25 oct 2017
Palestinian farmers in Deir al-Hatab town, east of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, reported on Wednesday that Elon More settlement near the city flooded dozens of their olive trees with sewage water on Tuesday evening.
As a result, large areas of their agricultural lands were spoiled.
Zakaria al-Siddeh, official of field operations at Rabbis for Human Rights organization said that the Palestinian farmers discovered, in the morning, the tremendous damage when they visited their lands in order to pick the olives.
As a result, large areas of their agricultural lands were spoiled.
Zakaria al-Siddeh, official of field operations at Rabbis for Human Rights organization said that the Palestinian farmers discovered, in the morning, the tremendous damage when they visited their lands in order to pick the olives.
Dozens of Israeli settlers stormed Wednesday morning the plazas of al-Aqsa Mosque via al-Magharibah gate under heavy police protection.
The PIC reporter stated that 82 settlers, in successive groups and over a period of four hours, broke into the courtyards of al-Aqsa Mosque under protection by Israeli policemen and heavily armed Special Forces who escorted settlers while roaming the plazas of the holy site.
The police confiscated the IDs of a number of Palestinian worshipers at the entry gates to al-Aqsa Mosque and gave them colored cards instead while being at the holy shrine.
The PIC reporter stated that 82 settlers, in successive groups and over a period of four hours, broke into the courtyards of al-Aqsa Mosque under protection by Israeli policemen and heavily armed Special Forces who escorted settlers while roaming the plazas of the holy site.
The police confiscated the IDs of a number of Palestinian worshipers at the entry gates to al-Aqsa Mosque and gave them colored cards instead while being at the holy shrine.
Israeli settlers on Wednesday morning scoured the Cemetery of slain Iraqi soldiers south of Jenin province, under heavy military escort.
Reporting from the northern occupied West Bank province of Jenin, a PIC news correspondent said Israeli soldiers cordoned off al-Shuhadaa Square and Berkin at daybreak and sealed off the area with a military checkpoint before they took live pictures of Palestinian homes and buildings.
Israeli settlers also showed up in the area and stormed the cemetery of the Iraqi Army’s martyrs who fought in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
Reporting from the northern occupied West Bank province of Jenin, a PIC news correspondent said Israeli soldiers cordoned off al-Shuhadaa Square and Berkin at daybreak and sealed off the area with a military checkpoint before they took live pictures of Palestinian homes and buildings.
Israeli settlers also showed up in the area and stormed the cemetery of the Iraqi Army’s martyrs who fought in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
24 oct 2017
Dozens of Jewish settlers on Tuesday morning stormed the courtyards of al-Aqsa Mosque under the escort of Israeli police special forces.
Quds Press reported that 54 Israeli settlers entered the Mosque from al-Maghareba Gate and roamed its courtyards before leaving the site via al-Silsila Gate.
The news agency added that a large number of Israeli policemen and armed special forces provided protection for the settlers who broke into al-Aqsa Mosque in four consecutive groups over four hours.
It pointed out that the Israeli police confiscated the IDs of a number of Palestinian worshipers at al-Aqsa gates and gave them instead colored cards containing the name of the gate from which they entered.
Based on data collected by Quds Press, nearly 432 Israelis broke into al-Aqsa Mosque last week, including settlers, students, and intelligence officers.
Quds Press reported that 54 Israeli settlers entered the Mosque from al-Maghareba Gate and roamed its courtyards before leaving the site via al-Silsila Gate.
The news agency added that a large number of Israeli policemen and armed special forces provided protection for the settlers who broke into al-Aqsa Mosque in four consecutive groups over four hours.
It pointed out that the Israeli police confiscated the IDs of a number of Palestinian worshipers at al-Aqsa gates and gave them instead colored cards containing the name of the gate from which they entered.
Based on data collected by Quds Press, nearly 432 Israelis broke into al-Aqsa Mosque last week, including settlers, students, and intelligence officers.
