hit by the internationals. He argued that even though it was not true, the soldiers would believe him over the international activists.
As seen in the video , in the meantime three Israeli soldiers assaulted three young boys just down the street. The soldiers started by harshly pushing one boy, afterwards they grabbed a second boy, Islam by the hair and kicked him. Thereafter a third boy ran to his house chased by the soldiers. When internationals asked why the military was chasing the boy, they lied and said the boys had been throwing stones. The boy said that he had simply ran because he was scared after having seen his twelve-year-old friend, Islam being brutally attacked by soldiers for no apparent reason.
These are not unusual events. The Abu Shamsiya family is often victim of settler and military harassment, the family’s roof is on street level and settlers often go there to throw stones, harass the family and break their property. Saturdays are particularly violent in Hebron, only last week both Abu Shamsiya and his son Muhammed were attacked by settlers whilst the military was watching, with Abu Shamsiya then being arrested on false charges while the settlers were freed without charges.
Hebron has large settlements in the middle of the city housing approximately 500 settlers some of whom are extremely aggressive and violent. Additionally there are 2500 Israeli occupation soldiers stationed in the city.
As seen in the video , in the meantime three Israeli soldiers assaulted three young boys just down the street. The soldiers started by harshly pushing one boy, afterwards they grabbed a second boy, Islam by the hair and kicked him. Thereafter a third boy ran to his house chased by the soldiers. When internationals asked why the military was chasing the boy, they lied and said the boys had been throwing stones. The boy said that he had simply ran because he was scared after having seen his twelve-year-old friend, Islam being brutally attacked by soldiers for no apparent reason.
These are not unusual events. The Abu Shamsiya family is often victim of settler and military harassment, the family’s roof is on street level and settlers often go there to throw stones, harass the family and break their property. Saturdays are particularly violent in Hebron, only last week both Abu Shamsiya and his son Muhammed were attacked by settlers whilst the military was watching, with Abu Shamsiya then being arrested on false charges while the settlers were freed without charges.
Hebron has large settlements in the middle of the city housing approximately 500 settlers some of whom are extremely aggressive and violent. Additionally there are 2500 Israeli occupation soldiers stationed in the city.
Likud's Knesset member Moshe Feiglin called for desecrating the Aqsa Mosque in thousands during the holy month of Ramadan, while the Jewish Home's Knesset member Eli Ben Dahan called for killing the Palestinians. A Hebrew channel quoted Feiglin as saying that preventing the Jews from entering what he described as the temple mount (Aqsa Mosque) during Ramadan is a source of concern, especially since it is associated with the Israeli diplomatic talks with the Palestinians.
Feiglin also expressed his fears of what he claimed as the Muslim takeover of the alleged temple mount in the framework of an intended agreement between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority.
For his part, Eli Ben Dahan, who also serves as a deputy minister of religious services, incited the Jewish settlers to kill the Palestinians.
In a press interview conducted by an Israeli magazine, Dahan described the Palestinians as "animals who do not deserve to live", and called for killing them.
He claimed that the Palestinians do not want peace and teach their kids in refugee camps how to use weapons to kill the Jews.
Feiglin also expressed his fears of what he claimed as the Muslim takeover of the alleged temple mount in the framework of an intended agreement between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority.
For his part, Eli Ben Dahan, who also serves as a deputy minister of religious services, incited the Jewish settlers to kill the Palestinians.
In a press interview conducted by an Israeli magazine, Dahan described the Palestinians as "animals who do not deserve to live", and called for killing them.
He claimed that the Palestinians do not want peace and teach their kids in refugee camps how to use weapons to kill the Jews.
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) plans to convert a historical Islamic mosque in occupied Jerusalem to a synagogue, Haaretz newspaper said. The newspaper said that the Israeli antiquities authority intends to remove all Islamic features of Nabi Dawoud (Prophet David) Mosque in Jerusalem after it was vandalized by Jewish settlers.
Extremist Jewish settlers stormed the Mosque recently and embarked on smashing its ceramic and marble walls, which dates back to the Ottoman era.
Instead of repairing the damage caused by the settlers, the Israeli antiquities authority decided to Judaize the Mosque, which was built in the seventh century, and turn it into a synagogue.
