3 sept 2016
Following the Supreme Court’s decision on Thursday to demolish the outpost Way of the Patriarchs, its residents are calling on the government to go against the court ruling and leave the settlement where it stands; Gush Etzion Regional Council Head Davidi Pearl says PM ‘lacks the spine’ to resist ruling; ‘It’s as if those of us living in the settlements are waiting to hear on whose door the Supreme Court will knock next,’ says one resident. ‘This has to stop.’
Settlers from the Way of the Patriarchs outpost in the Gush Etzion cluster are speaking out against Thursday’s Supreme Court President Miriam Naor's decision to demolish the settlement, built illegally on private Palestinian land. “There is no justification for destroying the neighborhood,” said a resident in regard to the ruling. Immediately following the decision, officials from the right—including Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (Bayit Yehudi)—came out against it and vowed to try and stop the demolition.
“We came here for no other reason than to settle the land,” said resident Gil Bar Lev, whose house is among those scheduled to be demolished. “This is a very diverse religious neighborhood. We’re going to fight this, and hopefully the State will be able to rectify matters, perhaps through the solutions that Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked will come up with.”
“We have families and children here,” said another resident, who acknowledged that since the private lands belonging to Palestinians run directly through the illegally built outpost, it will need to be completely torn down. “This is truly a travesty. It’s the sort of thing that can scar you for life.”
Gush Etzion Regional Council Head Davidi Pearl emphasized that the Way of the Patriarchs has already taken root in its current location. “This neighborhood has existed here for more than 15 years, and is considered an outpost whose existence should already have been settled,” he said. “Destroying the Way of the Patriarchs is akin to destroying any other neighborhood in Israel without justification. It is a miserable ruling. For reasons that are unclear, the Supreme Court is bypassing the Knesset and government, despite the fact that the (compromise) proposals that have been suggested have garnered legal support.
The Supreme Court is taking a blatant political stance here. I’m not giving up, but unfortunately, the prime minister lacks the spine and the courage to stand up to the Supreme Court and say, ‘We’re going to bypass you in cases like this.’ I call on the government to come to its senses and find a solution to this great struggle that is before us.”
Many of the outpost’s residents, who preferred to remain anonymous, described the impending demolition as a travesty that can be avoided without an evacuation. Almost all of them recalled the story of Amona’s violent forced evacuation and the possible evacuation of nine houses in the settlement of Ofra. “When you string all of these evacuations together, it’s as if those of us living in the settlements are waiting to hear on whose door the Supreme Court will knock next. This has to stop.”
Settlers from the Way of the Patriarchs outpost in the Gush Etzion cluster are speaking out against Thursday’s Supreme Court President Miriam Naor's decision to demolish the settlement, built illegally on private Palestinian land. “There is no justification for destroying the neighborhood,” said a resident in regard to the ruling. Immediately following the decision, officials from the right—including Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (Bayit Yehudi)—came out against it and vowed to try and stop the demolition.
“We came here for no other reason than to settle the land,” said resident Gil Bar Lev, whose house is among those scheduled to be demolished. “This is a very diverse religious neighborhood. We’re going to fight this, and hopefully the State will be able to rectify matters, perhaps through the solutions that Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked will come up with.”
“We have families and children here,” said another resident, who acknowledged that since the private lands belonging to Palestinians run directly through the illegally built outpost, it will need to be completely torn down. “This is truly a travesty. It’s the sort of thing that can scar you for life.”
Gush Etzion Regional Council Head Davidi Pearl emphasized that the Way of the Patriarchs has already taken root in its current location. “This neighborhood has existed here for more than 15 years, and is considered an outpost whose existence should already have been settled,” he said. “Destroying the Way of the Patriarchs is akin to destroying any other neighborhood in Israel without justification. It is a miserable ruling. For reasons that are unclear, the Supreme Court is bypassing the Knesset and government, despite the fact that the (compromise) proposals that have been suggested have garnered legal support.
