Ramallah
– A Palestinian house burnt by Israeli settlers

 

Israeli forces continue systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians
and property in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)

      

 

Israeli forces launched 8 air strikes on the Gaza
Strip.

3,500 chicks and 15 sheep died in Israeli raids on poultry
and sheep farms in Khan Yunis.

 

Israeli forces have continued to open fire at the
border areas in the Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported.

 

8 Palestinian civilians, including 6 children, were
wounded in the southeast of Nablus.

 

Israeli forces have continued to use excessive force
against peaceful protesters in the West Bank.

 

7 Palestinian civilians were wounded in
protests in Kofur Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilia, and Bil’in village,
west of Ramallah.

 

 

Israeli forces conducted 56 incursions into Palestinian
communities in the West Bank and a limited one in the Gaza Strip.

 

At
least 58 Palestinians, including 11
children and a mother of 2 children, were arrested.

 

Israel has continued to impose a total closure on the
oPt and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.

Israeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in
the West Bank.

At least 10 Palestinian civilians, including 3
children, were arrested at checkpoints in the West Bank.

A patient from Rafah was arrested at Beit Hanoun
(Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip.

 

Israeli navy forces have continued targeting
Palestinian fishermen in the sea.

Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian fishing
boats, arrested fishermen and confiscated fishing boats.

 

Israeli has continued efforts to create a Jewish demographic
majority in occupied East Jerusalem.

Israeli authorities approved the scheme of the
(National Park) on the lands of al-Tour and al-‘Eisawiya villages.

 

Israeli forces have continued to support settlement
activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack
Palestinian civilians and property.

Israeli forces erased 100 olive trees in Ya’bad
village, southwest of Jenin.

Israeli settlers set fire to 2 vehicles in Fara’ta
village, northeast of Qalqilia.

219 olive trees were uprooted and damaged in the
northern and southern West Bank.  

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli violations of international law and
international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period
(14 – 20 November 2013).

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces wounded 15
Palestinian civilians, including 8 children, in the West Bank.  7 of these civilians were wounded during
peaceful protests organized by Palestinian civilians and international
activists against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement
activities in the West Bank. The other 8 ones were wounded during clashes between
Israeli forces and Palestinians who protested against uprooting their trees by Israeli
settlers. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli warplanes bombarded different areas, while
the gunboats continued to attack fishing boats in the sea.

 

In the West Bank, Israeli forces continued the
systematic use of excessive force against peaceful protests organised by Palestinian,
Israeli and international activists against the construction of the annexation
wall and settlement activities in the West. As a result, 7 civilians,
including 2 children, were wounded.  

 

On 18 November 2013, 8 Palestinian civilians,
including 6 children, were wounded when they protested in Qasra village,
southeast of Nablus, as settlers uprooted 38 olive seedlings from Palestinian
lands. Israeli forces arrived and fired sound bombs, tear gas canisters and
rubber-coated metal bullets at the Palestinians.

 

 

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli warplanes launched 8 air
strikes against a number of targets throughout the Gaza Strip. On 14 November
2013, Israeli warplanes raided an open land in the east of Beit Hanoun, north
of the Gaza Strip, and another open land, east of al-Zaitoun neighbourhood in
the east of Gaza City.

 

On 19 November 2013, Israeli warplanes launched 6 air
strikes as follows: the first was on a poultry and sheep farm, southeast of
Khan Yunis. The second raid was on the area that witnessed the tunnel
bombardment last month, 250 meters away from the border fence, northeast of
Khan Yunis. The third raid was on an agricultural land, east of Khan Yunis,
while the fourth one was carried out on Hettin training site of the Palestinian
armed groups, in the northern Gaza Strip. Israeli warplanes attacked the
abovementioned training site twice later.

 

On 19 November 2013, Israeli military vehicles
stationed along the border fence shelled an agricultural land, east of
al-Zaitoun neighbourhood in Gaza City. Neither casualties nor material damage
were reported.     

 

In the context of targeting fishermen in the sea,
Israeli gunboats stationed in the sea opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats twice.
The first attack took place on 16 November 2013, but neither casualties nor
material damage were reported. On 17 November 2013, Israeli gunboats stationed
off al-Waha Resort shore, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip
opened fire at the Palestinian fishing boats sailing nearly 1.5 nautical miles
in the sea.  An Israeli gunboat
surrounded a boat boarding 2 fishermen; ‘Ammar As’ad ‘Abdel Malek al-Sultan
(21) and Muhsin Akram Diab Zayed (24) from al-Salatin neighbourhood in Beit
Lahia.  Israeli naval soldiers forced
fishermen to jump into the water and swim towards the Israeli gunboat while the
two fishermen were pulling 10 fishing nets, 1,000 meters long in total, from
water.  The two fishermen were terrified
due to the continued firing at them.  The
Israeli soldiers then confiscated their fishing boat and items and took the
fishermen to Ashdod Port, where they were arrested and questioned.  At Israeli forces released the two fishermen on
the following day via Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing. 

 

 

Incursions:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted
at least 56 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During
these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 58 Palestinians, including 11
children and a mother of 2 of them. The mother and her 11-year-old child were
arrested to force her other 17-year-old child surrender to the Israeli forces.
However, Israeli forces have not released the mother and her 11-year-old child
so far. 

 

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces conducted an
incursion into the southern Gaza Strip on 19 November 2013, during which they
levelled areas of Palestinian land.

 

Restrictions on movement:

 

Israel continued to impose a tightened closure of the
oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in
the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

 

The illegal closure of the Gaza Strip, which has
steadily tightened since June 2007 has had a disastrous impact on the
humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.  The Israeli authorities impose measures to
undermine the freedom of trade, including the basic needs for the Gaza Strip
population and the agricultural and industrial products to be exported. For 7
consecutive years, Israel has tightened the land and naval closure to isolate
the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and other
countries around the world. This resulted in a grave violation of the economic,
social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.7
million people.  The Israeli authorities
has established Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shaloum) as the sole crossing for imports
and exports in order to exercise its control over the Gaza Strip’s economy that
has been aggravating for years due to the shortage of imports.  They also aim at imposing a complete ban on
the Gaza Strip’s exports. 

 

Israeli forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank,
including occupied East Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue to be denied access to Jerusalem.

 

As part of using military checkpoints and border
crossings as traps to arrest Palestinian civilians under the pretext they are
wanted, Israeli forces arrested at least 10 civilians, including 3 children, in
the West Bank and one civilian in the Gaza Strip.

Settlement activities

 

Israel has
continued its settlement activities in the oPt, a direct violation of
international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack
Palestinian civilians and property.

 

On Thursday
morning, 14 November 2013, Israeli forces, backed with heavy military
bulldozers, leveled farmlands, south of Ya’abod village near the main bypass
road, which leads to “Movedtan” settlement established on Palestinian lands
between Jenin and the northern villages of Tulakrm, southwest of Jenin.

 

On the same
day, 4 Israeli settlers sneaked into a house belonging to the family of Khaled
‘Abdel Rahman Mahmoud Dar Khalil in Sanjal village, north of Ramallah.  The settlers poured an incendiary material
inside the house balcony, which was closed by glass, put it on fire, and wrote
a slogan in Hebrew on the outside wall.

 

Also on the
same day, a group of settlers, escorted by Israeli forces, raided one of the
ancient archaeological areas, west of al-Samou’a village, south of Hebron, and
perform religious rituals. 

 

Also on the
same day, a group of settlers from “Eddy ‘Aad” settlement, which is established
on the east of Turmos’ayah lands, north of Ramallah, uprooted 75 seedlings in
the al-Sabiha agricultural area, east of the village and 3 kilometers away from
the aforementioned settlement.

 

On 15 November
2013, dozens of settlers, escorted by Israeli forces, obstructed the movement
at the entrance of Beit Ummar village, and uprooted 75 seedlings in al-Sbihah
agricultural area, east of the village.

 

On 17 Nove,ebr
2013, a number of settlers from “Afijal” settlement established on Palestinian
lands, east of Yata, south of Hebron, cut 106 olive trees belonging to Mos’if
family in Mo’in valley, east of Yata, with handsaws.

 

On 18 November
2013, Israeli forces confiscated 120 square meters of construction bricks of
al-Dirat village, northeast of Yata, south of Hebron, under the pretext of
building a mosque without a construction permit.

 

On the same
day, civilians were surprised in Qasrah village, southeast of Nablus, with
settlers uprooting 38 olive seedlings and tried to demolish an agricultural
room belonging to ‘Ali ‘Abdel Hamid Hassan, but they could not. 

 

On 19 November
2013, 3 settlers infiltrated from “Hafa Gel’ad” settlement to Fer’etah village,
northeast of Qalqilya, and set a truck and vehicle belonging to Bahjat Mohammed
Mahmoud Soliman, on fire.

 

 

 

Efforts to create Jewish majority in occupied East
Jerusalem

 

On Thursday, 14 November 2013, the
Israeli district planning and construction committee approved “The National
Park” plan to be located on part of the lands of al-Tur and al-Issawiya
villages in East Jerusalem.  According to
information available at PCHR, this plan will confiscate 740 dunums of the
Palestinian lands in the two aforementioned villages resulting in depriving
their residents of the urban expansion towards these lands.

