2 sept 2019
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) in Jerusalem on Sunday evening forced a Palestinian citizen to demolish his commercial facility in Silwan district, south of the Aqsa Mosque, at the pretext of unlicenced construction.
According to Wadi Hilweh Information Center, Ma’mun Jalal had to knock down his own commercial property with his own hand to avoid paying demolition expenses to the Israeli municipality. video video
Jalal was handed an administrative demolition order by employees from the municipality.
Palestinians of occupied east Jerusalem are forced to demolish their own homes upon orders by the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem to avoid paying exorbitant demolition fees.
For Palestinians, obtaining construction permits are prohibitively expensive and goes through bureaucratic and difficult processes. Many Palestinians have no choice but to build their own homes with no permits, even with the threat of demolition hanging over their heads.
Rather than paying the high costs of fighting demolition orders in court, or paying the fines incurred when Israeli crews pull down their homes or structures, Palestinian families are making the difficult choice to do the demolitions themselves. As a result, many have been made homeless, or pushed away from the city center. Others have chosen to remain in the ruins of their properties.
Since east Jerusalem was occupied, Israel has forced thousands of Palestinians from their homes, carried out massive property demolitions and created a serious housing shortage as part of other practices aimed at Judaizing the holy city.
According to Wadi Hilweh Information Center, Ma’mun Jalal had to knock down his own commercial property with his own hand to avoid paying demolition expenses to the Israeli municipality. video video
Jalal was handed an administrative demolition order by employees from the municipality.
Palestinians of occupied east Jerusalem are forced to demolish their own homes upon orders by the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem to avoid paying exorbitant demolition fees.
For Palestinians, obtaining construction permits are prohibitively expensive and goes through bureaucratic and difficult processes. Many Palestinians have no choice but to build their own homes with no permits, even with the threat of demolition hanging over their heads.
Rather than paying the high costs of fighting demolition orders in court, or paying the fines incurred when Israeli crews pull down their homes or structures, Palestinian families are making the difficult choice to do the demolitions themselves. As a result, many have been made homeless, or pushed away from the city center. Others have chosen to remain in the ruins of their properties.
Since east Jerusalem was occupied, Israel has forced thousands of Palestinians from their homes, carried out massive property demolitions and created a serious housing shortage as part of other practices aimed at Judaizing the holy city.
Hebrew media sources on Sunday said that Israel has decided to allow supplies of fuel into the besieged Gaza Strip through Karam Abu Salem crossing days after they were reduced by half.
A few days ago Israel suspended fuel flow to the Gaza Strip after rockets were allegedly launched from the coastal enclave toward neighboring Israeli settlements.
Following the new move a second power generator at Gaza's only power plant is expected to be operational and the electricity distribution schedule will return to 8-hour intervals.
Karam Abu Salem is Gaza's sole commercial crossing through which fuel, medical supplies, food and other kinds of goods enter the blockaded territory.
The Gaza Strip has been living under crippling blockade imposed by Israel since 2006 after Hamas won the legislative elections and later completely took over the seaside area.
A few days ago Israel suspended fuel flow to the Gaza Strip after rockets were allegedly launched from the coastal enclave toward neighboring Israeli settlements.
Following the new move a second power generator at Gaza's only power plant is expected to be operational and the electricity distribution schedule will return to 8-hour intervals.
Karam Abu Salem is Gaza's sole commercial crossing through which fuel, medical supplies, food and other kinds of goods enter the blockaded territory.
The Gaza Strip has been living under crippling blockade imposed by Israel since 2006 after Hamas won the legislative elections and later completely took over the seaside area.
31 aug 2019
A Palestinian farmer on Saturday morning suffered moderate injuries when extremist Jewish settlers physically assaulted him in the south of Bethlehem.
According to local eyewitnesses, farmer Ayman Sa’ad from Artas village in Bethlehem was trying to enter the area where his own land is located when settlers from the illegal settlements of Gush Etzion attacked him.
The farmer was moderately injured in his face and was taken to hospital for medical assistance.
According to local eyewitnesses, farmer Ayman Sa’ad from Artas village in Bethlehem was trying to enter the area where his own land is located when settlers from the illegal settlements of Gush Etzion attacked him.
The farmer was moderately injured in his face and was taken to hospital for medical assistance.
