15 apr 2018
Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Economy Conference which was held on April 13-15 in Istanbul city in Turkey announced $100-million investment fund for the support of the occupied city.
The conference was organized by the Union of Palestinian and Turkish Businessmen and a number of Palestinian businessmen in Palestine and diaspora as well as some institutions concerned with the support of Occupied Jerusalem.
The conference organizers urged Palestinian businessmen to invest in Occupied Jerusalem and announced the recommendations and achievements of the conference:
-An initiative to establish an investment company with a $100-million fund with the contribution of 20 businessmen.
-The Palestinian businessman Farouk al-Shami pledged $10-million portfolio for five years with a sum up to 50 million dollars, with major activities focusing on the agriculture sector.
-The Islamic Arab Bank allocated $50 million for funding investment projects in Jerusalem out of the Bank’s financial fund allocated for real estates and small and medium-sized enterprises.
-Reopening of 400 stores in the Old City of Occupied Jerusalem with a rate of $50,000 for each commercial shop with a total up to 20 million dollars.
-Launching the Noble Investor Network of 20 businessmen for information technology investments in Occupied Jerusalem.
It was also decided to hold Al-Quds 2nd Economy Conference in Occupied Jerusalem and to convene the follow up committee on April 28 inside Palestine in order to follow up the implementation of the conference’s decisions and recommendations.
The conference was organized by the Union of Palestinian and Turkish Businessmen and a number of Palestinian businessmen in Palestine and diaspora as well as some institutions concerned with the support of Occupied Jerusalem.
The conference organizers urged Palestinian businessmen to invest in Occupied Jerusalem and announced the recommendations and achievements of the conference:
-An initiative to establish an investment company with a $100-million fund with the contribution of 20 businessmen.
-The Palestinian businessman Farouk al-Shami pledged $10-million portfolio for five years with a sum up to 50 million dollars, with major activities focusing on the agriculture sector.
-The Islamic Arab Bank allocated $50 million for funding investment projects in Jerusalem out of the Bank’s financial fund allocated for real estates and small and medium-sized enterprises.
-Reopening of 400 stores in the Old City of Occupied Jerusalem with a rate of $50,000 for each commercial shop with a total up to 20 million dollars.
-Launching the Noble Investor Network of 20 businessmen for information technology investments in Occupied Jerusalem.
It was also decided to hold Al-Quds 2nd Economy Conference in Occupied Jerusalem and to convene the follow up committee on April 28 inside Palestine in order to follow up the implementation of the conference’s decisions and recommendations.
Israeli occupation authorities announced on Sunday a full closure on the West Bank and Gaza Strip for three days due to the observance of the so called “Israeli Independence Day”
In a statement on Sunday, the Israeli army said that the border crossings with Gaza will be closed starting on Monday midnight, April 16, 2018 until Thursday, April 19, 2018.
No crossings will be allowed into the West Bank and Gaza during the closure period which also will affect thousands of holders of Israeli work permits to work in 1948 Occupied Palestine.
The “Israeli Independence day” is not a cause for celebration for Palestinians but a day of remembrance of the national “catastrophe” or Nakba Day, that is celebrated annually on May 15, on which thousands of Palestinians were forced to leave their cities, villages and homes by Israeli occupation forces in 1948.
In a statement on Sunday, the Israeli army said that the border crossings with Gaza will be closed starting on Monday midnight, April 16, 2018 until Thursday, April 19, 2018.
No crossings will be allowed into the West Bank and Gaza during the closure period which also will affect thousands of holders of Israeli work permits to work in 1948 Occupied Palestine.
The “Israeli Independence day” is not a cause for celebration for Palestinians but a day of remembrance of the national “catastrophe” or Nakba Day, that is celebrated annually on May 15, on which thousands of Palestinians were forced to leave their cities, villages and homes by Israeli occupation forces in 1948.
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) on Sunday said that more than half of Gaza's population suffered from poverty during 2017.
A report showed that 53% of Palestinians in Gaza are poor compared to 13.9% in the West Bank, with an average of 29.2% in both territories.
This high poverty rate has mainly resulted from the ongoing Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007.
According to the PCBS report, %29.2 of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip lived on a monthly average of 2,470 shekels ($685) for a family of five.
Extreme poverty rate in Palestine in 2017 was %16.8 with an average monthly expenditure of 1,974 shekels ($547) for a family of five.
Poverty rate in Gaza, which is populated by 2 million Palestinians, was four times higher than the West Bank with its 2.8 million Palestinians, while extreme poverty was six times higher.
The PCBS compared poverty rates in 2011 and 2017. The results revealed that poverty and extreme poverty rates increased in 2017 by 13.2% and 30.2% respectively.
