Complementing the bloody attacks that carried out by the Israeli Occupation Authorities in the occupied Palestinian territories in late 2015, the Israeli Authorities commenced the year of 2016, with the same pace of racist attacks against the Palestinians and their property with the aim of continuing their colonial projects in the occupied West Bank. On the ground the Israeli Occupation Authorities, did not stop form issuing military orders that confiscating more Palestinian land and demolishing dozens of houses ad structures. Additionally, the Israeli Authorities moved forward to impose restrictions on the Palestinians’ movement , by closing several road and t entrances of towns and village.
From the beginning of the year 2016, the Israeli Occupation Authorities continued to breach the truce which was signed between the Palestinian factions in Gaza Strip and the Israeli Government ,sponsored by Egypt, at the end of the Israeli war against Gaza strip in Summer 2014. Where the Israeli Army stationed along side of the borders between Gaza strip and the occupied Palestinian territories in 1948, had opened fire at Palestinians while they were near the border fence area. Also, the Israeli gunboats targeted the Palestinian fishing boats. For Gaza strip terminals that controlled by Israel, where the related authorities preventing the entering of the construction materials to re-build Gaza strip.
While in the occupied West Bank, the clashes between Palestinians and the Israeli Army continued in several areas in the occupied West Bank. These clashes led to a number of martyrs, injuries and arrestees.
In additional to clashes, the Israeli Authorities moved forward to implement its colonial projects in the West Bank, where during the month of January 2016, the Israeli Defense Minister “Moshe Ya’alon” approved, in a final stage, the annexation of “Beit Al Baraka” church property, which located at the Israeli Bypass road No. 60, near the entrance of Al Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron city, to the Israeli settlement bloc of “Gush Etzion”, which located at the western part of Bethlehem Governorate.
Furthermore, the Israeli planning and construction committee in the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem, approved a new line for the light rail in Jerusalem city. Where the new line will serve to link the Israeli settlement of Ramot, north of Jerusalem city, with the Israeli settlement of Gilo, south of Jerusalem city. The new line of the light rail length will reach to about 20 kilometers.
Also, during the month of January 2016, the Israeli Government sought to impose more obstacles at the movement of the Palestinians between their towns and villages, where they aimed to increase the number of checkpoints and military towers. Accordingly, the Israeli Occupation Army razed 2.5 dunums of Palestinian land at the entrance of Tuqu village, southeast of Bethlehem city, to erect a military tower in the area. Also, the Israeli bulldozers razed land in Wadi Sair area, north of Hebron city, to erect a military tower in the site. While in Nablus Governorate, the Israeli Authorities issued an order to confiscate 643 square meters of Palestinian land to erect 6 military towers alongside of the road which link Jit and Huwara villages.
Indeed the Israeli Occupation Army still impose the closure on the Palestinian areas since October 2015. Where during the month of January 2016, the Israeli Occupation Army closed a number of Palestinian roads and the entrances of some Palestinian villages and towns in several areas in the occupied West Bank. In Bethlehem Governorate, the Israeli Occupation Army closed the entrance of Janata village, southeast of Bethlehem city, and closed all the entrances of Al Jab’a village, southwest of Bethlehem city as well. In addition to the closure of “Masja” road which links the eastern villages of Bethlehem Governorate with Bethlehem city center.
While in Hebron Governorate, the Israeli Occupation Army closed the main entrance of Ad-Dhahiriya town, and closed the iron gate at the entrance of Al Haraueq area at the southern part of Hebron city. Also, the Israel Army still closing the entrance of Dura town and Al Fawar refugee camp. Furthermore, the Israeli Authorities issued a military order to close the main road links between Beit ‘Amra and Karma villages, southwest of Hebron city.
In Ramallah Governorate, the Israeli Occupation Army closed the main entrance of An-Nabi Saleh village, north of Ramallah city. It’s worth to mention that the closure of the entrance of An Nabi Saleh village had dramatically affected the surrounded villages and towns. Moreover the Israeli Authorities closed “Beit Ur- Beituniya” road which links between the western villages of Ramallah Governorate with the center of the city.
Within the violence attacks carried out by the Israeli Army against the Palestinians and their properties, the IOA imposed the closure in several areas in the occupied West Bank, demolished Palestinian houses and structures, confiscated more private Palestinian lands. In parallel, the Israeli settlers also increased their systematic attacks against the Palestinians and their properties. The most prominent attacks were took place by the Israeli settlers when the Israel settlers escorted by the Israeli Occupation Army occupied Palestinian houses in Hebron city and in Silwan town in Jerusalem city, where the Israeli settlers claimed that the targeted houses owned by the settlers.
Israeli settlers violence during the month January 2016 reached to 40 attacks
Israeli settlers attacks against Palestinians and their properties became more organized and violent, and carried out in front of the Israeli Occupation Army and their protection, in light of an absent of the legal liability against the Israeli settlers. Accordingly, the Israeli settlers attacks became one of the Israeli modes to attack Palestinians and push the Territory to more violent.
During the month of January 2016, the Israeli settlers carried out about 41 attacks in several areas in the occupied West Bank. Where most of these attacks targeted Jerusalem Governorate, which reached to 23 attacks, then in Nablus Governorate with 5 attacks and in Hebron Governorate about 4 attacks.
