31 jan 2015
A group of Jewish settlers uprooted on Saturday olive and almond trees near Yatta town in al-Khalil before fleeing the scene.
The coordinator of Anti-Wall and Settlement Committee in Yatta, Ratib al-Jabour, told Quds Press that the settlers came from Ma’oun settlement, which is established on Yatta land. They uprooted trees belonging to a Palestinian family.
Jabour pointed out that Yatta inhabitants saw the settlers, who were uprooting the trees, and chased them.
The coordinator of Anti-Wall and Settlement Committee in Yatta, Ratib al-Jabour, told Quds Press that the settlers came from Ma’oun settlement, which is established on Yatta land. They uprooted trees belonging to a Palestinian family.
Jabour pointed out that Yatta inhabitants saw the settlers, who were uprooting the trees, and chased them.
30 jan 2015
Israeli settlers attempted, Thursday, to kidnap a Palestinian toddler in one of the streets of Jabal al-Mokabber town, in occupied East Jerusalem.
Media sources said the settlers tried to kidnap Mohammad Ghassan Abu al-Jamal, 18 months of age, while walking with his brothers after leaving a local medical center in Jabal al-Mokabber.
The child’s uncle, Muawiya Abu al-Jamal, said Mohammad was walking approximately 8 meters ahead of his family members when a settler woman, who had her car parked nearby, stepped out of the vehicle and grabbed the child before running away.
The car was parked near Armon HaNetziv illegal settlement outpost; the settler woman stepped out of the car while another settler remained behind the wheel.
She grabbed the child and ran for approximately 20 meters, while his brothers chased her in an attempt to stop her, the Maan News Agency said.
The settler then started shouting, “Arabs, Arabs… they want to kill me,” before dropping the child and jumping into the vehicle that was waiting for her, and drove towards Armon HaNetziv.
The child is the son of Ghassan Abu al-Jamal, who was killed after he and his cousin Odai, attacked a Jewish Yeshiva in West Jerusalem, on November 18, 2014, killing four Israelis before they were both shot and killed by the Israeli Police.
Media sources said the settlers tried to kidnap Mohammad Ghassan Abu al-Jamal, 18 months of age, while walking with his brothers after leaving a local medical center in Jabal al-Mokabber.
The child’s uncle, Muawiya Abu al-Jamal, said Mohammad was walking approximately 8 meters ahead of his family members when a settler woman, who had her car parked nearby, stepped out of the vehicle and grabbed the child before running away.
The car was parked near Armon HaNetziv illegal settlement outpost; the settler woman stepped out of the car while another settler remained behind the wheel.
She grabbed the child and ran for approximately 20 meters, while his brothers chased her in an attempt to stop her, the Maan News Agency said.
The settler then started shouting, “Arabs, Arabs… they want to kill me,” before dropping the child and jumping into the vehicle that was waiting for her, and drove towards Armon HaNetziv.
The child is the son of Ghassan Abu al-Jamal, who was killed after he and his cousin Odai, attacked a Jewish Yeshiva in West Jerusalem, on November 18, 2014, killing four Israelis before they were both shot and killed by the Israeli Police.
29 jan 2015
Seven-year-old East Jerusalem schoolboy Mousa Zallum, who survived a kidnapping attempt in July of 2014, along with his 8-year-old brother Yahya, on Wednesday, identified the extremists who attempted to kidnap Mousa.
The two recognized by the Zallum boys also stand accused of kidnapping, torturing and ultimately murdering 16-year-old Muhammad Abu Khdeir from the same neighborhood only a day after they failed to kidnap Zallum.
"I heard the sound of a car braking as it entered Shufat. Then I heard the voice of Mousa shouting for help and calling out to me," Dina told the Israeli human rights group Btselem on July 7. With the help of his mother and his screams, which alerted passersby, Zallum escaped and the attackers fled the scene.
The defense attorney asked the boys several questions, focusing on small details, in an attempt to find discrepancies in their testimonies, family members who attended the hearing told Ma'an News Agency.
They said that, in most of the details, the boys gave similar information.
Both confirmed that the suspect assaulted Mousa and grabbed him by the throat before attempting to throw him into the car. Their mother intervened by attacking the settler in the head and, then, pulled Mousa back, the boys told the court.
