7 may 2015
Qais Abu Laila
Palestinian Legislator, deputy Secretary-General of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), Qais Abu Laila, stated that the Israel is using its so-called “Absentee Property Law” as a pretext to rob the Palestinians of their homes and lands, and as part of its ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.
Abu Laila strongly denounced the illegal confiscated of Palestinian apartments in Maragha neighborhood, in Silwan town south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in occupied East Jerusalem.
“This is part of Israel’s illegal policies of land theft, property theft and expulsion of the indigenous Palestinian people,” Abu Laila said, “It is part of Israel’s policy of ethnic cleaning, carried out by the occupation and the illegal colonizers in the occupied city.”
The Palestinian official also stated that Israel’s government has been acting on removing the Palestinians from Jerusalem through its illegal “Absentee Property Law” that enables the government to obtain ownership of property belonging to indigenous Palestinians living in exile due to illegal Israeli practices, and racist policies.
“These are racist polices by an apartheid regime that wants to empty the city from its indigenous inhabitants,” Abu Laila said, “They are imposing high taxes and fines, and are revoking Jerusalem ID’s of the Palestinians under different false pretenses and policies.”
He also stated that Tel Aviv is waging an open war on the Palestinians in Jerusalem, attacking them, occupying their homes to replace them with illegal colonizers, and demolishing their homes in order to change the entire demography of the holy city.
“Every Palestinian, every Palestinian property is a target of this ethnic cleaning in Jerusalem,” Abu Laila said, “Israel wants to create new facts on the ground, to enforce its own apartheid policies, including separating Jerusalem from all surrounding Palestinian towns.”
The official said that, due to Israel’s ongoing crimes, apartheid policies and ethnic cleansing, the International Criminal Court stands as the viable option to end land theft, colonies and crimes, especially since the International Community continues to fail in stopping the Israeli crimes and colonial policies.
He stated that the Palestinians will remain steadfast in their lands, will continue and escalate the popular resistance against the Israeli occupation and its colonies.
Palestinian Legislator, deputy Secretary-General of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), Qais Abu Laila, stated that the Israel is using its so-called “Absentee Property Law” as a pretext to rob the Palestinians of their homes and lands, and as part of its ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.
Abu Laila strongly denounced the illegal confiscated of Palestinian apartments in Maragha neighborhood, in Silwan town south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in occupied East Jerusalem.
“This is part of Israel’s illegal policies of land theft, property theft and expulsion of the indigenous Palestinian people,” Abu Laila said, “It is part of Israel’s policy of ethnic cleaning, carried out by the occupation and the illegal colonizers in the occupied city.”
The Palestinian official also stated that Israel’s government has been acting on removing the Palestinians from Jerusalem through its illegal “Absentee Property Law” that enables the government to obtain ownership of property belonging to indigenous Palestinians living in exile due to illegal Israeli practices, and racist policies.
“These are racist polices by an apartheid regime that wants to empty the city from its indigenous inhabitants,” Abu Laila said, “They are imposing high taxes and fines, and are revoking Jerusalem ID’s of the Palestinians under different false pretenses and policies.”
He also stated that Tel Aviv is waging an open war on the Palestinians in Jerusalem, attacking them, occupying their homes to replace them with illegal colonizers, and demolishing their homes in order to change the entire demography of the holy city.
“Every Palestinian, every Palestinian property is a target of this ethnic cleaning in Jerusalem,” Abu Laila said, “Israel wants to create new facts on the ground, to enforce its own apartheid policies, including separating Jerusalem from all surrounding Palestinian towns.”
The official said that, due to Israel’s ongoing crimes, apartheid policies and ethnic cleansing, the International Criminal Court stands as the viable option to end land theft, colonies and crimes, especially since the International Community continues to fail in stopping the Israeli crimes and colonial policies.
He stated that the Palestinians will remain steadfast in their lands, will continue and escalate the popular resistance against the Israeli occupation and its colonies.
6 may 2015
The Israeli Supreme Court, on Tuesday, issued a final decision to demolish and displace the people of Atir-Umm Al-Hieran, a Palestinian village which remains unrecognized in the Negev desert of southern Israel.
The decision will be utilized to establish a Jewish-only settlement upon the ruins of the Bedouin village, which has the population of more than 1,000 Palestinians, this just days before the anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba.
According to the PNN, the court's final decision, issued by a majority of two judges against one, came after 13 years of judicial proceedings and attempts to cancel the demolition and eviction orders.
The court in its decision admitted the Israeli intentions to demolish the village in order to establish a settlement "with a Jewish Zionist majority," according to the decision.
