25 may 2018
Israel's Supreme Court on Thursday ruled in favor of demolishing al-Khan al-Ahmar village and relocating its 35 Bedouin families to al-Eizariya town east of Jerusalem.
Head of the community Eid Jahalin said that al-Khan al-Ahmar residents completely reject the court's decision.
Jahalin affirmed that the only alternative they would accept to al-Khan al-Ahmar, which they have been living in since 1953, is Tel Arad village in the Negev from which they were expelled by the Israeli authorities.
According to Jahalin, a court hearing was held on 25th April on the petition filed by al-Khan al-Ahmar residents against the deportation decision. The court then decided to give them a 10-day time limit to find a place to move to instead of al-Eizariya.
Jahalin slammed the Palestinian negotiating delegation who signed the Oslo Accords which said that Area C was not populated.
He continued to say, "Our expulsion from al-Khan al-Ahmar is part of Wadi Araba Treaty which was signed between Jordan and Israel and provides from establishing a peace route that connects Tel Aviv with Jordan at the expense of the families living in al-Khan al-Ahmar."
He pointed out that the demolition and deportation decision is expected to be implemented at any moment.
There are 23 Bedouin communities in East Jerusalem and they are inhabited by 5,000 Palestinians.
Jahalin noted that the demolition of al-Khan al-Ahmar will be the first of a series of demolition and deportation campaigns targeting the rest of the Bedouin communities in favor of the settlement project E1 which is aimed at separating the northern part of the West Bank from the southern one.
Al-Khan al-Ahmar is inhabited by 35 families and has a school with 170 students and 16 employees.
Jahalin said that al-Khan al-Ahmar residents have been repeatedly subjected to fierce attacks and demolition operations by the Israeli occupation forces since 1953.
Head of the community Eid Jahalin said that al-Khan al-Ahmar residents completely reject the court's decision.
Jahalin affirmed that the only alternative they would accept to al-Khan al-Ahmar, which they have been living in since 1953, is Tel Arad village in the Negev from which they were expelled by the Israeli authorities.
According to Jahalin, a court hearing was held on 25th April on the petition filed by al-Khan al-Ahmar residents against the deportation decision. The court then decided to give them a 10-day time limit to find a place to move to instead of al-Eizariya.
Jahalin slammed the Palestinian negotiating delegation who signed the Oslo Accords which said that Area C was not populated.
He continued to say, "Our expulsion from al-Khan al-Ahmar is part of Wadi Araba Treaty which was signed between Jordan and Israel and provides from establishing a peace route that connects Tel Aviv with Jordan at the expense of the families living in al-Khan al-Ahmar."
He pointed out that the demolition and deportation decision is expected to be implemented at any moment.
There are 23 Bedouin communities in East Jerusalem and they are inhabited by 5,000 Palestinians.
Jahalin noted that the demolition of al-Khan al-Ahmar will be the first of a series of demolition and deportation campaigns targeting the rest of the Bedouin communities in favor of the settlement project E1 which is aimed at separating the northern part of the West Bank from the southern one.
Al-Khan al-Ahmar is inhabited by 35 families and has a school with 170 students and 16 employees.
Jahalin said that al-Khan al-Ahmar residents have been repeatedly subjected to fierce attacks and demolition operations by the Israeli occupation forces since 1953.
23 may 2018
Israel’s parliament (Knesset) will debate recognizing the alleged Armenian genocide, amid a diplomatic spat with Turkey over the murder of dozens of Palestinian protesters by Israeli troops on the Gaza border last week.
It is the first time in years that the Israeli foreign ministry has not objected to a debate on the alleged Ottoman Empire’s massacre of some 1.5 million Armenians in 1915 during World War One.
The debate is expected to be held in Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, on Wednesday, public broadcaster Kann reported Tuesday reported.
Israel has refrained from formally recognizing the genocide due to its diplomatic ties with Turkey and Azerbaijan.
The row escalated on Wednesday when Turkish authorities subjected the departing Israeli Ambassador Eitan Na'eh to a rigorous security check at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport and invited local TV crews to film it.