While the type of the Israeli settlers attacks varied between storming religious and Historic sites, which reach to more than 20 attacks during the month of January 2016. And the Israeli settlers attacks against Palestinians (betting, open fire, physically assaults, etc) reach to 10 attacks. It’s worth pointed that during January 2016, the leader of “Lahava organization” (Jewish extremist organization), called the Israeli settlers to torch the churches in Jerusalem city, and stated that the Palestinian Christians are not welcomed to live in “State of Israel”.
Israeli occupation bulldozers demolished 35 houses and 19 structures during the month of January 2016
During the month of January 2016, the Israeli occupation bulldozers demolished 35 houses and 19 structures in several areas in the occupied West Bank, under the claim that the targeted houses were “built without a permit”, where the targeted houses located within the area classified as “Area C” (according to Oslo Agreement, 1995.).
Where in Jerusalem Governorate, the Israeli occupation bulldozers demolished 25 houses and 2 structures. The targeted areas are: Jabal Al Mukabir, Sur Baher, Silwan, Shufat, Beit Safafa and Beit Hanina towns, in additional to Abu An-Nawar and Jabal Al Baba areas in Al Eaziriya town, east of Jerusalem city.
In Hebron Governorate, the Israeli bulldozers demolished 6 houses and 6 structures, and distributed on: Ad-Dhahiriya and Beit Ummer towns and Al Arroub refugee camp, in additional to Beit Ar-Rush At-Tahta village and Khirbet Susiya, which located in Masafer Yatta area.
Israeli Civil Administration issued demolition/ halt construction orders that targeted 75 houses and structures in several areas in the occupied West Bank
During the month of January , the Israeli Civil administration issued demolition/ halt construction orders that targeted in total 75 houses and structures in several Palestinian areas. As usual, the Israeli Authorities claimed that the targeted houses and structures are “illegal”, and built without the permits from the Israeli related Authorities since these houses and structures located in the area classified as Area C (according to Oslo Agreement, 1995), which it under the control of the Israeli Authorities.
The most effected Governorate was Nablus, where the Israeli Authorities targeted with the demolition orders about 38 houses and structures, 30 of these orders targeted Ein Ar-Rashash area located near Duma village, southeast of Nablus Governorate. The Israeli Occupation Authorities declared that they will demolish all the houses and structures in the area.
While in Hebron Governorate, the Israeli Authorities issued the demolition/ halt construction orders that targeted in total 20 houses and structures in several areas in the Governorate, while the most effected towns and areas were: Beit Ummer, Dura, Yatta, Beit ‘Amra , and the areas located in Masafer Yatta.
Israel confiscated 2990 dunums of Palestinian land for the benefit of the Israeli colonial projects in the occupied West Bank
Since the year of 1967, , the Israeli Authorities had systematically moved forward with confiscating and capturing more and more Palestinian lands under several illegal and manipulating claims.
From the beginning of the Year 2016, the Israeli Authorities issued orders to confiscate in total 2989.28 dunums of Palestinian lands in several areas in the occupied West Bank, which aimed to benefit the needs of the Israeli settlers living in the illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, and also to benefit the Israeli colonial projects in the targeted areas.
During the month of January 2016, the Israeli Authorities declared about 1545 dunums of Palestinian land in Jericho Governorate as “State Land”. It’s worth to mention that the targeted land used by the Israeli settlers, from several years ago, for agricultural matters, even before the issuance of the aforementioned confiscation order.
While in Bethlehem Governorate, the Israeli authorities declared the confiscation of 1346 dunums of Palestinian lands, 1341 of which located in Khallet An-Nahla area or what known by the Israelis as “E2”. During the month of January 2016, the Israeli High court ordered to allow the Israeli Authorities to declare 1341 dunums of Palestinian land in Khallet An-Nahla area as “State land”. According to the Israeli plans, a new Israeli settlement to be constructed in the area. The proposed new settlement name is “Giv’at Etiam” and according to the plan, the Israeli Authorities will construct 2500 housing units .
In Qalqiliyah Governorate, the Israeli Authorities handed out a military order to confiscate 93 dunums of Palestinian land in Azzun village, east of Qalqiliyah city, to construct a new road for the Israeli settlers.
Israeli Authorities approved to construct 153 housing units in a number of illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank
On the 25th of January 2016, the Israeli Occupation Authorities approved the construction of 153 housing units in a number of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, where these housing units distributed on: Etz Ephraim settlement in Salfit Governorate, the Israeli Authorities approved the construction of 34 housing units. And in the Israeli settlement of Rechalim, in Salfit Governorate, the Israeli Authorities approved the construction of 31 housing units. While in Karme’el settlement in Hebron Governorate, the Israeli Authorities approved the construction of 28 housing units, and in Alon Shevut settlement in Bethlehem Governorate, the Israeli Authorities approved the construction of 60 housing units.
To conclude
Obviously the Israeli Government headed by the leader of Likud party “Benjamin Netanyahu”, intending to push the Palestinian areas for more violent through the Israeli Army and settlers attacks that carried out against Palestinians in several areas in the occupied West Bank. The Israeli violence during the month of January 2016, portending an increase of the Israeli violations, where the confiscating of Palestinian land, demolishing houses and structures, and the Israeli settlers attacks will push for more violence that will affect the international efforts to resume the Peace process between the Palestinians and Israelis on the based on “Two State solution”.
Prepared by:
The Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem
