13 mar 2016
Israeli troops, on Sunday, suppressed a peaceful rally organized by five dairy companies at Ofer checkpoint, to the southwest of Ramallah, to protest being denied the marketing of their products in Jerusalem.
Soldiers attacked, with teargas canisters, a convoy of trucks belonging to the five companies, while gathering near the checkpoint in protest.
Israel recently decided to ban the five companies – Hamoudah, al-Jideedi, Arryan, Asslwa and Saniora – from selling their products in Jerusalem.
Amjad Muhtaseb, a marketing official at al-Jideedi, told WAFA that Israeli authorities cited a lack of Hebrew labels at the five companies’ products, as a pretext to ban their selling in Jerusalem, describing the decision as a “political” one.
He added that the decision constitutes a violation against Paris Protocols, signed between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in 1994.
Soldiers attacked, with teargas canisters, a convoy of trucks belonging to the five companies, while gathering near the checkpoint in protest.
Israel recently decided to ban the five companies – Hamoudah, al-Jideedi, Arryan, Asslwa and Saniora – from selling their products in Jerusalem.
Amjad Muhtaseb, a marketing official at al-Jideedi, told WAFA that Israeli authorities cited a lack of Hebrew labels at the five companies’ products, as a pretext to ban their selling in Jerusalem, describing the decision as a “political” one.
He added that the decision constitutes a violation against Paris Protocols, signed between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in 1994.
Five Palestinian companies warned of financial losses as Israeli occupation forces banned their products from being marketed in occupied Jerusalem, under political and economic pretexts, Palestinian sources reported Saturday.
A report identified the five companies as Hamoudah, al-Jideedi, Arryan, distributers of dairy products, as well as Asslwa and Saniora, associated with meat products.
Hamouda company sources said that Israeli occupation forces has been banning the entry of their company's products to occupied Jerusalem for the fifth day in a row, according to Al Ray. Hamdoua explained that un-expected move, by Israel, would cost the company heavy losses estimated at millions. Hamouda company constitutes 50% of the marketed products in Jerusalem.
The source explained that the Israeli decision came after a decrease in Israeli sales of the same products, in Jerusalem markets, due to dominance of Palestinian products. Israeli occupation authorities put this decision into action even though the Palestinian companies were licensed within the Israeli record.
The affected companies addressed the Civil Affairs administration and the Agriculture Ministry, to become acquainted with the reasons behind such decision, and the latter responded that the decision was unilateral and unexpected. The source said that Palestinian authorities are contemplating a suitable reaction to such a move.
Tareq Abu Laban, the General Manager of Marketing at the Ministry of Agriculture, noted that there are political reasons behind the Israeli decision, explaining that the Israeli side aims to force the PA to deal with Jerusalem as a part of Israeli state.
He added that the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture asked the Palestinian side to submit private export models in which they are identified as international exporter. He explained that this step implies political impacts under which the Palestinians are forced to recognize Jerusalem as an Israeli city.
In 2010, Israeli occupation authorities tried to pass a similar decision. But, international figures, as well as the Quarter Committee, thwarted the plan.
A report identified the five companies as Hamoudah, al-Jideedi, Arryan, distributers of dairy products, as well as Asslwa and Saniora, associated with meat products.
Hamouda company sources said that Israeli occupation forces has been banning the entry of their company's products to occupied Jerusalem for the fifth day in a row, according to Al Ray. Hamdoua explained that un-expected move, by Israel, would cost the company heavy losses estimated at millions. Hamouda company constitutes 50% of the marketed products in Jerusalem.
The source explained that the Israeli decision came after a decrease in Israeli sales of the same products, in Jerusalem markets, due to dominance of Palestinian products. Israeli occupation authorities put this decision into action even though the Palestinian companies were licensed within the Israeli record.
The affected companies addressed the Civil Affairs administration and the Agriculture Ministry, to become acquainted with the reasons behind such decision, and the latter responded that the decision was unilateral and unexpected. The source said that Palestinian authorities are contemplating a suitable reaction to such a move.
