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 between 1-31 January 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 Confiscating lands:

Settlement of “Rekes Sh’ufat” continued expanding during January 2007, causing land destruction around its western and northern plains, along with building fences in order to add new apartments. Settlement of “Rekes Sh’ufat” was built with support of religious Canadian Jews in 1990 on Palestinian lands from Sh’ufat and Lifta villages, its area is 1500 dunums and includes 2200 units (15200 settlers).

Israeli ministry of defense rejected in January 21^st 2007 Palestinians objection against building annexation wall in Abu Dees, which isolates 500 dunums.

As an alternative, the ministry installed number of units to the south eastern side of “Beit Orot” settlement in January 2007, the settlement caused seizing of a house and lands belong to Sbaitan family from the Mount of Olives.

Israeli government declared on the second week of January 2007 invitations for bids to construct 44 residential units in Ma’alee Adumim settlement, which was built on lands of Abu Dees, Bethany, Sawahreh, and Esaweyyah.

Jewish settling group “Ateret Kohanim” revealed in January 18^th 2007 that it issued a building permission to establish 300 units in Ras al-Amood-Silwan quarter, in the former police headquarters. This group claimed it is attempting to get 300 permissions to build on the west side of annexation wall, at She’ab al-Ennab and north to Qunbar quarter.

Religious settlers living in Sheikh Jarrah quarter, and visitors of the so-called Shimon cave located in Sulaiman Hejazi property, tried to peel off a fence around “Jorat al-Amyah” grove, which belongs to several families (Odeh, Khalaf, and Qasim from Lifta-Jarallah, Kamal Obaidat, and Salim Masur).

Annexation wall:             

Israeli occupation -ministry of defense- was continuing the construction of annexation wall around Jerusalem during January 2007, and particularly in the remaining sectors (the northern one that links Jerusalem-Ramallah road to the finished sector in Dahyiat al-Bareed), a 400 m sector that isolates 70000 Jerusalemites from their home city, and brings financial and educational disrupt in more than 20 schools in Arram and Dahyiat al-Bareed.

The Israeli ministry of defense and the Israeli high court rejected an appeal on January 2007 from Palestinians from Anata against building part of the wall on its lands.

Demolishing and sweeping:

Israeli municipality of Jerusalem completed a road links between Esaweyyah street and the French hill quarter from one side, and the road junction to the north eastern side of Hayyat hotel (500 m long) on the other side, that happened in the first week of January 2007, and that road is meant to serve outpost installed by the Hebrew University on 50 dunums of Palestinian lands, to be a “village for students” in October 2007. the Israeli municipality paved a road through lands belong to al-Walaja (1000 m) to be used in the construction works of a new settlement contains 13500 units, this happened after confiscating 2500 dunums and annexing them within municipality boundaries. Most of built-up area in Walaja was previously considered as “C” area, which means it is completely subject to Israeli control, leaving 2/3 of village buildings threatened with destruction. The Israeli occupation demolished 18 houses, and the Israeli high court issued in 1/2004 a verdict to destroy another 29 houses, the Israeli occupation army swept in 30/1/2007 hundreds of trees in an arboretum belongs to Sofian Muhammad Yousif near Giva’at Zeiv settlement (located on several dunums of al-Jeeb lands), Israeli bulldozers tore down supplemental buildings in the arboretum (storehouses, barracks).

2- Closures on Jerusalem and ethnic disinfection against Jerusalemites

Israel continued imposing strict closure on Jerusalem, as well as ethnic cleansing against the Jerusalemites. Occupation forces installed many barriers (fixed and mobile) on roads lead to the holy city, especially in Qalandia, Beit Hanina, and Sh’ufat refugees’ camp, and used dogs to inspect children, and little students, hindering free movement and increasing suffering.

- Sunday 21/1/2007: Many Palestinians who get their telephone services from Bezek Telecommunication Company complained the extremely rude and aggressive behavior they have been faced by security guards at company office (near police station inside postal authority compound in Saladin Street). Jerusalemites pile up down the street waiting to enter, and they were prevented because of overcrowding inside the office.