 

 

 

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period
(14 – 20 November 2013)

 

1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas, and Attacks
on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip

 

Thursday, 14 November 2013

 

At approximately 00:00, Israeli forces moved into Beer
al-Basha village, south of Jenin. They raided a house belonging to the family
of Hussein Sharif Ghawadra (16), who is accused of killing an Israeli soldier
near a central bus station in al-‘Afoula in Israel on Wednesday, 13 November
2013. Israeli forces arrested 3 brothers of the aforementioned person: Tawfiq
(27), ‘Arafat (25) and Mo’tasem (21). They also raided a house belonging to the
family of Jamil Mohammed Ghawadra (16) and arrested him as well. Israeli forces
withdrew taking the 4 arrested persons to an unknown destination.   

 

At approximately 00:30, Israeli forces moved into
al-Jalama village, north of Jenin. They patrolled the streets and raided a
house belonging to the family of Abdullah Khaled Yaseen (27). They arrested him
and took him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-Daheriya village, south of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and deployed
between the houses. They also raided a number of houses from which they
arrested 10 civilians, including 4 brothers:

1. Osama Mohammed al-Najjar (32);

2. Ra’ed Mohammed al-Najjar (28);

3. Alaa’ Mohammed al-Najjar (28);

4. Adel Mohammed al-Najjar (35);

5. Riyadh Mohammed al-Battat (28);

6. Madin Shehda al-Ka’bi (33);

7. Ibrahim al-Janazra (26);

8. Mohammed Ali Wreidat (33);

9. Fayez Khaled Raba’ (29); and

10. Mohye Mohammed al-Battat (26).

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit
Awwa village, southwest of Doura, southwest of Hebron. They raided a number of
houses from which they arrested 4 civilians, including 2 brothers:

1. Lo’ai Samir Issa Masalma (21);

2. Odai Samir Issa Masalma (20);

3. Yusef Samir Hassan Masalma (22); and

4. Mahmoud Issa Maslama (20).

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into the
south of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the
family of Ali Mohammed al-Bakri (23). They arrested the aforementioned person
and took him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 14:30, Israeli forces bombarded an
open land in Bouret Abu Ghazala, east of Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza
Strip. As a result, the bombardment caused a big crater in the land and
terrified the area residents. Neither casualties nor material damage were
reported. It should be noted the targeted land is 2,500 meters away from the
border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel.

 

Also at approximately 15:00, Israeli forces launched a
missile at an open land in the east of al-Zaitoun neighbourhood, east of Gaza
City. Neither casualties nor material damage were reported.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into
al-Yamoun village, northwest of Jenin. They raided a house belonging to the
family of Ahed Mahmoud Abu al-Haija (18). They arrested him and took him to an
unknown destination.

 

 Also around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Raj’i woodland around al-Aqaba village,
south of Doura, southwest of Hebron. They patrolled the lands, where dome boys
gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers, who fired
sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, a number of boys
suffered tear gas inhalation.

 

At approximately 16:45, Israeli forces moved into
al-Nabi Saleh village, east of Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets for some
time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 16:50, Israeli forces moved into
al-Funduq village, east of Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets and raided a
house belonging to the family of Salah Mohammed Taiyem (27). They arrested the
aforementioned person and took him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 17:30, Israeli forces moved into
Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 22:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and deployed
between houses. A number of boys gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at
Israeli soldiers, who fired sound bombs, tear gas canisters and rubber-coated
metal bullets in response. As a result, a number of civilians suffered tear gas
inhalation. Israeli forces withdrew later. 

 

 

Friday, 15 November 2013

 

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into the
southern area of Hebron.  They patrolled
the streets and raided a house belonging to the family of Qaher Najeh Abu
Qbeita (29). They arrested the aforementioned person and withdrew later.

 

 Around the same
time, Israeli forces moved into al-Shyoukh village, north of Hebron. They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into
Doura, southwest of Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:30, Israeli forces moved into the
eastern Barta’a village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of
stores and confiscated meat and eggs under the pretext they do not carry legal
stamps and were sold to Palestinians in Israel. Israeli forces arrested Ahmed
Mohammed Abu al-Halawa, whose store was raided, and took him to an unknown
destination.

 

At approximately 11:00, Israeli forces moved into Deir
Samet village, west of Doura, southwest of Hebron. They patrolled the streets
and deployed between the houses. Israeli forces withdrew later and no arrests
were reported.

 

At approximately 14:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided a house belonging to the
family of Mohammed Mahmoud Abu Dawood (65) and stationed on top of the house.
Mohammed and his family tried to prevented Israeli soldiers from going
upstairs, but he and his family were attacked. Israeli soldiers fired sound
bombs at the family and attacked them again in front of the house. As a result,
some of the family members sustained bruises and were taken to Hebron Hospital
to receive medical treatment.

Mohammed Abu Dawood (65) said to PCHR’s fieldworker:

“At
approximately 14:15 on Friday, 15 November 2013, I was on the third floor of my
3-storey house. I heard violent knocking on the door leading to the roof. I
went downstairs to the door and found 4 Israeli soldiers, including an officer
who hit the door with his gun. I realized that the main door of the house was
open. I asked them what they were doing. One of them asked me to give them the
key, but I refused because a few day earlier some Israeli soldiers went up to
the roof and damaged the solar power boards. The officer hit the door again, so
I shouted asking them to stop, but in vain. My sons Yusef (25), Ibrahim (25),
daughter Amani (20) and my two wives Nazmiya (58) and Zainab (60) came. A
quarrel erupted between me and the soldiers. Ibrahim stood in the middle to
prevent them from attacking me. A soldier held a sound bomb and hit it on
Ibrahim’s head and then threw it towards Yusef, whose head was injured. Ibrahim
got away, as he was bleeding. In the meantime, I stepped back, but a soldier
who was one step higher than me, so he strongly kicked me in the left side of
my chest. Yusef carried me to a close balcony as I suffered difficulty in
breathing. I heard him calling out relatives downstairs to bring an ambulance.
After a while, my sons took me outdoor waiting for the ambulance. There were
Israeli soldiers out there, in addition to my brother Ibrahim (50) and his
sons. My two wives and daughters stayed inside and closed the door. The Israeli
soldiers approached and started hitting the door with their gun butts. I tried
to prevent them from doing so, but a soldier broke the glass of the door. My
nephew Mohammed came to get me away fearing that I would be attacked again, but
2 soldiers pulled him back, pushed him to the ground and attacked him. My sons
and brother came to help him. In the meanwhile, a soldier stood on the door’s
step, held his gun crosswise and jumped over them. They all fell to the ground.
The soldiers took each one of them and attacked him individually. Once an
ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) arrived, the Israeli
soldiers left. I was taken with 3 members of my family to Hebron Hospital.
Following medical check-up, it was found that I had a fracture in my rib cage,
my son Ibrahim sustained a wound in the left side of his head, my nephew Fadi
sustained a fracture in the nose and my son Ahmed sustained bruises in the
belly. A few minutes later, my brother Ibrahim and my son Yusef arrived were
also admitted to the hospital. My brother sustained a fracture in his left hand
and my son Yusef had pain in his left side of his head. Half an hour later, my
wife Nazmiya was admitted to the hospital. She had pain in the chest. I learnt
later that Israeli soldiers had pushed her while going downstairs. We left the
hospital in the evening.”   

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Qalqilya.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. At approximately
16:00, Israeli forces withdrew. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported. 

 

At approximately 15:00, Israeli forces moved into Bab
al-Zawiya area, in the centre if Hebron, and deployed between the houses. A
number of boys gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers,
who fired sound bombs, tear gas canisters and rubber-coated metal bullets in response.
As a result, a number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.

 

At approximately 16:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit
Ummar village, north of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and stationed at the
entrance of al-Tarabiqa neighbourhood. A number of boys gathered and threw
stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers who fired sound bombs and tear gas
canisters in response. As a result, Morshed Mohammed Awad and his children
suffered tear gas inhalation, as a gas canisters fell near their store. Moreover,
a number of Israeli soldiers went on top of a house belonging to the family of
Mohammed Abdul Hamid al-‘Alami. They randomly fired sound bombs, as a result, Mofeed
Khaled Alqam suffered tear gas inhalation as a gas canister fell near his store
as well. Israeli forces withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.    

 

Saturday, 16 November 2013

 

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Deir
Samet village, southwest of Doura, southwest of Hebron. They stationed in the
centre of the village and deployed between the houses. They also raided 3
houses belonging to al-Hroub family. Israeli forces handed 4 civilians summonses
to refer to the Israeli intelligence service in “Gosh Etzion”
settlement, south of Bethelehem. The summoned persons were:

1. Ahmed Ouda al-Hroub (50);

2. Nayef Ahmed al-Hroub (30);

3. Farid Ouda al-Hroub (45); and

4. Mohammed Salim al-Hroub (27).

Israeli
forces withdrew later and no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Um al-Amad area, east of Yatta,
south of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the
family of Khaled Hussein Jabareen (26). They arrested the aforementioned person
and took him to an unknown destination.  

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Ezbet al-Tabeeb village, east of Qalqilya.
They raided a house belonging to the family of Tha’er Bayan Tabeeb (20) and
detained him for some time. They questioned him on the spot and released him
later.  

