Israeli forces continue bulldozing works to construct
the annexation wall and isolate al-Walaja village, northwest of Bethlehem

 

Israeli
Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian
Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)

 

IOF
continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.

Dozens
of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from
tear gas inhalation.

IOF
arrested an activist in the campaign against the construction of the annexation
wall in Bil’ein village, west of Rammallah.

 

IOF
fired at Palestinian workers collecting scraps of construction materials in the
northern Gaza Strip.

 

IOF
conducted 58 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.  

IOF
arrested 8 Palestinians.

 

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

Israeli
soldiers arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child, at various
checkpoints in the West Bank.

 

Israeli
has continued to construct the annexation wall inside th West Bank territory.

IOF
leveled large areas of Palestinian land in al-Walaja village near Bethlehem.

 

Israel
has continued measures aimed at creating a Jewish majority in East Jerusalem.

A
new settlement plan in East Jerusalem was unveiled.

The
Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem decided to demolish the bridge of Bab
al-Maghariba neighborhood.

IOF
closed offices of a number of NGOs and arrested a staff member. 

 

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

Israeli
settlers attacked Palestinian farmers while cropping olives in the West Bank.

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli
violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued
during the reporting period (20 – 26 October 2011):

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, IOF
used excessive force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest
to Israeli settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall in
the West Bank. As a result, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from
tear gas inhalation. IOF also arrested
an activist of peaceful protests against the construction of the wall in
Bil’ein village, west of Ramallah.

 

In the Gaza Strip, IOF fired at
Palestinian workers who were collecting scraps of construction materials in the
northern Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported.

 

Incursions:

 

During
the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 58 military incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they arrested 8 Palestinian
civilians.   

 

Restrictions
on Movement:

 

Israel
had continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the
West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

 

Gaza
Strip

 

Israel has continuously closed all
border crossings to the Gaza Strip for over three years. The illegal
Israeli-imposed 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. 

 

IOF have
tightened the closure of the Gaza Strip and practically made Karm Abu Salem
crossing as the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip although it is not
proper for commercial purposes in terms of its distance and operational
capacity.

 

IOF have
continued to apply their policy aimed at tightening the strangulation of the
commercial movement in the Gaza Strip, including imposing total control over
the flow of imports and exports.

 

The total
closure of al-Mentar “Karni” crossing on 02 March 2011 has created a
bitter situation that has seriously affected the Gaza Strip. Following this closure, all the economic and
commercial establishments in 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 operational capacity to
absorb the flow of imports and exports. The decision of al-Mentar crossing was the culmination of a series of decisions
to totally close Sofa crossing, east of the Gaza Strip, in the beginning of
2009, and 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.

 

These
statistics which were made available to PCHR by the Border and Crossings
Department indicate a continued drop in the number of truckloads of Gaza
imports and exports.

 

IOF have
continued to impose total ban on the delivery of raw materials to the Gaza
Stri, 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 in
the Gaza Strip.

 

The cooking gas
crisis which has erupted last November has continued to affect the Gaza
Strip. This crisis was created when the
Israeli occupation authorities totally closed, on 04 January 2010, Nahal Oz
crossing, which used to be dedicated for the delivery of fuel and cooking gas
supplies to Gaza, and shifted fuel and cooking gas supplies to Karm Abu Salem
crossing which is not technically equipped to receive Gaza’s needs of fuel.
 Karm Abu Salem crossing, with its maximum absorptive capacity, can
receive only 200 tons of cooking gas per day.

 

Approximately
80% of Gaza civilians have continued to depend on alimentary aid provided by
UNRWA and other relief agencies, rates of families who are living below poverty
line have continued to be on the rise and approximately 40% of Gaza’s manpower
has continued to suffer from permanent unemployment as a result of shutting
down the majority of Gaza’s economic establishments.

 

IOF have
continued to impose a total ban on the exportation of Gaza’s products,
especially industrial products, leading to undermining any real chances to
rerun economic establishments. The
situation has been aggravated especially after making Karm Abu Salem crossing
as Gaza sole commercial crossing and the repeated closure of this crossing
which negatively affected the quantity of Gazan products which were allowed to
be exported during last April.

 

IOF have continued
to prolong the implementation of their decision to allow 60 cars into Gaza
weekly although more than 11 months have passed since they announced this
decision after three years of ban imposed on the delivery of cars to Gaza. As a result, the prices of cars in Gaza have
been on the rise and local markets experience serious shortage in spare parts.

