13 feb 2019
Saudi Arabia announced that it transferred $60 million to the Palestinian Finance Ministry, on Wednesday.
The Saudi ambassador to Egypt, Usama bin Ahmad al-Nugali, said in a statement that the $60 million, transferred from the Saudi Development Fund, makes up its monthly contribution to support the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) budget for November and December 2018, in addition January 2019.
Al-Nugali confirmed that this contribution is part of Saudi Arabia’s permanent support to Palestine and the Palestinian question at political, economic, and humanitarian levels.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is currently on a two-day official visit in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, to discuss political developments in Palestine with King Salman.
The Saudi ambassador to Egypt, Usama bin Ahmad al-Nugali, said in a statement that the $60 million, transferred from the Saudi Development Fund, makes up its monthly contribution to support the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) budget for November and December 2018, in addition January 2019.
Al-Nugali confirmed that this contribution is part of Saudi Arabia’s permanent support to Palestine and the Palestinian question at political, economic, and humanitarian levels.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is currently on a two-day official visit in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, to discuss political developments in Palestine with King Salman.
Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and Japanese ambassador Takeshi Okubo signed a grant aid agreement worth of about $16 million.
Hamdallah’s office said in a press release that the aid agreement, which amounts to $15.93 million, would be allocated for improving the solid waste collection and transport system.
The project provides the Joint Service Council (JSCs), comprised of Local Government Units (municipalities, village councils), with equipment and vehicles for solid waste management, such as waste collection vehicles, compactors, and containers.
The agreement contributes to the improvement of the living environment of residential areas, protection of natural environment and enhancement of governmental services for local communities.
Hamdallah’s office said in a press release that the aid agreement, which amounts to $15.93 million, would be allocated for improving the solid waste collection and transport system.
The project provides the Joint Service Council (JSCs), comprised of Local Government Units (municipalities, village councils), with equipment and vehicles for solid waste management, such as waste collection vehicles, compactors, and containers.
The agreement contributes to the improvement of the living environment of residential areas, protection of natural environment and enhancement of governmental services for local communities.
Israeli military bulldozers demolished on Wednesday two Palestinian facilities in Beit Jala town, northwest of Bethlehem, for being allegedly built without permit.
Local sources reported that Israeli forces stormed Bir Onah area of Beit Jala early today and demolished a house belonging to the resident Khalil Zerina.
A nearby agricultural facility was also destroyed under the same pretext, the sources added.
Commenting on the incident, the Palestinian Ministry for Foreign Affairs condemned Israel’s demolition policy which aims at minimizing the Palestinian presence.
Local sources reported that Israeli forces stormed Bir Onah area of Beit Jala early today and demolished a house belonging to the resident Khalil Zerina.
A nearby agricultural facility was also destroyed under the same pretext, the sources added.
Commenting on the incident, the Palestinian Ministry for Foreign Affairs condemned Israel’s demolition policy which aims at minimizing the Palestinian presence.
Israeli navy on Wednesday morning opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the Sudaniya seashore, north of the blockaded Gaza Strip.
Zakaria Bakr, from the Fishermen’s Committee, said Israeli gunboats attacked Palestinian fishermen with barrages of gunfire.
Bakr urged the international community to take immediate action in order to pressurize the Israeli occupation authorities to lift the crippling siege on Gaza.
In 2018, at least four Gaza fishermen were killed and hundreds injured by Israeli bullet fire in the blockaded coastal enclave.
Zakaria Bakr, from the Fishermen’s Committee, said Israeli gunboats attacked Palestinian fishermen with barrages of gunfire.
Bakr urged the international community to take immediate action in order to pressurize the Israeli occupation authorities to lift the crippling siege on Gaza.
In 2018, at least four Gaza fishermen were killed and hundreds injured by Israeli bullet fire in the blockaded coastal enclave.
12 feb 2019
Israeli military bulldozers demolished Tuesday evening three Palestinian-owned homes in Silwan town, in occupied Jerusalem.
According to Palestinian media sources, two homes and a store belonging to the resident Jamal Yahya were demolished without any prior notice for being allegedly built without Israeli permit.
Yahya said that he received a demolition order against the two houses before reaching an agreement with Israeli municipality to only demolish a part of them.
He pointed out that he was not allowed to evacuate the store before its demolition.
Along the same line, another house was demolished in Silwan town without prior notice. A widow and her five children became homeless as a result.
Israel uses the pretext of building without a permit to carry out demolitions of Palestinian-owned homes on a regular basis.
According to Palestinian media sources, two homes and a store belonging to the resident Jamal Yahya were demolished without any prior notice for being allegedly built without Israeli permit.
Yahya said that he received a demolition order against the two houses before reaching an agreement with Israeli municipality to only demolish a part of them.