 

Also at
approximately 14:20, Israeli forces moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilia.  They patrolled the streets and detained 2
children and a father of one of them: Adam Ahmed Badwan, his son Ahmed Badwan
(12) and Omar Zahran Sweidan (12). Israeli forces questioned them on the spot
and released them at approximately 17:00.

 

Also at
approximately 18:30, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north
of Hebron. They deployed in al-Jawabra neighbourhood and fired gas canisters at
Palestinian houses. As a result, the family of Tareq Ziad Jawabra (27) suffered
tear gas inhalation as a number of gas canisters fell around their house.
Israeli forces withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

Tareq Jawabra (27) said to PCHR’s fieldworker:

“I live
with my family in al-Jawabra neighbourhood near the entrance of al-Arroub
refugee camp, north of Hebron. My family comprises of me, my wife Eman (27), my
daughter Suzan (1), my mother Suzan (43) and mother grandmother (84). The area
where we live witnesses daily attacks by Israeli forces using sound bombs and
tear gas canisters. At approximately 19:30 on Saturday, 16 November 2013, I was
standing with my friends in front of my house; my friends were helping me to
unload some construction materials from a truck in front of the house.
Everything was calm around.  In the
meanwhile, a gas canister fell under the truck. My friends and I went inside
the house. I stayed with my family in a room for about 15 minutes, and I went
back to work with my friends. At approximately 20:15, we finished and my
friends left. I went home to have dinner with my family, during which I hearing
gunfire. The neighbours were screaming there were gas canisters in the street.
I hurried up and opened the door. A gas canister fell in front of me and a
second fell around before I closed the door. A third gas canister fell near the
sewage pipe. The gas spread in through the bathroom window. A fourth gas
canister fell in a hole in the wall. The gas was everywhere and as if there was
a big white cloud inside the house. I entered a room with my family and closed
the door tightly, but in vain because the gas was spreading inside from the
door sides. A few minutes later, I could see my family exhausted and unable to
breathe well. Moreover, their eyes became red. An hour later, the room was full
of gas, so I opened the door running to the main door of the house. I opened it
and fell to the ground. The street was also full of gas. A number of my
relatives entered the house and saved my family. They took them to one of the
neighbouring houses. It should be noted when Israeli forces fired the tear gas
canisters, there were no boys in the streets at all.”        

 

At
approximately 20:00, Israeli gunboats stationed opposite to Beit Lahia seashore
in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats that were
sailing 3 nautical miles offshore. 
Palestinian fishermen were terrified and were forced to sail back to the
beach.  Neither casualties nor material
damage were reported.

 

 

Sunday, 17
November 2013

 

At
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Bani Na’im village, east of
Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Hejra village, east of Doura, southwest
of Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Beer al-Basha village, south of
Jenin.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Arroub refugee camp, north of
Hebron. They patrolled the streets and stationed in the centre of the camp. They
deployed between the houses and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests
were reported.

 

At
approximately 08:00, Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled the
streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 13:45, Israeli forces moved into Kofur al-Labad village, east of
Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets and checked the artesian wells. Israeli
forces withdrew later and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 14:30, Israeli forces moved into Deir al-Ghosoun village, north
of Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets, checked the artesian wells and withdrew
later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 15:00, Israeli forces moved into Bal’a village, northeast of
Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets, where a number of young men gathered and
threw stones at Israeli soldiers, who fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters
in response. As a result, a number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.
Israeli forces withdrew later and no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 17:45, Israeli gunboats stationed opposite to Beit Lahia seashore
in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats that were
sailing 1.5 nautical miles offshore.  An
Israeli gunboat surrounded a boat boarding 2 fishermen; ‘Ammar As’ad ‘Abdel
Malek al-Sultan (21) and Muhsin Akram Diab Zayed (24) from al-Salatin
neighbourhood in Beit Lahia.  Israeli
naval soldiers forced fishermen to jump into the water and swim towards the
Israeli gunboat while the two fishermen were pulling 10 fishing nets, 1,000
meters long in total, from water.  The
two fishermen were terrified due to the continued firing at them.  The Israeli soldiers then confiscated their
fishing boat and items and took the fishermen to Ashdod Port, where they were
arrested and questioned.  At
approximately 03:00 on Monday, 18 November 2013, Israeli forces released the
two fishermen via Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing. 

 

At
approximately 22:00, Israeli forces moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house
raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 22:30, Israeli forces moved into Faqou’a village, northeast of
Jenin. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

 

 

Monday, 18 November 2013

 

At
approximately 00:30, Israeli forces moved into Habla village, south of
Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Zababda village, southeast of Jenin.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house
raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also around
the same time, Israeli forces moved into Masaliya village, south of Jenin. They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets, where
some boys gathered and threw stones at Israeli soldiers, who fired sound bombs
and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, a number of civilians suffered
tear gas inhalation. Israeli forces withdrew later and no arrests were
reported.

 

 

At
approximately 01:00 Israeli forces moved into al-Sarra village, south of Doura,
southwest of Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew
later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Jenin. They patrolled the
streets and stationed at Jabal Abu Dheir area. They raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Ali Jamal Ersheid (23) and arrested him. Israeli
forces also raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Amjad
Mohammed Hasees (33). They arrested him and took both detainees to an unknown
destination.  

 

At
approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Majd village, southwest of
Doura, southwest of Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 03:25, Israeli forces moved into al-Ebeidiya village, east of
Bethlehem. They patrolled the streets and raided a number of houses from which
they arrested 3 civilians, including 2 children:

1. Ahed Mohammed Hasasna (17);

2. Mazen Amen Hasasna (16); and

3. Rashad Jamil Hasasna (18).

 

At
approximately 08:00, Israeli settlers uprooted 38 olive seedlings in Qasra
village, southeast of Nablus, in presence of Israeli forces in the area. The
village residents gathered, due to which, Israeli forces fired sound bombs and
tear gas canisters at them. The Palestinians threw stones at the soldiers and
clashes erupted. In the meanwhile. Israeli forces fired rubber-coated metal
bullets at the Palestinian civilians. As a result, 8 civilians, including 6
children, were wounded. (see section settler attacks against Palestinian
civilians and their property).

The wounded were:

1. Ahmed Mousa Kharyoush (15), wounded by a bullet to the
right shoulder;

2. Abdul Hamid Salah Abdul Hamid (16), wounded by a
bullet to the chest;

3. Odwan Emad Ouda (16), wounded by shrapnel to the
shoulder;

4. Bahjat Sa’ed Hassan (16), wounded by 2 bullets to the
legs;

5. Sayel Rebhi Hassan (13), wounded by a bullet to the
left side;

6. Ali Farid Hassan (22), wounded by a bullet to the
right elbow;

7. Ahmed Khaled Abu Rida (18), wounded by shrapnel to the
chest, neck and hands; and

8. Radi Mohammed Hassan (34), wounded by a bullet to the
right thigh.

 

At
approximately 23:00, Israeli forces moved into Tarousa area, west of Doura,
southwest of Hebron. They deployed in the agricultural lands around the area,
where Israeli forces established a military surveillance site in 2003. They
combed the area amidst firing at the neighbouring valleys.   

 

At
approximately 23:30, Israeli forces moved into Marka village, south of Jenin.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house
raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Tuesday, 19 November 2013

 

At
approximately 01:55, Israeli forces moved into al-Ebeidiya village, east of
Bethlehem. They raided a house belonging to the family of Ahmed Naser Suleiman
(18) and arrested him.

 

At
approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Khader village, southwest of
Bethlehem. They raided a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Mousa
Attiyat (17) and arrested him.

 

At
approximately 08:45, Israeli forces backed with heavy military vehicles moved
about 200 meters into the east of al-Qarara village, east of Khan Yunis, in the
southern Gaza Strip. They fired over 12 smoke bombs, while heliports were
overhead. Israeli forces levelled lands in the area that witnessed the
bombardment of a tunnel and clashes with the Palestinian armed groups. Israeli
forces levelled the land in the area that was dug looking for the corpses of 2
Palestinian armed members: Mohammed Rashid Dawood and Mohammed al-Qassas, who
were killed during the clashes. This incursion disturbed the school students at
al-Ma’arri elementary school that is about 850 meters away from the border
fence.

 

At approximately
20:14, Israeli warplanes launched 2 missiles at least at 2 poultry and sheep
farms in al-Manara neighbourhood, southeast of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza
Strip. As a result, the 2 farms were damaged and all livestock died, but no
casualties were reported. The 2 farms belong to the heirs of Jom’a Bader
Islayeh. According to Abdul Men’em, one of the heirs and owner of one of the
farms, the 400 –square-meter poultry farm shelters 3,500 chicks, while the
550-square-meter sheep farm shelters 15 sheep. He added the farms were
destroyed and the sheep and poultry died.

 

 

Few minutes
later, Israeli warplanes launched 2 missiles at the area that witnessed the
bombardment of a tunnel last month, about 250 meters away from the border
fence, to the east of al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. The attack
resulted in a big crater in the area, but no casualties were reported.   

 

Around the
same time, Israeli warplanes bombarded an agricultural land in al-Zanna area in
Bani Suhaila, east of Khan Yunis. The strike caused a big crater, but no
casualties were reported.