 

For
approximately four consecutive years, IOF have continued to ban the delivery of
construction materials to Gaza. During the reporting period, IOF approved the
delivery of limited quantities of construction materials for a number of
international organizations.

 

Israel has continued to close Beit
Hanoun (Erez) crossing for Palestinian civilians from the Gaza Strip. IOF only allow the movement of limited groups
amidst severe restrictions, including long hours of waiting in the majority of
cases. IOF have also continued to adopt
a policy aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move
via Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or
in the West Bank and Jerusalem. IOF
denied new categories of Gazan patient permission to have access to hospitals
via the crossing.

 

Israel has imposed additional access
restrictions on international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers
seeking to enter the Gaza Strip.

 

For approximately 52 months, IOF
have continued to deny approximately 700 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza
detained in Israeli jails their visitation rights without providing any
justification to this measure, which violates the rules of the international
humanitarian law.

 

West
Bank

 

IOF 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.

 

IOF have established checkpoints in
and around Jerusalem, severely restricting Palestinian access to the city.
Civilians are frequently prevented from praying in the al-Aqsa Mosque in
Jerusalem.

 

There are approximately 585
permanent roadblocks, and manned and unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank.

 

When complete, the illegal
annexation wall will stretch for 724 kilometers around the West Bank, further
isolating the entire population. 350 kilometers of the wall have already been
constructed. Approximately 99% of the wall has been constructed inside the West
Bank itself, confiscating more Palestinian land.

 

At least 65% of the main roads that
lead to 18 Palestinian communities in the West Bank are closed or fully
controlled by IOF.

 

There are approximately 500 kilometers of
restricted roads across the West Bank. In addition, approximately one third of
the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, is inaccessible to
Palestinians without permits issued by IOF. Such permits are extremely
difficult to obtain.

 

IOF continue to harass and assault
demonstrators who hold peaceful protests against the construction of the
annexation wall.

 

Palestinian civilians continue to be
harassed by IOF in Jerusalem, and across the West Bank, including being
regularly stopped and searched in the streets by IOF.

 

 

Continued
Construction of the Annexation Wall

 

For
the fourth consecutive week, IOF have continued bulldozing activities and
uprooting of dozens of fruitful trees in al-Walaja village, northwest of
Bethlehem, to construct a new section of the annexation wall in preparation for
the isolation of al-Walaja village from Bethlehem and the annexation of this
village’s lands to the boundaries of Jerusalem Municipality.

 

According
to field investigations conducted by PCHR, on 03 October 2011, IOF started
bulldozing activities in farms and uprooting of trees in targeted lands in Ein
al-Hadafa area, Khellet al-Samak area and Ein Jweiza area in al-Walaja village.
These bulldozing activities are aimed at preparing infrastructures for the
construction of a new section of the annexation wall and for the establishment
of a road along the annexation wall in the west and northwest of al-Walaja
village. More than 90 agricultural dunums[1]
have been bulldozed since the beginning of the bulldozing activities. In
addition, more than 230 olive trees, almond trees, grapevines, cypress trees
and oak trees have been uprooted.

 

According
to investigations conducted by PCHR, since 2009, the length of the parts of the
annexation wall which have been constructed in the east, west and northeast of
al-Walaja village has amounted to 4,500 meters, with widths ranging between 20
and 50 meters.  As a result, 2,100 trees, including 1,000 olive, grape and
almond trees, have been uprooted and 500 dunums of agricultural lands,
forests and a part of a nature reserve have been destroyed.  Besides,
approximately 2,000 dunums in al-Walaja village have been isolated
behind the wall.

 

The
wall’s design plan published by the Israeli Ministry of Defense on its website
on 30 April 2007 shows that the construction of the annexation wall would
isolate al-Walaja village by surrounding it from the northern, eastern and western
sides by the wall.  From the south, the village will be enclosed by a
security road controlled by IOF and extending along bypass road no. 436, which
is used by the residents of al-Walaja village to have access to services in
Bethlehem. Once it is completed, the wall will isolate over 50% of the
total area of the village.

 

Efforts to Create a Jewish Majority in Jerusalem:

 

The
engineer of the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem claimed the woody bridge of
Bab al-Maghariba in the old town of Jerusalem is a ramshackle structure and
that must be torn down within 30 days, in order to construct a new one. This claim was cited in a letter sent by the
engineer on Sunday, 23 October 2011 to the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. It should be noted that the Israeli
government authorized the demolition of the bridge five month ago to construct
a new one according to Israeli plans, but the Israeli police postponed the
demolition out of concerns that Palestinian may organize protests. However, the Israeli Internal Security
Service recommended, according to the Israeli media, demolishing the
bridge. 