Tareq Abu Laban, the General Manager of Marketing at the Ministry of Agriculture, noted that there are political reasons behind the Israeli decision, explaining that the Israeli side aims to force the PA to deal with Jerusalem as a part of Israeli state.
He added that the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture asked the Palestinian side to submit private export models in which they are identified as international exporter. He explained that this step implies political impacts under which the Palestinians are forced to recognize Jerusalem as an Israeli city.
In 2010, Israeli occupation authorities tried to pass a similar decision. But, international figures, as well as the Quarter Committee, thwarted the plan.
12 mar 2016
Poisonous substances landed from Israeli aircrafts in Palestinian agricultural and residential areas in the Jordan Valley on Friday, according to local sources.
Azem Mohamed, coordinator of agricultural relief projects in Jordan Valley, said that the Israeli side justified its action by claiming it was aimed at fighting wild animals in the Jordan Valley.
Mohamed affirmed to the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that the dropped materials pose a risk to livestock, which the majority of the Jordan Valley residents depend on for food and income.
He added that these materials also endanger the health and lives of the residents, especially the children, because of their presence near their homes and farms.
The agricultural official warned the residents of tampering with these hazardous things and urged to them to necessarily inform the Palestinian authorities in their areas if they found them so as to destroy them in a proper manner.
Azem Mohamed, coordinator of agricultural relief projects in Jordan Valley, said that the Israeli side justified its action by claiming it was aimed at fighting wild animals in the Jordan Valley.
Mohamed affirmed to the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that the dropped materials pose a risk to livestock, which the majority of the Jordan Valley residents depend on for food and income.
He added that these materials also endanger the health and lives of the residents, especially the children, because of their presence near their homes and farms.
The agricultural official warned the residents of tampering with these hazardous things and urged to them to necessarily inform the Palestinian authorities in their areas if they found them so as to destroy them in a proper manner.
6 mar 2016
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Saturday evening pitched a military checkpoint in southern Jenin, at the same time as they cordoned off Palestinian neighborhoods in Occupied Jerusalem.
A PIC journalist quoted local sources as stating that the IOF set up a military checkpoint at the Jarba crossroads, in southern Jenin, where Palestinian vehicles and civilians were provocatively inspected.
Meanwhile, IOF troops were deployed across Palestinian neighborhoods in Occupied Jerusalem, most notably in al-Issawiya and Silwan, to the east.
Special Israeli forces, border policemen, and mounted police units were stationed across Bab al-Amoud area, where Palestinian youths were searched and questioned.
The IOF also cracked down on Palestinian civilians at the entrances to al-Issawiya village and arrested the youngster Wadi Dari.
According to the Wadi Hilweh Information Center, the occupation troops rolled into Silwan and pitched makeshift roadblocks across its residential neighborhoods. The IOF further ordered Palestinian shopkeepers in al-Issawiya to shut down their stores without prior notifications.
A PIC journalist quoted local sources as stating that the IOF set up a military checkpoint at the Jarba crossroads, in southern Jenin, where Palestinian vehicles and civilians were provocatively inspected.
Meanwhile, IOF troops were deployed across Palestinian neighborhoods in Occupied Jerusalem, most notably in al-Issawiya and Silwan, to the east.
Special Israeli forces, border policemen, and mounted police units were stationed across Bab al-Amoud area, where Palestinian youths were searched and questioned.
The IOF also cracked down on Palestinian civilians at the entrances to al-Issawiya village and arrested the youngster Wadi Dari.
According to the Wadi Hilweh Information Center, the occupation troops rolled into Silwan and pitched makeshift roadblocks across its residential neighborhoods. The IOF further ordered Palestinian shopkeepers in al-Issawiya to shut down their stores without prior notifications.
4 mar 2016
Palestinian business owners in the Old City of Jerusalem have complained that the Israeli movement restrictions imposed at the gates of the city led to the closure of 35 percent of their commercial stores and paralyzed their trade activities.
In a news conference on Thursday, spokesmen for the Old City merchants stated that the arbitrary and humiliating security measures pursued by the Israeli police at the gates of the Old City led to apathy among buyers.
