Updates

Agriculture

Military forces 7 Palestinian communities in Jordan Valley to evacuate homes for maneuvers

In April 2015 the Civil Administration ordered hundreds of Palestinians in the northern Jordan Valley to leave their homes temporarily to enable military training. They suffered rough conditions and financial losses, including dead livestock and cultivated fields trampled or ruined by fire. In recent years the military has deliberately stepped up training in the Jordan Valley to harass Palestinians living in the 46% of the Jordan Valley Israel has declared “firing zones”. Israel must stop the temporary evacuation of communities for training and abandon all other steps to get Palestinians to leave the area.

21 May 2015

Restrictions on Movement

Settler demand to keep Arabs off buses no surprise in light of the two separate legal systems for settlers and Palestinians in the Occupied Territories

Now that the Israeli prime minister has instructed the Minister of Defense to freeze the pilot plan to keep Palestinians off the buses used by settlers, the most explicit and blatant manifestation of the segregation and discrimination regime will temporarily be put on hold. However, the policy of segregation and discrimination against Palestinians has existed on the ground for a long time and it is the direct continuation of the regime of occupation and settlement. It is therefore no surprise that the lords of the land are now demanding racial segregation on buses.

20 May 2015

Agriculture

Civil Administration maps Susiya – residents fear imminent demolition

A Civil Administration representative accompanied by soldiers arrived this morning at Khirbet Susiya, the South Hebron Hills and photographed and measured structures there. Based on past experience, residents fear the CA is preparing to demolish the village shortly and eject them from their land. This further to Justice Sohlberg’s decision to not issue an interim injunction on demolitions as sought by the residents in a petition that argued that the CA rejected their master plan for immaterial reasons. This harsh, unlawful move is part of Israel’s policy in Area C to facilitate the takeover of Palestinian land for settlements and the removal of Palestinian communities from Area C to Areas A and B in preparation for the annexation of lands to Israel.

10 May 2015

Area C

Immediate threat to demolish Palestinian village Khirbet Susiya and expel residents

At any moment, the Civil Administration might demolish all homes in Khirbet Susiya, expelling the residents from their land. This follows a decision by Israel's High Court of Justice to not issue an interim order to prevent the demolition, given in a petition filed by the residents and Rabbis for Human Rights arguing that the CA rejected their master plan for unprofessional reasons, using a double standard and discriminating against Palestinians. This harsh, illegal move is part of Israel’s policy in Area C to facilitate annexation of lands to Israel.

7 May 2015

No Accountability

B'Tselem appeals to State Attorney’s Office against closing investigative files in case of Milad ‘Ayash, 17, killed by gunfire from East Jerusalem settlement

On 13 May 2011, Milad ‘Ayash, 17, was hit by a live bullet fired at him from the Beit Yehonatan settlement in Silwan, East Jerusalem. ‘Ayash died of his wounds the next day. Both the DIP and the Israel Police investigated the shooting; both closed their case files citing “perpetrator unknown.” B'Tselem appealed to the State Attorney’s Office against the decision to close the investigations, noting grave investigative failings. The negligence with which the investigations were conducted and the closing of the files evince disregard by Israeli authorities for Palestinian lives.

3 May 2015

Economic & Social Rights

International Workers’ Day: The most invisible workers in Israel

On 1 May think of the workers in Israel who are the most invisible of all: the Palestinians. Give a thought to the tens of thousands who have a work permit, yet must stand for endless, humiliating hours at a crowded checkpoint, people for whom every moment of their daily routine is a struggle for survival, for whom getting safely home is not a given. Under such conditions, a struggle for fair pay, reasonable working hours and a pension is no more than a pipedream. This reality is a direct outcome of Israeli policy that prevents the development of an independent Palestinian economy that would provide employment to West Bank residents. Work in Israel – with or without a permit – is the only option available to many. Click here, to read testimonies by workers.

29 April 2015

Agriculture

Settlers’ walk today in Wadi Qana, where the authorities are displacing Palestinian farmers who own the land

Today, 23 April, the annual settlers’ walk will be held in Wadi Qana. During the walk, established 2006, the military prohibits Palestinian farmers, owners of wadi land, and the Palestinian general public from entering the wadi. The event symbolizes the systematic displacement of the farmers of Wadi Qana from their land and the seizure of the area by the settlers, with the assistance of the Nature and Parks Authority and the Civil Administration.

23 April 2015

Beating and Abuse

Soldiers arresting Beit Rima resident violently attack him and his family, leave his brother unconscious in street

At around 2:30 A.M on Sunday, 18 January 2015, the military arrived at the Ya’qub family home in the village of Beit Rima, northwest of Ramallah. Entering the house, soldiers arrested ‘Ali Talji Ya’qub, 21, beating him and three of his relatives. The soldiers dragged ‘Ali’s brother, Ya’qub Talji Ya’qub, 31, out into the street and left him lying there, unconscious.

