8 may 2014
The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency on Wednesday reopened a newly-renovated Ottoman-era public water fountain in the Gaza Strip
The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) on Wednesday reopened a newly-renovated Ottoman-era public water fountain (sabil) in the Gaza Strip. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Turkish Ambassador to the Palestinian Authority Mustafa Sarnic and Gaza Tourism Minister Ali Etarshawi, as well as TIKA officials.
In March, TIKA agreed to fund the renovation of the Sabil of Sultan Abdul-Hamid to the tune of $40,000. The move came upon the request of Gaza's Tourism and Antiquities Ministry.
Sarnic told Anadolu Agency that the renovation of the 500-year-old Ottoman sabil would help protect it from eventual ruin.
He added that the public fountain would serve the people of Gaza and provide them with potable water, noting that the sabil was meant to serve students in from nearby schools along with passersby.
He said he was happy to be part of the fountain's reopening, going on to laud TIKA-sponsored projects in the Gaza Strip – especially the renovation of Gaza's Ottoman-era antiquities.
Speaking at the ceremony, Sarnic said the renovation of the fountain would also contribute to bolstering relations between the Turkish and Palestinian people.
Tourism Minister Etarshawi, for his part, said the renovation of the sabil would also serve to reinvigorate Gaza's antiquities sector.
Built during the Ottoman era, the Sabil of Sultan Abdul-Hamid contains a large drinking basin used by citizens and passersby at that time.
It was named after Sultan Abdul-Hamid, during whose reign the fountain was first renovated.
Source: TurkishPress
The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) on Wednesday reopened a newly-renovated Ottoman-era public water fountain (sabil) in the Gaza Strip. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Turkish Ambassador to the Palestinian Authority Mustafa Sarnic and Gaza Tourism Minister Ali Etarshawi, as well as TIKA officials.
In March, TIKA agreed to fund the renovation of the Sabil of Sultan Abdul-Hamid to the tune of $40,000. The move came upon the request of Gaza's Tourism and Antiquities Ministry.
Sarnic told Anadolu Agency that the renovation of the 500-year-old Ottoman sabil would help protect it from eventual ruin.
He added that the public fountain would serve the people of Gaza and provide them with potable water, noting that the sabil was meant to serve students in from nearby schools along with passersby.
He said he was happy to be part of the fountain's reopening, going on to laud TIKA-sponsored projects in the Gaza Strip – especially the renovation of Gaza's Ottoman-era antiquities.
Speaking at the ceremony, Sarnic said the renovation of the fountain would also contribute to bolstering relations between the Turkish and Palestinian people.
Tourism Minister Etarshawi, for his part, said the renovation of the sabil would also serve to reinvigorate Gaza's antiquities sector.
Built during the Ottoman era, the Sabil of Sultan Abdul-Hamid contains a large drinking basin used by citizens and passersby at that time.
It was named after Sultan Abdul-Hamid, during whose reign the fountain was first renovated.
Source: TurkishPress
6 may 2014
During the inauguration of a water network funded by the International Committee of the Red Cross, protestors stuck a poster on an ICRC vehicle accusing the international body of siding with Israel.
The head of the ICRC mission in the West Bank was attending a ceremony to inaugurate the network in Jayyus village. The network brings water from artisan wells in the village’s outskirts which has been separated from the village by Israel’s separation wall.
When the ceremony came to an end, a sticker was found on the ICRC vehicle reading “long-term overwhelming structural bias for Israel.”
Palestinian minister of agriculture Walid Assaf, minister of local governance Saed al-Kuni and chairman of PA water authority Shaddad al-Attili were present at the inauguration along with the governor of Qalqiliya Rafi Rawajbah.
After the officials left visit the office of the Jayyus municipality, they found similar posters in English accusing the Red Cross of bias toward Israel.
The head of the ICRC mission in the West Bank was attending a ceremony to inaugurate the network in Jayyus village. The network brings water from artisan wells in the village’s outskirts which has been separated from the village by Israel’s separation wall.
When the ceremony came to an end, a sticker was found on the ICRC vehicle reading “long-term overwhelming structural bias for Israel.”
Palestinian minister of agriculture Walid Assaf, minister of local governance Saed al-Kuni and chairman of PA water authority Shaddad al-Attili were present at the inauguration along with the governor of Qalqiliya Rafi Rawajbah.
After the officials left visit the office of the Jayyus municipality, they found similar posters in English accusing the Red Cross of bias toward Israel.
