23 may 2019
Noor Jericho Solar Park with its 20,000 panels is the first to start producing electricity in the Noor Palestine solar energy project. (Photo courtesy of PIF)
Palestine’s first ever solar power station is getting ready to produce 7.5 megawatt (MW) of electricity setting the ground for the construction of many other solar power stations throughout Palestine.
The Noor (light) Jericho Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Park, the largest so far solar park in Palestine built on a 100-dunum plot of land in the wilderness of Nuwimeh, Jericho, was established by Massader, a company of Palestine Investment Fund (PIF) at a cost of $10 million. It is only a fraction of the much larger Noor Palestine project, which when completed in eight years will produce 200 MW of electricity from solar energy, equivalent to 17 percent of Palestine’s power needs, said Mohammad Mustafa, PIF Chairman of the Board.
PIF established Massader to lead its investment portfolio in natural resources and infrastructure through leading a number of mega investment projects in traditional and renewable energy and industrial zones, including Noor Palestine solar program.
Investment in Noor Palestine solar program is expected to reach $200 million with a target capacity of 200 MW of electricity generated from solar energy in the next eight years.
The present program includes the establishment of three solar parks: Noor Jericho, the largest, and the much smaller Noor Tubas solar park with a capacity of 4 MW and Noor Jenin project with a capacity of 5 MW, as well as the installing of thousands of solar panels on the rooftops of 500 public schools throughout Palestine to generate 35 MW, the largest amount of power to be generated in this program.
The Ministry of Education gave Massader the right to use the rooftops of the public schools to build solar panels on them mainly due to shortage of open land in light of the Israeli military control over two thirds of the Palestinian land in the West Bank, referred to as Area C. Israel does not allow Palestinian construction or to benefit from the land in Area C. This has made it difficult for the PIF and Massader to find suitable lands for the thousands of solar panels that need to be installed on that land and as a result, vertical stations may be one alternative solution to this problem, said Mustafa.
Work on the Noor Jericho Solar Park started six months ago by local Palestinian contracting companies and supervised by the Jordan based E-RES, an energy advisory company. Work is expected to be completed in June. The power to be generated from its 20,000 solar panels installed in two stations – one 4000 panels and the other 3500 panels – will be distributed by the Jerusalem-based Palestinian electricity company, Jerusalem District Electricity Company (JDECO), which provides power to Jerusalem, Ramallah, Bethlehem and Jericho and their area villages and towns.
PIF signed an agreement with JDECO for the connection and distribution of the produced electricity through the JDECO power network.
However, the final beneficiaries of the power generated from the solar panels are going to be commercial and public service establishments within JDECO’s area of operation.
In the case of Noor Jericho supply, the 7.5 MW power has already been purchased by three Palestinian companies – the Istishari Hospital in the new Rihan suburb of Ramallah, and the Ramallah-based Birzeit Pharmaceutical Company and The National Bank.
According to Mustafa, the power generated from the solar parks is going to reduce Palestinian dependence on Israeli power, which provides Palestine with 98 percent of its power needs of 1000 MW annually.
The Noor Jericho Solar Park is expected to reduce the import of electricity by around $1.25 million annually, with an estimated total of $31 million during the 25 years expected lifetime of the park as the production of electricity will be enough to cover the consumption needs of 36000 homes annually.
This money, said Mustafa, will be invested in developing the alternative energy program, according to WAFA.
“The whole idea here is to diversify the sources of energy without doing away with the current sources, mainly diesel fuel, which so far remains a main source of energy in Palestine,” he said.
As Palestine moves toward diversification of its energy resources, it is expected to generate enough power in the future to meet most of its needs and to lower dependency on energy from foreign sources, at the same time lower the overall energy bill.
Palestine’s first ever solar power station is getting ready to produce 7.5 megawatt (MW) of electricity setting the ground for the construction of many other solar power stations throughout Palestine.
