Israeli Occupation To Confiscate Private Palestinian Land In al-Isawiya, East Jerusalem

JERUSALEM (Ma’an) – Officers of the Israeli municipal council of Jerusalem on Monday posted confiscation orders on vast areas of private Palestinian land in the East Jerusalem town of al-Isawiya, says a local committee member.Muhammad Abu al-Hummus told Ma’an that the maps and confiscation warrants were left in the land in the southern outskirt of al-Isawiya. The warrants, signed by the mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barakat, say that the land will be planted with trees so as to serve as a public park because “its owners have deserted it.” Slamming the Israeli move, Abu al-Hummus said it would be an “introductory step before confiscating the land” to build the so-called national park.

 “What public is the occupation municipality talking about? The people of al-Isawiya need these lands to build houses and schools for their children rather than open parks,” said Abu al-Hummus. The claims that the land was deserted are “false,” added Abu al-Hummus highlighting that vast areas were planted with trees but “crews of Jerusalem municipality and the Israeli nature authority from time to time level the land and uproot all trees.” Abu al-Hummus pointed out that “the so-called national planning and zoning committee” had decided in September 2014 to cancel the national park project which was supposed to be established on 740 dunams of Palestinian land of al-Tur and al-Isawiya neighborhoods.

Israeli Occupation Forces Deliver Demolition, Stop-Work Orders To Palestinians In Hebron

HEBRON (Ma’an) — Israeli forces on Monday delivered stop-work and demolition orders to 10 Palestinian families in the village of Jinba in southern Hebron.

Ratib al-Jubour, a local popular resistance committee coordinator, said that officers from Israel’s planning and zoning department entered the village under army escort.

They delivered three demolition orders and five stop-work orders to Ahmad Issa Younis, Ali Jabarin, Nabil Hussein Jabarin, Issa Ahmad Younis, Ibrahim Ahmad Younis, Mahmoud Ahmad Younis, Mousa Ibrahim Abu Younis, Issa Younis Abu Younis, Muhammad Mahmoud Hoshiya and Issam Issa Abu Younis.

Jinba is one of a group of small villages collectively known as Masafir Yatta in southernmost Hebron.

Masafir Yatta’s mayor, Othman Jabarin, said the orders were for tin shacks and tents.

He alleged that the Israeli authorities are planning to confiscate 50,000 dunams (12,500 acres) of private Palestinian land in the area.

The Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem reports that Masafir Yatta is “subjected to Israeli aggression” due to its remoteness.Four illegal Israeli settlements currently surround the collection of Palestinian villages. The Maon and Karmi settlements to the villages’ north occupy approximately 2,000 dunams of land, while Yaqoub Dali to the east has an area of around 5,000 dunams and Lifna to the south has 1,000 dunams, according to ARIJ.Palestinian residents in villages and towns throughout the Hebron district face a continual threat of demolition or displacement.The presence of Israeli settlers in the south Hebron hills in particular makes the region particularly vulnerable.Building permits must be approved by Israeli authorities in order for construction to take place in villages there, which are classified as Area C under the Oslo Accords, giving Israel full military and civil control.

As a result of rarely-approved permits, Palestinian residents are forced to build structures without permits, which are liable to be torn down later by Israeli forces.

The Israeli practice of preventing either construction or expansion of Palestinian buildings in the Hebron district extends across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Israeli Occupation Forces To Demolish Two Palestinian Residential Tents

HEBRON, June 27, 2015 (WAFA) – Israeli forces Saturday notified two Palestinians of their intention to demolish their residential tents in Hebron’s Masafer Yatta, an area that lies almost entirely in area C, under full Israeli control, according to a local activist.

Coordinator of the popular committee against the wall and settlements in southern Hebron, Rateb al-Jabour, told WAFA that forces handed two brothers, who were identified as Ayed and Majed al-shwaheen, demolition notices for their residential tents, which, if implemented, would displace them and their families.

He said that this Israeli measure aims to empty the area from its lawful Palestinian owners as a prelude to take over the land for the benefit of settlement expansion.