Israeli colonists flooded, Tuesday, dozens of Palestinian olive trees with sewage water, in Deir al-Hatab town, east of the northern West Bank city of Nablus.
Coordinator of the Israeli Rabbis for Human Rights organization in the occupied West Bank, Zakaria al-Sidda, said the colonists flooded the olive orchards near Elon Moreh illegal colony.
He added that the Palestinian owners of the olive orchards have been isolated from them, and are only allowed to reach them twice a year through special permits and coordination.
The coordinator also stated that the colonists already picked many olive trees in the area, and stole the produce, especially since they have unrestricted access to the orchards.
Although attacks carried out by extremist colonists are frequent, including uprooting and burning Palestinian lands and flooding them with wastewater, they witness a serious escalation every year during the olive harvest season.
Coordinator of the Israeli Rabbis for Human Rights organization in the occupied West Bank, Zakaria al-Sidda, said the colonists flooded the olive orchards near Elon Moreh illegal colony.
He added that the Palestinian owners of the olive orchards have been isolated from them, and are only allowed to reach them twice a year through special permits and coordination.
The coordinator also stated that the colonists already picked many olive trees in the area, and stole the produce, especially since they have unrestricted access to the orchards.
Although attacks carried out by extremist colonists are frequent, including uprooting and burning Palestinian lands and flooding them with wastewater, they witness a serious escalation every year during the olive harvest season.
23 oct 2017
A Palestinian committee in the city of Hebron, in the southern occupied West Bank, has reportedly received an order by the Israeli Supreme Court to evacuate a group of Israeli settlers illegally occupying a Palestinian home in the area.
The home, which belongs to the Abu Rajab family, has been embroiled in a legal battle with Israeli settlers who claim that they purchased the rights to the home, though the Palestinian homeowners and the Israeli state have maintained that the settlers forged the documents.
Despite several court orders preventing the settlers from moving into the home, they forcibly took over the home in late July.
The state of Israel ordered the 15 settlers families living in the Abu Rajab house to evacuate last month, however, the Israeli Supreme Court ordered, in September, to delay the evacuation, based on an appeal submitted by the settlers.
According to Palestinian activists, who held a sit-in protest in front of the home on Friday, the Hebron Reconstruction Committee “was able to issue an order by the Israeli Supreme Court to evacuate Israeli settlers of the Abu Rajab building as it was proven that their entrance to the building was not legal.”
During the sit-in, Israeli forces detained coordinator of the Youth against Settlement group Issa Amro, according to Ma’an News Agency.
Located in the center of Hebron — one of the largest cities in the occupied West Bank — the Old City was divided into Palestinian and Israeli-controlled areas, H1 and H2, following the Ibrahimi Mosque massacre. The Abu Rajab home is located near to this mosque.
Some 800 notoriously aggressive Israeli settlers now live under the protection of the Israeli military in the Old City, surrounded by more than 30,000 Palestinians.
Palestinian residents of the Old City face a large Israeli military presence on a daily basis, with at least 20 checkpoints set up at the entrances of many streets, as well as the entrance of the Ibrahimi Mosque itself.
The home, which belongs to the Abu Rajab family, has been embroiled in a legal battle with Israeli settlers who claim that they purchased the rights to the home, though the Palestinian homeowners and the Israeli state have maintained that the settlers forged the documents.
Despite several court orders preventing the settlers from moving into the home, they forcibly took over the home in late July.
The state of Israel ordered the 15 settlers families living in the Abu Rajab house to evacuate last month, however, the Israeli Supreme Court ordered, in September, to delay the evacuation, based on an appeal submitted by the settlers.
According to Palestinian activists, who held a sit-in protest in front of the home on Friday, the Hebron Reconstruction Committee “was able to issue an order by the Israeli Supreme Court to evacuate Israeli settlers of the Abu Rajab building as it was proven that their entrance to the building was not legal.”