 

At
approximately 20:50, Israeli warplanes launched a missile at Hettin training
site of the al-Quds brigades (the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad movement),
southeast of Um al-Nasser Bedouin village, in the northern Gaza Strip.

 

At
approximately 21:05, Israeli warplanes attacked the same training site for the
second time causing a big crater in the site. Moreover, a sewage station in the
area was damaged. Residents of the area were frightened, but no casualties were
reported.

 

At
approximately 21:30, Israeli military vehicles station at the eastern borders
fired 3 shells at an agricultural land, east of al-Zaitoun neighbourhood in
Gaza City. However, neither casualties nor material damage were reported.

 

Wednesday, 20 November 2013

 

At
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into the northern area of Hebron.
They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Khaled Majed
al-Zgheer (20). They arrested the aforementioned person and took him to an
unknown destination.

 

Also at
approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Beita village, southeast of
Nablus. They patrolled the streets and raided a number of houses from which
they arrested 9 civilians, including 2 children and 3 brothers:

1. Helal Mostafa Bani Shamsa (22), a student at the
al-Quds Open University in Nablus;

2. His brother Amir (20), a student at the Independence
University in Jericho; and

3. Their brother Najm (16), a school student. They were
arrested from their house that is located in al-Ras area.;

4. Meqdam Rebhi Hamayel, (19);

5. Salim Mostafa Hamayel (20);

6. Yusef Mohammed Hamayel (40);

7. Nidal Abdullah Khader (41); they were all arrested
from their houses that are located in the eastern side of the village;

8. Islam Hamed Bani Shamsa (17); and

9. Ayoub Riyadh Gaghoub (20), who were arrested from
their houses that are located in the western neighbourhood of the village. 

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Doura town, southwest of Hebron. They
patrolled the streets and raided and searched a house belonging to the family
of Sa’ed Abdul Majid Ahmed (18). They arrested the aforementioned person and
took him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into
Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled the streets and raided and
searched a number of houses from which they arrested 8 civilians, including a
child:

1. Alaa’ Adnan Abu Baker (20);

2. His twin brother Baha’ (20);

3. Khaled Jamal Abu Baker (20);

4. Yusef Qais Amarna (19);

5. Feras Abdul Afou Baker (18);

6. Fo’ad Omar Abu Baker (20);

7. Tareq Hassan Abadi (17); and

8. Yasser Mohammed Amarna (19).

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Deir
Samet village, southwest of Doura, southwest of Hebron. They raided and
searched a house belonging to the family of Nasser Abdullah al-Masalma (44),
looking for his son Nasser (17), who was not home. They arrested the mother
Manal Kayed Masalma and her son Mo’tasem (11) to force Nasser surrender. The
mother and her child were taken to “Kiryat Arba” settlement, east of
Hebron. At approximately 06:00, Nasser surrendered, but his mother and brother
have not been released.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit
Oula village, west of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and raided and
searched a house belonging to the family of Isma’il Hatem al-Saraheen (23).
They handed the aforementioned person a summons to refer to the Israeli
intelligence service at “Gosh Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem.

 

Also around the same time, Israeli forces moved into
al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled the streets and
deployed between the houses. They also raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of Fadel Tamim Tamimi (54). They arrested the aforementioned person
and took him to an unknown destination. In the meanwhile, Israeli forces raided
and searched a house belonging to the family of Mo’tasem Khalil Tamimi (18).
They arrested the aforementioned person and took him to an unknown destination
as well. 

 

At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into
al-Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and raided
and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Salah al-Badawi (15).
They arrested the aforementioned person. In the meantime, Israeli forces raided
and searched a house belonging to the family of Omar Nasser al-Jundi (17) and
arrested him.

 

At approximately 03:20, Israeli forces moved into
al-Ebeidiya village, east of Bethlehem. They raided a house belonging to the
family of Mohammed Mhanna Abu Sarhan (18) and handed him a summons to refer to
the Israeli intelligence service at “Gosh Etzion” settlement, south
of the city.  

 

2. Use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrations protesting
settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall

 

During the reporting period, Israeli soldiers used
excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organised by Palestinian
civilians, international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest at the
construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank.
As a result, 7 civilians, including 2 children, were wounded. 6 of them were
wounded during a protest in Kofur Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilia, while
a 17-year-old civilian was wounded by 3 bullets to the back during Bil’in
protest, west of Ramallah. Moreover, dozens of civilians suffered tear gas
inhalation and others sustained bruises.

 

Demonstrations against the construction of the
annexation wall and settlement activity

 

Following the Friday Prayer, 15 November 2013, dozens
of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
organised a peaceful demonstration in Bil’in, west of Ramallah, in protest at
the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The
demonstration was also organized to mark the 25^th anniversary of the
Declaration of Independence and the 9^th anniversary of the death of
the late President Yasser Arafat.  Demonstrators took the streets raising the
Palestinian flags and headed to the liberated territories near the annexation
wall. Israeli forces had closed all the entrances of the village since morning
to prevent the Palestinian and international activists and journalists from
participating in the demonstration. Demonstrators marched adjacent to the
cement wall and tried to cross the fence before Israeli forces that are
stationed behind the wall, in the western area, and a large number of soldiers
deployed along it fired live bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel
bullets, sound bombs and skunk water at them and chased them in olive fields.
As a result, a 17-year-old child was wounded by 3 bullets to the back, dozens
suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises due to being beaten
up by Israeli soldiers.

 

On the same day, dozens of Palestinian civilians
organised a peaceful demonstration in the middle of Ni’lin village, west of
Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement
activities. Demonstrators took the streets and headed to the annexation wall.
Israeli forces closed the gates of the wall with barbwires and prevented the
demonstrators from passing to the land behind it before they responded by
throwing stones. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and
bruises due to being beaten up by Israeli soldiers.

 

Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian civilians
and Israeli and international human rights defenders organised a peaceful
demonstration, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and
settlement activities, in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.
Demonstrators took the streets raising the Palestinian flags and chanting
slogans against the occupation and in support of the Palestinian unity
resistance, and then they headed to the lands that the settlers are trying to
rob by force near “Halmish” settlement.  Israeli
forces had closed all the entrances of the village since morning to prevent the
Palestinian and international activists and journalists from participating in the
demonstration. When they arrived at the land, the demonstrators were met by
live bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs and
skunk water and were chased into the village. As a result, a number of civilians
suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises due to being beaten up
by Israeli soldiers.

 

Following the Friday prayer, dozens of Palestinian
civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organised a
peaceful demonstration in Ma’sara village, in protest at the construction of
the annexation wall and settlement activities. The demonstration started in
front of the Candles Cultural Centre in the centre of the village.
Demonstrators moved in the streets raising the Palestinian flag. When they
arrived at the area where the annexation wall is established, Israeli forces started
firing tear gas canisters in attempt to disperse them and prevented the
demonstrators from reaching the annexation wall.  A number of civilians suffered tear gas
inhalation.

 

At approximately 12:30 on the same day, Palestinian
civilians and international activists organised a peaceful demonstration in the
centre of Kufor Qaddoum village, northwest of Qalqilia, and headed towards the
eastern entrance of the village, in protest at the continued closure of the
entrance with an iron gate, since the beginning of the Aqsa Intifada. Clashes
erupted between the demonstrators and Israeli forces that fired sound bombs and
tear gas canisters to prevent them from reaching the aforementioned gate. As a
result, 6 civilians, including an 8-year-old boy, were wounded and others
suffered tear gas inhalation. Moreover, Israeli forces detained and questioned
4 children for an hour. The detained children were: Ahmed Abdul Salam Ishteiwi
(6); Malek Hekmat Ishteiwi (7); Tareq Hekmat Ishtiwi (9); and Hosam Khaldoun Abu
Khaled (8).

 

(PCHR keeps the names of the wounded persons).

 

 

Other Demonstrations

 

On Friday, 15 November 2013, dozens of Palestinian
civilians and international activists gathered in Bethelehm to commemorate the
anniversary of the Declaration of Independence at the intersection leading to
“Bitar Elite” settlement. They closed the street and raised the
Palestinian flags. Israeli forces and police arrived to the area and dispersed
the demonstrators.

 

At approximately 15:00, on the same day, dozens of
Palestinian children gathered at the entrance of Selwad village, northeast of
Ramallah. They threw stones at a military fence around the village. Israeli
forces stationed in the area fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal
bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the children. As a result, a
number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation. Israeli forces arrested 3
children: Majd Abdul Rahman Hamed (16); Abdullah Khaled Hammad (17); and
Mohammed Ziad Hamed (14). The third child was released 2 hours following his
arrest, while the other 2 ones were taken to Ofer detention facility, southwest
of the city.

 

Majd’s mother said to PCHR’s fieldworker that she and
her husband Abdullah Saleh had gone at approximately 23:30, on the same day, to
“Benjamin” police station, as they received a phone call from an
Israeli police officer named Morad, asking them to come to the police station
and see their son’s statement. The mother added: “When I went in, I saw my
son Majd. He sustained wounds in his forehead and bruises around his eyes. His
clothes were stained with blood, as he was beaten up.”

