20 may 2020

Israeli forces today ordered a halt on the construction of two mobile homes in al-Auja town, located to the north of Jericho city, said local sources.
Sources confirmed that Israeli forces handed Ali Rashayda a military notice, ordering him to evict his two mobile homes and stop their construction.
Horizontally located 10 kilometers to the north of Jercho, al-Auja has a population of some 5,470 and occupies a total area of some 107,000 dunums.
Under the Oslo Accords, an agreement made 25 years ago that was supposed to last just five years towards a self-governing country alongside Israel, the Palestinian Authority was given control over a small pocket of land classified as Area A, which occupies 16,519 dunams and accounts for 15.5 percent of the village’s total area. In contrast, Israel maintains control over the remainder, classified as Area C.
Israel has severely restricted Palestinian access to water in the area, particularly that local water springs, including 'Ein al-Auja (al-Auja spring), are located within Area C.
Local water springs are susceptible to dryness as a result of Israel’s control over water.
Israel have set up huge wells over the local hot water basins, reducing the quantity of water flowing from the spring and causing destruction to thousands of dunums of agricultural land irrigated by the water spring.
Israel has seized at least 2,257dunams belonging to the village for the construction of four nearby colonial settlements, 2,152 dunums for the construction of a military base, besides to more land for opening settler-only by-pass roads, pushing the villagers into a crowded enclave, a ghetto, surrounded by walls, settlements and military installations.
Israel demolishes Palestinian houses and structures almost on a daily basis as a means to achieve “demographic control” of the occupied territories.
Israel denies planning permits for Palestinians to build on their own land or to extend existing houses to accommodate natural growth, particularly in Jerusalem and Area C, which constitutes 60 percent of the occupied West Bank and falls under full Israeli military rule, forcing residents to build without obtaining rarely-granted permits to provide shelters for their families.
In contrast, Israel argues that building within existing colonial settlements is necessary to accommodate the “natural growth” of settlers. Therefore, it much more easily gives the estimated 550,000 Jewish Israeli settlers there building permits and provides them with roads, electricity, water and sewage systems that remain inaccessible to many neighboring Palestinians.
Sources confirmed that Israeli forces handed Ali Rashayda a military notice, ordering him to evict his two mobile homes and stop their construction.
Horizontally located 10 kilometers to the north of Jercho, al-Auja has a population of some 5,470 and occupies a total area of some 107,000 dunums.
Under the Oslo Accords, an agreement made 25 years ago that was supposed to last just five years towards a self-governing country alongside Israel, the Palestinian Authority was given control over a small pocket of land classified as Area A, which occupies 16,519 dunams and accounts for 15.5 percent of the village’s total area. In contrast, Israel maintains control over the remainder, classified as Area C.
Israel has severely restricted Palestinian access to water in the area, particularly that local water springs, including 'Ein al-Auja (al-Auja spring), are located within Area C.
Local water springs are susceptible to dryness as a result of Israel’s control over water.
Israel have set up huge wells over the local hot water basins, reducing the quantity of water flowing from the spring and causing destruction to thousands of dunums of agricultural land irrigated by the water spring.
Israel has seized at least 2,257dunams belonging to the village for the construction of four nearby colonial settlements, 2,152 dunums for the construction of a military base, besides to more land for opening settler-only by-pass roads, pushing the villagers into a crowded enclave, a ghetto, surrounded by walls, settlements and military installations.
Israel demolishes Palestinian houses and structures almost on a daily basis as a means to achieve “demographic control” of the occupied territories.
Israel denies planning permits for Palestinians to build on their own land or to extend existing houses to accommodate natural growth, particularly in Jerusalem and Area C, which constitutes 60 percent of the occupied West Bank and falls under full Israeli military rule, forcing residents to build without obtaining rarely-granted permits to provide shelters for their families.
In contrast, Israel argues that building within existing colonial settlements is necessary to accommodate the “natural growth” of settlers. Therefore, it much more easily gives the estimated 550,000 Jewish Israeli settlers there building permits and provides them with roads, electricity, water and sewage systems that remain inaccessible to many neighboring Palestinians.
14 may 2020

Israeli soldiers invaded, on Thursday morning, the al-Ras al-Ahmar and al-Baq’a Bedouin communities, in northern Jordan Valley of the occupied West Bank, and demolished livestock pens in addition to seizing water lines.
Human rights activist, Aref Daraghma, told WAFA Palestinian News & Info Agency that the soldiers invaded the al-Baqa’a area, before destroying and confiscating water pipelines, owned by a local, identified as Mowaffaq Daraghma.