The Noor (light) Jericho Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Park, the largest so far solar park in Palestine built on a 100-dunum plot of land in the wilderness of Nuwimeh, Jericho, was established by Massader, a company of Palestine Investment Fund (PIF) at a cost of $10 million. It is only a fraction of the much larger Noor Palestine project, which when completed in eight years will produce 200 MW of electricity from solar energy, equivalent to 17 percent of Palestine’s power needs, said Mohammad Mustafa, PIF Chairman of the Board.
PIF established Massader to lead its investment portfolio in natural resources and infrastructure through leading a number of mega investment projects in traditional and renewable energy and industrial zones, including Noor Palestine solar program.
Investment in Noor Palestine solar program is expected to reach $200 million with a target capacity of 200 MW of electricity generated from solar energy in the next eight years.
The present program includes the establishment of three solar parks: Noor Jericho, the largest, and the much smaller Noor Tubas solar park with a capacity of 4 MW and Noor Jenin project with a capacity of 5 MW, as well as the installing of thousands of solar panels on the rooftops of 500 public schools throughout Palestine to generate 35 MW, the largest amount of power to be generated in this program.
The Ministry of Education gave Massader the right to use the rooftops of the public schools to build solar panels on them mainly due to shortage of open land in light of the Israeli military control over two thirds of the Palestinian land in the West Bank, referred to as Area C. Israel does not allow Palestinian construction or to benefit from the land in Area C. This has made it difficult for the PIF and Massader to find suitable lands for the thousands of solar panels that need to be installed on that land and as a result, vertical stations may be one alternative solution to this problem, said Mustafa.
Work on the Noor Jericho Solar Park started six months ago by local Palestinian contracting companies and supervised by the Jordan based E-RES, an energy advisory company. Work is expected to be completed in June. The power to be generated from its 20,000 solar panels installed in two stations – one 4000 panels and the other 3500 panels – will be distributed by the Jerusalem-based Palestinian electricity company, Jerusalem District Electricity Company (JDECO), which provides power to Jerusalem, Ramallah, Bethlehem and Jericho and their area villages and towns.
PIF signed an agreement with JDECO for the connection and distribution of the produced electricity through the JDECO power network.
However, the final beneficiaries of the power generated from the solar panels are going to be commercial and public service establishments within JDECO’s area of operation.
In the case of Noor Jericho supply, the 7.5 MW power has already been purchased by three Palestinian companies – the Istishari Hospital in the new Rihan suburb of Ramallah, and the Ramallah-based Birzeit Pharmaceutical Company and The National Bank.
According to Mustafa, the power generated from the solar parks is going to reduce Palestinian dependence on Israeli power, which provides Palestine with 98 percent of its power needs of 1000 MW annually.
The Noor Jericho Solar Park is expected to reduce the import of electricity by around $1.25 million annually, with an estimated total of $31 million during the 25 years expected lifetime of the park as the production of electricity will be enough to cover the consumption needs of 36000 homes annually.
This money, said Mustafa, will be invested in developing the alternative energy program, according to WAFA.
“The whole idea here is to diversify the sources of energy without doing away with the current sources, mainly diesel fuel, which so far remains a main source of energy in Palestine,” he said.
As Palestine moves toward diversification of its energy resources, it is expected to generate enough power in the future to meet most of its needs and to lower dependency on energy from foreign sources, at the same time lower the overall energy bill.
22 may 2019
The Israeli occupation navy on Wednesday morning opened machinegun fire at Palestinian fishermen and their boats off the coast of the Gaza Strip.
Although the Israeli army extended the permitted fishing areas off the shores of Gaza up to 15 nautical miles and deployed buoys as marks for fishermen, but its naval forces opened fire once again at Palestinian fishermen during their work within 4 nautical miles off the coast of Beit Lahia, north of Gaza.
Luckily, no one was hurt in the wanton shooting attack.
According to the fishermen committees, several Israeli gunboats were seen 12 nautical miles away from the shore of Wadi Gaza.
Although the Israeli army extended the permitted fishing areas off the shores of Gaza up to 15 nautical miles and deployed buoys as marks for fishermen, but its naval forces opened fire once again at Palestinian fishermen during their work within 4 nautical miles off the coast of Beit Lahia, north of Gaza.