Lawyer of the Abu Khdeir family Muhannad Jubara said that the defendants' lawyers tried "in vain" to mislead the boys by showing discrepancies between their testimony and what they told police investigators in July.
"Even if there is some discrepancy between what witnesses say in the initial investigation and what they say in the final investigation, that doesn't annul their testimony because of the time span between both," the lawyer added. The court, he said, has scheduled four more hearings for April and May.
For his part, the bereaved father of Muhammad Abu Khdeir said he felt relaxed, following Wednesday's hearing.
"For the first time, I exit the court hall relaxed and that is because the Zallum boys recognized two members of the gang who murdered my son Muhammad despite the attempts to practice pressure on them."
Three suspected Jewish extremists are still awaiting trial in Jerusalem.
The two recognized by the Zallum boys also stand accused of kidnapping, torturing and ultimately murdering 16-year-old Muhammad Abu Khdeir from the same neighborhood only a day after they failed to kidnap Zallum.
"I heard the sound of a car braking as it entered Shufat. Then I heard the voice of Mousa shouting for help and calling out to me," Dina told the Israeli human rights group Btselem on July 7. With the help of his mother and his screams, which alerted passersby, Zallum escaped and the attackers fled the scene.
The defense attorney asked the boys several questions, focusing on small details, in an attempt to find discrepancies in their testimonies, family members who attended the hearing told Ma'an News Agency.
They said that, in most of the details, the boys gave similar information.
Both confirmed that the suspect assaulted Mousa and grabbed him by the throat before attempting to throw him into the car. Their mother intervened by attacking the settler in the head and, then, pulled Mousa back, the boys told the court.
Lawyer of the Abu Khdeir family Muhannad Jubara said that the defendants' lawyers tried "in vain" to mislead the boys by showing discrepancies between their testimony and what they told police investigators in July.
"Even if there is some discrepancy between what witnesses say in the initial investigation and what they say in the final investigation, that doesn't annul their testimony because of the time span between both," the lawyer added. The court, he said, has scheduled four more hearings for April and May.
For his part, the bereaved father of Muhammad Abu Khdeir said he felt relaxed, following Wednesday's hearing.
"For the first time, I exit the court hall relaxed and that is because the Zallum boys recognized two members of the gang who murdered my son Muhammad despite the attempts to practice pressure on them."
Three suspected Jewish extremists are still awaiting trial in Jerusalem.
A consortium of Israel’s alleged temple mount organizations announced the launch of a new instructive course to edify Jewish women on the history of the alleged temple and current bids to construct it on the ruins of Muslims’ al-Aqsa Mosque.
A number of fanatic female Jews, active in the propaganda of the alleged temple, are expected to join the course, set to be delivered by Rivka Shimo in the illegal Israeli settlement of Kiryat Arba, south of the West Bank city of al-Khalil.
The syllabus is said to include a series of instructions and sermons, “half-truths” some historiographers would say, on the fake saga of the temple mount across various historical epochs.
A series of presentations on the rite of offering sacrifices to the mount on such occasions as childbirth, is set to be disseminated in the mystical curriculum, entitled “The Women and the Mount.”
The Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage, meanwhile, warned, in a press statement Wednesday, of the striking upsurge in such Judaization plots fostered by simmering calls to set Israel’s alleged holy shrine on the to-be wrecks of Muslims’ al-Aqsa Mosque.
The foundation further sounded alarm bells over Israeli intents to mobilize Jews’ back up of such Judaization schemes by appealing to both secular laics and fanatic devotees.
A number of fanatic female Jews, active in the propaganda of the alleged temple, are expected to join the course, set to be delivered by Rivka Shimo in the illegal Israeli settlement of Kiryat Arba, south of the West Bank city of al-Khalil.
The syllabus is said to include a series of instructions and sermons, “half-truths” some historiographers would say, on the fake saga of the temple mount across various historical epochs.
A series of presentations on the rite of offering sacrifices to the mount on such occasions as childbirth, is set to be disseminated in the mystical curriculum, entitled “The Women and the Mount.”
The Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage, meanwhile, warned, in a press statement Wednesday, of the striking upsurge in such Judaization plots fostered by simmering calls to set Israel’s alleged holy shrine on the to-be wrecks of Muslims’ al-Aqsa Mosque.