Both the country's envoys and consuls in Jerusalem and Istanbul respectively were also withdrawn back to their respective capitals.
Israeli lawmakers had said last week that they would put forth bills proposing officially recognizing the Armenian genocide as the crisis escalated.
Intelligence Minister Israel Katz, Education Minister Naftali Bennett, and senior Zionist Union MK Tzipi Livni all expressed their support for such initiatives.
Turkey -- the Ottoman Empire's successor state -- argues that the massacre was a collective tragedy in which equal numbers of Turks and Armenians died.
Another resolution to suspend cement imports from Turkey is also slated to be debated by the Knesset.
The fragile Israel-Turkey relationship was thrown into disrepair last week as Ankara condemned the killing of 60 Palestinians on Gaza border protests as a massacre, withdrawing its ambassador from Israel and kicking out Israel’s envoy a day later.
It is the first time in years that the Israeli foreign ministry has not objected to a debate on the alleged Ottoman Empire’s massacre of some 1.5 million Armenians in 1915 during World War One.
The debate is expected to be held in Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, on Wednesday, public broadcaster Kann reported Tuesday reported.
Israel has refrained from formally recognizing the genocide due to its diplomatic ties with Turkey and Azerbaijan.
The row escalated on Wednesday when Turkish authorities subjected the departing Israeli Ambassador Eitan Na'eh to a rigorous security check at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport and invited local TV crews to film it.
Both the country's envoys and consuls in Jerusalem and Istanbul respectively were also withdrawn back to their respective capitals.
Israeli lawmakers had said last week that they would put forth bills proposing officially recognizing the Armenian genocide as the crisis escalated.
Intelligence Minister Israel Katz, Education Minister Naftali Bennett, and senior Zionist Union MK Tzipi Livni all expressed their support for such initiatives.
Turkey -- the Ottoman Empire's successor state -- argues that the massacre was a collective tragedy in which equal numbers of Turks and Armenians died.
Another resolution to suspend cement imports from Turkey is also slated to be debated by the Knesset.
The fragile Israel-Turkey relationship was thrown into disrepair last week as Ankara condemned the killing of 60 Palestinians on Gaza border protests as a massacre, withdrawing its ambassador from Israel and kicking out Israel’s envoy a day later.
Israeli magistrate court in Rishon Lezion city in 1948 Occupied Palestine decided on Tuesday to conducting an external medical check for the body of martyr Aziz Oweista, 53, who died in Israeli jails to figure out the reasons behind his death.
The director of the legal unit at Detainees and Ex-Detainees Commission, Iyad Misk, said that the court will consider the results of the external check up and if the reasons are still not known, they will do an autopsy.
The court’s decision provided that a Palestinian physician will attend the autopsy operation in case there is a need for that, following a new court decision.
Oweisat, a resident of Jabal al-Mukaber town south of Jerusalem, was arrested in 2014 and sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Oweisat had suffered severe bleeding and a heart attack after being violently beaten by Israeli prison guards in Eshel prison on 2nd May.
The director of the legal unit at Detainees and Ex-Detainees Commission, Iyad Misk, said that the court will consider the results of the external check up and if the reasons are still not known, they will do an autopsy.
The court’s decision provided that a Palestinian physician will attend the autopsy operation in case there is a need for that, following a new court decision.
Oweisat, a resident of Jabal al-Mukaber town south of Jerusalem, was arrested in 2014 and sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Oweisat had suffered severe bleeding and a heart attack after being violently beaten by Israeli prison guards in Eshel prison on 2nd May.
21 may 2018
Detainees and Ex-Detainees Commission said that Israeli magistrate court in Rishon Lezion city in 1948 Occupied Palestine will hold on Tuesday a session to decide on the appeal for conducting an autopsy for the body of martyr Aziz Oweista who died in Israeli jails.
The Commission said that they appealed to the court on Monday morning to return the body of martyr Oweisat after doing the autopsy by a Palestinian physician to know the real reasons behind his death.
Oweisat, a resident of Jabal al-Mukaber town south of Jerusalem, was arrested in 2014 and sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Oweisat had suffered severe bleeding and a heart attack after being violently beaten by Israeli prison guards in Eshel prison on 2nd May.