According to the court, the people of the village of Atir did not enter the land illegally, but were "relocated" to it in back in 1956, by an Israeli occupation authorities official order, after they were expelled from their villages of origin during the Nakba in 1948.
Following the relocation, the court claimed that Israel only "allowed" the Palestinian refugees (which it forcibly displaced) to use this land and, therefore, these people can be expelled from it at any given moment.
For its part, Adalah center, commenting on the decision, said that the Supreme Court was coveting behind the dry law, which gives Israel the right to lay hands on the land, and completely ignore the humanitarian, political, social and historical dimensions of the cause and the lives of its people. The law legitimizes the demolition of an entire village and the displacement of its children.
"The demolition of this village is a pure proof of the Israeli racism and its foremost goal, which is the displacement of as many Palestinians possible, for colonial goals of establishing Zionist settlements on the ruins of another nation."
Adalah center assured to follow up with the case, through the villagers and human rights organizations and associations, in addition to taking legally preventive measures, in order to defend the village and prevent the demolition and displacement.
Israeli occupation court, on Monday as well, issued an order to deport the population of Susiya village near Yatta, south of Hebron. The decision followed Israeli settlers' appeal to the court a month ago, demanding the displacement of Palestinian natives, for the expansion of the settlement constructed on Susiya lands.
The decision will be utilized to establish a Jewish-only settlement upon the ruins of the Bedouin village, which has the population of more than 1,000 Palestinians, this just days before the anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba.
According to the PNN, the court's final decision, issued by a majority of two judges against one, came after 13 years of judicial proceedings and attempts to cancel the demolition and eviction orders.
The court in its decision admitted the Israeli intentions to demolish the village in order to establish a settlement "with a Jewish Zionist majority," according to the decision.
According to the court, the people of the village of Atir did not enter the land illegally, but were "relocated" to it in back in 1956, by an Israeli occupation authorities official order, after they were expelled from their villages of origin during the Nakba in 1948.
Following the relocation, the court claimed that Israel only "allowed" the Palestinian refugees (which it forcibly displaced) to use this land and, therefore, these people can be expelled from it at any given moment.
For its part, Adalah center, commenting on the decision, said that the Supreme Court was coveting behind the dry law, which gives Israel the right to lay hands on the land, and completely ignore the humanitarian, political, social and historical dimensions of the cause and the lives of its people. The law legitimizes the demolition of an entire village and the displacement of its children.
"The demolition of this village is a pure proof of the Israeli racism and its foremost goal, which is the displacement of as many Palestinians possible, for colonial goals of establishing Zionist settlements on the ruins of another nation."
Adalah center assured to follow up with the case, through the villagers and human rights organizations and associations, in addition to taking legally preventive measures, in order to defend the village and prevent the demolition and displacement.
Israeli occupation court, on Monday as well, issued an order to deport the population of Susiya village near Yatta, south of Hebron. The decision followed Israeli settlers' appeal to the court a month ago, demanding the displacement of Palestinian natives, for the expansion of the settlement constructed on Susiya lands.
The Palestinian resistance has 100,000 armed fighters to liberate the occupied Palestinian territories, Deputy Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), Dr. Ahmed Bahar, said afternoon Tuesday.
Addressing the masses during a festival held by Hamas’ Refugee Department to mark the anniversary of the Nakba, Bahar said the Palestinian resistance shall never throw in the towel until every single Israeli soldier is driven out of every single inch of Palestine.
He called on all the subdivisions of the Palestinian resistance, in the West Bank and Gaza, to “hold the gun to Israel’s head” and keep up the fight for Occupied Jerusalem.
He called on the Arab leaders to defend Occupied Jerusalem and answer the cries for help launched by the Muslim sit-inners.
“Today, we stand less than one kilometer away from our 1948 Occupied Palestine to remind the nation’s leaders of their responsibilities towards Palestine,” Bahar said.
“The right of return is a legitimate right for the individual just as it is for the community. Nobody shall ever give it up,” he added.
The PLC Deputy Speaker held Britain responsible for the displacement of the Palestinian people, urging it to make an apology to the Palestinian people for having ceded their land to Zionist militias.
Addressing the masses during a festival held by Hamas’ Refugee Department to mark the anniversary of the Nakba, Bahar said the Palestinian resistance shall never throw in the towel until every single Israeli soldier is driven out of every single inch of Palestine.
He called on all the subdivisions of the Palestinian resistance, in the West Bank and Gaza, to “hold the gun to Israel’s head” and keep up the fight for Occupied Jerusalem.
He called on the Arab leaders to defend Occupied Jerusalem and answer the cries for help launched by the Muslim sit-inners.
“Today, we stand less than one kilometer away from our 1948 Occupied Palestine to remind the nation’s leaders of their responsibilities towards Palestine,” Bahar said.