The foundation further sounded alarm bells over Israeli intents to mobilize Jews’ back up of such Judaization schemes by appealing to both secular laics and fanatic devotees.
A Jewish settler rammed into a vehicle carrying Palestinian teachers and sped away in Yatta town to the south of al-Khalil on Thursday. Many of the teachers got injured.
The Palestinian activist Ratib al-Jabour told the PIC reporter that the teachers work in a school in Yatta. The Jewish settler who was driving fast deliberately hit the vehicle and managed to flee, al-Jabour said.
He added that more than four teachers were injured and hospitalized.
Jabour charged that Palestinians are daily subjected to harassment at the hands of extremist Jewish settlers under protection of Israeli occupation forces.
The Palestinian activist Ratib al-Jabour told the PIC reporter that the teachers work in a school in Yatta. The Jewish settler who was driving fast deliberately hit the vehicle and managed to flee, al-Jabour said.
He added that more than four teachers were injured and hospitalized.
Jabour charged that Palestinians are daily subjected to harassment at the hands of extremist Jewish settlers under protection of Israeli occupation forces.
28 jan 2015
According to Haaretz, the head of the Israeli army's Central Command, Nitzan Alon, has appointed an officer to investigate how West Bank Civil Administration turned over lands worth millions of shekels to the Samaria Development Company, despite an explicit order not to do so.
2,400 dunams of West Bank Palestinian land were slated to become an industrial park, just across the Green Line from Rosh Ha'ayin settlement, in the northern occupied West Bank.
PNN reports that the park's establishment has been delayed for years by a three-way dispute between the Samaria Regional Council and the Elkana and Oranit settlements, over control of the highly valued property. Whichever locality controls it will get tens of millions of shekels in development fees and municipal taxes.
Israeli sources claim that Alon had no intention to transfer the land, and will open a probe to find out who signed the documents transferring responsibility for planning to the Samaria Development Company.
Essentially, this means land worth millions of shekels was allocated without a tender and, allegedly, behind Alon's back.
The company is jointly owned by the Samaria Regional Council and the settlements under its jurisdiction. It is headed by Gershon Mesika, who is also chairman of the Samaria Regional Council and a Likud party activist.
Alon reportedly discovered the land allocation by chance and decided to appoint Colonel Uri Mendes to investigate how it happened. The investigation is still in progress, but Haaretz has learned that Defense Ministry officials were apparently involved in the allocation.
Yesterday, Elkana Mayor Asaf Mintzer sent a letter to all the settlements' residents, welcoming Alon's decision to cancel the land allocation.
IOA illegally transfers 2400 Dunums of Qalqilya land to settlers
Haaretz Hebrew newspaper said on Wednesday that the Israeli Civil Administration in the West Bank transferred the responsibility over planning 2400 dunums of Palestinian land worth millions of shekels to the Samaria Development Company.
The Hebrew newspaper said the 2,400 dunums to be confiscated are located in northern Qalqilya near the Green Line close to Ras al-Ain.
The company plans to establish an industrial zone that would employ Palestinians at cheap wages.
Haaretz reported the establishment of the industrial zone has been planned for years, but the implementation was delayed. The delay was due to a three-way dispute between the Samaria Regional Council and the settlements Elkana and Oranit over control of the Palestinian lucrative property which will yield tens of millions of shekels.
Oranit and the Samaria Regional Council decided to split control of the site evenly while excluding Elkana.
2,400 dunams of West Bank Palestinian land were slated to become an industrial park, just across the Green Line from Rosh Ha'ayin settlement, in the northern occupied West Bank.
PNN reports that the park's establishment has been delayed for years by a three-way dispute between the Samaria Regional Council and the Elkana and Oranit settlements, over control of the highly valued property. Whichever locality controls it will get tens of millions of shekels in development fees and municipal taxes.
Israeli sources claim that Alon had no intention to transfer the land, and will open a probe to find out who signed the documents transferring responsibility for planning to the Samaria Development Company.
Essentially, this means land worth millions of shekels was allocated without a tender and, allegedly, behind Alon's back.
The company is jointly owned by the Samaria Regional Council and the settlements under its jurisdiction. It is headed by Gershon Mesika, who is also chairman of the Samaria Regional Council and a Likud party activist.