Luckily, no one was hurt in the wanton shooting attack.
According to the fishermen committees, several Israeli gunboats were seen 12 nautical miles away from the shore of Wadi Gaza.
Israeli soldiers abducted, on Wednesday at dawn, two Palestinians from their homes in the central West Bank governorate of Ramallah, and one near Jerusalem.
Many army jeeps invaded Ramallah at-Tihta area, in Ramallah city, searched homes and Abducted Ehab Masoud.
The soldiers also invaded and searched homes in Safa village, west of Ramallah, and abducted Rashad Karaja.
It is worth mentioning that the soldiers fired many gas bombs and concussion grenades at Palestinians, protesting the invasions into the two areas.
In occupied Jerusalem, the soldiers invaded Hizma town, northeast of the city, searched homes and abducted Odah Abdullah Askar, 30.
In addition, the soldiers invaded ar-Ras al-Ahmar village, southeast of Tubas in northeastern West Bank, and confiscated a truck, owned by Mohammad Jamil Bisharat.
In related news, dozens of soldiers and illegal colonialist settlers invaded the archeological sites in Sebastia Palestinian town, north of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, after the army surrounded the entire area.
Many army jeeps invaded Ramallah at-Tihta area, in Ramallah city, searched homes and Abducted Ehab Masoud.
The soldiers also invaded and searched homes in Safa village, west of Ramallah, and abducted Rashad Karaja.
It is worth mentioning that the soldiers fired many gas bombs and concussion grenades at Palestinians, protesting the invasions into the two areas.
In occupied Jerusalem, the soldiers invaded Hizma town, northeast of the city, searched homes and abducted Odah Abdullah Askar, 30.
In addition, the soldiers invaded ar-Ras al-Ahmar village, southeast of Tubas in northeastern West Bank, and confiscated a truck, owned by Mohammad Jamil Bisharat.
In related news, dozens of soldiers and illegal colonialist settlers invaded the archeological sites in Sebastia Palestinian town, north of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, after the army surrounded the entire area.
21 may 2019
Israeli forces raided a shop in the old town of Hebron, destroyed its contents, and assaulted and injured an elderly person, said the shop owner, Ghassan Abu Hadid.
Israeli forces reportedly raided the shop, smashed the refrigerators’ glass doors and destroyed some shelves before ordering the owner to close the shop, warning him of the consequences of reopening it again.
According to WAFA, an 83-year-old elderly who was present at the shop, at the time of the raid, was physically assaulted and inured. The elderly sustained bruises and cuts in his face and hands.
Director General of Hebron Rehabilitation Committee, Imad Hamdan, said Israeli forces’ attacks on Palestinian shops located near al-Ibrahimi mosque have escalated recently; a few days ago Israeli forces raided and destroyed the contents of a pottery exhibition.
Israeli forces reportedly raided the shop, smashed the refrigerators’ glass doors and destroyed some shelves before ordering the owner to close the shop, warning him of the consequences of reopening it again.
According to WAFA, an 83-year-old elderly who was present at the shop, at the time of the raid, was physically assaulted and inured. The elderly sustained bruises and cuts in his face and hands.
Director General of Hebron Rehabilitation Committee, Imad Hamdan, said Israeli forces’ attacks on Palestinian shops located near al-Ibrahimi mosque have escalated recently; a few days ago Israeli forces raided and destroyed the contents of a pottery exhibition.
The Israeli occupation announced Tuesday that it extended the permitted fishing zone around the Gaza Strip to 15 nautical miles (27.8 kilometers) as part of its understandings with the Egyptian mediators to alleviate the siege on the coastal enclave.
Quds Press quoted a Palestinian liaison officer as saying that the Israeli occupation authority informed the Palestinian side of its intention to extend the fishing zone to 15 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza as of 06:00 am on Tuesday.
The Israeli navy finished deploying buoys during the past two days to mark the permitted fishing areas off the coast of Gaza.
