In Cooperation with: The Civic Coalition for Defending the Palestinians’ Rights in Jerusalem - CCDPRJ

Israeli authorities continued committing more crimes against Palestinian lands and against Palestinian citizens. Israelis persisted on committing severe abuses in the occupied city of Jerusalem against human rights and international law. In this report -which covers the period 1-30 April 2007- CCDPRJ ,in cooperation with Jerusalem Center for Democracy & Human Rights (JCDHR) and Land Research Center (LRC), monitors these violations. The following is a summary of all Israeli infringements:

1- Confiscating lands, expanding settlements, and further work with the annexation wall in the occupied city of Jerusalem

Confiscating Lands & Expanding Settlements:

- Esaweyyah:

Israelis set down a settling post (Mitsodat Adumim) since the begging of the Palestinian Intifada (uprising). They pretended it was temporarily installed for "security" reasons; however, they took about 42 acres located east of Esaweyyah from Dirbas family. In fact, the post extended on about 100 acres belong to Odeh and Dari families from the same quarter, which oversteps to the military order considered by Israeli supreme court, and trespasses Palestinians' properties.

- Esaweyyah:

Officer of planning commission objected Esaweyyah's new skeletal plan (1584 acres). He denied the agreement set between Palestinian residents and gardens officer, and insisted that Esaweyyah's public garden should be near the road leads to Mount of Olives tunnel (road No. 16). The municipality refused to license the garden, unless it is 200 acres not 70, and classified as "green area" in which building is banned. The Israeli municipality has already seized 600 acres from Palestinians in Esaweyyah, it claimed then that meant to transform it to a public garden.

2- Closures on Jerusalem and ethnic disinfection against Jerusalemites

Barriers & Closure:

- Israeli roads around Jerusalem: Black or blue!?

Israeli occupation authorities informed Bethany local council that old Jerusalem-Bethany-Jericho road is to be eventually blocked. The Israelis have previously closed Jerusalem-Bethany section 4 years ago, and now they are banning Palestinians from using the entire road, fulfilling an old dream of Zionist movement founders. Previous Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, tried to misrepresent the rituality of his plan when he asked The World Bank and The European Union to finance paving new street, to be used exclusively by the Palestinians, which was rejected then. The planned alternative road is 3 kilometers long and 7 meters width, it is meant to seize 273 acres from Bedouins' lands in Bethany, Azzayyem and Anata. This road is very narrow, endangered traffic, and is bounded by annexation wall.

- Bethany:

Khalil Tafakji, manager of mapping and settling unit (Arab study society), told ALQUDS newspaper that works in "hoop road" - Esaweyyah sector- is about to conclude. Road No. 70 is just a part of a highway supposed to link settlements south of Jerusalem; its route will be as following: starting point from Abu Ghneim mount via the longest bridge in Israel, then heads to Annar valley, tunnel under mount of olives, Azzayyem (road No. 70), and ends in Hezma (road No. 45).

Israeli occupation authorities paved roads of 795 kilometers long to surround Palestinian congregations and tear them apart. All that was funded by US government (3.6 billion $), and the Israeli government will verify on constructing 19 tunnels for Palestinians. The Israelis put roads in The West Bank within two categories:

1- Blue roads for Israelis' use: wide, lit up, and short-distanced.

2- Black roads for Palestinians' use: narrow, unsafe, long-distanced, absence of proper infrastructure, and planted with 518 barriers.

- Bethany:

- 19/4/2007: Israeli occupation forces stopped traffic near entrance of "Ma'alee Adumim" settlement at 17:00 p.m. for 3 hours. Israelis said they suspected a PRC ambulance, and when they came towards it, the driver fled away. Palestinians were banned from getting in or out, causing a huge road jam.

Shutting down & breaking into Palestinian establishments:

- al-Aqsa mosque:

Racial Jewish groups -Gershon Solomon followers and "temple mount trustees"- persisted on sneaking to the mosque with police protection (April 4^th and 5^th).