Alon reportedly discovered the land allocation by chance and decided to appoint Colonel Uri Mendes to investigate how it happened. The investigation is still in progress, but Haaretz has learned that Defense Ministry officials were apparently involved in the allocation.
Yesterday, Elkana Mayor Asaf Mintzer sent a letter to all the settlements' residents, welcoming Alon's decision to cancel the land allocation.
IOA illegally transfers 2400 Dunums of Qalqilya land to settlers
Haaretz Hebrew newspaper said on Wednesday that the Israeli Civil Administration in the West Bank transferred the responsibility over planning 2400 dunums of Palestinian land worth millions of shekels to the Samaria Development Company.
The Hebrew newspaper said the 2,400 dunums to be confiscated are located in northern Qalqilya near the Green Line close to Ras al-Ain.
The company plans to establish an industrial zone that would employ Palestinians at cheap wages.
Haaretz reported the establishment of the industrial zone has been planned for years, but the implementation was delayed. The delay was due to a three-way dispute between the Samaria Regional Council and the settlements Elkana and Oranit over control of the Palestinian lucrative property which will yield tens of millions of shekels.
Oranit and the Samaria Regional Council decided to split control of the site evenly while excluding Elkana.
An Israeli settler, Wednesday morning, assaulted a Palestinian teenager from the al-Thuri neighborhood, near Silwan, occupied East Jerusalem, while the boy was walking to school.
Jamil Gheith told Ma'an News Agency that the settler attempted to kidnap his 14-year-old son Ibrahim, but managed to flee the scene.
Mr. Gheith explained that a group of settlers from one of the illegal outposts in al-Thuri stopped their car while one stepped out and brutally attacked Ibrahim. The settler then tried to drag the boy forcibly into the car, but the boy started to scream for help and managed to run away.
Family members and other residents in the nearby houses heard the boy screaming and rushed to help him. At that point the attacker ran to the outpost and his escorts sped away, Geith said.
Locals called Israeli police who arrived and, instead of looking for the attacker, they began assaulting Palestinian residents who were at the site, including family members of the boy.
The victim was then taken to West Jerusalem's Shaare Zedek medical center, for treatment, while his father filed a complaint at an Israeli police station.
An Israeli police spokesman claimed he was looking into the report.
Jamil Gheith told Ma'an News Agency that the settler attempted to kidnap his 14-year-old son Ibrahim, but managed to flee the scene.
Mr. Gheith explained that a group of settlers from one of the illegal outposts in al-Thuri stopped their car while one stepped out and brutally attacked Ibrahim. The settler then tried to drag the boy forcibly into the car, but the boy started to scream for help and managed to run away.
Family members and other residents in the nearby houses heard the boy screaming and rushed to help him. At that point the attacker ran to the outpost and his escorts sped away, Geith said.
Locals called Israeli police who arrived and, instead of looking for the attacker, they began assaulting Palestinian residents who were at the site, including family members of the boy.
The victim was then taken to West Jerusalem's Shaare Zedek medical center, for treatment, while his father filed a complaint at an Israeli police station.
An Israeli police spokesman claimed he was looking into the report.
27 jan 2015
Extremist Jewish group of settlers stormed Tuesday morning the Aqsa Mosque under heavy police protection.
Eyewitnesses said the settlers toured the plazas of the holy Mosque while listening to Talmudic explanations.
Israeli policemen continue to hold the identity cards of some Jerusalemite women amid tight security measures.
Eyewitnesses said the settlers toured the plazas of the holy Mosque while listening to Talmudic explanations.
Israeli policemen continue to hold the identity cards of some Jerusalemite women amid tight security measures.
Hebrew sources disclosed an Israeli plan to encourage 120 thousand French Jews to come and settle in West Bank settlements within the coming four years.
Israeli Minister of Immigrant Absorption, Sofa Landver, presented a plan to the Israeli government called “National Emergency Plan to Bring French Jews to Israel”.
The Hebrew sources said the plan aims to summon 120 thousands of French Jews into occupied Palestine in the next four years. For that purpose, the Israeli ministries along with organizations will work on preparing the infrastructure for French Jews absorption and integration in the Israeli work market.
