6 feb 2017
Palestinian residents of the Nablus-area village of Burqa went to check on their farmlands on the outskirts of the village Monday to find some 700 olive and almond trees cut down, allegedly by Israeli settlers from a nearby illegal settlement.
Ghassan Daghlas, an official who monitors settlement related activities in the northern West Bank, told Ma'an that the trees, which belonged to Khalid Salah, Mahmoud Daghlas, and Khalid Nasser, were planted nine years ago in the al-Qubeibat and al-Qusour areas east of Burqa.
The trees, added Daghlas, were planted two years after the eviction of the nearby Homesh settlement which was located in northwest Nablus. He explained to Ma'an that after the eviction, the Palestinian land-owners obtained decisions from Israeli courts including the high court that neither settlers, nor Israeli forces would harass the land owners.
However, he said, in 2016 settlers started to "camp" in the area under protection of Israeli troops making it very difficult for farmers to tend their fields and water their trees.
One of the landowners, Khalid Salah, managed to reach his field on Monday and notified other farmers, as well as Daghlas, that Israeli settlers had chopped down all the trees they planted in 2007.
Daghlas added that Burqa villagers will organize a protest in the fields on Friday.
When asked if there were photos of the cut-down trees, Daghlas said the presence of Israeli troops and settlers made it difficult for farmers to reach the fields and take photos.
An Israeli spokesperson for COGAT, the agency responsible for implementing Israeli government policies in the occupied territory, was not immediately available for comment on the incident.
Ghassan Daghlas, an official who monitors settlement related activities in the northern West Bank, told Ma'an that the trees, which belonged to Khalid Salah, Mahmoud Daghlas, and Khalid Nasser, were planted nine years ago in the al-Qubeibat and al-Qusour areas east of Burqa.
The trees, added Daghlas, were planted two years after the eviction of the nearby Homesh settlement which was located in northwest Nablus. He explained to Ma'an that after the eviction, the Palestinian land-owners obtained decisions from Israeli courts including the high court that neither settlers, nor Israeli forces would harass the land owners.
However, he said, in 2016 settlers started to "camp" in the area under protection of Israeli troops making it very difficult for farmers to tend their fields and water their trees.
One of the landowners, Khalid Salah, managed to reach his field on Monday and notified other farmers, as well as Daghlas, that Israeli settlers had chopped down all the trees they planted in 2007.
Daghlas added that Burqa villagers will organize a protest in the fields on Friday.
When asked if there were photos of the cut-down trees, Daghlas said the presence of Israeli troops and settlers made it difficult for farmers to reach the fields and take photos.
An Israeli spokesperson for COGAT, the agency responsible for implementing Israeli government policies in the occupied territory, was not immediately available for comment on the incident.
Groups of Israeli settlers have once again stormed the al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem, escorted by several Israeli troops on Monday morning.
Heavily-armed Israeli forces were deployed in large numbers in the holy Islamic compound in order to pave the way for the settlers’ break-in via al-Magharibeh gate.
Meanwhile, tight restrictions have been imposed on the entry of Palestinian worshipers to their holy shrine.
The occupied Palestinian territories have witnessed rising tensions ever since Israeli forces imposed restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in August 2015 while allowing free access for the Jewish settlers.
Heavily-armed Israeli forces were deployed in large numbers in the holy Islamic compound in order to pave the way for the settlers’ break-in via al-Magharibeh gate.
Meanwhile, tight restrictions have been imposed on the entry of Palestinian worshipers to their holy shrine.
The occupied Palestinian territories have witnessed rising tensions ever since Israeli forces imposed restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in August 2015 while allowing free access for the Jewish settlers.
Head of Madama village council Tala’at Ziada raised alarm bells over the Israeli escalated settlement construction in the village, south of Nablus.
He warned against the seriousness of the settlers’ continued attacks on the village, calling for putting an end to “this serious arrogance.”