29 aug 2019
Israeli bulldozers today leveled Palestinian land in Wadi al-Makhrour, located to the west of the West Bank city of Bethlehem.
Hassan Breijeh, a local anti-wall and settlement activist, said that Israeli bulldozers started leveling Palestinian land in Wadi al-Makhrour, a step which lays the groundwork for the construction of a one-kilometer tunnel that would connect the Gush Etzion settlement bloc with Jerusalem.
Breijeh warned that dozens of dunums of Palestinian land belonging to the largely Christian community of Beit Jala to make room for the expansion of nearby Jewish-only Israeli settlements.
Wadi al-Makhrour, a valley that stretches between Battir village and Beit Jala city, is a popular hiking spot for Palestinians. It is best enjoyed during the late afternoon in the summer when the sun is about to set.
According to the online portal for Palestinian tourism, www.visitpalestine.ps, the area encompasses both natural and agricultural landscapes and is well known for its ancient terraces and stone towers called qusur, built of neatly placed rocks that used to serve as storage rooms for various crops planted in the wadi.
The area is famous for its hills replete with agricultural terraces full of olive, apricot, and fig trees. The abundance of the place is owed to the underground natural springs and also to the hard work of the landowners. Some parts of the valley are home to natural forests with remarkable tree species such as Palestine oak (Quercus calliprinos).
Israeli forces have been targeting Wadi al-Makhrour seeking to forcefully displace the indigenous Palestinian residents from their land for Jewish-only settlement expansion.
The largely Christian city of Beit Jala is flanked by Gilo and Har Gilo settlements to the north and northwest.
Hassan Breijeh, a local anti-wall and settlement activist, said that Israeli bulldozers started leveling Palestinian land in Wadi al-Makhrour, a step which lays the groundwork for the construction of a one-kilometer tunnel that would connect the Gush Etzion settlement bloc with Jerusalem.
Breijeh warned that dozens of dunums of Palestinian land belonging to the largely Christian community of Beit Jala to make room for the expansion of nearby Jewish-only Israeli settlements.
Wadi al-Makhrour, a valley that stretches between Battir village and Beit Jala city, is a popular hiking spot for Palestinians. It is best enjoyed during the late afternoon in the summer when the sun is about to set.
According to the online portal for Palestinian tourism, www.visitpalestine.ps, the area encompasses both natural and agricultural landscapes and is well known for its ancient terraces and stone towers called qusur, built of neatly placed rocks that used to serve as storage rooms for various crops planted in the wadi.
The area is famous for its hills replete with agricultural terraces full of olive, apricot, and fig trees. The abundance of the place is owed to the underground natural springs and also to the hard work of the landowners. Some parts of the valley are home to natural forests with remarkable tree species such as Palestine oak (Quercus calliprinos).
Israeli forces have been targeting Wadi al-Makhrour seeking to forcefully displace the indigenous Palestinian residents from their land for Jewish-only settlement expansion.
The largely Christian city of Beit Jala is flanked by Gilo and Har Gilo settlements to the north and northwest.
27 aug 2019
The Israeli occupation forces on Tuesday arrested a Palestinian citizen and broke into a metal workshop in Beit Liqya town south of Ramallah City.
Local sources reported that the Israeli forces arrested Najeh Mafarja, 32, from his home after wreaking havoc on it.
They added that the Israeli forces further stormed a metal workshop owned by the Palestinian citizen Hakam Dar Mousa and seized its equipment.
Local sources reported that the Israeli forces arrested Najeh Mafarja, 32, from his home after wreaking havoc on it.
They added that the Israeli forces further stormed a metal workshop owned by the Palestinian citizen Hakam Dar Mousa and seized its equipment.
The Hamas Movement has affirmed that the Palestinian people are able to force the Israeli occupation state to respect the understandings over Gaza, warning of dire consequences for the decision to shrink fuel supplies for the power plant.
In press remarks, Hamas spokesman Abdul-Latif Qanua said that the Israel’ decision to reduce the entry of fuel shipments to Gaza was an arbitrary measure and attempts by the Israeli government to score points for the coming elections.
Qanua called on those who mediated the last understandings over Gaza to pressure the Israeli side to respect its commitments in this regard to avoid further escalation of the situation in Gaza.