The Supreme Court is taking a blatant political stance here. I’m not giving up, but unfortunately, the prime minister lacks the spine and the courage to stand up to the Supreme Court and say, ‘We’re going to bypass you in cases like this.’ I call on the government to come to its senses and find a solution to this great struggle that is before us.”
Many of the outpost’s residents, who preferred to remain anonymous, described the impending demolition as a travesty that can be avoided without an evacuation. Almost all of them recalled the story of Amona’s violent forced evacuation and the possible evacuation of nine houses in the settlement of Ofra. “When you string all of these evacuations together, it’s as if those of us living in the settlements are waiting to hear on whose door the Supreme Court will knock next. This has to stop.”
L to R: Supreme Court President Miriam Naor and Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked
Supreme Court President Miriam Naor decreed Thursday that the structures in the Way of the Patriarchs outpost, set up on private Palestinian land, be torn down by March 2018; amid much criticism from the right, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked promises to work with the Ministry of Defense to stop the houses’ demolition.
The Israeli Supreme Court issued a decision on Thursday ordering the demolition of Way of the Patriarchs, an outpost built on private Palestinian land located in the Gush Etzion cluster within the Judean Mountains. In her ruling, Supreme Court President Miriam Naor stated that it be demolished by March 2018.
Naor’s decision, however, was met by Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (Bayit Yehudi), who has already vowed to work with the Defense Ministry to bring about a change in the political process that would protect the outposts such as the one in Way of the Patriarchs from being dismantled. The petition for the demolition was submitted by left-identified organization Peace Now.
Naor’s ruling made it clear that “No one is disputing that all the structures were built illegally, without getting the necessary approvals for planning and setting up the outpost.” She added that “There is indeed considerable difficulty in a forced evacuation of residents from the homes they have been living in for many years: in addition to the social ramifications of leaving a person without a roof over their heads, severe damage is also caused due to the special connection to this specific residence.”
But while she acknowledged the sensitivity of the case, Naor said that “All this is not enough to authorize that which is unlawful. The legal proceedings regarding Way of the Patriarchs have been going on for many years, during which more structures were erected illegally, despite court orders stating that all building be stopped. Under these circumstances, the damage that will be caused to the citizens cannot be the deciding factor.”
The Way of the Patriarchs was set up in 2001 on non-regulated land. The first petitions demanding that the law be enforced were submitted in 2002, and in 2014 a petition was submitted against the 17 structures erected on the site, which the petitioners claimed were all built on private property.
The State requested to postpone the court proceedings to review the land’s status by the Knesset. Naor, however, rejected it. “As for the State’s request: with all due respect, the political echelon has no standing here,” she said in her ruling. “The State must abide by the law, just like everyone else. Its request is not sufficient to authorize a situation of continued unlawfulness and the breach of commitments made during this legal proceeding. We must remember that we are dealing with the authorities’ obligation to enforce construction and building laws. And in this context, political considerations have no place.”
The political right reacted with severe criticism to the Supreme Court decision. Minister of Tourism Yarin Levin (Likud) said that “This is an outrageous and illogical decision made by the Supreme Court to halt and interfere with political decisions. The Supreme Court’s actions cause hurtful and unbalanced enforcement of the law against Jews alone, which delegitimizes (the Supreme Court) in the eyes of the Israeli public.”
Minister of Jerusalem Affairs and of Environmental Protection Ze’ev Elkin (Likud), who resides in Gush Etzion, also came out against the ruling. “The Supreme Court’s outrageous decision to destroy part of the Way of the Patriarchs settlement is crossing a red line and shows a complete disconnect of the Supreme Court from common sense and the history and heritage of the Jewish people. Once again we are faced with the urgent need to fundamentally reform the Israeli Justice System. I call on Justice Minister Shaked to lead such a wide-ranging reform to return the public’s trust in the Supreme Court.”