Israeli colonial authorities notified the people of Khader town Monday of demolishing a water well under the pretext of building it without permit, it located to the south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem. Local sources said occupation handed Palestinian farmer Hasan Salah,67, a demolish order of a water well owned by him in Abaseya district near Eliezer Settlement built on Bethlehem lands.
The farmer has 35 days to submit an objection to the authorities , the sources added.
The occupation has recently escalated attacks against the farmers and their facilities in Khader town. A few days ago, farmers were notified to demolish barracks and a sheep pen in Umrukba area.
The farmer has 35 days to submit an objection to the authorities , the sources added.
The occupation has recently escalated attacks against the farmers and their facilities in Khader town. A few days ago, farmers were notified to demolish barracks and a sheep pen in Umrukba area.
3 may 2014
Further Israeli violations against Palestinians and their property continue in the West Bank, this week, with home invasion and harassment in the village of Awarta and the demolition of several structures in Khirbet al-Taweel.
At 4:30 am, on Wednesday the 30th of April, a group of Israeli soldiers broke into a family home in the village of Awarta, near the illegal settlement of Itamar, according to a recent report by the International Solidarity Movement (ISM).
11 soldiers woke the family, under the pretext of conductiong a “security search”, upon which a member of the family asked to see the order and was shown a piece of paper written in Hebrew.
Once inside the house, the ISM reports, the soldiers forced the family into the living room, where they confiscated their mobile phones.
According to family member Muhammad Sharab, they were detained in their home for 12 hours. No one in the house was allowed to exit for work or school; there are six children in the family, all under the age of 14.
During those 12 hours, the soldiers slept in the house’s bedrooms and used the shower.
Muhammed described his exchange with the soldiers: “What you would do if I would come in your house in Tel Aviv and do the same as you?”
“I’m just following orders,” was his reply.
The soldiers finally left the home and the village.
Other reports surfacing in the village reveal soldiers raided another house, that same night.
The house is apparently located in the same area where, just under two weeks ago, Israeli soldiers entered houses and fired several tear gas grenades.
20 Palestinians, including children, were taken to the hospital for tear gas inhalation.
The village of Awarta has increasingly been targeted by the Israeli military, possibly due to close proximity of the illegal Itamar settlement.
In the last two weeks, a new settlement road connecting with the main village road has been built, and resident report that many local olives tree were destroyed during the construction.
In a related violation, on Tuesday the 29th of April, at 2:00 AM, the Israeli army invaded the small Bedouin village of Khirbet al-Taweel to demolish several structures, claining that they were built without permits.
In total, three houses, several animal shelters and the village’s mosque were destroyed.
Khirbet al-Taweel has an approximate population of 180 inhabitants, according to the ISM. 30 of them have now been left homeless because of the demolitions, 17 of which are children; the youngest only one-year old.
In the raid, three families were forced out of their homes at gunpoint, with no time to collect their belongings and able to take with them only the most necessary items before witnessing the destruction of their homes.
The Israeli army took two hours to carry out the demolitions, until 04:00AM, destroying three houses in addition to the village mosque, built in 2008.
The families also suffered the loss of their water tanks, due to the demolitions. In order to get drinking water, they now have to walk 30 minutes uphill to get to the nearest town (Aqraba), and then back, ISM stated.
During the day, Red Crescent provided the families with some tents. However, according to one of the women who were evicted, the army informed them that they were not allowed to stay in the area and had to leave immediately.
The woman replied: “We have nowhere to go. This is our land, our homes. Where should we go?”
During the past five years, the village has been the target of several demolitions. According to local villagers, this is simply a strategy from Israeli authorities to force an exodus fromlocal populations, thus expanding illegal Israeli farming settlements, located on the other side of the mountain from Khirbet al-Taweel.
More than 500,000 Israelis live in illegal settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in direct contravention of international law and with the full complicity of Western governments, in the form of billions in foreign aid and weapons, each year.
Despite the Israeli government's relentless appeal to officials and taxpayers, in regard to "security concerns", the Palestinian Authority has no official army, navy or air force to speak of.
The infamous Hamas rocket attacks, which Western mainstream media outlets are so quick to respond to, do very little damage, in fact, as the default projectiles are not even equipped with guidance systems and are tipped with only a relatively tiny warhead, if any at all.
Though outbreaks of serious violence do erupt from the Palestinian side, they are usually in response to Israeli violations and incitements against the Palestinian people and their property. with the majority of Palestinian child detainees being held on charges of throwing stones.