UN organizations said that the Gaza Strip will be uninhabitable by 2020 because of the lack of clean drinking water, while the UN in 2017 said that 80% of Gaza residents live on humanitarian aid.
It's 15th April and about 58,000 Palestinian Authority employees in Gaza have not yet received their monthly salaries for March although their counterparts in the West Bank received theirs last week.
A report showed that 53% of Palestinians in Gaza are poor compared to 13.9% in the West Bank, with an average of 29.2% in both territories.
This high poverty rate has mainly resulted from the ongoing Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007.
According to the PCBS report, %29.2 of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip lived on a monthly average of 2,470 shekels ($685) for a family of five.
Extreme poverty rate in Palestine in 2017 was %16.8 with an average monthly expenditure of 1,974 shekels ($547) for a family of five.
Poverty rate in Gaza, which is populated by 2 million Palestinians, was four times higher than the West Bank with its 2.8 million Palestinians, while extreme poverty was six times higher.
The PCBS compared poverty rates in 2011 and 2017. The results revealed that poverty and extreme poverty rates increased in 2017 by 13.2% and 30.2% respectively.
UN organizations said that the Gaza Strip will be uninhabitable by 2020 because of the lack of clean drinking water, while the UN in 2017 said that 80% of Gaza residents live on humanitarian aid.
It's 15th April and about 58,000 Palestinian Authority employees in Gaza have not yet received their monthly salaries for March although their counterparts in the West Bank received theirs last week.
13 apr 2018
Israeli soldiers attacked, Friday, the weekly nonviolent procession against the illegal Annexation Wall and Colonies in Bil’in village, west of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, causing large areas of land to burn.
The Popular Committee against the Wall and Colonies in Bil’in said the procession started from the center of the village, heading towards Abu Lemon area.
It added that the protesters carried Palestinian flags, and chanted against the ongoing illegal Israeli occupation, escalation and the U.S. support to the oppression against the Palestinian People.
The protesters also chanted for national unity, the release of all detainees, the Right of Return to all refugees, liberation and independence.
Once the nonviolent protesters reached the gate of the Annexation Wall, many started banging on it with rocks, while others wrote graffiti, and chanted against the occupation.
The soldiers, stationed on military towers and surrounding hills, started firing gas bombs and concussion grenades, causing large areas of farmlands to burn.
Spokesperson of the Popular Committee, Dr. Rateb Abu Rahma, called for ongoing processions in every part of occupied Palestine, to counter the illegal Israeli and American policies against the legitimate Palestinian struggle for independence.
The Popular Committee against the Wall and Colonies in Bil’in said the procession started from the center of the village, heading towards Abu Lemon area.
It added that the protesters carried Palestinian flags, and chanted against the ongoing illegal Israeli occupation, escalation and the U.S. support to the oppression against the Palestinian People.
The protesters also chanted for national unity, the release of all detainees, the Right of Return to all refugees, liberation and independence.
Once the nonviolent protesters reached the gate of the Annexation Wall, many started banging on it with rocks, while others wrote graffiti, and chanted against the occupation.
The soldiers, stationed on military towers and surrounding hills, started firing gas bombs and concussion grenades, causing large areas of farmlands to burn.
Spokesperson of the Popular Committee, Dr. Rateb Abu Rahma, called for ongoing processions in every part of occupied Palestine, to counter the illegal Israeli and American policies against the legitimate Palestinian struggle for independence.
Samih, Mohammed and Mousa
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) kidnapped five Palestinians during West Bank campaigns at dawn Friday.
Israel radio claimed that the five detainees were wanted for interrogation over anti-Israel activities.
Wafa news agency reported that the IOF raided the house of the Palestinian citizen Sulaiman Hroub in Deir Sammit town southwest of al-Khalil, searched it, arrested his three sons Samih, Mohammed and Mousa and transferred them to an unknown destination.
Hroub family said that the IOF broke into their jewelry shops in al-Khalil city and confiscated about 40 kilograms of silver.
Palestinian activist Mohammed Awad said that the IOF arrested ex-prisoner Khattab Abu Maryya, 16, after raiding and searching his family house in Beit Ummar town north of al-Khalil.
Meanwhile, the PIC reporter said, quoting local sources, that the IOF arrested the Palestinian youth Ameer Abu Hamed, 26, after raiding his family house in Qalqilya city and wreaking havoc on it.
The IOF further raided Azzun town east of Qalqilya, closed its entrances, assaulted residents and searched a number of houses.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) kidnapped five Palestinians during West Bank campaigns at dawn Friday.
Israel radio claimed that the five detainees were wanted for interrogation over anti-Israel activities.
Wafa news agency reported that the IOF raided the house of the Palestinian citizen Sulaiman Hroub in Deir Sammit town southwest of al-Khalil, searched it, arrested his three sons Samih, Mohammed and Mousa and transferred them to an unknown destination.