In press remarks, Hamas spokesman Abdul-Latif Qanua said that the Israel’ decision to reduce the entry of fuel shipments to Gaza was an arbitrary measure and attempts by the Israeli government to score points for the coming elections.
Qanua called on those who mediated the last understandings over Gaza to pressure the Israeli side to respect its commitments in this regard to avoid further escalation of the situation in Gaza.
26 aug 2019
The European Union made a contribution of €20 million to the Palestinian Authority payment of social allowances to vulnerable families in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, said a press stamen issued by Office of the European Union Representative.
The EU supports the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Social Development Cash Transfer Programme responsible for the provision of basic social protection to the most vulnerable families in the West Bank and Gaza.
The social allowances are paid on a quarterly basis to some 105,000 vulnerable families, said the statement.
For this second payment in 2019, the contribution of the EU (€20 million) will cover the social allowances of around 71,530 families of which 77% live in the Gaza Strip.
"A social protection system is much more than a shock absorber. Social protection is an investment that strengthens productivity, development and social cohesion. In this context, the EU is working closely with the Palestinian Ministry of Social Development to ensure that basic needs of the most vulnerable families are met ," said the Acting EU Representative Tomas Niklasson.
''This contribution comes at a time where the Palestinian Authority is still facing a challenging fiscal crisis. In line with our partnership and under the current circumstances, we have agreed to double the usual contribution to €20 million by front loading €10 million from our annual commitment.
This demonstrates our strong joint commitment towards thousands of families in both the West Bank and Gaza", he added.
The EU supports the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Social Development Cash Transfer Programme responsible for the provision of basic social protection to the most vulnerable families in the West Bank and Gaza.
The social allowances are paid on a quarterly basis to some 105,000 vulnerable families, said the statement.
For this second payment in 2019, the contribution of the EU (€20 million) will cover the social allowances of around 71,530 families of which 77% live in the Gaza Strip.
"A social protection system is much more than a shock absorber. Social protection is an investment that strengthens productivity, development and social cohesion. In this context, the EU is working closely with the Palestinian Ministry of Social Development to ensure that basic needs of the most vulnerable families are met ," said the Acting EU Representative Tomas Niklasson.
''This contribution comes at a time where the Palestinian Authority is still facing a challenging fiscal crisis. In line with our partnership and under the current circumstances, we have agreed to double the usual contribution to €20 million by front loading €10 million from our annual commitment.
This demonstrates our strong joint commitment towards thousands of families in both the West Bank and Gaza", he added.
Israeli bulldozers on Monday demolished a house and a restaurant in al-Makhour area northwest of Beit Jala in Bethlehem governorate, under the pretext of building without permits.
According to Hassan Brejiya, head of the Wall and Settlement Resistance Committee in Bethlehem, Israeli occupation forces, called for reinforcement at the entrance of al-Makhour before they began demolishing a restaurant and a house belonging to Ramzi Qaisiyya. video
Brejiya condemned the demolition and accused the occupation authorities of emptying the area in favor of expanding the settlement project.
Several weeks ago, settlers set up tents near the area, in a move to build a settlement outpost, he said.
The owner of the demolished property said that IOF last week handed him a notice to demolish the restaurant and the house, and since then they have been suffering and a very difficult life, pointing out that the restaurant has been demolished twice in the past, under the same pretext.
Qaisiyya added that the family took out the contents of the house and the restaurant, with the area closed to the entry and exit of citizens.
The Israeli occupation forces prevent Palestinians from building in Area C, which they control under the Oslo II agreement signed between the Palestinian Authority and Israel in 1995. Area C represents 61 percent of the West Bank.
According to Hassan Brejiya, head of the Wall and Settlement Resistance Committee in Bethlehem, Israeli occupation forces, called for reinforcement at the entrance of al-Makhour before they began demolishing a restaurant and a house belonging to Ramzi Qaisiyya. video
Brejiya condemned the demolition and accused the occupation authorities of emptying the area in favor of expanding the settlement project.
Several weeks ago, settlers set up tents near the area, in a move to build a settlement outpost, he said.
The owner of the demolished property said that IOF last week handed him a notice to demolish the restaurant and the house, and since then they have been suffering and a very difficult life, pointing out that the restaurant has been demolished twice in the past, under the same pretext.