“The right of return is a legitimate right for the individual just as it is for the community. Nobody shall ever give it up,” he added.
The PLC Deputy Speaker held Britain responsible for the displacement of the Palestinian people, urging it to make an apology to the Palestinian people for having ceded their land to Zionist militias.
5 may 2015
Susiya Village
An Israeli Court ruled Monday on the removal of Susiya Bedouin village, in Masafer Yatta area, south of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, after colonists of the illegal Susya settlement, demanded the removal of the Palestinian enclave.
Coordinator of the Popular and National Committee in southern Hebron Rateb Jabour told the WAFA News agency that the Israeli decision could be enforced at any given moment, rendering dozens of resident homeless.
He added that the head of the Susiya Village Council Jihad Nawaj’a, received an official Israeli order informing him of the intention to remove the village.
Nawaj’a stated that the Susiya has been subject to dozens of violations and assaults by Israeli soldiers and fanatic colonizers.
“Our village is a historic area; Israel wants to remove us to control it,” he added, “There are many Islamic and Roman archeological sites here.”
The villagers have been constantly suffering, and literally fighting for their very existence, since Israel started the construction of Susya colony in 1983 on privately owned lands belonging to five Palestinian families from Yatta.
The villagers were forcibly removed from their village in 1986, and relocated to the current location, yet again, are facing the same fate.
Removing the village means displacing at least 50 families, and the illegal annexation of hundreds of Dunams of private Palestinian lands.
Nawaj’a said the residents have all deeds proving ownership of their lands, but Israel continues to displace them, in addition to constantly preventing them from having any access to running water, electricity and other basic services.
Several Palestinian, Israel and international human rights groups frequently warned of the Israel plans, and said Tel Aviv is planning to destroy 13 Palestinian villages in Hebron, under the pretext of “being located in military training zones.”
Removing the 13 communities would lead to the displacement of around 1.650 persons.
An Israeli Court ruled Monday on the removal of Susiya Bedouin village, in Masafer Yatta area, south of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, after colonists of the illegal Susya settlement, demanded the removal of the Palestinian enclave.
Coordinator of the Popular and National Committee in southern Hebron Rateb Jabour told the WAFA News agency that the Israeli decision could be enforced at any given moment, rendering dozens of resident homeless.
He added that the head of the Susiya Village Council Jihad Nawaj’a, received an official Israeli order informing him of the intention to remove the village.
Nawaj’a stated that the Susiya has been subject to dozens of violations and assaults by Israeli soldiers and fanatic colonizers.
“Our village is a historic area; Israel wants to remove us to control it,” he added, “There are many Islamic and Roman archeological sites here.”
The villagers have been constantly suffering, and literally fighting for their very existence, since Israel started the construction of Susya colony in 1983 on privately owned lands belonging to five Palestinian families from Yatta.
The villagers were forcibly removed from their village in 1986, and relocated to the current location, yet again, are facing the same fate.
Removing the village means displacing at least 50 families, and the illegal annexation of hundreds of Dunams of private Palestinian lands.
Nawaj’a said the residents have all deeds proving ownership of their lands, but Israel continues to displace them, in addition to constantly preventing them from having any access to running water, electricity and other basic services.
Several Palestinian, Israel and international human rights groups frequently warned of the Israel plans, and said Tel Aviv is planning to destroy 13 Palestinian villages in Hebron, under the pretext of “being located in military training zones.”
Removing the 13 communities would lead to the displacement of around 1.650 persons.
3 may 2015
By Nisreen Ramlawi [Translated from Arbic]
Every Arab citizen inside the green line (Israel), seemingly has the shelter to obtain a normal life, but on the ground, the occupation government and its institutions are working determinedly within the total disregard of the so-called "structural maps", which leads Arabs not to be able to obtain permits to build on their own lands.
In villages of the Negev, the coast and the Galilee Triangle, and for 20 years, the Israeli government has not ratified a single structural map to include the Palestinians. The Palestinians' flats and towns are shrinking, while their population is doubling. This led to having dozens of housing units constructed without a building permit, whose owners live under the threat of demolition.
There are more than 80 thousand Arab citizens living in unrecognized villages, most of which are based before the war 48, and despite the calims by Israel that it will stop the search regarding the Prawer project, which threatens to displace tens of thousands and the confiscate about 850 thousand acres of land, it is still working on its application on the ground very hard, and adapting laws to serve its objectives.
In an exclusive interview which PNN correspondent conducted, member of the People's Committee for the Defense of land and housing, Aziz Turi said that the Israeli authorities have continued to implement the demolition policy as it seeks to compel the Palestinians inside the green line to abandon their lands and move to live in the villages of the list in order to ground the use of the objectives of the settlement.
