26 jan 2017
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) on Wednesday decided to strip 10 Palestinian citizens of their right to live in Jerusalem as part of its mass punitive measures against an attacker’s family.
The citizens are relatives of Fadi Qunbar, the Palestinian driver who earlier this month killed four soldiers and injured many others in a vehicle-ramming attack in Jerusalem.
According to Israeli media outlets, interior minister Aryeh Deri ordered his office to immediately revoke the residency of those 10 citizens and expel them from the holy city.
Deri said in a statement Wednesday that he took this decision after holding hearings for the relatives and consulting with security officials.
However, it is still unclear whether Qunbar’s mother, whose residency was among those considered earlier for annulment, was among the 10.
Fadi Qunbar, a resident of the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabel Mukaber, plowed a truck into a group of soldiers in Jerusalem on January 8.
The citizens are relatives of Fadi Qunbar, the Palestinian driver who earlier this month killed four soldiers and injured many others in a vehicle-ramming attack in Jerusalem.
According to Israeli media outlets, interior minister Aryeh Deri ordered his office to immediately revoke the residency of those 10 citizens and expel them from the holy city.
Deri said in a statement Wednesday that he took this decision after holding hearings for the relatives and consulting with security officials.
However, it is still unclear whether Qunbar’s mother, whose residency was among those considered earlier for annulment, was among the 10.
Fadi Qunbar, a resident of the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabel Mukaber, plowed a truck into a group of soldiers in Jerusalem on January 8.
Israel has advanced a plan to extend a high-speed rail line in Tel Aviv to include a station at the Aqsa Mosque’s Western Wall in Occupied Jerusalem, according to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.
Israeli transport minister Yisrael Katz has ordered planning and feasibility studies for the project, a ministry spokeswoman announced.
Katz said last November that he wanted to extend a high-speed rail line currently being built between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to include a Western Wall station.
According to the new colonial train plan, a tunnel would be dug up to 80 meters (262 feet) deep to connect the central station at the entrance to Jerusalem to the Western Wall station.
The cost of the project has been estimated at some seven billion shekels, according to the ministry spokeswoman.
Two options are being studied, with one seeing the train arrive outside of the Old City near al-Maghariba Gate (Dung Gate), close to the Western Wall.
The other calls for the station to be built inside the Old City.
The Aqsa Mosque’s Western Wall is located in the Old City in east Jerusalem, occupied by Israel in 1967 and later annexed in a move never recognized by the international community.
Israeli transport minister Yisrael Katz has ordered planning and feasibility studies for the project, a ministry spokeswoman announced.
Katz said last November that he wanted to extend a high-speed rail line currently being built between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to include a Western Wall station.
According to the new colonial train plan, a tunnel would be dug up to 80 meters (262 feet) deep to connect the central station at the entrance to Jerusalem to the Western Wall station.
The cost of the project has been estimated at some seven billion shekels, according to the ministry spokeswoman.
Two options are being studied, with one seeing the train arrive outside of the Old City near al-Maghariba Gate (Dung Gate), close to the Western Wall.
The other calls for the station to be built inside the Old City.
The Aqsa Mosque’s Western Wall is located in the Old City in east Jerusalem, occupied by Israel in 1967 and later annexed in a move never recognized by the international community.
25 jan 2017
In light of the US green light and its unlimited support for Israel, especially after electing Donald Trump, the Israeli government has doubled the number of approved housing units in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, in addition to tabling plans to annex large West Bank settlement blocs.
A new reality is being imposed on the ground by the Israeli occupation authority (IOA), making use of the political tribulations in the region, in addition to the unlimited support from western powers.
The 2020 Plan
The Jerusalem 2020 is perhaps the secret answer to what seems to be an acceleration of settlement construction and the IOA decision to boost it. This notion was upheld by expert Khalil al-Tafakji, a well-known expert on settlements and lands, in an interview with the PIC.
