16 dec 2016
Israeli transportation minister Yisrael Katz has called on his government to work on obtaining US recognition of Israel’s sovereignty over the Syrian Golan Heights and giving the Palestinians some sort of self-rule in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Katz made the remarks at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center marking 35 years since the Knesset passed a bill to impose Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
He added that the Israeli government should also increase the number of Jewish settlers in the Golan Heights to 100,000 residents in the following years and work to achieve that.
He also called for Israel to expand the borders of Jerusalem and extend its sovereignty over the settlements surrounding it, such as Maale Adumim, Betar Illit and Gush Etzion, "just as Menachem Begin did regarding the Golan Heights 35 years ago."
In addition, Katz pledged to construct a new railway station to serve residents of the Golan Heights.
Katz praised what he called Begin’s maintenance of Israeli sovereignty over a united Jerusalem and called for not stopping to expand and build settlements in the West Bank.
He proposed engaging in negotiations with neighboring Arab countries to grant some autonomy to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Gaza in order to police themselves.
However, he expressed his rejection of the idea of creating a new Arab state in the West Bank and Jerusalem, calling it "a violation of the Jews’ historic rights to the land" and "a serious threat to Israel's security in the future."
The Israeli army occupied two-thirds of the Syrian Golan Heights region in the aftermath of the Six Day War in 1967 before the government of Begin extracted approval from the Knesset in 1981 for its decision to annex the Golan area to Israel.
Katz made the remarks at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center marking 35 years since the Knesset passed a bill to impose Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
He added that the Israeli government should also increase the number of Jewish settlers in the Golan Heights to 100,000 residents in the following years and work to achieve that.
He also called for Israel to expand the borders of Jerusalem and extend its sovereignty over the settlements surrounding it, such as Maale Adumim, Betar Illit and Gush Etzion, "just as Menachem Begin did regarding the Golan Heights 35 years ago."
In addition, Katz pledged to construct a new railway station to serve residents of the Golan Heights.
Katz praised what he called Begin’s maintenance of Israeli sovereignty over a united Jerusalem and called for not stopping to expand and build settlements in the West Bank.
He proposed engaging in negotiations with neighboring Arab countries to grant some autonomy to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Gaza in order to police themselves.
However, he expressed his rejection of the idea of creating a new Arab state in the West Bank and Jerusalem, calling it "a violation of the Jews’ historic rights to the land" and "a serious threat to Israel's security in the future."
The Israeli army occupied two-thirds of the Syrian Golan Heights region in the aftermath of the Six Day War in 1967 before the government of Begin extracted approval from the Knesset in 1981 for its decision to annex the Golan area to Israel.
2 dec 2016
As the UN General Assembly calls again on Israel to leave the Golan Heights and declares Israeli jurisdiction on 'the Holy city of Jerusalem' to be 'null and void,' the Jewish state prepares to go up against three UNSC resolutions aimed against it.
The UN General Assembly adopted six resolutions on the situation of the Palestinians on Wednesday, including a demand for Israel to withdraw from the Golan Heights.
The move comes a day after the new President of the UN General Assembly, Peter Thompson, was seen wearing a Palestinian scarf whilst at a UN committee hearing.
The resolution, called UNGA Resolution A/71/L.8, was put forth by over 35 countries, including Bahrain, Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Indonesia, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and the Palestinian delegation, amongst others.
The resolution calls for peace talks between Syria and Israel and Lebanon and Israel to be restarted immediately, calls for the Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights, and determines that Israel being in the Golan Heights and Israel’s de-facto annexation of the Golan Heights represents a key stumbling block to regional peace.
It was passed in the UN General assembly by a vote of 103 for, 6 against (Canada, Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, and the United States), and 56 abstentions.
The resolution is one of six anti-Israel resolutions passed Wednesday, another being on the status of Jerusalem (A/71/L.22). In it, the UN expressed “its determination that any actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem are illegal and therefore null and void and have no validity whatsoever”.
The representative from Israel said in the assembly following the vote that “it was shameful how some countries had yet to accept the existence of Israel and abused the General Assembly to spread baseless allegations,” and that the resolutions seek to provide a “biased narrative.”
She continued, saying “since 2015, terror attacks against Israelis had claimed the lives of 42 citizens and injured over 600 and yet today’s resolutions made no mention of those victims.”