According to the Commission, Oweisat entered a coma and was transferred to Ramle prison clinic then to Assaf Harofeh Hospital. His health deteriorated further, so he was taken to Tel Hashomer Hospital.
Oweisat was later returned to Assaf Harofeh, where he died, after the administration of Tel Hashomer refused to allow him to stay there despite his critical condition.
The Commission said that they appealed to the court on Monday morning to return the body of martyr Oweisat after doing the autopsy by a Palestinian physician to know the real reasons behind his death.
Oweisat, a resident of Jabal al-Mukaber town south of Jerusalem, was arrested in 2014 and sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Oweisat had suffered severe bleeding and a heart attack after being violently beaten by Israeli prison guards in Eshel prison on 2nd May.
According to the Commission, Oweisat entered a coma and was transferred to Ramle prison clinic then to Assaf Harofeh Hospital. His health deteriorated further, so he was taken to Tel Hashomer Hospital.
Oweisat was later returned to Assaf Harofeh, where he died, after the administration of Tel Hashomer refused to allow him to stay there despite his critical condition.
17 may 2018
Since petition filed, Israeli troops have continued to kill Palestinians with live ammunition, including 59 people – seven of whom were children – on 14 May alone.
Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel and Al-Mezan Centre for Human Rights submitted yesterday, 16 May 2018, a motion to the Israeli Supreme Court [PDF] demanding that it issue an immediate final decision on the organizations’ joint petition against the Israeli military’s use of live ammunition and sniper fire on unarmed civilian protesters in Gaza.
In addition, Adalah and Al Mezan are releasing today a briefing paper that takes an in-depth look at the petition challenging the Israeli military’s use of lethal force against Gaza protesters, as well as the State of Israel’s response, and our critique and arguments against the State’s positions.
Adalah and Al Mezan argued in the motion that, since filing the petition, an excessive amount of time has passed, during which a large number of Palestinian unarmed protesters have been killed and wounded in Gaza demonstrations.
Every week, the Israeli military has responded to the protests near the Gaza fence with lethal and other excessive force, which has resulted to date in the killing of 86 protesters, including 12 children, two journalists, and the injury of approximately 11,000.
In the single bloodiest day of the seven weeks, 14 May 2018, the Israeli military killed 59 Palestinians, including 43 protesters during demonstrations, of whom seven were children and one a person with disability. At least another 2,771 persons were injured, including 225 children, 12 journalists, and 17 paramedics—1,359 of whom by live ammunition.
The Israeli military’s open-fire policy is illegal. The military informed the Supreme Court that it shoots people in Gaza who are allegedly “leading inciters or breachers of order”; they did not claim that the people shot were armed or that they posed an immediate threat to the lives of others.
This is a violation of international law, amounting to willful killing and injury, and constituting war crimes under Article 8 of the Rome Statute.
Adalah and Al Mezan demand the Israeli Supreme Court issue an immediate ruling that the Israeli military’s open-fire policy in Gaza is illegal.
CLICK HERE to read the briefing paper [English]PDF
CLICK HERE to read the Supreme Court motion [Hebrew]PDF
Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel and Al-Mezan Centre for Human Rights submitted yesterday, 16 May 2018, a motion to the Israeli Supreme Court [PDF] demanding that it issue an immediate final decision on the organizations’ joint petition against the Israeli military’s use of live ammunition and sniper fire on unarmed civilian protesters in Gaza.
In addition, Adalah and Al Mezan are releasing today a briefing paper that takes an in-depth look at the petition challenging the Israeli military’s use of lethal force against Gaza protesters, as well as the State of Israel’s response, and our critique and arguments against the State’s positions.
Adalah and Al Mezan argued in the motion that, since filing the petition, an excessive amount of time has passed, during which a large number of Palestinian unarmed protesters have been killed and wounded in Gaza demonstrations.
Every week, the Israeli military has responded to the protests near the Gaza fence with lethal and other excessive force, which has resulted to date in the killing of 86 protesters, including 12 children, two journalists, and the injury of approximately 11,000.