Spokesman for the Salahuddin street merchants Hijazi al-Resheq said that the commercial paralysis in the Old City market forced some businesses to shut down and led to a noticeable decline in sales.
Resheq called on the Palestinian leadership to develop a strategy helping the Jerusalem merchants to confront the Israeli policies. For his part, dean of the Old City merchants Khaled al-Saheb described the business conditions in the market as "miserable and unbearable," affirming that 25 to 35 percent of the Old City stores closed their doors over the last six months as a result of Israeli measures, including the taxation policy.
Saheb added that the intensive presence of Israeli troops on the streets of the market also dissuaded the residents in Jerusalem from going there to avoid arbitrary arrests and humiliating searches. He called for strengthening the steadfastness of the Jerusalemite merchants and preparing a Palestinian strategy to face Israel's attempts to expel them from the Old City.
He noted that the volume of purchases in the Old City market dropped to about 80 percent.
In a news conference on Thursday, spokesmen for the Old City merchants stated that the arbitrary and humiliating security measures pursued by the Israeli police at the gates of the Old City led to apathy among buyers.
Spokesman for the Salahuddin street merchants Hijazi al-Resheq said that the commercial paralysis in the Old City market forced some businesses to shut down and led to a noticeable decline in sales.
Resheq called on the Palestinian leadership to develop a strategy helping the Jerusalem merchants to confront the Israeli policies. For his part, dean of the Old City merchants Khaled al-Saheb described the business conditions in the market as "miserable and unbearable," affirming that 25 to 35 percent of the Old City stores closed their doors over the last six months as a result of Israeli measures, including the taxation policy.
Saheb added that the intensive presence of Israeli troops on the streets of the market also dissuaded the residents in Jerusalem from going there to avoid arbitrary arrests and humiliating searches. He called for strengthening the steadfastness of the Jerusalemite merchants and preparing a Palestinian strategy to face Israel's attempts to expel them from the Old City.
He noted that the volume of purchases in the Old City market dropped to about 80 percent.
3 mar 2016
The Israeli military bulldozers demolished overnight a Palestinian gas station in Hazma town east of occupied Jerusalem for allegedly being built without Israeli permit.
Local sources affirmed that Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stormed the town after midnight and demolished a gas station belonging to the citizen Haitham al-Helow.
B’tselem Information center for human rights said that Israel has appropriated vast tracts of land surrounding heavily populated Palestinian areas in occupied Jerusalem and built Jewish neighborhoods on those lands.
Master plans for Palestinian neighborhoods drawn up by the Israeli Municipality are partial and are a far cry from meeting the needs of the Palestinian residents or relieving high residential density, according to the Israeli center.
Palestinian residents in occupied Jerusalem have no option but to build their homes without construction permits. Their homes face the constant threat of demolition, so residents live in a continual state of uncertainty regarding their future.
During 2015, the Israeli Municipality demolished 579 residences in occupied Jerusalem, rendering homeless 2,133 people, including 1,158 minors.
Local sources affirmed that Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stormed the town after midnight and demolished a gas station belonging to the citizen Haitham al-Helow.
B’tselem Information center for human rights said that Israel has appropriated vast tracts of land surrounding heavily populated Palestinian areas in occupied Jerusalem and built Jewish neighborhoods on those lands.
Master plans for Palestinian neighborhoods drawn up by the Israeli Municipality are partial and are a far cry from meeting the needs of the Palestinian residents or relieving high residential density, according to the Israeli center.
Palestinian residents in occupied Jerusalem have no option but to build their homes without construction permits. Their homes face the constant threat of demolition, so residents live in a continual state of uncertainty regarding their future.
During 2015, the Israeli Municipality demolished 579 residences in occupied Jerusalem, rendering homeless 2,133 people, including 1,158 minors.
1 mar 2016
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested at dawn Tuesday two Palestinian youths after breaking into the northern West Bank city of Nablus.
Eyewitnesses affirmed that two locals including a minor were detained from their homes in the city, while Israeli forces deployed throughout its neighborhoods.
The IOF soldiers have also confiscated blacksmith materials belonging to the two brothers Adnan and Alaa Ayad who were arrested on Monday.
