The Israeli violations against Palestinians continued during the month of September 2016 at a high pace, where the Israeli Occupation Army and the Israeli settlers increased their attacks against Palestinians. For that, the occupied Palestinian territory witnessed arrest operations where tens of Palestinians were arrested, also, clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli Army in several area in the occupied West Bank, causing a number of injuries. Moreover, the Israeli settlers living the illegal Israeli settlements and outposts in the occupied West Bank, attacked Palestinians, their properties, and Holy and historic sites. Furthermore, the Israeli Authorities did not stopped the “Demolition Policy”, where the Israeli bulldozers demolished dozens of Palestinian houses and structures in several areas in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Also, the Israeli Authorities issued demolition/halt construction orders that targeted dozens of Palestinian houses and structures.
This, in addition to the closure policy which imposed by the Israeli Authorities on a number of Palestinian towns and villages during the month of September 2016, which led to disrupt the daily life. The targeted villages and towns were:
Bethlehem Governorate, the Israeli Occupation Army closed an agricultural road in Al Khader village, southwest of Bethlehem city. Also, the Israeli Army closed Al Container military checkpoint many times during the month of September, where Al Container checkpoint which located at the northeastern part of Bethlehem Governorate, link between the southern and middle Palestinian governorates with each other’s. Moreover, the Israeli Occupation Army carried out a military operation in Wadi Rahal village, south of Bethlehem city, and closed all the entrances for several days.
While in Jerusalem Governorate, the Israeli Occupation Army closed two graves in Bab Ar Rahma cemetery, which located at the southern part of the old city of Jerusalem. Also, the Israeli Army closed all the entrances of At Tur town, and forced the Palestinians to close their commercial stores, during a military operation carried out by the Israeli Army in the town.
And in Hebron Governorate, the Israeli Occupation Army re-closed Beit Einun junction, north of Hebron city. Moreover, the Israeli Authorities closed all the entrances of Hebron city and declared the city as “closed military area”, and prevented Palestinians from entering or leaving the city. And In Beit Ummer town, north of Hebron city, the Israeli Army closed the main entrance of the town, and razed the Palestinian lands in the area for the expansion of the military tower which erected by the Israeli Army at the entrance of Beit Ummer town. Furthermore, the Israeli Occupation Army closed all the entrances of Yatta town (south of Hebron city) and Bani Na’im village (east of Hebron city).
In Nablus Governorate, the Israeli Occupation Army closed the main entrances of Beita, Einabus, Odala, Huwara, Aqraba, Burin, and Osarin villages, and Nablus city. In addition to the closure of Huwara and Za’tara military checkpoints, south of Nablus city.
New approvals and decelerations of new settlement plans in a number of Israeli settlements in the oPt
During the month of September 2016, the Israeli Occupation Authorities approved the construction of tens of housing units, commercial and industrial areas and public buildings in a number of illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory. These deceleration and approval came as follows:
On the 3rd of September 2016, the Israeli weekly newspaper of “Kool Ha’ir” revealed that the so-called “Metal” Israeli Construction company which responsible for the implementation of two projects in Pisgat Ze’ev settlement, north of Jerusalem city, and Har Homa settlement, south of Jerusalem city, sold out 20 housing units out from 246 housing units in Tel Platinum project in Pisgat Ze’ev settlement.
On the 4th of September 2016, the Israeli Ministry of Interior published on its website a new master plan aims to expand the Burqan industrial settlement, northwest of Salfit Governorate. The new Master plan hold No. יוש/ 7/ 6/ ת/ 130 , and stated the expropriation of 138.2 dunums of land from Haris village in Salfit Governorate, for the expansion of the Industrial settlement of Burqan from the northeastern part. The Plan No. יוש/ 7/ 6/ ת/ 130 aims to build new industrial buildings, commercial buildings, open areas and new road networks. Noted that the Israeli Authorities informed the residents of Haris village, that they will confiscate their land for the expansion of the aforementioned settlement.
While on the 5th of September, the Israeli Civil Administration published an advertisement in Al Quds daily newspaper for public reviews, declared the submission of the Town Planning Scheme No. 111/3/1 in Shavi Shomron settlement, northwest of Nablus city. The new plan aims to change the status of land located within An Naqura village boundary, from residential and open areas to area used for the construction of public buildings and educational organizations.