In the single bloodiest day of the seven weeks, 14 May 2018, the Israeli military killed 59 Palestinians, including 43 protesters during demonstrations, of whom seven were children and one a person with disability. At least another 2,771 persons were injured, including 225 children, 12 journalists, and 17 paramedics—1,359 of whom by live ammunition.
The Israeli military’s open-fire policy is illegal. The military informed the Supreme Court that it shoots people in Gaza who are allegedly “leading inciters or breachers of order”; they did not claim that the people shot were armed or that they posed an immediate threat to the lives of others.
This is a violation of international law, amounting to willful killing and injury, and constituting war crimes under Article 8 of the Rome Statute.
Adalah and Al Mezan demand the Israeli Supreme Court issue an immediate ruling that the Israeli military’s open-fire policy in Gaza is illegal.
CLICK HERE to read the briefing paper [English]PDF
CLICK HERE to read the Supreme Court motion [Hebrew]PDF
9 may 2018
Yehoshua Elitzur, Jewish convert from Germany, was convicted in 2005 of killing Sael Jabara al-Shatiya, but fled the country before the sentencing; after being caught in Brazil and extradited to Israel, court finally sentences him.
Yehoshua Elitzur, who was convicted in September 2005 of killing a Palestinian and escaped to Brazil immediately afterwards, was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in prison.
The Tel Aviv District Court also ordered Elitzur to pay his victim's family NIS 200,000 in compensation.
Elitzur, a Jewish convert from Germany living on a West Bank hilltop, was convicted of killing Sael Jabara al-Shatiya, a Palestinian from the village of Salem in the northern West Bank, in September 2004.
Elitzur was driving towards the settlement of Alon Moreh when he saw al-Shatiya heading in the opposite direction with several passengers.
Elitzur then stopped his car in the middle of the road to block al-Shatiya, before alighting his vehicle carrying a fully-loaded M-16 rifle.
Standing in the middle of the road, he instructed the van driver to stop. Due to the road conditions, the car could not stop, and al-Shatiya continued driving, turning right toward the shoulders of the road with the intention of stopping there.
Elitzur then shot at him once, and the bullet penetrated the car window and killed al-Shatiya.
Elitzur was convicted of manslaughter in September of 2005, but he fled the country before sentencing.
Interpol issued an international arrest warrant for Elitzur, who was tracked down by the efforts of the Israeli police's international division.
He was arrested in Sao Paulo in 2015 and after being cleared for extradition by the Brazilian Supreme Court, he was put on a plane to Israel in January 2018.
"The court determined that the defendant had shot at the deceased for no apparent reason, and ignored requests by the passengers to call for medical help. Even after the incident had ended, the defendant did not call for medical help," wrote Judge Zvi Gurfinkel wrote in his verdict.
The judge also noted the court had rejected Elitzur's claim that he was acting in self-defense, pointing out that "the vehicle did not turn in (Elitzur's) direction."
"In light of the unequivocal findings presented in the ruling, it is not reasonable to assume the defendant was in danger or mistakenly thought he was. We have before us a severe case of taking a human life without necessity or purpose," Gurfinkel elaborated.
"He (Elitzur) suspected anyone who isn't Jewish is a potential terrorist," the judge added.
Yasmin al-Shatiya, the Palestinian victim's blind daughter, welcomed the verdict. "I'm satisfied that my father's killer is going to prison for many years, for him to learn how precious life is," she said.
Elitzur, who was living in the settlement of Itamar at the time of the shooting, was apologetic but ultimately unrepentant. "I apologize to the family of the victim for the death of the father," he said at a past court hearing. "But I have no doubt my life was at risk. However, I do understand, from a humane point of view, that this is a great loss for the family. This is a very dangerous place and many things can happen there."
Yehoshua Elitzur, who was convicted in September 2005 of killing a Palestinian and escaped to Brazil immediately afterwards, was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in prison.
The Tel Aviv District Court also ordered Elitzur to pay his victim's family NIS 200,000 in compensation.
Elitzur, a Jewish convert from Germany living on a West Bank hilltop, was convicted of killing Sael Jabara al-Shatiya, a Palestinian from the village of Salem in the northern West Bank, in September 2004.