 

On
the same day, IOF stormed the head offices of al-Quds Development Association
in Dahiat al-Barid area in the north of East Jerusalem. They searched the office and arrested Kifah
Sarhan, Director of the Social Department in the Association. They then moved to Ras al-‘Aamoud
neighborhood. They raided and searched
Sarhan’s house and confiscated some documents and computer sets. According to Sarhan’s wife, IOF confiscated
also 200,000 ILS.

 

On
25 October 2011, IOF closed 3 offices of al-Quds Development Association in
Dahiat al-Barid area in the north of Jerusalem, and Shu’aa’ Women Association
in Shu’fat neighborhood for a renewable one month. IOF stormed the offices and expelled the
staff. IOF claimed that they closed two
offices and an association affiliated to Hamas and a third one of an
association affiliated to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Attorney Khaled Zabarqa, Director of al-Quds
Development Association, stated that his organization, which is licensed by
Israeli authorities, provides legal, humanitarian and social services to poor
families. 

 

On
24 October 2011, the website of the Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot
unveiled an Israeli settlement plan in East Jerusalem. It reported that the Israeli government is
preparing for establishing a new settlement neighborhood in the south of East
Jerusalem near Beit Safafa village. The
project will divided into 3 phases, which include the construction of 4,000
housing units. The Israeli Organization
and Construction Committee has approved the first phase, which includes the
construction of 2,610 housing units. 

 

Settlement
Activities:  

 

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

 

On 21 October 2011, a number of
Israeli settlers, one of them was armed with a machine gun, from “Yish Kodesh”
settlement, southeast of Nablus, attacked a number of Palestinian farmers and
international solidarity activists who were cropping olives. The settlers used stones, sharp tools and
sticks. As a result, two Palestinian
civilians, including a child, were injured. IOF arrived at the area and fired
tear gas canisters at the farmer and solidarity activists. Dozens of farmers and solidarity activists
suffered from tear gas inhalation and they were forced to leave the area.

 

On the same day, a number of Israeli
settlers, escorted by IOF, attacked Palestinian farmers and expelled them from
their lands while they were cropping olives in Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast
of Qalqilya, because of the weekly demonstration organized by villagers. Israeli soldiers stated to villagers through
megaphones that they are banned from cropping olives until they stop the weekly
demonstrations. IOF and settlers
expelled the farmers from their lands.

 

On 22 October 2011, a number of
Israeli settlers from “Rafafa” settlement attacked Palestinian agricultural
lands in Qarawat Bani Hassan village, northwest of Salfit. They expelled a Palestinian family from their
land while members of the family were cropping olives. 

 

 

Israeli
Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (20 – 26 October 2011)

 

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

 

Thursday, 20 October 2011

 

At
approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Qub al-Janeb neighborhood in the south of
Hebron. They raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Ramzi Omar al-Turk, 25, and arrested him, claiming
that they found a weapon near the house.

 

At
approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At
approximately 11:30, IOF moved into ‘Aboud village, northeast of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 17:00, IOF moved into Khirbat Abu Falah village, northeast of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 18:00, IOF moved into ‘Izbat al-Tabib village, east of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 20:30, IOF moved into Shwaika suburb, north of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Beit Liqya village, west of Ramallah, and
patrolled in the streets. A number of
Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at Israeli military
vehicles. Immediately, Israeli soldiers
fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sounds bombs at
them. A number of Palestinian civilians
suffered from tear gas inhalation. No
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 23:15, IOF moved into Jericho. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At
approximately 23:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.  

 

 

 

 

Friday,
21 October 2011

 

At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Kharabtha al-Misbah village,
west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Ramin village,
northeast of Tulkarm. They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Thinnaba suburb, east
of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the
streets and arrested Waleed Tariq Hamous, 23.

 

At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into al-Mazra’a al-Gharbiya
village, north of Ramallah. They
patrolled in the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 13:30, IOF moved into ‘Allar village, north of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Saturday, 22 October 2011

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Bir Zeit village, north of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into ‘Aboud village, northwest of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:30, IOF moved into Silwad village, northeast of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:35, IOF moved into Kufol Hares village, north
of Salfit. They raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Hamza Marwan Bouziya, 20, and summoned him for
interrogation.

