30 nov 2012
Occupation arrests two fishermen off Gaza shore
GAZA, (PIC)-- The Israeli naval forces detained on Thursday two Palestinian fishermen off the coast of the Gaza Strip and seized their boat.
Nizar Ayyash, head of the Gaza fishermen’s syndicate, said in a press statement that an Israeli naval ship intercepted on Thursday at noon, a Palestinian fishing boat carrying two brothers, Salim and Hassan al-Nu'man, then arrested them and took their boat to the port of Ashdod, north of the Gaza Strip.
On Wednesday, Israeli occupation naval forces opened fire on a Palestinian fishing boat in the Gaza Sea, then detained the six fishermen on board.
The detention of the fishermen is a new Israeli violation of the recent truce agreement to be added to the series occupation violations; including killing a Palestinian citizen, injuring more than thirty others in the southern Gaza Strip, and firing at a fishing boat in Gaza waters.
Nizar Ayyash, head of the Gaza fishermen’s syndicate, said in a press statement that an Israeli naval ship intercepted on Thursday at noon, a Palestinian fishing boat carrying two brothers, Salim and Hassan al-Nu'man, then arrested them and took their boat to the port of Ashdod, north of the Gaza Strip.
On Wednesday, Israeli occupation naval forces opened fire on a Palestinian fishing boat in the Gaza Sea, then detained the six fishermen on board.
The detention of the fishermen is a new Israeli violation of the recent truce agreement to be added to the series occupation violations; including killing a Palestinian citizen, injuring more than thirty others in the southern Gaza Strip, and firing at a fishing boat in Gaza waters.
29 nov 2012
Jerusalemite family forced to demolish own home
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- The Israeli-controlled municipality of occupied Jerusalem has forced the Dabash family to tear down its own house in Sour Baher village, south of occupied Jerusalem.
The Wadi Hilwa information center said on Wednesday that the family was forced to demolish part of its two-story home that accommodates 20 persons mostly children.
It said that the demolition was meant to make way for a new bypass road serving Jewish settlements near the village.
The family said that it would complete the demolition by Friday or else face a fine of 21000 dollars.
The Wadi Hilwa information center said on Wednesday that the family was forced to demolish part of its two-story home that accommodates 20 persons mostly children.
It said that the demolition was meant to make way for a new bypass road serving Jewish settlements near the village.
The family said that it would complete the demolition by Friday or else face a fine of 21000 dollars.
26 nov 2012
Aqsa foundation unveils Israeli plan to erase Islamic antiquities in Wad street
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- The Aqsa foundation for endowment and heritage revealed an Israeli plan to remove the Islamic monuments and antiquities in Al-Wad street in the old city of occupied Jerusalem.
In a press release on Sunday, the foundation said it witnessed the removal of paving stones and the expansion of excavations in this street at the pretext of renovating and developing the infrastructure.
It affirmed that this plan is intended to expand the tunnels underneath the old city and to use the paving stones for Judaization projects.
The foundation added that the Israeli municipal council transferred the paving stones to the stores of its antiquities authority in order to claim and use them later as Jewish stones.
The Palestinian foundation also warned that Israel intends to replace the Arab names of streets and neighborhood around the Aqsa Mosque with Hebrew ones and to establish a tourist garden in the razed neighborhood of Al-Maghariba south of the Aqsa Mosque.
In a press release on Sunday, the foundation said it witnessed the removal of paving stones and the expansion of excavations in this street at the pretext of renovating and developing the infrastructure.
It affirmed that this plan is intended to expand the tunnels underneath the old city and to use the paving stones for Judaization projects.
The foundation added that the Israeli municipal council transferred the paving stones to the stores of its antiquities authority in order to claim and use them later as Jewish stones.
The Palestinian foundation also warned that Israel intends to replace the Arab names of streets and neighborhood around the Aqsa Mosque with Hebrew ones and to establish a tourist garden in the razed neighborhood of Al-Maghariba south of the Aqsa Mosque.
25 nov 2012
Israel to build Jewish tourist site south of Aqsa Mosque
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- The coalition of "Guided by Jerusalem" said the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) decided to initiate the building of a Jewish tourist site adjacent to the southern wall of the Aqsa Mosque (Al-Maghariba neighborhood) on 22 dunums of land.
It noted that the plan of building this project had been approved by the Israeli district committee in December 2011
Head of the coalition Walid Abdulrazek said the plan would include the building of a center for visitors, public baths, administrative offices, parking lots, garden paths, restaurants, one museum and many other leisure facilities and tourist services.
Abdulrazek noted that the IOA would expropriate any Palestinian land for this project.
For his part, the association of field researchers, an affiliate of Guided by Jerusalem, said this plan is aimed at expanding the area of Al-Buraq wall (wailing plaza).
Member of the field researchers Ahmed Sablaban said that the area of Al-Buraq wall was, before 1967, a Palestinian neighborhood called Al-Maghariba, but the Israeli entity destroyed it completely upon its occupation of the holy city and turned it into a Jewish site known as the wailing plaza.
He also said that the IOA would expand Davidson center near the Aqsa Mosque and would intensify its excavations in the Umayyad and Abbasid Palaces location.
It noted that the plan of building this project had been approved by the Israeli district committee in December 2011
Head of the coalition Walid Abdulrazek said the plan would include the building of a center for visitors, public baths, administrative offices, parking lots, garden paths, restaurants, one museum and many other leisure facilities and tourist services.
Abdulrazek noted that the IOA would expropriate any Palestinian land for this project.
For his part, the association of field researchers, an affiliate of Guided by Jerusalem, said this plan is aimed at expanding the area of Al-Buraq wall (wailing plaza).
Member of the field researchers Ahmed Sablaban said that the area of Al-Buraq wall was, before 1967, a Palestinian neighborhood called Al-Maghariba, but the Israeli entity destroyed it completely upon its occupation of the holy city and turned it into a Jewish site known as the wailing plaza.
He also said that the IOA would expand Davidson center near the Aqsa Mosque and would intensify its excavations in the Umayyad and Abbasid Palaces location.
IOA expands settlement south of Bethlehem
BETHLEHEM, (PIC)-- Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) started expanding a settlement to the south of Bethlehem in the West Bank at the expense of Palestinian lands and closed a road in the same area.
The coordinator of the Popular Committee against Settlement in al-Khader village, Ahmed Salah, told Quds Press on Saturday that the IOA constructed new concrete houses in the settlement of Daniel.
The IOA bulldozed tens of dunums of land in the area of Khollat Umm al-Fahm to establish mobile homes there. The IOA also closed the road 217, adjacent to the Daniel settlement, which is used by farmers from the villages of Nahalin and al-Khader to reach their lands.
Ahmed Salah pointed out that the IOA has continued chasing the farmers in the region and preventing them from using the main road.
The coordinator of the Popular Committee against Settlement in al-Khader village, Ahmed Salah, told Quds Press on Saturday that the IOA constructed new concrete houses in the settlement of Daniel.
The IOA bulldozed tens of dunums of land in the area of Khollat Umm al-Fahm to establish mobile homes there. The IOA also closed the road 217, adjacent to the Daniel settlement, which is used by farmers from the villages of Nahalin and al-Khader to reach their lands.
Ahmed Salah pointed out that the IOA has continued chasing the farmers in the region and preventing them from using the main road.
Jewish settlers attack, destroy Palestinian farmland
NABLUS, (PIC)-- Jewish settlers attacked the village of Qasra, south of Nablus city, and destroyed vast areas of its farmland, local sources said.
Ghassan Daghlas, in-charge of monitoring settlement activity north of the West Bank, said on Sunday that the settlers from various settlements established on the village’s land attacked the village on Saturday.
He said that the settlers demolished walls built by the farmers to protect their land in the village, adding that the farmers were working on building those walls for the past five months.
Dahglas said that Israeli occupation forces arrested an old man in the village for trying to resist the settlers.
Ghassan Daghlas, in-charge of monitoring settlement activity north of the West Bank, said on Sunday that the settlers from various settlements established on the village’s land attacked the village on Saturday.
He said that the settlers demolished walls built by the farmers to protect their land in the village, adding that the farmers were working on building those walls for the past five months.
Dahglas said that Israeli occupation forces arrested an old man in the village for trying to resist the settlers.
22 nov 2012
IOA completes separation wall encircling Shufat
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- The Israeli occupation authorities started building a new section of the separation wall around the Shufat refugee camp to the north of occupied Jerusalem.
Locals said that Israeli occupation forces installed large cement cubes at Ras Khamis roadblock in preparation for completing the separation wall to the west of Shufat.
They said that the camp is now surrounded by the wall or cement cubes from all directions.
The wall would isolate the camp’s 55000 inhabitants, all carrying Jerusalemite IDs, from occupied Jerusalem, the locals said, noting that the camp inhabitants are linked to the holy city’s educational, health, and commercial sectors.
Locals said that Israeli occupation forces installed large cement cubes at Ras Khamis roadblock in preparation for completing the separation wall to the west of Shufat.