Shutting down and breaking into Palestinian establishments:

Here we list most new abuses against Palestinian establishments, it must be noted that there are an already closed ones, and closing orders are regularly renewed (every 6 months) such as: The Orient House, captive foundation, charitable associations union, land research center office…….

Throughout the second week of January 2007, Israeli police and border guard broke into Islamic orphans’ school, and stopped a ceremony held by Dar al-Quran to celebrate pilgrims.

Israeli police forces, accompanied by intelligence officers, invaded nursing faculty (run by Maqasid charitable hospital) in 22/1/2007. Troops surrounded faculty in order to ban a festival to celebrate Fatah 48^th anniversary, officers pictured ceremony hall and posters, and took some Fatah leaders for questioning, together with number of hospital employees.

Occupation authorities used to violates establishments’ rights in Jerusalem (invasions-ravishing-closing), Israelis always applied -since occupation of 1967- close orders of British mandate, and these orders renew along years, some shut establishments and buildings utterly. More than 80 foundations were closed since the outbreak of the second Intifada (uprising) under several pretexts: security, general interest, defending public, relations with PLO and PNA……etc

3- Violations of religious holy places and worshippers freedom            Digging tunnels and destroying historical Islamic buildings, and establishing a Jewish synagogue near al-Aqsa mosque:

- Tuesday 10/1/2007: Acquainted Palestinian sources revealed a severe tunnel under al-Aqsa mosque underpinnings, making the mosque too vulnerable. Working under the mosque began from al-Wad alley towards al-Aqsa gates, sources confirmed that digging is very deep (25 m), and width of 40 m towards al-Mathara gate, and the Israeli completed a synagogue in Hammam al-Ein area (al-Wad alley), 50 m away from al-Aqsa mosque. Digging is carried under the supervision of “Ateret Kohanim” settling group, in cooperation with Israeli archaeology department, with full support from the Israeli government.   

- Tuesday 16/1/2007: Bulldozers of Israeli archaeology department continued working in al-Buraq square, digging covered a wide area (eliminating Arab and Islamic buildings) and extracting tons of dirt by heavy-duty lorries. This area was considered until 1967 a main part of Mughrabis quarter, which encloses tens of ancient and valuable buildings.     

- Wednesday 17/1/2007: Israeli occupation authorities decided to sue D. Tayseer Rajab Tamimi, head of Palestine judges, on Thursday, and the charge was entering Jerusalem without a permission and provocation against Israeli occupation. D. Tamimi informed JCDHR that court was assigned in 18/2/2007.     

- Wednesday 24/1/2007: Israeli companies marketed bottles of wine with dome of the rock image printed all over them, thing that provoked Muslims.

- Sunday 25/1/2007: Digging works carried by “El-A’d” Jewish association -and in cooperation with Israeli archaeology department- 10 m deep underground in Silwan, the place that Israel calls “David city”. Workings head northward to al-Aqsa mosque, al-Buraq wall, and old city walls. Workings supervisors alleged they lately found a wide route consists of stairs go from south to north, and this route belongs to second temple era, there are hatches discovered on route sides and have not been studied yet, but Israeli archeologists gather ruins they can find like stones and ancient coins from 73-77 B.C.            

4- Demolishing and seizing houses, rejecting constructing permissions, and violating housing right Violating right of appropriate residing:

Besides destroying Palestinian infrastructure in Jerusalem, Israeli municipality carried out a terrorizing media campaign so as to drive Jerusalemites away from practicing their right of an appropriate reside that offers dignity, shelter, privacy, and security.

The municipality published in newspapers and on the internet its “complicated” procedures to get building license, as an Israeli judge described.

