Israeli Violations in Jerusalem

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 1-28 February 2007- CCDPRJ in cooperation with Jerusalem Center for Democracy & Human Rights (JCDHR) and Land Research Center (LRC) monitor 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

- Dahyiat al-Bareed: Israeli ministry of defense tightened blockade around Jerusalem by going along with annexation wall, to split the holy city from Ramallah (between Al-Eman School and a military camp south of Dahyiat al-Bareed). Israelis placed the final concrete barrier in 19/2/2007 on street side facing Welfare Association, only 250m remain before isolation completed from north, north western, and north eastern sides.

- Ber Nabala: Israeli civil administration handed Ber Nabala local council a demolishing order in 6/2/2007, the order includes all buildings and fences along 7 acres west of Atarot industrial zone, and 250m north of Taj Mahal hall.

- Ber Nabala-Beddu: Israeli ministry of defense paved a road connects Ber Nabala with Beddu, an alternative road instead of the one disabled by annexation wall, and linked Jerusalem’s north and north western villages.

- Shufa’at: Israeli archaeology authority launched excavation and sweeping works in the middle of Jerusalem-Ramallah main street (from Abu Jebneh gas station to Qaymari auto show). Works began on February 2007 and for the third time in the past ten years, searching for ruins. Previous excavations led to discover “the origins of a Romanian city that is 1800 years old", according to an Israeli archaeologist.

- Silwan-Rababah valley: Israeli bulldozers swept Palestinian lands belong to Sheikh, Dajani, and Tamimi families in Rababah valley-Silwan, in order to search for ancient ruins. El-Ad settling group carried out that abuse to construct a new quarter on seized lands near Silawn-Touri and Jorat Al-Ennab crossroads. Lands area is 9 acres, and Abu Sneineh quarter -founded before 1967 and contains 400 people- lacks services such as roads, trash containers, and a school, despite residents pay “Arnona" tax. The Israeli municipality did the same in "Borj Allaqlaq" (stork tower) inside the old city, and dug a tunnel between Silwan fountains to Alqsa mosque. El-Ad funded the new police headquarters south of Abu George street, to be an alternative for headquarters in Ras Al-Amoud, which is to be handed over to the settling group.

Jerusalem city is considered - according to international law and standards- an occupied region, not an Israeli dominancy, as per the Geneva Conventions which state that no occupation authorities shall evict citizens from their homeland. Israel denies all of this and has resumed ethnic cleansing against the Jerusalemites. This report lists following abuses:

This barrier was installed at the road that links Ramallah to Jerusalem’s north western villages (Ramallah-Rafat-Qalandia-Jadeireh-Ber Nabala-Al_Jeeb), and it is meant to replace the old Jerusalem-Arram-Ber Nabala road. This barrier exemplifies another act of suffering and insulting, and makes any travel extends to 1 hour instead of 15 minutes, according to soldiers mood and given orders. Israeli occupation army started during the third week of February 2007 to arrange the location at the end of Al-Jeeb main street, and set up a gate exactly at Betunya-Nabi Samuel crossroads.

- Ber Nabala: Israeli occupation forces broke into Ber Nabala local council in 4/2/2007 at 01:00 a.m., soldiers smashed main door and inner doors, took all files and documents, and left after causing damage.

- Al-Jeeb: Israeli occupation forces obtruded Zakat (poor aid) league in 4/2/2007 at 01:00 a.m., leaving it havocked. It helps poor families and orphans in 6 villages isolated by annexation wall (35000 people).

Israeli assaults against sacred places (excavations beneath Alaqsa mosque and building a synagogue), worshipers in Jerusalem, and the rest of Palestinian territories form serious violations against the freedom of worship guaranteed by international law and human rights declaration, they also counteract article 53 from Geneva first protocol of 1977, which prohibited hostile actions against worshipping places, nations' spiritual and cultural heritage, international court basic system of 1998 (item 8-article B) recognizes intended assaults at religious sites as a war crime. Report listed the following violations:

- Friday 2/2/2007: Israeli occupation forces restrained worshipers’ entry to Alaqsa mosque so as to prohibit any demonstrations against excavations near Maghribi gate in the old city. Only those who exceed 45 were allowed to get in.

- Sunday 4/2/2007: Israeli police held back free entry to Alaqsa mosque to put down any protest acts against excavations near Maghribi gate. Jerusalem was turned to a huge military gathering, media were banned inside the old city, along with hundreds of Palestinians. Photographer Ahmad Jalajel said: “police forces prevented me from taking pictures, Israelis want to conceal their violations inside the mosque”.