(Each year, around 500-700 Palestinian children, some as young as 12, are arrested, detained and prosecuted in the Israeli military detention system.)
At 4:30 am, on Wednesday the 30th of April, a group of Israeli soldiers broke into a family home in the village of Awarta, near the illegal settlement of Itamar, according to a recent report by the International Solidarity Movement (ISM).
11 soldiers woke the family, under the pretext of conductiong a “security search”, upon which a member of the family asked to see the order and was shown a piece of paper written in Hebrew.
Once inside the house, the ISM reports, the soldiers forced the family into the living room, where they confiscated their mobile phones.
According to family member Muhammad Sharab, they were detained in their home for 12 hours. No one in the house was allowed to exit for work or school; there are six children in the family, all under the age of 14.
During those 12 hours, the soldiers slept in the house’s bedrooms and used the shower.
Muhammed described his exchange with the soldiers: “What you would do if I would come in your house in Tel Aviv and do the same as you?”
“I’m just following orders,” was his reply.
The soldiers finally left the home and the village.
Other reports surfacing in the village reveal soldiers raided another house, that same night.
The house is apparently located in the same area where, just under two weeks ago, Israeli soldiers entered houses and fired several tear gas grenades.
20 Palestinians, including children, were taken to the hospital for tear gas inhalation.
The village of Awarta has increasingly been targeted by the Israeli military, possibly due to close proximity of the illegal Itamar settlement.
In the last two weeks, a new settlement road connecting with the main village road has been built, and resident report that many local olives tree were destroyed during the construction.
In a related violation, on Tuesday the 29th of April, at 2:00 AM, the Israeli army invaded the small Bedouin village of Khirbet al-Taweel to demolish several structures, claining that they were built without permits.
In total, three houses, several animal shelters and the village’s mosque were destroyed.
Khirbet al-Taweel has an approximate population of 180 inhabitants, according to the ISM. 30 of them have now been left homeless because of the demolitions, 17 of which are children; the youngest only one-year old.
In the raid, three families were forced out of their homes at gunpoint, with no time to collect their belongings and able to take with them only the most necessary items before witnessing the destruction of their homes.
The Israeli army took two hours to carry out the demolitions, until 04:00AM, destroying three houses in addition to the village mosque, built in 2008.
The families also suffered the loss of their water tanks, due to the demolitions. In order to get drinking water, they now have to walk 30 minutes uphill to get to the nearest town (Aqraba), and then back, ISM stated.
During the day, Red Crescent provided the families with some tents. However, according to one of the women who were evicted, the army informed them that they were not allowed to stay in the area and had to leave immediately.
The woman replied: “We have nowhere to go. This is our land, our homes. Where should we go?”
During the past five years, the village has been the target of several demolitions. According to local villagers, this is simply a strategy from Israeli authorities to force an exodus fromlocal populations, thus expanding illegal Israeli farming settlements, located on the other side of the mountain from Khirbet al-Taweel.
More than 500,000 Israelis live in illegal settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in direct contravention of international law and with the full complicity of Western governments, in the form of billions in foreign aid and weapons, each year.
Despite the Israeli government's relentless appeal to officials and taxpayers, in regard to "security concerns", the Palestinian Authority has no official army, navy or air force to speak of.
The infamous Hamas rocket attacks, which Western mainstream media outlets are so quick to respond to, do very little damage, in fact, as the default projectiles are not even equipped with guidance systems and are tipped with only a relatively tiny warhead, if any at all.
Though outbreaks of serious violence do erupt from the Palestinian side, they are usually in response to Israeli violations and incitements against the Palestinian people and their property. with the majority of Palestinian child detainees being held on charges of throwing stones.
(Each year, around 500-700 Palestinian children, some as young as 12, are arrested, detained and prosecuted in the Israeli military detention system.)
1 may 2014
A Palestinian house and a water well were demolished by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) on Thursday morning in Wad al-Baqar in al-Khalil, while several Palestinian vehicles were attacked by a bunch of Israeli settlers. The house owner Muhammad Rajaby revealed in a statement to PIC his unparalleled shock upon catching sight of his house and the nearby water well reduced to rubble by Israeli demolishing apparatuses.
Rajaby called on all concerned parties to act so as to halt such demolition processes, and pay him off for all the ensuing upshots of Israel’s thoughtless destruction of his home, his own and only living place.