Those procedures include imposing a series of punishments such as: aerial photographing, seizing building equipments (electrical generators-concrete carriers), jailing, and others. One of those procedures is publishing photographs of buildings with owners’ names in Arab newspapers, warning Palestinians from purchasing or renting them for they are “illegal”. LRC researchers documented the following cases:

1- Evacuating and demolishing house of Kazim Abdullah in Khallat el-Ein quarter (Mount of Olives) in 15/1/2007, which housed 12 members. Bulldozers crushed part of the furniture, and destroyed a barrack and 30 trees. In 16/1/2007, Israeli bulldozers tore down Bassim Siam’s house in al-Abbasyyah quarter (Abu Tur).

2- 16/1/2007: Israeli bulldozers destroyed a house owned by Muhammad Mahmoud Ahmad Abbasi in Swaih quarter (Silwan) without prior notice. The house was 135m².

3- 22/1/2007: a 4 storey building was demolished at 10:30 am, it was owned by Muhammad Hammad A’amas, and consisted of 8 apartments housed his sons families.

21/1/2007: The Israeli municipality forced Arrazem family to wreck their own 2 storey house that was built in Qaddom valley, facing the fear of destroying their remaining ground floor that contains family house.

There were other cases at numerous location in Jerusalem met the same ending, so as not to be destroyed by the municipality or throwing the owner behind bars. Cases were demolition was delayed are:

Ali Abu Sneineh family paid 50000 NIS-Abu Ghaliah family paid 40000 NIS, but the house was destroyed in the same month-Karshan family and Ja’abari family (both in the Mount of Olives)-Khalid al-Basha family in Bethany.

4- 23/1/2007: Israelis demolished Jamal Taweel’s house in eastern Sawahreh for the second time. Taweel built his house 3 years ago to be a shelter for his 9 members family, the Israeli municipality previously destroyed a house belonged to the same family in Sha’ab al-Ennab (east to Silwan) in 1999.

5- 23/1/2007: the Israeli municipality destructed Amer Abu Zeab’s house in eastern Sawahreh (built 3 years ago to house a family of 8 members). Israelis destroyed houses of  Abu Zeab and his neighbor Taweel, even they have not ceiled them with concrete so as to not been destroyed.

6- 23/1/2007: Israeli forces tore down Majed Essa Barakat’s house in Nabi Samuel (North West to Jerusalem); the house was 40m² with 2 rooms.

7- 30/1/2007: another massacre committed by Israeli municipality against Palestinian houses, when it destroyed a house owned by Ghadeer Abu Ghalyyeh, even after paying a fine of 40000 NIS to holdup demolishing, but the municipality tore down part of the house (70 m²) in 15/12/2007.

8- 30/1/2007: Israeli civil administration of The West Bank demolished 2 houses; one belonged to Muhammad Ahmad Heresh and the other to his son Ahmad, both houses were 300 m² and resided 26 members. Most of furniture was smashed, and owners were beaten and insulted.

9- 30/1/2007: 2 houses, a warehouse, and a wall in Ras el-Ayyazreh owned by Na’eem and Khalil Qatmereh were totaled by Israeli military governance. The same governance tore down in 28/1/2007 a house under construction belonged to Abu Zaheryyah family in Tabel quarter (Beit Hanina). Israeli army bulldozers crushed another house under construction in 30/1/2007 in the very quarter owned by Nayyef Shwaiki.

5- Imposing taxes and seizing properties:

- Friday 13/1/2007: Israeli tax departments carried out a huge campaign at dawn in the Mount of Olives, mostly in the main streets, with police and border guard protection, causing traffic jams in this area that is full of schools.

- Monday 15/1/2007: Israeli soldiers stopped Palestinians for ID inspection and installed sudden barriers in Sheikh Jarrah, Beit Hanina, and near Dahyiat al-Bareed checkpoint. Soldiers detained workers and Palestinians headed to hospitals for not having permissions.

Soldiers installed ambushes to catch Palestinian workers who do not have permissions in Nussaibah quarter (near Dahyiat al-Bareed checkpoint).

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

- Tuesday 2/1/2007: Israeli occupation forces arrested Muhammad Mustafa Erikat (15) from Abu Dees and moved him to unknown destination.

- Wednesday 3/1/2007: Israeli occupation forces arrested Ameer Abu Kaf from Sor Baher.