- Monday 5/2/2007: Israeli forces imposed strict procedures on Jerusalem and blocked all entrances. Soldiers fired live bullets and tear gas towards Palestinians, so 10 were wounded -among them head of Alaqsa guards Mohammad Ismael Abu Turk-, others were arrested. Israelis hindered ambulances arrived to evacuate casualties.

Mohammad Rukun -eyewitness- said: "police officers and settlers fired at Palestinians without a reason and some young men were arrested and assaulted with batons, one of them is Sameer Alami (24) from Swaneh quarter (Mount of Olives)”. Alaqsa clinic informed our researchers that “more than 80 were treated in the field”.

- Tuesday 6/2/2007: Israeli bulldozers started sweeping parts of Maghribi hill near old city wall, while Israeli soldiers closed old city gates and moved Waqf and supreme Islamic league officials away. Israelis attacked Raed Salah, head of Islamic movement in territories occupied in 1948, and forced him to back away, and then he was arrested for couple of hours. Jerusalemites were banned from reaching the old city, and barriers around Jerusalem were blocked (Qalandia, Hezma, and Azza'ayyem), special forces arrested 11 young men at Saladin and Sultan Suleiman streets during a demonstration, and attacked Omar Muhaysen (from Shufat refugees camp), therefore, he was hospitalized.

- Wednesday 7/2/2007: Israeli bulldozers resumed sweeping and demolishing, and the target was 2 rooms adjacent Alaqsa western wall. Works were extensive than the previous day, and Israelis arrested Raed Salah, he was forced to stay away from the old city no less than 150m by a court issue, plus a fine of 3000 NIS. Israeli police banned Waqf employees, teachers, and students from getting into Alaqsa for the second day (3 schools inside Alaqsa: a religious high school for girls, Alaqsa high school, and Alaqsa Islamic kindergarten, which serve 500 students).

- Friday 9/2/2007: Israelis turned Jerusalem into a war field, stopped Palestinians, and limited worshipers’ categories (above 45, Israeli ID holders, and Palestinians from territories occupied in 1948). Ezzat Usaylleh (38) reported to our researcher that: “he could not enter despite he has an Israeli ID”.

Israeli occupation forces closed Qalandia checkpoint north of Jerusalem, and fired tear gas to disperse the Palestinians who tried to cross it. Israeli bulldozers continued works at Maghribi gate faster than before and persistently, and Israeli soldiers irrupted Alaqsa mosque under a cover of tear gas and sound shells, many were carried to Alaqsa clinic, and moving causalities by ambulances was impossible. Elders and women were asphyxiated by tear gas, among them Yousra Rajabi. Israeli police spokesman declared that 17 were captured and moved to Maskoubiah detention center in Jerusalem, and 11 were wounded, including 2 paramedics, an ambulance belong to Red Crescent got a bullet, sound shell, and a rubber-coated metal bullet in the windshield, causing injuries to driver Naeem Anees Masalmeh and paramedic Bassam Muraish.

- Friday 16/2/2007: Palestinians movement in Jerusalem was paralyzed because of hard constraints imposed on Alaqsa mosque, police announced that men under 50 and women under 40 are not to enter. Israeli soldiers positioned at Qalandia checkpoint fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas at the Palestinians. 5 arrests were reported at Saladin and Sultan Suleiman streets, and one Palestinian spotted bleeding from nose after beaten by police officers. Israeli police detained 179 Jerusalemites because of participating in protests on Friday; children under 10 were released after assaulting and forcing their parents to pay a high fine if they got close to Alaqsa mosque again, so number of Palestinians banned from getting Alaqsa went up to 420.

- Sunday 18/2/2007: Hundreds of Palestinians who live in territories occupied in 1948 were stopped and prohibited from getting close to excavation site at Maghribi gate to demonstrate, whereas Jewish groups (as well as El-Ad) announced they are going to gather to support excavations and establishing their alleged temple in Alaqsa area.

Head of Islamic movement, Raed Salah, continued encamping around Alaqsa after a judicial call was released to ban him from entering the old city for 60 days, while head of Palestine judges, Tayser Tamimi, was trialed for “incitement and entering Jerusalem without permission”. A further development was published by “Yadeot Aharonot” newspaper, it reported that Israeli officials hid a praying room belongs to Ayyoubian era, this room was discovered when part of Maghribi hill collapsed in 2004, Israeli archaeologists did excavations there, and the paper confirmed that the whole issue remained confidential so Muslims could not consider it a sacred place.