 

Sunday, 23 October 2011

 

At approximately 06:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 07:30, IOF moved into ‘Izbat al-Tayah area, east
of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 08:30, IOF moved into Shwaika suburb, north of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:30, IOF moved into Deir Dibwan village,
northeast of Ramallah. They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Qibya village, west of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:10, IOF moved into Beit ‘Aur al-Tahta village,
west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm refugee camp, east
of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Soon after, IOF moved into Tulkarm. A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at Israeli
military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli
soldiers fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. As a result, windows of a number of cars were
broken, but no casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 17:30, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation
towers at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at
a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting scraps of construction
materials from the industrial zone to the southwest of the crossing. The workers were forced to flee from the area
and no casualties were reported.

 

Monday, 24 October 2011

 

At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Nabi Saleh village,
northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Ya’bad village, southwest of
Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Salfit. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Hares village, northwest of
Salfit. They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

 

Sofian Waleed Daoud, 20; and

Rami ‘Emad Souf, 18.

 

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-Bireh town. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Khirbat Abu Falah village,
northeast of Ramallah. They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Shwaika suburb, north of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Fassayel village, north of
Jericho. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Kufor Ne’ma village,
west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the
streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:45, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation
towers at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at
a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting scraps of construction
materials from the industrial zone to the southwest of the crossing. The workers were forced to flee from the area
and no casualties were reported.

 

At approximately 11:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 14:30, IOF moved into Maithaloun village,
southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 14:30, IOF moved into Sirris village,
southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in
the streets 3 oil presses and questioned Palestinian civilians who were
there. They withdrew later and neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 18:30, IOF moved into al-Hfaira village, southwest
of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Tuesday, 25 October 2011

 

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Marda village, north of
Salfit. They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

 

‘Aziz Khaled Suleiman, 23; and

Mohammed Shareef Ma’touq, 25.

 

At approximately 09:50, IOF moved into ‘Allar village, north of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 09:50, IOF moved into Saida village,
northeast of Tulkarm. They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into al-Kfair village, southeast
of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Seer village, south of
Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for
some time and withdrew later. Neither house
raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:30, IOF moved into al-Ras village, south of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 12:30, IOF moved into Beit Leed village, east of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 12:30, IOF moved into Jalboun village, east
of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 13:00, IOF moved into Kufor Sour village, south of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 13:30, IOF moved into Jenin. They patrolled in the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids
nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into Shwaika suburb, north of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Bal’a village, northeast of
Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 18:30, IOF moved into Zabbouba village, northwest
of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Also at approximately 18:30, IOF moved into al-‘Ouja village,
northeast of Jericho. They patrolled in
the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 20:00, IOF moved into ‘Ein ‘Arik village, west of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 20:30, IOF moved into al-Jiftlek village, north of
Jericho. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:10, IOF moved into Bitounia town, southwest of
Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:55, IOF moved into Jainsafout village, east of
Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets
for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Wednesday, 26 October 2011

 

At approximately 03:45, IOF moved into Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested Bassel Nash’at Samara, 19.   

 

2. Use of Excessive Force against Peaceful Demonstrations
Protesting Settlement Activities and the Construction of the Annexation Wall

 

During
the reporting period, IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized
by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
in protest to the construction of the Wall and settlement activities in the
West Bank. As a result, dozens of Palestinian
civilians, including a photojournalist, and human rights defenders suffered
from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises. 

   

Following the Friday Prayer on 21 October 2011, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil’ein village, west of Ramallah, in
protest to the construction of the annexation wall. They raised the Palestinian flag and portraits
of Marwan al-Barghouthi and Ahmed Sa’adat, Members of the Palestinian
Legislative Council who have been detained by IOF. They then moved towards areas of Palestinian
land, which the Israeli High Court ordered to be returned to their Palestinian
owners. Israeli soldiers stationed in
the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters
at the demonstrators. As a result, a
number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. IOF also arrested Ashraf Ibrahim Abu Rahma,
30. 

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 21 October 2011, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international and human rights defenders organized a
peaceful demonstration in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest against
the construction of the annexation wall. They chanted slogans calling for Palestinian reconciliation, adherence
to the Palestinian inalienable rights and resistance of the occupation. Additionally, they chanted “194 is the
State of Palestine” and other slogans against the American President and his
speech at the United Nations that was defended the Israeli occupation.  They clashed with Israeli troops positioned
near the annexation wall. Israeli soldiers
fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at
demonstrators. As a result, a number of
demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. 