16 April 2015

Restrictions on Movement

Military punishes Hizma’s 7,000 residents by closure on village for alleged stone- throwing on nearby road

The Palestinian village of Hizma in the West Bank is home to some 7,000 people. It lies northeast of Jerusalem, largely on land declared Area C. Israel appropriated much of Hizma’s land for building settlements and the Separation Barrier. In the last two days, in response to stone-throwing on nearby Route 437, the military has prevented vehicles from entering and exiting the village. Restricting the freedom of movement of all villagers, most of whom have nothing to do with the stone-throwing, constitutes prohibited collective punishment.

14 April 2015

No Accountability

State Attorney’s Office: killing a wounded, fleeing boy by shooting him in the back merely a “reckless and negligent act”

Today Israel’s State Attorney’s Office notified the High Court of Justice that in the case of Palestinian youth Samir ‘Awad it had decided to file an indictment for the minor offense of committing “a reckless and negligent act using a firearm”. This is a new low in Israeli authorities’ disregard for the lives of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories and a clear message to the security forces in the Occupied Territories: if you kill an unarmed Palestinian who poses no threat, we will do everything to cover it up and ensure impunity. Killing a wounded, fleeing youth who posed no threat by shooting him in the back is not a “reckless and negligent act”. The disparity between the grave action and the minor offense is incomprehensible and outrageous.

14 April 2015

Harassment

Video: Ice cream at Hebron checkpoint

The severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinians in the vicinity of the settlements in Hebron encourage the arbitrary and regular harassment of the residents. B'Tselem volunteer Raed Abu a-Rmeileh filmed a video showing what happened to an ice cream delivery intended for a grocery store owned by Anwar Maswdeh.

12 April 2015

Harassment

Video: Soldiers enter home of B'Tselem volunteers in Hebron, awake children, photograph them, and confiscate footage filmed by the volunteers

On 10 March ‘15, soldiers entered the home of ‘Imad and Fayzeh Abu Shamsiyeh, B'Tselem volunteers in Hebron. They awoke the children, photographed them, viewed footage filmed by the couple of life in Hebron and of Israeli security forces, and confiscated a hard disk and a memory card with data. Photographing and documentation are permitted in the West Bank, including of soldiers. B'Tselem urges the army to immediately return the confiscated property unharmed, and refrain from harassing its volunteers or hampering the work of photographers.

7 April 2015

Area C

Civil Administration confiscates 12 solar panels from the Khan al-Ahmar community close to Ma’ale Adumim

On 1 Apr. 2015, Civil Administration officials confiscated 12 solar panels, the sole source of electricity in the community of Khan al-Ahmar, near the settlement of Ma’ale Adumim. In a bid to force out residents and seize the area, Israel denies the community access to the power grid and prevents any possibility for legal construction. B'Tselem urges the Civil Administration to return the panels and allow residents to build legally in their community. Israel must meet its obligations under IHL to act for the benefit and well-being of the residents of the occupied territory.

2 April 2015

Hebron City Center

Separation policy in Hebron: Military renews segregation on main street; wide part – for Jews, narrow, rough side passage – for Palestinians

The military resumed its segregation on the main street of a-Salaimeh neighborhood, in force from Sep. 2012 to Mar. 2013 when it was abandoned following to the airing of footage by B'Tselem. The military again bans Palestinians from the main part of the street, directing them to a narrow side road. This is part of the military’s overall policy of severe restrictions on Palestinian movement in downtown Hebron, implemented ever since the 1994 massacre of Muslim worshippers at the Tomb of the Patriarchs perpetrated by settler Baruch Goldstein.

2 April 2015

Communities Facing Expulsion

Civil Administration confiscates solar panels in Khan al-Ahmar Bedouin community, near Ma'ale Adummim settlement

Representatives of the Civil Administration came this afternoon to the Palestinian community of Khan al-Ahmar in the West Bank, north of the Ma'ale Adummim settlement, and began dismantling 11 energy production solar panels. These panels provide electricity to the community and to its school, which serves children from all Bedouin communities in the area. They were assembled over the past three months, and two of them only today. B'Tselem's field researcher is currently on location documenting the dismantling and confiscation activities.

1 April 2015

No Accountability

Bassem Abu Rahmeh’s mother demands decision in appeal on closing case of her son’s killing

The mother of Bassem Abu Rahmeh, a resident of the West Bank village of Bil’in killed when a soldier fired a tear-gas canister at him, petitioned Israel’s High Court of Justice yesterday demanding that the Court compel the Military Advocate General (MAG) and the Attorney General to reach a decision concerning the appeal over the closing of the investigation file, and to indict the soldier who fired the canister along with any others bearing military command responsibility for the killing of her son. In the petition, filed jointly with Israeli human rights organizations B’Tselem and Yesh Din, Subhiya Abu Rahmeh demanded that the Court put an end to the foot-dragging and the avoidance of conducting even the most basic investigative acts that could shed light on the identity of the persons responsible for killing her son.