Extremist Jewish settlers stormed the Mosque recently and embarked on smashing its ceramic and marble walls, which dates back to the Ottoman era.
Instead of repairing the damage caused by the settlers, the Israeli antiquities authority decided to Judaize the Mosque, which was built in the seventh century, and turn it into a synagogue.
1 aug 2013
Palestinian medical sources in Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, have reported Thursday [August 1, 2013] that several Palestinians have been injured, and one has been kidnapped, after Israeli soldiers and settlers attacked a funeral procession in Beit Ummar town, north of the city. Media spokesperson of the Popular Committee Against the Wall in Beit Ummar, Mohammad Awad, told the Radio Bethlehem 2000 that a number of settlers attacked a funeral procession in the town, as they were leaving a local graveyard, and also attacked a local reporter identified as Nayef al-Hashlamon.
Israeli soldiers arrived at the scene and attacked the Palestinian instead of removing the settlers.
Awad also stated that he was also attacked by a settler woman who tried to slap him in the face as he tried to take pictures of the attack, and that the soldiers pushed him around causing his camera to drop, and kidnapped one youth identified as Ahmad Younis Al-Allami, 23, after violently beating him.
There have been numerous incidents of similar attacks against locals participating in burial ceremonies and funeral processions in Hebron leading to dozens of injuries and several arrests.
Israeli soldiers arrived at the scene and attacked the Palestinian instead of removing the settlers.
Awad also stated that he was also attacked by a settler woman who tried to slap him in the face as he tried to take pictures of the attack, and that the soldiers pushed him around causing his camera to drop, and kidnapped one youth identified as Ahmad Younis Al-Allami, 23, after violently beating him.
There have been numerous incidents of similar attacks against locals participating in burial ceremonies and funeral processions in Hebron leading to dozens of injuries and several arrests.
31 july 2013
Clashes erupted between Palestinians and settlers near the village of Asirah al-Qabaliya, south of Nablus.
Witnesses said that Israeli settlers threw stones towards a number of workers who were building a water tank in the village, adding that the village has been exposed to several settler attacks during that past few weeks.
They also added that clashes erupted between the workers and settlers who tried to burn the water tank several times during the past weeks.
Jewish settlers attack construction workers
Jewish settlers attacked construction workers in Assira Al-Qabaliya village, south of Nablus, on Wednesday morning. Ghassan Daghlas, an anti-settlement activist, said that the settlers threw stones on the workers, who responded likewise.
Meanwhile, violent confrontations were reported in Beita village, also south of Nablus, after Israeli occupation forces raided it on Tuesday night.
Local sources said that IOF soldiers in ten armored vehicles stormed the village shortly after midnight and set up a roadblock west of the village and searched all passing vehicles.
Witnesses said that Israeli settlers threw stones towards a number of workers who were building a water tank in the village, adding that the village has been exposed to several settler attacks during that past few weeks.
They also added that clashes erupted between the workers and settlers who tried to burn the water tank several times during the past weeks.
Jewish settlers attack construction workers
Jewish settlers attacked construction workers in Assira Al-Qabaliya village, south of Nablus, on Wednesday morning. Ghassan Daghlas, an anti-settlement activist, said that the settlers threw stones on the workers, who responded likewise.
Meanwhile, violent confrontations were reported in Beita village, also south of Nablus, after Israeli occupation forces raided it on Tuesday night.
Local sources said that IOF soldiers in ten armored vehicles stormed the village shortly after midnight and set up a roadblock west of the village and searched all passing vehicles.
30 july 2013
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classic tale of coexistence
Dr. Oz danced with on Monday
Five-ear-old
"Jews only" street
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Dr. Mehmet Oz with his wife and a Jewish settler in Hebron, July 29, 2013. Behind them are Palestinian homes.