- Sor Baher:

- Monday 15/4/2007: Israeli police and border guard broke in the early morning into the cultural forum in Sor Baher, south of Jerusalem. Soldiers took computers and documents, inspected the whole center, arrested a worker (Maysarah Jaber), and left after causing havoc.

Forum manafer, Sofian Jaber, reported that: "an intelligence officer came and introduce himself, then he gave me an inspection warrant. Soldiers confiscated 3 computers, some CDs, and official papers. Israelis arrested Maysarah without saying why, and his detention was renewed for another 8 days starting from April 25^th. Forum went to court in order to have an issue to retrieve confiscated stuff, and court decided so. Intelligence promised it will hand them back in April 25^th then in 26^th, but that does not happed yet.

Taxes & Fines:

- Friday 27/4/2007: Israeli police forfeited Jerusalemite drivers with high fines, especially cars parked near old city wall. Witnesses told JCDHR researcher that many Palestinians have found the fines set on cars windshield after Friday prayer, because of "double parking". A Palestinian said that he: "used to park his vehicle every Friday near Jerusalem museum, like many drivers during prayer", he insisted that parking there does not disturb traffic. Another one confirmed that such racial practices are meant to punish worshippers in the al-Aqsa mosque.       

3- Violations of religious holy places and worshippers freedom

Israeli occupation authorities proceeded with excavations in the old city of Jerusalem, especially at Maghribi gate and beneath al-Aqsa mosque bases. Israel also continued violating scared places in Jerusalem and worship freedom, Report listed the following violations:

- Monday 2/4/2007: JCDHR reported that Jewish groups attempted to invade al-Aqsa mosque in order to set a holiday oblations insides. al-Aqsa foundation for rehabilitating sacred places informed that preparations were spotted (training for breaking into al-Aqsa mosque). Jewish extremists brought tools and a rabbi. They demonstrated in the old city streets, leaded by Yasrael Ariel, head of the so-called "temple institute", and Hilel Vice. Demonstrators called for rebuilding temple, and held rehearsals using oblations and a big candelabrum.

- Thursday 5/4/2007: Jerusalemites and al-Aqsa mosque guards put off an attempt to irrupt the mosque by Jewish extremists from a group called "temple mount trustees". Another Zio-angelical group trespassed al-Aqsa mosque under Israeli police protection. "Temple mounts trustees" group, leaded by Gershon Solomon, organized a demonstration in Jerusalem; Solomon's followers brought a temple model, but they were stopped at Maghribi gate. Solomon announced that "establishing temple and destroying the mosque becomes imminent, and an Israeli government is to carry out constructions". He added: "Dome of the rock mosque will be replaced with the temple, and the late will be built stone by stone". Jews exclaimed anti-Arab slogans at the sight of Israeli police officers.

Eyewitnesses asserted that "Israeli authorities allowed 48 Jewish settlers to get into al-Aqsa mosque yards from Maghribi gate". They roamed inside the mosque, causing a vast wave of discontent among Palestinians. Furthermore, members of "temple mounts trustees" demonstrated at Maghribi gate, demanding entrance into the mosque. They made some rounds at old city gates, repeating racial vivats against Arabs and Muslims.

- Saturday 7/4/2007: Witnesses told JCDHR researcher that Israeli police applied new procedures in the Church of Holy Sepulcher during Christians' holydays. Those procedures meant to prohibit Christians from The West Bank from entering Jerusalem without permission. Many religious men and worshippers wounded last year when they were attacked by Israelis.

- Sunday 8/4/2007: Head of Israeli national union party (Mafdal), Ori Ariel, announced he is going to enter al-Aqsa mosque to worship. He clarified that this spot is Jews' most sacred places, and Jewish holydays are proper chances to fulfill that.

- Monday 9/4/2007: Mahoud Khatib, one of al-Aqsa mosque guards, was wounded after an assault by Israeli policemen. Israelis were escorting Jewish extremist groups inside al-Aqsa mosque yards. Khatib tried to stop some group members from carrying out rituals, then a quarrel burst. Israelis spanked him, tore his shirt, and moved him to a police post at Maghribi gate. Khatib faced a charge of "attacking policemen and hindering their duties".