Ziada pointed out that settlers from Yitzhar illegal settlement continue to storm the village on almost daily basis and steal the local water wells.
He called on international rights groups and the concerned authorities to stand firmly against such illegal practices.
He told the PIC reporter that the settlers have sized large agricultural lands located in the Palestinian villages, south of Nablus, and have recently started planting grapes.
He warned against the seriousness of the settlers’ continued attacks on the village, calling for putting an end to “this serious arrogance.”
Ziada pointed out that settlers from Yitzhar illegal settlement continue to storm the village on almost daily basis and steal the local water wells.
He called on international rights groups and the concerned authorities to stand firmly against such illegal practices.
He told the PIC reporter that the settlers have sized large agricultural lands located in the Palestinian villages, south of Nablus, and have recently started planting grapes.
The Israeli occupation forces at daybreak Monday kidnapped two Palestinians from eastern Nablus, at the same time as Israeli settlers broke into Islamic holy shrines in the area.
Palestinian youngsters Mohamed Bishkar and Bassem al-Afghani were kidnapped by the IOF from their family homes in Askar al-Jadeed camp, in eastern Nablus.
At the same time, hundreds of Israeli settlers stormed Nablus’s southeastern town of Ourata and performed sacrilegious rituals in Islamic holy shrines.
Overnight, the IOF cordoned off traffic circles in western Jenin province, in the northern West Bank, before they stormed al-Tiba town, where Palestinians had been subjected to intensive questioning. The IOF reportedly wreaked havoc on Palestinian commercial shops.
The occupation troops further set up checkpoints across the Jenin-Haifa road and inspected Palestinian vehicles driving in the area.
Palestinian youngsters Mohamed Bishkar and Bassem al-Afghani were kidnapped by the IOF from their family homes in Askar al-Jadeed camp, in eastern Nablus.
At the same time, hundreds of Israeli settlers stormed Nablus’s southeastern town of Ourata and performed sacrilegious rituals in Islamic holy shrines.
Overnight, the IOF cordoned off traffic circles in western Jenin province, in the northern West Bank, before they stormed al-Tiba town, where Palestinians had been subjected to intensive questioning. The IOF reportedly wreaked havoc on Palestinian commercial shops.
The occupation troops further set up checkpoints across the Jenin-Haifa road and inspected Palestinian vehicles driving in the area.
4 feb 2017
On Saturday evening, several extremist Israeli colonists, living in outposts illegally established on Palestinian lands in the West Bank’s Northern Plains, attacked Palestinian Shepherds, and forced them out of grazing lands.
The WAFA Palestinian News Agency quoted Aref Daraghma, an expert in Israeli settlements’ file and violations, stating that the colonists attacked many shepherds, and chased them out of Palestinian grazing lands.
Daraghma added that the attack was part of repeated violations that escalated, several months ago, after the colonists installed tents, creating illegal colonist outposts, in Khirbit Mzoqah and Khallet Ahmad areas.
He stated that the colonists have since then frequently chased the Palestinian shepherd, and assaulted many of them, to gain control over the area.
The WAFA Palestinian News Agency quoted Aref Daraghma, an expert in Israeli settlements’ file and violations, stating that the colonists attacked many shepherds, and chased them out of Palestinian grazing lands.
Daraghma added that the attack was part of repeated violations that escalated, several months ago, after the colonists installed tents, creating illegal colonist outposts, in Khirbit Mzoqah and Khallet Ahmad areas.
He stated that the colonists have since then frequently chased the Palestinian shepherd, and assaulted many of them, to gain control over the area.
Israeli fanatic settlers from Yitzhar settlement on Saturday evening assaulted the Palestinian citizen Salim Salameh from Huwara town.
Official of settlement file in the northern West Bank, Ghassan Daghlas, said that a group of Jewish settlers attempted to storm Huwara town from its western entrance but they were confronted by residents. The extremist settlers, however, smashed the windshields of a number of cars with stones.