Eyewitnesses affirmed that two locals including a minor were detained from their homes in the city, while Israeli forces deployed throughout its neighborhoods.
The IOF soldiers have also confiscated blacksmith materials belonging to the two brothers Adnan and Alaa Ayad who were arrested on Monday.
28 feb 2016
Occupation municipality crews and Israeli forces raided on Friday the neighborhood of Wadi Hilweh in Silwan.
Wadi Hilweh Information Center explained that the occupation municipality raided the neighborhood of Wadi Hilweh since the morning hours and took pictures of vehicles parked on the street as well as areas designated for parking in an attempt to provoke residents after a police patrol had issued parking tickets in the early morning ranged between 250-600 NIS.
The center added that a police patrol was stationed on Friday early morning in Wadi Hilweh Main Street and threatened to execute arrests under the pretext of throwing stones towards them; they issued traffic tickets to vehicles.
In a related matter, the occupation municipality issued Fayez Shweiki a 5-thousand NIS ticket because one customer was smoking inside his grocery store in Wadi Hilweh.
The Jerusalemite merchant explained that a customer entered his store while smoking a cigarette and moments later the municipality crews raided his store and issued him a 5-thousand NIS ticket.
On the other hand, the forces made all merchants in Ein Al-Lozeh in Silwan remove the merchandise displayed outside their commercial stores and threatened to fine them.
They also established a checkpoint on Friday night in the neighborhood of Ein Al-Lozeh and searched vehicles and passengers’ IDs.
In the neighborhood of Ras Al-Amoud in Silwan, limited clashes broke out between young men and occupation forces in Martyr Ayman Abbasi’s Street.
The forces fired sound grenades and rubber bullets in the area after deploying in the streets and stopping passers-by and checking their IDs.
Wadi Hilweh Information Center explained that the occupation municipality raided the neighborhood of Wadi Hilweh since the morning hours and took pictures of vehicles parked on the street as well as areas designated for parking in an attempt to provoke residents after a police patrol had issued parking tickets in the early morning ranged between 250-600 NIS.
The center added that a police patrol was stationed on Friday early morning in Wadi Hilweh Main Street and threatened to execute arrests under the pretext of throwing stones towards them; they issued traffic tickets to vehicles.
In a related matter, the occupation municipality issued Fayez Shweiki a 5-thousand NIS ticket because one customer was smoking inside his grocery store in Wadi Hilweh.
The Jerusalemite merchant explained that a customer entered his store while smoking a cigarette and moments later the municipality crews raided his store and issued him a 5-thousand NIS ticket.
On the other hand, the forces made all merchants in Ein Al-Lozeh in Silwan remove the merchandise displayed outside their commercial stores and threatened to fine them.
They also established a checkpoint on Friday night in the neighborhood of Ein Al-Lozeh and searched vehicles and passengers’ IDs.
In the neighborhood of Ras Al-Amoud in Silwan, limited clashes broke out between young men and occupation forces in Martyr Ayman Abbasi’s Street.
The forces fired sound grenades and rubber bullets in the area after deploying in the streets and stopping passers-by and checking their IDs.
27 feb 2016
Israeli army, police, and border forces raided a Palestinian construction company north of Hebron on Saturday, seizing machinery worth around 1 million shekels ($255,552).
Activist Muhammad Ayyad Awad said Israeli forces raided the Ghazalah Building Materials company near Beit Ummar and seized electronic machines used for cutting iron.
Company owner Muhammad Mustafa Ghazalah reported that the machines were bought legally from Tel Aviv, but that Israeli police insisted on seizing them until Ghazalah could bring them the ownership documents.
Awad added that the raid lasted for over two and a half hours, during which they prevented people and vehicles from passing through the road where the company is located.
Activist Muhammad Ayyad Awad said Israeli forces raided the Ghazalah Building Materials company near Beit Ummar and seized electronic machines used for cutting iron.
Company owner Muhammad Mustafa Ghazalah reported that the machines were bought legally from Tel Aviv, but that Israeli police insisted on seizing them until Ghazalah could bring them the ownership documents.