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on 21 October 2011, dozens of
Palestinian civilians a peaceful demonstration in Kufor Qaddoum village,
northwest of Qalqilya, in protest to continued closure of the eastern entrance
of the village by IOF. IOF intercepted
the demonstration and fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the
demonstrators. As a result, 6
demonstrators, including an old woman, suffered from tear gas inhalation: Salima Ahmed Eshtaiwi, 70; Bashar Khaled Abu
Khaled, 20; Bassam Mohammed Eshtaiwi, 40; Mohammed Maher Jom’a, 25; Aws ‘Abdul
Raziq ‘Aamer, 21; and ‘Alaa’ Mohammed Rsaheed, 25.

 

At approximately 10:00 on Saturday, 22 October 2011, dozens of
Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a
peaceful demonstration in the center of Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron. They moved towards the agricultural lands
Khillat al-Kutla area, which have been closed by IOF, near “Karmi Tsur”
settlement, south of the town. Israeli
soldiers attacked the demonstrators and declared the area a closed military
zone. They violently beat a number of
demonstrators and fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. As a result, a number of demonstrators
suffered from tear gas inhalation.

 

3. Continued Closure of the OPT

 

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

 

Gaza
Strip

 

Israel has continuously closed all
border crossings to the Gaza Strip for over three years. The illegal
Israeli-imposed 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 illegal closure has caused not only a
humanitarian crisis but a crisis of human rights and human dignity for the
population of the Gaza Strip. Measures declared recently to ease the
blockade are vague, purely cosmetic and fail to deal with the root causes of
the crisis, which can only be addressed by an immediate and complete lifting of
the closure, including lifting the travel ban into and out of the Gaza Strip
and the ban on exports. PCHR is concerned that the new Israeli policy is simply
shifting Gaza to another form of illegal blockade, one that may become
internationally accepted and institutionalized. Palestinians in Gaza may no
longer suffer from the same shortage of goods, but they will remain
economically dependent and unable to care for themselves, and socially,
culturally and academically isolated from the rest of the world.

 

Movement
at Border Crossings during the Reporting Period:

 

Movement
at Rafah International Crossing Point

19 –
25 October 2011

 

 

Movement
at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

19 –
25 October 2011

 

Imports:

 

 

Notes:

 

On Sunday, 23 October 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 440 tons of
cement, 1,960 tons of construction aggregate and 74 tons of construction steel for
UNRWA. They also allowed the entry of 1,443
tons of fodders.

 

On Monday, 24 October 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 280 tons of
cement, 1,960 tons of construction aggregate and 66 tons of construction steel
for UNRWA; 34 tons of cement and 108 tons of construction steel for the
Palestinian Water Authority; and 40 tons of cement of UNDP. They also allowed the entry of 1,443 tons of
wheat.

 

ON Tuesday, 25 October 2011, IOF allowed the entry of 800 tons of
cement, 2,310 tons of construction aggregate and 64 tons of construction steel
for UNRWA, and 80 tons of cement and 32 tons of construction steel for the
Cooperative Housing Foundation. They
also allowed the entry of 1,677 tons of fodders. 

 

Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: Israel
has continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the movement of
Palestinian civilians. IOF have allowed only diplomats, a number of
international journalists, employees of international agencies and a limited
number of patients who suffer from serious diseases to pass through the
crossing. They have continued to prevent Palestinian civilians from visiting
their relatives who are detained in Israeli jails. The small number of patients
permitted to pass through the crossing is only able to do so under severe
restrictions that include prolonged checking. 

 

 

Movement
at Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing

19 –
25 October 2011

 

 

The West Bank

 

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

 

Jerusalem: IOF
have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians to and from the city. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have
established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians
often escalate on Fridays, preventing Muslim Palestinians from praying at
al-Aqsa Mosque. 

 

Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians. At
approximately 10:00 on Thursday, 20 October 2011, IOF established a checkpoint
on the road linking between Beit ‘Aur al-Tahta and Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa villages,
west of Ramallah. At approximately 17:00
on the same day, IOF established a checkpoint under Kharabtha al-Misbah Bridge,
west of Ramallah. At approximately 19:00
on Friday, 21 October 2011, IOF established a checkpoint on the road liking
between Silwad and al-Mazra’a al-Sharqiya villages, northeast of Ramallah. At approximately 11:00 on Saturday, 22
October 2011, IOF re-established their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of
Ramallah. At approximately 17:00 on the
same day, IOF established a checkpoint at Beit ‘Aur al-Fouqa intersection, west
of Ramallah.