They said that the camp is now surrounded by the wall or cement cubes from all directions.
The wall would isolate the camp’s 55000 inhabitants, all carrying Jerusalemite IDs, from occupied Jerusalem, the locals said, noting that the camp inhabitants are linked to the holy city’s educational, health, and commercial sectors.
14 nov 2012
Israel Throttles Palestinian Television
Director of media projects at Wattan TV, George Sahhar, at what is left of their television studios
RAMALLAH, Occupied West Bank, Nov 14 2012 (IPS) - George Sahhar opens the door to a closet-sized control room, where a cacophony of wires, routers, papers, and computer screens are messily strewn across a desk.
“This is where the transmitter was,” Sahhar said, pointing to a gaping hole amidst the disconnected wires, before continuing on to a bigger control room, where more equipment is missing. “We don’t know why it happened. It’s inexplicable and unacceptable.”
Sahhar is director of media projects at Wattan TV, the only independent television station in the occupied Palestinian territories. Last February, over two dozen Israeli soldiers stormed Wattan TV’s Ramallah offices in the early morning hours. They confiscated the station’s transmitters, laptops, financial documents, invoices, contracts, archives, and other equipment.
Human rights groups condemned the incident as a blatant violation of Palestinian media freedom. Wattan TV, which is owned by local Palestinian civil society groups and partly funded by international donors, estimated that the raid incurred a financial loss of 300,000 dollars.
Before losing its equipment, the station broadcast a variety of political, cultural and social programmes to the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Today, it no longer broadcasts in Gaza, can’t host live broadcasts from its studios, and airs only limited coverage in the West Bank.
“It’s very hard. A process that would take us four or five seconds now takes us half a day to complete without the transmitter,” Sahhar told IPS. “The pressure has been enormous on our staff. What if we bring in another transmitter and (the army comes) back an hour later?”
Now, the station is appealing to the Israeli Supreme Court to have its equipment, files and archives returned, and to get an explanation about why the raid took place. The Court granted the Israeli government an extension until Nov. 14 to provide some answers.
As of noon local time, Wattan TV officials told IPS that they were still waiting for an update from the court. “Today is the final day, but we are still waiting and coordinating with our lawyer. We are not optimistic at all,” said the station’s general director, Muamar Orabi.
At the time of the raid, the Israeli authorities argued that Wattan TV’s frequency was interfering with radio signals in Israel, including those at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv. Station managers, however, have staunchly refuted this claim.
“It’s a baseless accusation,” Sahhar said, explaining that Wattan TV has been licensed with the Palestinian Authority (PA) since 1996, and is also a member of the International Telecommunications Union in Switzerland. “From 1996 until today, frankly, I’m unaware of any airplanes crashing as a result of our frequency.”
The Oslo Accords agreement, signed between Israeli and Palestinian leaders in the early 1990s, organised Palestinian and Israeli telecommunications frequencies. It stipulated that neither side’s frequencies would interfere with the other’s, and that Israel will not impede the proper functioning of the agreed-upon Palestinian stations.
A Joint Technical Committee (JTC) was also set up to deal with any issues arising between the Israeli and Palestinian telecommunications systems. “If there is a dispute about the frequency, the Israelis need to tell the Palestinian Authority and the PA will deal with it,” Sahhar said.
According to Mada, the Palestinian Centre for Media Freedoms and Development, since 2008, Israeli soldiers have stormed 11 Palestinian media headquarters, and confiscated equipment belonging to at least 14 media institutions.
“It’s a war of airwaves,” said Mada Director Mousa Rimawi from his Ramallah office. “(The Israelis) want to dominate the frequencies. They want to occupy everything.”
Rimawi explained that confiscating equipment from Palestinian media outlets has a very negative psychological impact on Palestinian journalists, which in turn impacts the quality of their reports and investigations.
“Palestinians try to continue their work, but in the back of their mind, the threats are still there. (The Israeli army) can come any day at night and no one can stop them,” Rimawi told IPS. “The Israelis are behaving like they are above the law. Because they are not pressured or punished, they are continuing their violations against media outlets, against journalists and against Palestinians in general.”
The Israeli army raided Wattan TV’s offices for the first time in 2002, in the midst of the Second Intifadah (uprising). Upset by the station’s critical coverage of its policies, the Palestinian Authority also shut the station down five times between 1996 and 2002.
For George Sahhar, while it wasn’t the first such incident, the latest raid on Wattan TV’s offices was akin to an attack on Palestinian culture. “Media work is art, so it’s really painful when someone takes it away violently. There is still a tremendous sense of apprehension,” Sahhar said.
“But we will continue to insist on being the voice of reason, with our limited resources. We want to inform Palestinians and create bridges to come up with a common vision of where we want Palestine to be. We have our eye on the future.”
RAMALLAH, Occupied West Bank, Nov 14 2012 (IPS) - George Sahhar opens the door to a closet-sized control room, where a cacophony of wires, routers, papers, and computer screens are messily strewn across a desk.
“This is where the transmitter was,” Sahhar said, pointing to a gaping hole amidst the disconnected wires, before continuing on to a bigger control room, where more equipment is missing. “We don’t know why it happened. It’s inexplicable and unacceptable.”
Sahhar is director of media projects at Wattan TV, the only independent television station in the occupied Palestinian territories. Last February, over two dozen Israeli soldiers stormed Wattan TV’s Ramallah offices in the early morning hours. They confiscated the station’s transmitters, laptops, financial documents, invoices, contracts, archives, and other equipment.
Human rights groups condemned the incident as a blatant violation of Palestinian media freedom. Wattan TV, which is owned by local Palestinian civil society groups and partly funded by international donors, estimated that the raid incurred a financial loss of 300,000 dollars.
Before losing its equipment, the station broadcast a variety of political, cultural and social programmes to the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Today, it no longer broadcasts in Gaza, can’t host live broadcasts from its studios, and airs only limited coverage in the West Bank.
“It’s very hard. A process that would take us four or five seconds now takes us half a day to complete without the transmitter,” Sahhar told IPS. “The pressure has been enormous on our staff. What if we bring in another transmitter and (the army comes) back an hour later?”
Now, the station is appealing to the Israeli Supreme Court to have its equipment, files and archives returned, and to get an explanation about why the raid took place. The Court granted the Israeli government an extension until Nov. 14 to provide some answers.
As of noon local time, Wattan TV officials told IPS that they were still waiting for an update from the court. “Today is the final day, but we are still waiting and coordinating with our lawyer. We are not optimistic at all,” said the station’s general director, Muamar Orabi.
At the time of the raid, the Israeli authorities argued that Wattan TV’s frequency was interfering with radio signals in Israel, including those at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv. Station managers, however, have staunchly refuted this claim.
“It’s a baseless accusation,” Sahhar said, explaining that Wattan TV has been licensed with the Palestinian Authority (PA) since 1996, and is also a member of the International Telecommunications Union in Switzerland. “From 1996 until today, frankly, I’m unaware of any airplanes crashing as a result of our frequency.”
The Oslo Accords agreement, signed between Israeli and Palestinian leaders in the early 1990s, organised Palestinian and Israeli telecommunications frequencies. It stipulated that neither side’s frequencies would interfere with the other’s, and that Israel will not impede the proper functioning of the agreed-upon Palestinian stations.
A Joint Technical Committee (JTC) was also set up to deal with any issues arising between the Israeli and Palestinian telecommunications systems. “If there is a dispute about the frequency, the Israelis need to tell the Palestinian Authority and the PA will deal with it,” Sahhar said.
According to Mada, the Palestinian Centre for Media Freedoms and Development, since 2008, Israeli soldiers have stormed 11 Palestinian media headquarters, and confiscated equipment belonging to at least 14 media institutions.
“It’s a war of airwaves,” said Mada Director Mousa Rimawi from his Ramallah office. “(The Israelis) want to dominate the frequencies. They want to occupy everything.”
Rimawi explained that confiscating equipment from Palestinian media outlets has a very negative psychological impact on Palestinian journalists, which in turn impacts the quality of their reports and investigations.
“Palestinians try to continue their work, but in the back of their mind, the threats are still there. (The Israeli army) can come any day at night and no one can stop them,” Rimawi told IPS. “The Israelis are behaving like they are above the law. Because they are not pressured or punished, they are continuing their violations against media outlets, against journalists and against Palestinians in general.”
The Israeli army raided Wattan TV’s offices for the first time in 2002, in the midst of the Second Intifadah (uprising). Upset by the station’s critical coverage of its policies, the Palestinian Authority also shut the station down five times between 1996 and 2002.
For George Sahhar, while it wasn’t the first such incident, the latest raid on Wattan TV’s offices was akin to an attack on Palestinian culture. “Media work is art, so it’s really painful when someone takes it away violently. There is still a tremendous sense of apprehension,” Sahhar said.
“But we will continue to insist on being the voice of reason, with our limited resources. We want to inform Palestinians and create bridges to come up with a common vision of where we want Palestine to be. We have our eye on the future.”