Awad added that the raid lasted for over two and a half hours, during which they prevented people and vehicles from passing through the road where the company is located.
26 feb 2016
The Israeli occupation authority has decided to take a series of steps allegedly meant to help improve the economic situation of the Palestinian Authority (PA), including the transfer of 500 million shekels in withheld tax money, an Israeli newspaper reported Friday.
According to the Yedioth Aharonot newspaper, the Israeli finance minister Moshe Kahlon, after consulting with war minister Moshe Ya'alon, has also decided to issue thousands of additional work permits for Palestinians to work in 1948 Occupied Palestine.
Kahlon claimed that the way to mitigate the recent wave of violence is to improve the Palestinians' economic situation. Palestinian finance and planning minister Shukry Bishara met with Kahlon last week and warned him the PA was on the verge of economic collapse.
When presented with the measures, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, did not object, the same source added.
According to the Yedioth Aharonot newspaper, the Israeli finance minister Moshe Kahlon, after consulting with war minister Moshe Ya'alon, has also decided to issue thousands of additional work permits for Palestinians to work in 1948 Occupied Palestine.
Kahlon claimed that the way to mitigate the recent wave of violence is to improve the Palestinians' economic situation. Palestinian finance and planning minister Shukry Bishara met with Kahlon last week and warned him the PA was on the verge of economic collapse.
When presented with the measures, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, did not object, the same source added.
24 feb 2016
Rafah electricity distribution company said Tuesday evening that Egyptian power lines returned feeding the Palestinian city of Rafah after after a six-day stoppage.
The electricity distribution company said that its Egyptian counterpart informed the company that the maintenance of the electricity station of El-Arish has finished.
It is scheduled that the electricity distribution table would return to 8-hour program, in which power is supplied and cut off in 8-hour intervals. Rafah city has experienced a power cuts up to 12 hours over the past six days.
The electricity distribution company said that its Egyptian counterpart informed the company that the maintenance of the electricity station of El-Arish has finished.
It is scheduled that the electricity distribution table would return to 8-hour program, in which power is supplied and cut off in 8-hour intervals. Rafah city has experienced a power cuts up to 12 hours over the past six days.
22 feb 2016
Large areas of Palestinians lands, and several homes, in the al-Meghraqa and Gaza Valley areas, in central Gaza, have been completely flooded after Israel opened its dams towards Gaza.
The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) has reported that the army deliberately opened the dams, that were overloaded with rainwater, and flooded large areas in Gaza, drowning agricultural lands, and some homes, causing significant property damage.
Israel repeatedly opens its dams towards the besieged Gaza Strip during winter time, especially following heavy rain, inflicting serious losses and destruction in various areas of the coastal region, in addition to many injuries.
The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) has reported that the army deliberately opened the dams, that were overloaded with rainwater, and flooded large areas in Gaza, drowning agricultural lands, and some homes, causing significant property damage.
Israel repeatedly opens its dams towards the besieged Gaza Strip during winter time, especially following heavy rain, inflicting serious losses and destruction in various areas of the coastal region, in addition to many injuries.
17 feb 2016
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) carried out at dawn Wednesday combing and demolition operations in Issawiya town in occupied Jerusalem.
Local activist Ahmed Sub Laban affirmed that Israeli forces demolished a number of Palestinian agricultural and industrial facilities in Issawiya and al-Tur towns as a prelude to establish a new “national park” in the town.
Sub Laban explained that 740 dunums of the two towns’ land are scheduled to be confiscated in order to expend Maale Adumim settlement as part of the E1 settlement plan.
Earlier Tuesday, the Israeli civil administration issued 12 demolition orders against 11 Palestinian homes and a mosque in Issawiya town east of occupied Jerusalem.
Local activist Ahmed Sub Laban affirmed that Israeli forces demolished a number of Palestinian agricultural and industrial facilities in Issawiya and al-Tur towns as a prelude to establish a new “national park” in the town.
Sub Laban explained that 740 dunums of the two towns’ land are scheduled to be confiscated in order to expend Maale Adumim settlement as part of the E1 settlement plan.