 

3. Continued closure of the oPt

 

Israel has continued to impose a
tightened closure on the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied
East Jerusalem.

 

Gaza
Strip

 

Israeli
forces continuously tightens the closure of the Gaza Strip and closes all
commercial crossings , making the Karm Abu Salem crossing the sole commercial
crossing of the Gaza Strip, although it is not suitable for commercial purposes
in terms of its operational capacity and distance from markets.

 

Israeli
forces have continued to apply the policy, which is aimed to tighten the
closure on all commercial crossings, by imposing total control over the flow of
imports and exports.

 

The
total closure of al-Mentar (“Karni”) crossing since 02 March 2011 has
seriously affected the economy of the Gaza Strip. Following this closure, all
economic and commercial establishments in the Gaza Commercial Zone were shut
off. It should be noted that al-Mentar crossing is the biggest crossing in the
Gaza Strip, in terms of its capacity to absorb the flow of imports and exports.
The decision to close al-Mentar crossing was the culmination of a series of
decisions resulting in the complete closure of the Sofa crossing, east of the
Gaza Strip in the beginning of 2009, and the Nahal Oz crossing, east of Gaza
City, which was dedicated for the delivery of fuel and cooking gas to the Gaza
Strip, in the beginning of 2010.

 

Israeli
forces have continued to impose a total ban on the delivery of raw materials to
the Gaza Strip, except for very limited items and quantities. The limited
quantities of raw materials allowed into Gaza do not meet the minimal needs of
the civilian population of the Gaza Strip.

 

The
cooking gas crisis has ranged between the ebb and flow for 3 months due to the
closure of Karm Abu Salem for security reasons. 
According to PCHR’s follow-up, Israeli authorities only allow around 98
tonnes of cooking gas into Gaza per day. 
This limited quantity is less than half of the daily needs, which is 200
tonnes per day, of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip during the winter.

 

For almost 6 consecutive years,
Israeli forces have continued to prevent the delivery of construction materials
to the Gaza Strip. During the reporting period, Israeli forces approved the
delivery of limited quantities of construction materials for a number of
international organisations in the Gaza Strip. 
Israeli forces also continued to impose almost total ban on the Gaza
Strip exports, including agricultural and industrial products, except for
light-weighted products such as flowers, strawberries, and spices.

 

Israel has continued to close the
Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing for the majority of Palestinian citizens from the
Gaza Strip. Israel only allows the movement of a limited number of groups, with
many hours of waiting in the majority of cases. Israel has continued to adopt a
policy aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move via
the Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or
in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel denied permission to access
hospitals via the crossing for new categories of patients from the Gaza Strip.

 

For around a year and a half, Israeli
forces have allowed Palestinian detainees’ families to visit their sons in the
Israeli jails according to special and unfair conditions after more than 5
years of deprivation in violation of international humanitarian law.

 

The Egyptian authorities allow the
population of the Gaza Strip to travel via Rafah International crossing, which
connects the Gaza Strip with the outside world. 
Only limited and specified categories are allowed, including patients,
students, persons that hold residencies in Egypt or abroad, men over 40 years,
females in all ages, children under 18, persons who hold Arab and foreign
nationalities, and members of Arab and international humanitarian
delegations.  It should be mentioned that
the crossing opens seven days a week.  Nowadays,
the crossing is overcrowded due to the prolonged procedures from the Egyptian
side, particularly after closing it for several days over the past weeks due to
Egypt’s security conditions, which has affected the travellers’ movement in
both directions.

 

Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem
Shalom) crossing

12 – 19 November 2013

 

Exports:

 

On
Monday, 18 November 2013, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 216
kilograms of garlic leaves, 180 kilograms of basil and 180 kilograms of mints.

 

Other Imports:

 

 

On
Tuesday, 12 November 2013, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 2,106 tonnes of
fodders and 819 tonnes of wheat.

On
Wednesday, 13 November 2013, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 1,014 tonnes
of fodders and 1,092 tonnes of wheat.

On
Thursday, 14 November 2013, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 702 tonnes of
fodders and 1,209 tonnes of wheat.

On
Sunday, 17 November 2013, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 663 tons of
fodders and 663 tons of wheat.

On
Monday, 18 November 2013, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 858 tons of
fodders and 351 tons of wheat.

On
Tuesday, 19 November 2013, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 546 tons of
fodders and 273 tons of wheat.

 

Empty Plastic
Containers Returned to Israel via Karm Abu Salem

 

On
Tuesday, 12 November 2013, Israeli forces allowed 3 truckloads of empty plastic
containers to be returned via Karm Abu Salem.

On
Wednesday, 13 November 2013, Israeli forces
allowed 3 truckloads of empty plastic containers to be returned via Karm Abu
Salem.

On
Thursday, 14 November 2013, Israeli forces allowed 6 truckloads of empty
plastic containers to be returned via Karm Abu Salem.

On
Sunday, 17 November 2013, Israeli forces allowed 5 truckloads of empty plastic
containers to be returned via Karm Abu Salem.

On
Monday, 18 November 2013, Israeli forces allowed 3 truckloads of empty plastic
containers to be returned via Karm Abu Salem.

On
Tuesday, 19 November 2013, Israeli forces allowed a truckload of empty plastic
containers to be returned via Karm Abu Salem.

 

 

Beit Hanoun
(“Erez”) crossing, in the north of the Gaza Strip, is designed for
the movement of individuals, and links the Gaza Strip with the West Bank.

 

Movement at Beit Hanoun (“Erez”)
crossing

13 – 18 November 2013

 

 

Israel has
imposed a tightened closure on the West Bank. During the reporting period,
Israeli forces imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians:

 

• Ramallah: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 09:30 on Friday, 15 November
2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Nabi Saleh
village.  At approximately 18:00, they
established a checkpoint at the intersection of Beit ‘Aor al-Foqa, southwest of
Ramallah.  The two checkpoints were
removed later, and no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 17:30 on Saturday, 16 November 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint under the bridge of Kharabtha al-Mesbah, southwest of Ramallah.  The checkpoint was removed later, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 10:30 on Monday, 18 November 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah.  The checkpoint was removed later, and no
arrests were reported.

 

• Hebron: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 14:30 on Thursday, 14
November 2013, Israeli forces closed the entrance of Kharsa village, southeast
of Dura, southwest of Hebron.  At
approximately 16:00, another checkpoint was established at the entrance of Ezna
village, west of Hebron.  At
approximately 18:00, another checkpoint was established at al-Fawwar refugee
camp, south of the city.  All checkpoints
were removed later, and no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 07:30 on Friday, 15 November 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the northern entrance of Hebron. 
At approximately 14:30, they established a checkpoint on the main road
between Dura and its southern villages (Fqeiqes Road), south of Dura, southwest
of the city.  At approximately 15:00, a
similar checkpoint was established on the main road between Yata and
al-Samou’a, south of Hebron.  At
approximately 17:00, another checkpoint was established at the entrance of
al-Fawar refugee camp, southeast of Hebron. 
All checkpoints were removed later, and no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 07:30 on Sunday, 17 November 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of al-Fawar refugee camp, north of Hebron, as this
entrance is connected with Bypass Road (60), south of Hebron.  At approximately 03:00, a similar checkpoint
was established at the entrance of Hadab al-‘Alqa village, south of Dura,
southwest of the city.  At approximately
16:00, another checkpoint was established at the entrance of Sa’ir village, east
of Hebron.  At approximately 17:00, they
established a checkpoint at the entrance o Kharsa village, south of Dura,
southwest of the city.  At approximately
18:00, another checkpoint was established at the entrance of al-‘Arroub refugee
camp, as this entrance is connected with (60), north of Hebron.  All checkpoints were removed later, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 07:00 on Monday, 18 November 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Sa’ir village, east of Hebron.  At approximately 14:00, Israeli forces closed
one of the entrances to al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron and positioned
barbed wireson a height of 7 meters on Bypass Road (60), Jerusalem-Hebron Road,
near the west side of the camp under the pretext of the continued throwing of
stones at settlers’ cars.  At
approximately 15:00, they closed the northern entrance of Hebron, as this
entrance is connected with Bypass Road (60), and prevented cars from moving.  At approximately 16:00, they established a checkpoint
at the entrance of Ezna village, west of Hebron.  The checkpoint was removed later, and no
arrests were reported.

 

· Tulkarm: 
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 14 November 2013, Israeli forces stationed at
‘Inab checkpoint, which is established on the main road between Tulkarm and
Nablus, east of Tulkarm, tightened their restrictions against Palestinian
civilians and obstructed their movement. 
The tightening ended later, and no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 21:00 on Friday, 15 November 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint on the main road between Tulkarm and Nablus near the intersection of
Beit Leed village in an area known as “Abu Martein”, east of Tulkarm.  All checkpoints were later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

At
approximately 21:30 on Saturday, 16 November 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Ezbet el-Shofah village, southeast of
Tulkarm.  All checkpoints were removed later,
and no arrests were reported.