On the 7th of September 2016, the Israeli Deputy Defense Minister decided that the removal and demolition of any “illegal” structures in the Israeli outposts in the occupied West Bank needs his approval. Where the Deputy Defense Minister aims to change the procedure for the removal of illegally erected structures in the Israeli outposts and settlements, so that from now on, any such eviction will require the permission of the political leadership in Israel.
While on the 15th of September 2016, the so-called Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics (ICBS) published its data on the construction that carried out in the first six months of 2016. Where according to these data the construction starts in the settlements during the first half of 2016 with a drastic increase reaches up to 40%. The (ICBS) revealed data showed that in the first six months of the year 2016, a total number of 1,195 housing units started to be constructed in the illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Furthermore, the Israeli weekly newspaper of “Kool Ha’ir” revealed on the 19th of September, that the Planning and Construction committee in the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem approved to submit a new plan to construct 450 housing units in the illegal Israeli settlement of Gilo, south of Jerusalem city. It’s worth pointed that the new housing units it’s a part of a larger plan to build 900 housing units in Gilo settlement.
On the 22nd of September 2016, the Israeli Planning and Construction committee in the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem approved to submit the construction plan No. 111203 which aims to expand the illegal Israeli settlement of Ramot, north of Jerusalem city. According to the new plan, the Israeli Authorities seek to construct a school, kindergarten, Synagogue, and sport centers on 6.5 dunums of land. Noted that the new construction will carry out near an area dedicated to construct 201 housing units in the aforementioned settlement.
Also, on the 22nd of September 2016, the Israeli Civil Administration published an advertisement in Al Quds daily newspaper for public reviews, for the submission of the Israeli Plan No. 125/12 in Elkana settlement. The new plan aims to change the status of the land located within Mas-ha village boundary, southeast of Qalqiliyah city, from agricultural land and open area to area used for the construction of public buildings, educational organization and road network. An analysis for the new Israel plan No. 125/12 showed that the Israeli Authorities seek to construct a “University campus” in Elkana settlement.
the Israeli Demolition Campaign Escalated …. 25 houses and 45 structures were demolished during September in the oPt
As a matter of fact the ,Israeli Demolition campaign considered, lately, one of the most Israeli collective punishment policy practiced by the Israeli Occupation Authorities against the Palestinians in all parts of the oPt. Where according to ARIJ database, the Israeli Occupation Authorities demolished houses and structures during 2016 doubled to what demolished during the same period year of 2015.
Where in the month of September 2016, the Israeli bulldozers demolished 27 houses and 47 structures (commercial, agricultural, and animal sheds, etc) in several areas in the occupied West Bank, under the pretext of the lacking of building permits.
In Tubas Governorate, the Israeli Occupation bulldozers demolished 14 houses and 28 structures (agricultural barracks and animal sheds). The Demolition campaign distributed on Al ‘Aqaba area, east of Tubas city, where the Israeli bulldozers demolished 4 houses and 10 structures, and in Khirbet Tell Al Himma, in the northern of Jordan valley, 10 houses and 18 structures were demolished.
While in Jerusalem Governorate, the Israeli Occupation Army demolished 13 houses and 5 structures. However, during the month of September, the “Self- demolish campaign” increased in Jerusalem city and its neighborhoods. The Self-demolish mean that the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem forced the Palestinians to demolish their own houses and structures, after getting the final demolition orders from the Municipality, by imposing financial penalty of fines and forced them to pay for the cost of the workers and bulldozers if the Municipality carried out the demolition. Accordingly and for that the Palestinian Jerusalemites they choose to demolish their own houses and structures by themselves to avoid paying a lot of money to the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem.
The demolition campaign in Jerusalem Governorate distributed as follow: a house in the old city of Jerusalem, a house in Jabal Al Mukabir, four houses in Beit Hanina, a building consist of four apartments in At Tur town, a tent, a fuel tank and a fence in Sur Baher town, a restaurant in Beit Safafa, a commercial store and two houses in Silwan town and a retaining wall in Hizma town.
The Israeli bulldozers also, demolished a barracks in Jabal Al Baba Bedouin community in Al Eaziriya town, east of Jerusalem city, where the targeted barracks used as a classroom.
Israeli Demolition/Halt Construction orders targeted 49 houses and structures
During the month of September 2016, the Israeli Occupation Authorities issued demolition/halt construction orders that targeted 49 houses and structures, under the pretext of the lacking of building permits.
Where in Jerusalem Governorate, the Israeli Occupation Authorities issued demolition/halt construction orders that targeted in total 32 houses and structures. The most affected area was Al Issawiya town, which located at the northeastern part of the old city of Jerusalem, where the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem issued demolition orders that targeted 10 Palestinian buildings consist of 30 apartments. Also, the Israeli demolition orders targeted two houses in Silwan town.