- Thursday 22/2/2007: Israeli security agencies questioned Raed Salah for provoking “violence”, and police cavalry aggressively attacked tens of women throughout a female rally (1500 from Jerusalem and territories occupied in 1948) to support Alaqsa mosque and Raed Salah. Isra’a Owayydeh said: “special forces prevented us from reaching old city gates for security reasons”.

- Friday 23/2/2007: A strict Israeli closure around Jerusalem, especially the old city, 18 protestors and 2 paramedics were injured near Qalandia checkpoint while protesting banning Palestinians from entering Jerusalem for the fourth week respectively.

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

Israeli municipality of Jerusalem managed to issue a call from municipal court that cancels all building licenses given by local league of organization and building, including inhabited, new, and under construction houses. The pretext was licenses issued according to falsified information, or wrong building lines, advocate Muhannad Jobarah confirmed in an interview with ALQUDS newspaper (11/2/2007) that the Israeli law of building and organization set specified conditions to cancel a license:

1- The municipality must cancel the license within 15 days, starting from finding a fault.

2- The municipality must inform license holder of cancellation and take his reply into consideration.

3- License can not be void if license holder starts constructing (extremely important).

- Al-Tor/Shayyah: Fahmi Abu Sneineh said that the Israeli league of building and organization rejected on February 2007 the skeletal chart served 50 families submitted by Abu Sneineh and others, so as to convert its description from Jewish cemeteries to residential area.

- Silwan-Ellozaeh quarter: The Israeli municipal forfeited Khalil Namer Abbasi by a fine of 60000 NIS, in order to delay house demolition under the condition of getting a license. The house area is 230m² and occupied by his family (9 including 4 children).

- Al-Mukabber-Sala’a quarter: The Israeli municipal forfeited Yahya Ahmad Za’atreh by a number of fines for a building constructed in 1999. The first fine paid in 2000 and the last in 2006 (10000 NIS), plus 4 months in custody. Za’atreh family is of 5 members (3 children), he is jobless and did a surgery, the mother suffers from kidney failure, and the oldest son (12) is disabled.

- Al-Jeeb: 3 houses are to be tore down because they are located on the path of the alternative road (Ber Nabala-Al-Jeeb-Beddu), the houses are north of Nabi Samuel, and they are shelters for 3 families (27 people including 17 children):

1- Ibrahim Ahmad Abu Dahouk: 3 residential barracks and 2 barracks for livestock.

3- Amenah Khamis Abu Dahouk: 1 residential barrack and 2 barracks for livestock.

LRC researcher assured on a field visit (17/2/2007) that all families are now living under the fear of house destruction, and the Israeli military governor said he warned them to evacuate before 1 year.

- Esaweyyah: Israeli municipal court decided in 15/1/2007 to demolish 2 buildings belong to Azmi Taha and Daowd Ali Naser within a month.

- Umm Allahm: Israeli occupation forces destroyed in 21/2/2007 a house owned by Hani Mohammad Ibrahim Mohammad Saleh. The house was of 1 storey (230m²) and occupied by 7 members. This is the fifth property owned by sons of Mohammad Ibrahim Mohammad Saleh destroyed this month in the same village.

- Bethany-Jahaleen: The Israeli bulldozers hit in 6/2/2007 2 metal barracks (100m²) in the area between Ma’alee Adumim and Kedar settlements, they belong to Omar Mohammad Sarayya’a and houses 7 members.

- Al-Tor/Hardoob: Israeli bulldozers totaled in 28/2/2007 a residential building located on a hill facing Zayton crossing point. It was of 3 storeys and 16 apartments (960m²-every flat is 60m²), and the pretext was “not having a license”. The building was owned by Ibrahim Abdul-Rahim Ananti, then he sold it to families, some were living in and the others have their furniture there. Building residents were about 100 people.

- Al-Tor/Khallet Al-Ein: The same day Anati’s building was destroyed, bulldozers moved to Khallet Al-Ein near Augusta Victoria hospital and tore down Hani Salim Sayyad’s house. The house was of 2 storeys and accommodated his wife and 6 children. It was finished on November 2006.

Location	Number of houses
Umm Allahm	1
Bethany	2
Al-Tor	18
Total	21

Israeli forces executed incursions in Palestinians quarters and homes in Jerusalem, along with arresting, torturing, and insulting more than 200 Palestinians, opposing articles 83-96 of Geneva fourth conventions. Report lists the following:

- Friday 2/2/2007: Israeli intelligence and border guard irrupted Abu Dees at 02:00 a.m. and arrested Mohammad Jamal Rabei (19), Ma’amon Ibrahim Bader (18), and Thaer Ali Waheish (18).

