2 feb 2017
Jewish settlers on Wednesday seized and bulldozed 10 dunums of agricultural land in Jab’a village, west of Bethlehem in the West Bank.
Local sources said that the settlers flattened the land and destroyed its trees, which belongs to a Palestinian citizen called Khaled Masha’ila.
They expressed their belief that the settlers would use the land as a road to connect the settlements of Gush Etzion with the military roadblock, which separates the village from the 1948 occupied territories.
They warned that the settlers might appropriate more Palestinian lands in the village for their own use.
Local sources said that the settlers flattened the land and destroyed its trees, which belongs to a Palestinian citizen called Khaled Masha’ila.
They expressed their belief that the settlers would use the land as a road to connect the settlements of Gush Etzion with the military roadblock, which separates the village from the 1948 occupied territories.
They warned that the settlers might appropriate more Palestinian lands in the village for their own use.
1 feb 2017
The Israeli Knesset on Tuesday lifted a ban prohibiting its members from visiting the Aqsa Mosque, which has been exposed to growing desecration by Jewish settlers and officials since 2015.
According to Israel’s Channel 2, the ethics committee at the Knesset called on MKs to coordinate with the Israeli police and follow their instructions before visiting the Islamic holy site.
The committee made this decision in response to a request submitted by Knesset member Yehuda Glick, an extremist Jewish rabbi.
The channel noted that the decision was also politically motivated by the Israeli government.
The Knesset members were banned from entering the Aqsa Mosque compound in 2015 following a police warning that visits to the Islamic holy place by politicians could provoke violence.
According to Israel’s Channel 2, the ethics committee at the Knesset called on MKs to coordinate with the Israeli police and follow their instructions before visiting the Islamic holy site.
The committee made this decision in response to a request submitted by Knesset member Yehuda Glick, an extremist Jewish rabbi.
The channel noted that the decision was also politically motivated by the Israeli government.
The Knesset members were banned from entering the Aqsa Mosque compound in 2015 following a police warning that visits to the Islamic holy place by politicians could provoke violence.
Following the Israeli decision to remove the “Amona” illegal colonialist outpost, in the occupied West Bank, the government of Benjamin Netanyahu decided to build more than 3000 units for Jewish settlers, on illegally confiscated Palestinian lands.
The decision was officially announced by the office of Israel’s Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, in which it confirmed the approval of the 3000 units, in direct coordination with Netanyahu.
2000 of the approved illegal colonialist units have been designated for “immediate construction,” while the rest are in various stages of planning.
Lieberman, who himself is a colonialist settler living in Nokdim illegal colony, said that approximately 2000 units were “ready for marketing,” while the rest are in final stages of approval.
The Expansions were approved in the following illegal colonies
1. Alfie Menashe, central West Bank, 700 units.
2. Beit Arye, northern West Bank, 650 units.
3. Beitar Illit, west of Bethlehem, 650 units.
4. Oranit, Qalqilia – northern West Bank, 200 units.
5. Nokdim, south of Bethlehem, 150 units.
6. Givat Zeev, northwest of Jerusalem, 150 units.
7. Karnie Shomron, near Qalqilia in northern West Bank, 100 units.
8. Shilo, north of Ramallah, 100 units.
9. Metzudot Yehuda, northeast of Bethlehem, 100 units.
10. Kfar Eldad in Gush Etzion bloc, south of Bethlehem, 80 units.
11. Shavei Shomron, west of Nablus, 70 units.
12. Nofim, near Salfit, 50 units.
13. Efrat, south of Bethlehem, 30 units.
Lieberman said that the new approvals were part of what he called “restoring life to normal status in the West Bank, as the settlers need more homes,” and added that the decision was a continuation of last week’s approval of 2500 units.
The decision was made while the Palestinians continue to lose their lands for these colonies, including agricultural areas, and are unable to expand their communities, in various parts of the West Bank, including Jerusalem, in addition to being isolated from their orchards and farmlands, behind the Annexation Wall.
All Israeli colonies in the West Bank, including those in and around occupied East Jerusalem, are illegal under International Law, and the Fourth Geneva Convention, to which Israel is a signatory and a constant violator.
The decision was officially announced by the office of Israel’s Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, in which it confirmed the approval of the 3000 units, in direct coordination with Netanyahu.
2000 of the approved illegal colonialist units have been designated for “immediate construction,” while the rest are in various stages of planning.
Lieberman, who himself is a colonialist settler living in Nokdim illegal colony, said that approximately 2000 units were “ready for marketing,” while the rest are in final stages of approval.