Elitzur was driving towards the settlement of Alon Moreh when he saw al-Shatiya heading in the opposite direction with several passengers.
Elitzur then stopped his car in the middle of the road to block al-Shatiya, before alighting his vehicle carrying a fully-loaded M-16 rifle.
Standing in the middle of the road, he instructed the van driver to stop. Due to the road conditions, the car could not stop, and al-Shatiya continued driving, turning right toward the shoulders of the road with the intention of stopping there.
Elitzur then shot at him once, and the bullet penetrated the car window and killed al-Shatiya.
Elitzur was convicted of manslaughter in September of 2005, but he fled the country before sentencing.
Interpol issued an international arrest warrant for Elitzur, who was tracked down by the efforts of the Israeli police's international division.
He was arrested in Sao Paulo in 2015 and after being cleared for extradition by the Brazilian Supreme Court, he was put on a plane to Israel in January 2018.
"The court determined that the defendant had shot at the deceased for no apparent reason, and ignored requests by the passengers to call for medical help. Even after the incident had ended, the defendant did not call for medical help," wrote Judge Zvi Gurfinkel wrote in his verdict.
The judge also noted the court had rejected Elitzur's claim that he was acting in self-defense, pointing out that "the vehicle did not turn in (Elitzur's) direction."
"In light of the unequivocal findings presented in the ruling, it is not reasonable to assume the defendant was in danger or mistakenly thought he was. We have before us a severe case of taking a human life without necessity or purpose," Gurfinkel elaborated.
"He (Elitzur) suspected anyone who isn't Jewish is a potential terrorist," the judge added.
Yasmin al-Shatiya, the Palestinian victim's blind daughter, welcomed the verdict. "I'm satisfied that my father's killer is going to prison for many years, for him to learn how precious life is," she said.
Elitzur, who was living in the settlement of Itamar at the time of the shooting, was apologetic but ultimately unrepentant. "I apologize to the family of the victim for the death of the father," he said at a past court hearing. "But I have no doubt my life was at risk. However, I do understand, from a humane point of view, that this is a great loss for the family. This is a very dangerous place and many things can happen there."
7 may 2018
Israeli Knesset on Monday approved by a 55-14 a bill to deduct money paid to Palestinian prisoners by the Palestinian Authority from its monthly tax revenue.
The bill still needs to pass its second and third readings.
If the bill passes its second and third readings, it will allow Israel to deduct the sums of money given to Palestinian prisoners each month from the overall sum of tax revenues.
According to Israeli media, the bill also proposes that the Israeli cabinet be authorized to freeze the transfer of tax money under certain conditions.
In a tweet, Israel's Army Minister Avigdor Lieberman called to put an end to "the madness of us giving money to the Palestinian Authority so they can use it to encourage acts of terror against us."
The bill still needs to pass its second and third readings.
If the bill passes its second and third readings, it will allow Israel to deduct the sums of money given to Palestinian prisoners each month from the overall sum of tax revenues.
According to Israeli media, the bill also proposes that the Israeli cabinet be authorized to freeze the transfer of tax money under certain conditions.
In a tweet, Israel's Army Minister Avigdor Lieberman called to put an end to "the madness of us giving money to the Palestinian Authority so they can use it to encourage acts of terror against us."
The Israeli soldier Elor Azria who killed the Palestinian anti-occupation protester Abdul Fatah al-Sharif is likely to be released from an Israeli military prison on Thursday.
According to the Hebrew-speaking Israel Hayom daily, the release decision has seen the day after Azaria served his sentence, which has been cut by a third by an Israeli military parole board.
Azaria is expected to be released ahead of his release date after he submitted an appeal to attend his brother’s wedding on Wednesday.
His family said hundreds are expected to attend a ceremony to be held in the next few days to celebrate Azaria’s release.
Azaria was convicted of manslaughter after he fatally shot the seriously wounded Palestinian youth Abdul Fattah al-Sharif as appears in live footages taken from the murder scene and circulated on social media networks.