Issuance of construction permits for Palestinians living in Area C, under full Israeli administrative and military control, is strictly limited, forcing Palestinians residing in such areas to embark on construction without obtaining a permit.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), between December 30, 2014 and January 12, 2015, the Israeli authorities demolished 27 Palestinian structures in Area C of the West Bank and five in East Jerusalem, in addition to two self demolition incidents, due to lack of Israeli-issued building permits.

T.R.

Israeli Occupation To Remove Palestinian Owned Agricultural Structures Near Bethlehem

BETHLEHEM, June 24, 2015 (WAFA) – The Israeli authorities on Wednesday notified a local resident of Kisan, a village to the east of Bethlehem, about their intent to demolish agricultural structures that he owns, according to local sources.

Head of the village council of Kisan, Hussein Ghazal, said an Israeli army force pasted a notification paper at the farmland of Ali Abu Dayyeh, a local farmer, informing him that a number of agricultural facilities and retaining walls of his own in the area will be demolished.

Such demolitions are frequently carried out by the Israeli army and the so-called Israeli Civil Administration in Area C of the West Bank, under full Israeli control, on unpermitted construction pretences.

Issuance of construction permits for Palestinians living in Area C is strictly limited, forcing Palestinians residing in such areas to construct without obtaining the necessary permits.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), between December 30, 2014 and January 12, 2015, the Israeli authorities demolished 27 Palestinian structures in Area C of the West Bank and five in East Jerusalem, in addition to two self demolition incidents, due to lack of Israeli-issued building permits.

M.N/M.H

Israeli Occupation Forces Destroy 100’s Of Palestinian Trees Again Today

PNN/

Israeli military vehicles this morning cut down hundreds of trees east of Tubas in a valley of the region.

The offical in the north of the West Bank, Ghassan Daghles, confirmed for PNN that IOF had targeted the valley east of Tubas in an operation to cut down the trees, part of the natural landscape and dubbed a nature reserve by the IOF itself.

Ghassan added that these lands had always been owned by Palestinian citizens and that many people visited them to enjoy the beautiful nature.

From his perspective, he continued, the main aim of this targeting was to disturb the Palestinians on their picnics and otherwise to fulfil political aims.

Israeli War Crime Settlers Reportedly Set Palestinian Wheat Crops On Fire In Kafr Al-Lebed, Tulkarem

PNN/ Tulkarem/
A group of Israeli settlers last night have deliberately burned the wheat crops of Rafiq Jbara from Kafr Al-Lebed village near Tulkarem, stretching in vast land areas.

The Mayor of Kafr Al- Lebed, Ziad Jab’iti said that the wheat was deliberately  and completely burnt down by the settlers.

The people then had to call military coordination and civil defense to put out the fire.

Villagers following the attack voiced the need for defense against such incidents. They added that it was not the first time where settlers burn agricultural lands, which are the the only source of income for the villagers. In  addition, they demanded compensation for the losses out of this violation.

Israeli Occupation Forces, Uproot Palestinian Olive Saplings, Demolish Car Wash In Bethlehem

BETHLEHEM, June 15, 2015 (WAFA) – Israeli forces Monday uprooted several olive saplings and demolished a car wash belonging to Palestinians in the Bethlehem area, according to a local official.

Head of Husan village council, Mohammed Shosheh, told WAFA that forces proceeded in the early morning to uproot and seize the olive saplings in Ein al-Hawyeh area in the village of Husan.

He said that the targeted land, which occupies an area of 20 dunums, belongs to local residents Ibrahim and Adel Shosheh.

Meanwhile, forces demolished a shed used as a car wash in the village of al-Fureidis to the east of Bethlehem. Forces further confiscated the building blocks, which were stored in the shed, before demolishing the structure.

An OCHA monthly report issued on February 2015 revealed that, “During January, Israeli settlers reportedly uprooted or vandalized around 5,600 trees in seven incidents across the West Bank. This number is almost 60 percent of all trees uprooted or vandalized in the whole of 2014.”

To be noted, “The olive oil industry constitutes 25 percent of the agricultural income of the oPt and estimates suggest that about 100,000 families depend to some extent on the annual olive harvest for their livelihoods,” stated OCHA.

According to the Israeli NGO Yesh Din, “Over 96 percent of complaints filed with the Israeli police in the past six years and followed by the organization regarding deliberate damage to trees by settlers, were closed without an indictment.’