The Expansions were approved in the following illegal colonies
1. Alfie Menashe, central West Bank, 700 units.
2. Beit Arye, northern West Bank, 650 units.
3. Beitar Illit, west of Bethlehem, 650 units.
4. Oranit, Qalqilia – northern West Bank, 200 units.
5. Nokdim, south of Bethlehem, 150 units.
6. Givat Zeev, northwest of Jerusalem, 150 units.
7. Karnie Shomron, near Qalqilia in northern West Bank, 100 units.
8. Shilo, north of Ramallah, 100 units.
9. Metzudot Yehuda, northeast of Bethlehem, 100 units.
10. Kfar Eldad in Gush Etzion bloc, south of Bethlehem, 80 units.
11. Shavei Shomron, west of Nablus, 70 units.
12. Nofim, near Salfit, 50 units.
13. Efrat, south of Bethlehem, 30 units.
Lieberman said that the new approvals were part of what he called “restoring life to normal status in the West Bank, as the settlers need more homes,” and added that the decision was a continuation of last week’s approval of 2500 units.
The decision was made while the Palestinians continue to lose their lands for these colonies, including agricultural areas, and are unable to expand their communities, in various parts of the West Bank, including Jerusalem, in addition to being isolated from their orchards and farmlands, behind the Annexation Wall.
All Israeli colonies in the West Bank, including those in and around occupied East Jerusalem, are illegal under International Law, and the Fourth Geneva Convention, to which Israel is a signatory and a constant violator.
30 jan 2017
A Palestinian civilian was aggressively attacked on Monday evening by a horde of Israeli settlers in the northern occupied West Bank province of Jenin.
Israeli settlers riding an Israeli bus hurled stones at 48-year-old Nahed Ahmad Qubha while he was driving in southwestern Jenin province, smashing the windshield of his private car.
Qubha was rushed to the An-Najah Hospital in Nablus so as to be urgently treated for the bruises he sustained in the assault.
The Israeli settlers reportedly attempted to prevent the injured Palestinian from reaching the hospital, before he managed to run away.
Israeli settlers riding an Israeli bus hurled stones at 48-year-old Nahed Ahmad Qubha while he was driving in southwestern Jenin province, smashing the windshield of his private car.
Qubha was rushed to the An-Najah Hospital in Nablus so as to be urgently treated for the bruises he sustained in the assault.
The Israeli settlers reportedly attempted to prevent the injured Palestinian from reaching the hospital, before he managed to run away.
The Washington Post newspaper disclosed that the new US president Donald Trump along with a number of his associates are among donors who fund Beit El settlement near Ramallah.
The American newspaper reported that Jewish settlers of Beit El are happy for Trump's inauguration as the US President and started development projects in Beit El settlement, which was established on Palestinian lands in 1977.
Beit El settlers have recently opened a religious school regardless of the controversy on constructing any new building in the settlement.
The report pointed out that many of Trump’s retinue have strong bonds with Israeli extremist right wing figures including David Friedman, who was nominated by Trump as the US ambassador to Israel. He also occupies the position of Head of the American Friends of Beit El Institution, which collects annual donations for the settlement estimated at 2 million American dollars.
The American newspaper reported that Jewish settlers of Beit El are happy for Trump's inauguration as the US President and started development projects in Beit El settlement, which was established on Palestinian lands in 1977.
Beit El settlers have recently opened a religious school regardless of the controversy on constructing any new building in the settlement.
The report pointed out that many of Trump’s retinue have strong bonds with Israeli extremist right wing figures including David Friedman, who was nominated by Trump as the US ambassador to Israel. He also occupies the position of Head of the American Friends of Beit El Institution, which collects annual donations for the settlement estimated at 2 million American dollars.
29 jan 2017
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested on Sunday two Palestinian teens near Karni Shomron settlement which is close to Nablus city over an anti-occupation alleged stabbing attempt.
Israeli reports revealed that Jewish settlers stopped two Palestinian school students, a girl and a boy, on suspicion of attempting to carry out a stabbing attack.
Photos published by Israeli media sources show Jewish settlers directing their guns at both minors. They forced them to wait until the IOF soldiers reached the place and rounded them up.
Israeli reports revealed that Jewish settlers stopped two Palestinian school students, a girl and a boy, on suspicion of attempting to carry out a stabbing attack.
Photos published by Israeli media sources show Jewish settlers directing their guns at both minors. They forced them to wait until the IOF soldiers reached the place and rounded them up.
The Israeli occupation police on Sunday morning persisted in allowing Jewish settlers to desecrate the Aqsa Mosque’s courtyards and provided protection for many of them during their tours.
According to local sources, the Israeli police allowed settlers to tour the Mosque’s yards in the morning through al-Maghariba Gate before closing it at 10:30 am.
The Islamic Awqaf Authority said that 35 extremist settlers toured the Mosque’s areas in groups under tight police guard.