13 nov 2012
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Ground Cracks in Silwan due to Israeli Excavations
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- Ground and earth collapses occurred in the main street of the Neighborhood of Wadi Helwe in Silwan due do the Israeli excavations in the area. The Wadi Helwe Information Center pointed out that these collapses and cracks in the earth are caused by the excavations carried out by the Elad Settlement Association and the “Antiquities Authority” in the town of Silwan under their houses and streets. It is also important to note that the earth landslide took place above a tunnel connecting Silwan to Al-Buraq, the southern wall of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The People of Silwan stated that “cracks and landslides occurred after the heavy downpour that hit Jerusalem”, noting that that this happens continuously since 2008 until today, pointing out that what Elad Association is doing has political aims. |
Moreover, the Center made it clear that there is evidence that the excavation was carried out by the Elad Association and not the Jerusalem Municipality, and that the workers carried out maintenance works on the tunnels and kept them secret. The center pointed out that a hole appeared in one of the classrooms of the UNRWA school, causing injury to a number of schoolgirls.
Israeli Bulldozers Demolish a House in Jerusalem
Head of Jerusalem Unit in the Presidency Office, Ahmed al-Rwaidi, said that bulldozers of Jerusalem municipality demolished the house of Tariq al-Arameen in Khelit al-Ain area in Jerusalem.
This house was among dozens of Palestinian houses that are threatened of confiscation in at-Toor neighbourhood and al-Issawiya village in Jerusalem, under claims that the houses were constructed without an Israeli authorization.
The bulldozers were under the protection of an "enormous" force from Israeli police and army.
This house was among dozens of Palestinian houses that are threatened of confiscation in at-Toor neighbourhood and al-Issawiya village in Jerusalem, under claims that the houses were constructed without an Israeli authorization.
The bulldozers were under the protection of an "enormous" force from Israeli police and army.
Israeli Forces Demolish a Barracks in Hussan Village, Bethlehem
Israeli occupation forces demolished at dawn, a barracks used to repair cars in the village of Hussan, belonged to Ayman Mahmoud Sabateen.
The Father of Ayman said that soldiers from the Israeli army raided the western area of the village, demolished the barracks and confiscated a container that contains auto parts.
He also said that soldiers handed his son a notice that ban him from reconstructing the barracks once again, otherwise he will be subjected to legal accountability on claims that he build it without authorisation.
It's worth noting that the western area of Hussan village has been exposed to brutal practices by Israeli forces including the demolishing of stores under security and fabricated claims.
The Father of Ayman said that soldiers from the Israeli army raided the western area of the village, demolished the barracks and confiscated a container that contains auto parts.
He also said that soldiers handed his son a notice that ban him from reconstructing the barracks once again, otherwise he will be subjected to legal accountability on claims that he build it without authorisation.
It's worth noting that the western area of Hussan village has been exposed to brutal practices by Israeli forces including the demolishing of stores under security and fabricated claims.
12 nov 2012
Confrontations launched between Israeli Police and Palestinian Villagers in Negev
Palestinian citizens from the village of Bar Abu Hadaj, an unrecognised village in Negev, said that dozens of Israeli policemen, escorted by bulldozers, raided the village to demolish Palestinian houses under claims that they were constructed without an authorization.
Head of Local Committee in the village, Suliman Ebn Hamid, said that the police arrested several minors and confrontations launched inside the village's school where the Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters and prevented teachers from entering the school.
He also said that dozens of students were injured after policemen assaulted them.
IOF breaks into Negev village, arrest dozens of its residents
BEERSHEBA, AL-KHALIL, (PIC)-- Dozens of Palestinians were injured and arrested on Monday where the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) had stormed the village of Bir Hadaj in Negev, occupied in 1948, to hand demolition orders.
Local sources told PIC reporter that the Israeli occupation forces and special units and a number of officers, stormed the village to hand demolition orders to a number of Palestinian homes, which led to the outbreak of violent clashes, where 30 people suffered breathing difficulty, including school students, were reported, due to the firing of tear gas canisters and using batons.
The sources stated that the Israeli soldiers arrested 13 Palestinians and transferred them to detention centers for interrogation, adding that a state of anger prevailed throughout the village because of the continued Israeli plans to Judaize the city and expel its people.
Meanwhile, the IOF demolished, on Monday, a pond near Beit Ainun in al-Khalil, and erected a military checkpoint on the main road north of the city.
Local sources told the PIC correspondent in the city that the occupation forces demolished a pond of water belonging to Sa'id Zaloom, under the pretext of being built without a permit in the area of Beit Ainun located on the main road east of al-Khalil.
Furthermore, eyewitnesses reported that the Israeli soldiers erected a military checkpoint near the northern entrance to the city, which lies close to the Halhul Bridge, and started checking the identities of the passers-by, with no arrests have been reported.
Head of Local Committee in the village, Suliman Ebn Hamid, said that the police arrested several minors and confrontations launched inside the village's school where the Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters and prevented teachers from entering the school.
He also said that dozens of students were injured after policemen assaulted them.
IOF breaks into Negev village, arrest dozens of its residents
BEERSHEBA, AL-KHALIL, (PIC)-- Dozens of Palestinians were injured and arrested on Monday where the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) had stormed the village of Bir Hadaj in Negev, occupied in 1948, to hand demolition orders.
Local sources told PIC reporter that the Israeli occupation forces and special units and a number of officers, stormed the village to hand demolition orders to a number of Palestinian homes, which led to the outbreak of violent clashes, where 30 people suffered breathing difficulty, including school students, were reported, due to the firing of tear gas canisters and using batons.
The sources stated that the Israeli soldiers arrested 13 Palestinians and transferred them to detention centers for interrogation, adding that a state of anger prevailed throughout the village because of the continued Israeli plans to Judaize the city and expel its people.
Meanwhile, the IOF demolished, on Monday, a pond near Beit Ainun in al-Khalil, and erected a military checkpoint on the main road north of the city.
Local sources told the PIC correspondent in the city that the occupation forces demolished a pond of water belonging to Sa'id Zaloom, under the pretext of being built without a permit in the area of Beit Ainun located on the main road east of al-Khalil.
Furthermore, eyewitnesses reported that the Israeli soldiers erected a military checkpoint near the northern entrance to the city, which lies close to the Halhul Bridge, and started checking the identities of the passers-by, with no arrests have been reported.
IOA confiscates 200 dunums of Bethlehem land
BETHLEHEM, (PIC)-- The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) confiscated 200 dunums of Palestinian land in Firdis village near to the ancient Mount Herodian to the east of Bethlehem.
A number of farmers, whose land lots were appropriated, said that the IOA claimed the confiscation was meant to transform the area into a military zone.
Farmers refused the compensation offered by the IOA, adding that the confiscation did not include 16 dunums only as in the IOA decision but covered 200 dunums surrounding the mountain, which contain Roman relics.
They said that houses near to the confiscated land would be encircled by an iron fence.
A number of farmers, whose land lots were appropriated, said that the IOA claimed the confiscation was meant to transform the area into a military zone.
Farmers refused the compensation offered by the IOA, adding that the confiscation did not include 16 dunums only as in the IOA decision but covered 200 dunums surrounding the mountain, which contain Roman relics.
They said that houses near to the confiscated land would be encircled by an iron fence.
11 nov 2012
Broad evacuations in the Jordan Valley with the start of military maneuvers
TUBAS, (PIC)-- The Bedouin areas and hamlets in the Wadi al-Maleh and in the east of Tubas have been witnessing broad evacuations and forced displacement, this morning, with the launch of Israeli military maneuvers in the region.
The Israeli occupation claimed that the military maneuvers will continue in the region for two days.
Local sources told PIC's correspondent that the last deportations took place last night in Khirbet Abazik, to the east of Tubas. The Israeli occupation forces stormed the area and warned twenty families of its residents to leave their houses under the pretext that military exercises will be carried out on Sunday and Monday in the region.
The Israeli occupation forces had also notified the residents of Wadi al-Hilweh, al-Farsia, al-Mayta and Khirbet Jabaris to leave their lands under the pretext of the maneuvers.
The occupation forces started deploying their camps in the Northern Jordan Valley, claiming that those areas are military zones and areas for military trainings.
Many Palestinians have been injured as a result of the occupation's maneuvers.
The Israeli occupation claimed that the military maneuvers will continue in the region for two days.
Local sources told PIC's correspondent that the last deportations took place last night in Khirbet Abazik, to the east of Tubas. The Israeli occupation forces stormed the area and warned twenty families of its residents to leave their houses under the pretext that military exercises will be carried out on Sunday and Monday in the region.
The Israeli occupation forces had also notified the residents of Wadi al-Hilweh, al-Farsia, al-Mayta and Khirbet Jabaris to leave their lands under the pretext of the maneuvers.
The occupation forces started deploying their camps in the Northern Jordan Valley, claiming that those areas are military zones and areas for military trainings.