- Sunday 15/4/2007: New attempts to trespass al-Aqsa mosque, and tension laid all over Jerusalem, and particularly at the old city. Israeli occupation forces were presenting heavily at the mosque gates, and witnesses insisted that "police personnel stopped youngsters, took ID numbers, and moved them back".

Islamic Waqf (mortmain) sources said that Lowai Sandoukah, a guard of the mosque, is to be trialed for charges brought by Israeli police. Sandoukah was banned from entering al-Aqsa mosque one month ago for faint pretexts, and he was forced to wear surveillance device to detect movement.

4- Demolishing and seizing houses, rejecting constructing permissions, and violating housing right

Since 1967, Israel maintained the policy of destroying houses for several causes. The most prominent cause is "security" or not having a license from occupation authorities, opposing article 53 of Geneva fourth conventions:

Violating right of appropriate residing:

- Attor/Khallet Al-Ein:

- 13/4/2007: Israeli municipality of Jerusalem crashed walls of Hani Sayyad's house. Israelis have previously tore down the ceiling in 28/2/2007 for "not having a license".

- Esaweyyah-el-Koroum quarter:

Central Israeli court held a session in April 18^th 2007 to discuss appeal submitted by Azmi Taha Mustafa. He appealed against municipality order to demolish his house. Municipality issued its order in January 3^rd for the house is "illegal".

- Esaweyyah-Ber el-Wa'er:

municipality court discussed the appeal of Dawod Ali Naser against demolish order issued in January 15^th 2007. Naser's house shelters his family (9 including 5 children). Court decided in April 18^th to delay demolish to May 5^th 2007. 

- Esaweyyah:

- 11/4/2007: municipality court discussed appeal against demolishing Ezzat Famhi Obeid's house, which also contains his brother, Ahmad. The targeted house is 420 m² (120 m² for storehouses), and located near football yard. The house resides 14 individuals (10 are children), demolish order was issued in 15/11/2006, and delayed to 18/5/2007, despite many Palestinians signed a petition demands not tearing it down, or at least closing till skeletal plan is determined.

- Jerusalem-grocery markets area:

- 11/4/2007: Israeli police personnel, backed up with elite forces and dogs, invaded Fareed Tawfik Jaber's house, cut water and power, evacuated furniture, and started destroying. Jaber's attorney managed to issue a delay order (to 1/5/2007), municipality court forfeited jabber with 47,000 NIS for any utility added to house, and another one (70,000 NIS) being paid since 30 months. Jaber's house shelters 11 (6 are children), and is located east of Rockefeller gas pump.

- Mount of olives-Swanneh quarter:

Israeli municipality decided to destroy a house owned by Sami Mushasha'a (15 m²) because of "overstepping towards main street". Municipality threatened Mushasha'a to destroy his house completely and forfeiting him all costs if he did not do so. He removed the assigned "illegal" part, making the house inhabitable, thus, all residents left it in April 5^th 2007.

- Mount of olives-Attor:

- 24/4/2007: Israeli bulldozers swept a house belonged to Nawwaf Shalaldeh for not licensing. The house was 100 m², built 14 months ago, and dwelled by 8 individuals.

- Old city-Borj Allaqlaq (stork tower):

Israeli municipality insisted on leaving Palestinians cases unsolved, so as to accomplish racial plans set when Ariel Sharon leaves the office. Municipality plans to establish 30 residential units and a Jewish religious school inside the old city, a first step towards the big bang: 400 units all over Borj Allaqlaq quarter. Municipality distributed demolish orders to:

- Borj Allaqlaq community association: it received a demolish order against activities utility (for children and handicapped), which was financed by the Canadian government, and destroyed by Sharon in 26/8/1996.