He pointed out that he was not allowed to evacuate the store before its demolition.
Along the same line, another house was demolished in Silwan town without prior notice. A widow and her five children became homeless as a result.
Israel uses the pretext of building without a permit to carry out demolitions of Palestinian-owned homes on a regular basis.
A group of Israeli settlers attacked on Tuesday afternoon a Palestinian shepherd, as he was herding his flock of sheep in an open field in al-Farisiya village, in the northern Jordan Valley.
Local sources identified the attacked shepherd as Barakat Ali Daraghmeh and confirmed that he was transferred to a nearby hospital in Tubas to receive medical treatment.
Also in the Jordan Valley, Israeli forces arrested a Palestinian resident of Umm Jamal village, only one day after his brother’s detention.
On the other hand, Israeli forces ordered 50 Palestinian Bedouin families to leave their homes in the Jordan Valley ahead of a new military drill, for the second such move in one week.
Local sources identified the attacked shepherd as Barakat Ali Daraghmeh and confirmed that he was transferred to a nearby hospital in Tubas to receive medical treatment.
Also in the Jordan Valley, Israeli forces arrested a Palestinian resident of Umm Jamal village, only one day after his brother’s detention.
On the other hand, Israeli forces ordered 50 Palestinian Bedouin families to leave their homes in the Jordan Valley ahead of a new military drill, for the second such move in one week.
The Israeli occupation forces at noontime on Tuesday rolled into Jenin’s southern town of Yabad, in the northern occupied West Bank, and cracked down on Palestinian civilians.
Israeli soldiers stormed Yabad town and cordoned off the environs of Ezzedine al-Qassam school, before they subjected Palestinians to intensive questioning.
Israeli patrols ransacked Palestinian shops and stopped Palestinians at the Dutan checkpoint, near Yabad’s entrance.
Israeli soldiers stormed Yabad town and cordoned off the environs of Ezzedine al-Qassam school, before they subjected Palestinians to intensive questioning.
Israeli patrols ransacked Palestinian shops and stopped Palestinians at the Dutan checkpoint, near Yabad’s entrance.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Tuesday arrested 18 Palestinians in the West Bank.
The Israeli army said in a statement that 16 "wanted" Palestinians were arrested for being involved in anti-Israel attacks.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that the IOF arrested four Palestinians in Jenin after searching their family houses, which led to the outbreak of confrontations during which Palestinian youths hurled stones at the Israeli soldiers.
The IOF kidnapped a 16-year-old boy from his home in Beit Ummar town in al-Khalil, and arrested another Palestinian after seizing his car.
Other home raids were reported in Deir Istiya town in Salfit during which a Palestinian ex-prisoner was arrested.
Meanwhile in al-Khalil, the IOF stormed the home of the former Minister of Local Government Issa al-Ja'bari, wreaked havoc on it, and stole about $3,000 before they left.
The IOF handed a summons to an ex-prisoner in al-Fawwar refugee camp in al-Khalil ordering him to appear before the Israeli Intelligence Service at Gush Etzion detention center for interrogation.
In the neighboring Beit Furik town, the IOF raided the house of another ex-prisoner, interrogated him for hours, and seized a sum of money as they withdrew.
Violent clashes flared up in the town during the raid. The IOF soldiers heavily opened fire, injuring a Palestinian youth.
Eyewitnesses reported that the IOF broke into a printing house in Beit Jala town in Bethlehem and destroyed some equipment there.
Two Palestinian brothers were arrested, at the same time, in a night raid on Hizma town in Occupied Jerusalem.
The Israeli army said in a statement that 16 "wanted" Palestinians were arrested for being involved in anti-Israel attacks.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that the IOF arrested four Palestinians in Jenin after searching their family houses, which led to the outbreak of confrontations during which Palestinian youths hurled stones at the Israeli soldiers.
The IOF kidnapped a 16-year-old boy from his home in Beit Ummar town in al-Khalil, and arrested another Palestinian after seizing his car.
Other home raids were reported in Deir Istiya town in Salfit during which a Palestinian ex-prisoner was arrested.
Meanwhile in al-Khalil, the IOF stormed the home of the former Minister of Local Government Issa al-Ja'bari, wreaked havoc on it, and stole about $3,000 before they left.
The IOF handed a summons to an ex-prisoner in al-Fawwar refugee camp in al-Khalil ordering him to appear before the Israeli Intelligence Service at Gush Etzion detention center for interrogation.
In the neighboring Beit Furik town, the IOF raided the house of another ex-prisoner, interrogated him for hours, and seized a sum of money as they withdrew.
Violent clashes flared up in the town during the raid. The IOF soldiers heavily opened fire, injuring a Palestinian youth.
Eyewitnesses reported that the IOF broke into a printing house in Beit Jala town in Bethlehem and destroyed some equipment there.