He added that the soldiers also demolished several livestock pens, owned by Jarrah Bani Odah, in the Ras al-Ahmar area.
The two areas are subject to frequent Israeli invasions, including the demolition of homes, structures, barns, and irrigation lines, in addition to the bulldozing of farmlands and grazing areas, amidst constant plans to build and expands Israel’s illegal colonies, built on Palestinian lands in direct violation of International Law, and for military purposes, including live-fire training.
Human rights activist, Aref Daraghma, told WAFA Palestinian News & Info Agency that the soldiers invaded the al-Baqa’a area, before destroying and confiscating water pipelines, owned by a local, identified as Mowaffaq Daraghma.
He added that the soldiers also demolished several livestock pens, owned by Jarrah Bani Odah, in the Ras al-Ahmar area.
The two areas are subject to frequent Israeli invasions, including the demolition of homes, structures, barns, and irrigation lines, in addition to the bulldozing of farmlands and grazing areas, amidst constant plans to build and expands Israel’s illegal colonies, built on Palestinian lands in direct violation of International Law, and for military purposes, including live-fire training.
5 may 2020

Israeli forces demolished an agricultural structure, on Monday, in the Jordan Valley village of Tayasir, northern West Bank, according to activist Aref Daraghme.
Daraghme told Palestinian WAFA News Agency that soldiers invaded the village and demolished a small 36 square meter structure with an aluminum ceiling.
Authorities rationalized the demolition by claiming it was built without an Israeli permit.
In related news, the Israeli army delivered halt construction notices, with the intent to demolish Palestinian residential structures, according to local sources.
Sources told WAFA that Israeli authorities ordered a halt on construction and demolition of 2 Palestinian homes, belonging to residents of the village of Qarawat Bani Hassan, West of Salfit, central West Bank.
A third demolition also order was delivered to a small residential structure.
Israeli forces, on Monday, demolished 4 Palestinian agricultural facilities in al-Jiftlik village, northern Jordan Valley, the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) reported.
Sources said that Israeli soldiers stormed al-Aqaba area of the village demolishing an agricultural structure belonging to Murad Jaber.
Other structures destroyed by the army included a water well, a barn and a pool.
The PIC further noted that eyewitnesses said Israeli forces stormed agricultural land, south of Qalqilia City, delivered stop-work orders, confiscated agricultural equipment and abducted three Palestinian youths.
Daraghme told Palestinian WAFA News Agency that soldiers invaded the village and demolished a small 36 square meter structure with an aluminum ceiling.
Authorities rationalized the demolition by claiming it was built without an Israeli permit.
In related news, the Israeli army delivered halt construction notices, with the intent to demolish Palestinian residential structures, according to local sources.
Sources told WAFA that Israeli authorities ordered a halt on construction and demolition of 2 Palestinian homes, belonging to residents of the village of Qarawat Bani Hassan, West of Salfit, central West Bank.
A third demolition also order was delivered to a small residential structure.
Israeli forces, on Monday, demolished 4 Palestinian agricultural facilities in al-Jiftlik village, northern Jordan Valley, the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) reported.
Sources said that Israeli soldiers stormed al-Aqaba area of the village demolishing an agricultural structure belonging to Murad Jaber.
Other structures destroyed by the army included a water well, a barn and a pool.
The PIC further noted that eyewitnesses said Israeli forces stormed agricultural land, south of Qalqilia City, delivered stop-work orders, confiscated agricultural equipment and abducted three Palestinian youths.
26 mar 2020

Israeli forces Thursday demolished a farming shed and a water well in Deir Ballut town, west of Salfit city, according to an official.
Governor of Salfit Abdallah Kmeil said that Israeli forces escorted a bulldozer into Wadi Sarida area, where the heavy machinery tore down a farming shed and a water well belonging to Aziz Yusef Abdullah, a villager.
He noted that Israeli forces were exploiting the lockdown enforced on the occupied territories over coronavirus spread to expedite the implementation of their schemes to seize Palestinian land.
Located 15 kilometers to the west of Salfit city, Deir Ballut has a population of some 4,100 and occupied a total area of 11,900 dunams. It boasts several archeological sites dating back to the Byzantine era, such as St. Simeon Monastery and al-Qal'a Monastery.
Before 1948, the village owned 40,000 dunums of land (10,000 acres). In 1967, 20% of the land of Deir Ballut (or 2,000 acres) was confiscated into Israel.