It takes especially opaque blinders, or immense willpower and ignorance to visit one of the most egregious scenes of military occupation and settler violence without noticing the injustice taking place before your eyes. Even the world’s most learned minds can walk through life with blinders on. One of the world’s most well-known physicians, Dr. Mehmet Oz, visited Hebron on Monday. But the renowned cardiothoracic surgeon and television host did not learn about one of the most shocking and extreme iterations of military occupation and settler domination during his visit. He did not meet with local Palestinians to hear about their hardships under occupation, or even take a tour with an Israeli groups like Breaking the Silence, that try and shine light on the situation there. No, Dr. Oz went on a tour hosted by the settler community in Hebron. Yes, the same settler community that brought you this classic tale of coexistence: The same settler community that maintains a shrine for mass murderer and brother in arms Baruch Goldstein and named a park for [Israeli designated] terror organization leader Meir Kahane. These are the people with whom Dr. Oz danced with on Monday. The Turkish-American doctor also stopped to meet Israeli soldiers stationed in Hebron – enforcers of the city’s military regime of segregation. It’s possible they were the same soldiers who arrested a five-year-old Palestinian boy in Hebron earlier this month. Or the ones who force Palestinians to walk in an unpaved, fenced-off dirt path, in order to keep them off of the “Jews only” street. Dr. Oz made the trip along with his friend, failed Garden State congressional candidate and kosher sex expert Rabbi Shmueley Boteach. The pair flew from the U.S. to Israel in order to visit one of the most egregious scenes of military occupation on Sheldon Adelson’s private jet, of course. In a video message published before alighting the Adelsonmobile, Dr. Oz explained that he’s visiting Israel in order “to understand how the symmetry of our religions dwarfs our differences.” Did you find that symmetry in Hebron, Dr. Oz?
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Jewish settlers returned to an evacuated settlement outpost near Sanur village, south of Jenin, on Monday night and pitched tents. Local sources said that the heavily armed settlers returned to the site of the evacuated settlement outpost and set up tents and caravans in addition to children games.
They said that the settlers prevented land owners from entering the site and chanted racist slogans against Arabs and Muslims.
The sources said that pitching the tents meant that the settlers were planning to stay in the site for a long period unlike in the past when they used to stay for few hours only. They feared that the practice would mean more tension and attacks in the surrounding area.
They said that the settlers prevented land owners from entering the site and chanted racist slogans against Arabs and Muslims.
The sources said that pitching the tents meant that the settlers were planning to stay in the site for a long period unlike in the past when they used to stay for few hours only. They feared that the practice would mean more tension and attacks in the surrounding area.
29 july 2013
Some racist groups in the city of Jerusalem distributed enticing brochures targeting veteran prisoners on Sunday amid considering the release of some prisoners (pre-Oslo prisoners).
The Jerusalemites detainees and prisoners families committee said that the brochure which was titled “we killed….they released us” included the pictures of some veteran prisoners talking about themselves being killers and will now be released. Meanwhile, pictures for Egyptians with beards were also included but had names of Palestinian prisoners and at the top of the brochure was a green banner saying “No God but Allah”; the bottom was in red referring to blood and said “we won’t go crazy” in Hebrew and “we won’t release terrorists” and on the other side of the brochure were pictures of handicapped people who were killed by resisters. The brochure was signed by Terror Victims Association.
Among the pictures that were in the brochure was the picture of the dean of prisoners Karim Younes, Maher Younes, Salem Ali Abu Mousa, Yassin Abu Khdeir and others.
The Jerusalemites detainees and prisoners families committee said that the brochure which was titled “we killed….they released us” included the pictures of some veteran prisoners talking about themselves being killers and will now be released. Meanwhile, pictures for Egyptians with beards were also included but had names of Palestinian prisoners and at the top of the brochure was a green banner saying “No God but Allah”; the bottom was in red referring to blood and said “we won’t go crazy” in Hebrew and “we won’t release terrorists” and on the other side of the brochure were pictures of handicapped people who were killed by resisters. The brochure was signed by Terror Victims Association.
Among the pictures that were in the brochure was the picture of the dean of prisoners Karim Younes, Maher Younes, Salem Ali Abu Mousa, Yassin Abu Khdeir and others.
A horde of Jewish settlers led by Yehuda Glick, a right-wing activist from the Likud party, desecrated on Sunday morning under police protection the Aqsa Mosque, according to the Aqsa foundation for endowment and heritage. In a press release, the foundation said that a group of Palestinian worshipers gathered around Glick, who deliberately provoked their feelings, and forced him into leaving the Mosque along with the other settlers.