 

Qalqilya: IOF have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  On Thursday, 20 October 2011, IOF established 3
checkpoints around the town. On Friday, 21
October 2011, IOF established 3 checkpoints around the town. On Saturday, 22 October 2011, IOF established
5 checkpoints around Qalqilya. On Monday,
24 October 2011, IOF established two checkpoints around Qalqilya.         

 

Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 20
October 2011, IOF established 4 checkpoints around the town. At approximately 13:00 on Friday, 21 October
2011, IOF established a checkpoint at ‘Attil intersection, north of
Tulkarm. On Sunday, 23 October 2011, IOF
closed Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm. The closure would continue until 01 November 2011 allegedly for
maintenance works.   

 

Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 11:30 on Thursday, 20 October 2011, IOF established a checkpoint
at the entrance of Rummana village, northwest of Jenin. On Saturday, 22 October 2011, IOF established
two checkpoints around the town. At
approximately 12:30 on the same day, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians passing through Movo Dutan checkpoint, north
of Jenin. 

 

Jericho: IOF have continued to impose additional restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 19:30 on Thursday, 20 October
2011, IOF established a checkpoint near the entrance of Fassayel village, north
of Jericho.  

 

Arrests at Military Checkpoints

 

At approximately 15:30 on Friday, 21 October 2011, IOF arrested 4
Palestinian civilians when they were on fields in Beit Ummar town, north of
Hebron, claiming that they were present in a closed military zone:

 

1- Saleem Mohammed ‘Aadi, 40;

2- Mohammed Mufleh ‘Aadi, 35;

3- Mufleh Mohammed ‘Aadi, 18; and

4- Jamal Mohammed ‘Aai, 15.

 

4. Continued Construction of the Annexation Wall

 

For
the fourth consecutive week, IOF have continued bulldozing activities and
uprooting of dozens of fruitful trees in al-Walaja village, northwest of
Bethlehem, to construct a new section of the annexation wall in preparation for
the isolation of al-Walaja village from Bethlehem and the annexation of this
village’s lands to the boundaries of Jerusalem Municipality. PCHR condemns
these bulldozing activities and recalls the Advisory Opinion issued on 09 July
2004 by the International Court of Justice, which considers the construction of
the annexation wall inside the West Bank illegal and calls for its
dismantlement.

 

According
to field investigations conducted by PCHR, on 03 October 2011, IOF started
bulldozing activities in farms and uprooting of trees in targeted lands in Ein
al-Hadafa area, Khellet al-Samak area and Ein Jweiza area in al-Walaja village.
These bulldozing activities are aimed at preparing infrastructures for the
construction of a new section of the annexation wall and for the establishment
of a road along the annexation wall in the west and northwest of al-Walaja
village. More than 90 agricultural dunums have been bulldozed since the
beginning of the bulldozing activities. In addition, more than 230 olive trees,
almond trees, grapevines, cypress trees and oak trees have been uprooted.

 

In
this context, a PCHR fieldworker reported that IOF have bulldozed approximately
across a length of 1,800 meters with widths between 20 and 30 meters.  In addition, IOF have isolated other large
areas in the west of al-Walaja village, including the cemetery of the village.  The PCHR fieldworker also reported that these
bulldozing activities coincide with the construction of the annexation wall in
“al-Natouf” and “Ras Krimzan” areas in the east of
al-Walaja village.  The length of this section
part of the annexation wall will be 2,000 meters, with widths ranging between
30 and 50 meters.  This section will be
connected to the new section referred to above.

 

Owners
of the affected lands include ‘Abdul Rahman Mohammed Abu al-Tin; ‘Eissa Ja’far
Hajajla; Ahmed ‘Abdul Rahman Dras’; ‘Ata Mohammed al-Aa’raj; Ahmed Saleh
Barghouth; Jamal Saleh Barghouth; ‘Omar ‘Eissa Hajajla; ‘Abdullah Dawood Rabah;
‘Abdul Qader Dawood Rabah; Khalil ‘Ali al-Aa’raj; ‘Omar Dawood al-Saifi;
Mohammed Hassan al-Atrash; Tariq Mansour; Fakhri ‘Eid Abu Sadoud; and ‘Abdul
Fattah ‘Abed Rabbu.

 

The
resumption of the construction works in this new section of the annexation wall
has been based on a decision issued on 23 August 2011 by the Israeli High Court
which rejected a petition filed by residents of al-Walaja village requesting a
change of the route of the said section of the annexation wall.  In its reasoning of the rejection of the
petition, the Israeli High Court stated: “The route of the wall is
necessary for the security of Israel and its citizens.” The Court
disregarded the theft of Palestinians’ lands and the resulting negative impact
on the residents of al-Walaja village and their livelihoods.

