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. This report -which covers the period from May 1^st to 31^st 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

Dari, Abu Rayyaleh, and Mustafa families noticed one month ago Israeli bulldozers shoveling lands north of "Mitsodat Adumim" military camp. Shovel work was meant to enlarge the mentioned camp, and targeted lands are of 35-40 acres. Landlords went to location trying to stop trespassing, but Israeli border guard hold them back. Police officers arrived and landlords asked to stop work, but they refused and said that court is the one orders so, then police forced them to leave. Abu Rayyaleh family appointed advocate Ameer Hasan to cognize their case, Hasan sent a note to Israeli ministry of defense inquiring for trespassing reasons, neither ministry nor any governmental reference responds.

Occupation authorities intruded 42 acres 5 years ago at "Ras Labbeed" location, which belongs to Dari and Derbas families, occupation intended then to install temporary observation tower, because of "security situation" caused by Intifada (uprising). Palestinians went Israeli Supreme Court, and it decided that this land belongs to its original owners, they have the right to pass near camp to get to their properties, and ministry of defense is to pay for short-term use (one year), as long as security conditions require so. Security for Israeli occupation was and will continue to be a permanent pretext for seizing Palestinians' properties.

Digging and shoveling work for constructing annexation wall led commercial firms to be paralyzed. Many stores closed since customers are not able to come, and so for goods transporters.

- Wednesday 2/5/2007: JCDHR's monitor and documentation unit reported that al-Makased hospital is besieged by Israeli occupation authorities. Patients and employees from The West Bank are banned altogether from reaching the hospital; medical cadres who got permissions are hindered at checkpoints. JCDHR knew that more than 15 doctors and nurses from The West Bank and Gaza Strip are prohibited from getting to workplace, besides seizing Arab medications.

4/5/2007: Israeli occupation forces installed several checkpoints scattered through different locations inside Jerusalem:

Israeli mounted these checkpoints for security reasons, some for tax collecting. Students and employees were hindered, and hundreds of vehicles stuck at road jams. Lots of cars were seized for unpaid fines.

6/5/2007: Israeli municipality personnel seized goods and vegetables from sellers at Damascus gate area. This procedure became a daily routine for the mentioned municipality, plus imposing high fines.

It seems that Israeli occupation is not satisfied with armed troops that leave Palestinians terrified (especially in Qalandia and Shufat refugees' camps), for this, dogs were added to Israeli repress menu. Israeli soldiers use dogs while breaking into houses, and they are not friendly -at least to Palestinians- at all. Many complaints submitted against such practices, but occupation authorities concerned none of them.

Many children, women, and elders faced dogs' ferocity at military checkpoint near Shufat, and Yusra Sbeih (43) from Ubaydiah is an explicit evidence for occupation brutalism, where a dog attacked her for 5-7 minutes, so the 8 children mother stayed in illness bed for 10 days. She still suffers severe psychological conditions and a hand inflammation, with no concern from Israelis' side whatsoever.

It became an everyday rehearsal for Israeli municipality in Jerusalem: fruit and vegetables sellers are chased, beaten, detained, and forfeited.

This occurred in 6/5/2007 at Damascus gate, and probably will continue to take place. Sellers used to gather at "peddlers market" established by the municipality, but it was shut, leaving peddlers with no place to work.

Israeli troops consisted of 7 vehicles accompanied with an intelligence officer invaded the town at 01:00 a.m., blocked governmental compound area, and started smashing doors with hammers. Soldiers began with a kindergarten ran by Beit Iksa charitable foundation. Troops then went to Quran association -ran by ministry of Wakf (mortmain)-, doors of local council and Beit Iksa cooperative society were dislocated, and finally ended in governmental medical clinic.

Intelligence impounded records and bills copy-books, birth certificates for town children, and other documents from Quran association. The whole operation lasted about 2 hours, and troops went out leaving establishments doors opened. Israeli officers did not ask managers to open them, but they smashed doors instead. Local council confirmed that all establishments belong to Palestinian authority, except one private clinic.

Door damage cost was estimated at 20,000 NIS, and Palestinians demanded investigation and retrieval of all confiscated documents.