During the sit-in, Israeli forces detained coordinator of the Youth against Settlement group Issa Amro, according to Ma’an News Agency.
Located in the center of Hebron — one of the largest cities in the occupied West Bank — the Old City was divided into Palestinian and Israeli-controlled areas, H1 and H2, following the Ibrahimi Mosque massacre. The Abu Rajab home is located near to this mosque.
Some 800 notoriously aggressive Israeli settlers now live under the protection of the Israeli military in the Old City, surrounded by more than 30,000 Palestinians.
Palestinian residents of the Old City face a large Israeli military presence on a daily basis, with at least 20 checkpoints set up at the entrances of many streets, as well as the entrance of the Ibrahimi Mosque itself.
22 oct 2017
The Hebrew newspaper Maariv reported on Sunday that members of Israeli Knesset of the government coalition intend to present a new bill to the Ministerial Committee for Legislation blocking the eviction of Jewish-only settlements in the northern West bank.
According to the newspaper, both MKs Shuli Mualem, of the Jewish Home, and David Bitan, head of the government coalition of Likud party, will present the bill based on an agreement with Head of the Shomron Regional Council Yossi Dagan.
The bill will allow Jewish settlers to return to the settlements that were evicted in 2005 including Sanur, Kadim, Homesh and others.
According to the newspaper, both MKs Shuli Mualem, of the Jewish Home, and David Bitan, head of the government coalition of Likud party, will present the bill based on an agreement with Head of the Shomron Regional Council Yossi Dagan.
The bill will allow Jewish settlers to return to the settlements that were evicted in 2005 including Sanur, Kadim, Homesh and others.
Dozens of Israeli settlers stormed Sunday morning the plazas of al-Aqsa Mosque from al-Magharibah gate under heavy police protection.
Quds Press stated that 74 settlers broke into the courtyards of al-Aqsa Mosque under intense protection by Israeli policemen and heavily armed Special Forces who escorted settlers while roaming the plazas of the holy site amid receiving Talmudic explanation.
The settlers also provoked Muslim worshipers at al-Silsila exit gate by singing and performing dances and Talmudic rituals, Quds Press added.
Quds Press stated that 74 settlers broke into the courtyards of al-Aqsa Mosque under intense protection by Israeli policemen and heavily armed Special Forces who escorted settlers while roaming the plazas of the holy site amid receiving Talmudic explanation.
The settlers also provoked Muslim worshipers at al-Silsila exit gate by singing and performing dances and Talmudic rituals, Quds Press added.
Dozens of Israeli settlers on Saturday evening broke into Palestinian neighborhoods in the southern occupied West Bank province al-Khalil, sparking unrest across the city.
A PIC news correspondent said Israeli settlers, escorted by army patrols, broke into the Old City of al-Khalil and stoned Palestinian homes.
The settlers also yelled racist slogans and called for forcing the Palestinians out of their homes in the city.
An anti-settlement activist said clashes burst out in the area, where the Israeli occupation forces attacked the Palestinian protesters with teargas canisters, resulting in several suffocation cases.
Heavily-armed Israeli troops have been spotted across the old City of al-Khalil since daybreak.
At the same time, the Israeli soldiers sealed off Bypass Road 60, near the northern entrance to al-Khalil, with a makeshift roadblock, where Palestinian civilians and drivers were subjected to exhaustive inspection.
A PIC news correspondent said Israeli settlers, escorted by army patrols, broke into the Old City of al-Khalil and stoned Palestinian homes.
The settlers also yelled racist slogans and called for forcing the Palestinians out of their homes in the city.
An anti-settlement activist said clashes burst out in the area, where the Israeli occupation forces attacked the Palestinian protesters with teargas canisters, resulting in several suffocation cases.
Heavily-armed Israeli troops have been spotted across the old City of al-Khalil since daybreak.