Quds Press quoted a Palestinian liaison officer as saying that the Israeli occupation authority informed the Palestinian side of its intention to extend the fishing zone to 15 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza as of 06:00 am on Tuesday.
The Israeli navy finished deploying buoys during the past two days to mark the permitted fishing areas off the coast of Gaza.
Israeli soldiers confiscated, Tuesday, a garbage truck owned by the local council of a Palestinian village, east of Nablus, in northern West Bank.
Media sources said the soldiers stopped a garbage truck operated by workers of Rojeeb Village Council, east of Nablus, and confiscate it.
They added that the soldiers stopped the truck near the dump area, east of Rojeeb village, and alleged that it was close to Itamar colony.
The soldiers detained the driver and workers for a short while, and released them after confiscating the truck.
Media sources said the soldiers stopped a garbage truck operated by workers of Rojeeb Village Council, east of Nablus, and confiscate it.
They added that the soldiers stopped the truck near the dump area, east of Rojeeb village, and alleged that it was close to Itamar colony.
The soldiers detained the driver and workers for a short while, and released them after confiscating the truck.
On Monday, several illegal Israeli colonists invaded Palestinian agricultural lands, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and flooded them with wastewater.
Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian Authority official who monitors Israel’s colonialist activities in the northern West Bank, said the assailants came from the illegal Aliyah colony, which was built on Palestinian lands.
He added that the colonists flooded agricultural lands owned by Palestinians from the as-Sawiya, al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya, Yitma and Qaryout villages, devastating dozens of trees and plants.
The attack is the latest in a series of ongoing and escalating violations targeting the Palestinians, their homes and lands, and their holy sites.
Israel’s colonies in the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, are illegal under International Law, the Fourth Geneva Conventions, and various United Nations and Security Council Resolutions.
Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian Authority official who monitors Israel’s colonialist activities in the northern West Bank, said the assailants came from the illegal Aliyah colony, which was built on Palestinian lands.
He added that the colonists flooded agricultural lands owned by Palestinians from the as-Sawiya, al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya, Yitma and Qaryout villages, devastating dozens of trees and plants.
The attack is the latest in a series of ongoing and escalating violations targeting the Palestinians, their homes and lands, and their holy sites.
Israel’s colonies in the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, are illegal under International Law, the Fourth Geneva Conventions, and various United Nations and Security Council Resolutions.
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Monday at night, Beit Forik town, east of the northern West Bank city of Nablus.
Media sources said several army jeeps invaded the town, especially its center, and drove around its streets and alleys.
They added that many Palestinians protested the invasion, and hurled stones at the military vehicles, while the soldiers fired gas bombs, concussion grenades and flares, causing a fire in a land in the western part of Beit Forik.
Furthermore, the soldiers closed the military roadblock at the entrance of the town, and prevented the Palestinians from crossing.
Media sources said several army jeeps invaded the town, especially its center, and drove around its streets and alleys.
They added that many Palestinians protested the invasion, and hurled stones at the military vehicles, while the soldiers fired gas bombs, concussion grenades and flares, causing a fire in a land in the western part of Beit Forik.
Furthermore, the soldiers closed the military roadblock at the entrance of the town, and prevented the Palestinians from crossing.
17 may 2019
Juventus' Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo acknowledges fans and celebrates after Juventus secured its 8th consecutive Italian Serie A championships on April 20, 2019
Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo has donated $1.5 million to the Palestinians in a move to alleviate the suffering of people in the besieged Gaza Strip.
He allocated the fund to the Palestinians during the holy month of Ramadan.
The soccer player has, in several occasions, denounced Israel's atrocities against the Palestinians.
Back in 2012, Ronaldo had auctioned off his Golden Boot, the prestigious award given to the best European strikers of the season, to raise funds that were later donated to the Palestinian children.
The following year, in March 2013, at the end of the match between Portugal and Israel for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, Ronaldo refused to exchange his shirt with an Israeli player.