Beit Dokko: Israeli occupation army invaded with firing rubber-coated bullets and tear gas grenades

Israeli military patrols broke aggressively into Beit Dokko in 22/5/2007 at 11:00 a.m., they reached down town area, 200 meters away from "Beit Dokko association for development", and clashes took place with Palestinians at once. A military vehicle flipped over by accident, and soldiers started to launch sound and tear gas grenades, especially around the mentioned association, where a female meeting with Austrian volunteer was in action, so women passed out because of gas. Another 3 military vehicles arrived to back up, soldiers detained a Palestinian taxicab, and forced driver to park in the middle of the military vehicles, making it a shield against stones. Association closed at 14:00 p.m., because of tear gas, then residents called manager Ekremah Rayyan after observing smoke going out of a window, after getting in they discovered a fire in manager's office. Fire was put off under Israeli army observation, and damages included:

This association serves about 2000 people, principally in the field of development.

26/5/2007: Jewish settlers from "Atiret Kohanim" made a hole in one of Assaraya social center's walls, starting from a building which they previously seized. When center's officials found out about settlers sneaking, they closed the hole. Settlers went to police, and officials told them they did not do any thing but preventing trespassing, so the police left. Palestinians gathered to support the center and to condemn settlers' violation.

Center's building is owned by Care project, and it was purchased in 1989 from Qawwas family. The project started as a non-profit firm in 1991, and benefits more than 500 people. It holds illiteracy courses, vocational rehabilitating, and educational awareness program for males and females. Center is recently carrying out "Read" project to help Jerusalem's children.

Continuation of excavations at Maghribi gate and strict constraints on al-Aqsa mosque

- Wednesday 9/5/2007: Israeli archaeology department intended to carry out new digging works at al-Buraq (western) wall and Maghribi gate areas, well-informed sources confirmed Israeli occupation authorities still sweeping Maghribi gate pathway, which is an integral part of al-Aqsa mosque.

- Wednesday 9/5/2007: JCDHR knew that Israeli archaeology department ceased restoration work at "Hammam el-Ein" near al-Buraq wall. This building is located in Jerusalem's old city (el-Wad road that leads to Maghribi quarter). This quarter was destroyed following 1967 war.

- Monday 28/5/2007: Israeli occupation authorities arrested sheikh Bade'a Milhem while giving a lecture near Maghribi gate, Israelis questioned him for "organizing demonstrations inside al-Aqsa mosque" and lectures he used to give. Lectures were given in al-Aqsa mosque yards under al-Aqsa foundation supervision (a 1948 territories movement). Israelis detained Milhem for few hours, and he was eventually freed after being prevented from entering the mosque or even approaching it.

Israelis lately boosted up interrogations with lecturers of the mosque; they held Husam Abu Leil, Khairi Eskandar, Asa'ad Qalaq, and Nawwar Dakkah during one week.

- Tuesday 29/5/2007: Israeli minister of the interior, Avi Dekhtir, issued an order that bans Muslims from burying their deaths at Golden gate cemetery near old city wall. This cemetery extends from Lions gate to Maghribi gate; the pretext for such order was to "protect relics" and several graves are to be swept. This order was an outcome of pressure practiced by a league called "preserving relics at temple mount"; it aims to replace Arabs of Jerusalem with Jews, and alleges that "Palestinians expanded the cemetery over an ancient area".

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

8/5/2007: Israeli municipality staff demolished at 08:30 a.m. 2 apartments of 350 m² owned by Dawod Ali Hussein Naser (54), without prior notice.

Naser stated: "I constructed those apartments back in 2005, one to accommodate my own family (11 members including 8 children), and the other to dwell my son who was about to get married. My dream to see my son in his own house was faded, even before it starts.

In August 20^th 2005, I have received a demolish notice from the municipality, the house was ready then, so I retained the advocate Hussein Ghanayyem in order to follow up my case, and I paid him 6000 $. When my family occupied the house, municipality and police came to photograph it, therefore, I went to advocate Ghanayyem. He requested 1500 $, but all what I have got then was 1000 $, every time he assured me everything is okay, and there is no need to attend court sessions. The court held in 19/9/2006, and decided to delay till 15/12/2006 to show respect for the holy month of Ramadan and Muslim holidays!? Advocate did not tell me about demolish notice and said everything is fine, after that, he told me about the demolish notice which was issued 5 months ago, and 5000 NIS must be paid to municipality for delaying demolishing the other apartment. I get mad of the advocate, retained another one (Ron Almagor), and paid him 1000 $. It turned out that Ghanayyem agreed on court decision of January 15^th 2007, and obliged with my name that he is not to appeal until February 14^th 2007. An Israeli force arrived in May 6^th, ordered us to evacuate furniture, and walked away.