In a similar context, Israeli occupation forces on Saturday closed a tunnel road connecting ten towns located to the northwest of Occupied Jerusalem to Ramallah city. Hundreds of Palestinians’ cars have been trapped in the tunnel since the morning hours, eyewitnesses reported.
Official of settlement file in the northern West Bank, Ghassan Daghlas, said that a group of Jewish settlers attempted to storm Huwara town from its western entrance but they were confronted by residents. The extremist settlers, however, smashed the windshields of a number of cars with stones.
In a similar context, Israeli occupation forces on Saturday closed a tunnel road connecting ten towns located to the northwest of Occupied Jerusalem to Ramallah city. Hundreds of Palestinians’ cars have been trapped in the tunnel since the morning hours, eyewitnesses reported.
A horde of fanatic Jewish settlers on Saturday attacked Palestinian children, families and homes in at-Tuwani village, south of al-Khalil, while soldiers assaulted citizens in al-Khalil city and blocked roads leading to Azzun town, east of Qalqilya.
According to Quds Press, a group of settlers escorted by Israeli soldiers attacked in the afternoon today several homes in al-Tuwani village, tried to take over two homes, and assaulted their residents, including children.
A local resident said that the settlers tried for several hours to forcibly seize one of the houses, but citizens managed to fend them off, pointing out that the soldiers who came with the settlers physically assaulted an elderly woman in her home.
At-Tuwani is a small Palestinian village in the southern hills of al-Khalil governorate. Many of the village’s impoverished residents live in caves because of Israel’s repeated demolition of their homes.
The village is located near the illegal Israeli settlement of Ma’on. The local residents suffer from frequent attacks by settlers and soldiers and they are deprived of using their natural resources.
According to Quds Press, a group of settlers escorted by Israeli soldiers attacked in the afternoon today several homes in al-Tuwani village, tried to take over two homes, and assaulted their residents, including children.
A local resident said that the settlers tried for several hours to forcibly seize one of the houses, but citizens managed to fend them off, pointing out that the soldiers who came with the settlers physically assaulted an elderly woman in her home.
At-Tuwani is a small Palestinian village in the southern hills of al-Khalil governorate. Many of the village’s impoverished residents live in caves because of Israel’s repeated demolition of their homes.
The village is located near the illegal Israeli settlement of Ma’on. The local residents suffer from frequent attacks by settlers and soldiers and they are deprived of using their natural resources.
Salah an-Natsha 42
In a separate incident, a large number of Israeli troops in the afternoon of the same day were deployed at roads leading to Azzun town in Qalqilya, north of the West Bank, and closed its main entrance.
Local sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that soldiers aboard three patrol vehicles were stationed at the main entrance to Azzun, particularly on the road leading to Qalqilya and closed it with a barrier.
In a separate incident, a large number of Israeli troops in the afternoon of the same day were deployed at roads leading to Azzun town in Qalqilya, north of the West Bank, and closed its main entrance.
Local sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that soldiers aboard three patrol vehicles were stationed at the main entrance to Azzun, particularly on the road leading to Qalqilya and closed it with a barrier.
Falah an-Natsha 23
Another military force set up a barrier on the road between Azzun and Izbat Attabib village, intercepted passing citizens and checked their IDs.
In an earlier incident, Israeli soldiers physically assaulted on Friday night citizens from the family of an-Natsha in the Old City of al-Khalil.
According to a PIC reporter, soldiers severely beat Salah an-Natsha, 42, and Falah an-Natsha, 23, during their presence in front of their home in the Old City of al-Khalil.
The two citizens suffered injuries in their faces and chests and received medical care in a local hospital.
Another military force set up a barrier on the road between Azzun and Izbat Attabib village, intercepted passing citizens and checked their IDs.
In an earlier incident, Israeli soldiers physically assaulted on Friday night citizens from the family of an-Natsha in the Old City of al-Khalil.