Tafakji has explained that the IOA announcement of authorizing hundreds of housing units in East Jerusalem on Sunday (23 January) is part of a plan and a program set in advance, and it was just waiting to be amended and approved by the competent Israeli authorities, depending on the political situation in Israel itself and the region and the world at large.
He added, “All construction plans contribute to one strategic plan which aims to build 56,000 housing units in East Jerusalem as part of the Jerusalem 2020 plan.”
As Donald Trump began his term as president for the United States, the Israeli municipality in Jerusalem approved the plan to build hundreds of housing units in various Jerusalem settlements, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that he has lifted what he called restrictions on building in the West Bank and Jerusalem settlements, affirming that Israel will soon annex large West Bank settlement blocs, referring to the Ma’ali Adumim settlement in particular.
The Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian government said that such steps crossed all red lines, and called on the international community to bear its responsibilities following such decisions that entail dangerous consequences and make the two-state solution impossible to achieve.
Annexing Jerusalem
Tafakji noted that these Israeli plans and decisions aim at expanding existing settlements in line with the strategic goals that target annexing East Jerusalem. He listed them as follows:
- The settlement of Ramat Shlomo built on the lands of Shufaat and Beit Hanina with a total of 1,500 housing units, 300 of which will be built in the coming period.
- The settlement of Ramout built on the lands of Lifta and it will include building 750 housing units in two stages.
- The settlement of Givat Hamatos built on the lands of Khirbit Tabalia and it includes building 2,600 housing units in five stages.
- The settlement of Givat Yael, which includes building 5,000 housing units in various stages on the lands of Walaja, according to plan discussed, amended and approved in 2016.
- The Israeli plan also includes expanding the settlement of Gilo and Jabal Abughunaim, with a total of 1,890 housing units in the coming three years.
The Israeli cabinet was supposed to discuss a plan on Sunday 22/1/2017 to impose Israeli sovereignty over settlement blocs surrounding Jerusalem, including large settlement blocs such as Gush Etzion, Ma’ale Adumim, Givat Ze’ev, and Beitar Illit. Yet, at the request of the advisers of the US president Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister has put off the plan until after he meets with Trump in two weeks.
A new reality is being imposed on the ground by the Israeli occupation authority (IOA), making use of the political tribulations in the region, in addition to the unlimited support from western powers.
The 2020 Plan
The Jerusalem 2020 is perhaps the secret answer to what seems to be an acceleration of settlement construction and the IOA decision to boost it. This notion was upheld by expert Khalil al-Tafakji, a well-known expert on settlements and lands, in an interview with the PIC.
Tafakji has explained that the IOA announcement of authorizing hundreds of housing units in East Jerusalem on Sunday (23 January) is part of a plan and a program set in advance, and it was just waiting to be amended and approved by the competent Israeli authorities, depending on the political situation in Israel itself and the region and the world at large.
He added, “All construction plans contribute to one strategic plan which aims to build 56,000 housing units in East Jerusalem as part of the Jerusalem 2020 plan.”
As Donald Trump began his term as president for the United States, the Israeli municipality in Jerusalem approved the plan to build hundreds of housing units in various Jerusalem settlements, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that he has lifted what he called restrictions on building in the West Bank and Jerusalem settlements, affirming that Israel will soon annex large West Bank settlement blocs, referring to the Ma’ali Adumim settlement in particular.
The Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian government said that such steps crossed all red lines, and called on the international community to bear its responsibilities following such decisions that entail dangerous consequences and make the two-state solution impossible to achieve.
Annexing Jerusalem
Tafakji noted that these Israeli plans and decisions aim at expanding existing settlements in line with the strategic goals that target annexing East Jerusalem. He listed them as follows:
- The settlement of Ramat Shlomo built on the lands of Shufaat and Beit Hanina with a total of 1,500 housing units, 300 of which will be built in the coming period.
- The settlement of Ramout built on the lands of Lifta and it will include building 750 housing units in two stages.