In another event, Kiryat Arba and Kharsina settlers threw stones at several vehicles belonging to Palestinian passers-by in al-Khalil, local sources told PIC correspondent.
Such demolition processes and attacks have remarkably increased following the declaration of the Fatah-Hamas reconciliation agreement.
Rajaby called on all concerned parties to act so as to halt such demolition processes, and pay him off for all the ensuing upshots of Israel’s thoughtless destruction of his home, his own and only living place.
In another event, Kiryat Arba and Kharsina settlers threw stones at several vehicles belonging to Palestinian passers-by in al-Khalil, local sources told PIC correspondent.
Such demolition processes and attacks have remarkably increased following the declaration of the Fatah-Hamas reconciliation agreement.
21 apr 2014
- Announcement follows similar decisions by authorities in Argentina and Netherlands
- Actions against Mekorot held across 12 countries
Lisbon’s water company EPAL has announced that it terminated a technology exchange deal with Israeli state water company Mekorot following protests over Mekorot’s role in Israel’s ‘water apartheid’ over Palestinians.
Portuguese MPs and campaign groups had argued that the deal amounted to support for Mekorot’s role in the theft of Palestinian water.
Mekorot, who lost out on a $170m contract with Argentinian authorities earlier this year following similar protests, illegally appropriates Palestinian water, diverting it to illegal Israeli settlements and towns inside Israel. The state owned company is the key body responsible for implementing discriminatory water polices that Amnesty International has accused Israel implementing “as a means of expulsion”.
“Many Palestinian communities suffer from a lack of access to adequate water due to the encroachment of Israeli settlers on water resources and to Israeli policies and practices that deny Palestinians the human right to water,” explained Dr. Ayman Rabi from Friends of the Earth Palestine / PENGON.
EPAL this week responded to fresh calls to terminate its relationship with Mekorot by announcing that it had terminated their relationship with Mekorot in 2010 when the public campaign against the collaboration was at its height. The campaign saw large demonstrations in Lisbon’s main square and pressure against local authorities.
A statement released by the coalition of Portuguese organisations that campaigned against Mekorot said that the decision will “strengthen and encourage the efforts of solidarity movements that work towards the international isolation of Israel because of its policies of ethic cleansing, occupation and colonization”.
The EPAL announcement follows a similar decision by municipal authorities in Buenos Aires and Dutch national water carrier Vitens and comes at the end of an international week against Mekorot that saw demonstrations and campaign actions take place across at least 12 countries.
In Paris, BDS France activists burst into a luxury hotel where delegates from Mekorot were taking part in a business breakfast as part of the Global Water Summit. Campaigners urged dozens of stunned delegates not to cooperate with the Israeli water company.
A French parliamentary report has accused Israel of imposing a system of “water apartheid” in the occupied Palestinian territory.
The French mobilisation followed a noise demonstration that disrupted a London water conference that was being addressed by Mekorot and other Israeli water companies.
In Rome, a ‘water checkpoint’ street theatre protest highlighted the campaign against collaboration between Mekorot and the city’s water company ACEA. The campaign is backed by the broad coalition of campaign groups resisting privatisation of water.
In Argentina, the Congress of the Trade Union Federation Capital (CTA Capital) was dedicated to the campaign against Mekorot and hosted a discussion of how Mekorot is attempting to export discriminatory water policies developed in Palestine to Argentina. The session celebrated the successful campaign that led to Mekorot losing out on a $170m contract and discussed how best to prevent Mekorot from being awarded other contracts it has won or is bidding for.
A seminar in Uruguay brought together Palestine solidarity, environmental and anti-privatisation groups to discuss struggles for water and land in Uruguay and Palestine.
On March 22 world water day, more than 250 people joined a Thunderclap Twitter storm that had a social reach of over 300,000 people.
Campaigns against Mekorot are also underway in Greece.
“The amazing reach of the first week against Mekorot and the fact that public authorities are increasingly refusing to collaborate with Mekorot are further signs that people and governments across the world are no longer prepared to fund Israeli apartheid,” said Jamal Juma’ from Stop the Wall, a member of PENGON/Friends of the Earth Palestine, one of the Palestinian organisations that called for the week of action against Mekorot.
“We call on people all over the world to continue to take action against Mekorot and its attempts to export Israel’s discriminatory water policies,” he added.
