المكتب الوطني للدفاع عن الارض ومقاومة الاستيطان منظمة التحرير الفلسطينية
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By: Madeeha Araj
The National Bureau for defending land and resisting settlements stated in its latest weekly report , that although the Israeli -American “Deal of the Century” that is also backed by few Arab states, proposes the right to establish a ‘special Palestinian tourism zone’ in the Atarot area (i.e. the old Qalandia Airport north of Jerusalem), to support Muslim tourism. Yet, the Israeli Ministry of Construction and Housing is planning to build a new settlement there, to be larger than the “Ma’aleh Adumim” settlement, under the project n. 101-0764936, in the occupied East Jerusalem. Knowing that the Qalandia airport has been closed by Israeli authorities since the outbreak of the second Intifada, in the year 2000
In an obvious escalation to isolate Jerusalem from its Palestinian surroundings, the Occupation Government decided to build new settlement as the Israeli PM Netanyahu vowed to build 9000 settlement units, commercial centers and a hotel, as well as water tanks and others, adding that the number of units will reach 11,000, by 2030. Thus, signs and marks were placed by the Israeli occupation, on 21 Palestinian homes in order to be demolished.
Within his campaign for the upcoming Knesset’s elections, the Israeli PM, Netanyahu, announced plans to build 5,200 new settlement units in Jerusalem, including 2,200 in the “Har Homa” settlement, and 3,000 settlement units in the “Givat Hamtus” settlement, which means increasing the number of settlers there up to 10.000 settlers. For his part, Minister of the Occupation Army, Naftali Bennett, decided to hold a meeting for the Higher Planning Committee affiliated to the Israeli Civil Administration, to approve the building of 1900 settlement units in the West Bank, in the Ramallah Governorate, of which 600 settlement units in the Eili settlement, and 534 units in the Shvut Rachel settlement.
It is also noted that the Israeli Government plans to control Areas B in the West Bank, as the Minister of the Israeli Occupation Army, Naftali Bennett decided to prevent the Palestinians from building in these areas under security pretext. Accordingly, the Israeli occupation forces started to build a 7-kilometer settlement road with a cost of NIS 100s of millions, including tunnels and bridges south of Nablus, extended from the Za’tara village through Hawara town, and Beita and Udala villages, which means confiscating about 406 dunums of 7 Palestinian villages.
For their part, a delegation from the American Congress visited settlements, and the Ibrahimi Mosque’s courtyard in Hebron, and the Jordan Valley in the West Bank, and the Gush Etzion’s pool as well. The delegation consisted of 2 Congress members, who said that these areas have to be part of Israel.
On the other hand, the UN Human Rights Office issued the black list of companies operating in settlements in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967. For his part, Michael Link praised the decision, saying it is ‘an important step.’ Adding that because of settlements, thousands of Palestinian donums were confiscated, thousands of homes and properties were destroyed, hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees were displaced, and several natural resources were levelled.
With regard to the American giant companies that encourages settlement, the Financial Times newspaper conducted an extensive investigation on the Amazon company that provides free shipping to all Israeli settlements, but it does not provide the same free service to the Palestinians unless they include Israel as their country during the completion of the registration process. The newspaper pointed out during its investigation that the free shipping includes orders that exceed US$ 49, noting that the company started its activity there in last November. It stipulated that it provides the same free service to the Palestinians, in case they mentioned that they live in Israel.
List of Israeli Occupation and Settlers’ Assaults over the Last Week,
Documented by the National Bureau:
Jerusalem:
- Forcing the Shkirat family to demolish their own 3 houses, in the Jabal Al-Mukaber village, south of Jerusalem under the pretext of building without a permit. They also demolished a Horse Stable there.
- Closing a road leading to the wilderness of the eastern town of Sawahrah, southeast of occupied Jerusalem.
Ramallah:
- Wounding 5 Palestinians in the Al-Mughaier village, northeast of Ramallah city, 3 of whom were admitted to a nearly hospital for treatment due to their serious conditions. Knowing that Al-Mughaier is a town with an area of 26,000 dunums, surrounded by four Israeli colonial settlements and a military camp.
Hebron:
- Closing the agricultural road in the Shweikeh area, east of Dahireiah village, south of Hebron to prevent farmers from entering their lands.
- Confiscating a caravan used by students of the Susiya village, east of Yatta, Hebron, under the pretext of having no license, and stopping work in the rehabilitation of the school playground under the same pretext.
- Notifying to demolish 4 houses east of Yatta, south of Hebron.
Nablus:
- Wounding a fifties Palestinian, and two of his sons at the Malachi Hashalom outpost.
- Bulldozing lands of Jalud village, south of Nablus, to link the Shilo settlement with the Shvut Rachel settlement.
- Expanding Yesh Kodesh settlement at the expense of Palestinian lands, villages of Jalud, Qariot and Tilfit.
- Bulldozing lands in the Burin village, south of Nablus, to build a road, and expand Yitzhar settlement.
Salfit:
- Bulldozing about 50 dunums of near Yasov and Askaka villages, planted with olive trees for Novi Nehemiah settlement, which was established 20 years ago, in addition to Tafoh Settlement, which was established in 2004 with the help of settlers and the Israeli Government.
- Suspending the Derestia Municipality to the west of Salfit, from rehabilitating an agricultural road.
Jordan Valley:
- Closing water holes in Khirbet Allan in the Jiftlik village in the northern Jordan Valley, alleging that they are illegal.
- Demolishing a residential compound and confiscating its contents in the Tel Al-Samadi area in Al-Jiftlik, as well as notifying to evacuate more than 15 facilities.
- Chasing and detaining a group of shepherds while grazing their livestock in the Al-Burj area in the northern Jordan Valley.
- Storming the Umm Al-Quba and Al-Burj areas in the northern Jordan Valley.