“Furthermore, the resolutions under discussion did not mention the internationally recognized terror organization Hamas. No one should delude themselves: supporting the resolutions and the inherent bias against Israel would not advance the cause of peace. Rather it would only make peace harder to achieve,” the representative added.
The US delegation meanwhile, said the US was “profoundly troubled by the submission of a disproportionate number of one-sided resolutions that had been designed to condemn Israel.”
The delegate continued, adding that “it (is) manifestly unjust that the United Nations, an institution founded on the idea that all nations should be treated equally, was so often used by Member States to treat Israel unequally.”
Lambasting the UN, the delegate continued, saying “three United Nations bodies in particular reflected the bias and unnecessary costs of such resolutions and wasted limited resources. Costing approximately $6.1 million in 2015, they did nothing to contribute to peace in the region.”
The US however did reiterate that it views the settlements as a stumbling block for peace.
Syria for its part, thanked the member states who voted for the resolution, saying the vote “sent a clear message to Israel that its killing, settlement expansion and forcible annexation of land ran counter to international principles.”
The next round: The UN Security Council
Meanwhile, the Israeli Foreign Ministry is expecting a tough fight against several anti-Israel resolutions which are due to be voted on at the UN Security Council before US President Obama leaves office.
There are three initiatives which especially worry Israel; initiatives from New Zealand, the Palestinians, and France.
New Zealand
New Zealand, which will be vacating its position on the council soon, wants to put forth a resolution which will require Israel to condemn settlement construction, condemn violence and incitement from both the Israelis and the Palestinians, condemn the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and call for an immediate re-start of negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis. A draft resolution is expected to be submitted in the coming days
The Palestinians
The Palestinians are trying to pass a resolution which will term the Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal. Israel is worried that such a decision will prepare the groundwork for sanctions, and be a precursor for an indictment against Israel at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
France
The French resolution calls for an international peace conference, which Israel has already expressed its opposition to. The opposition is premised on the fact that the initiative calls on a time table for discussions, and that should no agreement be reached, France will automatically recognize a Palestinian state.
Israel believes that the US will use its veto power over the French and Palestinian initiatives, yet is unsure as to US action towards the New Zealand initiative. This is because the New Zealand initiative does not seem to be unilaterally condemning one side or the other for incitement and violence.
While Israel is working primarily with the Americans in the Security Council, Israel is also working with other countries as well.
US Secretary of State is expected to discuss the issue at the upcoming Saban Forum.
The UN General Assembly adopted six resolutions on the situation of the Palestinians on Wednesday, including a demand for Israel to withdraw from the Golan Heights.
The move comes a day after the new President of the UN General Assembly, Peter Thompson, was seen wearing a Palestinian scarf whilst at a UN committee hearing.
The resolution, called UNGA Resolution A/71/L.8, was put forth by over 35 countries, including Bahrain, Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Indonesia, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and the Palestinian delegation, amongst others.
The resolution calls for peace talks between Syria and Israel and Lebanon and Israel to be restarted immediately, calls for the Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights, and determines that Israel being in the Golan Heights and Israel’s de-facto annexation of the Golan Heights represents a key stumbling block to regional peace.
It was passed in the UN General assembly by a vote of 103 for, 6 against (Canada, Federated States of Micronesia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Palau, and the United States), and 56 abstentions.
The resolution is one of six anti-Israel resolutions passed Wednesday, another being on the status of Jerusalem (A/71/L.22). In it, the UN expressed “its determination that any actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem are illegal and therefore null and void and have no validity whatsoever”.
The representative from Israel said in the assembly following the vote that “it was shameful how some countries had yet to accept the existence of Israel and abused the General Assembly to spread baseless allegations,” and that the resolutions seek to provide a “biased narrative.”
She continued, saying “since 2015, terror attacks against Israelis had claimed the lives of 42 citizens and injured over 600 and yet today’s resolutions made no mention of those victims.”
“Furthermore, the resolutions under discussion did not mention the internationally recognized terror organization Hamas. No one should delude themselves: supporting the resolutions and the inherent bias against Israel would not advance the cause of peace. Rather it would only make peace harder to achieve,” the representative added.
The US delegation meanwhile, said the US was “profoundly troubled by the submission of a disproportionate number of one-sided resolutions that had been designed to condemn Israel.”
The delegate continued, adding that “it (is) manifestly unjust that the United Nations, an institution founded on the idea that all nations should be treated equally, was so often used by Member States to treat Israel unequally.”