A number of Israeli ministers called for bringing the Jews living in France to be housed in settlements constructed on Palestinian lands in the West Bank. They also called for expanding the settlements to fit the expected large numbers of French Jews.
Israeli Minister of Immigrant Absorption, Sofa Landver, presented a plan to the Israeli government called “National Emergency Plan to Bring French Jews to Israel”.
The Hebrew sources said the plan aims to summon 120 thousands of French Jews into occupied Palestine in the next four years. For that purpose, the Israeli ministries along with organizations will work on preparing the infrastructure for French Jews absorption and integration in the Israeli work market.
A number of Israeli ministers called for bringing the Jews living in France to be housed in settlements constructed on Palestinian lands in the West Bank. They also called for expanding the settlements to fit the expected large numbers of French Jews.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Tuesday handed over demolition notifications against a number of homes and agricultural facilities in al-Khalil.
The PIC reporter quoted coordinator of the popular committee against settlement and apartheid wall in Yatta town Rateb Rajoub as saying that Israeli forces stormed this morning Teban village and handed two citizens three notifications to demolish their agricultural facilities.
The Israeli authorities have issued similar demolition notifications ten months ago in the town, aiming to forcibly displace the villagers to allow room for settlement expansion.
Meanwhile, Israeli settlers have bulldozed Tuesday morning a Palestinian-owned agricultural land in Salfit, to the north of the West Bank, under Israeli forces’ protection, eyewitnesses reported.
The Palestinian expert in settlement affairs Khaled Ma’ali said that the bulldozing process aims at expanding the near-by Amanoel industrial settlement.
The bulldozing process came in total violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention which prevents an occupying power from building settlements or factories in occupied territories.
The PIC reporter quoted coordinator of the popular committee against settlement and apartheid wall in Yatta town Rateb Rajoub as saying that Israeli forces stormed this morning Teban village and handed two citizens three notifications to demolish their agricultural facilities.
The Israeli authorities have issued similar demolition notifications ten months ago in the town, aiming to forcibly displace the villagers to allow room for settlement expansion.
Meanwhile, Israeli settlers have bulldozed Tuesday morning a Palestinian-owned agricultural land in Salfit, to the north of the West Bank, under Israeli forces’ protection, eyewitnesses reported.
The Palestinian expert in settlement affairs Khaled Ma’ali said that the bulldozing process aims at expanding the near-by Amanoel industrial settlement.
The bulldozing process came in total violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention which prevents an occupying power from building settlements or factories in occupied territories.
Hundreds of Jewish settlers stormed Yusuf tomb to the east of Nablus city at dawn Tuesday amidst heavy Israeli military escort.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that dozens of Israeli troops broke into the city after midnight to provide protection for the settlers who arrived shortly afterwards, at dawn Tuesday, in a number of buses to perform Talmudic rituals in the shrine.
The sources said that soldiers patrolled the streets of nearby Balata refugee camp and turned some homes into military checkpoints to protect the settlers after blowing up their doors.
The settlers' break-in into Yusuf tomb came one day after storming Awarta town east of Nablus, under the pretext of performing religious rituals.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that dozens of Israeli troops broke into the city after midnight to provide protection for the settlers who arrived shortly afterwards, at dawn Tuesday, in a number of buses to perform Talmudic rituals in the shrine.
The sources said that soldiers patrolled the streets of nearby Balata refugee camp and turned some homes into military checkpoints to protect the settlers after blowing up their doors.
The settlers' break-in into Yusuf tomb came one day after storming Awarta town east of Nablus, under the pretext of performing religious rituals.
26 jan 2015
Israeli policemen arrested at dawn Monday five Palestinian minors in Haifa city in 1948 Occupied Palestine, claiming they attacked a number of Jewish settlers.
Israeli police said, in a statement, the children are accused of assaulting and beating a group of settlers using sticks in Haifa city.
The statement added policemen interrogated the five Palestinian minors. It claimed that one of them has admitted the charge of attacking and beating settlers because a Jewish young man had attacked his mother two days earlier.
Israeli police said, in a statement, the children are accused of assaulting and beating a group of settlers using sticks in Haifa city.