Since then, like so many other villages in Palestine, Deir Ballut has been subjected to almost continual land theft for Israeli settlements, bypass roads, and military installations.
Under the Oslo Accords, an agreement made 25 years ago that was supposed to last just five years towards a self-governing country alongside Israel, the Palestinian Authority was given limied control over a small pocket of land occupying 621 dunams, accounting for almost 5 percent of the village’s total area. In contrast, Israel maintains control over the remainder, classified as Area C.
Israel has constructed a section of the apartheid wall, which encircles the village from three directions, confiscating and isolating some 4,050 dunams of fertile land for colonial settlement activities and pushing the villagers into a crowded enclave, a ghetto, surrounded by walls, settlements and military installations.
Israel has established two colonial settlements, namely Alei Zahav and Pedu’el, on lands confiscated from the village. It has confiscated more land for the construction of settler-only by-pass road 446, which extends two kilometers on the village’s land.
Israel demolishes Palestinian houses and structures almost on a daily basis as a means to achieve “demographic control” of the occupied territories.
Israel denies planning permits for Palestinians to build on their own land or to extend existing houses to accommodate natural growth, particularly in Jerusalem and Area C, which constitutes 60 percent of the occupied West Bank and falls under full Israeli military rule, forcing residents to build without obtaining rarely-granted permits to provide shelters for their families.
In contrast, Israel argues that building within existing colonial settlements is necessary to accommodate the “natural growth” of settlers. Therefore, it much more easily gives the estimated 550,000 Jewish Israeli settlers there building permits and provides them with roads, electricity, water and sewage systems that remain inaccessible to many neighboring Palestinians.
Governor of Salfit Abdallah Kmeil said that Israeli forces escorted a bulldozer into Wadi Sarida area, where the heavy machinery tore down a farming shed and a water well belonging to Aziz Yusef Abdullah, a villager.
He noted that Israeli forces were exploiting the lockdown enforced on the occupied territories over coronavirus spread to expedite the implementation of their schemes to seize Palestinian land.
Located 15 kilometers to the west of Salfit city, Deir Ballut has a population of some 4,100 and occupied a total area of 11,900 dunams. It boasts several archeological sites dating back to the Byzantine era, such as St. Simeon Monastery and al-Qal'a Monastery.
Before 1948, the village owned 40,000 dunums of land (10,000 acres). In 1967, 20% of the land of Deir Ballut (or 2,000 acres) was confiscated into Israel.
Since then, like so many other villages in Palestine, Deir Ballut has been subjected to almost continual land theft for Israeli settlements, bypass roads, and military installations.
Under the Oslo Accords, an agreement made 25 years ago that was supposed to last just five years towards a self-governing country alongside Israel, the Palestinian Authority was given limied control over a small pocket of land occupying 621 dunams, accounting for almost 5 percent of the village’s total area. In contrast, Israel maintains control over the remainder, classified as Area C.
Israel has constructed a section of the apartheid wall, which encircles the village from three directions, confiscating and isolating some 4,050 dunams of fertile land for colonial settlement activities and pushing the villagers into a crowded enclave, a ghetto, surrounded by walls, settlements and military installations.
Israel has established two colonial settlements, namely Alei Zahav and Pedu’el, on lands confiscated from the village. It has confiscated more land for the construction of settler-only by-pass road 446, which extends two kilometers on the village’s land.
Israel demolishes Palestinian houses and structures almost on a daily basis as a means to achieve “demographic control” of the occupied territories.
Israel denies planning permits for Palestinians to build on their own land or to extend existing houses to accommodate natural growth, particularly in Jerusalem and Area C, which constitutes 60 percent of the occupied West Bank and falls under full Israeli military rule, forcing residents to build without obtaining rarely-granted permits to provide shelters for their families.
In contrast, Israel argues that building within existing colonial settlements is necessary to accommodate the “natural growth” of settlers. Therefore, it much more easily gives the estimated 550,000 Jewish Israeli settlers there building permits and provides them with roads, electricity, water and sewage systems that remain inaccessible to many neighboring Palestinians.

Israeli forces today demolished a residential structure and seized tents and other equipment in the Jordan Valley village of Ibziq, north of the occupied West Bank city of Tubas, according to a local official.
Abdul Majeed Khdeirat, head of Ibziq village council, said Israeli forces raided the village and destroyed a 70-square-meter shack and two water and electricity pumps.
He added that the forces also seized eight tents that were not set up yet, solar panels, six spraying equipment, and building blocks for use by the village's mosque, clinic and council, under the pretext that the construction was taking place in a military zone.