Lambasting the UN, the delegate continued, saying “three United Nations bodies in particular reflected the bias and unnecessary costs of such resolutions and wasted limited resources. Costing approximately $6.1 million in 2015, they did nothing to contribute to peace in the region.”
The US however did reiterate that it views the settlements as a stumbling block for peace.
Syria for its part, thanked the member states who voted for the resolution, saying the vote “sent a clear message to Israel that its killing, settlement expansion and forcible annexation of land ran counter to international principles.”
The next round: The UN Security Council
Meanwhile, the Israeli Foreign Ministry is expecting a tough fight against several anti-Israel resolutions which are due to be voted on at the UN Security Council before US President Obama leaves office.
There are three initiatives which especially worry Israel; initiatives from New Zealand, the Palestinians, and France.
New Zealand
New Zealand, which will be vacating its position on the council soon, wants to put forth a resolution which will require Israel to condemn settlement construction, condemn violence and incitement from both the Israelis and the Palestinians, condemn the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and call for an immediate re-start of negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis. A draft resolution is expected to be submitted in the coming days
The Palestinians
The Palestinians are trying to pass a resolution which will term the Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal. Israel is worried that such a decision will prepare the groundwork for sanctions, and be a precursor for an indictment against Israel at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
France
The French resolution calls for an international peace conference, which Israel has already expressed its opposition to. The opposition is premised on the fact that the initiative calls on a time table for discussions, and that should no agreement be reached, France will automatically recognize a Palestinian state.
Israel believes that the US will use its veto power over the French and Palestinian initiatives, yet is unsure as to US action towards the New Zealand initiative. This is because the New Zealand initiative does not seem to be unilaterally condemning one side or the other for incitement and violence.
While Israel is working primarily with the Americans in the Security Council, Israel is also working with other countries as well.
US Secretary of State is expected to discuss the issue at the upcoming Saban Forum.
29 nov 2016
Arab human rights organization resists Israeli plans to construct 1,600 settlement units, and expropriate 25,000 acres of Syrian land in the occupied Golan.
Al-Marsad: Arab Human Rights Center in the Golan announced, in a press release, that it has written to the European Union, European governments and the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council regarding Israel’s plans to expand Katrzin settlement and establish ‘Hermon National Park’ in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.
The Israeli Finance Ministry approved plans to build 1,600 additional settlement units in Katzrin in October. About 8,000 settlers live in Katzrin atop the destroyed Syrian villages of Qasrin, Shqef and Sanawber. It is the largest settlement in the occupied Syrian Golan.
“This will be the largest expansion of an illegal Israeli settlement in the Occupied Syrian Golan since the 1980s,” a letter from Al-Marsad to the Delegation of the European Union to Israel reads.
Al-Marsad: Arab Human Rights Center in the Golan announced, in a press release, that it has written to the European Union, European governments and the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council regarding Israel’s plans to expand Katrzin settlement and establish ‘Hermon National Park’ in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.
The Israeli Finance Ministry approved plans to build 1,600 additional settlement units in Katzrin in October. About 8,000 settlers live in Katzrin atop the destroyed Syrian villages of Qasrin, Shqef and Sanawber. It is the largest settlement in the occupied Syrian Golan.
“This will be the largest expansion of an illegal Israeli settlement in the Occupied Syrian Golan since the 1980s,” a letter from Al-Marsad to the Delegation of the European Union to Israel reads.
Illegal settlements and demolished villages in the occupied Syrian Golan. See: http://golan-marsad.org/en/map/
Al-Marsad also calls attention to a second Israeli plan for the occupied Syrian Golan, called ‘Hermon National Park.’ The park depends on appropriating 25,000 acres (more than 82,000 dunams) of agricultural land used by residents of Majd al-Shams and Ein Qynia.
Majd al-Shams stands to be particularly devastated by the plan: the park would surround the village from the north and west, thus prohibiting any future expansion of it and essentially besieging it. According to Al-Marsad, about 800 families living in Majd al-Shams are in urgent need of housing, but cannot secure an Israeli construction permit to build.
In hopes of disrupting the plans, Al-Marsad calls on:
The international community to strongly condemn plans for the construction of 1,600 settlement units in the illegal settlement of Katzrin and the planned expropriation of Syrian land under the guise of the ‘Hermon National Park’ plan; and obtain binding commitments from Israel that it will stop these activities.