Minster of Education and Chairperson of the Bayit Yehudi party Naftali Bennett similarly criticized the decision. “The ruling that ordered the demolition of 17 houses in Gush Etzion is very serious. Extreme left-wing organizations have given up on convincing the people of the need to establish a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria and are instead trying to bypass the public by exploiting the Justice System and having the will of a minority imposed upon the majority.”
Chairperson of Hatnuah faction Tzipi Livni responded to Bennett’s statement with criticism of her own. “I suggest the minister of education sit in on a Citizenship lesson to understand the meaning of democracy. The Supreme Court’s decision regarding the Way of the Patriarchs has nothing to do with our conflict with the Palestinians, but rather with who we are and what values we hold. The minister of education needs to understand once and for all that a democracy does not mean a majority-led tyranny without limitations, but a system of values and the rule of law, which the Supreme Court safeguards. It’s shameful that this is what the minister of education chooses to say on the first day of school.”
In her response to the decision, Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked (Bayit Yehudi) also stressed the role that she believes political officials should take in the matter. “Over the last year and a half, the Ministries of Defense and Justice have been working to settle any disputes regarding the settlements that they could, with the State finding that in the matter of Way of the Patriarchs, it is indeed possible (to settle it). The Supreme Court’s decision came after a change in State policy, led by the political echelon. Its decision prefers procedure over substance, while ignoring the complex reality of the area. I will work with the Ministry of defense so that it allocates all available resources to promote an ‘initial registration’ process that should allow the houses to be registered. ‘Initial registration’ may be the circumstantial change that would allow the State to file a request to stop the houses from being demolished.”
Supreme Court President Miriam Naor decreed Thursday that the structures in the Way of the Patriarchs outpost, set up on private Palestinian land, be torn down by March 2018; amid much criticism from the right, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked promises to work with the Ministry of Defense to stop the houses’ demolition.
The Israeli Supreme Court issued a decision on Thursday ordering the demolition of Way of the Patriarchs, an outpost built on private Palestinian land located in the Gush Etzion cluster within the Judean Mountains. In her ruling, Supreme Court President Miriam Naor stated that it be demolished by March 2018.
Naor’s decision, however, was met by Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (Bayit Yehudi), who has already vowed to work with the Defense Ministry to bring about a change in the political process that would protect the outposts such as the one in Way of the Patriarchs from being dismantled. The petition for the demolition was submitted by left-identified organization Peace Now.
Naor’s ruling made it clear that “No one is disputing that all the structures were built illegally, without getting the necessary approvals for planning and setting up the outpost.” She added that “There is indeed considerable difficulty in a forced evacuation of residents from the homes they have been living in for many years: in addition to the social ramifications of leaving a person without a roof over their heads, severe damage is also caused due to the special connection to this specific residence.”
But while she acknowledged the sensitivity of the case, Naor said that “All this is not enough to authorize that which is unlawful. The legal proceedings regarding Way of the Patriarchs have been going on for many years, during which more structures were erected illegally, despite court orders stating that all building be stopped. Under these circumstances, the damage that will be caused to the citizens cannot be the deciding factor.”
The Way of the Patriarchs was set up in 2001 on non-regulated land. The first petitions demanding that the law be enforced were submitted in 2002, and in 2014 a petition was submitted against the 17 structures erected on the site, which the petitioners claimed were all built on private property.
The State requested to postpone the court proceedings to review the land’s status by the Knesset. Naor, however, rejected it. “As for the State’s request: with all due respect, the political echelon has no standing here,” she said in her ruling. “The State must abide by the law, just like everyone else. Its request is not sufficient to authorize a situation of continued unlawfulness and the breach of commitments made during this legal proceeding. We must remember that we are dealing with the authorities’ obligation to enforce construction and building laws. And in this context, political considerations have no place.”