- The settlement of Givat Hamatos built on the lands of Khirbit Tabalia and it includes building 2,600 housing units in five stages.
- The settlement of Givat Yael, which includes building 5,000 housing units in various stages on the lands of Walaja, according to plan discussed, amended and approved in 2016.
- The Israeli plan also includes expanding the settlement of Gilo and Jabal Abughunaim, with a total of 1,890 housing units in the coming three years.
The Israeli cabinet was supposed to discuss a plan on Sunday 22/1/2017 to impose Israeli sovereignty over settlement blocs surrounding Jerusalem, including large settlement blocs such as Gush Etzion, Ma’ale Adumim, Givat Ze’ev, and Beitar Illit. Yet, at the request of the advisers of the US president Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister has put off the plan until after he meets with Trump in two weeks.
European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini expressed Wednesday opposition to any plan by U.S. President Donald Trump to move the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to occupied Jerusalem.
During a meeting with the PA Foreign Minister Riad Maliki, Mogherini warned of the serious implications of such a move on the peace process and stability in the region.
She also declared her total support for achieving a Palestinian-European partnership agreement.
For his part, Maliki urged the EU official to make more efforts to prevent Israeli plans to annex Maale Adumim settlement illegally built on West Bank lands.
He also called for more support for the Palestinian economy and prosperity.
The PA minister stressed the importance of implementing the Paris Peace Conference recommendations and the UNSC 2334 resolution that demanded Israel to immediately and completely stop its illegal settlement activities in occupied Palestinian territories including East Jerusalem.
He also warned of the “catastrophic implications” of moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
During a meeting with the PA Foreign Minister Riad Maliki, Mogherini warned of the serious implications of such a move on the peace process and stability in the region.
She also declared her total support for achieving a Palestinian-European partnership agreement.
For his part, Maliki urged the EU official to make more efforts to prevent Israeli plans to annex Maale Adumim settlement illegally built on West Bank lands.
He also called for more support for the Palestinian economy and prosperity.
The PA minister stressed the importance of implementing the Paris Peace Conference recommendations and the UNSC 2334 resolution that demanded Israel to immediately and completely stop its illegal settlement activities in occupied Palestinian territories including East Jerusalem.
He also warned of the “catastrophic implications” of moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
24 jan 2017
Lieberman addressed the possibility of an additional conflict during an INSS conference: "The IDF's orders are to go in full force.' Lieberman also addressed the approval to construct thousands of housing units in the West Bank and said of the Palestinians: 'There is no legitimate leader with whom to make peace.'
At a conference held by the Institute for National Security Studies on Tuesday, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that the IDF's orders are to "go in full force." "If the other side doesn't yield and raise a white flag, we don't stop."
Lieberman also addressed the decision to approve the construction of about 2,500 housing units in Judea and Samaria and connected it to Donald Trump's taking office as the president of the United States: "There is nothing new about it, we have always constructed, including under the Obama administration."
Lieberman criticized Palestinian President Mahmoud "Abu Mazen" Abbas, saying, "There is no one there to actually sign a dramatic agreement with that would change reality. We need a powerful leadership with sway in the field, but Abu Mazen is not a legitimate leader."
He continued to say that "there is no Palestinian Authority. It doesn't exist. We keep forgetting the fact that the Gaza strip is ruled by Hamas and not by the PA."
"There were many good people who worked on an agreement. Why couldn't they work out the problem? It would be impossible to offer Abu Mazen more than what Olmert offered him in Annapolis, including dividing Jerusalem, rehashing the refugee issue, and the evacuation of the West Bank—everything. And what did we end up getting? A no."
Liberman was asked what he would advise President Donald Trump. "It isn't right to advise Americans. Let's not exaggerate. We are a small country and they are a world power," said Liberman and verbally attacked the European countries: "I advise the Europeans, Americans and Russians to first of all steer clear of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Whoever wants to help solve the conflict should first forget the excessive involvement of the rest of the world powers, mainly that of Europe. It is mostly disruptive."