Two Palestinian brothers were arrested, at the same time, in a night raid on Hizma town in Occupied Jerusalem.
Israeli forces destroyed a recently-rehabilitated road that connected Khirbet Shaab al-Butum to Masafer Yatta, in the south of the West Bank, said a local activist.
Coordinator of the Anti-Wall and Anti-Settlement Committees in southern Hebron Rateb al-Jabour told WAFA that Israeli forces provided protection to a military bulldozer as it proceeded to destroy the road, which was used to facilitate Palestinian farmers’ access to their farmlands and residential areas.
He said the Israeli military act aims to displace Palestinians from the area to in order to build a settlement.
Khirbet Shaab al-Butum is among dozens of small communities located in the Masafer Yatta area, which rely heavily on animal husbandry as the main source of livelihood.
Masafer Yatta is classified as Area C, which is under full Israeli military control. Area C makes up around 60 percent of the area of the occupied West Bank, which Israel plans to annex after expelling its Palestinian population.
It has been designated as a closed Israeli military zone for training since the 1980s, and accordingly referred to as Firing Zone 918.
Israeli violations against the area include demolition of animal barns, homes and residential structures. Issuance of construction permits by Israel to local Palestinians in the area is non-existent.
Coordinator of the Anti-Wall and Anti-Settlement Committees in southern Hebron Rateb al-Jabour told WAFA that Israeli forces provided protection to a military bulldozer as it proceeded to destroy the road, which was used to facilitate Palestinian farmers’ access to their farmlands and residential areas.
He said the Israeli military act aims to displace Palestinians from the area to in order to build a settlement.
Khirbet Shaab al-Butum is among dozens of small communities located in the Masafer Yatta area, which rely heavily on animal husbandry as the main source of livelihood.
Masafer Yatta is classified as Area C, which is under full Israeli military control. Area C makes up around 60 percent of the area of the occupied West Bank, which Israel plans to annex after expelling its Palestinian population.
It has been designated as a closed Israeli military zone for training since the 1980s, and accordingly referred to as Firing Zone 918.
Israeli violations against the area include demolition of animal barns, homes and residential structures. Issuance of construction permits by Israel to local Palestinians in the area is non-existent.
11 feb 2019
Israeli forces cut down and uprooted hundreds of Palestinian-owned olive trees in Jordan Valley in the northern occupied West Bank, on Monday.
Mutaz Bisharat, a Palestinian official who monitors settlement activity in the Jordan Valley/Tubas district, told Ma'an that the Israeli Civil Administration staff raided the Bardala village in the northern Jordan Valley and bulldozers began to uproot olive trees.
Bisharat confirmed that more than 520 olive trees were either cut down or uprooted.
He added that the olive trees were about 15 years old.
Bisharat also mentioned that the olive trees belonged to five Palestinian residents. About 250 trees belonged to Muhammad Salah Yousef Sawafta, 160 trees belonged to Amer Sawafta, 70 trees belonged to Amer Ehmil, 40 trees belonged to Izzat al-Rashayda, and four dunams (0.98 acres) of chickpea harvest belonged to Ziyad Sawafta.
The Jordan Valley forms a third of the occupied West Bank, with 88% of its land classified as Area C -- under full Israeli military control.
International rights organizations consider the continuation of the Israeli campaign which targets Palestinians in the Jordan Valley, whether though confiscations, demolitions or evictions under the pretext of holding military exercises, as a violation of international humanitarian law.
Mutaz Bisharat, a Palestinian official who monitors settlement activity in the Jordan Valley/Tubas district, told Ma'an that the Israeli Civil Administration staff raided the Bardala village in the northern Jordan Valley and bulldozers began to uproot olive trees.
Bisharat confirmed that more than 520 olive trees were either cut down or uprooted.
He added that the olive trees were about 15 years old.
Bisharat also mentioned that the olive trees belonged to five Palestinian residents. About 250 trees belonged to Muhammad Salah Yousef Sawafta, 160 trees belonged to Amer Sawafta, 70 trees belonged to Amer Ehmil, 40 trees belonged to Izzat al-Rashayda, and four dunams (0.98 acres) of chickpea harvest belonged to Ziyad Sawafta.
The Jordan Valley forms a third of the occupied West Bank, with 88% of its land classified as Area C -- under full Israeli military control.
International rights organizations consider the continuation of the Israeli campaign which targets Palestinians in the Jordan Valley, whether though confiscations, demolitions or evictions under the pretext of holding military exercises, as a violation of international humanitarian law.
Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian shepherds in Khan Younis in the southern besieged Gaza Strip, on Monday.
Witnesses told a Ma'an reporter that Israeli forces deployed in military watchtowers in eastern Khuzaa, in Khan Younis, opened fire towards Palestinian shepherds herding their sheep in nearby lands.