Many Palestinians have been injured as a result of the occupation's maneuvers.
9 nov 2012
IOF cut down dozens of olive trees south of Bethlehem
BETHLEHEM, (PIC)-- Israeli Occupation Forces ( IOF) cut down on Thursday dozens of olive trees from land belonging to Palestinians in the village of al-Nahalin, west of Bethlehem.
Head of the village council Osama Chkarna told Quds Press that the occupation forces were located heavily in Ein Fares area in Nahalin town, after they cut dozens of olive trees belonging to farmer Mousa Abdul Hamid Njagerh.
The olive trees, that have been cut, were planted about 25 at years ago and Israeli soldiers say they received permission from the Israeli court to cut them, he added
This little peaceful village was the target of two massacres committed by the IOF; one in 1954 and the other in 1989. At present the village is strangulated by the apartheid wall, Jewish settlements and Jewish only bypass roads.
Head of the village council Osama Chkarna told Quds Press that the occupation forces were located heavily in Ein Fares area in Nahalin town, after they cut dozens of olive trees belonging to farmer Mousa Abdul Hamid Njagerh.
The olive trees, that have been cut, were planted about 25 at years ago and Israeli soldiers say they received permission from the Israeli court to cut them, he added
This little peaceful village was the target of two massacres committed by the IOF; one in 1954 and the other in 1989. At present the village is strangulated by the apartheid wall, Jewish settlements and Jewish only bypass roads.
IOF displace the Jordan Valley's residents under pretext of military exercises
NORTHERN JORDAN VALLEY, (PIC)-- The northern Jordan Valley has been recently witnessing mass deportations, to be added to relentless campaigns of house demolitions, chasing the citizens, arresting shepherds and preventing construction and infrastructure.
The head of Wadi al-Maleh village council, Aref Daraghma, told PIC's correspondent that: "Wadi al-Maleh has been recently witnessing mass deportation under the pretext of military exercises, including tens of families in five Bedouin communities living in the region."
He added that the occupation authorities prevented services for the Bedouin communities' residents, banned them from using the natural resources, and notified them of the demolition of all their houses, noting that the occupation already started demolishing dozens of buildings.
Mokhlis Massaeid, head of the village council of Yarza in the Jordan Valley, said that the communities recently targeted with deportation are: Yarza and Ras al-Hamra, al-Mayta, Wadi al-Maleh and Ain al-Hilweh and that these sites have a population of 1000 inhabitants.
Activist in resisting settlement in the Jordan Valley, Mohammed Daraghma, pointed to PIC's correspondent that the occupation's aim behind using the wide military maneuvers, as a pretext, is to force the residents to permanently leave the region, and to implement the Judaization schemes.
He stated that the occupation authorities will never allow the residents, once they left these areas, to come back again.
Mohammed Makhamra, a resident in Wadi al-Hilweh, revealed that the residents may face dangers if they chose to not leave their lands, as the military exercises are carried out using live ammunition. Thus staying in the region during the maneuvers means being inside the firing range of the occupation forces.
Makhamra added that such maneuvers often cause injuries among the citizens and noted that sometimes the Israeli soldiers break into the neighborhoods and start training in the alleys and terrorizing the children claiming that the area is a closed military zone and ordering the citizens to leave it to ensure their safety.
"We fear that if we leave because of these exercises, the occupation forces will demolish all our homes with its military bulldozers", he said.
He called the local and international institutions to take effective actions regarding the issue of the Northern Jordan Valley.
The head of Wadi al-Maleh village council, Aref Daraghma, told PIC's correspondent that: "Wadi al-Maleh has been recently witnessing mass deportation under the pretext of military exercises, including tens of families in five Bedouin communities living in the region."
He added that the occupation authorities prevented services for the Bedouin communities' residents, banned them from using the natural resources, and notified them of the demolition of all their houses, noting that the occupation already started demolishing dozens of buildings.
Mokhlis Massaeid, head of the village council of Yarza in the Jordan Valley, said that the communities recently targeted with deportation are: Yarza and Ras al-Hamra, al-Mayta, Wadi al-Maleh and Ain al-Hilweh and that these sites have a population of 1000 inhabitants.
Activist in resisting settlement in the Jordan Valley, Mohammed Daraghma, pointed to PIC's correspondent that the occupation's aim behind using the wide military maneuvers, as a pretext, is to force the residents to permanently leave the region, and to implement the Judaization schemes.
He stated that the occupation authorities will never allow the residents, once they left these areas, to come back again.
Mohammed Makhamra, a resident in Wadi al-Hilweh, revealed that the residents may face dangers if they chose to not leave their lands, as the military exercises are carried out using live ammunition. Thus staying in the region during the maneuvers means being inside the firing range of the occupation forces.
Makhamra added that such maneuvers often cause injuries among the citizens and noted that sometimes the Israeli soldiers break into the neighborhoods and start training in the alleys and terrorizing the children claiming that the area is a closed military zone and ordering the citizens to leave it to ensure their safety.
"We fear that if we leave because of these exercises, the occupation forces will demolish all our homes with its military bulldozers", he said.
He called the local and international institutions to take effective actions regarding the issue of the Northern Jordan Valley.
8 nov 2012
Israeli troops attack Hares villagers, raze two of their homes
SALFIT, (PIC)-- The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stormed on Wednesday morning with their bulldozers and armored vehicles the Bedouin village of Hares northwest of Salfit city and demolished two Palestinian homes.
The two houses were located in a neighborhood consisting of more than 20 homes and all of them are threatened with demolition at the pretext of their presence near an Israeli settlement.
Violent clashes broke out in this neighborhood between the villagers and the invading troops after the demolition of the two houses.
The villagers hastened to form human chains to defend their homes, but the troops attacked them with tear gas grenades and rubber bullets wounding more than 20 of them including two journalists.
Israel and its army falsely claim that these houses are located within the area they classify as C, which is under their full security control, while Hares villagers assert that their area is inside the borders of Hares municipality and their houses are legal and licensed.
In another incident, the IOF threatened on Wednesday 40 Palestinian Bedouin families in Tana hamlet in the mountains of the Jordan Valley region to use force against them if they did not evacuate their homes until next Saturday.
The IOF claimed that the hamlet is located in a military zone, although the villagers have been living there for long decades.
Tana villagers live on grazing sheep and goats and their homes are constantly demolished by Israel, which also deprives them of having proper infrastructure or using the springs in the area.
The IOF also on the same day afternoon demolished three structures during their incursion into Bardala village in the Jordan Valley.
Local sources said the IOF knocked down two livestock pens and a tent inhabited by a poor Bedouin family.
Earlier on Tuesday, the IOF had stormed the Palestinian Bedouin community of Wadi Maleh hamlet and ordered them to evacuate the area.
The two houses were located in a neighborhood consisting of more than 20 homes and all of them are threatened with demolition at the pretext of their presence near an Israeli settlement.
Violent clashes broke out in this neighborhood between the villagers and the invading troops after the demolition of the two houses.
The villagers hastened to form human chains to defend their homes, but the troops attacked them with tear gas grenades and rubber bullets wounding more than 20 of them including two journalists.
Israel and its army falsely claim that these houses are located within the area they classify as C, which is under their full security control, while Hares villagers assert that their area is inside the borders of Hares municipality and their houses are legal and licensed.
In another incident, the IOF threatened on Wednesday 40 Palestinian Bedouin families in Tana hamlet in the mountains of the Jordan Valley region to use force against them if they did not evacuate their homes until next Saturday.
The IOF claimed that the hamlet is located in a military zone, although the villagers have been living there for long decades.
Tana villagers live on grazing sheep and goats and their homes are constantly demolished by Israel, which also deprives them of having proper infrastructure or using the springs in the area.
The IOF also on the same day afternoon demolished three structures during their incursion into Bardala village in the Jordan Valley.
Local sources said the IOF knocked down two livestock pens and a tent inhabited by a poor Bedouin family.
Earlier on Tuesday, the IOF had stormed the Palestinian Bedouin community of Wadi Maleh hamlet and ordered them to evacuate the area.
Al-Khalil: Eight villages threatened with demolition
AL-KHALIL, (PIC)-- A second Palestinian Nakba is planned to be implemented by demolishing eight villages in southern al-Khalil district and displacing hundreds of their residents by the Israeli forces under flimsy pretexts.
The Popular Committee Coordinator in Yatta, Rateb Jabour, told PIC that the land of the eight villages is located in strategic and vital land. "The villages' land was important to the residents who lived in it for hundreds of years even before the occupation and colonization," he added.
The villages' residents were subjected to expulsion in 1988 and 1990 where they were asked by the occupation army to leave the area under the pretext of turning the area into a military zone, Jabour stressed.
Jabour said that the eight villages located in an area of 50 thousand dunums in which 2500 people are living, in addition to hundreds of barns and other facilities needed by farmers and land owners.
The eight villages are considered a valid bulwark in face of Judaization process implemented in all parts of Palestine, where they are surrounded by more than 10 settlements, and according to Jabour the occupation controlled the villages' lands under military arguments in order to hand them to the settlers.