 

· Jenin: Israeli forces have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 11:00 on Thursday, 14
November 2013, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the intersection of
al-Zababdah village, southeast of Jenin. 
An hour later, the checkpoint was removed, and no arrests were
reported.  At approximately 12:30, they
established a similar checkpoint at the entrance of al-Jalma village, north of
the city.  At approximately 13:00, another
checkpoint was established at the western entrance of Musaliyah village, south
of Jenin.  At approximately 20:00,
another checkpoint was established on the road between Kafr Dan village and
al-Yamoun village, north of the city. 
All checkpoints were removed later, and no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 20:30 on Saturday, 16 November 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Ya’abod village, southwest of Jenin.  All checkpoints were removed later, and no
arrests were later removed.

 

· Salfit: 
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 10:45 on Thursday, 14 November 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the northern entrance of Salfit. 
They prevented movement after closing the gate established at the
aforementioned entrance.  However, they
later re-opened it and allowed movement. 

 

At approximately 20:30 on Friday, 15 November 2013, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at thee ntrance of Deir balut village, west of
Salfit.  The checkpoint was removed later,
and no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 07:30 on Sunday, 17 November 2013, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Qarawet Bani Hassan village, west of Salfit.  The checkpoint
was removed later, and no arrests were reported.

 

Arrests and Maltreatment at military
checkpoints

 

•  At
approximately 22:30 on Friday, 15 November 2013, Isaeli forces arrested 4 young
men from al-‘Arqa village, northwest of Jenin, under the pretext of being near
the annexation wall, which is established on the village lands.  Eyewitnesses stated that while ‘Alaa’ Bassam
‘Abdel Rahman Yehia (19); Nasim Mahmoud Mohammed Waked (19); Hasan Hakam Hasan
Yehia (19); and Karem Amin ‘Abdel Malek Hammad (19) were playing in the
farmlands near the annexation wall, an Israeli military force advanced towards
them and arrested them.  They then took
them to an unknown destination.

 

• At approximately 11:00 on Sunday, 17 November
2013, Israeli forces stationed at the entrance of al-Fawar refugee camp, south
of Hebron, arrested ‘Othman Yousif Masharqah (13) from al-Hejri village
adjacent to the south of the camp.  The
aforementioned child was then taken to the police station of “Karyat Arb’a”
settlement, southeast of Hebron and handed him to the Palestinian Military
Liaison at approximately 16:00.

 

• At approximately
14:00 on the same Sunday, Israeli forces stationed at the southern entrance of
Halhoul, north of Hebron, arrested Ibrahim Khalil Zama’arah (14).  At approximately 16:00, they handed him to the Palestinian Military
Liaison.

 

• At approximately
11:00 on Monday, 18 November 2013, Israeli forces deployed to the south of the
old city in Hebron arrested Mohammed Majdi Banat (15) when he was near Tariq
Ben Ziyad School.  He was then
transferred to “Ja’abrah” police station near al-Ibrahimi Mosque in the centre
of the old city.

 

• At approximately
22:00 on the same day, Israeli soldiers stationed at Tayaseer, east of Tubas,
stopped a white (Mercedes Etka) car loaded with vegetables belonging to Mahdi
‘Abdel Rahman Faqha when he was on his way from the northern Jordan Valley to
Tubas.  They asked as usual for his
identity card.  After checking it, they
returned the identity and asked him to leave. 
When he moved the car, the Israeli soldiers moved the tire screws
positioned on the road.  As a result, the
driver shouted in protest against what they did, and asked them to see the
officer in charge.  However, the soldiers
responded that he is not here and asked him to leave his cell phone number to
call him when comes.

 

• At approximately
11:30 on the same day, the Israeli Civil Administration confiscated a (Nisan
Licender) vehicle provided by the UNICEF to the Palestinian Ministry of
Education near Kherbet (ruin on a hill) Safi al-Tahta.  The car is used for transferring students
from Kherab threatened of displacement, south of Yata, south of Hebron, to
al-Mosafer Mixed School.  It was confiscated
under the pretext of being in the military training area (918 areas).  The driver, Mofid Hussein ‘Awad Abu Qabita
(34) was as well detained for a couple of hours.

 

Mofid Abu Qabita said
to a PCHR fieldworker that:

“I work as a driver
at the Directorate of Education in Hebron, where I transport students from
al-Kherab threatened of displacement and confiscation in the southeastern
areas, east of Yata, to al-Mosafer Mixed School by a (Nisan Licander) vehicle
provided by UNICEF.  At approximately
11:30, on Monday, 18 November 2013, I was on my way back from school to Safi al-Tahta
village in order to drive the last student. 
When the student got out of the vehicle, I was surprised with a military
a Hummer military vehicle and a white Mitsubishi Pajero car belonging to the
Civil Administration stooping beside me. 
A Civil Administration officer got out of his car, asked for my ID card
and the car papers and told me to turn off the engine.  The Israeli soldiers deployed in the vicinity
of the vehicle.  The Civil Administration
officer then headed to his car and went back to me 15 minutes later.  He told me: What are you doing here? I said:
I transport students from al-Mosafer School. 
He answered that this is a shooting area, and there are no schools in
here adding that they will get me out of this area.  One of the Israeli soldiers told me that he
will get in the car with me, and the Hummer was behind me and the Mitsubishi in
front of me.  My ID card and the vehicle
papers were held with them.  When we arrived
to “Kerma’il” settlement, which is 3 kilometers away from Safi al-Tahta
area.  The Civil Administration car stopped
and the officer got out of it telling me: you will now get in my car and we
will bring a drag truck to take your car, which one of the soldiers will
drive.  I told him: This is my car. I am
responsible for it and none will drive it but me.  He then said: We will go to “Ghosh ‘Atsyon”
settlement, and I then drove behind him with the Hummer behind me.  When we arrived at “Karyat Arbaa’” settlement,
we stopped and the Hummer left to the south. 
The officer then asked me to drive the car to “Ghosh ‘Atsyon”.  When we arrived there, I entered the car to a
yard, where cars park in as he asked.  He
took photos of it and asked me to take my personal belongings out of the car
and to put them in a certain room at the entrance.  He then took me to one of the officers
telling me that you are caught for the second time in a military area, and that
the Palestinian Military Liaison talked to us in order to release you.  He then took the vehicle key after a long
argument and handed me a seizure report holding number (1951) and signed by
“the Central Unit for Supervision and Inspection”.  He asked me to sign two pieces of paper, but
I refused telling him that I will not sign any papers written in Hebrew.  He then signed them, and I left to the
settlement in the evening.”

 

• On Tuesday afternoon,
20 November 2013, Israeli forces stationed at Barta’ah arrested ‘Abdel Hadi
Mohammed Saleh Bari (19) when he was on his way back from work in the eastern
Barta’ah village, which is isolated from its surrounding due to the annexation
wall, west of Jenin.

 

• At approximately
23:00 on the aforementioned Tuesday, Israeli forces stationed at Shafi Shamrone
checkpoint, northwest of Nablus, arrested ‘Emad ‘Abdullah Dawoud (22) and ‘Amr
Taysir Subhi Mabrouk (21) from ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp, west of
Nablus.  Eyewitnesses said that the
soldier stationed at the checkpoint stopped the car. Which Dawoud and Mabrouk
were travelling, and asked them to get out of the car under weapon threat.  They then put them near the checkpoint to
take them later to an unknown destination.

 

Arrest of a
Patient from Rafah at Beit Hanoun Crossing:

 

• At approximately 08:00 on Thursday, 14 November
2013, Israeli forces arrested Abdullah Ahmed Ouda Abu Athera (24), from
al-Shaboura neighborhood in Rafah, when he went to an interview with the
Israeli intelligence service at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing.  It should be noted that the aforementioned
civilian submitted via the Palestinian Liaison to obtain a permit for treatment
at Augusta Victoria (al-Muttale’) Hospital in Jerusalem.   The
interview is a prerequisite in order to obtain a permit to enter Israel. His
father, Ahmed ‘Ouda Abu Atherah said to a PCHR fieldworker that on Friday 15
November, he received a phone call informing that his son is arrested by
Israeli forces.  He added that his son
has been suffering from hearing and ear disorders. . It was scheduled that he
would undergo the operation on Friday, 15 November 2013.

 

• At approximately 12:30 on Tuesday, 12 November
2013, Israeli soldiers deployed in the old city neighborhoods in the centre of
Hebron arrested 4 children, who were on their way back from school, under the
pretext of throwing stones at Israeli soldiers. 
They were then taken to “Ja’abrah” police station near
al-Ibrahimi Mosque.  The arrested were
identified as: Mohanned Amin Al-Bakri (15); Mohammed Ghleb al-Rajbi (14); his
brother, ‘Alaa’, (15); and Foaa’d ‘Asem al-Batsh (17).

 

 

 

4. Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians
and Property

 

Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Their
Property

• On Thursday morning, 14 November 2013, Israeli
forces, backed with Heavy military bulldozers, leveled farmlands, south of
Ya’abod village near the main bypass road, which leads to “Movedtan” settlement
established on Palestinian lands between Jenin and the northern villages of
Tulakrm, southwest of Jenin.