Turi added that Israel deprives the Palestinians of the Negev from all social and economic services such as water, electricity, construction of roads, secure public transport, in addition to the provision of health services and education for children. Furthermore, they live in constant fear of house loss and shelter, and living in the open because of the policy of demolishing houses.
The towns of the southern triangle, like the Negev constantly suffer from the scarcity of construction land the inability to expand flat construction, not having structural building map since 1963. Despite the continuous objections by the residents, in cooperation with the People's Committees, the Israeli occupation government did not take any of it into consideration, which means that the map will not be ratified for more long-term years.
In an article entitled "The housing crisis in Qalenswa, where to?," political activist Dr. Abdul Rahman Mari says that the issue of houses threatened with demolition in [Qalenswa] town is not new. In fact, it has been the main-focus event for the last two weeks, following the issuance of demolishing citizen's house under the pretext of unlicensed construction. After the mass crowd was demonstration, this unfair decision was postponed only for a few months.
In Lod and Ramle, the situation is no different. More than 70% of the residents were forced to live in the houses which Israeli authorities refuse to license.
Engineers in the city point out that there are approximately 3- 4 thousand houses labeled as "illegal," while the Ramla Municipality, several days before its , has issued s orders for the demolition of 30 houses constructed in a number of neighborhoods.
To his part, MP Jamal Zahalka, chairman of the parliamentary assembly block, in an earlier statement said that the housing distress among Arab citizens inside the green line was causing suffocation, where there is a shortage of about 40 thousand housing units, adding that he does not foresee any solutions coming.
Zahalka said that the housing crisis in Arab towns and villages is not only a product of economic policies, but rather stems from political and ideological reasons, as the Israeli goal since the Nakba is to reduce the scope of the land where the Arabs and the siege of the Palestinian Arab lives on.
In the context of the topic, PNN reported that since the beginning of 2015, nearly 100 Palestinian house inside the green line were demolished which was considered the introduction of the Zionist predominance of religious savagery to bring settlers and new immigrants to install Israel ownership on that ground and working on its Judaization, as is happening now in the occupied Jerusalem.
The Palestinians were inside the green line last week organized a demonstration in Tel Aviv, as a rejection against the policy of demolition of their homes by the Israeli occupation authorities. A a statement by the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee at the time that "the " demolition war " on the Arab houses under the pretext of the so-called falsely unauthorized construction has become very clear.
Every Arab citizen inside the green line (Israel), seemingly has the shelter to obtain a normal life, but on the ground, the occupation government and its institutions are working determinedly within the total disregard of the so-called "structural maps", which leads Arabs not to be able to obtain permits to build on their own lands.
In villages of the Negev, the coast and the Galilee Triangle, and for 20 years, the Israeli government has not ratified a single structural map to include the Palestinians. The Palestinians' flats and towns are shrinking, while their population is doubling. This led to having dozens of housing units constructed without a building permit, whose owners live under the threat of demolition.
There are more than 80 thousand Arab citizens living in unrecognized villages, most of which are based before the war 48, and despite the calims by Israel that it will stop the search regarding the Prawer project, which threatens to displace tens of thousands and the confiscate about 850 thousand acres of land, it is still working on its application on the ground very hard, and adapting laws to serve its objectives.
In an exclusive interview which PNN correspondent conducted, member of the People's Committee for the Defense of land and housing, Aziz Turi said that the Israeli authorities have continued to implement the demolition policy as it seeks to compel the Palestinians inside the green line to abandon their lands and move to live in the villages of the list in order to ground the use of the objectives of the settlement.
Turi added that Israel deprives the Palestinians of the Negev from all social and economic services such as water, electricity, construction of roads, secure public transport, in addition to the provision of health services and education for children. Furthermore, they live in constant fear of house loss and shelter, and living in the open because of the policy of demolishing houses.
The towns of the southern triangle, like the Negev constantly suffer from the scarcity of construction land the inability to expand flat construction, not having structural building map since 1963. Despite the continuous objections by the residents, in cooperation with the People's Committees, the Israeli occupation government did not take any of it into consideration, which means that the map will not be ratified for more long-term years.
In an article entitled "The housing crisis in Qalenswa, where to?," political activist Dr. Abdul Rahman Mari says that the issue of houses threatened with demolition in [Qalenswa] town is not new. In fact, it has been the main-focus event for the last two weeks, following the issuance of demolishing citizen's house under the pretext of unlicensed construction. After the mass crowd was demonstration, this unfair decision was postponed only for a few months.
In Lod and Ramle, the situation is no different. More than 70% of the residents were forced to live in the houses which Israeli authorities refuse to license.