- Houses of Mazen and Asa'ad Salah Sharefah: these houses are a second storey of a building constructed before 1948 (150 m²), and they dwell 11 individuals (including 7 children). Owners received demolish orders in 12/3/2007, municipality forced them to execute demolish themselves; otherwise, they will be forfeited with 50,000 NIS. Municipality have formerly drilled the ceiling in February 2006, and destroyed a 1 meter high wall.

- House of Adel Hasan Tamimi: demolish order was issued in 12/3/2007 to be carried out by owner, he previously paid 28,000 NIS fine in 1993, and another one (10,000 NIS). The house is 70 m² and shelters, its case still examined by court (delayed in 15/42007), and court will be set later.

- Naser Abdul-Kareem Gheith: he got a demolish order in 12/3/2007 against his 100 m² house. After appeal, court decided to delay execution for one year.

- Hasan Muhammad Atek: his two apartments (60 m²) contains 8 members, and he paid 3 fines (total sum is 15,000 NIS). Case still discussed before court.

No Services, No Taxes!!

Israeli municipality has prepared a timetable to collect millions of shekels as taxes chargeable on Palestinian building and estates in Jerusalem. So, the Palestinian economy in Jerusalem is about to die out, for Israeli impose endless taxes and fines, they get doubled day after day, and this leaves many Jerusalemites with no choice but leaving the city, or facing bankruptcy. Many stores in old city markets (el-Wad and Bab el-Silisileh) are shutting down, the problem is that any Palestinian lives in Jerusalem is considered in the Israeli law as a "foreigner", and he is to be expelled from the city. Killing Arab economy in Jerusalem is one of Israel means to cleanse Jerusalem ethnically, as well as demolishing houses and depriving more than 246,000 Jerusalemites from proper health care (report of Doctors Without Borders foundation).

House demolishing & land sweeping:

- Sabra market-old city:

Jewish students of "Galetsia" religious school carried out digging works beneath Sabra market, their aim was opening a hole so as to capture the whole market, which is an Islamic waqf (mortmain) and ran by Nuseibah family.

Architecture Muhammad Nuseibah said in an interwiew with ALQUDS newspaper: "it all began when the former Jerusalem mayor, Teddy Colick, offered us to reopen the market and put it to rent, and we said that non-Arabs are not to start business down here. Then, problems out broke with Jews trespassed market roof, it is adjacent Attareen market and was partially destroyed in 1927 by an earthquake. New comers ditched a hole to link the old city to Sharaf quarter (Jewish quarter). We went to court to claim our rights, and judge inspected location to view changes made: a school, a garden, and an iron bridge instead of the wooden one". Settlers gain full protection from the Israeli police, and the original owners were banned from removing any changes, but the judge decided to enable Nuseibah family from recovering their properties, and a fine will be imposed if new owners or partners emerged. Court decision was not executed, and the whole case was forgotten after judge passed away.

Settlers pretext for their works was they want to install lavatories behind the market, and police did not do any thing to stop them.

- Old city- al-Aqsa mosque's western wall:

excavations near al-Aqsa mosque continued by extremist groups and Israeli archaeology department. All are seeking for temple ruins, and focusing on Maghribi gate area, beginning from tunnel which was opened in 24/9/1996, and leads to a vast net of tunnels under the old city. Excavations are now taking place in Silwan fountain, and goes vertically (10 meters deep) to the mosque. This is meant to weaken mosque bases and endangers it in case a tremor or an explosion occurs; the mosque is literally "hanged" in vacuum.

In 23/4/2007, Israeli bulldozers began destroying the High Islamic Council near Mamillah cemetery in western Jerusalem. It was built on mortmain land 78 years ago, and forms a unique example of fine Islamic architecture.

Israelis seized the building since 1948 and considered it as "absentees properties", and it was exactly on the "green line" of 1949 truce. Israelis used the building for 59 years as the headquarters of trade and industry ministry, after that, several Israeli companies purchased it in 2003, and it eventually ended up with Jewish millionaire from the United States (20 million $ was paid for it). The new owner started in 25/4/2007 to transform the property into luxury apartments (each is 250 m² and costs 5 million $).