Qaisiyya added that the family took out the contents of the house and the restaurant, with the area closed to the entry and exit of citizens.
The Israeli occupation forces prevent Palestinians from building in Area C, which they control under the Oslo II agreement signed between the Palestinian Authority and Israel in 1995. Area C represents 61 percent of the West Bank.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to cut down the amount of fuel sent to the Gaza Strip by half, and cut $300 million from funds to the Palestinian Authority, Hebrew sources said on Monday.
The Israeli media said that Netanyahu instructed the Israeli army to reduce the amount of fuel transferred to the power plant in the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom crossing from tomorrow until further notice.
Netanyahu also decided to deduct $ 300 million from the Authority’s funds and transfer it to the Israeli electricity company in what he said were “debts”.
Hebrew media said that the decision came after the launch of three rockets from Gaza towards its enclave settlements.
The occupation forces bombed at dawn today a site of resistance in the town of Beit Lahia, causing significant material damage.
The Israeli media said that Netanyahu instructed the Israeli army to reduce the amount of fuel transferred to the power plant in the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom crossing from tomorrow until further notice.
Netanyahu also decided to deduct $ 300 million from the Authority’s funds and transfer it to the Israeli electricity company in what he said were “debts”.
Hebrew media said that the decision came after the launch of three rockets from Gaza towards its enclave settlements.
The occupation forces bombed at dawn today a site of resistance in the town of Beit Lahia, causing significant material damage.
25 aug 2019
ISM volunteers join Palestinian farming communities each year to harvest olives, in areas where Palestinians face settler and military violence when working their land. Your presence can make a big difference, with Palestinian communities stating that the presence of international volunteers reduces the risk of extreme violence from Israeli settlers and the Israeli army.
We support Palestinians’ assertion of their right to earn their livelihoods and be present on their lands. International solidarity activists engage in non-violent intervention and documentation as practical support which enables many families to pick their olives.
The harvest will begin in early October and run until mid-November. We request a minimum 2 week commitment but we ask that if possible, volunteers could stay as long as they can. Our work is dependent on relationships with the Palestinian communities in which we work, and a long term presence is a massive help towards that end. We kindly ask volunteers to start arriving in the first week of October, so we are prepared when the harvest begins.
In addition to the harvest, there will be opportunities to participate in grass-roots, non-violent resistance in Palestine. ISM activists will receive training, normally held on Wednesdays and Thursdays at the beginning of each month with information on what to expect and how to act in what can be intense situations. Our other actions include:
The School Year:
Sunday the 25th of August marks the beginning of the school year, and with it increased threats for Palestinian teachers and children. Therefore, in the coming months, it is vital that we have volunteers who are able to walk with the children on school runs, to document and serve as a protective presence against Israeli Occupation Forces and settler harassment, which includes checkpoint delays. It is hoped that the presence of internationals may prevent settler attacks, or at least promote intervention by the soldiers where they otherwise would not.
Beyond the school runs, ISM maintains a constant presence in Hebron (Al-Khalil), where settler harassment and violence is a regular occurrence. Lately, Israeli army violence has escalated for Palestinians living close to the illegal inner-city settlement. Israeli forces have used the Palestinian neighbourhoods for military training, and heavily repress any form of resistance, responding with collective punishment as they lob dozens of teargas canisters and stun grenades onto Al-Khalil’s population. Through documentation and non-violent resistance, ISM attempts to relieve some of the pressure placed on Al-Khalil’s residents.
Protective presence at protests and police raids:
In addition to these activities, we participate in the weekly demonstrations in Kafr Qaddum, and others where our presence is requested and protesters face excessive force by the IOF. Recently the Jerusalem police have been targeting the East Jerusalem town of Issawiya, invading the area every night and arresting children as young as 5. Evening patrols are needed by internationals to document these human rights abuses and have a mediating effect on the notoriously brutal units that operate in occupied East Jerusalem.
Experiencing the situation for yourself is vital to fully understand, and ultimately convey, the reality of life in Palestine to your home communities and to re-frame the debate in a way that will expose Israel’s apartheid policies; creeping ethnic cleansing in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem as well as collective punishment and genocidal practices in Gaza.
How to apply:
Please send an email to ismtraining@riseup.net outlining what dates you are able to come, any experience you have with this type of work and why you want to volunteer in Palestine.