The villages' residents sent letters to the Palestinian national factions and institutions and legal bodies calling them to intervene to stop their suffering, where their houses have been daily stormed in order to demolish the school and to remove the solar panels and to intimidate citizens, children and women in order to force them to leave.
The popular Committees called on all citizens to engage in popular resistance to address the Israeli attacks, stressing that solidarity and supportive events and the authorities' officials' serious moves will play an important role in curbing the occupation's Judaizing plans that target the Palestinian daily life.
The daily Palestinian citizens' life became threatened by the Israeli danger especially the settlers' attacks protected by Israeli soldiers, in addition to the Israeli patrols and stormings into the villages where the soldiers assaulted the workers and confiscated their properties, which means that these attacks aim to implement the decision of removal by any way.
The Israeli occupation had announced its intention to demolish the eight villages, while hundreds of villages located in the West Bank suffer the same Israeli Judaization threat.
The Popular Committee Coordinator in Yatta, Rateb Jabour, told PIC that the land of the eight villages is located in strategic and vital land. "The villages' land was important to the residents who lived in it for hundreds of years even before the occupation and colonization," he added.
The villages' residents were subjected to expulsion in 1988 and 1990 where they were asked by the occupation army to leave the area under the pretext of turning the area into a military zone, Jabour stressed.
Jabour said that the eight villages located in an area of 50 thousand dunums in which 2500 people are living, in addition to hundreds of barns and other facilities needed by farmers and land owners.
The eight villages are considered a valid bulwark in face of Judaization process implemented in all parts of Palestine, where they are surrounded by more than 10 settlements, and according to Jabour the occupation controlled the villages' lands under military arguments in order to hand them to the settlers.
The villages' residents sent letters to the Palestinian national factions and institutions and legal bodies calling them to intervene to stop their suffering, where their houses have been daily stormed in order to demolish the school and to remove the solar panels and to intimidate citizens, children and women in order to force them to leave.
The popular Committees called on all citizens to engage in popular resistance to address the Israeli attacks, stressing that solidarity and supportive events and the authorities' officials' serious moves will play an important role in curbing the occupation's Judaizing plans that target the Palestinian daily life.
The daily Palestinian citizens' life became threatened by the Israeli danger especially the settlers' attacks protected by Israeli soldiers, in addition to the Israeli patrols and stormings into the villages where the soldiers assaulted the workers and confiscated their properties, which means that these attacks aim to implement the decision of removal by any way.
The Israeli occupation had announced its intention to demolish the eight villages, while hundreds of villages located in the West Bank suffer the same Israeli Judaization threat.
7 nov 2012
Silwan committee: 130, 000 Jerusalemites are homeless
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- Silwan defense committee said that the Israeli occupation regime has displaced at least 130,000 Jerusalemite natives after seizing or demolishing their homes in the holy city.
However, the committee did not indicate if this number of Jerusalemite natives aforementioned has been displaced by Israel since its occupation of the holy city or not.
The committee also said in a report that 22,500 Palestinian homes in Jerusalem and its environs are threatened with demolition after the Israeli authorities classified them as illegal.
According to the report it issued on Tuesday, 52 percent of the Palestinian land in Jerusalem is occupied by 18 Israeli settlements that were established after the occupation of the city.
28 percent of Jerusalem land is classified as green zones where it is prohibited for the Palestinian natives to build on, and they can be considered as a strategic reserve for the building of settlement projects and outposts in the future, while about 10 percent comprises the roads, streets and public facilities and the remaining 10 percent are the areas used by the natives.
The Israeli occupation authority, however, imposes restrictions on the natives to make it hard for them to receive construction permits to expand or build homes or structures in the 10 percent areas where they live.
Head of Silwan committee Fakhri Abu Diyab noted the Israel regime has demolished at least 2, 019 Palestinian homes in Jerusalem since 1948.
However, the committee did not indicate if this number of Jerusalemite natives aforementioned has been displaced by Israel since its occupation of the holy city or not.
The committee also said in a report that 22,500 Palestinian homes in Jerusalem and its environs are threatened with demolition after the Israeli authorities classified them as illegal.
According to the report it issued on Tuesday, 52 percent of the Palestinian land in Jerusalem is occupied by 18 Israeli settlements that were established after the occupation of the city.
28 percent of Jerusalem land is classified as green zones where it is prohibited for the Palestinian natives to build on, and they can be considered as a strategic reserve for the building of settlement projects and outposts in the future, while about 10 percent comprises the roads, streets and public facilities and the remaining 10 percent are the areas used by the natives.
The Israeli occupation authority, however, imposes restrictions on the natives to make it hard for them to receive construction permits to expand or build homes or structures in the 10 percent areas where they live.
Head of Silwan committee Fakhri Abu Diyab noted the Israel regime has demolished at least 2, 019 Palestinian homes in Jerusalem since 1948.
IOF serves notices for confiscation of Palestinian land for military purposes
BETHLEHEM, (PIC)-- The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) served notices to citizens in Fardis village to the east of Bethlehem that vast tracts of their land would be confiscated for military purposes.
Local sources told the PIC reporter in the city on Wednesday that the IOF notified citizens that the land would be expropriated in Okban area, which is adjacent to the village, for army use, adding that it is the usual pretext for controlling more Palestinian land.
They said that IOF left the notifications at the land, adding that farmers found them when they headed to their fields there.
The sources said that the notifications indicated that dozens of dunums would be confiscated.
Local sources told the PIC reporter in the city on Wednesday that the IOF notified citizens that the land would be expropriated in Okban area, which is adjacent to the village, for army use, adding that it is the usual pretext for controlling more Palestinian land.
They said that IOF left the notifications at the land, adding that farmers found them when they headed to their fields there.
The sources said that the notifications indicated that dozens of dunums would be confiscated.
Occupation demolishes installations in the Negev and Yatta, south of al-Khalil
AL-KHALIL, JENIN, (PIC)-- The Israeli occupation forces demolished on Tuesday, two houses, a sheep barn and a water well, and notified citizens to demolish their homes in the villages of "Al-Dirat" and "Al-Jawaya" in the east of Yatta, south of al-Khalil in the West Bank.
PIC's reporter stated that seven military vehicles, troop carriers, an ambulance belonging to the MDA, a bulldozer and Israeli police vehicles raided in late hours of Monday night the villages of "Al-Dirat" and "Al-Jawaya", East of Yatta, near route 60 that connects the eastern settlements in al-Khalil and the settlements in Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
He added that "the occupation forces started demolishing two houses; the first is a two-storey house that belongs to citizen Haji Musa Mohammed Hussein, 66, and his son Mohammed, 28, and has an area of 340 square meters, while the second house is owned by Mahmoud Mohamed Nasr and is located in Khirbet al-Jawaya near an Israeli settlement.
The Israeli troops also demolished water well and a sheep barn, added the reporter, noting that the demolitions lasted until the early morning hours of Tuesday.
Haji Mohammad Ismail al-Adra told PIC that the occupation forces notified 8 citizens in the area of "Khirbet al-Sharkeya" east of Yatta, to demolish their homes and ordered them to leave and evacuate the area, in an attempt to displace the village's residents and seize it on the pretext of its proximity to the bypass road 60.
Media sources reported that the occupation forces accompanied by military bulldozers, raided villages in the 1948- occupied Negev and demolished more than seven buildings belonging to Bedouin families.
The sources added that the Israeli troops closed the villages during the demolition works and prevented Palestinians from approaching them and resisting the demolitions.
For its part, the Islamic Movement in the 1948- occupied territories condemned this "rabid campaign" against Palestinian houses and properties.
Meanwhile, the IOF stormed on Tuesday afternoon olive presses in the town of Ceres, south of Jenin, and questioned those working there without any arrests, Local sources reported.
Eyewitnesses also said that several military vehicles stormed the neighboring town of Meithalun where they raided the houses of two Palestinian citizens and summoned them to the occupation intelligence center in Salem camp.
PIC's reporter stated that seven military vehicles, troop carriers, an ambulance belonging to the MDA, a bulldozer and Israeli police vehicles raided in late hours of Monday night the villages of "Al-Dirat" and "Al-Jawaya", East of Yatta, near route 60 that connects the eastern settlements in al-Khalil and the settlements in Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
He added that "the occupation forces started demolishing two houses; the first is a two-storey house that belongs to citizen Haji Musa Mohammed Hussein, 66, and his son Mohammed, 28, and has an area of 340 square meters, while the second house is owned by Mahmoud Mohamed Nasr and is located in Khirbet al-Jawaya near an Israeli settlement.
The Israeli troops also demolished water well and a sheep barn, added the reporter, noting that the demolitions lasted until the early morning hours of Tuesday.
Haji Mohammad Ismail al-Adra told PIC that the occupation forces notified 8 citizens in the area of "Khirbet al-Sharkeya" east of Yatta, to demolish their homes and ordered them to leave and evacuate the area, in an attempt to displace the village's residents and seize it on the pretext of its proximity to the bypass road 60.