The foundation noted that the Palestinian worshipers had intensified their presence at the Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan in order to face any Jewish attempt to violate its sanctity.
The foundation noted that the Palestinian worshipers had intensified their presence at the Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan in order to face any Jewish attempt to violate its sanctity.
27 july 2013
Jewish settlers on Friday expanded a settlement outpost built on Palestinian lands in the town of Khedr near Bethlehem to the south of the occupied West Bank. Ahmed Salah, coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlement in Khedr village, told Quds Press correspondent that a group of settlers began on Friday morning to build two new settlement units in Sidi Boaz outpost built on Palestinian lands in Kheder village.
He said the settlers constructed two new buildings on the outskirts of the town in violation of the decision of the Israeli Supreme Court to stop construction work in the area.
He said the settlers constructed two new buildings on the outskirts of the town in violation of the decision of the Israeli Supreme Court to stop construction work in the area.
Tires of 6 cars belonging to Arabs were punctured in J'lem
Tires of six vehicles that belong to Arabs were punctured Friday night in Jerusalem. Jerusalem District Police launched an investigation.
Tires of six vehicles that belong to Arabs were punctured Friday night in Jerusalem. Jerusalem District Police launched an investigation.
Bullet shot at activists
A group of human rights workers engaged in the project 'Youth Against Settlements' in Hebron, in the southern West Bank, reported that late Friday night, a group of activists were sitting in front of the group's headquarters when a settler fired live rounds from an olive grove nearby.
According to the spokesperson for Youth Against Settlements (YAS) in Hebron, the bullet ricocheted off a window behind the human rights workers, but had clearly been targeted at the group. The spokesperson said that the workers heard at least two voices speaking from the olive grove, where the bullet originated.
“At first we thought it was a stone but instead we found a bullet”, said one of the activists.
At 22:15 pm, the group called the Israeli police, who arrived some 40 minutes later at approximately 11 pm, after the police arrived the military joined them and stayed for about 20 minutes. However, none of them searched the premises for the bullet canister.
The activists say that it is extremely likely that this was an attack from one of the neighbouring settlers, as the bullet was bigger than those used by the army. Even though this is the first incident of shooting against 'Youth Against Settlements', this was not the first time the house has been attacked by settlers. They have previously tried to burn the house, set the kitchen of the headquarters on fire and uprooted trees. In these incidents, the Israeli army or police have not taken any action against the settlers.
The group added that the Israeli army and police also participate in the harassment of 'Youth Against Settlements' and its human rights organizers. On Wednesday alone, the army invaded the house three times during the evening and night for what it is believed to be a training exercise for the army.
A group of human rights workers engaged in the project 'Youth Against Settlements' in Hebron, in the southern West Bank, reported that late Friday night, a group of activists were sitting in front of the group's headquarters when a settler fired live rounds from an olive grove nearby.
According to the spokesperson for Youth Against Settlements (YAS) in Hebron, the bullet ricocheted off a window behind the human rights workers, but had clearly been targeted at the group. The spokesperson said that the workers heard at least two voices speaking from the olive grove, where the bullet originated.
“At first we thought it was a stone but instead we found a bullet”, said one of the activists.
At 22:15 pm, the group called the Israeli police, who arrived some 40 minutes later at approximately 11 pm, after the police arrived the military joined them and stayed for about 20 minutes. However, none of them searched the premises for the bullet canister.
The activists say that it is extremely likely that this was an attack from one of the neighbouring settlers, as the bullet was bigger than those used by the army. Even though this is the first incident of shooting against 'Youth Against Settlements', this was not the first time the house has been attacked by settlers. They have previously tried to burn the house, set the kitchen of the headquarters on fire and uprooted trees. In these incidents, the Israeli army or police have not taken any action against the settlers.
The group added that the Israeli army and police also participate in the harassment of 'Youth Against Settlements' and its human rights organizers. On Wednesday alone, the army invaded the house three times during the evening and night for what it is believed to be a training exercise for the army.
26 july 2013
Al-Rweidi family was surprised when settlers appealed the District court’s decision which confirms their ownership of a residential building in Al-Ein area in the village of Silwan.