 

According to
investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 00:00, Israeli forces,
backed with heavy military bulldozers, leveled farmlands near the
aforementioned bypass road 20 meters wide starting from the gate of “Movedtan”
settlement to the intersection of Emreiheyah village (around 3 kilometers
long).  A local source said to a PCHR
fieldworker that these leveled lands belong to around 70 civilians from Ya’abod
village.  Israeli forces uprooted 100
olive trees under the pretext of security claims.  It should be mentioned that Israeli forces had
earlier notified the village residents that they would level this area.  In response, Ya’abod village hired a
Palestinian lawyer from inside Israel to submit a petition to the Israeli High
Court of Justice against the Israeli decision to level the lands though those
lands were actually leveled.

 

• On Monday, 14 November 2013, 4 settlers
infiltrated to a house belonging to the family of Khaled ‘Abdel Rahman Mahmoud
Dar Khalil from Sanjal village, north of Ramallah.  The settlers poured an incendiary material inside
the house balcony, which was closed by glass, and put it on fire.  As a result, the sofas, chairs and furniture
in the balcony caught fire.  The settlers
then wrote a slogan in blue color in Hebrew on a wall outside the house that
says “Hey, in revenge for the killing of Eden” in reference to the Israeli
soldier, who was killed by a Palestinian child in al-‘Afoulah inside Israel
only one day before this assault.

Khaled ‘Abdel Rahman Dar Khalil said
to a PCHR fieldworker that:

“My wife, 5 kids, aged between 2-7
years, and I were in our house, northeast of Sanjal village, north of Ramallah,
at the entrance of the village near the Bypass Road (60), Ramallah-Nablus
Street, at approximately 01:15 on Thursday, 14 November 2013, My wife and I
woke up to the sound of my son’s, ‘Abdel Rahman (2), crying, and she then
breastfed him.  Approximately 15 minutes
later, my wife told me that there is noise outside, and I expected that they
were the Israeli forces.  I immediately
looked through the window to see 4 persons dressed in khaki pants and black
shirts and the balcony window smashed. 
They then poured an incendiary material and put the balcony on fire. As
a result, the sofas, chairs and furniture in the balcony caught fire.  The settlers then wrote a slogan in blue
color in Hebrew on a wall outside the house that says “Hey, in revenge for the
killing of Eden”.  I immediately turned
on the outside searchlight, so they ran away in a white car parked 60 meters
away from the house near the aforementioned street heading to “Shilo”
settlement.  I called via my cell phone
some friends for help and one of the village residents hurried to extinguish
the fire.  Due to the intensive smoke and
flames, the electricity went off in the house. 
My wife and I took the kids to the roof using the light of the cell
phone.  After around 40 minutes, a
vehicle fire belonging to the Civil Defense arrived at the place and
extinguished the fire.  Around an hour
later, Israeli forces and police arrived at the place and took some photos for
the house.  They then took his written
statement about what happened and asked him to attend to Benyamin police
station in order to file an official complaint”

· At approximately 15:00 on the aforementioned
Thursday, a group of settlers, under heavy guard of Israeli forces, raided one
of the ancient archaeological areas, west of al-Samou’a village, south of
Hebron, and perform religious rituals. 
The settlers and Israeli forces later withdrew, no further incidents
were reported.

 

• On Thursday afternoon, a group of settlers from
“Eddy ‘Aad” settlement, which is established on the east of Termes’ayah lands,
north of Ramallah, uprooted 75 seedlings in the al-Sabiha agricultural area,
east of the village and 3 kilometers away from the aforementioned
settlement.  The attacked seedlings
belong to Sa’id Fawzi Yousif ‘Abdullah, who planted them on Monday, 11 November
2013, on a six-dunum land.

 

• At approximately 15 November 2013, dozens of
settlers under heavy guard of Israeli forces obstructed the movement at the
entrance of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, holding banners that had
racist bearing anti-Arab slogans.

 

• On Sunday morning, 17 November 2013, a number
of settlers from “Afijal” settlement established on Palestinian lands, east of
Yata, south of Hebron, cut 106 olive trees belonging to Mos’af family in Mo’in
valley, east of Yata, using hand saws

Khader Mohammed
Mos’af (53) said to a PCHR fieldworker that:

“We live in
al-Jarfan area, west of Yatta, and we own a 100-dunum tract of land in Mo’in
valley, east of Yatta.  Fifty dunums of
this land belong to my Granfather, ‘Atiyah ‘Abed Raboh Mos’af, my brothers and
I bought 25 dunums 3 years ago, and 25 dunums belong to my uncle, ‘Abel Nabi
‘Atiyah Mos’af.  This land has been
planted with olive trees for years, and the rest of it has been planted at
different times.  On Sunday early
morning, 17 November 2013, Belal (27), my son, went to the land.  At approximately 10:00, He called me to tell
me that the trees were cut with handsaws. I immediately called my uncle and my
brother, ‘Omer, to tell about what happened and they directly headed to the
land.  After shortly arriving, they
called me telling me that a shepherd called an officer at the Israeli “B’Tselem”
Information Centre for Human Rights. 
Therefore, the officer arrived at the place and told the Israeli police,
which came to the place as well, about what happened.  We found out that 106 olive trees were cut,
including 58 trees aged 3 years, 12 trees aged 13 years, and 36 trees aged 6
years.  Out land is 800 meters away from
“Afijal” settlement.  The Israeli police
took the testimony of my uncle and brother on what happened telling them to
attend the next day to “Karyat Arbaa’” police station in order to file a
complaint.  It should be mentioned that
the electrify poles, which are in front of the land, are equipped with
surveillance cameras.  However, the
Israeli police procrastinates searching for the doers, and provide them
protection”

 

· At approximately 06:30 on Monday, 18 November
2013, Israeli forces, backed with 4 military vehicles, two vehicles belonging
to the construction and organization department of the Israeli Civil
Administration and a digger, moved into al-Deirat village, northeast of Yatta,
south of Hebron.  The Israeli soldiers
deployed in the place and prevented civilians from moving in the area.  The Civil Administration officers confiscated
120 square meters of the construction bricks of the new village mosque under
the pretext of building without a construction permit.

Mohammed Hasan A’amour said to a
PCHR fieldworker that:

“I live in al-Dirat village,
northeast of Yatta, where I own a 19-dunum tract of land.  On 20 October 2013, I started building a 184-
square-meter mosque on a part of the land and at our own expense.  On 26 October 2013, we ceiled the mosque with
ready-mix concrete.  On Sunday, 27
October 2013, a vehicle belonging to the construction and organization
department of the Israeli Civil Administration, arrived at the place and handed
us a notice to halt construction works in the mosque under the pretext of lack
of permit. The notice, which holds number (152627), selected 10 November 2013
as a date to hold a session at the Construction and inspection committee of the
Israeli Court.  After receiving the
notice, we headed to Yatta Municipality in order to donate the tract of land to
the Ministry of Awqaf (Endowment). 
However, the procedures took so long, so we donated it to the joint
village council.  The council prepared
land and property papers and the necessary maps, and it delivered them to a
lawyer to follow the case.  At
approximately 06:30 on 18 November 2013, 4 military vehicles, accompanied with
2 vehicles belonging to the construction and organization department of the
Israeli Civil Administration and a digger arrived at the place and stopped near
the mosque.  Israeli soldiers deployed in
the vicinity of it and prevented us from approaching.  At that moment, I talked with a Civil Administration
officer and told him that we submitted our papers to the court.  I then show him the case receipt, but he did
not take notice to my words. The digger confiscated 120 square meters of the
mosque construction bricks, which costs US$ 4,000and were bought to complete
the construction works.  The officer then
told me that construction work in the mosque is forbidden and handed me a
notice on the confiscated bricks.”

 

• At approximately 06:30 on Monday, 18 November
2013, civilians were surprised in Qasrah village, southeast of Nablus, with
settlers uprooting 38 olive seedlings, aged between 1 year and 4 years,
belonging to ‘Ali ‘Abdel Hamid Hasan, Walid Tawfiq Salamah Hasan, and Tal’at
Fawzi Hasan.  Settlers tried to demolish
an agricultural room belonging to ‘Ali ‘Abdel Hamid Hassan, but they could
not.  The farmers think that the settlers
are from “Yash Kasoush” settlement outpost established on Kamel and al-Marah
Qetaa’ area in the aforementioned village. 
Following that, the local village council was informed that they
informed the Palestinian Military Liaison about this assault.  Around a half an hour later, Israeli police,
backed with Israeli forces, arrived at the place, and inspect damages.

 

• At approximately 03:10 on Tuesday, 19 November
2013, 3 settlers infiltrated from “Hafa Gel’ad” settlement to Fer’etah village,
northeast of Qalqilya, and set a truck and vehicle belonging to Bahjat Mohammed
Mahmoud Soliman, on fire.  He always
parks his car next to his house.

Majdi Ibrahim
Salah Soliman (30), cousin of Soliman, said to a PCHR fieldworker that:

“At
approximately 15:00 on Tuesday, 19 November 2013, my cousins woke up to go for
their work in Israel and noticed the flames near the house of Bahjat.  They then called him and extinguished fire
using available hoses.  The flames burnt
a 2003 truck that costs 30,000 NIS, and a silver Mercedes car, which costs
60,000 NIS.  After extinguishing fire, we
found some slogans in Hebrew written on the surrounding walls.  My cousin has surveillance cameras, which we
reviewed, and found out that at approximately 03:10, 3 masked settlers entered
the place and carried out the attack.  We
informed the concerned authorities, and an Israeli officer came and took the
camera alleging that he will take a copy of the tape and will give it back in
the evening.”