According to a PIC reporter, soldiers severely beat Salah an-Natsha, 42, and Falah an-Natsha, 23, during their presence in front of their home in the Old City of al-Khalil.
The two citizens suffered injuries in their faces and chests and received medical care in a local hospital.
Over 1,200 Jewish settlers from the illegal settlement of Pisgat Ze’ev in Occupied Jerusalem recently signed a petition calling for preventing the establishment of a Palestinian industrial and commercial zone in the nearby town of Shuafat.
According the Hebrew newspaper Iroshalim, the petition claims that this Palestinian business zone will be created near roads leading to Pisgat Ze’ev and thus any riots that may occur in the area would impose a closure on the settlement.
The settlers also expressed fears in their petition that the value of housing units will fall and that the settlement would also be exposed to security threats.
They threatened that any member of the municipal council in the holy city supports this project would not be welcome in the settlement or dealt with, adding that they would also boycott the political party which this member belongs to during elections.
However, there is still no information when this project will be carried out, the newspaper noted.
According the Hebrew newspaper Iroshalim, the petition claims that this Palestinian business zone will be created near roads leading to Pisgat Ze’ev and thus any riots that may occur in the area would impose a closure on the settlement.
The settlers also expressed fears in their petition that the value of housing units will fall and that the settlement would also be exposed to security threats.
They threatened that any member of the municipal council in the holy city supports this project would not be welcome in the settlement or dealt with, adding that they would also boycott the political party which this member belongs to during elections.
However, there is still no information when this project will be carried out, the newspaper noted.
3 feb 2017
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced, on Wednesday, plans to build new settlement for Jewish settlers evacuated from the illegal outpost of Amona.
The new settlement would be the first one to be officially planned, approved and built in some 25 years.
While Israel stopped establishing new settlements in the early 1990s, outposts set up since then have been retroactively given approval, and existing settlements have expanded their footprints, sometimes being neighbourhoods of existing settlements in name only.
In a statement, Netanyahu’s office said he had instructed a team to look into possible locations for the new settlement. The team consists of his chief of staff, representatives of the settlement movement and defence Minister Avigdor Liberman’s adviser for settlement affairs.
The statement said, according to Days of Palestine, that Netanyahu — just a month and a half ago — promised the settlers a new settlement if efforts to save Amona failed.
The announcement was made as police were evacuating the West Bank outpost, which the Israeli High Court of Justice has long held was built on privately owned Palestinian land.
After years of legal wrangling, the High Court in 2014 ordered the government to evacuate and demolish the hilltop settlement by December 25, 2016.
But, under fierce pressure from settlers and their Knesset supporters, the government sought to reach a compromise with residents that would allow them to remain in their settlement without circumventing the court.
In late December, a deal was struck that would see 24 of the outpost’s 41 families moved to an adjacent plot of land on the same hilltop, while the rest would relocate to the nearby settlement of Ofra.
In the less than two weeks, since new American President Donald Trump took office, Israel has announced the construction of some 6,000 new homes in existing settlements, drawing rebuke from the international community.
The Trump White House has remained silent, a dramatic departure from the vocal condemnations issued by Obama.
The new settlement would be the first one to be officially planned, approved and built in some 25 years.
While Israel stopped establishing new settlements in the early 1990s, outposts set up since then have been retroactively given approval, and existing settlements have expanded their footprints, sometimes being neighbourhoods of existing settlements in name only.
In a statement, Netanyahu’s office said he had instructed a team to look into possible locations for the new settlement. The team consists of his chief of staff, representatives of the settlement movement and defence Minister Avigdor Liberman’s adviser for settlement affairs.
The statement said, according to Days of Palestine, that Netanyahu — just a month and a half ago — promised the settlers a new settlement if efforts to save Amona failed.
The announcement was made as police were evacuating the West Bank outpost, which the Israeli High Court of Justice has long held was built on privately owned Palestinian land.