Samir Rweidi told Wadi Hilweh Information Center that the District court issued a decision two years ago that refuted the settlers’ claims that the building belongs to the Custodian of Absentee Property, and confirmed that the Rweidi family owns the property after presenting the necessary supporting documents.
Rweidi pointed out that they have been fighting this case in the Israeli courts since the nineties when he filed a case against the settlers to take back his family’s land and was surprised two years later when the settlers’ filed a case against him and his family claiming that the building they live in belongs to the Custodian of Absentee Property. In 2006, the land was confiscated through falsification of papers and files and is now being used as a tourist path for settlers, but the Rweidi family was able to prove their ownership of the property and the decision was made two years ago, but the settlers appealed it again.
He said that the settlers substituted his grandfather’s name “Salem” with “Salim” who passed away in Jordan and the Custodian of Absentee Property tried to seize the property, pointing out that the property has been established for 250 years now on the family’s land and consists of three floors (5 residential apartments) where 30 people reside and is registered under the name of “Jom’a Mohammad Salem Darwish Rweidi.”
Rweidi added: “I was surprised to see representatives during the court sessions from “Elad Association”, the Nature and Parks Authority, the Antiquities Authority and the “Keren Kayemet (JNF)”.
Samir Rweidi told Wadi Hilweh Information Center that the District court issued a decision two years ago that refuted the settlers’ claims that the building belongs to the Custodian of Absentee Property, and confirmed that the Rweidi family owns the property after presenting the necessary supporting documents.
Rweidi pointed out that they have been fighting this case in the Israeli courts since the nineties when he filed a case against the settlers to take back his family’s land and was surprised two years later when the settlers’ filed a case against him and his family claiming that the building they live in belongs to the Custodian of Absentee Property. In 2006, the land was confiscated through falsification of papers and files and is now being used as a tourist path for settlers, but the Rweidi family was able to prove their ownership of the property and the decision was made two years ago, but the settlers appealed it again.
He said that the settlers substituted his grandfather’s name “Salem” with “Salim” who passed away in Jordan and the Custodian of Absentee Property tried to seize the property, pointing out that the property has been established for 250 years now on the family’s land and consists of three floors (5 residential apartments) where 30 people reside and is registered under the name of “Jom’a Mohammad Salem Darwish Rweidi.”
Rweidi added: “I was surprised to see representatives during the court sessions from “Elad Association”, the Nature and Parks Authority, the Antiquities Authority and the “Keren Kayemet (JNF)”.
Weinstein
Israeli rights group says Weinstein should be held in contempt for failing to comply with a judicial order on evacuation of West Bank outpost
Israeli human rights organization Yesh Din filed a motion for contempt against Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein this week for failing to comply with a judicial order to evacuate the illegal outpost of Amona in the West Bank.
What Yesh Din believed was an order to evacuate the entire outpost, which was built on privately owned Palestinian land in 1996, will affect only the outpost's access road and one of its approximately 60 buildings, according to General Attorney Yehuda Weinstein’s announcement last Thursday.
"They're interpreting it as the need to evacuate only specific plots that we have specific petitioners for," said Yesh Din spokesperson Reut Mor, who said the entire outpost should be evacuated because it is all built on privately owned Palestinian land.
"If a private person would have a court decision and understand it the way they want, the state would put this person in prison," said Mor of the State's interpretation.
Yesh Din said it petitioned the High Court of Justice against AG Weinstein on Monday. Located on a hilltop near the settlement of Ofra, Amona is one of the oldest outposts in the West Bank and is home to approximately 40 Orthodox Jewish families. Palestinian landowners from Silwad and other nearby towns have been petitioning against the outpost in the courts for the past seven years. In 2006, the HCJ ruled the outpost illegal and demolished nine of the outpost's buildings, which led to violent clashes between riot police and thousands of protestors.
In 2008, Palestinian owners, assisted by Yesh Din, petitioned for ownership of the outpost. The HCJ ruled in favor of the landowners and issued evacuation orders which have since been repeatedly delayed over residents' claims of land purchase. But Yesh Din says the claims of purchase are false at best and, if accurate, represent only percentages of four of Amona's approximately 20 to 25 plots. "It's not true," said Miriam Hammad, a 77-year-old landowner from Silwad and one of 10 petitioners in the court case, of the land purchases.