Meanwhile, the Israeli police imposed entry restrictions on Muslim worshipers at the Mosque’s gates and prevented several of them from going in before the settlers left the Islamic holy site.
According to local sources, the Israeli police allowed settlers to tour the Mosque’s yards in the morning through al-Maghariba Gate before closing it at 10:30 am.
The Islamic Awqaf Authority said that 35 extremist settlers toured the Mosque’s areas in groups under tight police guard.
Meanwhile, the Israeli police imposed entry restrictions on Muslim worshipers at the Mosque’s gates and prevented several of them from going in before the settlers left the Islamic holy site.
28 jan 2017
A horde of Jewish settlers, some of them armed, stormed Kifl Haris town, north of Salfit in the West Bank, on Friday in an attempt to provoke the feelings of the Palestinian residents.
Eyewitnesses said that the settlers came to the town aboard a bus and performed rituals at historical sites, adding that they tried to provoke local citizens in order to stir up trouble leading them to use the guns they brought with them.
The village of Kifl Haris had been exposed to several assaults in 2016 by settlers and soldiers, who broke in aboard buses and sabotaged historical sites by spraying racist slurs against Arabs.
Kifl Haris is surrounded by the villages of Deir Istiya, Zeita, Jamma’in and Haris and inhabited by about 3,240 people.
Vast tracts of Kifl Haris land had been appropriated for the construction of Ariel settlement.
Eyewitnesses said that the settlers came to the town aboard a bus and performed rituals at historical sites, adding that they tried to provoke local citizens in order to stir up trouble leading them to use the guns they brought with them.
The village of Kifl Haris had been exposed to several assaults in 2016 by settlers and soldiers, who broke in aboard buses and sabotaged historical sites by spraying racist slurs against Arabs.
Kifl Haris is surrounded by the villages of Deir Istiya, Zeita, Jamma’in and Haris and inhabited by about 3,240 people.
Vast tracts of Kifl Haris land had been appropriated for the construction of Ariel settlement.
27 jan 2017
Several extremist Israeli colonists invaded, Friday, Palestinian orchards belonging to residents of the Al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem, before uprooting and steeling hundreds of olive saplings and grapevine seedlings.
Ahmad Salah, the coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Israeli Annexation Wall and Colonies in al-Khader, said the colonists came from Boaz illegal colonialist outpost, and invaded orchards and farmland in Ein al-Qassis area, west of al-Khader.
Salah added that the colonists uprooted 300 grapevine seedlings and 100 olive saplings, and stole them before fleeing the area. The lands are owned by the sons of late Mohammad Abdul-Salam Salah.
He stated that the colonists also stole rolls of barbwires and iron bars that the Palestinians brought to fence their lands to stop the ongoing Israeli vandalism of their orchards.
The colonists also invaded an orchard belonging to Husam Mustafa Salah, and uprooting fifty olive saplings before fleeing the area with them.
Salah said the Palestinians living in Ein al-Qassis area, are subject to ongoing violations and assaults by soldiers and colonialist settlers.
Ahmad Salah, the coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Israeli Annexation Wall and Colonies in al-Khader, said the colonists came from Boaz illegal colonialist outpost, and invaded orchards and farmland in Ein al-Qassis area, west of al-Khader.
Salah added that the colonists uprooted 300 grapevine seedlings and 100 olive saplings, and stole them before fleeing the area. The lands are owned by the sons of late Mohammad Abdul-Salam Salah.
He stated that the colonists also stole rolls of barbwires and iron bars that the Palestinians brought to fence their lands to stop the ongoing Israeli vandalism of their orchards.
The colonists also invaded an orchard belonging to Husam Mustafa Salah, and uprooting fifty olive saplings before fleeing the area with them.
Salah said the Palestinians living in Ein al-Qassis area, are subject to ongoing violations and assaults by soldiers and colonialist settlers.
26 jan 2017
Israeli settlers stormed Kafer Deik town in Salfit accompanied with five bulldozers and started leveling Palestinian lands Thursday morning.
Eyewitnesses affirmed that the bulldozed lands were located near Zahav, Leshem, and Bedoel illegal settlements.
The local activist Khaled Ma’ali pointed out that the bulldozing operations aimed at establishing new infrastructure for the three settlements.
25 Israeli settlements were illegally built at the expense of Salfit province in blatant violation of the international law.
Eyewitnesses affirmed that the bulldozed lands were located near Zahav, Leshem, and Bedoel illegal settlements.
The local activist Khaled Ma’ali pointed out that the bulldozing operations aimed at establishing new infrastructure for the three settlements.
25 Israeli settlements were illegally built at the expense of Salfit province in blatant violation of the international law.