5 aug 2020
A group of Israeli settlers on Wednesday chopped off a number of Palestinian-owned olive trees in Kafr ad-Dik town in the West Bank district of Salfit.
Zaher Taha, the owner of the destroyed trees, said in press statements that a group of Israeli settlers from Brukhin settlement stormed his farmland and cut down 15 olive trees which he planted 4-6 years ago.
Taha said that this attack is not the first of its kind, explaining that settler gangs constantly attack his farmland and wreak havoc on it.
The Palestinian farmer added that in 2011 the Israeli occupation forces destroyed some of his equipment and demolished an over 100-year-old water well which he used for irrigation.
Settler attacks on Palestinian citizens and their property is commonplace in the West Bank, and they are rarely investigated by the Israeli authorities.
Zaher Taha, the owner of the destroyed trees, said in press statements that a group of Israeli settlers from Brukhin settlement stormed his farmland and cut down 15 olive trees which he planted 4-6 years ago.
Taha said that this attack is not the first of its kind, explaining that settler gangs constantly attack his farmland and wreak havoc on it.
The Palestinian farmer added that in 2011 the Israeli occupation forces destroyed some of his equipment and demolished an over 100-year-old water well which he used for irrigation.
Settler attacks on Palestinian citizens and their property is commonplace in the West Bank, and they are rarely investigated by the Israeli authorities.
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Israeli bulldozers Wednesday morning demolished three houses and a commercial structure in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, said a local activist.
Member of the Committee for the Defense of Silwan Land Khaled Abu Tayeh confirmed that Israeli police and staff of the Israeli Jerusalem municipality escorted bulldozers into Ein al-Lowza area in Silwan, where the heavy machineries demolished two houses belonging to siblings Samer and Suleiman al-Qaq. video The demolition was carried out two days after al-Qaq siblings received military demolition orders and evacuated their belongings. The bulldozers also demolished another house and a barbershop in the same area. |
The house owner was identified as Sharif Amro video and the owner of the barbershop was identified as Amr Shiha.
All the demolitions were carried out under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Alon was forced to tear down his own 90-meter-square house video to avoid paying exorbitant costs if the Jerusalem municipality carries out the demolition itself, displacing his entire seven-member family. video
Wadi al-Hilweh Information Center, a Silwan-based monitor, said that the Israeli municipality issued last month an order to demolish Alon's house without giving him any opportunity to appeal or delay the decision, noting that he's been trying to get a permit for eight years, but instead was fined with NIS 30,000.
Using the pretext of illegal building, Israel demolishes houses on a regular basis to restrict Palestinian expansion in occupied Jerusalem.
At the same time, the municipality and government build tens of thousands of housing units in illegal settlements in East Jerusalem for Jews with a goal to offset the demographic balance in favor of the Jewish settlers in the occupied city.
Although Palestinians in East Jerusalem, a part of the internationally recognized Palestinian Territory that has been subject to Israeli military occupation since 1967, they are denied their citizenship rights and are instead classified only as "residents" whose permits can be revoked if they move away from the city for more than a few years.
They are also discriminated against in all aspects of life including housing, employment and services, and are unable to access services in the West Bank due to the construction of Israel's separation wall.
All the demolitions were carried out under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Alon was forced to tear down his own 90-meter-square house video to avoid paying exorbitant costs if the Jerusalem municipality carries out the demolition itself, displacing his entire seven-member family. video
Wadi al-Hilweh Information Center, a Silwan-based monitor, said that the Israeli municipality issued last month an order to demolish Alon's house without giving him any opportunity to appeal or delay the decision, noting that he's been trying to get a permit for eight years, but instead was fined with NIS 30,000.
Using the pretext of illegal building, Israel demolishes houses on a regular basis to restrict Palestinian expansion in occupied Jerusalem.
At the same time, the municipality and government build tens of thousands of housing units in illegal settlements in East Jerusalem for Jews with a goal to offset the demographic balance in favor of the Jewish settlers in the occupied city.
Although Palestinians in East Jerusalem, a part of the internationally recognized Palestinian Territory that has been subject to Israeli military occupation since 1967, they are denied their citizenship rights and are instead classified only as "residents" whose permits can be revoked if they move away from the city for more than a few years.
They are also discriminated against in all aspects of life including housing, employment and services, and are unable to access services in the West Bank due to the construction of Israel's separation wall.
Israeli forces today uprooted some 100 palm trees in the village of al-Jiftlik north of Jericho city in the Jordan Valleys, a local municipal source said.
Mayor of al-Jiftlik Ahmad Abu Ghanem told WAFA that the Israeli forces uprooted and seized some 100 palm trees in the area of al-Shuna.
The landlord was identified as Anwar Abu Joudeh, who planted the trees.