And in Hebron Governorate, the Israeli Civil Administration issued halt construction/ demolition orders that targeted 9 houses and structures, distributed as follow: four houses in Tarqumiya at the western part of Hebron city, and four houses in Beit ‘Awa, west of Hebron city. Also, the Israeli Authorities issued halt construction order that targeted a Palestinian house located in Tal Ar Rumida neighborhood in Hebron city, under the claim that the targeted house located in area classified by the Israeli Authorities as “Closed military area”.
While in Qalqiliyah Governorate, the Israeli Civil Administration issued halt construction orders that targeted 7 houses and structures in Al Funduq and Jinsafut villages, east of Qalqiliyah city.
Israeli settlers attacks increased…. 46 attacks during the month of September 2016
The Israeli settlers escorted by the Israeli Occupation Army carried out several attacks against Palestinians and their properties in several areas in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Where during the month of September, about 46 attacks were reported. The most affected governorate was Jerusalem, where 23 attacks were reported, while in Hebron Governorate 7 attacks were reported, and in Nablus Governorate, the Israeli settlers carried out 6 attacks.
Regarding the type of the Israeli settlers attacks, they varied between storming religious and Historic sites, where about 24 attacks were reported, assaulting Palestinians reach to 10 attacks, one of these was when an Israeli settler ran over Luma Marwan Musa (6 years) and killed her while she was in Umm Rukba area in Al Khader village, southwest of Bethlehem city. While the Israeli settlers attacks against properties (such as houses and vehicles) reach to 5 attacks.
+ 1130 trees Uprooted
The Israeli Occupation bulldozers and the Israeli settlers uprooted, destroyed, cut and torched about 1130 trees in several areas in the occupied West Bank during the month of September 2016.
The highest number of trees were destroyed in Hebron Governorate, where the Israeli Occupation bulldozers razed 40 dunums of agricultural land in Beit Ula town, west of Hebron city, and destroyed 800 trees.
And in Tulkarm Governorate, the Israeli Occupation Army invaded Khirbet Jabara, east of Tulkarm city, and fired teargas and stun grenades at Palestinian houses and lands, causing the torch of 250 olive trees.
While in Bethlehem Governorate, the Israeli Occupation bulldozers razed 22 dunums of agricultural land in Wadi Fukin village, west of Bethlehem city, and uprooted 50 olive trees.
And in Nablus Governorate, the Israeli settlers from Yetzhar settlement torched 30 trees located in Khallit Siwar in Burin village, south of Nablus city.
It’s worth to mention that the Israeli Civil Administration handed out an evacuation order that targeted 30 dunums of agricultural land in Jayyus village, east of Qalqiliyah city, planted with 130 trees, under the claim that the targeted land located in area classified by the Israeli Authorities as “State land”.
Israel accelerated to build a new wall around the Gaza strip and impose more closure
Israeli resources revealed at the beginning of September , the Israeli Authorities started the construction of the new segregation wall along the Gaza strip border, where an above and below ground wall to be constructed, with a budget reach to 2 billion Shekel.
The Israeli Authorities still imposing its blockade over the Gaza strip. Where the Israeli Occupation Authorities, and on a daily basis, breached the truce which was signed between the Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip and the Israeli Government, sponsored by Egypt, at the end of the Israeli war against Gaza strip in Summer 2014. Where the Israeli Occupation Army stationed alongside of Gaza strip border, opened fire at Palestinians while they were in areas located near the border fence. Also the Israeli Army opened fire at the Palestinian houses and land located near the border fence, while the Israeli jeeps and bulldozers staged into these area and razed vast area of land.
Furthermore, the Israeli Occupation Navy and warships stationed near the Palestinian shores of Gaza strip, attacked, on a daily basis, the Palestinian fishermen, while they were fishing, by opening fire at them, arresting fishermen and confiscating their boats, even though they do not exceed 3 nautical miles.
Concerning the Gaza strip terminals, which entirely controlled by the Israeli Occupation Authorities, which systematically arrested Palestinians during their crossing to these terminals. Moreover, the Israeli Authorities stationed at these terminals strictly controlling the exchange of foodstuffs goods and services from and to the Gaza strip, and preventing the entering of the construction materials, to re-build what the Israeli war on Summer 2016 were destroyed.
Prepared By
The Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem
ARIJ