According to the Hebrew-speaking Israel Hayom daily, the release decision has seen the day after Azaria served his sentence, which has been cut by a third by an Israeli military parole board.
Azaria is expected to be released ahead of his release date after he submitted an appeal to attend his brother’s wedding on Wednesday.
His family said hundreds are expected to attend a ceremony to be held in the next few days to celebrate Azaria’s release.
Azaria was convicted of manslaughter after he fatally shot the seriously wounded Palestinian youth Abdul Fattah al-Sharif as appears in live footages taken from the murder scene and circulated on social media networks.
Israeli government decided Monday to overturn a controversial bill authorizing PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Army Minister Avigdor Lieberman to declare war without consultation.
According to Israeli media sources, Israeli cabinet is reviewing the legislation due to concerns that it will be rejected by the High Court after facing a wave of backlash.
Although the bill passed last week, the cabinet reportedly thought that the latest version was still too extreme.
Last week, the Israeli Knesset has approved by 62-41 a law empowering Netanyahu and Lieberman to declare war without full cabinet approval in "extreme circumstances."
The vote amended a law which previously required the whole cabinet to vote on such a move, transferring that authority to Netanyahu and Lieberman.
According to Israeli media sources, Israeli cabinet is reviewing the legislation due to concerns that it will be rejected by the High Court after facing a wave of backlash.
Although the bill passed last week, the cabinet reportedly thought that the latest version was still too extreme.
Last week, the Israeli Knesset has approved by 62-41 a law empowering Netanyahu and Lieberman to declare war without full cabinet approval in "extreme circumstances."
The vote amended a law which previously required the whole cabinet to vote on such a move, transferring that authority to Netanyahu and Lieberman.
3 may 2018
PLO Executive Committee Member Dr. Hanan Ashrawi condemned Israel’s passing of the first reading, of a draft law, that defines Israel ‘as the Jewish and democratic nation state of the Jewish people’ and affirms ‘the right of the Jewish people to self-determination in their historic homeland,’ said a press release issued on Wednesday.
“Once again, Israel has reaffirmed its intent of institutionalizing discrimination, racism and xenophobia against all aspects of Palestinian life, transforming the military occupation into a deliberate sectarian confrontation and establishing ideological beliefs as official policy.”
Ashrawi said, according to WAFA, that the proposed legislation is illegal by all measures of international law, and violates the most basic fundamental principles of human rights and democracy that staunchly oppose racism.
“Undoubtedly, Israel is working to achieve ethnic purity and prolong the occupation and its ongoing system of apartheid and ethnic cleansing, ridding itself of any responsibility towards the Palestinians and eradicating the right of return for Palestinian refugees,” said Ashrawi.
If passed, this bill would deprive the Palestinian citizens of Israel of their economic, political and social rights, turning them into second-class and third-class citizens, she added.
“In light of the serious escalation of Israeli efforts to superimpose all of ‘Greater Israel’ on all of historic Palestine, it is incumbent upon all members of the international community to intervene immediately, not just to prevent further deterioration but to also undo the damage and rectify the situation as soon as possible,” concluded the statement.
“Once again, Israel has reaffirmed its intent of institutionalizing discrimination, racism and xenophobia against all aspects of Palestinian life, transforming the military occupation into a deliberate sectarian confrontation and establishing ideological beliefs as official policy.”
Ashrawi said, according to WAFA, that the proposed legislation is illegal by all measures of international law, and violates the most basic fundamental principles of human rights and democracy that staunchly oppose racism.
“Undoubtedly, Israel is working to achieve ethnic purity and prolong the occupation and its ongoing system of apartheid and ethnic cleansing, ridding itself of any responsibility towards the Palestinians and eradicating the right of return for Palestinian refugees,” said Ashrawi.
If passed, this bill would deprive the Palestinian citizens of Israel of their economic, political and social rights, turning them into second-class and third-class citizens, she added.
“In light of the serious escalation of Israeli efforts to superimpose all of ‘Greater Israel’ on all of historic Palestine, it is incumbent upon all members of the international community to intervene immediately, not just to prevent further deterioration but to also undo the damage and rectify the situation as soon as possible,” concluded the statement.