The political right reacted with severe criticism to the Supreme Court decision. Minister of Tourism Yarin Levin (Likud) said that “This is an outrageous and illogical decision made by the Supreme Court to halt and interfere with political decisions. The Supreme Court’s actions cause hurtful and unbalanced enforcement of the law against Jews alone, which delegitimizes (the Supreme Court) in the eyes of the Israeli public.”
Minister of Jerusalem Affairs and of Environmental Protection Ze’ev Elkin (Likud), who resides in Gush Etzion, also came out against the ruling. “The Supreme Court’s outrageous decision to destroy part of the Way of the Patriarchs settlement is crossing a red line and shows a complete disconnect of the Supreme Court from common sense and the history and heritage of the Jewish people. Once again we are faced with the urgent need to fundamentally reform the Israeli Justice System. I call on Justice Minister Shaked to lead such a wide-ranging reform to return the public’s trust in the Supreme Court.”
Minster of Education and Chairperson of the Bayit Yehudi party Naftali Bennett similarly criticized the decision. “The ruling that ordered the demolition of 17 houses in Gush Etzion is very serious. Extreme left-wing organizations have given up on convincing the people of the need to establish a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria and are instead trying to bypass the public by exploiting the Justice System and having the will of a minority imposed upon the majority.”
Chairperson of Hatnuah faction Tzipi Livni responded to Bennett’s statement with criticism of her own. “I suggest the minister of education sit in on a Citizenship lesson to understand the meaning of democracy. The Supreme Court’s decision regarding the Way of the Patriarchs has nothing to do with our conflict with the Palestinians, but rather with who we are and what values we hold. The minister of education needs to understand once and for all that a democracy does not mean a majority-led tyranny without limitations, but a system of values and the rule of law, which the Supreme Court safeguards. It’s shameful that this is what the minister of education chooses to say on the first day of school.”
In her response to the decision, Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked (Bayit Yehudi) also stressed the role that she believes political officials should take in the matter. “Over the last year and a half, the Ministries of Defense and Justice have been working to settle any disputes regarding the settlements that they could, with the State finding that in the matter of Way of the Patriarchs, it is indeed possible (to settle it). The Supreme Court’s decision came after a change in State policy, led by the political echelon. Its decision prefers procedure over substance, while ignoring the complex reality of the area. I will work with the Ministry of defense so that it allocates all available resources to promote an ‘initial registration’ process that should allow the houses to be registered. ‘Initial registration’ may be the circumstantial change that would allow the State to file a request to stop the houses from being demolished.”
2 sept 2016
The Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked declared intention to work along a group of settlers to legalize the construction in a settlement outpost illegally built south of al-Khalil.
Shaked vowed to legalize the settlement outpost shortly after the Israeli Supreme Court ordered the demolition of a number of buildings in Netiv Ha'avot.
"In the last year and a half, the Defense Ministry and the Justice Ministry have been working to legalize wherever feasible, and the state decided that in Netiv Ha'avot, it was feasible," Shaked cited.
The Israeli Supreme Court had earlier ordered the demolition of 17 Israeli buildings in Netiv Ha'avot settlement in southern al-Khalil, causing dissatisfaction amid the Israeli-right wing activists.
Shaked vowed to legalize the settlement outpost shortly after the Israeli Supreme Court ordered the demolition of a number of buildings in Netiv Ha'avot.
"In the last year and a half, the Defense Ministry and the Justice Ministry have been working to legalize wherever feasible, and the state decided that in Netiv Ha'avot, it was feasible," Shaked cited.
The Israeli Supreme Court had earlier ordered the demolition of 17 Israeli buildings in Netiv Ha'avot settlement in southern al-Khalil, causing dissatisfaction amid the Israeli-right wing activists.
22 aug 2016
As part of Israel's mass punishment policy, its higher court on Sunday decided to allow the demolition of a house belonging to a Palestinian father accused of being involved in the killing of a Jewish rabbi in al-Khalil in early July.