Horizontally located 33 kilometers to the north of Jericho, al-Jiftlik has a population of some 5,500, who predominantly depend on agriculture and livestock for their main source of livelihood. The villages occupies a total area of 185,032 dunums.
Under the Oslo Accords, an agreement made 25 years ago that was supposed to last just five years towards a self-governing country alongside Israel, Israel maintains full control over the village, classified as Area C, and has allowed the villagers to build within a small pocket of 972 dunams, which accounts for 0.005 of the total village area.
Israel has severely restricted Palestinian access to water in the area, particularly the 23 underground wells used for agriculture. Local water springs are susceptible to dryness and depletion as a result of Israel’s control over water.
The Israeli water company of Mekorot has depleted the wells and has been granted monopoly on the excavation, restoration, distribution and selling of water. In contrast, Palestinians have been forbidden from constructing new wells and restoring existing ones.
Israel has seized at least some 6,750 dunams belonging to the village for the construction of seven nearby colonial settlements, 4,550 dunums for the construction of a military base, besides to more land for opening settler-only by-pass Roads No. 90, 50, 505 and 508, and constructing colonial outposts, pushing the villagers into a crowded enclave, a ghetto, surrounded by walls, settlements and military installations.
Mayor of al-Jiftlik Ahmad Abu Ghanem told WAFA that the Israeli forces uprooted and seized some 100 palm trees in the area of al-Shuna.
The landlord was identified as Anwar Abu Joudeh, who planted the trees.
Horizontally located 33 kilometers to the north of Jericho, al-Jiftlik has a population of some 5,500, who predominantly depend on agriculture and livestock for their main source of livelihood. The villages occupies a total area of 185,032 dunums.
Under the Oslo Accords, an agreement made 25 years ago that was supposed to last just five years towards a self-governing country alongside Israel, Israel maintains full control over the village, classified as Area C, and has allowed the villagers to build within a small pocket of 972 dunams, which accounts for 0.005 of the total village area.
Israel has severely restricted Palestinian access to water in the area, particularly the 23 underground wells used for agriculture. Local water springs are susceptible to dryness and depletion as a result of Israel’s control over water.
The Israeli water company of Mekorot has depleted the wells and has been granted monopoly on the excavation, restoration, distribution and selling of water. In contrast, Palestinians have been forbidden from constructing new wells and restoring existing ones.
Israel has seized at least some 6,750 dunams belonging to the village for the construction of seven nearby colonial settlements, 4,550 dunums for the construction of a military base, besides to more land for opening settler-only by-pass Roads No. 90, 50, 505 and 508, and constructing colonial outposts, pushing the villagers into a crowded enclave, a ghetto, surrounded by walls, settlements and military installations.
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Israeli bulldozers today razed a large tract of land in the city of Dura, southwest of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, according to local sources.
Coordinator for the Anti-Wall and Settlement Committee Rateb al-Jabour said that Israeli forces escorted bulldozers to the land adjacent to the illegal Israeli colonial settlement of Negohot, where they heavy machines leveled it for to make room for settlement expansion. video The landowners were identified as the Ghannam and Odeh families. Al-Jabour called on all human rights organizations to intervene in order to halt the Israeli policies of land grab and property confiscation in favor of colonial settlement construction. |
4 aug 2020
The Israeli occupation authorities today demolished animal sheds in a village east of Bethlehem, as owners of tin structures in the south of the West Bank, were told their shelters will be demolished, according to sources.
Ahmad Ghazal, deputy head of Kisan village council, east of Bethlehem, told WAFA that an Israeli occupation force raided the village this morning with a bulldozer and proceeded to demolish animal shelters used by two local residents under the pretext of building without a permit.
He said the owners were informed only yesterday of the demolition order and given only 24 hours to empty them of their contents or they will be arrested.
Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation authority said today that it is going to expropriate 327 dunums of Kisan village land in order to expand the illegal settlement of Aibi Hanahal, built on village land, according to Hasan Breijieh, from the Wall and Settlements Resistance Committee.
He said Israel, which intends to build 224 new housing units in the illegal settlement, has been demolishing Palestinian homes in the area to clear it for its settlement expansion policy.
In the Masafer Yatta village of Shaab al-Batem, south of the West Bank, the Israeli army informed four residents of the intention to demolish their tin structures used to shelter their families under the pretext they were built without a permit, according to Rateb al-Jabour, coordinator for the Wall and Settlements Resistance Committee in the Hebron area.
He said that 20 people will be displaced if the demolition takes place.
Jabour said Israel is seeking to empty that area of its Palestinian residents in order to expand the illegal settlement of Avigal, built on expropriated Palestinian land.
He also said that the Israeli occupation has ordered today stop work on two tin homes and an animal barn in Sussiya village, in Masafer Yatta, with a goal to empty the village of its Palestinian residents in order to expand the nearby illegal settlement of Sossia.