"Our land is very precious to us." Secretary General of Ofra, Sami Krasenti, said he had proof of the purchases but could not show them to members of the press because of the Palestinian Authority's law forbidding Palestinians from selling land to Jews under penalty of death. In its application for contempt of court, Yesh Din noted that the attorney general is “the main culprit,” according to a press release sent to Ynetnews on Monday.
“The role of the Attorney General is particularly painful and aggravating, as someone who is supposed to serve as the last guardian of the rule of law but has instead chosen to play games with the HCJ decision," it read. “In so doing, he is serving the lawbreakers who 17 years ago seized the private land of residents of Silwad, Ein Yabrud and Taybeh.”
Israeli rights group says Weinstein should be held in contempt for failing to comply with a judicial order on evacuation of West Bank outpost
Israeli human rights organization Yesh Din filed a motion for contempt against Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein this week for failing to comply with a judicial order to evacuate the illegal outpost of Amona in the West Bank.
What Yesh Din believed was an order to evacuate the entire outpost, which was built on privately owned Palestinian land in 1996, will affect only the outpost's access road and one of its approximately 60 buildings, according to General Attorney Yehuda Weinstein’s announcement last Thursday.
"They're interpreting it as the need to evacuate only specific plots that we have specific petitioners for," said Yesh Din spokesperson Reut Mor, who said the entire outpost should be evacuated because it is all built on privately owned Palestinian land.
"If a private person would have a court decision and understand it the way they want, the state would put this person in prison," said Mor of the State's interpretation.
Yesh Din said it petitioned the High Court of Justice against AG Weinstein on Monday. Located on a hilltop near the settlement of Ofra, Amona is one of the oldest outposts in the West Bank and is home to approximately 40 Orthodox Jewish families. Palestinian landowners from Silwad and other nearby towns have been petitioning against the outpost in the courts for the past seven years. In 2006, the HCJ ruled the outpost illegal and demolished nine of the outpost's buildings, which led to violent clashes between riot police and thousands of protestors.
In 2008, Palestinian owners, assisted by Yesh Din, petitioned for ownership of the outpost. The HCJ ruled in favor of the landowners and issued evacuation orders which have since been repeatedly delayed over residents' claims of land purchase. But Yesh Din says the claims of purchase are false at best and, if accurate, represent only percentages of four of Amona's approximately 20 to 25 plots. "It's not true," said Miriam Hammad, a 77-year-old landowner from Silwad and one of 10 petitioners in the court case, of the land purchases.
"Our land is very precious to us." Secretary General of Ofra, Sami Krasenti, said he had proof of the purchases but could not show them to members of the press because of the Palestinian Authority's law forbidding Palestinians from selling land to Jews under penalty of death. In its application for contempt of court, Yesh Din noted that the attorney general is “the main culprit,” according to a press release sent to Ynetnews on Monday.
“The role of the Attorney General is particularly painful and aggravating, as someone who is supposed to serve as the last guardian of the rule of law but has instead chosen to play games with the HCJ decision," it read. “In so doing, he is serving the lawbreakers who 17 years ago seized the private land of residents of Silwad, Ein Yabrud and Taybeh.”
Ahmad Salah, Coordinator of the Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements in the Al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem, has reported that a number of settlers started the construction of two units near Boaz illegal settlement.
Salah added that the settlers placed the corner stones for the new constructions on lands that belong to resident Khader Issa, in Khirbit Abu Ghlaion area.
He said that the two units are being built in direct violation of a ruling by an Israeli court preventing the settlers from building in the area.
Salah further stated that the area in question has been subject to frequent Israeli attacks, as the settlers illegally confiscated local Palestinian lands and repeatedly prevented the residents from entering their lands.
Salah added that the settlers placed the corner stones for the new constructions on lands that belong to resident Khader Issa, in Khirbit Abu Ghlaion area.
He said that the two units are being built in direct violation of a ruling by an Israeli court preventing the settlers from building in the area.