 

According
to investigations conducted by PCHR, since 2009, the length of the parts of the
annexation wall which have been constructed in the east, west and northeast of
al-Walaja village has amounted to 4,500 meters, with widths ranging between 20
and 50 meters.  As a result, 2,100 trees, including 1,000 olive, grape and
almond trees, have been uprooted and 500 dunums of agricultural lands,
forests and a part of a nature reserve have been destroyed.  Besides,
approximately 2,000 dunums in al-Walaja village have been isolated
behind the wall.

 

The
wall’s design plan published by the Israeli Ministry of Defense on its website
on 30 April 2007 shows that the construction of the annexation wall would
isolate al-Walaja village by surrounding it from the northern, eastern and
western sides by the wall.  From the south, the village will be enclosed
by a security road controlled by IOF and extending along bypass road no. 436,
which is used by the residents of al-Walaja village to have access to services
in Bethlehem. Once it is completed, the wall will isolate over 50% of the
total area of the village.

 

According
to investigations conducted by PCHR and based on the Israeli military order no.
(T/25/06) which was issued in 2006, IOF have been establishing a new crossing
in the annexation wall in the east of al-Walaja village.  This crossing is named “Har
Gilo”.  Eventually, the wall will completely isolate the village from
all of the other Palestinian villages and towns, service providing institutions
and vital facilities in the Bethlehem governorate.

 

5. Efforts to Create a Jewish Majority in East Jerusalem

 

Israeli
occupation authorities have continued to make persistent efforts to create a
Jewish majority in East Jerusalem and expel Palestinian civilians in the
city. 

 

The Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem Decides to Demolish Bab
al-Maghariba Woody Bridge

 

The
engineer of the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem claimed the woody bridge of
Bab al-Maghariba in the old town of Jerusalem is a ramshackle structure and
that must be torn down within 30 days, in order to construct a new one. This claim was cited in a letter sent by the
engineer on Sunday, 23 October 2011 to the Western Wall Heritage
Foundation. It should be noted that the
Israeli government authorized the demolition of the bridge five month ago to
construct a new one according to Israeli plans, but the Israeli police
postponed the demolition out of concerns that Palestinian may organize
protests. However, the Israeli Internal
Security Service recommended, according to the Israeli media, demolishing the
bridge. 

 

The
engineer’s letter stated: “According to the law, this temporary bridge
should be demolished using non-flammable materials in accordance with such
rules, standards and specifications decided by engineers. This step may provoke a wave of protests by
in the Palestinian territories and abroad.”

 

Sheikh
‘Azzam al-Tamimi, Director of the Waqf Department in Jerusalem, stated
that Bab al-Maghariba hill, on which the bridge stands, is an Islamic waqf
and a major gate of the al-Aqsa Mosque. He pointed out that the Waqf Department is the only party authorized to
make reparations in it. 

 

Closure of NGOs and Raids on Staff’s Houses

 

At
approximately 12:00 on Sunday, 23 October 2011, IOF stormed the head offices of
al-Quds Development Association in Dahiat al-Barid area in the north of East
Jerusalem. They searched the office and
arrested Kifah Sarhan, Director of the Social Department in the
Association. They then moved to Ras
al-‘Aamoud neighborhood. They besieged
Sarhan’s house, which was empty at the time, and attempted to break into it. His father was able to convince them to wait
until Sarhan’s wife come back home. When
she came back home at approximately 14:30, IOF raided and searched the house
and confiscated some documents and computer sets. According to Sarhan’s wife, IOF confiscated
also 200,000 ILS.

 

At
approximately 14:00 on Sunday, 23 October 2011, IOF stormed al-Iman School in
Beit Hanina village, north of Jerusalem. They arrested a teacher, Fua’d Hamdiya. They took him to his house in Wad al-Jouz neighborhood. They raided and searched the house and
confiscated communication devices and 3 computer sets.

 

On
Tuesday, 25 October 2011, IOF closed 3 offices of al-Quds Development
Association in Dahiat al-Barid area in the north of Jerusalem, and Shu’aa’
Women Association in Shu’fat neighborhood for a renewable one month. IOF stormed the offices and expelled the
staff. IOF claimed that they closed two
offices and an association affiliated to Hamas and a third one of an
association affiliated to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Attorney Khaled Zabarqa, Director of al-Quds
Development Association, stated that his organization, which is licensed by
Israeli authorities, provides legal, humanitarian and social services to poor
families.  