- Thursday 4/1/2007: Israeli occupation forces broke into Bethany and arrested Musa Dawood Matar, Yaseen Hasan Matar, and Bahjat Saker Nasrallah.

- Tuesday 9/1/2007: Israeli border guard and intelligence officers attacked Bethany, broke into Ahmad Muhammad Arameen’s house, and arrested his son Ala’ (25). Israeli forces attacked Abu Dees the same day and arrested Muntaser Talal Dandan (16), his cousin Ahmad Jameel Dandan (16), and Sameh Ali Rabei (17). Detention place and reason still unknown.

- Friday 12/1/2007: Ofer military court imposed a sentence of 16 months and 3 years (paused), and a fine of 1000 NIS on Abdullah Jawdat Bassah (17) from Bethany.

- Wednesday 17/1/2007: Israeli occupation forces arrested Ibrahim Saleem Khanafseh (18) from Abu Dees and moved him to unknown destination.

- Thursday 18/1/2007: Israeli occupation forces arrested 5 Palestinians from Bethany: Rasmi Ali Asmar (29), his brother Sami (28), Fayez Saleh Motair (40), Haj Ali Asmar (45), and Raed Fayez Saleh Motair (28). They were all moved to unknown destination.

- Friday 19/1/2007: Sofian Ezzat Abed Rabei (17) from Abu Dees was arrested after Israeli troops invaded at night.

- Wednesday 24/1/2007: Israeli police arrested Lowai Musa Hodaib (16) from his house in el-Wad alley (old city), and Israelis arrested Adul-aziz Ibrahim Deek (17) from Abu Dees the same day.

- Thursday 25/1/2007: Israeli forces arrested Ammar Yousif Rabei (18) from Abu Dees.

- Wednesday 31/1/2007: Israeli forces attacked Abu Dees and arrested Thaer Ali Ahmad Halabiah (18) and Nidal Ahmad Bader after assaulting houses, and moved to unknown destination.  

7- Violating right of live and attacking individuals:

- Thursday 11/1/2007: Israeli troops withheld Palestinians at Beit Eksa barrier, preventing them from reaching universities and workplaces. 

- Wednesday 17/1/2007: Abeer Bassam Arameen (10) from Dahyiat Assalam (Anata) was dead because of serious wounds since Monday 15/1/2007. Our researcher took an affidavit from Arameen’s father clarifying incident circumstances: “Last Monday at 9 am, clashes outburst between Israeli border guard and demonstrators near Dahyiat Assalam. Abeer, sixth grade student, went out of school with friends to a nearby grocery to buy candies, Israeli soldiers launched rubber-coated bullets and tear gas grenades to dispel demonstrators, a soldier fired a sound grenade exploded near Abeer, causing severe bleed in the head. Witnesses confirmed that detonation threw the little child away, and doctors at Hadassah hospital could not do anything but declaring death because of a skull fraction. Abeer’s father said he submitted a complaint to Beres peace center against soldiers whom killed his daughter, he is a member in “fighters for peace” movement.

- Wednesday 24/1/2007: 3 settlers kidnapped Ra’afat Sameh Khateeb (16) from Hezma and attacked him with fists and knifes before releasing him. Khateeb was on his way to visit a relative; settlers drove him to a spot near Ma’alee Adumim settlement. After the attack, they left him unconscious near Hezma lately at nigh.              

8- 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:

- Tuesday 19/1/2007: Israeli Knesset extended implementation of “reunion ban” act for another 3 months. Knesset adopted that act with majority of 36 votes against 12 for the 4^th time, so as to prevent families from Jerusalem from reunite with members from The West Bank and Gaza strip. This act is to be expired that midnight.           

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 occupation authorities to bring violations against the sacred places and worshippers to an end, and to allow worshippers to make their way to their holy places without preclusions.

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.

Appendixes

(1)

Demolished houses in Jerusalem during January 2007 (by location)

(2)

Names of arrested Palestinians from Jerusalem directorate during January 2007