In May 8^th, the whole building was brought to dust, when I objected; municipality representative told me that a 2 month delay notice (from 15/2/2007 to 15/4/2007) was sent to mentioned advocates, and both never refer to municipality ever since. I am going to sue them both for negligence and setting me up".

A huge Israeli force of border guard and elite squad proceeded to Esaweyyah from east, closed the area, and bulldozers started to run over. Israeli soldiers intently provoked residents who objected demolish, Dawod said: "when bulldozers headed, my sons were brutally treated by Israelis:

- Mother Maha Obeid (40): beaten when tried to protect her children, and was hospitalized to Hadasah medical center.

Dawod added: "my 4 sons were arrested, detention of 3 was extended. Our house was destroyed, we were assaulted and arrested, and the most distressing thing is that Israelis do not want us to say one single word".

8/5/2007: Israeli bulldozers totaled at 06:00 a.m. a building belongs to Hani Hasan Totah in Wadi el-Joz for not having a license.

Totah's wife told LRC's human rights observer: "we built our house in 1990, but the municipality crush it in 22/11/2005 (refer to LRC annual report of 2005-house demolish). Our need to a house to contain us was importunate, so we decided to rebuild it without getting a license, but the Israelis arrived in November 2006 while construction was in process, and ordered us to stop, but we went on. The family occupied the house in November 17^th 2007, however, when municipality insisted on demolishing, we donated the house to Annojom association for handicapped, hoping that will leave Israelis away. Israelis troops attacked the quarter in the early morning, evacuated handicapped, a bulldozer made the whole building disappear, and soldiers hit my husband's nephew on face and arrested him".

LRC's report for April 2007 has pointed out that municipality was planning to construct a big shopping mall and a hotel of 6 storeys in that location which includes houses, grocery market, and a fire station.

- An assault on Moauyyah Totah: beating, arresting, threatening, and opening a record:

Moauyyah Totah (28) was assaulted by an Israeli elite force. Totah was beaten in eyes and sprayed with gas, then arrested in Saladin street police station. Totah was forced to sign a document stated he has not been hit, and he was the one who attacked Israeli soldiers. Israelis made Totah to sign a 1000 NIS bail, then he was released at 12:30 p.m. Totah stated in his affidavit:

"When police asked to move cars away, I headed to mine, but officers thought I want to watch the whole thing, so an elite force personnel garbed my shirt, when I tried to look at him I got a blow in face. Another one sprayed some kind of gas, kicks were falling from all sides, and I was handcuffed and moved to police station at Saladin Street. Officers ordered me to sign a document clarified that attacker was me, not them, and threatened to start another round of kicking. I paid 1000 NIS till court sits, my brother Hani and my nephew bailed me out.

The officer who forced me to sign is short, fat, white, round head, and has black eyes".

Totah insisted he did not attack anybody: "there was a police officer called Muneer at Saladin police station witnessed the incident from the very beginning, and can verify I did hit no one".

20/5/2007: Israeli municipality tore down a building belongs to Khalaf Salim Bakheit (78). This building was barely enough for him and his two sons, Muhammad and Salim, and their families. Both sons were newly engaged, but Israelis did not let them enjoy their houses.

Bakheit said: "I have submitted an application for building license, the municipality instantly refused, I wanted to see my sons getting married, and we were 8 members in two rooms, so I decided to start building no matter what ever it takes. I received demolish notice the day house ceiling was completed, we went to municipal court which delayed demolish several times. In 9/5/2005, municipality took land title deed and did not hand it back, and the house was gone in 20/5/2007 at 08:30 a.m.".

The Israeli municipality destroyed in 20/5/2007 Ayman Musa Salama Hammad's house, as well as another one (160 m²) accommodated his mother and sister. the mother said:

"We worked so hard to save money for our own house, but bulldozers -though big- were fast to get and destroy the house. They ran over 3 walls and cut olive trees, knowing that 2/3 of house is inside skeletal chart, and license application is still being reviewed.

28/5/2007: Israelis destroyed a house belongs to Zaynab Ibraheem Kabajeh without prior notice. Kabajeh was surprised with a police force and municipality personnel breaking into her house while everybody still asleep, and ordered her to leave at once. They gave them only 3 minutes to evacuate furniture, and started execution using a large hammer. The house was of 2 rooms and dwelled by Kabajeh, a husband, and 10 children. She carried out restoration works (building a wall between kitchen and bathroom) after ceiling came down because of rain. That was Israelis pretext, as Kabajeh explained: "I did not violate municipality's rules, all what I have done was installing a metal ceiling for a room, for everyone knows that Israelis ban concrete ones inside Jerusalem's old city".