 

5. Effort to Create a Jewish Demographic Majority in
occupied East Jerusalem

On Thursday, 14 November 2013, the
Israeli district planning and construction committee approved “The National
Park” plan to be located on part of the lands of al-Tur and al-Issawiya
villages in East Jerusalem.  According to
information available at PCHR, this plan will confiscate 740 dunums of the
Palestinian lands in the two aforementioned villages resulting in depriving
their residents of the urban expansion towards these lands.

 

The Jerusalem Civic Coalition noted
that on 18 November 2012, the local committee for planning and building filed
plan no. (11092) to object the establishment of “the national park”, whose
official plan extends over an area of 738 dunums confiscated from the territory
of al-Issawiya and al-Tur.  The initial
plan was created in 2005 suggesting the establishment of a park on an area of
738 dunums that extends from the south of al-Issawiya village to the north of
al-Tur village.  However, in 2009, this
plan was cancelled and the 11092 plan was formulated.  In July 2009 and with a joint initiative
between the Israeli Municipality in Jerusalem, Jerusalem Development Authority
and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, the “National Park” plan, which was
submitted to the planning committee, was completed.  It was decided in the final copy of the plan
that lands owned by the Hebrew University would not be used for “the national
park” meaning that more lands owned by Palestinians would be subject to
confiscation in order to implement the plan. 
On 05 April 2011, the local committee for planning and building approved
the project.

 

The Civic Coalition said that the
purpose of implementing the 11092 plan is that the eastern slope of “the French
Hill” will be known as “a national park” under the 1988 Law of Parks, Reserves
and the National Archives and Souvenirs. 
Moreover, according to the 2030 Master Plan, the 11092 plan aims to link
this park with the “Holy Basin”. 
According to the declaration of the Israeli planning organization, “The
National Park” is of great importance to the Israeli authorities because it
represents the eastern gate of Jerusalem. 
Furthermore, according to the plan, the site must appear as an open area
due to its strategic and archaeological significance in addition to the need
for maintenance of the nature.  On the
other hand, the Israeli authorities argue that the area, where “the National
Park” will be established, constitutes an integral part of “the Israeli
cultural heritage”.  They claim that establishing
this park “constitutes a way to maintain the religious and cultural
significance of the site”.  In addition,
the site as a whole represents an archaeological area, and the construction
work requires coordination with the Antiquities Authority, which works under
the Israeli Antiquities Law.

 

According to the plan, the legal
status of the land was changed from lands designated for public building into
“national parks”.  Thus, building or
planning for the public interest is prevented in order to pave the way for “the
national park”.  Moreover, the park aims
to link the Hebrew University from the west with the main street of “Ma’aleh
Adomim” settlement in the east, and al-Tur village in the south to al-Issawiya
in the north.  On the other hand, future
tourism projects will be established in the area under the plan.

 

“The National Park” plan is a
strategic part of the implementation of the Master Plan as the park will
surround Palestinian neighborhoods.  In
the same context, Israeli authorities do not work on putting plans that meet
the Palestinians’ growing need to live in these neighborhoods.  Thus, establishing that park will deepen the
housing crisis of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, which suffers from a lack of
around 46,000 housing units.  The Israeli
authorities’ attempt to increase the shortage of Palestinian housing units in
Jerusalem, and routine refusal to grant building permits creates social,
psychological and economical problems in the affected communities.

 

According to a position paper
prepared by Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Centre on this plan on 18
November 2011, the Israel Municipality of Jerusalem announced the filing of a
plan to establish a national park on the territory of al-Issawiya and al-Tur
that aims to surround the Palestinian neighborhoods in Jerusalem with illegal
settlement blocs seeking to impose new facts on the ground in order to change
the demographic situation of Jerusalem and reduce the lands that could be used
for urban sprawl in the city. The Centre also pointed out that “ratification of
this plan will lead to confirmation of confiscation of 740 dunums of the
territory of al-Issawiya and al-Tur, which have been both subject to different
waves of confiscation of more than 12,000 dunums since 1967, including parts of
“Ma’aleh Adomim” settlement, Hebrew University, Hadassa Hospital, lands of the
two camps in al-Masharef Mountain and west of al-Issawiya, and tracts of the
eastern side’s lands, which was separated from Jerusalem due to the
establishment of the annexation wall. 
The centre also said that this plan is in harmony with a larger
settlement plan to create geographical contiguity between Jerusalem and each of
“Ma’aleh Adumim” settlement and the northeastern settlements of Jerusalem
taking into consideration that the area is the gate of Jerusalem in the area of
(E1) settlement plan.  The position paper
also notes that this plan will directly link the northeastern settlements of
Jerusalem,  “’Anatout”, “Yamin Adam”,
“Jev’a Ben”; “Besaghot”, “ Kokhaf Ya’aqoub” and others, with Jerusalem within a
plan, through which these settlement blocs will be maintained under the Israeli
control.  This will be achieved through
establishing a safe security network for settlers only and another network for
Palestinians, so both parties will not meet.

 

 

 

 

Recommendations to the International Community

 

 

PCHR emphasizes the international community’s position
that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which is still
under the Israeli occupation, in spite of the Israeli military redeployment
outside the Gaza Strip in 2005. PCHR further confirms that Israeli force have
continued to impose collective punishment measures on the Gaza Strip, which
have escalated since the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections, in which
Hamas won the majority of seats of the Palestinian Legislative Council. PCHR
stresses that there is an international recognition of Israel’s obligation to
respect international human rights instruments and the international
humanitarian law, especially the Hague Regulations concerning the
Laws and Customs of War on Land and the
Geneva Conventions. Israel is bound to apply the international human rights law
and the law of war sometime reciprocally and other times in parallel in a way
that achieves the best protection for civilians and remedy for victims.

 

In light of continued arbitrary measures, land
confiscation and settlement activities in the West Bank, and the continued
aggression against civilians in the Gaza Strip, especially the latest offensive
that lasted for 8 days in November, PCHR calls upon the international
community, especially the United Nations, the High Contracting Parties to the
Geneva Convention and the European Union – in the context of their natural
obligation to respect and enforce the international law – to cooperate and act
according to the following recommendations:

 

1. PCHR calls upon the international community and the
United Nations to use all available means to allow the Palestinian people to
enjoy their right to self-determination, through the establishment of the
Palestinian State, which was recognized by the UN General Assembly with a vast
majority, using all international legal mechanisms, including sanctions to end
the occupation of the State of Palestine;

2. PCHR calls upon the United Nations to provide
international protection to Palestinians in the oPt, and to ensure the
non-recurrence of aggression against the oPt, especially the Gaza Strip;

3. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the
Geneva Conventions to compel Israel, as a High Contracting Party to the
Conventions, to apply the Conventions in the oPt;

4. PCHR calls upon the Parties to international human
rights instruments, especially the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and
the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to pressurize Israel to
comply with their provisions in the oPt, and to compel it to incorporate the
human rights situation in the oPt in its reports submitted to the concerned
committees;

5. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the
Geneva Conventions to fulfil their obligation to ensure the application of the
Conventions, including extending the scope of their jurisdiction in order to
prosecute suspected war criminals, regardless of the nationality of the
perpetrator and the place of a crime, to pave the way for prosecuting suspected
Israeli war criminals and end the longstanding impunity they have enjoyed;

6. PCHR calls on States that apply the principle of
universal jurisdiction not to surrender to Israeli pressure to limit universal
jurisdiction to perpetuate the impunity enjoyed by suspected Israeli war
criminals;

7. PCHR calls upon the international community to act in
order to stop all Israeli settlement expansion activities in the oPt through
imposing sanctions on Israeli settlements and criminalizing trading with them;

8. PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly to transfer
the Goldstone Report to the UN Security Council in order to refer it to the
International Criminal Court in accordance with Article 13(b) of the Rome
Statute;

9. PCHR calls upon the United Nations to confirm that
holding war criminals in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a precondition to
achieve stability and peace in the regions, and that peace cannot be built on the
expense of human rights and victims;

10. PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly and Human
Rights Council to explicitly declare that the Israeli closure policy in Gaza
and the annexation wall in the West Bank are illegal, and accordingly refer the
two issues to the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Israel to compel
it to remove them;

11. PCHR calls upon the international community, in light
of its failure to the stop the aggression on the Palestinian people, to at
least fulfil its obligation to reconstruct the Gaza Strip after the series of
hostilities launched by Israel which directed targeted the civilian
infrastructure;

12. PCHR calls upon the United Nations and the European
Union to express a clear position towards the annexation wall following the
international recognition of the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders, as the
annexation wall seizes large parts of the State of Palestine;

13. PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article
2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that both sides must
respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU
states and Israel, and the EU must not ignore Israeli violation and crimes
against Palestinian civilians;

14. PCHR calls upon the Palestinian leadership to sign and
accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the Geneva
Conventions, and calls upon the international community, especially the United
Nations, to encourage the State of Palestine to accede to international human
rights law and humanitarian law instruments.

 

 

 

 

 

…………………………………………………………

Public Document

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email pchr@pchrgaza.org or telephone +972 08 282 4776 – 282 5893.