- Actions against Mekorot held across 12 countries
Lisbon’s water company EPAL has announced that it terminated a technology exchange deal with Israeli state water company Mekorot following protests over Mekorot’s role in Israel’s ‘water apartheid’ over Palestinians.
Portuguese MPs and campaign groups had argued that the deal amounted to support for Mekorot’s role in the theft of Palestinian water.
Mekorot, who lost out on a $170m contract with Argentinian authorities earlier this year following similar protests, illegally appropriates Palestinian water, diverting it to illegal Israeli settlements and towns inside Israel. The state owned company is the key body responsible for implementing discriminatory water polices that Amnesty International has accused Israel implementing “as a means of expulsion”.
“Many Palestinian communities suffer from a lack of access to adequate water due to the encroachment of Israeli settlers on water resources and to Israeli policies and practices that deny Palestinians the human right to water,” explained Dr. Ayman Rabi from Friends of the Earth Palestine / PENGON.
EPAL this week responded to fresh calls to terminate its relationship with Mekorot by announcing that it had terminated their relationship with Mekorot in 2010 when the public campaign against the collaboration was at its height. The campaign saw large demonstrations in Lisbon’s main square and pressure against local authorities.
A statement released by the coalition of Portuguese organisations that campaigned against Mekorot said that the decision will “strengthen and encourage the efforts of solidarity movements that work towards the international isolation of Israel because of its policies of ethic cleansing, occupation and colonization”.
The EPAL announcement follows a similar decision by municipal authorities in Buenos Aires and Dutch national water carrier Vitens and comes at the end of an international week against Mekorot that saw demonstrations and campaign actions take place across at least 12 countries.
In Paris, BDS France activists burst into a luxury hotel where delegates from Mekorot were taking part in a business breakfast as part of the Global Water Summit. Campaigners urged dozens of stunned delegates not to cooperate with the Israeli water company.
A French parliamentary report has accused Israel of imposing a system of “water apartheid” in the occupied Palestinian territory.
The French mobilisation followed a noise demonstration that disrupted a London water conference that was being addressed by Mekorot and other Israeli water companies.
In Rome, a ‘water checkpoint’ street theatre protest highlighted the campaign against collaboration between Mekorot and the city’s water company ACEA. The campaign is backed by the broad coalition of campaign groups resisting privatisation of water.
In Argentina, the Congress of the Trade Union Federation Capital (CTA Capital) was dedicated to the campaign against Mekorot and hosted a discussion of how Mekorot is attempting to export discriminatory water policies developed in Palestine to Argentina. The session celebrated the successful campaign that led to Mekorot losing out on a $170m contract and discussed how best to prevent Mekorot from being awarded other contracts it has won or is bidding for.
A seminar in Uruguay brought together Palestine solidarity, environmental and anti-privatisation groups to discuss struggles for water and land in Uruguay and Palestine.
On March 22 world water day, more than 250 people joined a Thunderclap Twitter storm that had a social reach of over 300,000 people.
Campaigns against Mekorot are also underway in Greece.
“The amazing reach of the first week against Mekorot and the fact that public authorities are increasingly refusing to collaborate with Mekorot are further signs that people and governments across the world are no longer prepared to fund Israeli apartheid,” said Jamal Juma’ from Stop the Wall, a member of PENGON/Friends of the Earth Palestine, one of the Palestinian organisations that called for the week of action against Mekorot.
“We call on people all over the world to continue to take action against Mekorot and its attempts to export Israel’s discriminatory water policies,” he added.
13 apr 2014
By Fedaa al-Qedra
90 percent of the drinking water in Gaza has higher levels of salinity than is recommended by the World Health Organization, as well as an increasing level of water-borne disease.
Experts warned of human crisis If pumping continues at this rate, they said by 2016 year there will be no usable water in Gaza.
Most of Gazans are buying their drinking water from unregulated private vendors which form a heavy burden on already impoverished families.
Mohamed Yaseen said that the municipal water received by pipes is saline and undrinkable.
He added that he forced to buy desalinated water from the street hawkers and he spend a lot of money to buy filtered water because he has a big family.
Khalil Hamoda from Sheikh Redwan neighborhood in Gaza told ALRAY that he forced to break the law by digging a water well in his house garden, because of his daily need of fresh water especially in Summer.
Hamoda said " I don’t trust hawkers so I bought a water filter but it Crashes in less than a week because of the extreme salinity of the water that enters it, which led to the accumulation of impurities it."