Earlier Tuesday, the Israeli civil administration issued 12 demolition orders against 11 Palestinian homes and a mosque in Issawiya town east of occupied Jerusalem.
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) on Tuesday handed demolition notices to Palestinians in Barta'a village to the south of Jenin city.
Eight commercial structures will be razed under the pretext of lacking construction permits.
Ghassan Kabha, head of Barta’a village council, said that the notices included the management room in the village’s station, electricity chamber, construction station, a store, stone and marble quarries, poultry, and wood and clay factories.
Eight commercial structures will be razed under the pretext of lacking construction permits.
Ghassan Kabha, head of Barta’a village council, said that the notices included the management room in the village’s station, electricity chamber, construction station, a store, stone and marble quarries, poultry, and wood and clay factories.
16 feb 2016
Fire erupted in Nablus central market after Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) heavily fired tear gas bombs at Palestinian protesters at dawn Tuesday in the area.
One of the local retailers said that Israeli forces intensively and extensively used tear gas bombs in the central market while chasing stone-throwers.
Nearly 600 fruit and vegetable boxes estimated at more than 300,000 shekels were completely burned, the sources added.
Firefighters and civil defense crews managed to control the fire after Israeli forces’ withdrawal. Violent clashes erupted in Nablus since the early morning hours after hundreds of Israeli settlers broke into Youssef’s tomb amid heavy military protection.
One of the local retailers said that Israeli forces intensively and extensively used tear gas bombs in the central market while chasing stone-throwers.
Nearly 600 fruit and vegetable boxes estimated at more than 300,000 shekels were completely burned, the sources added.
Firefighters and civil defense crews managed to control the fire after Israeli forces’ withdrawal. Violent clashes erupted in Nablus since the early morning hours after hundreds of Israeli settlers broke into Youssef’s tomb amid heavy military protection.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged $78 million in additional economic assistance to Palestinian Authority (PA) in his meeting Monday in Tokyo with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
Abe "expressed Japan's intention to continue its political and economic support so that Palestine will be an independent, democratic, viable and contiguous state," according to a joint press release issued after the meeting.
Abbas, for his part, "expressed his utmost gratitude to Japan for its support to Palestine amounting to more than $1.7 billion since 1993.”
Along the same line, the Palestinian Minister of National Economy, Abeer Odeh, signed with Japan's ambassador to Palestine an agreement that “will assist Palestinians in boosting the tourism industry by helping to preserve a mosaic at the Great Bath at Hisham’s Palace, an example of Islamic architecture from the Umayyad Era in the eighth century.”
On the other hand, Abbas called, during the meeting, for an international peace conference and collective mechanism to be held and set up a plan to bring the Israeli occupation to an end within a scheduled timeline. Abbas has also warned that “Israeli brutal practices in Palestinian territories would ignite a religious war in the region.”
Speaking during a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo, Abbas praised the role of France in peacemaking in the Middle East and called for an international support group – composed of the UN Security Council permanent members, a number of Arab and European countries, Japan, and other countries and world powers – to be formed to support the Palestinian demand of ending the Israeli occupation.
“We are working with the ad-hoc Arab Ministerial Committee to seek a UN Security Council resolution on [Israeli] settlements, given their jeopardizing of security and stability in our region, as well their obstruction of the two-state solution,” he stated.
Abbas’s four day-visit to Japan came as tensions are running high in the occupied territories where more than 181 Palestinian have been killed by Israeli forces.
Abe "expressed Japan's intention to continue its political and economic support so that Palestine will be an independent, democratic, viable and contiguous state," according to a joint press release issued after the meeting.
Abbas, for his part, "expressed his utmost gratitude to Japan for its support to Palestine amounting to more than $1.7 billion since 1993.”
Along the same line, the Palestinian Minister of National Economy, Abeer Odeh, signed with Japan's ambassador to Palestine an agreement that “will assist Palestinians in boosting the tourism industry by helping to preserve a mosaic at the Great Bath at Hisham’s Palace, an example of Islamic architecture from the Umayyad Era in the eighth century.”