At the same time, the Israeli soldiers sealed off Bypass Road 60, near the northern entrance to al-Khalil, with a makeshift roadblock, where Palestinian civilians and drivers were subjected to exhaustive inspection.
Several Israeli colonists invaded, on Saturday at night, the al-Ein al-Jadeeda area, south of Tal Romedia, in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, while carrying wooden boards and some construction tools, in preparation for establishing a new illegal outpost.
The Youth Coalition against Settlements in Hebron said the attack was carried out by colonists from existing nearby illegal outposts.
The al-Ein al-Jadeeda area is a historic site the dates to the Mamluk era, and is under the supervision of the Islamic Waqf and Endowment Department, but the colonists frequently target it.
The legal office of the Hebron Construction Committee has been trying to stop these violations by heading to Israeli courts and filing appeals against the ongoing violations, but the colonists continue their illegal takeover, amidst encouragement by some Israeli leaders, in addition to the inaction of the Israeli military and the ‘legal system’, that runs the illegal occupation of Palestine.
The Youth Coalition against Settlements in Hebron said the attack was carried out by colonists from existing nearby illegal outposts.
The al-Ein al-Jadeeda area is a historic site the dates to the Mamluk era, and is under the supervision of the Islamic Waqf and Endowment Department, but the colonists frequently target it.
The legal office of the Hebron Construction Committee has been trying to stop these violations by heading to Israeli courts and filing appeals against the ongoing violations, but the colonists continue their illegal takeover, amidst encouragement by some Israeli leaders, in addition to the inaction of the Israeli military and the ‘legal system’, that runs the illegal occupation of Palestine.
Several Israeli colonists invaded, on Sunday at dawn, Palestinian olive orchards, in al-Mughayyir village, northeast of Ramallah, and Burin village, south of Nablus, in the occupied West Bank, before harvesting the trees and stealing the procedure.
The colonists, from Adi Ad illegal colony, invaded Palestinian orchards in the al-Mughayyir village, and harvested more than 200 olive trees, before fleeing the area with the stolen produce.
A similar attack took place in Palestinian orchards in Burin town, when the invading colonists harvested sixty olive trees and stole the produce.
Such attacks witness a serious escalation every year during the olive harvest season, in addition to the numerous invasions and attacks targeting Palestinian farmlands throughout the year.
These attacks include burning the lands, uprooting them, flooding them with waste-water and chemicals, in addition to fencing them to expand the illegal colonies and outposts.
The colonists, from Adi Ad illegal colony, invaded Palestinian orchards in the al-Mughayyir village, and harvested more than 200 olive trees, before fleeing the area with the stolen produce.
A similar attack took place in Palestinian orchards in Burin town, when the invading colonists harvested sixty olive trees and stole the produce.
Such attacks witness a serious escalation every year during the olive harvest season, in addition to the numerous invasions and attacks targeting Palestinian farmlands throughout the year.
These attacks include burning the lands, uprooting them, flooding them with waste-water and chemicals, in addition to fencing them to expand the illegal colonies and outposts.
21 oct 2017
Several extremist Israeli colonists attacked, Friday, a Palestinian man, while picking his olive trees, in his orchard, in the al-Khader town, south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem.
The colonists attacked the man, Ibrahim Mohammad Sbeih, 58, in his olive orchard in the al-‘Amara area, close to the illegal Sidi Boaz colonialist outpost.
Palestinian medical sources said the man suffered several cuts and bruises to his head and chest.
Ahmad Salah, the coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Annexation Wall and Colonies in al-Khader, said the Palestinian was attacked by the colonists, who tried to occupy his land, 4 Dunams, by placing fences, to encircle it.
The lands in question are planted with Olive trees, and grapevines, Salah added.
It is worth mentioning that the attack is one of the frequent assaults by the colonists, against the Palestinian and his brothers, as the colonists are trying to illegally confiscate their lands, and frequently prevented them from entering them.