Regarding the Elor Azaria case, Lieberman said, "I don't know whether the soldier did the right thing or not. That is not my job. Again, I advise everyone to accept and respect the military court's decision even if we are not very comfortable."
At a conference held by the Institute for National Security Studies on Tuesday, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that the IDF's orders are to "go in full force." "If the other side doesn't yield and raise a white flag, we don't stop."
Lieberman also addressed the decision to approve the construction of about 2,500 housing units in Judea and Samaria and connected it to Donald Trump's taking office as the president of the United States: "There is nothing new about it, we have always constructed, including under the Obama administration."
Lieberman criticized Palestinian President Mahmoud "Abu Mazen" Abbas, saying, "There is no one there to actually sign a dramatic agreement with that would change reality. We need a powerful leadership with sway in the field, but Abu Mazen is not a legitimate leader."
He continued to say that "there is no Palestinian Authority. It doesn't exist. We keep forgetting the fact that the Gaza strip is ruled by Hamas and not by the PA."
"There were many good people who worked on an agreement. Why couldn't they work out the problem? It would be impossible to offer Abu Mazen more than what Olmert offered him in Annapolis, including dividing Jerusalem, rehashing the refugee issue, and the evacuation of the West Bank—everything. And what did we end up getting? A no."
Liberman was asked what he would advise President Donald Trump. "It isn't right to advise Americans. Let's not exaggerate. We are a small country and they are a world power," said Liberman and verbally attacked the European countries: "I advise the Europeans, Americans and Russians to first of all steer clear of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Whoever wants to help solve the conflict should first forget the excessive involvement of the rest of the world powers, mainly that of Europe. It is mostly disruptive."
Regarding the Elor Azaria case, Lieberman said, "I don't know whether the soldier did the right thing or not. That is not my job. Again, I advise everyone to accept and respect the military court's decision even if we are not very comfortable."
23 jan 2017
A day after being inaugurated as U.S. President, Donald Trump called Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and invited him to come to the White House in February.
Following the phone call, Netanyahu told his security cabinet that he will lift all restrictions on settlement construction in East Jerusalem, according to two members of the cabinet who spoke with Israeli media after the meeting.
In addition to allowing unfettered settlement construction in East Jerusalem, the Israeli Prime Minister also told his cabinet that he will rapidly increase land takeovers and displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank as well in order to annex additional land for Israel.
According to a statement from the White House, Trump and Netanyahu discussed the priorities of the new U.S. administration, which, according to Trump, will be “countering the Islamic State and other radical Islamic terrorist groups”.
Trump also stated that he and Netanyahu agreed to consult closely on issues in the region and will focus on the alleged “threats posed by Iran”.
The conversation between the two leaders came just after Donald Trump swore in his son-in-law Jared Kushner as a top White House advisor. Kushner had to receive a special approval from the Justice Department to be allowed to serve in the administration, as the selection of a President’s son-in-law would normally violate laws against nepotism. In this case, however, an exception was made.
Article 5 of the U.S. Code forbids federal officials, including the President, from appointing or employing relatives.
Kushner is known for his zealous support of Israeli policies, including the blatantly illegal takeovers of Palestinian land through military force and the transfer of Israeli civilians onto land seized by military force from the Palestinian people in direct violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, to which Israel is a signatory.
All Israeli colonial settlements are considered illegal under international law, as they involve the transfer of civilian populations onto land seized and occupied by military force. Israel has transferred more than 400,000 civilians into such settlements over the past 50 years, mainly in the two decades since the “Oslo Accord” peace deal was signed in 1993.
Following the phone call, Netanyahu told his security cabinet that he will lift all restrictions on settlement construction in East Jerusalem, according to two members of the cabinet who spoke with Israeli media after the meeting.