After years of legal wrangling, the High Court in 2014 ordered the government to evacuate and demolish the hilltop settlement by December 25, 2016.
But, under fierce pressure from settlers and their Knesset supporters, the government sought to reach a compromise with residents that would allow them to remain in their settlement without circumventing the court.
In late December, a deal was struck that would see 24 of the outpost’s 41 families moved to an adjacent plot of land on the same hilltop, while the rest would relocate to the nearby settlement of Ofra.
In the less than two weeks, since new American President Donald Trump took office, Israel has announced the construction of some 6,000 new homes in existing settlements, drawing rebuke from the international community.
The Trump White House has remained silent, a dramatic departure from the vocal condemnations issued by Obama.
Hundreds of Israeli settlers stormed at daybreak Friday Islamic shrines in Nablus’s southern town of Ourata and performed sacrilegious rituals.
Speaking with PIC, Palestinian resident of Ourata, Ali Louleh, said Israeli settler hordes, escorted by Israeli military forces, flocked, late on Thursday evening, to the Hawara checkpoint, to the south of Nablus.
Around 10 buses carrying Israeli settlers showed up at the scene, Louleh stated.
According to Louleh, the Israeli settlers broke into al-Uzair and al-Sab’ine holy sites while heavily-armed Israeli troops have been deployed on the main access roads to the town to protect the settlers.
Overnight, the Israeli forces closed the Hawara checkpoint after Israeli settler groups announced their intent to defile Islamic shrines in Ourata.
Researcher Abdul Salam Awad, a native of Ourata town, also told the PIC that the voices of the settlers as they burst into hysterics in the break-in have come out boisterous.
Awad warned that such assaults make part of Israeli attempts to Judaize Islamic shrines and hold sway over Palestinian land in the area.
Speaking with PIC, Palestinian resident of Ourata, Ali Louleh, said Israeli settler hordes, escorted by Israeli military forces, flocked, late on Thursday evening, to the Hawara checkpoint, to the south of Nablus.
Around 10 buses carrying Israeli settlers showed up at the scene, Louleh stated.
According to Louleh, the Israeli settlers broke into al-Uzair and al-Sab’ine holy sites while heavily-armed Israeli troops have been deployed on the main access roads to the town to protect the settlers.
Overnight, the Israeli forces closed the Hawara checkpoint after Israeli settler groups announced their intent to defile Islamic shrines in Ourata.
Researcher Abdul Salam Awad, a native of Ourata town, also told the PIC that the voices of the settlers as they burst into hysterics in the break-in have come out boisterous.
Awad warned that such assaults make part of Israeli attempts to Judaize Islamic shrines and hold sway over Palestinian land in the area.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Thursday evening blocked Palestinians’ access out of and into southern Nablus via the Hawara military checkpoint.
Reporting from the northern occupied West Bank province of Nablus, a PIC news correspondent said the IOF closed the Hawara checkpoint, to the south, and barred Palestinians from reaching their homes and workplaces.
Dozens of Palestinian vehicles and passengers lined up in the street after the IOF sealed off the checkpoint.
At the same time, a horde of Israeli settlers was spotted at the checkpoint and attempted to attack the Palestinians.
The Israeli occupation army has tightened military grip around Palestinians’ neck across the West Bank in an attempt to squash anti-occupation activism.
Reporting from the northern occupied West Bank province of Nablus, a PIC news correspondent said the IOF closed the Hawara checkpoint, to the south, and barred Palestinians from reaching their homes and workplaces.
Dozens of Palestinian vehicles and passengers lined up in the street after the IOF sealed off the checkpoint.
At the same time, a horde of Israeli settlers was spotted at the checkpoint and attempted to attack the Palestinians.
The Israeli occupation army has tightened military grip around Palestinians’ neck across the West Bank in an attempt to squash anti-occupation activism.