The house belongs to prisoner Mohamed Amairah and his family from Dura town in al-Khalil.
The Israeli Shin Bet claim that Amairah was accomplice in the shooting attack that led last month to the death of rabbi Michael Mark near al-Majnuneh Camp area, south of Dura town.
The court rejected a petition filed by an Israeli human rights group against the demolition of the house, which would lead to the displacement of prisoner Amairah's family.
The house belongs to prisoner Mohamed Amairah and his family from Dura town in al-Khalil.
The Israeli Shin Bet claim that Amairah was accomplice in the shooting attack that led last month to the death of rabbi Michael Mark near al-Majnuneh Camp area, south of Dura town.
The court rejected a petition filed by an Israeli human rights group against the demolition of the house, which would lead to the displacement of prisoner Amairah's family.
21 aug 2016
A Palestinian citizen from Occupied Jerusalem was indicted by an Israeli court on Sunday for receiving cash from a Hamas operative in Turkey and transferring them to the families of slain anti-occupation youths.
The indictment was filed at the Jerusalem District Court against 39-year-old Seif Al-Din Abdel-Nabi on charges of contacting a foreign agent and funding anti-occupation activism.
According to the indictment, Abdel-Nabi had received money from ex-prisoner Zakariah Najib, who had served a sentence in Israeli prison for involvement in the abduction and death of the Israeli occupation soldier Nachshon Wachsman in 1994.
He was released in the prisoner swap deal of 2011 when abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was released in exchange for over 1,000 captives.
Abdel-Nabi met Najib in Turkey during a business trip to a clothing shop he owns in Istanbul, the indictment further alleged.
Najib knew that the defendant lived in Occupied Jerusalem and asked him to send the funds to families of anti-occupation protesters who were either killed or serving time in prison.
During several trips to Turkey, the defendant allegedly received a total of $25,000 from Najib. He used various techniques to hide the money when traveling to the occupied territories.
The indictment was filed at the Jerusalem District Court against 39-year-old Seif Al-Din Abdel-Nabi on charges of contacting a foreign agent and funding anti-occupation activism.
According to the indictment, Abdel-Nabi had received money from ex-prisoner Zakariah Najib, who had served a sentence in Israeli prison for involvement in the abduction and death of the Israeli occupation soldier Nachshon Wachsman in 1994.
He was released in the prisoner swap deal of 2011 when abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was released in exchange for over 1,000 captives.
Abdel-Nabi met Najib in Turkey during a business trip to a clothing shop he owns in Istanbul, the indictment further alleged.
Najib knew that the defendant lived in Occupied Jerusalem and asked him to send the funds to families of anti-occupation protesters who were either killed or serving time in prison.
During several trips to Turkey, the defendant allegedly received a total of $25,000 from Najib. He used various techniques to hide the money when traveling to the occupied territories.
20 aug 2016
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Palestinian Journalist of the Al-Mayadeen News Agency said that the Israeli army investigators closed her case against a soldier who shot her with a concussion grenade in the face, allegedly after being unable “to positively identify him.”
The incident took place on October 4th 2015, in the el-‘Eesawiyya town, in occupied Jerusalem, following the death of Fadi Alloun, who was killed by the army. Journalist Hana’ Mahameed was shot in her face when the soldiers fired at many journalists who gathered in the area. Mahameed said she will continue to follow her case through lawyers, as the Israeli side is not interested in a serious investigation. The Israeli Justice Ministry’s Police Investigation Unit (Mahash) claimed it conducted the needed investigations, and that it allegedly examined pictures and videos of the incident, “but was unable to identify the soldier who fired the concussion grenade at her.” It also claimed that the police and soldiers “acted within regulations, according to the circumstances of the incident, the and did not violate any laws.” “The decision made by Mahash does not surprise me, we know of countless of cases that were not prosecuted, or even investigated,” Mahameed told the Maan News Agency, “This unit is not independent, |
and not objective, but it was the only available option for me to file a complaint with.”