In addition to allowing unfettered settlement construction in East Jerusalem, the Israeli Prime Minister also told his cabinet that he will rapidly increase land takeovers and displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank as well in order to annex additional land for Israel.
According to a statement from the White House, Trump and Netanyahu discussed the priorities of the new U.S. administration, which, according to Trump, will be “countering the Islamic State and other radical Islamic terrorist groups”.
Trump also stated that he and Netanyahu agreed to consult closely on issues in the region and will focus on the alleged “threats posed by Iran”.
The conversation between the two leaders came just after Donald Trump swore in his son-in-law Jared Kushner as a top White House advisor. Kushner had to receive a special approval from the Justice Department to be allowed to serve in the administration, as the selection of a President’s son-in-law would normally violate laws against nepotism. In this case, however, an exception was made.
Article 5 of the U.S. Code forbids federal officials, including the President, from appointing or employing relatives.
Kushner is known for his zealous support of Israeli policies, including the blatantly illegal takeovers of Palestinian land through military force and the transfer of Israeli civilians onto land seized by military force from the Palestinian people in direct violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, to which Israel is a signatory.
All Israeli colonial settlements are considered illegal under international law, as they involve the transfer of civilian populations onto land seized and occupied by military force. Israel has transferred more than 400,000 civilians into such settlements over the past 50 years, mainly in the two decades since the “Oslo Accord” peace deal was signed in 1993.
Anonymous sources within the Trump administration in the US allegedly told Israeli News Channel 2 Friday that the new US President, Donald Trump, would on Monday make his first order of business the transfer of the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, effectively denying the Palestinian claim to the city.
The planned move by Trump would be in violation of international law and all signed agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, many of which were negotiated by the United States.
Moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem constitutes a major break in decades of U.S. policy. The city of Jerusalem has a status that is supposed to be negotiated in a future peace deal – prior to the creation of the state of Israel in 1948, it was considered the capital of Palestine.
Since that time, first Jordan and then Israel (beginning in 1967) occupied the city with military forces, and Palestinians have been routinely denied access – including to the third-holiest Islamic site in the world, the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Israeli annexation of Jerusalem in 1967 and takeover of the city using military force has never been recognized by the international community, including by the United States.
Moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem would effectively recognize the Israeli military takeover of the city – and set a precedent that any government wishing to annex their neighbor’s land can simply use military force to do so. This type of military takeover has been illegal under international law since World War II, when Hitler used military force to take control of dozens of neighboring countries and annex them to Germany.
If Trump goes forward with this plan on Monday, it would also be seen as a major provocation against Palestinians and the Arab World in general, as well as to Muslims worldwide who have been anxiously awaiting peace negotiations to determine their access to the holy site of the Al Aqsa Mosque and other holy sites in Jerusalem.
The planned move by Trump would be in violation of international law and all signed agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, many of which were negotiated by the United States.
Moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem constitutes a major break in decades of U.S. policy. The city of Jerusalem has a status that is supposed to be negotiated in a future peace deal – prior to the creation of the state of Israel in 1948, it was considered the capital of Palestine.
Since that time, first Jordan and then Israel (beginning in 1967) occupied the city with military forces, and Palestinians have been routinely denied access – including to the third-holiest Islamic site in the world, the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Israeli annexation of Jerusalem in 1967 and takeover of the city using military force has never been recognized by the international community, including by the United States.
Moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem would effectively recognize the Israeli military takeover of the city – and set a precedent that any government wishing to annex their neighbor’s land can simply use military force to do so. This type of military takeover has been illegal under international law since World War II, when Hitler used military force to take control of dozens of neighboring countries and annex them to Germany.
If Trump goes forward with this plan on Monday, it would also be seen as a major provocation against Palestinians and the Arab World in general, as well as to Muslims worldwide who have been anxiously awaiting peace negotiations to determine their access to the holy site of the Al Aqsa Mosque and other holy sites in Jerusalem.