- Monday 5/2/2007: Israeli military court of Ofer postponed the case of two PLC deputies (D.Ibrahim Abu Salim and Mohammad Abu Jehesheh) to March 6^th in order to listen to attorney witnesses. Deputy Totah was arrested in January 29^th while returning from Jordan.

- Thursday 8/2/2007: Israeli occupation forces arrested Farouk Mohammad Ali Halabeih (19) from Abu Dees.

- Sunday 11/2/2007: Israeli occupation forces arrested 5 children (Ala’a Mahdi, Mohammad Abu Eid, Ma’arouf Samarah, Ahmad Ziab, and Raed Abu Eid) from Beddu (north of Jerusalem). They were captured during a non-violent demonstration against annexation wall, children ages range between 10 and 12.

- Wednesday 14/2/2007: An arrest campaign was carried out at dawn in the old city to capture 42 youths and children (10-17). Israeli police said it arrested 20 Palestinians participated in clashes all over Jerusalem streets to protest excavation works at Maghribi gate, police spokesman clarified that 90 Palestinians were held.

Israeli occupation forces continued to violate Palestinians' right of living and personal safety, against additional protocols of 1977, annexed to Geneva fourth conventions (article 48 of the first protocol) and article 13 of the second protocol, that emphasized respecting right of living. The report filed following violations:

- Thursday 1/2/2007: Taha Mohammad Sobhi Aljawi (17) from Bab Hutta-old city was killed near Qalandia checkpoint north of Jerusalem. An Israeli soldier shot him and bled to death.

- Monday 12/2/2007: Jamel Jamal Masha’al (49) -a blind- injured seriously in head by a tear gas shell while being in home in Ras A-Amoud.

- Wednesday 14/2/2007: An Israeli force broke into Abu Dees boy school without reason and attacked students with batons and guns. 5 got traumas and arm fractions: Ahmad Khalid Muhsen (12), Abdul-Raheem Ahmad Halabeih (14), Ahamd Mohammad Mahmoud Sa’ayreh (14), Mohammad Qasim Rabei (15), and Ali Yousif Bader (14).

- Friday 23/2/2007: Photographer Mohammad Ouayysat (30) was wounded in his left leg by shrapnel of a sound shell. Ouayysat works for Associated Press agency.

- Saturday 24/2/2007: Yousra Mohammad Abdul-Rahman Rajabi (60) from Beit Hanina died in Al-Makased hospital. Rajabi was injured badly in the head when an Israeli soldier slammed her while trying to free a young Palestinian arrested by Israelis in 9/2/2007. A witness informed our researcher that attack took place near Dome of the Rock mosque, and "Rajabi tried to prevent a Palestinian from being arrested, a soldier hit her on the head, and moved to Alaqsa clinic”. She was hospitalized the following day unconsciously to the intensive care unit; doctors could not do any surgery because of bad health condition. She did not show any progress till passing out.

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:

- Wednesday 14/2/2007: Ha’ratz newspaper said that Israelis are asked to show a passport or traveling permission (lasses` passé) at Eretz crossing point in Gaza, and these procedures are valid starting from February 1^st, so Gaza Strip is not officially considered as an occupied territory. Jerusalemites and Arabs in Israel who have relatives in Gaza are to affected more than anybody else, and there are 800-1000 lady in Jerusalem married to Gaza residents. They were previously used to leave their IDs at Eretz crossing point, but they are now asked to leave them at interior ministry in Jerusalem for getting a lasses` passé. Moreover, a preceding coordinating with Israeli civil administration is an obligatory -plus passport and traveling permission- to arrive and depart.

- Wednesday 28/2/2007: Israeli authorities shut down the Commodore hotel in the Mount of Olives, banning a press conference for religious personalities (Muslims and Christians), where a document named “Bond & Covenant” was supposed to be signed. That covenant stated preserving Jerusalem, Alqsa mosque, and all sacred sites in the holy city. Religious men then turned to the Ambassador Hotel in order to do the conference there, but Israeli police and intelligence broke into the hotel and handed the administration a ban order issued by the general commissioner of Israeli police, so the conference was carried out at hotel entrance.

Israel is committed -since it is an occupation force- to respect its commitments stated in Geneva conventions of 1949 about protecting civilians. For this, CCDPRJ 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 Alaqsa 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.