Other options to help:
Donate — for those who cannot make it on this period and want to help, you can donate or help in fundraising money which will be used to fund ISM’s ongoing campaigns.
In Solidarity,
ISM Palestine
We support Palestinians’ assertion of their right to earn their livelihoods and be present on their lands. International solidarity activists engage in non-violent intervention and documentation as practical support which enables many families to pick their olives.
The harvest will begin in early October and run until mid-November. We request a minimum 2 week commitment but we ask that if possible, volunteers could stay as long as they can. Our work is dependent on relationships with the Palestinian communities in which we work, and a long term presence is a massive help towards that end. We kindly ask volunteers to start arriving in the first week of October, so we are prepared when the harvest begins.
In addition to the harvest, there will be opportunities to participate in grass-roots, non-violent resistance in Palestine. ISM activists will receive training, normally held on Wednesdays and Thursdays at the beginning of each month with information on what to expect and how to act in what can be intense situations. Our other actions include:
The School Year:
Sunday the 25th of August marks the beginning of the school year, and with it increased threats for Palestinian teachers and children. Therefore, in the coming months, it is vital that we have volunteers who are able to walk with the children on school runs, to document and serve as a protective presence against Israeli Occupation Forces and settler harassment, which includes checkpoint delays. It is hoped that the presence of internationals may prevent settler attacks, or at least promote intervention by the soldiers where they otherwise would not.
Beyond the school runs, ISM maintains a constant presence in Hebron (Al-Khalil), where settler harassment and violence is a regular occurrence. Lately, Israeli army violence has escalated for Palestinians living close to the illegal inner-city settlement. Israeli forces have used the Palestinian neighbourhoods for military training, and heavily repress any form of resistance, responding with collective punishment as they lob dozens of teargas canisters and stun grenades onto Al-Khalil’s population. Through documentation and non-violent resistance, ISM attempts to relieve some of the pressure placed on Al-Khalil’s residents.
Protective presence at protests and police raids:
In addition to these activities, we participate in the weekly demonstrations in Kafr Qaddum, and others where our presence is requested and protesters face excessive force by the IOF. Recently the Jerusalem police have been targeting the East Jerusalem town of Issawiya, invading the area every night and arresting children as young as 5. Evening patrols are needed by internationals to document these human rights abuses and have a mediating effect on the notoriously brutal units that operate in occupied East Jerusalem.
Experiencing the situation for yourself is vital to fully understand, and ultimately convey, the reality of life in Palestine to your home communities and to re-frame the debate in a way that will expose Israel’s apartheid policies; creeping ethnic cleansing in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem as well as collective punishment and genocidal practices in Gaza.
How to apply:
Please send an email to ismtraining@riseup.net outlining what dates you are able to come, any experience you have with this type of work and why you want to volunteer in Palestine.
Other options to help:
Donate — for those who cannot make it on this period and want to help, you can donate or help in fundraising money which will be used to fund ISM’s ongoing campaigns.
In Solidarity,
ISM Palestine
Qatari envoy Mohamed al-Emadi on Saturday reiterated his country’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian people and vital projects in the besieged Gaza Strip.
Emadi, chairman of Qatar's National Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza, made his remarks after he laid the foundation stone for a kidney dialysis center in northern Gaza.
Emadi said that the center would be built on a 550-square-meter tract of land and consist of three floors, at a total cost of $1.7 million.
The center will also contain about 40 beds and dialysis machines and provide kidney patients with top quality services, according to the Qatari official.
He expressed his country’s hope that such project would improve the services provided for kidney patients and ensure their continuity.
Last Friday, the Qatari envoy announced that his committee would start Sunday to dole out cash aid to 100,000 poor families in Gaza.
Emadi, chairman of Qatar's National Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza, made his remarks after he laid the foundation stone for a kidney dialysis center in northern Gaza.
Emadi said that the center would be built on a 550-square-meter tract of land and consist of three floors, at a total cost of $1.7 million.
The center will also contain about 40 beds and dialysis machines and provide kidney patients with top quality services, according to the Qatari official.
He expressed his country’s hope that such project would improve the services provided for kidney patients and ensure their continuity.
Last Friday, the Qatari envoy announced that his committee would start Sunday to dole out cash aid to 100,000 poor families in Gaza.
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