The organization also “invites foreign governments and international organizations to send fact-finding missions to the Occupied Syrian Golan to witness, firsthand, the deteriorating human rights situation.”
Israel forcibly transferred 130,000 Syrians from the Golan and destroyed 300 of its towns and villages in 1967 to clear the way for its ongoing illegal occupation.
Al-Marsad also calls attention to a second Israeli plan for the occupied Syrian Golan, called ‘Hermon National Park.’ The park depends on appropriating 25,000 acres (more than 82,000 dunams) of agricultural land used by residents of Majd al-Shams and Ein Qynia.
Majd al-Shams stands to be particularly devastated by the plan: the park would surround the village from the north and west, thus prohibiting any future expansion of it and essentially besieging it. According to Al-Marsad, about 800 families living in Majd al-Shams are in urgent need of housing, but cannot secure an Israeli construction permit to build.
In hopes of disrupting the plans, Al-Marsad calls on:
The international community to strongly condemn plans for the construction of 1,600 settlement units in the illegal settlement of Katzrin and the planned expropriation of Syrian land under the guise of the ‘Hermon National Park’ plan; and obtain binding commitments from Israel that it will stop these activities.
The organization also “invites foreign governments and international organizations to send fact-finding missions to the Occupied Syrian Golan to witness, firsthand, the deteriorating human rights situation.”
Israel forcibly transferred 130,000 Syrians from the Golan and destroyed 300 of its towns and villages in 1967 to clear the way for its ongoing illegal occupation.
28 nov 2016
Israeli fighter jets at predawn Monday struck a UN site to the south of the occupied Golan Heights.
Israel’s Channel 2 quoted the occupation army spokesman as stating that the strike launched by the Israeli Air Forces came in response to gunfire unleashed on the Golani Brigade on Sunday while carrying out ordinary drills near the border fence with Syria.
He added that the strike targeted an abandoned site that was used by the UNIFIL forces, which retreated from the area due to the raging hostilities between the Syrian government battalions and the opposition militias. ISIS militias reportedly grabbed hold of the site.
This is the first time the Israeli occupation army claims responsibility for an attack on the Syrian territories, after it kept mum over dozens of similar raids.
Four unidentified fighters were killed Sunday in an exchange of fire with the Israeli occupation Golani Brigade near the Syrian borderland.
Israel’s Channel 2 quoted the occupation army spokesman as stating that the strike launched by the Israeli Air Forces came in response to gunfire unleashed on the Golani Brigade on Sunday while carrying out ordinary drills near the border fence with Syria.
He added that the strike targeted an abandoned site that was used by the UNIFIL forces, which retreated from the area due to the raging hostilities between the Syrian government battalions and the opposition militias. ISIS militias reportedly grabbed hold of the site.
This is the first time the Israeli occupation army claims responsibility for an attack on the Syrian territories, after it kept mum over dozens of similar raids.
Four unidentified fighters were killed Sunday in an exchange of fire with the Israeli occupation Golani Brigade near the Syrian borderland.
27 nov 2016
An onslaught launched by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Sunday morning, in response to alleged mortar shells that slammed into the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, killed four unidentified persons.
The Hebrew-language Maariv news site claimed an Israeli army patrol stationed near the southern Golan Heights was targeted with gunshots fired from the Syrian borders, at the same time as three mortar shells were dropped on the area. No injuries were reported in the alleged attack.
The same source added that the three mortar shells, which were unleashed from the Syrian territories, had slammed into the security fence.
A probe has been launched by the occupation army to find out about the reasons for the attacks launched from the Syrian borderland.
An Israeli army spokesman claimed that gunmen opened fire at Israeli soldiers while they were carrying out works near the border fence with Syria.
Israel’s Channel 2 quoted the spokesman as stating that the occupation army discharged barrages of machinegun fire in response to the attack.
Similar attacks have been occasionally recorded in the territory.
The Hebrew-language Maariv news site claimed an Israeli army patrol stationed near the southern Golan Heights was targeted with gunshots fired from the Syrian borders, at the same time as three mortar shells were dropped on the area. No injuries were reported in the alleged attack.
The same source added that the three mortar shells, which were unleashed from the Syrian territories, had slammed into the security fence.
A probe has been launched by the occupation army to find out about the reasons for the attacks launched from the Syrian borderland.