Ahmad Ghazal, deputy head of Kisan village council, east of Bethlehem, told WAFA that an Israeli occupation force raided the village this morning with a bulldozer and proceeded to demolish animal shelters used by two local residents under the pretext of building without a permit.
He said the owners were informed only yesterday of the demolition order and given only 24 hours to empty them of their contents or they will be arrested.
Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation authority said today that it is going to expropriate 327 dunums of Kisan village land in order to expand the illegal settlement of Aibi Hanahal, built on village land, according to Hasan Breijieh, from the Wall and Settlements Resistance Committee.
He said Israel, which intends to build 224 new housing units in the illegal settlement, has been demolishing Palestinian homes in the area to clear it for its settlement expansion policy.
In the Masafer Yatta village of Shaab al-Batem, south of the West Bank, the Israeli army informed four residents of the intention to demolish their tin structures used to shelter their families under the pretext they were built without a permit, according to Rateb al-Jabour, coordinator for the Wall and Settlements Resistance Committee in the Hebron area.
He said that 20 people will be displaced if the demolition takes place.
Jabour said Israel is seeking to empty that area of its Palestinian residents in order to expand the illegal settlement of Avigal, built on expropriated Palestinian land.
He also said that the Israeli occupation has ordered today stop work on two tin homes and an animal barn in Sussiya village, in Masafer Yatta, with a goal to empty the village of its Palestinian residents in order to expand the nearby illegal settlement of Sossia.
3 aug 2020
Israeli occupation authorities ordered today the confiscation of about 200 dunums of Palestinian private-owned land near the village of Kisan, east of Bethlehem city in the occupied West Bank, said a local source.
Ahmad Ghazal, deputy mayor of the village, told WAFA that a force of the Israeli occupation army broke into al-Tina area in the village, and notified local citizens that the 200 dunums of land was confiscated for military purposes. The army also told the citizens that they are denied entry into the confiscated land.
In the meantime, the occupation army handed a notice to a local citizen informing him that they are intending to demolish a livestock barn of his own, under the pretext of construction without a permit.
Kisan, inhabited by around 800 Palestinian villagers, is surrounded by two Israeli settlements, and over half of the total area of the village has in recent years been confiscated by the occupation authorities for the benefit of the colonial Israeli settlement enterprise.
The village is located in an area classified as Area C, under full Israeli military and civil control, and where Israeli occupation authorities ban almost most kinds of urban development for Palestinians, which is not the case for the Israeli settler population who enjoy a full access to all services and at no tax.
Ahmad Ghazal, deputy mayor of the village, told WAFA that a force of the Israeli occupation army broke into al-Tina area in the village, and notified local citizens that the 200 dunums of land was confiscated for military purposes. The army also told the citizens that they are denied entry into the confiscated land.
In the meantime, the occupation army handed a notice to a local citizen informing him that they are intending to demolish a livestock barn of his own, under the pretext of construction without a permit.
Kisan, inhabited by around 800 Palestinian villagers, is surrounded by two Israeli settlements, and over half of the total area of the village has in recent years been confiscated by the occupation authorities for the benefit of the colonial Israeli settlement enterprise.
The village is located in an area classified as Area C, under full Israeli military and civil control, and where Israeli occupation authorities ban almost most kinds of urban development for Palestinians, which is not the case for the Israeli settler population who enjoy a full access to all services and at no tax.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Sunday caused fire damage to 14 dunums of Palestinian agricultural land in al-Mughayyir village, northeast of Ramallah. video
Local official Kazem al-Hajj said that Israeli soldiers fired volleys of tear gas and stun grenades towards an agricultural area in the east of Mughayyir, triggering fire that burned 14 dunums of almond crops belonging to a local resident called Suleiman Ahmed.
Hajj added that 12 sheep belonging to Fadel Abu Alya died after they grazed in an area that had been sprayed with a poisonous stuff by Jewish settlers.
Local official Kazem al-Hajj said that Israeli soldiers fired volleys of tear gas and stun grenades towards an agricultural area in the east of Mughayyir, triggering fire that burned 14 dunums of almond crops belonging to a local resident called Suleiman Ahmed.
Hajj added that 12 sheep belonging to Fadel Abu Alya died after they grazed in an area that had been sprayed with a poisonous stuff by Jewish settlers.
2 aug 2020
The Israeli municipality in Occupied Jerusalem on Saturday approved a plan to build an additional commercial complex on about 90 dunums of land in the east of Issawiya district.
In press remarks, chief of the municipality pledged to continue carrying out settlement and Judaization projects in the holy city.
The Israeli occupation authority had already announced its plan to carry out a huge settlement project in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Wadi al-Joz called Silicon Wadi (Silicon Valley), which will include high-tech industrial employment centers and tens of thousands of shopping centers and hotels.
