The Arab League has warned of accelerating Israeli settlement building in the occupied West Bank.
The Arab League has warned of accelerating Israeli settlement building in the occupied West Bank.
In a report issued late Sunday, the Cairo-based league said Israeli settlement building was taking place “in an accelerating pace amid U.S. acceptance and encouragement and absence of international accountability."
Accusing the Israeli government of "violating" international law, the pan-Arab body said the Israeli actions in the occupied territories "amount to war crimes", citing house demolitions, displacement of Palestinian residents and confiscation of their lands.
According to the report, Israeli investments in East Jerusalem hit 4.5 billion shekels ($1.24 billion), 87% of them were allocated for Jewish settlements and only 13% for Palestinian neighborhoods.
"Israel systematically allocates lands for Jews as part of a policy that can only be described as apartheid," the report said.
On Sunday, the Israeli government approved a plan to expand a Jewish settlement in the West Bank city of Hebron.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday threatened to inflict “very strong blows” on Hamas after fresh violence erupted on the Gaza Strip.“If they do not stop the violence against us, we are very close to another type of action which would include very strong blows.” he said.Palestine’s political scene has remained deeply polarized since mid-2007, when Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip after sweeping legislative elections one year earlier.About 200 Palestinians, including 37 minors, have been martyred by Israeli forces, and 22,000 others injured since the start of mass demonstrations in March against Israeli occupation.Protesters demand the “right of return” to their homes and villages in historical Palestine, from which they were driven in 1948 to make way for the new state of Israel.They also demand an end to Israel’s 11-year blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has gutted the coastal enclave’s economy and deprived its roughly two million inhabitants of many basic commodities.Israel bans fuel shipments into GazaTwo Palestinians injured in Israeli settler run-overIsraeli settlers destroy olive groves near Nablus
Israel’s Netanyahu threatens Hamas with ‘very strong blows’
Israeli authorities on Sunday banned all fuel shipments into the blockaded Gaza Strip, according to a Palestinian security official.“Israel prevented the entry of all fuel transfers, including Qatari-funded shipments, into Gaza,” the official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to reporters.On Friday, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman ordered a halt to fuel shipments to the Palestinian territory following protests on Gaza border, in which seven Palestinians were martyred and scores injured.On Sunday, Israeli daily Haaretz said that Israeli security officials had opposed Lieberman’s decision to halt fuel shipment into the blockaded enclave.The officials, according to Haaretz, believe that it was impossible to pressure Hamas – which rules Gaza – and completely halt all shipments without worsening the humanitarian situation in the strip.Last week, Haaretz reported that a deal had been struck with Qatar by which the latter would finance fuel procurements for Gaza.Since 2007, when Hamas seized the Gaza Strip from rival Palestinian faction Hamas, the coastal enclave has groaned under an Israeli blockade that has deprived its two million inhabitants of many basic commodities.More than 200 Palestinians have been martyred and thousands more injured by Israeli army fire in anti-occupation protests along Gaza border since late March.Protesters demand an end to Israel’s 12-year blockade on Gaza and the “right of return” to their homes and villages in historical Palestine from which they were driven in 1948 to make way for the new state of Israel.Protests won’t stop until Gaza siege lifted: HaniyehIsrael arrests parents of suspected Palestinian shooterGaza Health Ministry warns of Israel's 'lethal' attacksPalestinian man dies in Israeli jailHamas eyes truce with Israel in return for end of siege
Israel bans fuel shipments into Gaza
Israeli security officials has opposed a decision by Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman to halt fuel shipments to the blockaded Gaza Strip, according to Israeli daily Haaretz on Sunday.On Friday, Lieberman ordered a halt to fuel shipments to the Palestinian territory following protests on Gaza border, in which seven Palestinians were martyred and scores injured.But Lieberman’s decision was opposed by security officials, who believe that it is impossible to pressure Hamas – which rules Gaza – and completely halt all shipments without worsening the humanitarian situation in the strip, Haaretz said.Last week, Haaretz reported that a deal had been struck with Qatar by which the latter would finance fuel procurements for Gaza.Since 2007, when Hamas seized the Gaza Strip from rival Palestinian faction Hamas, the coastal enclave has groaned under an Israeli blockade that has deprived its two million inhabitants of many basic commodities.Since March, more than 200 Palestinians have been martyred and thousands more injured in anti-occupation protests along Gaza border.Protesters demand an end to Israel’s 12-year blockade on Gaza and the “right of return” to their homes and villages in historical Palestine from which they were driven in 1948 to make way for the new state of Israel.Two Palestinians injured in Israeli settler run-overIsraeli settlers destroy olive groves near Nablus
Israeli officials oppose decision to halt Gaza fuel
Israeli settlement building in the occupied territories is one of the biggest obstacles to the resumption of peace negotiations with the Palestinians, which has been stalled for years.