Media sources reported that the occupation forces accompanied by military bulldozers, raided villages in the 1948- occupied Negev and demolished more than seven buildings belonging to Bedouin families.
The sources added that the Israeli troops closed the villages during the demolition works and prevented Palestinians from approaching them and resisting the demolitions.
For its part, the Islamic Movement in the 1948- occupied territories condemned this "rabid campaign" against Palestinian houses and properties.
Meanwhile, the IOF stormed on Tuesday afternoon olive presses in the town of Ceres, south of Jenin, and questioned those working there without any arrests, Local sources reported.
Eyewitnesses also said that several military vehicles stormed the neighboring town of Meithalun where they raided the houses of two Palestinian citizens and summoned them to the occupation intelligence center in Salem camp.
6 nov 2012
Occupation orders the evacuation of Wadi al-Maleh in the northern Jordan Valley
NORTHERN JORDAN VALLEY, (PIC)-- The Israeli occupation forces stormed on Tuesday afternoon, the region of Wadi al-Maleh in the northern Jordan Valley, and handed over notices to 30 citizens to leave the area.
Local sources said that the occupation troops alleged that they are carrying out a military maneuver in the region, and that the citizens are residing in a military zone and have to leave it and demolish their buildings.
The sources stated that the warnings included the areas of al-Mayta and Hammamet in the northern Jordan Valley, and that the occupation forces threatened all those who remain in the region and refuse to heed the orders.
The occupation did not stop targeting the Bedouin hamlets in the wadi al-Maleh through the demolitions, and it transformed 70% of the plots in Wadi al-Maleh to areas of military training and areas planted with landmines.
According to the local sources, during the previous five years, a large number of injuries has been recorded in the region, as a result of the random bullets shot from the areas of military drills.
The settlements and the occupation army camps, which number in the Wadi al-Maleh region is seven, constitute a major dilemma and a great challenge targeting all aspects of life in the area.
Local sources said that the occupation troops alleged that they are carrying out a military maneuver in the region, and that the citizens are residing in a military zone and have to leave it and demolish their buildings.
The sources stated that the warnings included the areas of al-Mayta and Hammamet in the northern Jordan Valley, and that the occupation forces threatened all those who remain in the region and refuse to heed the orders.
The occupation did not stop targeting the Bedouin hamlets in the wadi al-Maleh through the demolitions, and it transformed 70% of the plots in Wadi al-Maleh to areas of military training and areas planted with landmines.
According to the local sources, during the previous five years, a large number of injuries has been recorded in the region, as a result of the random bullets shot from the areas of military drills.
The settlements and the occupation army camps, which number in the Wadi al-Maleh region is seven, constitute a major dilemma and a great challenge targeting all aspects of life in the area.
B'Tselem: the occupation considers the separation wall in WB its future borders
NAZARETH, (PIC)-- The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, B'Tselem, confirmed that the Israeli occupation considers the separation wall, built on the Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank for security reasons, its future borders.
B'Tselem stated in a report, issued on Monday on the 10th anniversary of the separation wall's inception, that 85% of the Separation Barrier route constructed within the WB territories and not on the Green Line.
About 75 percent of the land between the barrier and the Green Line, home to some 7,500 Palestinian residents, a “seam zone” and restricts Palestinians' ability to enter these areas on a rigid and convoluted permit regime. However, the Israeli settlers living in the same area enjoy complete freedom of mobility between their homes and Israeli cities west of the Green Line, the report added.
The statement added that the permits issued by the Civil Administration are only valid for a period of one day to two years, depending on the permit's type.
Obtaining a permit to live in the Seam Zone or to work the land there involves an immense burden, both bureaucratic and financial, and many landowners have given up applying, the report stressed.
The report pointed out that since the construction of the separation wall the surrounding area’s economic stability and agricultural activity have declined sharply, and many Palestinians have simply packed up and left their homes.
Building the separation wall inside the West Bank and imposing an inflexible permit regime impedes Palestinians’ human rights. Their right to freedom of movement is severely curtailed, and consequently also their right to work, to an education, to health care, to a normal family life, to earn a decent livelihood and to a reasonable standard of living, the report added.
B’Tselem called on the Israeli government to dismantle all sections of the barrier built inside the West Bank and repeal the permit regime.
B'Tselem stated in a report, issued on Monday on the 10th anniversary of the separation wall's inception, that 85% of the Separation Barrier route constructed within the WB territories and not on the Green Line.
About 75 percent of the land between the barrier and the Green Line, home to some 7,500 Palestinian residents, a “seam zone” and restricts Palestinians' ability to enter these areas on a rigid and convoluted permit regime. However, the Israeli settlers living in the same area enjoy complete freedom of mobility between their homes and Israeli cities west of the Green Line, the report added.
The statement added that the permits issued by the Civil Administration are only valid for a period of one day to two years, depending on the permit's type.
Obtaining a permit to live in the Seam Zone or to work the land there involves an immense burden, both bureaucratic and financial, and many landowners have given up applying, the report stressed.
The report pointed out that since the construction of the separation wall the surrounding area’s economic stability and agricultural activity have declined sharply, and many Palestinians have simply packed up and left their homes.
Building the separation wall inside the West Bank and imposing an inflexible permit regime impedes Palestinians’ human rights. Their right to freedom of movement is severely curtailed, and consequently also their right to work, to an education, to health care, to a normal family life, to earn a decent livelihood and to a reasonable standard of living, the report added.
B’Tselem called on the Israeli government to dismantle all sections of the barrier built inside the West Bank and repeal the permit regime.
IOF troops pave land for new settlement outpost south of al-Khalil
AL-KHALIL, (PIC)-- Israeli occupation forces (IOF) started paving land in preparation for the construction of a new settlement outpost in Majnona area to the south of al-Khalil.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC that an eight-meter wide street was being built at the top of Majnona mountain near an IOF military position.
Bulldozers started leveling the land on Monday in response to orders by Ehud Barak, the Israeli war minister, to hand over the land area to the council of settlements a few months ago.
IOF soldiers had destroyed a number of ponds used for irrigation in the area and served demolition notices to a number of nearby houses and banned construction at the pretext that it was a military area.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC that an eight-meter wide street was being built at the top of Majnona mountain near an IOF military position.
Bulldozers started leveling the land on Monday in response to orders by Ehud Barak, the Israeli war minister, to hand over the land area to the council of settlements a few months ago.
IOF soldiers had destroyed a number of ponds used for irrigation in the area and served demolition notices to a number of nearby houses and banned construction at the pretext that it was a military area.
Two Homes, Barn, Demolished By The Army Near Hebron
Israeli soldiers demolished, Tuesday, two Palestinian homes, a barn and two wells, and handed demolition orders against four more homes, in the villages of Ad-Deerat and Al-Jawaya, south of Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank.
Rateb Jabour, Coordinator of the Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements, told the Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) that several military jeeps, accompanied by a number of bulldozers, invaded Al-Deerat village, and demolished a 500 square/meters home belonging to Mohammad Mousa Abu Arram, and his son Mousa.
The second demolished home belongs to Mahmoud Mohammad Nasr, located in Al-Jawaya nearby village. The army also demolished a well that belongs to the resident, and a barn that belongs to resident Hasan Rab’ey.
Jabour added that the army handed four more residents military warrants informing them that their home will be demolished at a later stage.
The homes belong to Mohammad Odah Makhamra, Mousa Ibrahim Abu Arram, Ziad Mohammad Makhamra, and Mohammad Ahmad Hussein.
Jabour said that the army wants to evict the Palestinians in order to declare the area as a closed military zone, to be used for training.
It is worth mentioning that dozens of homes were previously demolished in areas around in the Hebron district under the same military claims.
Home demolition is an act of collective punishment that violates International Law.
It is worth mentioning that in 2011 alone, the Israeli army demolished 222 Palestinian homes, displacing 1094 Palestinians; this number is double the number of homes demolished by the army in 2010.
The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) reported more than two months ago that, in 2011, the army demolished 222 homes in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and 22 homes in occupied East Jerusalem. (The number of displaced Palestinians exceeded 1094).
During the three-week war on Gaza in December 2008 and January 2009, Israeli soldiers and shells led to the destruction of 4.455 homes, displacing more than 20.000 Palestinians.
ICAHD added that since Israel occupied the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem following the six-day war in June 1967, the army destroyed more than 25.000 Palestinian homes in the Gaza Strip alone leading to the displacement of more than 160.000 Palestinians.
Rateb Jabour, Coordinator of the Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements, told the Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) that several military jeeps, accompanied by a number of bulldozers, invaded Al-Deerat village, and demolished a 500 square/meters home belonging to Mohammad Mousa Abu Arram, and his son Mousa.
The second demolished home belongs to Mahmoud Mohammad Nasr, located in Al-Jawaya nearby village. The army also demolished a well that belongs to the resident, and a barn that belongs to resident Hasan Rab’ey.