Engineers in the city point out that there are approximately 3- 4 thousand houses labeled as "illegal," while the Ramla Municipality, several days before its , has issued s orders for the demolition of 30 houses constructed in a number of neighborhoods.
To his part, MP Jamal Zahalka, chairman of the parliamentary assembly block, in an earlier statement said that the housing distress among Arab citizens inside the green line was causing suffocation, where there is a shortage of about 40 thousand housing units, adding that he does not foresee any solutions coming.
Zahalka said that the housing crisis in Arab towns and villages is not only a product of economic policies, but rather stems from political and ideological reasons, as the Israeli goal since the Nakba is to reduce the scope of the land where the Arabs and the siege of the Palestinian Arab lives on.
In the context of the topic, PNN reported that since the beginning of 2015, nearly 100 Palestinian house inside the green line were demolished which was considered the introduction of the Zionist predominance of religious savagery to bring settlers and new immigrants to install Israel ownership on that ground and working on its Judaization, as is happening now in the occupied Jerusalem.
The Palestinians were inside the green line last week organized a demonstration in Tel Aviv, as a rejection against the policy of demolition of their homes by the Israeli occupation authorities. A a statement by the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee at the time that "the " demolition war " on the Arab houses under the pretext of the so-called falsely unauthorized construction has become very clear.
24 apr 2015
The Civic Coalition for Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem (CCPRJ) on Thursday slammed Israel’s so-called Absentee Property Law, applicable on the Palestinian citizens who live in the West Bank and have properties of their own in Occupied Jerusalem.
Speaking in a press conference held to discuss Israel’s endorsement of the Absentee Property Law, member of the CCPRJ, Zakaria Awda, said such procedures make part of Israel’s policy of escalation perpetrated against Palestinians wherever they are.
He said the Absentee Property legislation is one of the most dangerous laws passed by Israel in the early 1950’s to grab hold over more lands previously owned by Palestinians who were forcibly deported from their own lands following the Nakba of the 1948.
He warned of the ongoing misappropriation of Palestinian real estates by the Custodian of Absentee Property since the occupation of Jerusalem city.
For his part, lawyer Osama al-Halabi said as he has kept tabs on the violations committed by the Israeli occupation in Jerusalem and the West Bank, the Absentee Property Law is only one drop in the ocean of an Israeli system of laws enacted since the early years of its creation on usurped Palestine.
Lawyer Mohaned Jbara, meanwhile, said the implementation of the Absentee Property decree represents a real dilemma and a flagrant violation of the International Law.
Speaking in a press conference held to discuss Israel’s endorsement of the Absentee Property Law, member of the CCPRJ, Zakaria Awda, said such procedures make part of Israel’s policy of escalation perpetrated against Palestinians wherever they are.
He said the Absentee Property legislation is one of the most dangerous laws passed by Israel in the early 1950’s to grab hold over more lands previously owned by Palestinians who were forcibly deported from their own lands following the Nakba of the 1948.
He warned of the ongoing misappropriation of Palestinian real estates by the Custodian of Absentee Property since the occupation of Jerusalem city.
For his part, lawyer Osama al-Halabi said as he has kept tabs on the violations committed by the Israeli occupation in Jerusalem and the West Bank, the Absentee Property Law is only one drop in the ocean of an Israeli system of laws enacted since the early years of its creation on usurped Palestine.
Lawyer Mohaned Jbara, meanwhile, said the implementation of the Absentee Property decree represents a real dilemma and a flagrant violation of the International Law.
Hundreds of Palestinians within the 48 occupied territories have participated Thursday morning in a large march heading to Hadatha displaced village, marking the 67th anniversary of Palestinian Nakba (catastrophe).
Eight buses carrying hundreds of Palestinians headed from Ara and Ara'ra towns towards Hadatha village, one of nearly 400 Palestinian villages destroyed by Israeli occupation, the local activist Mohamed Kubha told a PIC reporter.
The large participation in the Return March has exceeded all expectations, he added.
Despite of the bad weather condition, thousands of people took into the streets to mark the Palestinian Nakba Day that coincides with Israeli celebrations of the so-called Independence Day.
Eight buses carrying hundreds of Palestinians headed from Ara and Ara'ra towns towards Hadatha village, one of nearly 400 Palestinian villages destroyed by Israeli occupation, the local activist Mohamed Kubha told a PIC reporter.
The large participation in the Return March has exceeded all expectations, he added.
Despite of the bad weather condition, thousands of people took into the streets to mark the Palestinian Nakba Day that coincides with Israeli celebrations of the so-called Independence Day.
23 apr 2015
Thousands of Palestinian citizens of Israel marched in protest, Thursday, as their Israeli compatriots celebrated, each group marking in its own way the 67th anniversary of Israel's founding as an officially recognized state.