According to Palestinian figures, more than 700,000 Jewish settlers now live on 196 settlements (built with Israeli government approval) and more than 200 settler outposts (built without its approval) across the occupied West Bank.
International law views the West Bank and East Jerusalem as "occupied territories" and considers all Jewish settlement-building activity on the land to be illegal.
Two Palestinians were injured on Sunday when an Israeli settler ran over them with her vehicle in the occupied West Bank, according to local residents.The two were run over by the settler near the Karnei Shomron settlement east of Qalqilya in the northern West Bank, the residents said.It remains unclear whether the attack was intentional.There was no comment from Israeli or Palestinian authorities on the attack.On Friday, a Palestinian woman was martyred when the vehicle she was traveling in was pelted with stones by Jewish settlers as it was passing through the city of Nablus.According to Palestinian figures, more than 700,000 Jewish settlers now live in 196 settlements (built with the Israeli government’s approval) and more than 200 settler outposts (built without its approval) across the occupied West Bank.International law views the West Bank and East Jerusalem as “occupied territories” and considers all Jewish settlement-building activity there as illegal.Protests won’t stop until Gaza siege lifted: HaniyehIsrael arrests parents of suspected Palestinian shooter
Two Palestinians injured in Israeli settler run-over
Palestinian farmers on Sunday accused Israeli settlers of destroying their olive groves near Nablus in the occupied West Bank.“Settlers from the Havad Gilad settlement chopped down around 50 olive trees,” Mohamed Osaida, a farmer, told Anadolu Agency.“They looted my land; I have nothing left,” he said, going on to accuse settlers of attempting to seize control of his farmland in the area.“They are stealing our fruits and cutting down our trees,” he said.According to Palestinian figures, more than 700,000 Jewish settlers now live in 196 settlements (built with the Israeli government’s approval) and more than 200 settler outposts (built without its approval) across the occupied West Bank.Palestinian residents complain of repeated attacks by settlers, who usually enjoy the protection of Israeli military personnel.Palestinian officials accuse the Israeli army and police of turning a blind eye to the settler assaults.Protests won’t stop until Gaza siege lifted: HaniyehIsrael arrests parents of suspected Palestinian shooterGaza Health Ministry warns of Israel's 'lethal' attacks
Israeli settlers destroy olive groves near Nablus
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said Saturday anti-occupation protests along border of the Gaza Strip will not stop until Israel’s 12-year blockade is lifted.“The Return Marches will not accept partial solutions,” Haniyeh said in statements following the funeral prayer for a Palestinian youth killed by Israeli army fire near Gaza border on Friday.“The rallies will accept nothing but a complete lifting of the blockade on the Gaza Strip,” he said.At least seven Palestinians were martyred and scores injured by Israeli army fire on Friday during protests against the crippling siege imposed by Israel on Gaza since 2007.Hamas eyes truce with Israel in return for end of siegeIsrael releases former Hamas MPThe death toll brought to more than 200 Palestinians martyred and thousands more injured by the Israeli army since the protests began in late March.“Gaza is fighting to undermine the so-called 'deal of the century'," he said, referring to a backchannel U.S. plan to reach a peace settlement between the Palestinians and Israel.Protesters demand the “right of return” to their homes and villages in historical Palestine from which they were driven in 1948 to make way for the new state of Israel.They also demand an end to Israel’s 12-year blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has gutted the coastal enclave’s economy and deprived its roughly two million inhabitants of many basic commodities.More trucks laden with Qatari fuel enter blockaded GazaPalestinian man dies in Israeli jailHamas eyes truce with Israel in return for end of siege198 martyred by Israel since Gaza protests began
Protests won’t stop until Gaza siege lifted: Haniyeh