Mahameed added that she will stay in contact with specialized lawyers, and will ask Mahash for a copy of its alleged investigation. She also stated that appealing against the decision is part of the process, and is even willing to head to the Supreme Court if needed.
The soldiers invaded al-‘Eesawiyya town during morning hours, shortly after Alloun was killed, and surrounded his home, before firing gas bombs and concussion grenades at journalists who gathered in the area.
“Our cars were marked with Press signs, our vests, our helmets, our cameras and even our microphones,” she stated, “My team and I were also near many other journalists clearly visible to the soldiers, and above all, there were no clashes for the army to be firing at.”
After being shot in the face, several young men carried her to a Palestinian ambulance that was stopped at the main entrance of al-‘Eesawiyya, and despite her injury, a soldier stopped them, and questioned the wounded journalist.
Israeli daily, Haaretz, said Arab Member of Knesset (MK) Yousef Jabarin of the Unified Arab List, filed a complaint with the Police Investigation Unit, stating the reporter was wearing a press uniform with a reflective bulletproof vest, and a clearly marked helmet.
“There is no way that she, and other journalists, were not targeted, and above all, there was no need for the army to open fire,” Jabarin said, “But the soldiers opened fire, and violated the military’s own regulations.”
Mahameed added that she will stay in contact with specialized lawyers, and will ask Mahash for a copy of its alleged investigation. She also stated that appealing against the decision is part of the process, and is even willing to head to the Supreme Court if needed.
The soldiers invaded al-‘Eesawiyya town during morning hours, shortly after Alloun was killed, and surrounded his home, before firing gas bombs and concussion grenades at journalists who gathered in the area.
“Our cars were marked with Press signs, our vests, our helmets, our cameras and even our microphones,” she stated, “My team and I were also near many other journalists clearly visible to the soldiers, and above all, there were no clashes for the army to be firing at.”
After being shot in the face, several young men carried her to a Palestinian ambulance that was stopped at the main entrance of al-‘Eesawiyya, and despite her injury, a soldier stopped them, and questioned the wounded journalist.
Israeli daily, Haaretz, said Arab Member of Knesset (MK) Yousef Jabarin of the Unified Arab List, filed a complaint with the Police Investigation Unit, stating the reporter was wearing a press uniform with a reflective bulletproof vest, and a clearly marked helmet.
“There is no way that she, and other journalists, were not targeted, and above all, there was no need for the army to open fire,” Jabarin said, “But the soldiers opened fire, and violated the military’s own regulations.”
18 aug 2016
The tent village of Susya with illegal EU built structures
Approximately 300 Palestinian Bedouin have begun to build a village with European Union assistance without building permits; although the High Court of Justice issued a demolition order, nothing has changed on the ground; The Palestinians and the Israeli government are in negotiations over how to handle the issue.
The High Court of Justice ordered illegal structures in Susya to be demolished two years ago. The Court then requested the state's position on the issue. However, due to international pressure, the state has yet to take a stance.
The village of Susya is a Bedouin village built without permits in the Israeli controlled Area C of the West Bank. The international community has been putting pressure on the Israeli leadership to not destroy the illegal structures for years, saying that it would make 300 people homeless, and endanger the two state solution. The European Union has built structures on the land for the Palestinians without obtaining building permits from the Israeli government.
In an effort to come to an understanding between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority, Israel has said that it wants to move the villagers to a nearby hill and give them 540 dunams next to the Palestinian town of Yatta, from which many of them hail. Meanwhile, the Palestinians have requested to make arrangements to enable the village to continue to exist where it is while giving the villagers 1,500 dunams of land for agricultural purposes.
After the "Regavim" movement brought the issue to the High Court of Justice's attention, the High Court issued an order forbidding the Palestinians from building additional structures in the village. A demolition order was signed in 2014 to demolish structures built despite the order not to build. The High Court also denied a Palestinian request to prohibit the relevant authorities from carrying out the demolitions. The High Court said that the Palestinians are making laws unto themselves, and are continuing to build in defiance of a court order.