Abdul Majeed Khdeirat, head of Ibziq village council, said Israeli forces raided the village and destroyed a 70-square-meter shack and two water and electricity pumps.
He added that the forces also seized eight tents that were not set up yet, solar panels, six spraying equipment, and building blocks for use by the village's mosque, clinic and council, under the pretext that the construction was taking place in a military zone.
21 mar 2020

Marking World Water Day and World Meteorological Day 2020, which coincide tomorrow and after tomorrow consecutively, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) and the Palestinian Meteorological Department (PMD) said in a joint press release the Israeli occupation authority controls more than 85 percent of the Palestinian water sources in the occupied territories.
A per capita average of 87 liters per day of water consumption in the West Bank and Gaza Strip is still below the internationally recommended level, said the press release, which is mainly due to the Israeli control over more than 85 percent of the Palestinian water sources.
Palestine mainly relies on water extracted from ground water resources, where its percentage reached 77% of available water, they said, explaining that the main reason behind the low use of surface water is due to the fact that the Israeli occupation prevents Palestinians from accessing and extracting water from the Jordan River, in addition to preventing the Palestinians from using water from valleys.
With scarce water and Israeli restrictions on access to resources, Palestinian cities are forced to purchase water from the Israeli water company, Mekorot. In 2018, they purchased 22% of the water available in Palestine, said the joint press release.
Moreover, said the press release, the pumping of water from the coastal aquifers for domestic use in the Gaza Strip has led to the depletion of groundwater reserves, with the groundwater level in the coastal aquifer reaching 19 meters below sea level, and it also led to the overlapping of sea water and sewage water filtered into the basin.
“More than 97% of the water pumped from the coastal aquifer in Gaza Strip does not meet the water quality standards of the World Health Organization,” they warned.
The data, they added, “highlighted and foreseen the possibility of facing of a real catastrophe in Gaza strip, which made the Palestinian Water Authority intensify and increase its efforts to rescue the water situation as well as mitigate the effects of this difficult situation on the daily life of about 2 million persons in Gaza Strip.”
According to 2018 data, Palestine has started producing quantities of desalinated water that is expected to increase in the upcoming years with the start of operating ed quantity desalinated water stations in Gaza Strip; however, these quantities will greatly increase with the implementation of the program of the Central Desalination Station.
Currently, the Palestinian Water Authority and Palestinian Meteorological Department, in cooperation with related local authorities, are implementing a number of programs aiming to monitor and evaluate the effects of the climate change, produce necessary reports in this regards, in addition to preparing required plans to adapt with these effects in the future, concluded the press release.
A per capita average of 87 liters per day of water consumption in the West Bank and Gaza Strip is still below the internationally recommended level, said the press release, which is mainly due to the Israeli control over more than 85 percent of the Palestinian water sources.
Palestine mainly relies on water extracted from ground water resources, where its percentage reached 77% of available water, they said, explaining that the main reason behind the low use of surface water is due to the fact that the Israeli occupation prevents Palestinians from accessing and extracting water from the Jordan River, in addition to preventing the Palestinians from using water from valleys.
With scarce water and Israeli restrictions on access to resources, Palestinian cities are forced to purchase water from the Israeli water company, Mekorot. In 2018, they purchased 22% of the water available in Palestine, said the joint press release.
Moreover, said the press release, the pumping of water from the coastal aquifers for domestic use in the Gaza Strip has led to the depletion of groundwater reserves, with the groundwater level in the coastal aquifer reaching 19 meters below sea level, and it also led to the overlapping of sea water and sewage water filtered into the basin.
“More than 97% of the water pumped from the coastal aquifer in Gaza Strip does not meet the water quality standards of the World Health Organization,” they warned.
The data, they added, “highlighted and foreseen the possibility of facing of a real catastrophe in Gaza strip, which made the Palestinian Water Authority intensify and increase its efforts to rescue the water situation as well as mitigate the effects of this difficult situation on the daily life of about 2 million persons in Gaza Strip.”
According to 2018 data, Palestine has started producing quantities of desalinated water that is expected to increase in the upcoming years with the start of operating ed quantity desalinated water stations in Gaza Strip; however, these quantities will greatly increase with the implementation of the program of the Central Desalination Station.
Currently, the Palestinian Water Authority and Palestinian Meteorological Department, in cooperation with related local authorities, are implementing a number of programs aiming to monitor and evaluate the effects of the climate change, produce necessary reports in this regards, in addition to preparing required plans to adapt with these effects in the future, concluded the press release.