An Israeli army spokesman claimed that gunmen opened fire at Israeli soldiers while they were carrying out works near the border fence with Syria.
Israel’s Channel 2 quoted the spokesman as stating that the occupation army discharged barrages of machinegun fire in response to the attack.
Similar attacks have been occasionally recorded in the territory.
27 oct 2016
According to reports, the Israeli Finance Ministry has approved plans for the construction of 1,600 homes in the illegal Israeli settlement of Katzrin, in the occupied Syrian Golan. Katzrin is the largest Israeli settlement (population 8,000) in the Occupied Syrian Golan.
According to the PNN, it was built over the destroyed Syrian villages of Qasrin, Shqef and Sanawber, whose inhabitants were either forced to leave their homes by the Israeli army or were displaced by fighting, at the time of the Israeli occupation in 1967. Once the hostilities came to an end, the native inhabitants of these villages were forbidden from returning.
Israel began to establish settlements in occupied Golan within a month of the occupation. Today, there are approximately 23,000 Israeli settlers in the area, living in over 34 illegal settlements. The construction and expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Syrian Golan is illegal, under international law, and has been repeatedly condemned by the international community. Nonetheless, the Israeli government continues its policy of settlement expansion — indeed, only last year, the Israeli government announced plans for 100,000 new settlers to relocate to the region over the next five years.
Meanwhile, due to discriminatory land, housing and development policies, Syrian residential areas are severely overcrowded. As a result of severe restrictions imposed by Israeli planning committees, it is close to impossible for the native Syrian population, in the remaining Syrian villages of the Golan, to obtain building permits. Therefore, the people are forced to build homes without building permits, as this is the only way to meet their housing needs.
Consequently, Syrian home owners run the risk that their home could be destroyed: as was the case with Mr. Bassam Ibrahim, whose home in the Syrian village of Majdal Shams was demolished by Israeli authorities last month. Currently, the Syrian owners of between 80 – 90 houses have been notified that their homes are also due to be demolished.
Al-Marsad, an independent, not-for-profit, legal human rights organisation – and the only human rights organization operating in the occupied Syrian Golan, had strongly condemned the plans, and called on the Israeli government to abide by its obligations under international law, stop all illegal settlement expansion, and end discriminatory housing and development policies targeting the native Syrian population in the occupied Syrian Golan.
In addition, Al-Marsad called on the international community to strongly condemn plans for the illegal construction, and act to ensure that Israel abides by its obligations under international law.
According to the PNN, it was built over the destroyed Syrian villages of Qasrin, Shqef and Sanawber, whose inhabitants were either forced to leave their homes by the Israeli army or were displaced by fighting, at the time of the Israeli occupation in 1967. Once the hostilities came to an end, the native inhabitants of these villages were forbidden from returning.
Israel began to establish settlements in occupied Golan within a month of the occupation. Today, there are approximately 23,000 Israeli settlers in the area, living in over 34 illegal settlements. The construction and expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Syrian Golan is illegal, under international law, and has been repeatedly condemned by the international community. Nonetheless, the Israeli government continues its policy of settlement expansion — indeed, only last year, the Israeli government announced plans for 100,000 new settlers to relocate to the region over the next five years.
Meanwhile, due to discriminatory land, housing and development policies, Syrian residential areas are severely overcrowded. As a result of severe restrictions imposed by Israeli planning committees, it is close to impossible for the native Syrian population, in the remaining Syrian villages of the Golan, to obtain building permits. Therefore, the people are forced to build homes without building permits, as this is the only way to meet their housing needs.
Consequently, Syrian home owners run the risk that their home could be destroyed: as was the case with Mr. Bassam Ibrahim, whose home in the Syrian village of Majdal Shams was demolished by Israeli authorities last month. Currently, the Syrian owners of between 80 – 90 houses have been notified that their homes are also due to be demolished.
Al-Marsad, an independent, not-for-profit, legal human rights organisation – and the only human rights organization operating in the occupied Syrian Golan, had strongly condemned the plans, and called on the Israeli government to abide by its obligations under international law, stop all illegal settlement expansion, and end discriminatory housing and development policies targeting the native Syrian population in the occupied Syrian Golan.
In addition, Al-Marsad called on the international community to strongly condemn plans for the illegal construction, and act to ensure that Israel abides by its obligations under international law.