Throughout this time, There have been dozens of attempts by the Israeli government and the Palestinians to try to come to a compromise, but they have all failed due to seemingly insurmountable differences between the two sides. The Palestinians insist that they are not willing to give up the land and claim they will not move under the framework of any solution.
Regavim replied in response, "this is a clan of a few dozen people making a crazy demand for land that is comparable to the size of Beit Dagan or Rosh Pina. The Nawajah family owns homes in Yatta and therefore it's the government's job to evict them to ensure they go back to their homes. Even the solution offered by the government to facilitate their relocation to areas close to Yatta is too lenient."
"We expect the Prime Minister to ignore foreign pressure, which constitutes blatant interference in the internal affairs of Israel, and make a decision which reflects the rule of law and the national interests of Israel," Regavim continued.
Approximately 300 Palestinian Bedouin have begun to build a village with European Union assistance without building permits; although the High Court of Justice issued a demolition order, nothing has changed on the ground; The Palestinians and the Israeli government are in negotiations over how to handle the issue.
The High Court of Justice ordered illegal structures in Susya to be demolished two years ago. The Court then requested the state's position on the issue. However, due to international pressure, the state has yet to take a stance.
The village of Susya is a Bedouin village built without permits in the Israeli controlled Area C of the West Bank. The international community has been putting pressure on the Israeli leadership to not destroy the illegal structures for years, saying that it would make 300 people homeless, and endanger the two state solution. The European Union has built structures on the land for the Palestinians without obtaining building permits from the Israeli government.
In an effort to come to an understanding between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority, Israel has said that it wants to move the villagers to a nearby hill and give them 540 dunams next to the Palestinian town of Yatta, from which many of them hail. Meanwhile, the Palestinians have requested to make arrangements to enable the village to continue to exist where it is while giving the villagers 1,500 dunams of land for agricultural purposes.
After the "Regavim" movement brought the issue to the High Court of Justice's attention, the High Court issued an order forbidding the Palestinians from building additional structures in the village. A demolition order was signed in 2014 to demolish structures built despite the order not to build. The High Court also denied a Palestinian request to prohibit the relevant authorities from carrying out the demolitions. The High Court said that the Palestinians are making laws unto themselves, and are continuing to build in defiance of a court order.
Throughout this time, There have been dozens of attempts by the Israeli government and the Palestinians to try to come to a compromise, but they have all failed due to seemingly insurmountable differences between the two sides. The Palestinians insist that they are not willing to give up the land and claim they will not move under the framework of any solution.
Regavim replied in response, "this is a clan of a few dozen people making a crazy demand for land that is comparable to the size of Beit Dagan or Rosh Pina. The Nawajah family owns homes in Yatta and therefore it's the government's job to evict them to ensure they go back to their homes. Even the solution offered by the government to facilitate their relocation to areas close to Yatta is too lenient."
"We expect the Prime Minister to ignore foreign pressure, which constitutes blatant interference in the internal affairs of Israel, and make a decision which reflects the rule of law and the national interests of Israel," Regavim continued.
11 aug 2016
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The Mahash police investigation unit, run by the Israeli Justice Ministry, has decided to close the investigation into the murder of Palestinian government minister, Ziad Abu Ein, who was killed by the army nearly 18 months ago.
The unit decided that although there were “some problematic conducts” by the Border Guard police officers, there will be no legal action, after ruling the death as a result of a heart attack. Mahash did not conduct a thorough investigation into the death of Abu Ein, and did not collect testimonies, but only said there were some “problematic behaviors,” by the officer who kept assaulting Abu Ein, yet, he reportedly “was not the cause of his death.” |
Abu Ein was killed on October 10th 2014, after Israeli soldiers and police officers attacked nonviolent protesters, who were also planting trees, in Turmus Ayya town, in the central West Bank district of Ramallah.