The only Palestinian industrial area in east Jerusalem is to be demolished in order to make way for this Silicon Wadi project.
In press remarks, chief of the municipality pledged to continue carrying out settlement and Judaization projects in the holy city.
The Israeli occupation authority had already announced its plan to carry out a huge settlement project in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Wadi al-Joz called Silicon Wadi (Silicon Valley), which will include high-tech industrial employment centers and tens of thousands of shopping centers and hotels.
The only Palestinian industrial area in east Jerusalem is to be demolished in order to make way for this Silicon Wadi project.
1 aug 2020
Israeli occupation forces obstructed today works for the construction of a water pipe in the village of Atouf, near the town of Tubas in the northeast of the occupied West Bank, according to local sources.
Mayor of the village, Abdullah Besharat, told WAFA that the Israeli occupation army ordered the driver of a bulldozer working on the site to briefly stop the works.
He added that the project aims at providing potable water to dozens of livestock and cattle breeders in Atouf and neighboring villages.
Mayor of the village, Abdullah Besharat, told WAFA that the Israeli occupation army ordered the driver of a bulldozer working on the site to briefly stop the works.
He added that the project aims at providing potable water to dozens of livestock and cattle breeders in Atouf and neighboring villages.
29 july 2020
Israeli forces today confiscated three Palestinian-owned farming tractors from several villages in the Jordan Valley, said a local activist.
Aref Daraghmeh, a local human rights activist, said that Israeli forces barged their way into Marj Na‘ja, Marj al-Ghazal and Az-Zubeidat villages, where they confiscated at least three farming tractors.
Under international law, driving residents of an occupied territory from their homes is considered forcible transfer of protected persons, which constitutes a war crime. But residents of Palestinian communities in the Jordan Valley are no strangers to such disruptive Israeli policies.
The valley, which is a fertile strip of land running west along the Jordan River, is home to about 65,000 Palestinians and makes up approximately 30% of the West Bank.
Since 1967, when the Israeli army occupied the West Bank, Israel has transferred at least 11,000 of its Jewish citizens to the Jordan Valley. Some of the settlements in which they live were built almost entirely on private Palestinian land.
The Israel military has also designated about 46 percent of the Jordan Valley as a closed military zone since the beginning of the occupation in June 1967, and has been utilizing the pretext of military drills to forcefully displace Palestinian families living there as part of a policy of ethnic cleansing and stifling Palestinian development in the area.
Approximately 6,200 Palestinians live in 38 communities in places earmarked for military use and have had to obtain permission from the Israeli authorities to enter and live in their communities.
In violation of international law, the Israeli military not only temporarily displaces the communities on a regular basis, but also confiscates their farmlands, demolishes their homes and infrastructure from time to time.
Besides undergoing temporary displacement, the Palestinian families living there face a myriad restrictions on access to resources and services.
Meanwhile, Israel exploits the resources of the area and generates profit by allocating generous tracts of land and water resources for the benefit of settlers.
Israeli politicians have made it clear on several occasions that the highly strategic Jordan Valley would remain under their control in any eventuality.
Aref Daraghmeh, a local human rights activist, said that Israeli forces barged their way into Marj Na‘ja, Marj al-Ghazal and Az-Zubeidat villages, where they confiscated at least three farming tractors.
Under international law, driving residents of an occupied territory from their homes is considered forcible transfer of protected persons, which constitutes a war crime. But residents of Palestinian communities in the Jordan Valley are no strangers to such disruptive Israeli policies.
The valley, which is a fertile strip of land running west along the Jordan River, is home to about 65,000 Palestinians and makes up approximately 30% of the West Bank.
Since 1967, when the Israeli army occupied the West Bank, Israel has transferred at least 11,000 of its Jewish citizens to the Jordan Valley. Some of the settlements in which they live were built almost entirely on private Palestinian land.
The Israel military has also designated about 46 percent of the Jordan Valley as a closed military zone since the beginning of the occupation in June 1967, and has been utilizing the pretext of military drills to forcefully displace Palestinian families living there as part of a policy of ethnic cleansing and stifling Palestinian development in the area.
Approximately 6,200 Palestinians live in 38 communities in places earmarked for military use and have had to obtain permission from the Israeli authorities to enter and live in their communities.
In violation of international law, the Israeli military not only temporarily displaces the communities on a regular basis, but also confiscates their farmlands, demolishes their homes and infrastructure from time to time.
Besides undergoing temporary displacement, the Palestinian families living there face a myriad restrictions on access to resources and services.
Meanwhile, Israel exploits the resources of the area and generates profit by allocating generous tracts of land and water resources for the benefit of settlers.
Israeli politicians have made it clear on several occasions that the highly strategic Jordan Valley would remain under their control in any eventuality.
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