Mohammed Al-Balawi said that he use the municipal water for washing and house working where he buys the filter water for drinking, added " even soup don’t cream in salt water."
Mohammed Mahdi the owner of al-Sabeel water plant emphasized that they filter water per hour to get a cup of water from 3 cups is drinkable, this refers to the filters technology that used.
Director of Coast Water Authority Monther Shoplaqs spoke to ALRAY " the aquifer's water is high in nitrogen and chloride making 90to 95 percent of Gaza main water supply unfit for drinking."
He added The average consumption of water per citizen in Gaza is 80 litres per day, while the global rates determine 150 liters of water per person per day, it makes the citizen in the Gaza area suffer from adequate supply of water by half, according to global averages
Shoplaq warned of a serious water crisis in Gaza Strip, he pointed out in the year 2016 there will be no sufficient amount of water, and the citizen will have no water except seawater.
Shoblak added "The amount of water that pumped from the aquifer is more than the coming water which caused mixing seawater the aquifer with fresh water causing salinity of the water.
Dr. Khazem Abu Lebda kidney and unary tract specialist said that salt water causes many diseases for both old and young like Osteoporosis due to the lack of calcium and magnesium elements.
He emphasized that saline water leads to salt levels in humans that causes kidney dysfunction, heart failure, neurological symptoms, lethargy, and high blood pressure, advised citizens to avoid drinking salt water as much as possible, in order to avoid the incidence of these diseases.
90 percent of the drinking water in Gaza has higher levels of salinity than is recommended by the World Health Organization, as well as an increasing level of water-borne disease.
Experts warned of human crisis If pumping continues at this rate, they said by 2016 year there will be no usable water in Gaza.
Most of Gazans are buying their drinking water from unregulated private vendors which form a heavy burden on already impoverished families.
Mohamed Yaseen said that the municipal water received by pipes is saline and undrinkable.
He added that he forced to buy desalinated water from the street hawkers and he spend a lot of money to buy filtered water because he has a big family.
Khalil Hamoda from Sheikh Redwan neighborhood in Gaza told ALRAY that he forced to break the law by digging a water well in his house garden, because of his daily need of fresh water especially in Summer.
Hamoda said " I don’t trust hawkers so I bought a water filter but it Crashes in less than a week because of the extreme salinity of the water that enters it, which led to the accumulation of impurities it."
Mohammed Al-Balawi said that he use the municipal water for washing and house working where he buys the filter water for drinking, added " even soup don’t cream in salt water."
Mohammed Mahdi the owner of al-Sabeel water plant emphasized that they filter water per hour to get a cup of water from 3 cups is drinkable, this refers to the filters technology that used.
Director of Coast Water Authority Monther Shoplaqs spoke to ALRAY " the aquifer's water is high in nitrogen and chloride making 90to 95 percent of Gaza main water supply unfit for drinking."
He added The average consumption of water per citizen in Gaza is 80 litres per day, while the global rates determine 150 liters of water per person per day, it makes the citizen in the Gaza area suffer from adequate supply of water by half, according to global averages
Shoplaq warned of a serious water crisis in Gaza Strip, he pointed out in the year 2016 there will be no sufficient amount of water, and the citizen will have no water except seawater.
Shoblak added "The amount of water that pumped from the aquifer is more than the coming water which caused mixing seawater the aquifer with fresh water causing salinity of the water.
Dr. Khazem Abu Lebda kidney and unary tract specialist said that salt water causes many diseases for both old and young like Osteoporosis due to the lack of calcium and magnesium elements.
He emphasized that saline water leads to salt levels in humans that causes kidney dysfunction, heart failure, neurological symptoms, lethargy, and high blood pressure, advised citizens to avoid drinking salt water as much as possible, in order to avoid the incidence of these diseases.
9 apr 2014
Israeli settlers from Ariel settlement built on Salfit land continued to steal the city's groundwater while flooding its agricultural lands with the settlement's sewage waters. Researcher Khalid Maali said on Wednesday that Palestinian farmers in the area left their agricultural lands after being continuously flooded with sewage waters by Israeli settlers.
He pointed out that Israeli authorities continued to steal Salfit's groundwater and resources due to the city's important site where it is located over a lake that contains more than three and a half million cubic meters of water.
Meanwhile, Israeli settlers from Efrat settlement have flooded Tuesday Palestinian agricultural lands, an area of 8 acres, in Khader town in Bethlehem with sewage water.