The anniversary of Israel's declaration of independence on May 14, 1948 is celebrated according to the Jewish calendar, this year falling on April 23.
Palestinians usually mark the day on May 15 by commemorating what they call the Nakba -- or "catastrophe" -- of Israel's creation.
But, thousands of Palestinian citizens of Israel, many waving Palestinian flags, gathered Thursday in the Galilee for a protest march timed to coincide with the Israeli celebrations.
AFP reports that the demostration centered on the ruins of Al-Haditha, near Tiberias, one of nearly 400 Palestinian villages destroyed in the war that erupted after Israel's founding.
"Our grandfathers who suffered displacement asked us not to sell our land and to return to it and not give up," activist Hammad Abu al-Haija told the crowd.
"Now we tell our children our children and our grandchildren not to do so," he said.
More than 760,000 Palestinians -- estimated today to number 4.7 million with their descendants -- fled into exile or were driven out of their homes in the conflict that followed the creation of Israel.
Palestinian citizens of Israel, who account for just over 20 percent of the population, are treated as second class citizens of Israel and have not historically been represented in the Knesset.
The anniversary of Israel's declaration of independence on May 14, 1948 is celebrated according to the Jewish calendar, this year falling on April 23.
Palestinians usually mark the day on May 15 by commemorating what they call the Nakba -- or "catastrophe" -- of Israel's creation.
But, thousands of Palestinian citizens of Israel, many waving Palestinian flags, gathered Thursday in the Galilee for a protest march timed to coincide with the Israeli celebrations.
AFP reports that the demostration centered on the ruins of Al-Haditha, near Tiberias, one of nearly 400 Palestinian villages destroyed in the war that erupted after Israel's founding.
"Our grandfathers who suffered displacement asked us not to sell our land and to return to it and not give up," activist Hammad Abu al-Haija told the crowd.
"Now we tell our children our children and our grandchildren not to do so," he said.
More than 760,000 Palestinians -- estimated today to number 4.7 million with their descendants -- fled into exile or were driven out of their homes in the conflict that followed the creation of Israel.
Palestinian citizens of Israel, who account for just over 20 percent of the population, are treated as second class citizens of Israel and have not historically been represented in the Knesset.
The Palestinian displaced and refugees association declared Wednesday it has finalized its preparations for the Return march scheduled to be held on Thursday to mark the 67th Palestinian Nakba (catastrophe) anniversary.
The association called for mass participation in the march heading to Hadatha town in 1948 occupied territories.
In its statement issued Wednesday evening, the association stressed the need to commemorate the Nakba anniversary in the different Palestinian displaced villages and towns within the Green Line.
The event includes organizing tours of Palestinian villages displaced before and after the Nakba, in addition to a large festival that contains workshops and cultural activities.
There is no peace without refugees’ return to their displaced villages, the association concluded its statement.
The association called for mass participation in the march heading to Hadatha town in 1948 occupied territories.
In its statement issued Wednesday evening, the association stressed the need to commemorate the Nakba anniversary in the different Palestinian displaced villages and towns within the Green Line.
The event includes organizing tours of Palestinian villages displaced before and after the Nakba, in addition to a large festival that contains workshops and cultural activities.
There is no peace without refugees’ return to their displaced villages, the association concluded its statement.
18 apr 2015
The Israeli Supreme Court has approved the application of a law allowing the Israeli state to seize property in East Jerusalem whose owners live in the West Bank or Gaza, in a move slammed by Palestinian officials.
A panel of seven judges approved application of the "Absentee Property Law" in East Jerusalem, despite warning that it presents many problems and should be used only in the "rarest of rare cases," Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on Thursday.
Senior PLO official Ahmad Queri decried the decision, saying the law was based on racial discrimination and was aimed at removing Palestinians from Jerusalem. He said it would lead to an exclusively Jewish Jerusalem.
Ma'an further reports that this questionable Israeli law was enacted in 1950 in the aftermath of the violent expulsion of approximately 750,000 Palestinians, and allowed the newly created Israeli state to seize Palestinian property within its boundaries.
Following the Six Day War in 1967, Israeli municipal boundaries were extended to include East Jerusalem in contravention of international law, meaning that Palestinians living in the West Bank or Gaza with property in East Jerusalem were suddenly considered "absentee" owners under Israeli law.
Right-wing Israelis seeking to increase the Jewish presence in East Jerusalem have been using the law to seize property in East Jerusalem for a number of years, Haaretz reported.
The property is transferred to Israel's Custodian of Absentee Property, which then rents them out to right-wing Jewish families.