1 April 2015

The Gaza Strip

Gaza Today: Last summer’s displaced persons still living in schools

Palestinian women from Beit Hanoun found shelter with their families at an UNRWA school. They tell of the rough living conditions after losing their homes and speak of their hopes for the future. According to UN figures for Beit Hanoun, 90 homes were destroyed and 24 others damaged during Operation Protective Edge.

30 March 2015

No Accountability

State to announce decision in investigation of killing of Samir ‘Awad by mid-April

On 25 March 2015 Israel’s High Court of Justice (HCJ) reiterated its ruling that by mid-April 2015 the State Attorney’s Office must announce its decision in the case of the killing of Samir ‘Awad. The HCJ made this announcement in response to the State’s request for yet another extension. B’Tselem criticizes the State’s disregard of a previous HCJ ruling and foot-dragging in the case. Samir ‘Awad, 16, was killed on 15 January 2013 by gunshots fired by soldiers near the Separation Barrier in the West Bank village of Budrus, although he posed no danger. Despite the more than two years that have passed since the incident, no decision has been made in the case.

26 March 2015

Area C

Civil Administration demolishes 4 homes in Khallet Makhul, northern Jordan Valley

On 18 March 2015 the Civil Administration demolished the tents of 4 of the 9 families in Khallet Makhul. It had previously demolished all structures there in 2013, which were then rebuilt by the residents who petitioned the HCJ, leading the CA agreed to allow the residents to apply for building permits. Approval for the applications is pending, so there is no authority for the current demolition, even by the CA’s regulations. Demolitions are part of a long-standing Israeli policy to displace thousands of Palestinians in Area C. Israel, as the occupying force, must allow the local population to carry on with their lives, allowing them to build legally and preserve their way of life.

25 March 2015

Harassment

Masked soldiers enter Palestinian homes in Hebron in dead of night, order residents to wake their children, and photograph them

Late at night on 23 Feb. 2015 Israeli troops entered 10 neighboring apartments in Hebron. They demanded that the children be awakened, asked their names and photographed them. B’Tselem volunteers who live there filmed the incident. The military cannot treat civilians–and certainly not children–as potential criminals. Not only is this policy of entering Palestinian homes by night unjust and terrifying. It illustrates how casually and arbitrarily the lives of Palestinians under occupation are disrupted and their rights violated. B’Tselem calls on the military to discontinue this policy without delay.

24 March 2015

General

Four more years of occupation

An open letter from Hagai El-Ad, B'Tselem's Executive Director: The election results show, loud and clear, that the voting public in Israel favors the ongoing occupation. Within the excepted term of the new Knesset we will mark the 50th year of occupation. The fight against the occupation did not begin yesterday and will not end now. We, at B’Tselem, will continue to bring to light the daily aspects of occupation and to fight them undeterred. At the same time, we know that only ending occupation will end these injustices once and for all, and to that goal we are unwaveringly committed. The occupation is here to stay. With your help, we are here to end it.

18 March 2015

Communities Facing Expulsion

Civil Administration demolishes structures, confiscates water tanks in Palestinian communities in northern Jordan Valley

This morning, Civil Administration bulldozers returned to the Jordan Valley, demolishing the homes of four families and farming structures in Khallet Makhul and a farming structure in the village of al-Hadidiyah. The Administration also confiscated two waters tanks in the 200-person village of al-Farisiyah, which is not connected to a water supply network. A more detailed report will follow B'Tselem's investigation of the incidents. Follow B'Tselem's Facing Expulsion Blog.

18 March 2015

General

Transparent ballot: No vote for Palestinians in West Bank

Op-ed by Sarit Michaeli, B'Tselem spokesperson, originally published in Ynetnews: The 20th Knesset (if it lives out its days) will usher in the 50th anniversary of Israeli occupation. Millions of Palestinians have no political representation – a right most of them would rather exercise in their own independent country, Palestine. For now, the Israeli government is holding the stick at both ends: It controls the entire area, but pays no attention to the opinions of a large part of the population living there. Until this situation changes, we’ll be left with a sad irony: Palestinians are good enough to print voter ballots, but not to actually vote.

16 March 2015

General

International Women’s Day

States of combat and human rights violations have a distinctive impact on women. It is important that we hear their voices. In honor of International Women’s Day we asked Palestinian women to interview other Palestinian women about their hopes, dreams and sources of inspiration.

8 March 2015