The land's owner is no longer able to use his agricultural land or to reap its grape harvest due to the pollution caused by Israeli settlers.
Large Palestinian agricultural lands have been subjected to such attacks, which led to heavy losses to their owners.
He pointed out that Israeli authorities continued to steal Salfit's groundwater and resources due to the city's important site where it is located over a lake that contains more than three and a half million cubic meters of water.
Meanwhile, Israeli settlers from Efrat settlement have flooded Tuesday Palestinian agricultural lands, an area of 8 acres, in Khader town in Bethlehem with sewage water.
The land's owner is no longer able to use his agricultural land or to reap its grape harvest due to the pollution caused by Israeli settlers.
Large Palestinian agricultural lands have been subjected to such attacks, which led to heavy losses to their owners.
Dozens of Palestinian citizens suffered suffocation in clashes erupted with Israeli Occupation Forces in Aida refugee camp to the north of Bethlehem in the West Bank.
Daily clashes erupt in the camp between Palestinian citizens and Israeli forces.
Witnesses from the camp said the IOF heavily fired tear gas and sonic bombs at citizens' houses and Palestinian youths who responded by throwing stones and empty bottles.
Clashes were erupted around Abu Bakr al- Sediq mosque in the camp and in A'al Qatamish neighborhood. Several gas grenades were fired at the neighboring houses, witnesses added. Several suffocation cases among Palestinians were reported.
In a relevant vein, the IOF captured Tuesday evening a water tank and kept it in its military camps nearby al-Maleh village in the northern Jordan Valley.
Local sources said that the captured tank provides dozens of Palestinian families with drinking water in al-Maleh village, showing that capturing it deprives the families from water.
“ It is not the first time the IOF captures water tanks from the area and deprives Palestinians of drinking water.” The sources added.
Daily clashes erupt in the camp between Palestinian citizens and Israeli forces.
Witnesses from the camp said the IOF heavily fired tear gas and sonic bombs at citizens' houses and Palestinian youths who responded by throwing stones and empty bottles.
Clashes were erupted around Abu Bakr al- Sediq mosque in the camp and in A'al Qatamish neighborhood. Several gas grenades were fired at the neighboring houses, witnesses added. Several suffocation cases among Palestinians were reported.
In a relevant vein, the IOF captured Tuesday evening a water tank and kept it in its military camps nearby al-Maleh village in the northern Jordan Valley.
Local sources said that the captured tank provides dozens of Palestinian families with drinking water in al-Maleh village, showing that capturing it deprives the families from water.
“ It is not the first time the IOF captures water tanks from the area and deprives Palestinians of drinking water.” The sources added.
8 apr 2014
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) destroyed Tuesday several water wells and agricultural facilities in the West Bank city of Hebron. Witnesses said that Israeli military bulldozers, backed with several soldiers, demolished water wells, tents, and agricultural facilities belonging to Palestinian citizens from al-Dweak, al-Yazoori, and Abu- Hamdiya families after storming Farsh al-Hawa area in Hebron.
The IOF routinely carries out violations against the Palestinian citizens in the West Bank villages. The forces raze their agricultural lands and steal its bounties for the favor of the Israeli settlements.
The IOF routinely carries out violations against the Palestinian citizens in the West Bank villages. The forces raze their agricultural lands and steal its bounties for the favor of the Israeli settlements.
By JON GERBERG
Tens of thousands of Palestinians living in east Jerusalem have been without running water for more than a month, victims of a decrepit and overwhelmed infrastructure and caught in a legal no-man's land caused by the divisions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The residents of the Shuafat refugee camp are technically part of the Jerusalem municipality. But they live outside the massive West Bank separation barrier that Israel has built. So Israeli services are sparse, yet Palestinian authorities are barred from operating there or developing the water system.
The local Israeli water authority says the existing system of pipes cannot handle the rapid population growth of the area and it is scrambling to solve the problem. Last week, the Israeli Supreme Court gave officials 60 days to find a solution.
But with the scorching summer season approaching, residents are growing increasingly desperate. Basic tasks like brushing teeth are a challenge. Showers have become a luxury. Families often send their clothes to relatives elsewhere in the city to wash them.
"Sixty days — that's a lot of time for us," said Hani Taha, a local butcher. "There will be chaos here."
Israel captured then-mainly Arab east Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war. After the war, it redrew Jerusalem's municipal boundary, expanding it into the West Bank to encompass what were then small Palestinian communities, and annexed the lands that were made part of the city.