The Supreme Court's ruling on Thursday came in response to a growing number of appeals filed by Palestinians who had lost their property under the law.
The ruling effectively rejected the Palestinian appeals and legalized application of the law throughout East Jerusalem.
PLO official Queri said the decision was in blatant defiance of the international community and allowed for the illegal confiscation of Palestinians' property in the city.
'Running away from responsibility'
The Supreme Court made the approval despite expressing a number of misgivings.
Supreme Court President Asher Grunis wrote that the law considers Palestinians with property in East Jerusalem "absentees," "not because of any act taken on their part, but because of the transfer of control in Jerusalem to Israeli hands and the application of Israeli law there," Haaretz reported.
He said that property owners in the West Bank and Gaza do not live "under the control of other countries," but "in territories in which Israel has control -- to some extent -- over.”
Supreme Court President Miriam Naor went further, saying that although application of the law is legal, she doubts a case could be found in which the law could be applied in practice, Haaretz reported.
Grunis also noted that if taken literally, the law could be applied to Israelis living in illegal settlements across the West Bank who own property inside Israel and East Jerusalem.
Avigdor Feldman, a lawyer representing one of the Palestinian appellants, said that the Supreme Court was "running away from responsibility," Haaretz reported.
He said: "The justices demonstrated a very formalistic approach. They determined that (the law) is not proper, but have passed the buck to the courts, attorney general and the Custodian. They have asked to trust the generosity of the state not to make use of (the law)."
Feldman added: "It is clear that the law was created during a different situation and for other purposes, and is not appropriate for the present circumstances.”
The decision has been blasted by Palestinian officials, PA news agency Wafa reported.
In addition to scathing remarks from the PLO, Hanna Issa, Secretary-General of the Islamic-Christian Committee to Support Occupied Jerusalem and Holy Sites, denounced the court ruling.
He said Israel has no right to seize property belonging to "Palestinian residents who were forced out of their homeland."
There are now believed to be more than 300,000 Jewish settlers in East Jerusalem.
The international community views East Jerusalem as part of the Palestinian territories and recognizes the annexation and settlement programs as illegal under international law.
A panel of seven judges approved application of the "Absentee Property Law" in East Jerusalem, despite warning that it presents many problems and should be used only in the "rarest of rare cases," Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on Thursday.
Senior PLO official Ahmad Queri decried the decision, saying the law was based on racial discrimination and was aimed at removing Palestinians from Jerusalem. He said it would lead to an exclusively Jewish Jerusalem.
Ma'an further reports that this questionable Israeli law was enacted in 1950 in the aftermath of the violent expulsion of approximately 750,000 Palestinians, and allowed the newly created Israeli state to seize Palestinian property within its boundaries.
Following the Six Day War in 1967, Israeli municipal boundaries were extended to include East Jerusalem in contravention of international law, meaning that Palestinians living in the West Bank or Gaza with property in East Jerusalem were suddenly considered "absentee" owners under Israeli law.
Right-wing Israelis seeking to increase the Jewish presence in East Jerusalem have been using the law to seize property in East Jerusalem for a number of years, Haaretz reported.
The property is transferred to Israel's Custodian of Absentee Property, which then rents them out to right-wing Jewish families.
The Supreme Court's ruling on Thursday came in response to a growing number of appeals filed by Palestinians who had lost their property under the law.
The ruling effectively rejected the Palestinian appeals and legalized application of the law throughout East Jerusalem.
PLO official Queri said the decision was in blatant defiance of the international community and allowed for the illegal confiscation of Palestinians' property in the city.
'Running away from responsibility'
The Supreme Court made the approval despite expressing a number of misgivings.
Supreme Court President Asher Grunis wrote that the law considers Palestinians with property in East Jerusalem "absentees," "not because of any act taken on their part, but because of the transfer of control in Jerusalem to Israeli hands and the application of Israeli law there," Haaretz reported.
He said that property owners in the West Bank and Gaza do not live "under the control of other countries," but "in territories in which Israel has control -- to some extent -- over.”
Supreme Court President Miriam Naor went further, saying that although application of the law is legal, she doubts a case could be found in which the law could be applied in practice, Haaretz reported.
Grunis also noted that if taken literally, the law could be applied to Israelis living in illegal settlements across the West Bank who own property inside Israel and East Jerusalem.
Avigdor Feldman, a lawyer representing one of the Palestinian appellants, said that the Supreme Court was "running away from responsibility," Haaretz reported.
He said: "The justices demonstrated a very formalistic approach. They determined that (the law) is not proper, but have passed the buck to the courts, attorney general and the Custodian. They have asked to trust the generosity of the state not to make use of (the law)."
Feldman added: "It is clear that the law was created during a different situation and for other purposes, and is not appropriate for the present circumstances.”