- Shufat:

Israeli archaeology department continued excavations in the middle of Jerusalem-Ramallah main street. Workers imbedded some sections of ruins there, and LRC documented a piece of ruins was taken and transported to an Israeli museum.

5- Assaulting towns and quarters in Jerusalem and arresting individuals:

Irruption, arrests, torture, and trials:

Israeli forces executed incursions in Palestinians quarters and homes in Jerusalem, along with arresting, torturing, and insulting Palestinians, opposing articles 83-96 of Geneva fourth conventions. Report lists the following:

- Saturday 7/4/2007: unit of monitor and documentation (JCDHR) reported apprehension of Abdullah Turkman, judge of Bethany religious court and religious appeal court member, while heading to office.

- Tuesday 10/4/2007: Israeli military court of Ofer prison camp sentenced Husam Zuhdi Shaheen (34), a Fatah leader in Jerusalem, with 20 years. Shaheen's decision was delayed 4 years; military court adjourned his case 4 times during the past month, though he was detained since 4 years. Shaheen commented that court's decision has "political stamp", for occupation and justice do not meet whatsoever. Shaheen's mother could not stand after hearing her son's sentence and passed out in court hall.

- Tuesday 17/4/2007: JCDHR researcher reported that Israeli police imposed house arrest on Luwai Fahmi Nassereddin ,25 from Bab al-Silsileh quarter in the old city. Nassereddin is not able from leaving home and banned from going to hospital, since Israelis forced him to put an electronic wristlet on his right leg. This device is connected to police headquarters, so when he tries to leave home, it sends signals to police and ends behind bars.

- Friday 20/4/2007: JCDHR informed an Israeli irruption of Bethany, east of Jerusalem. Soldiers took the following minors: Mahmoud Awad Hamdan (17), his brother Ahmad (17), Muhammad Adel Sinnawi (17), and Ahmad Radi Qatmerrah (15). All captives are students at Bethany high school, and they were moved to unknown distention.

- Saturday 21/4/2007: Israeli occupation troops broke into Qatannah, and arrested the following:

1- Majdi Isamel Shamasneh.

2- Musa'ab Saleem Shamasneh.

3- Jafar Sa'eed Fakeeh.

4- Mahmoud Muhammad Taha.

JCDHR's monitor and documentation unit knew that 4 arrested Palestinians are of Qatannah local council personnel, and they were arrested at the same night for different pretexts (statement of Isamel Tabanjah, a council employee).

- Tuesday 24/4/2007: An Israeli force (border guard and intelligence) irrupted Beit Hanina club, witnesses informed JCDHR researcher that "Israeli soldiers inspected club rooms and arrested 3 members". The same day, another Israeli force broke into club manager's house and secretary of Jerusalem's national establishments' office, Hazim Gharableh, and destroyed belongings.

- Thursday 26/4/2007: Israeli occupation forces invaded Abu Dees and held arrest campaign. JCDHR researcher reported that Israeli arrested Majdi Faouzi Khanafseh (16) and Abdullah Omar Ulayyan (16) at 12:10 a.m. both are students at Abu Dees boys schools, and they were released with bail after a week, and given a court notice in 30/7/2007. Israeli detained at the same night Hussein Jamoos, religion teacher at Abu Dees schools, for security pretexts.

- Saturday 28/4/2007: Israeli occupation forces withheld minister of local governing, Muhammad Barghothi, and his accompaniers at Bethany main street. Head of Jerusalem's local governing office, Hasan Abed Rabbu, reported that a border guard patrol intercepted minister's car while returning from Bethlehem, held him up for several hours, and then let them go.

6- Violating citizenship and family reunion right:

Israel continued applying its policy of banning families from reuniting and depriving Palestinians from citizenship rights, causing Palestinian families to disperse. Report listed the following violations:

Ekremah Sabri Travel Prevention

- Tuesday 24/4/2007: JCDHR (search, monitor, and documentation unit) reported Israeli police withheld Ekremah Sabri, head of supreme Islamic establishment, while trying to depart to Amman through Al-Karamah Bridge. Israeli pretext was "security causes", without giving further details. Sabri said: "the Israeli prevention is immoral and abusive, besides such decisions restrict Palestinians' movement, as well as Palestinian leaders".