 

A New Settlement Plan

 

On
Monday, 24 October 2011, the website of the Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot
unveiled an Israeli settlement plan in East Jerusalem. It reported that the Israeli government is
preparing for establishing a new settlement neighborhood in the south of East
Jerusalem near Beit Safafa village. The
project will divided into 3 phases, which include the construction of 4,000
housing units. The Israeli Organization
and Construction Committee has approved the first phase, which includes the
construction of 2,610 housing units. All
plans of this project were presented to the Israeli government for
approval. The Committee will hold a
meeting on 08 December 2011 to approve the second phase of the project. The new project will complete the settlement
belt in the south of East Jerusalem.  

  

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

 

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

 

At approximately 10:00 on Friday, 21
October 2011, a number of Israeli settlers, one of them was armed with a
machine gun, from “Yish Kodesh” settlement, southeast of Nablus, attacked a
number of Palestinian farmers and international solidarity activists who were
cropping olives. According to
investigations conducted by PCHR, about 150 persons were cropping olives on a
farm belonging to Mahmoud Tubasi ‘Aabed in al-Kurkuffa area, which is under
Israeli security control, to the east of Jaloud village, southeast of Nablus.  The settlers attacked them using stones, sharp
tools and sticks. As a result, Mahmoud
‘Aabed, 45, was injured in the head, and Adham Wasfi Mohammed, 15, was injured
in the right eye and sustained bruises to the face. Soon after, IOF arrived at the area and fired
tear gas canisters at the farmer and solidarity activists. Dozens of farmers and solidarity activists
suffered from tear gas inhalation and they were forced to leave the area.

 

At approximately 13:50 on the same
day, a number of Israeli settlers, escorted by IOF, attacked Palestinian
farmers and expelled them from their lands while they were cropping olives in
Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, because of the weekly
demonstration organized by villagers. Israeli
soldiers stated to villagers through megaphones that they are banned from
cropping olives until they stop the weekly demonstrations. IOF and settlers expelled the farmers from
their lands.

 

At approximately 12:00 on Saturday,
22 October 2011, a number of Israeli settlers from “Rafafa” settlement attacked
Palestinian agricultural lands in Qarawat Bani Hassan village, northwest of
Salfit. They expelled Hamad Sa’id
Mar’ei, 31, and his family from their land while members of the family were
cropping olives. 

 

 

Recommendations to the International
Community

 

 

1- PCHR calls upon the High
Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal and
moral obligations under Article 1 of the Convention to ensure Israel’s respect
for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. PCHR believes that the conspiracy of silence
practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as if it
is above the law and encourages Israel continue to violate international human
rights and humanitarian law.

 

2- PCHR calls upon the High
Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to convene a conference to
take effective steps to ensure Israel’s respect of the Convention in the OPT
and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.

 

3- PCHR calls upon the High
Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with their legal
obligations detailed in Article 146 of the Convention to search for and
prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.

 

4- PCHR calls for the immediate
implementation of the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of
Justice, which considers the construction of the Annexation Wall inside the
West Bank illegal.

 

5- PCHR recommends that
international civil society organizations, including human rights organizations,
bar associations and NGOs, participate in the process of exposing those accused
of grave breaches of international law and urge their governments to bring the
perpetrators to justice.

 

6- PCHR calls upon the European
Union to activate Article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which
provides that Israel must respect human rights as a precondition for economic
cooperation between the EU states and Israel. PCHR further calls upon the EU states to prohibit import of goods
produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the OPT.

 

7- PCHR calls on the international
community to recognize the Gaza disengagement plan, which was implemented in
September 2005, for what it is – not an end to occupation but a compounding of
the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. 

 

8- In recognition of ICRC as the
guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase
its staff and activities in the OPT, including the facilitation of family
visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

 

9- PCHR appreciates the efforts of
international civil society, including human rights organizations, bar
associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue their role in
pressuring their governments to secure Israel’s respect for human rights in the
OPT and to demand Israel end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.

 

10- PCHR calls upon the
international community to pressure Israel to lift the severe restrictions
imposed by the Israeli government and its occupation forces on access for international
organizations to the OPT.

 

11- PCHR reiterates that any
political settlement not based on international human rights law and
humanitarian law cannot lead to a peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian
question. Rather, such an arrangement
can only lead to further suffering and instability in the region. Any peace process or agreement must be based
on respect for international law, including international human rights and
humanitarian law.

 

 

 

…………………………………………………………

 

Public Document

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