No injuries were reported.
The Israeli army also regularly detains and opens fire on unarmed Palestinian fishermen, shepherds, and farmers along the border areas if they approach the buffer zone, as the authorities have not made clear the precise area of the designated zone.
The practice has in effect destroyed much of the agricultural and fishing sector of the blockaded coastal enclave, which has been under an Israeli air, land and sea blockade for nearly 12 years.
Witnesses told a Ma'an reporter that Israeli forces deployed in military watchtowers in eastern Khuzaa, in Khan Younis, opened fire towards Palestinian shepherds herding their sheep in nearby lands.
No injuries were reported.
The Israeli army also regularly detains and opens fire on unarmed Palestinian fishermen, shepherds, and farmers along the border areas if they approach the buffer zone, as the authorities have not made clear the precise area of the designated zone.
The practice has in effect destroyed much of the agricultural and fishing sector of the blockaded coastal enclave, which has been under an Israeli air, land and sea blockade for nearly 12 years.
Israeli forces raided water pump rooms in the village of at-Tiwani, east of Masafer Yatta, south of the southern West Bank district of Hebron, said a local official.
Head of at-Tiwani village council, Mohammed Rabe’, told WAFA that Israeli forces, accompanied by staff from the Israeli civil administration, raided the water pump rooms in the village, and conducted search operations for the pipelines supplying the eastern part of Masafer Yatta with water, in an apparent prelude to cut off water supply to residents.
The popular committee coordinator in Yatta, Rateb al-Jabour, said that this measure aims at forcing the residents, shepherds and farmers to leave the area for the benefit of settlement expansion.
Head of at-Tiwani village council, Mohammed Rabe’, told WAFA that Israeli forces, accompanied by staff from the Israeli civil administration, raided the water pump rooms in the village, and conducted search operations for the pipelines supplying the eastern part of Masafer Yatta with water, in an apparent prelude to cut off water supply to residents.
The popular committee coordinator in Yatta, Rateb al-Jabour, said that this measure aims at forcing the residents, shepherds and farmers to leave the area for the benefit of settlement expansion.
9 feb 2019
Israeli forces opened fire towards Palestinian shepherds in eastern Deir al-Balah in the central besieged Gaza Strip, on Saturday afternoon.
Witnesses told Ma’an that Israeli forces deployed at military watchtowers opened fire targeting Palestinian shepherds.
No injuries were reported.
The Israeli army also regularly detains and opens fire on unarmed Palestinian fishermen, shepherds, and farmers along the border areas if they approach the buffer zone, as the authorities have not made clear the precise area of the designated zone.
The practice has in effect destroyed much of the agricultural and fishing sector of the blockaded coastal enclave, which has been under an Israeli air, land, and sea blockade for 10 years.
Witnesses told Ma’an that Israeli forces deployed at military watchtowers opened fire targeting Palestinian shepherds.
No injuries were reported.
The Israeli army also regularly detains and opens fire on unarmed Palestinian fishermen, shepherds, and farmers along the border areas if they approach the buffer zone, as the authorities have not made clear the precise area of the designated zone.
The practice has in effect destroyed much of the agricultural and fishing sector of the blockaded coastal enclave, which has been under an Israeli air, land, and sea blockade for 10 years.
Israel is planning to seize hundreds of dunums of Palestinian land in Salfit in favor of settlement expansion, sources revealed on Saturday.
Kifl Haris municipality on Saturday was handed an Israeli plan for the establishment of a sewage line that is 2,800 kilometers long and has a width of 8 meters on privately-owned Palestinian lands in Salfit.
Palestinian researcher Khaled Ma'ali said that the Israeli sewage line will destroy hundreds of dunums of land and dozens of olive trees, and will distort the valleys running in the targeted area.
Ma'ali said that vast tracts of lands owned by Palestinian citizens in the villages of Kifl Haris, Qira, Deir Istiya, Bruqin, Kafr ad-Dik, Sarta, Biddya, Az-Zawiya, and Mas-ha in Salfit will be bulldozed and seized in favor of the Israeli project.
Kifl Haris municipality on Saturday was handed an Israeli plan for the establishment of a sewage line that is 2,800 kilometers long and has a width of 8 meters on privately-owned Palestinian lands in Salfit.
Palestinian researcher Khaled Ma'ali said that the Israeli sewage line will destroy hundreds of dunums of land and dozens of olive trees, and will distort the valleys running in the targeted area.
Ma'ali said that vast tracts of lands owned by Palestinian citizens in the villages of Kifl Haris, Qira, Deir Istiya, Bruqin, Kafr ad-Dik, Sarta, Biddya, Az-Zawiya, and Mas-ha in Salfit will be bulldozed and seized in favor of the Israeli project.