Jabour added that the army handed four more residents military warrants informing them that their home will be demolished at a later stage.
The homes belong to Mohammad Odah Makhamra, Mousa Ibrahim Abu Arram, Ziad Mohammad Makhamra, and Mohammad Ahmad Hussein.
Jabour said that the army wants to evict the Palestinians in order to declare the area as a closed military zone, to be used for training.
It is worth mentioning that dozens of homes were previously demolished in areas around in the Hebron district under the same military claims.
Home demolition is an act of collective punishment that violates International Law.
It is worth mentioning that in 2011 alone, the Israeli army demolished 222 Palestinian homes, displacing 1094 Palestinians; this number is double the number of homes demolished by the army in 2010.
The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) reported more than two months ago that, in 2011, the army demolished 222 homes in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and 22 homes in occupied East Jerusalem. (The number of displaced Palestinians exceeded 1094).
During the three-week war on Gaza in December 2008 and January 2009, Israeli soldiers and shells led to the destruction of 4.455 homes, displacing more than 20.000 Palestinians.
ICAHD added that since Israel occupied the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem following the six-day war in June 1967, the army destroyed more than 25.000 Palestinian homes in the Gaza Strip alone leading to the displacement of more than 160.000 Palestinians.
Israeli Occupation Demolishes Palestinian Houses in Hebron
On Tuesday 6th November, Israeli army troops raided at dawn, several villages in Hebron Governorates and started to demolish houses in the city.
Media sources reported that a force from the Israeli army raided Durah and al-Shioukh villages and also broke into Bab al-Zawiya neighborhood.
The same sources also reported that Israeli forces started to demolish houses belonged to Palestinians in al-Derat area, south of Hebron. They demolished the house of Mohammad Mussa Mohammad Hussein and started to demolish another Palestinian house in the same area.
It's worth mentioning that on Monday evening, one of the settlers randomly opened fire towards Palestinians in the old city in Hebron. No causalities were reported.
Media sources reported that a force from the Israeli army raided Durah and al-Shioukh villages and also broke into Bab al-Zawiya neighborhood.
The same sources also reported that Israeli forces started to demolish houses belonged to Palestinians in al-Derat area, south of Hebron. They demolished the house of Mohammad Mussa Mohammad Hussein and started to demolish another Palestinian house in the same area.
It's worth mentioning that on Monday evening, one of the settlers randomly opened fire towards Palestinians in the old city in Hebron. No causalities were reported.
5 nov 2012
Citizens prevent occupation from demolishing school and solar panels in Yatta
AL-KHALIL, (PIC)-- The Israeli occupation forces raided this morning the hamlets of al-Taban and al-Fakhit, in the east of Yatta south of al-Khalil in the occupied West Bank.
Activist Isa Younis Mohammed, 37, told PIC that a number of Israeli soldiers, accompanied by a tank and a bulldozer, raided this morning the eastern hamlets of al-Taban and al-Fakhit near the village of Tawana, and tried to demolish al-Fakhit mixed school, which includes more than 30 students, five classrooms and seven teachers.
The occupation forces also tried to remove the solar panels that provide the two hamlets and the adjacent areas with electricity.
Issa added that the demolition and removal attempts had failed as the citizens, teachers and foreign activists resisted the occupation forces. He also pointed out that an Israeli court ruled yesterday to stop the demolition of the school and the solar panels, however the occupation troops tried to implementation the demolition despite the resolution.
Meanwhile, member of the Tawana village Council, Khader Suleiman Amour, told PIC that the occupation notified this morning two citizens to demolish their installations in the hamlet of Janba, southern al-Khalil
Amour called on the International bodies and the human rights organizations to intervene to stop the demolition of the school and the removal of solar panels, and halt the abuses against the citizens and residents of the eastern regions of Masafer Yatta.
Activist Isa Younis Mohammed, 37, told PIC that a number of Israeli soldiers, accompanied by a tank and a bulldozer, raided this morning the eastern hamlets of al-Taban and al-Fakhit near the village of Tawana, and tried to demolish al-Fakhit mixed school, which includes more than 30 students, five classrooms and seven teachers.
The occupation forces also tried to remove the solar panels that provide the two hamlets and the adjacent areas with electricity.
Issa added that the demolition and removal attempts had failed as the citizens, teachers and foreign activists resisted the occupation forces. He also pointed out that an Israeli court ruled yesterday to stop the demolition of the school and the solar panels, however the occupation troops tried to implementation the demolition despite the resolution.
Meanwhile, member of the Tawana village Council, Khader Suleiman Amour, told PIC that the occupation notified this morning two citizens to demolish their installations in the hamlet of Janba, southern al-Khalil
Amour called on the International bodies and the human rights organizations to intervene to stop the demolition of the school and the removal of solar panels, and halt the abuses against the citizens and residents of the eastern regions of Masafer Yatta.
IOA turns military outpost into settlement in Bethlehem
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- Israeli Occupation Authorities (IOA) started turning the military outpost built on the land of al-Khader village south of Bethlehem to a settlement, through replacing mobile homes "caravans" to fixed buildings constructed of concrete.
Ahmad Salah, coordinator of the Popular Committee Against the Wall in Al-Khader town, told Quds press that Israeli heavy plant continued to work in the Ein Qusis settlement by building new housing units and paving streets leading to it and removing the caravans and the establishment of fixed buildings, as well as linking it to the Israeli mains water, sanitation and electricity services.
He reported that the expansion of the military camp and turning it into a settlement will lead to seizing more land of al-Khader Palestinian village, pointing out that only 20 settlers live in Ein Qusis settlement these days, but with the new infrastructure conditions tens of settlers will move to live in the settlement.
Salah noted that the decision to turn the Ein Qusis settlement, built since 2001 on an area of 300 acres of al-Khader village, came in light of the Israeli plan to turn 40 outposts and military camps to large “recognized” settlements.
Meanwhile, Israeli settlers started expanding an outpost near the town of Yatta in al-Khalil in the southern occupied West Bank, through building new caravans.
Ratib Jabour, the coordinator of the Popular Committee Against settlements in Yatta stated that the occupation expanded Avijal outpost built on the Palestinian land near the village of Carmel eastern Yatta town, according to Quds press.
Jabour pointed out that the settlers added five caravans on Sunday after adding seven others two months ago.
Ahmad Salah, coordinator of the Popular Committee Against the Wall in Al-Khader town, told Quds press that Israeli heavy plant continued to work in the Ein Qusis settlement by building new housing units and paving streets leading to it and removing the caravans and the establishment of fixed buildings, as well as linking it to the Israeli mains water, sanitation and electricity services.
He reported that the expansion of the military camp and turning it into a settlement will lead to seizing more land of al-Khader Palestinian village, pointing out that only 20 settlers live in Ein Qusis settlement these days, but with the new infrastructure conditions tens of settlers will move to live in the settlement.
Salah noted that the decision to turn the Ein Qusis settlement, built since 2001 on an area of 300 acres of al-Khader village, came in light of the Israeli plan to turn 40 outposts and military camps to large “recognized” settlements.
Meanwhile, Israeli settlers started expanding an outpost near the town of Yatta in al-Khalil in the southern occupied West Bank, through building new caravans.
Ratib Jabour, the coordinator of the Popular Committee Against settlements in Yatta stated that the occupation expanded Avijal outpost built on the Palestinian land near the village of Carmel eastern Yatta town, according to Quds press.
Jabour pointed out that the settlers added five caravans on Sunday after adding seven others two months ago.
4 nov 2012
Israeli authorities raze Palestinian home
NAZARETH, (PIC)-- The Israeli authorities razed a Palestinian home in Jet village north of 1948 occupied Palestine at the pretext of lack of construction permit.
Palestinian sources said that Israeli bulldozes escorted by a large number of policemen and border guards sealed the village at an early morning hour on Sunday.
They said that the police forces encircled the home of Tayseer Nasser and knocked it down, adding that the security forces were deployed inside and outside of the village to block any attempt by Palestinians to protest the demolition
Palestinian sources said that Israeli bulldozes escorted by a large number of policemen and border guards sealed the village at an early morning hour on Sunday.
They said that the police forces encircled the home of Tayseer Nasser and knocked it down, adding that the security forces were deployed inside and outside of the village to block any attempt by Palestinians to protest the demolition
3 nov 2012
IOF demolishes a house in eastern Jerusalem
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- Israeli bulldozers demolished the house of a Palestinian citizen, Munawar Yousef Al Khatib, located in Hizma village eastern occupied Jerusalem without a previous notice under the pretext of being built without permit.
Saeb al-Khatib, Munawar's brother, said that the Israeli occupation forces arrived in the area on Thursday and closed it then started demolishing the house which has an area of one hundred square meters.
He added that the IOF soldiers abused the family members after they tried to prevent the demolition and sprayed them with pepper gas injuring three of them, who were transferred to Ramallah hospital for treatment.
This is the fifth time in which the house of al-Khatib is demolished for being built without a permit even though the family confirmed that it had tried several times to obtain a construction permit.