The statement added policemen interrogated the five Palestinian minors. It claimed that one of them has admitted the charge of attacking and beating settlers because a Jewish young man had attacked his mother two days earlier.
Dozens of Jewish settlers escorted by troops on Monday morning stormed Awarta village, south of Nablus city, and performed rituals at Islamic sites.
Palestinian activist Abdul-Salam Awad told the Palestinian information center (PIC) that scores of Israeli soldiers and policemen were deployed in different areas of the village, especially near the cemetery, to secure the entry of Jewish settlers.
Awad said that loud ritual hymns and cries of settlers were heard throughout the village, noting that the troops were firing stun grenades and flares randomly as they were guarding the settlers.
Groups of extremist Jewish settlers enter the village every once in a while to perform prayers at Muslim religious figures ' tombs thinking they are Jewish shrines.
Extremist Settlers Storm Holy Sites near Nablus
Dozens of Israeli settlers, Monday, stormed Muslim religious sites in the village of Awarta, northwest of Nablus, and performed religious rituals exhibiting disrespect to Muslim residents, according to a local official.
Head of Awarta village council, Hani Darawsheh, told WAFA Palestinian News & Info Agency that a large number of settlers under the Israeli army’s protection stormed the village at dawn, and performed Jewish rituals at Muslim holy sites located at the western side of the village.
Settlers regularly attack Palestinians and their properties, including holy sites, both Christian and Muslim.
Al-Haq human rights organization stated that, “Attacks by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank against members of the Palestinian population and their property are an extensive, long-term, and worsening phenomenon.”
Al-Haq has documented a significant increase in incidents of settler violence against the Palestinian population of the occupied West Bank since 2011.
“In 2013, the report of the United Nations International Fact-Finding Mission on Settlements highlighted the failure of the Israeli authorities to enforce the law by investigating such incidents and taking measures against their perpetrators,” it said.
Israeli settlements are in violation of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which establishes that the occupying power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.
Al-Haq additionally stated that, “The illegal Israeli settlement policy of transferring Israeli civilians into occupied territory is directly responsible for creating a hostile environment that puts civilians, both Israeli and Palestinian, in harm's way.”
The Security Council, the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council and the International Court of Justice have all confirmed that the construction and expansion of Israeli settlements and other settlement-related activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are illegal under international law.
Palestinian activist Abdul-Salam Awad told the Palestinian information center (PIC) that scores of Israeli soldiers and policemen were deployed in different areas of the village, especially near the cemetery, to secure the entry of Jewish settlers.
Awad said that loud ritual hymns and cries of settlers were heard throughout the village, noting that the troops were firing stun grenades and flares randomly as they were guarding the settlers.
Groups of extremist Jewish settlers enter the village every once in a while to perform prayers at Muslim religious figures ' tombs thinking they are Jewish shrines.
Extremist Settlers Storm Holy Sites near Nablus
Dozens of Israeli settlers, Monday, stormed Muslim religious sites in the village of Awarta, northwest of Nablus, and performed religious rituals exhibiting disrespect to Muslim residents, according to a local official.
Head of Awarta village council, Hani Darawsheh, told WAFA Palestinian News & Info Agency that a large number of settlers under the Israeli army’s protection stormed the village at dawn, and performed Jewish rituals at Muslim holy sites located at the western side of the village.
Settlers regularly attack Palestinians and their properties, including holy sites, both Christian and Muslim.
Al-Haq human rights organization stated that, “Attacks by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank against members of the Palestinian population and their property are an extensive, long-term, and worsening phenomenon.”
Al-Haq has documented a significant increase in incidents of settler violence against the Palestinian population of the occupied West Bank since 2011.
“In 2013, the report of the United Nations International Fact-Finding Mission on Settlements highlighted the failure of the Israeli authorities to enforce the law by investigating such incidents and taking measures against their perpetrators,” it said.
Israeli settlements are in violation of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which establishes that the occupying power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.
Al-Haq additionally stated that, “The illegal Israeli settlement policy of transferring Israeli civilians into occupied territory is directly responsible for creating a hostile environment that puts civilians, both Israeli and Palestinian, in harm's way.”
The Security Council, the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council and the International Court of Justice have all confirmed that the construction and expansion of Israeli settlements and other settlement-related activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are illegal under international law.