The decision has been blasted by Palestinian officials, PA news agency Wafa reported.
In addition to scathing remarks from the PLO, Hanna Issa, Secretary-General of the Islamic-Christian Committee to Support Occupied Jerusalem and Holy Sites, denounced the court ruling.
He said Israel has no right to seize property belonging to "Palestinian residents who were forced out of their homeland."
There are now believed to be more than 300,000 Jewish settlers in East Jerusalem.
The international community views East Jerusalem as part of the Palestinian territories and recognizes the annexation and settlement programs as illegal under international law.
9 mar 2015
Israeli Foreign Minister and the head of Yisrael Beiteinu Party, Avigdor Lieberman, lashed out at Israel's Arab citizens, Sunday, threatening to cut their heads off with an axe.
"Those who are with us deserve everything, but those who are against us deserve to have their heads chopped off with an axe," Lieberman said during an election rally in the western city of Herzliya, according to Al Ray correspondence (Andalou).
Meanwhile, he added that there was no reason for Umm el-Fahm, an Arab city in northern Israel, to continue to be part of his country.
Born in Moldova, Lieberman is one of the only foreign ministers in the world who does not live in territory officially recognized as his own country. Originally under suspicion over charges of money-laundering and bribery, Lieberman was formally indicted in December of 2012, on lesser charges of fraud and breach of trust.
His party was recently the focus of a corruption probe within the Israeli political spectrum, and, more recently, Lieberman's life was threatened with an assassination attempt.
Israel took control of Umm el-Fahm in 1949, in the light of the Armistice Agreement between Israel and Jordan. It is the third largest Arab city within Israel, as far as population size is concerned.
During Sunday's rally, Lieberman said that those who raised the black flag of what is called the "Nakba Day" in mourning over the establishment of Israel, did not deserve to belong to the state of Israel.
"I am quite willing to donate them [the people who raise the black flags] to PA chief Mahmoud Abbas," Lieberman said. "It would be my pleasure," he added.
During last year's Nakba Day solidarity protests, two Palestinian teens were killed by Israeli soldiers for no apparent reason, raising only token concern within the international spectrum.
He called for including Arab states and Israel's Arab citizens in any settlement with the Palestinians.
Lieberman said Israel should seize the opportunity of the presence of similar points of view with Arab states, even without mentioning what these points of view were about.
He said there could not be a bilateral settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, calling for a regional settlement that included Arab states and Israel's Arab citizens.
"The Palestinians know what is being said about them now in the Arab world," Lieberman said. He added that some Arab states believed that real threats came from the Palestinian faction Hamas and the militant group Daesh, not from Israel.
See also: 02/15/15 Jewish Organization to Begin Further Excavations under Al Aqsa
"Those who are with us deserve everything, but those who are against us deserve to have their heads chopped off with an axe," Lieberman said during an election rally in the western city of Herzliya, according to Al Ray correspondence (Andalou).
Meanwhile, he added that there was no reason for Umm el-Fahm, an Arab city in northern Israel, to continue to be part of his country.
Born in Moldova, Lieberman is one of the only foreign ministers in the world who does not live in territory officially recognized as his own country. Originally under suspicion over charges of money-laundering and bribery, Lieberman was formally indicted in December of 2012, on lesser charges of fraud and breach of trust.
His party was recently the focus of a corruption probe within the Israeli political spectrum, and, more recently, Lieberman's life was threatened with an assassination attempt.
Israel took control of Umm el-Fahm in 1949, in the light of the Armistice Agreement between Israel and Jordan. It is the third largest Arab city within Israel, as far as population size is concerned.
During Sunday's rally, Lieberman said that those who raised the black flag of what is called the "Nakba Day" in mourning over the establishment of Israel, did not deserve to belong to the state of Israel.
"I am quite willing to donate them [the people who raise the black flags] to PA chief Mahmoud Abbas," Lieberman said. "It would be my pleasure," he added.
During last year's Nakba Day solidarity protests, two Palestinian teens were killed by Israeli soldiers for no apparent reason, raising only token concern within the international spectrum.
He called for including Arab states and Israel's Arab citizens in any settlement with the Palestinians.
Lieberman said Israel should seize the opportunity of the presence of similar points of view with Arab states, even without mentioning what these points of view were about.
He said there could not be a bilateral settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, calling for a regional settlement that included Arab states and Israel's Arab citizens.
"The Palestinians know what is being said about them now in the Arab world," Lieberman said. He added that some Arab states believed that real threats came from the Palestinian faction Hamas and the militant group Daesh, not from Israel.
See also: 02/15/15 Jewish Organization to Begin Further Excavations under Al Aqsa
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