Hroub family said that the IOF broke into their jewelry shops in al-Khalil city and confiscated about 40 kilograms of silver.
Palestinian activist Mohammed Awad said that the IOF arrested ex-prisoner Khattab Abu Maryya, 16, after raiding and searching his family house in Beit Ummar town north of al-Khalil.
Meanwhile, the PIC reporter said, quoting local sources, that the IOF arrested the Palestinian youth Ameer Abu Hamed, 26, after raiding his family house in Qalqilya city and wreaking havoc on it.
The IOF further raided Azzun town east of Qalqilya, closed its entrances, assaulted residents and searched a number of houses.
Israeli settlers at dawn Friday torched a mosque in Aqraba town south of Nablus city and spray-painted racist slogans on its walls.
The PIC reporter said that the settlers poured flammable liquid at the entrance to Sheikh Sa'ada mosque and set it on fire causing some partial damages.
Aqraba mayor Ghaleb Mayadmeh told the PIC reporter that worshipers were shocked seeing the damages the fire caused when they headed to the mosque for dawn prayer.
Red Crescent paramedic Yousuf Deiriya said that a surveillance camera had spotted a masked settler torching the mosque's entrance and another spray-painting Hebrew graffiti that has the name of "Price Tag" gang.
In a related context, a group of Israeli settlers at dawn vandalized property of Palestinian farmers and uprooted a number of olive trees in Rujeib town east of Nablus.
Head of Rujeib village council and owner of the land that was attacked Walid Dweikat said that the settlers broke eight olive trees, blocked a water well with garbage and destroyed some stone walls in the area.
Dweikat pointed out that the targeted land is located between Beit Furik town and Itamar settlement built by force on privately-owned Palestinian lands.
The PIC reporter said that the settlers poured flammable liquid at the entrance to Sheikh Sa'ada mosque and set it on fire causing some partial damages.
Aqraba mayor Ghaleb Mayadmeh told the PIC reporter that worshipers were shocked seeing the damages the fire caused when they headed to the mosque for dawn prayer.
Red Crescent paramedic Yousuf Deiriya said that a surveillance camera had spotted a masked settler torching the mosque's entrance and another spray-painting Hebrew graffiti that has the name of "Price Tag" gang.
In a related context, a group of Israeli settlers at dawn vandalized property of Palestinian farmers and uprooted a number of olive trees in Rujeib town east of Nablus.
Head of Rujeib village council and owner of the land that was attacked Walid Dweikat said that the settlers broke eight olive trees, blocked a water well with garbage and destroyed some stone walls in the area.
Dweikat pointed out that the targeted land is located between Beit Furik town and Itamar settlement built by force on privately-owned Palestinian lands.
12 apr 2018
The Palestinian Energy Authority shut down on Thursday Gaza Strip's sole power plant due to acute shortage of fuel, leaving the coastal enclave in a severe power crisis.
The director of public relations and information of the Gaza Electricity Distribution Company Mohamed Thabet said that the Energy Authority informed them of its decision to shut down the power plant.
The Gaza Strip is only receiving around 120 megawatts daily from Israel after all three Egyptian feeder lines supplying southern Gaza were disconnected over the past three months, he clarified.
Due to the aggravating fuel shortage, residents of the besieged enclave will receive only four hours of electricity a day, according to him.
The besieged Palestinian enclave, where more than two million people live, has been under a tight Israeli blockade for more than a decade and residents have been experiencing persistent blackouts since then.
The director of public relations and information of the Gaza Electricity Distribution Company Mohamed Thabet said that the Energy Authority informed them of its decision to shut down the power plant.
The Gaza Strip is only receiving around 120 megawatts daily from Israel after all three Egyptian feeder lines supplying southern Gaza were disconnected over the past three months, he clarified.
Due to the aggravating fuel shortage, residents of the besieged enclave will receive only four hours of electricity a day, according to him.
The besieged Palestinian enclave, where more than two million people live, has been under a tight Israeli blockade for more than a decade and residents have been experiencing persistent blackouts since then.
10 apr 2018
Israeli forces and settlers, Tuesday, forced Palestinian farmers to leave their land in the town of al-Khader, south of Bethlehem, according to a local activist.
Hassan Brejieh, member of the anti-wall and anti-settlement committee in Bethlehem, told WAFA that Israeli forces and settlers broke into the land of Ibrahim Sbeih and forced him and his brothers, who were working on their land located near the illegal settlement of Sidi Boez, to leave it, at gunpoint.
He noted that the land in question is a privately-owned 18- dunam plot planted with vine and olive trees.
This area is subject to regular and repeated attacks by settlers in an attempt to seize it for the benefit of settlement expansion, he added.