Salah further stated that the area in question has been subject to frequent Israeli attacks, as the settlers illegally confiscated local Palestinian lands and repeatedly prevented the residents from entering their lands.
25 july 2013
Jewish settlers attacked Palestinian cars in occupied Jerusalem at dawn Thursday smashing their windshields and puncturing their tires. Local sources said that around 20 Jewish settlers burst into Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood at dawn and started attacking Palestinian vehicles owned by the Salah family.
The attack fell in line with the series of settlers’ attacks on Palestinians and their property in occupied Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories in general.
Groups of fanatic Jewish settlers have escalated attacks in various Palestinian areas over the past few months as dozens of homes, plantations, and vehicles were set on fire while many mosques and churches were desecrated other than the assaults on citizens.
The attack fell in line with the series of settlers’ attacks on Palestinians and their property in occupied Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories in general.
Groups of fanatic Jewish settlers have escalated attacks in various Palestinian areas over the past few months as dozens of homes, plantations, and vehicles were set on fire while many mosques and churches were desecrated other than the assaults on citizens.
24 july 2013
Jewish extremist groups, guarded by Israeli policemen, stormed on Wednesday morning the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque from the Mughrabi Gate. Local sources said that about 32 settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the morning hours, and toured around its courtyards guarded by the occupation forces.
They noted that the Israeli occupation forces surrounded hundreds of students who were present in the Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyards in rejection of the raid.
The locals added that the Israeli police checked the identities of the students at the gates of the Mosque, and tried to arrest one of them.
They noted that the Israeli occupation forces surrounded hundreds of students who were present in the Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyards in rejection of the raid.
The locals added that the Israeli police checked the identities of the students at the gates of the Mosque, and tried to arrest one of them.
The Israeli government has published a new tender to build a settlement neighborhood in Bethel settlement built on occupied Palestinian land east of Ramallah in West Bank, Walla Hebrew website said. The Hebrew website confirmed that the Israeli authorities on Monday put out to tender the construction of a new settlement neighborhood in Bethel after the declaration to resume peace talks between Israeli and Palestinian authorities.
The source said that the new tender includes the construction of five 3-storey buildings each consisting of 30 housing units.
Walla Hebrew newspaper stated that the Jewish settlers will enjoy privileges including the construction of new neighborhood includes 297 housing units and the extension of the settlement.
This is the first tender put out for expanding settlements after the announcement of the resumption of “peace talks” between the PA and Israeli occupation.
The source said that the new tender includes the construction of five 3-storey buildings each consisting of 30 housing units.
Walla Hebrew newspaper stated that the Jewish settlers will enjoy privileges including the construction of new neighborhood includes 297 housing units and the extension of the settlement.
This is the first tender put out for expanding settlements after the announcement of the resumption of “peace talks” between the PA and Israeli occupation.
22 july 2013
Amona settlers tear down road leading to outpost
Settlers from the West Bank outpost of Amona began tearing down the road leading up to the outpost before the eviction date, set for Wednesday by the High Court of Justice. According to the High Court's decision, the road is to be torn down as well as one caravan in the outpost. Residents decided to start the eviction process independently so as to avoid clashing with security forces.
Settlers from the West Bank outpost of Amona began tearing down the road leading up to the outpost before the eviction date, set for Wednesday by the High Court of Justice. According to the High Court's decision, the road is to be torn down as well as one caravan in the outpost. Residents decided to start the eviction process independently so as to avoid clashing with security forces.
Peace Now organization stated that the Israeli authorities are set to approve five thousand new housing units in West Bank in a record time, Yediot Ahronot Hebrew newspaper said. The Israeli government talks about the two-state solution, while it practices the opposite on the ground," said Yariv Oppenheimer, secretary general of the left-wing Peace Now movement.
The newspaper quoted the Settlements Council as saying that all Israeli left parties' attempts to halt settlement construction have failed.
There were 120 thousand Jewish settlers in West Bank during Oslo Accords, while their number has now reached 370 thousand settlers, he pointed out.
The newspaper quoted the Settlements Council as saying that all Israeli left parties' attempts to halt settlement construction have failed.
There were 120 thousand Jewish settlers in West Bank during Oslo Accords, while their number has now reached 370 thousand settlers, he pointed out.