The colonists attacked the man, Ibrahim Mohammad Sbeih, 58, in his olive orchard in the al-‘Amara area, close to the illegal Sidi Boaz colonialist outpost.
Palestinian medical sources said the man suffered several cuts and bruises to his head and chest.
Ahmad Salah, the coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Annexation Wall and Colonies in al-Khader, said the Palestinian was attacked by the colonists, who tried to occupy his land, 4 Dunams, by placing fences, to encircle it.
The lands in question are planted with Olive trees, and grapevines, Salah added.
It is worth mentioning that the attack is one of the frequent assaults by the colonists, against the Palestinian and his brothers, as the colonists are trying to illegally confiscate their lands, and frequently prevented them from entering them.
20 oct 2017
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Thursday imposed a night-time curfew on Kifl Hares town, north of Salfit in the West Bank, to provide protection for groups of Jewish settlers as they performed rituals at Palestinian historical sites.
Local sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that a large number of settlers stormed, under military escort, the town aboard buses and visited three historical sites they claim to be holy Jewish shrines belonging to prophets.
They added that scores of soldiers spread throughout the town and banned the movement of local residents during the presence of those settlers at the sites.
The Kifl Hares residents suffer from settlers’ repeated break-ins at historical areas in the town, and there are Palestinian fears of Israel intents to seize these areas.
Local sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that a large number of settlers stormed, under military escort, the town aboard buses and visited three historical sites they claim to be holy Jewish shrines belonging to prophets.
They added that scores of soldiers spread throughout the town and banned the movement of local residents during the presence of those settlers at the sites.
The Kifl Hares residents suffer from settlers’ repeated break-ins at historical areas in the town, and there are Palestinian fears of Israel intents to seize these areas.
19 oct 2017
The Israeli higher court of justice on Wednesday evening issued a verdict ordering the Israeli police to evacuate a group of Jewish settlers from a Palestinian house belonging to the family of Abu Rajab in the Old City of al-Khalil.
Head of al-Khalil rehabilitation committee Imad Hamdan told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that his committee filed through a lawyer several lawsuits and appeals with the Israeli higher court until it was able to extract a final decision from the Israeli public prosecution ordering the removal of all settlers from the house.
With the help of the Israeli army and police, the settlers forcibly broke into the house on July 25, 2017 and evicted the Palestinian residents (the owners), and they have been staying there illegally since then.
They had already taken over the house in 2012 and 2013, but they were evacuated later.
The home has been the subject of a long-standing legal case, with settlers claiming they legally purchased the property.
However, the Abu Rajab family rejects that claim, and Israel's civil administration has admitted that the settlers have been unable to provide proof of that purchase.
Head of al-Khalil rehabilitation committee Imad Hamdan told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that his committee filed through a lawyer several lawsuits and appeals with the Israeli higher court until it was able to extract a final decision from the Israeli public prosecution ordering the removal of all settlers from the house.
With the help of the Israeli army and police, the settlers forcibly broke into the house on July 25, 2017 and evicted the Palestinian residents (the owners), and they have been staying there illegally since then.
They had already taken over the house in 2012 and 2013, but they were evacuated later.
The home has been the subject of a long-standing legal case, with settlers claiming they legally purchased the property.
However, the Abu Rajab family rejects that claim, and Israel's civil administration has admitted that the settlers have been unable to provide proof of that purchase.
A Jewish settler on Wednesday evening assaulted a Palestinian elderly woman in Jit village, west of Nablus city in the occupied West Bank, while others stole olive crops in the southern town of Qaryut.
Activist Zakaria Sadah, field coordinator at Rabbis for Human Rights, reported that a settler from Havat Gilad outpost brutalized an old female farmer woman called Fatima Arman, expelled her from her land under threat, and ripped out bags of olives she was carrying into thorny bushes.
Sadah affirmed there was prior coordination with the Israeli military authorities to allow local farmers to access their lands in the area.