7- Violating political & Cultural rights:

An Israeli Notice to Destroy Ansari Library in Jerusalem

- Saturday 14/4/2007: Israeli municipality of Jerusalem handed over a notice to Fahmi Ansari, owner of Jerusalem's oldest libraries, informing him of municipality intension to demolish it. Israeli municipality is paving a route for the new lightweight train, and sweeping all buildings stood in its way. The library contains thousands of scientific, historical, literary, and cultural books, many students and researchers from The West Bank and Gaza Strip get benefit from all of that. If the library vanished, this will be a great losing for culture, since it is the only place in Jerusalem which provides such cultural services.

Municipality Schools in Silwan: Narrow, Dirty, & Unventilated Shelters

- Friday 20/4/2007: Monitor and documentation unit (JCDHR) cited that students in municipality schools in Silwan suffer overcrowding at classrooms. They study at dark and airless shelters, Israeli municipality does not show any sign of care.

Essam Abbasi, a member of central parents' league of Silwan elementary schools, said: "municipality did not respect any of its promises, and did not execute court issue of building 400 schools in the city. Silwan's share is at least two (one for each genders), and one boys high school".

Abbasi added: "existed schools are dirty, and classrooms are overfilled (42-52 students in class), knowing that legal limit is 25-30".

Essam Abbasi and Ali al-Awwar referred that municipality and education department refused to give their calls any concern. Central parents' league decided to escalate struggle with the purpose of gaining their legitimate rights (proper education and healthy classrooms). The league carried out a protest strike during the last week of April 2007 to demand students' rights.

Recommendations:

Israel -after signing the political and civilian international covenant- is obliged to apply it concerning with its relations in the Palestinian occupied territories including Jerusalem. Item (2) of article (1) stated that: “Every country must commit to respect recognized rights, and to guarantee those rights for every person within its region, without discrimination due to race, color, sex, language, religion, political or non political opinions, fortune, national or social origin, or any other reason”. Israel also is committed -since it is an occupation force- to respect its commitments stated in Geneva conventions of 1949. For this, JCDHR is calling for:

1- Asking Israel (occupation force) to put an end to its violations against international and humanitarian law that are being practiced in the Palestinian territories and Jerusalem.

2- Calling upon Israel to hold the construction of the annexation wall at once, to dismantle any sectors already built, and to void all related acts, according to articles 133, 152, and 153 of the consultative resolution of Hague court, issued in 9/7/2004.

3- Calling PLA to present The Hague Court resolution before UN general assembly and Security Council, so as to put it in action.

4- Calling upon Israel to halt exiling and Hebraizing procedures against Jerusalem and its citizens, in addition to call off closure around the city, splitting families, enabling them to get-together, and ending all illegal procedures practiced against Palestinian families. Israel must not prevent Palestinians from free moving and settling in their territories, including Jerusalem.

5- Asking Israel to stop incursions into Palestinian towns, quarters, and establishments, and to allow teachers and students to get access into Jerusalem with no obstacles, never mind the arresting campaigns against civilians and officials.

6- Calling on Israel to stop excavations and construction works at Arab and Islamic historical sites in the old city, beneath and around al-Aqsa mosque, and holding plans for a Jewish synagogue adjacent to the mosque, besides ending all kinds of abuse against sacred places and worshipers in the occupied Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem.      

7-Calling on the members states that have signed on Geneva Convention to take their moral and legal responsibilities in obliging Israel to respect the convention and implement it in the occupied Palestinian territories, and in providing protection for civilians.

8- Encouraging the member states of Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal commitments stated in article 146 of special accord concerned with pursuing any person who is responsible of extreme violations (war crimes), especially Israeli officials who are blamed for such crimes against Palestinians.

9- Requesting UN Secretary General, all related international as well as local organizations, ICRC, and human rights organizations to denounce Israeli violations so as to stop them instantly.