Saeb al-Khatib, Munawar's brother, said that the Israeli occupation forces arrived in the area on Thursday and closed it then started demolishing the house which has an area of one hundred square meters.
He added that the IOF soldiers abused the family members after they tried to prevent the demolition and sprayed them with pepper gas injuring three of them, who were transferred to Ramallah hospital for treatment.
This is the fifth time in which the house of al-Khatib is demolished for being built without a permit even though the family confirmed that it had tried several times to obtain a construction permit.
2 nov 2012
IOA threatens to remove solar panels and a school south of al-Khalil
AL-KHALIL, (PIC)-- The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) have threatened on Thursday the people of Alfajat and Taban areas east of Yatta, south of al-Khalil, in the occupied West Bank, to remove the solar panels that provide their area with electricity, and to demolish al-Mosafer school in the same area.
Haji Akram Sari Abu Sabha, 44, the network guard, confirmed to the PIC reporter, that the occupation forces raided the room that contains the solar panels network and threatened to remove it.
Abu Sabha considered that "this measure came in the context of tightening the noose around the citizens in order to force them to leave."
He called on the human rights organizations to intervene to stop the removal of these panels and to protect the people of areas east of Yatta against the Israeli Judaization policy.
Meanwhile, the al-Mosafer school's headmaster, Mr. Khadr Suleiman Amour, 45, confirmed that the occupation forces accompanied by the so-called civil administration, raided the school and threatened to demolish it within three days.
The headmaster added that this measure aims to crack down on citizens and to pressure them through their children in order to force them to leave, demanding human rights organizations to intervene to stop the demolition of school and the removal of solar panels.
Haji Akram Sari Abu Sabha, 44, the network guard, confirmed to the PIC reporter, that the occupation forces raided the room that contains the solar panels network and threatened to remove it.
Abu Sabha considered that "this measure came in the context of tightening the noose around the citizens in order to force them to leave."
He called on the human rights organizations to intervene to stop the removal of these panels and to protect the people of areas east of Yatta against the Israeli Judaization policy.
Meanwhile, the al-Mosafer school's headmaster, Mr. Khadr Suleiman Amour, 45, confirmed that the occupation forces accompanied by the so-called civil administration, raided the school and threatened to demolish it within three days.
The headmaster added that this measure aims to crack down on citizens and to pressure them through their children in order to force them to leave, demanding human rights organizations to intervene to stop the demolition of school and the removal of solar panels.
IOF demolishes water well, arrests its owner east of Yatta
AL-KHALIL, (PIC)-- Israeli bulldozers demolished in the late hours of Tuesday water well in the region of Tawani east of Yatta, south of Hebron, and arrested its owner before assaulting him and severely beat his daughter.
Fadel Raba Amour, 39, told the PIC's reporter that an Israeli military force accompanied by bulldozers, raided at dawn on Tuesday the house of his brother Said Amour, who lives in a cave and pergola built on his land, and started demolishing the well which is used by the family to drink.
IOF assaulted his brother Said and his daughter Mary, 16, before arresting and taking him to an unknown destination, knowing that this is the second time the occupation forces demolished the well.
The occupation forces had raided the family's home on Monday, and demolished the well and threatened Said to be arrested if he rebuilt the well after demolition, Fadel explained, adding that the family of his detained brother includes nine members, using this well for drinking, domestic and agricultural purposes , wondering: "How should we bring water, especially that the region is isolated and suffers from water shortage?".
The Amour family confirmed their steadfastness in the face of occupation and its harassment policies against them and stressing that they will not leave their land no matter what the occupation can do.
Fadel Raba Amour, 39, told the PIC's reporter that an Israeli military force accompanied by bulldozers, raided at dawn on Tuesday the house of his brother Said Amour, who lives in a cave and pergola built on his land, and started demolishing the well which is used by the family to drink.
IOF assaulted his brother Said and his daughter Mary, 16, before arresting and taking him to an unknown destination, knowing that this is the second time the occupation forces demolished the well.
The occupation forces had raided the family's home on Monday, and demolished the well and threatened Said to be arrested if he rebuilt the well after demolition, Fadel explained, adding that the family of his detained brother includes nine members, using this well for drinking, domestic and agricultural purposes , wondering: "How should we bring water, especially that the region is isolated and suffers from water shortage?".
The Amour family confirmed their steadfastness in the face of occupation and its harassment policies against them and stressing that they will not leave their land no matter what the occupation can do.
Committee: Israel demolishes home near Jerusalem
BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli authorities demolished a house in the West Bank village of Anata for the sixth time early Thursday, an Israeli group said.
The house, northeast of Jerusalem, was last torn down on Jan. 23 and rebuilt by volunteers in the summer, the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions said.
It belongs to Salim and Arabiya Shawamreh, and is used as a peace center by ICAHD, the group said.
On a visit to the village after January's demolitions, the United Nations humanitarian envoy in the Palestinian territories urged Israel to stop demolishing Palestinian homes.
"Israel as the Occupying Power has a fundamental responsibility to protect the Palestinian civilian population under its control and to ensure their dignity and well-being ... The wholesale destruction of their homes and livelihoods is not consistent with that responsibility and humanitarian ideals," Maxwell Gaylard said in Anata.
The house, northeast of Jerusalem, was last torn down on Jan. 23 and rebuilt by volunteers in the summer, the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions said.
It belongs to Salim and Arabiya Shawamreh, and is used as a peace center by ICAHD, the group said.
On a visit to the village after January's demolitions, the United Nations humanitarian envoy in the Palestinian territories urged Israel to stop demolishing Palestinian homes.
"Israel as the Occupying Power has a fundamental responsibility to protect the Palestinian civilian population under its control and to ensure their dignity and well-being ... The wholesale destruction of their homes and livelihoods is not consistent with that responsibility and humanitarian ideals," Maxwell Gaylard said in Anata.
1 nov 2012
New Israeli excavations from Al-Buraq wall to Bab Al-Amoud
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- The Islamic Christian commission for patronizing Jerusalem and holy sites warned of Israeli schemes underway to destroy Arab historical sites of different eras in the occupied city of Jerusalem and replace them with Jewish ones.
In a press release on Wednesday, the Islamic Christian commission noted that the Israeli excavations that started on Tuesday in Wad street in the old city of Jerusalem is aimed to obliterate many important historical areas.
The excavations target the areas extending from Al-Buraq wall of the Aqsa Mosque and Aqabat Al-Khalidiya road to Bab Al-Amoud area, the commission added.
"Israel changes every day a lot of things in the history of Jerusalem and its culture and fabricates ways and means to obliterate its Arab Islamic and Christian monuments and give them a strange Jewish character Judaizing Jerusalem, its landmarks, religion, history and future," head of the commission Hanna Issa stated.
Issa warned of Israel's persistence in its crimes against Jerusalem and its ancient civilization and appealed to the international community to take action and send international monitors to report about these excavations in the holy city and to protect its antiquities against theft.
In a press release on Wednesday, the Islamic Christian commission noted that the Israeli excavations that started on Tuesday in Wad street in the old city of Jerusalem is aimed to obliterate many important historical areas.
The excavations target the areas extending from Al-Buraq wall of the Aqsa Mosque and Aqabat Al-Khalidiya road to Bab Al-Amoud area, the commission added.
"Israel changes every day a lot of things in the history of Jerusalem and its culture and fabricates ways and means to obliterate its Arab Islamic and Christian monuments and give them a strange Jewish character Judaizing Jerusalem, its landmarks, religion, history and future," head of the commission Hanna Issa stated.
Issa warned of Israel's persistence in its crimes against Jerusalem and its ancient civilization and appealed to the international community to take action and send international monitors to report about these excavations in the holy city and to protect its antiquities against theft.
IOF soldiers raze five installations in Tobas
TOBAS, (PIC)-- Israeli occupation forces (IOF) razed five installations used by Bedouin shepherds in Khirbit Ebzeiq north of Tobas city on Wednesday.
Eyewitnesses said that IOF soldiers forced the Bedouins out of those installations then demolished them and threatened to come back and raze the entire installations and houses in the hamlet.
They said that 35 Bedouin families reside in Ebzeiq and refuse to bow to IOF pressures to evacuate their homes.
The Bedouins complain of IOF military exercises near them using live ammunition without any consideration to the presence of civilians other than depriving their sheep from grazing ground.
The Bedouins said that they live under virtual curfew due to the constant IOF moves and exercises near them.
Eyewitnesses said that IOF soldiers forced the Bedouins out of those installations then demolished them and threatened to come back and raze the entire installations and houses in the hamlet.
They said that 35 Bedouin families reside in Ebzeiq and refuse to bow to IOF pressures to evacuate their homes.
The Bedouins complain of IOF military exercises near them using live ammunition without any consideration to the presence of civilians other than depriving their sheep from grazing ground.
The Bedouins said that they live under virtual curfew due to the constant IOF moves and exercises near them.