The annexation was never internationally recognized. Israel considers all of east Jerusalem, including Shuafat, to be part of its capital, building a ring of Jewish districts in the city. Some 200,000 Israeli Jews and 300,000 Palestinians now live in east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians demand as the capital of a future nation.
Palestinians have long complained that the city neglects roads, schools and public services in Arab neighborhoods of east Jerusalem. The situation has worsened for areas like Shuafat since Israel built its separation barrier last decade.
The barrier, which Israel says is needed to keep attackers from entering the city, has cut some neighborhoods in half, leaving thousands of people on the outside. Anyone entering or exiting Shuafat, for instance, must pass through an Israeli military checkpoint.
Residents said they first began to feel the water crunch last month, when the water cut out on March 4. Since then, service has been scarce and often non-existent. Residents buy bottles or large jerrycans of water to get by.
A lack of hydraulic pressure from the month-long shortage has forced desperate residents to lower rooftop tanks to ground level and fill them by hand.
On one block, three large black tanks sat stagnant in a pile of rotting trash and empty plastic bottles. Six pumps and a snarl of tubing had been rigged to force water upward.
But faucets in the adjacent building were running dry. Young men could be seen lugging large plastic containers up flights of stairs into a home. A young girl held a bag of water bottles for her family.
"When my kids want to go to school, there's no water to wash themselves. My husband goes to work and it's the same thing," said Umm Osama al-Najar, pointing at a pile of dirty dishes in her kitchen sink.
"Sometimes I go into the bathroom and I am disgusted, especially when so many people use the bathroom and there is no water to flush. It's very important that we get the water back here. It's breaking my heart."
Source: Associated Press
Tens of thousands of Palestinians living in east Jerusalem have been without running water for more than a month, victims of a decrepit and overwhelmed infrastructure and caught in a legal no-man's land caused by the divisions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The residents of the Shuafat refugee camp are technically part of the Jerusalem municipality. But they live outside the massive West Bank separation barrier that Israel has built. So Israeli services are sparse, yet Palestinian authorities are barred from operating there or developing the water system.
The local Israeli water authority says the existing system of pipes cannot handle the rapid population growth of the area and it is scrambling to solve the problem. Last week, the Israeli Supreme Court gave officials 60 days to find a solution.
But with the scorching summer season approaching, residents are growing increasingly desperate. Basic tasks like brushing teeth are a challenge. Showers have become a luxury. Families often send their clothes to relatives elsewhere in the city to wash them.
"Sixty days — that's a lot of time for us," said Hani Taha, a local butcher. "There will be chaos here."
Israel captured then-mainly Arab east Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war. After the war, it redrew Jerusalem's municipal boundary, expanding it into the West Bank to encompass what were then small Palestinian communities, and annexed the lands that were made part of the city.
The annexation was never internationally recognized. Israel considers all of east Jerusalem, including Shuafat, to be part of its capital, building a ring of Jewish districts in the city. Some 200,000 Israeli Jews and 300,000 Palestinians now live in east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians demand as the capital of a future nation.
Palestinians have long complained that the city neglects roads, schools and public services in Arab neighborhoods of east Jerusalem. The situation has worsened for areas like Shuafat since Israel built its separation barrier last decade.
The barrier, which Israel says is needed to keep attackers from entering the city, has cut some neighborhoods in half, leaving thousands of people on the outside. Anyone entering or exiting Shuafat, for instance, must pass through an Israeli military checkpoint.
Residents said they first began to feel the water crunch last month, when the water cut out on March 4. Since then, service has been scarce and often non-existent. Residents buy bottles or large jerrycans of water to get by.
A lack of hydraulic pressure from the month-long shortage has forced desperate residents to lower rooftop tanks to ground level and fill them by hand.
On one block, three large black tanks sat stagnant in a pile of rotting trash and empty plastic bottles. Six pumps and a snarl of tubing had been rigged to force water upward.
But faucets in the adjacent building were running dry. Young men could be seen lugging large plastic containers up flights of stairs into a home. A young girl held a bag of water bottles for her family.
"When my kids want to go to school, there's no water to wash themselves. My husband goes to work and it's the same thing," said Umm Osama al-Najar, pointing at a pile of dirty dishes in her kitchen sink.
"Sometimes I go into the bathroom and I am disgusted, especially when so many people use the bathroom and there is no water to flush. It's very important that we get the water back here. It's breaking my heart."
Source: Associated Press