T.R/M.H

Palestinians In Kafr Kanna Protest After Israeli Occupation Forces Demolished Home For Second Time

PNN/ Bethlehem/
Israeli media this morning reported violent clashes between Israeli police forces and the Palestinians in occupied Kafr Kanna in the north, after the police overnight demolished home of Tareq Al-Khatib for the second time after its reconstruction by the people of the village. 

Ynet news outlets said that hundreds of Palestinians in Kafr Kanna were protesting the act last night after Israeli police, border guards and private units were heavily guarding the bulldozers during the demolition.

The home was demolished about two months ago, and was rebuilt by the villagers as a response to the act. 

Ynet quoted the owner of the house saying that he did not break any laws, and that the house was his property for years. Therefore, Israeli forces had no right whatsoever to demolish it.

The pepole of Kafr Kanna announced general strike in protest of the demolition, affirming that they will rebuild it again.

Israeli Occupation Forces Level Palestinian Land Near Nablus

NABLUS (Ma’an) — Israeli forces on Sunday leveled private Palestinian farmland in Khirbet Tana, a small community in the northern West Bank village of Beit Furik east of Nablus. Palestinian security sources told Ma’an that several bulldozers under Israeli army escort had leveled more than 10 dunams (2.5 acres) of land between Khirbet Tana and Khirbet Yanoon. The bulldozers then blocked off the area with mounds of earth and cement blocks. No explanation was given for the action.According to the Applied Research Institute of Jerusalem, about 55 percent of Beit Furik’s village lands are classified Area C, giving Israel full military and civil control.Across the village, a 2014 report by ARIJ says, “hundreds of dunams of land belonging to Beit Furik town have been confiscated by the Israeli authorities, primarily for the purpose of establishing settlements, military bases and the construction of Israeli settlement roads.”However, the report particularly highlights difficulties faced by Khirbet Tana, writing: “This community has been subjected to increased harassment and human rights violations by the occupation authorities stationed in Nablus.”The community, which comprises around 40 houses, mainly tents and houses made of tin, has been demolished by Israeli forces ” several times between 2005 and 2011.”The report adds: “Khirbet Tana has a severe lack of basic services such as water infrastructure, electricity, roads and communications. “Despite this, Khirbet Tana community members have rebuilt their homes each time they have been demolished and have remained in their community.”

Israeli Occupation Demolishes Tent In Hebron, Razes Palestinian Farm In Jerusalem

JERUSALEM, June 10, 2015 (WAFA) – The Israeli authorities Wednesday demolished a Palestinian-owned residential tent near the town of Yatta, south of Hebron, and razed a farm in Jerusalem’s neighborhood of Issawiya, according to local sources.

Coordinator of the Anti-Settlement Committee in Hebron, Rateb Jabour, told WAFA an Israeli army force accompanied by heavy machinery broke into the area and demolished a tent owned by local Bedouins under alleged security pretences.

Meanwhile, the Israeli municipality of West Jerusalem razed a Palestinian-owned farm and uprooted some 150 almond, peach, palm and pomegranate trees in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Issawiya.

Owner of the land, Adnan Darwish, said he has authentic documents issued by an Israeli court proving his ownership of the land. He said the razing by the municipality violates even the Israeli law.

Hani al-Issawi, a local anti-settlement activist, said the razing of the land comes as part of the Israeli E1 plan, which aims to link illegal Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem with the adjacent settlements in the West Bank, mainly the illegal settlement of Ma’ale Adomim, just east of Jerusalem.

Settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the Golan Heights, both occupied since 1967, are considered illegal in international law.

The settler population in the West Bank is estimated at 531,000: in late 2012 the population of the West Bank settlements was 341,400; in late 2011 there were 190,423 individuals living in Israeli neighborhoods in East Jerusalem.

B’Tselem the Israeli human rights group said, “The settlements have been allocated vast areas, far exceeding their built-up sections. These areas have been declared closed military zones by military orders and are off limits to Palestinians, except by special permit. In contrast, Israeli citizens, Jews from anywhere in the world and tourists may all freely enter these areas.”

M.N/M.H