Hassan Brejieh, member of the anti-wall and anti-settlement committee in Bethlehem, told WAFA that Israeli forces and settlers broke into the land of Ibrahim Sbeih and forced him and his brothers, who were working on their land located near the illegal settlement of Sidi Boez, to leave it, at gunpoint.
He noted that the land in question is a privately-owned 18- dunam plot planted with vine and olive trees.
This area is subject to regular and repeated attacks by settlers in an attempt to seize it for the benefit of settlement expansion, he added.
Israeli soldiers abducted, on Tuesday at dawn, eight young Palestinian men, including a former political prisoner, from several parts of occupied East Jerusalem.
Several army jeeps invaded the al-‘Isawiya town, in Jerusalem, searched homes and abducted Ali Sufian Obeid and Ahmad Essam Darwish.
The soldiers also invaded the home of former political prisoner Obeida Amira, 30, in Sur Baher town, southeast of Jerusalem, and abducted him, in addition to abducting his uncles Ahmad Amira and Amira Amira, who rushed to his home after hearing a commotion in the property.
The soldiers assaulted them with clubs and taser guns, before abducting them, and took them to an interrogation facility.
Furthermore, the soldiers stormed and ransacked many homes in the town, and interrogated dozens of residents, in addition to shutting down several gas stations in Hizma nearby town.
The two towns have been under siege for the past ten weeks, in addition to constant invasions of homes and properties, as part of illegal collective measures imposed by the army to stop the ongoing protests.
In addition, the soldiers abducted Adam Shafiq Obeid, Ali Sufian Obeid, Amin Hamed and Ahmad Essam Darwish, from their homes in the al-‘Isawiya town.
The soldiers also abducted Roshdi Yasser Khatib from his home in Hizma town.
Several army jeeps invaded the al-‘Isawiya town, in Jerusalem, searched homes and abducted Ali Sufian Obeid and Ahmad Essam Darwish.
The soldiers also invaded the home of former political prisoner Obeida Amira, 30, in Sur Baher town, southeast of Jerusalem, and abducted him, in addition to abducting his uncles Ahmad Amira and Amira Amira, who rushed to his home after hearing a commotion in the property.
The soldiers assaulted them with clubs and taser guns, before abducting them, and took them to an interrogation facility.
Furthermore, the soldiers stormed and ransacked many homes in the town, and interrogated dozens of residents, in addition to shutting down several gas stations in Hizma nearby town.
The two towns have been under siege for the past ten weeks, in addition to constant invasions of homes and properties, as part of illegal collective measures imposed by the army to stop the ongoing protests.
In addition, the soldiers abducted Adam Shafiq Obeid, Ali Sufian Obeid, Amin Hamed and Ahmad Essam Darwish, from their homes in the al-‘Isawiya town.
The soldiers also abducted Roshdi Yasser Khatib from his home in Hizma town.
8 apr 2018
Israeli occupation forces on Sunday prevented Palestinian farmers from reaching their lands near the apartheid wall, north of Tulkarem city, in the northern occupied West Bank.
Sources from Deir al-Ghusun town, north of Tulkarem, said that as soon as farmers reached Gate 609 they were told by Israeli soldiers that they were not allowed to enter their lands, with no prior notifications.
The farms are reportedly planted with fruitful trees and need daily follow-up.
Palestinian farmers whose groves and ranches are located behind the apartheid wall have been frequently subjected to such arbitrary bans by the Israeli occupation forces. The result is a remarkable damage wrought to hundreds of fruitful trees and much-needed crops.
Sources from Deir al-Ghusun town, north of Tulkarem, said that as soon as farmers reached Gate 609 they were told by Israeli soldiers that they were not allowed to enter their lands, with no prior notifications.
The farms are reportedly planted with fruitful trees and need daily follow-up.
Palestinian farmers whose groves and ranches are located behind the apartheid wall have been frequently subjected to such arbitrary bans by the Israeli occupation forces. The result is a remarkable damage wrought to hundreds of fruitful trees and much-needed crops.
5 apr 2018
Three Palestinian fishermen were wounded by Israeli gunfire while fishing at the Gaza Sea on Thursday morning.
Ashraf al-Qidra, the health ministry spokesman in Gaza, said that Israeli gunboats fired at the Palestinian fishermen’s boat while sailing off the coast of Gaza.
Local media sources said that the Israeli gunboats opened indiscriminate fire at the boat wounding the three fishermen.
Ashraf al-Qidra, the health ministry spokesman in Gaza, said that Israeli gunboats fired at the Palestinian fishermen’s boat while sailing off the coast of Gaza.
Local media sources said that the Israeli gunboats opened indiscriminate fire at the boat wounding the three fishermen.