The Gaza Strip has been under Israeli land, air and sea blockade since June 2007. The blockade has caused a decline in the standard of living as well as unprecedented levels of unemployment and unrelenting poverty.
Palestinians have held weekly rallies along the Gaza border to protest the siege on the enclave and demand the right for refugees to return to their homes they fled during the 1948 creation of Israel.
More than 270 Palestinians have been killed in attacks by Israeli forces ever since anti-occupation protest rallies began in the Gaza Strip on March 30, 2018. Over 16,000 Palestinians have also sustained injuries.
Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo has donated $1.5 million to the Palestinians in a move to alleviate the suffering of people in the besieged Gaza Strip.
He allocated the fund to the Palestinians during the holy month of Ramadan.
The soccer player has, in several occasions, denounced Israel's atrocities against the Palestinians.
Back in 2012, Ronaldo had auctioned off his Golden Boot, the prestigious award given to the best European strikers of the season, to raise funds that were later donated to the Palestinian children.
The following year, in March 2013, at the end of the match between Portugal and Israel for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, Ronaldo refused to exchange his shirt with an Israeli player.
The Gaza Strip has been under Israeli land, air and sea blockade since June 2007. The blockade has caused a decline in the standard of living as well as unprecedented levels of unemployment and unrelenting poverty.
Palestinians have held weekly rallies along the Gaza border to protest the siege on the enclave and demand the right for refugees to return to their homes they fled during the 1948 creation of Israel.
More than 270 Palestinians have been killed in attacks by Israeli forces ever since anti-occupation protest rallies began in the Gaza Strip on March 30, 2018. Over 16,000 Palestinians have also sustained injuries.
Israeli soldiers resorted, Friday, to the excessive use of force against the weekly nonviolent procession against the illegal Annexation Wall and Colonies in Ni’lin village, west of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, wounding several persons, and causing a few trees to burn.
Media sources said the soldiers fired a barrage of gas bombs at local and international peace activists, who marched from the center of the village, heading towards the villagers’ orchards, largely isolated behind the illegal wall.
They added that several nonviolent protesters suffered the effects of teargas inhalation, and received the needed treatment.
The soldiers also fired many gas bombs and concussion grenades into the Palestinian olive orchards, causing many trees to burn, before the firefighters managed to control the fire.
The protest today marked the 71st anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba, and many protesters carried Palestinian flags, in addition to black flags symbolizing the ongoing displacement of the Palestinian refugees.
Media sources said the soldiers fired a barrage of gas bombs at local and international peace activists, who marched from the center of the village, heading towards the villagers’ orchards, largely isolated behind the illegal wall.
They added that several nonviolent protesters suffered the effects of teargas inhalation, and received the needed treatment.
The soldiers also fired many gas bombs and concussion grenades into the Palestinian olive orchards, causing many trees to burn, before the firefighters managed to control the fire.
The protest today marked the 71st anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba, and many protesters carried Palestinian flags, in addition to black flags symbolizing the ongoing displacement of the Palestinian refugees.
A group of fanatic illegal Israeli colonists invaded, Friday, Palestinian agricultural lands in ‘Aseera al-Qibliya village, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and burnt them.
Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian authority official who monitors Israel’s colonialist activities in northern West Bank, said more than 60 illegal colonists invaded the farmlands, in the southern area of the village, and set them ablaze.
He added that the colonists also hurled stones at several nearby homes, before the locals intercepted them.
In related news, a group of colonists hurled stones at many cars and homes in Marda village, north of Salfit, in central West Bank. Causing damage, and wrote racist graffiti on several cars and walls.
Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian authority official who monitors Israel’s colonialist activities in northern West Bank, said more than 60 illegal colonists invaded the farmlands, in the southern area of the village, and set them ablaze.
He added that the colonists also hurled stones at several nearby homes, before the locals intercepted them.
In related news, a group of colonists hurled stones at many cars and homes in Marda village, north of Salfit, in central West Bank. Causing damage, and wrote racist graffiti on several cars and walls.
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