On the other hand, Abbas called, during the meeting, for an international peace conference and collective mechanism to be held and set up a plan to bring the Israeli occupation to an end within a scheduled timeline. Abbas has also warned that “Israeli brutal practices in Palestinian territories would ignite a religious war in the region.”
Speaking during a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo, Abbas praised the role of France in peacemaking in the Middle East and called for an international support group – composed of the UN Security Council permanent members, a number of Arab and European countries, Japan, and other countries and world powers – to be formed to support the Palestinian demand of ending the Israeli occupation.
“We are working with the ad-hoc Arab Ministerial Committee to seek a UN Security Council resolution on [Israeli] settlements, given their jeopardizing of security and stability in our region, as well their obstruction of the two-state solution,” he stated.
Abbas’s four day-visit to Japan came as tensions are running high in the occupied territories where more than 181 Palestinian have been killed by Israeli forces.
15 feb 2016
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) uprooted Monday nearly 100 olive trees and seedlings in Deir Estia village west of Salfit to the north of West Bank.
Local farmers told the PIC reporter that they were surprised on Monday morning to find their trees and seedlings uprooted under the pretext of being planted in a “nature reserve.”
Israeli forces are used to expel Palestinian farmers from their lands in order to pave the way for settlers’ presence in the area.
Eng. Ibrahim Hamed, director of Salfit agriculture department, affirmed that the IOF uprooted 7-year-old 100 olive seedlings in Wadi Qana area in Deir Estia village and confiscated water tanks.
For his part, Khaled Ma'ali, a land expert in the region, said that as part of Israeli Judaization policy, Wadi Qana area has been subjected to systematic attacks in order to expand the surrounding eight Israeli settlements.
Local farmers told the PIC reporter that they were surprised on Monday morning to find their trees and seedlings uprooted under the pretext of being planted in a “nature reserve.”
Israeli forces are used to expel Palestinian farmers from their lands in order to pave the way for settlers’ presence in the area.
Eng. Ibrahim Hamed, director of Salfit agriculture department, affirmed that the IOF uprooted 7-year-old 100 olive seedlings in Wadi Qana area in Deir Estia village and confiscated water tanks.
For his part, Khaled Ma'ali, a land expert in the region, said that as part of Israeli Judaization policy, Wadi Qana area has been subjected to systematic attacks in order to expand the surrounding eight Israeli settlements.
Haj and Umrah companies in the southern provinces of the Gaza Strip appealed for the revival of the season of Umrah which is about to collapse because of the continuous closure of Rafah border crossing.
In a press conference on Sunday, the firms directed their appeal to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas along with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz. Awad Abu Mathkour, head of the Haj and Umrah company society, said “all of the contracts required with Saudi Arabia to manage Umrah journeys have been prepared and we are waiting for the Rafah crossing to be opened so that the journeys can be launched to Saudi Arabia”.
He pointed out that 79 Palestinian Haj and Umrah companies are threatened with closure due to the paralysis of Umrah season. 12,000 names have been registered so far at those companies for Umrah, he pointed out. Awad said the time needed to rescue the season is a period of three months after two months have passed in vein.
The Egyptian authorities continue the closure of Rafah border crossing with Gaza before Palestinian travelers and have been preventing the Umrah journeys for two and a half months. The Rafah crossing was exceptionally opened on Saturday and Sunday.
In a press conference on Sunday, the firms directed their appeal to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas along with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz. Awad Abu Mathkour, head of the Haj and Umrah company society, said “all of the contracts required with Saudi Arabia to manage Umrah journeys have been prepared and we are waiting for the Rafah crossing to be opened so that the journeys can be launched to Saudi Arabia”.
He pointed out that 79 Palestinian Haj and Umrah companies are threatened with closure due to the paralysis of Umrah season. 12,000 names have been registered so far at those companies for Umrah, he pointed out. Awad said the time needed to rescue the season is a period of three months after two months have passed in vein.
The Egyptian authorities continue the closure of Rafah border crossing with Gaza before Palestinian travelers and have been preventing the Umrah journeys for two and a half months. The Rafah crossing was exceptionally opened on Saturday and Sunday.