The soldiers assaulted the protesters, and fired many gas bombs at them, before an officer chocked Abu Ein after he already inhaled gas.
The officer choked the minister until he fell onto the ground, and died shortly after that.
An Israeli army soldier told Mahash that he saw a man (Abu Ein) falling onto the ground after the officer pushed him, and that he told the officer to leave and stay in the military vehicle in order to avoid further tension.
He added that, despite the orders that were given to the officer, he saw him again in direct contact with the protesters, and informed the immediate officer to remove him.
He also claimed he did not know who was the Palestinian who was pushed until he later learnt it was the Palestinian minister.
In addition, a soldier said he saw an officer pushing Abu Ein while holding him from his neck, and that the same officer was restoring to excessive force against the protesters.
Abu Ein family filed an appeal through Yesh Din and Adalah human rights and legal groups, in order to challenge the Israeli decision.
It is worth mentioning that a team of Palestinian and Jordanian doctors participated in the autopsy that was led by Israel.
The head of Civil Affairs Committee of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, Hussein Sheikh, said Abu Ein died due to being repeatedly beaten, and due to teargas inhalation in addition to being left without the urgently needed medical treatment.
Sheikh added that the autopsy results implicate the army in the murder of Abu Ein, and added that the soldiers did not only repeatedly attack him, but also delayed the medics who rushed to provide him with the needed first aid, especially since he suffocated after inhaling gas fired by the soldiers before he was choked.
He also stated that the Israeli forensic specialist who participated in the autopsy in Abu Kabeer Center in Abu Dis, east of occupied Jerusalem, agreed with the outcome that Abu Ein was killed, but refused to sign the official report. Only the Palestinian and Jordanian doctors signed it.
In early January 2015, a military investigation headed by the Israeli Army’s General Officer in Central Command Nitzan acquitted the soldier of all charges and absolved “of wrongdoing” in the late minister’s Death.
The soldiers assaulted the protesters, and fired many gas bombs at them, before an officer chocked Abu Ein after he already inhaled gas.
The officer choked the minister until he fell onto the ground, and died shortly after that.
An Israeli army soldier told Mahash that he saw a man (Abu Ein) falling onto the ground after the officer pushed him, and that he told the officer to leave and stay in the military vehicle in order to avoid further tension.
He added that, despite the orders that were given to the officer, he saw him again in direct contact with the protesters, and informed the immediate officer to remove him.
He also claimed he did not know who was the Palestinian who was pushed until he later learnt it was the Palestinian minister.
In addition, a soldier said he saw an officer pushing Abu Ein while holding him from his neck, and that the same officer was restoring to excessive force against the protesters.
Abu Ein family filed an appeal through Yesh Din and Adalah human rights and legal groups, in order to challenge the Israeli decision.
It is worth mentioning that a team of Palestinian and Jordanian doctors participated in the autopsy that was led by Israel.
The head of Civil Affairs Committee of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, Hussein Sheikh, said Abu Ein died due to being repeatedly beaten, and due to teargas inhalation in addition to being left without the urgently needed medical treatment.
Sheikh added that the autopsy results implicate the army in the murder of Abu Ein, and added that the soldiers did not only repeatedly attack him, but also delayed the medics who rushed to provide him with the needed first aid, especially since he suffocated after inhaling gas fired by the soldiers before he was choked.
He also stated that the Israeli forensic specialist who participated in the autopsy in Abu Kabeer Center in Abu Dis, east of occupied Jerusalem, agreed with the outcome that Abu Ein was killed, but refused to sign the official report. Only the Palestinian and Jordanian doctors signed it.
In early January 2015, a military investigation headed by the Israeli Army’s General Officer in Central Command Nitzan acquitted the soldier of all charges and absolved “of wrongdoing” in the late minister’s Death.