In another incident, Sadah documented with photos widespread acts of sabotage committed by settlers in olive groves in Qaryut town, south of Nablus.
He said that a group of settlers made off with a large number of olive fruits from dozens of trees in the area, accusing the Israeli police of being lenient with settlers who commit crimes against Palestinian farmers and their lands in the West Bank.
He added that the police released a settler notorious for stealing olive crops from Palestinian groves a few days ago and only decided to give him a written order prohibiting him from getting near Palestinian agricultural areas during the olive harvest season.
Activist Zakaria Sadah, field coordinator at Rabbis for Human Rights, reported that a settler from Havat Gilad outpost brutalized an old female farmer woman called Fatima Arman, expelled her from her land under threat, and ripped out bags of olives she was carrying into thorny bushes.
Sadah affirmed there was prior coordination with the Israeli military authorities to allow local farmers to access their lands in the area.
In another incident, Sadah documented with photos widespread acts of sabotage committed by settlers in olive groves in Qaryut town, south of Nablus.
He said that a group of settlers made off with a large number of olive fruits from dozens of trees in the area, accusing the Israeli police of being lenient with settlers who commit crimes against Palestinian farmers and their lands in the West Bank.
He added that the police released a settler notorious for stealing olive crops from Palestinian groves a few days ago and only decided to give him a written order prohibiting him from getting near Palestinian agricultural areas during the olive harvest season.
18 oct 2017
Israel’s Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan stated on Wednesday that he intends to encourage Israeli settlers to carry arms for their personal safety, during the inauguration ceremony of the new firearms licensing bureau in the city of Ramla.
"We'll do this to supply better personal safety to all Israeli citizens," said Erdan.
Erdan stressed that he feels this move to be necessary in light of the recent inter-Palestinian reconciliation agreement between the Ramallah-based Fatah party and the Gaza-based Hamas party.
"Fatah has only been part of incitements and paying of terrorists," claimed Erdan.
"Unfortunately, we're not heading toward a better place," said Erdan. "Today, we're talking about a terrorist government comprised of the Palestinian Authority, Fatah and Hamas. We will no doubt find ourselves in even more complex situation and waves of severe incitement, which will lead to more terrorists deciding to carry out attacks."
"We'll enlarge the number of license carriers, so that as many qualified citizens, with the necessary background, would be willing to take it upon themselves to train and keep them in the required fitness level," added Erdan.
Observers say Erdan’s comments are a new excuse meant to lead negotiations to a deadlock, since Israel has never wanted the West Bank to reconnect with Gaza.
Erdan's words echoed similar statements made by other Israeli officials on Tuesday, when the Israeli security cabinet decided that Israel will not negotiate with the Palestinians until Hamas is disarmed among other conditions.
"We'll do this to supply better personal safety to all Israeli citizens," said Erdan.
Erdan stressed that he feels this move to be necessary in light of the recent inter-Palestinian reconciliation agreement between the Ramallah-based Fatah party and the Gaza-based Hamas party.
"Fatah has only been part of incitements and paying of terrorists," claimed Erdan.
"Unfortunately, we're not heading toward a better place," said Erdan. "Today, we're talking about a terrorist government comprised of the Palestinian Authority, Fatah and Hamas. We will no doubt find ourselves in even more complex situation and waves of severe incitement, which will lead to more terrorists deciding to carry out attacks."
"We'll enlarge the number of license carriers, so that as many qualified citizens, with the necessary background, would be willing to take it upon themselves to train and keep them in the required fitness level," added Erdan.
Observers say Erdan’s comments are a new excuse meant to lead negotiations to a deadlock, since Israel has never wanted the West Bank to reconnect with Gaza.
Erdan's words echoed similar statements made by other Israeli officials on Tuesday, when the Israeli security cabinet decided that Israel will not negotiate with the Palestinians until Hamas is disarmed among other conditions.