27/5/2005: Israeli troops broke into Beit Safafa and demolished Husan Ali Salman's house for not being licensed. Police personnel attacked owner and his son, in addition to owner's nephew Abdullah (15) who was protesting. The house was built one year ago, it was 100 m², and near "Gilo" settlement.

Israeli bulldozers tore down the next day Ali Mahmoud Olayyan's house (100 m² and contained 3 individuals).

Israeli occupation forces invaded Shorfat in 28/5/2007, and bulldozers started demolishing Abdul Kareem Masha'al's house for not having a license. A large part of the house was previously destroyed by municipal court order.

Chart below gives more details about number of demolished houses in Jerusalem during May 2007 by location:

location	Number of demolished houses
Esaweyyah	2
Old city	2
Sor Baher	4
Beit Safafa	2
Shorfat	1
Total	11

Jewish associations, along with 60 researchers and archaeology instructors, submitted an objection to Israeli Supreme Court against constructing "liberality museum" on a Muslim graveyard. Israeli authorities claimed the museum is to be built on a car parking.

A huge Israeli force, escorted by members of "organization department of The West Bank", invaded Walajah and destroyed a blacksmith workshop. Walajah local council deputy, Adel Atrash, reported to LRC that:

"At 08:00 a.m., an Israeli force consisted of border guard, bulldozers, and members of "The West Bank organization department of Atzion" made their way inside. They tore down a blacksmith workshop (700 m²) near al-Huda mosque owned by Muhammad Salih Abu Teen. Israelis are aiming for cleaning out this area, and handing it to settlers. Damages estimate is about 70,000 NIS.

- Tuesday 1/5/2007: Israeli occupation troops attacked a non-violent march celebrating Labor Day at Qalandia crossing point. General union for Palestine workers had organized that march, and several establishments, personalities, and PLC deputies participated. Israeli soldiers assaulted and arrested number of participants, especially Deputy Qais Abdul Karim (Abu Leila) and confederate Mahmoud Khalifah.

- Thursday 3/5/2007: JCDHR's monitor and documentation unit knew that an Israeli soldiers and settlers attacked Sabri Gharib (60) and his 3 sons Muhammad (31), Salim (27), and Masoud (24). They all belong to Beit Ijza village, north of Jerusalem, and were driven to unknown destination. Witnesses said that a quarrel took place with workers near annexation wall after plucking up a fence in order to build a new section adjacent family's house. Gharib and sons were attacked when preventing workers from trespassing.

- Tuesday 8/5/2007: Israeli troops invaded Beit Dokko north of Jerusalem, and witnesses reported Israelis broke into houses and imposed curfew. Soldiers set Beit Dokko development association on fire, shot aimlessly at houses, broke into houses, and then moved out.

- Sunday 27/5/2007: Israeli occupation forces arrested 4 Jerusalemites, and witnesses reported Israeli troops broke into Khalil Ghazzaoui's house, smashed furniture, and moved Ghazzawi to unknown distention.

Then Israeli elite forces arrested Nasser Abu So'aood -ALQUDS university instructor- from his house in Mount of Olives.

Israeli border guard invaded Shwaiki glass workshop at Nablus Street near Damascus Gate and moved owner -Amin Shwaiki from Beit Hanina- to unknown destination.

Israeli troops entered Abu Sailh Kurd's house and took him before his children's sight.

- Sunday 27/5/2007: Israeli forces invaded Beit Iksa, north of Jerusalem, dashed into some PLA foundations and took belongings. JCDHR's monitor and documentation unit reported that Israelis entered at 01:00 a.m., surrounded local council and a clinic, crashed doors, and inspected records. Israelis also broke into Beit Iksa Bus Company, witnesses said that soldiers spoiled drugs at the governmental clinic, and caused mess inside medical laboratory. Soldiers broke into a kindergarten, destroyed properties, and took some records. This kindergarten serves children who are below 6 and ran by ministry of social affairs. Qura'an association -ran by ministry of Wakf (mortmain)- was invaded by soldiers, they smashed windows, confiscated files, and left after 3 hours.

- Monday 14/5/2007: Tayseer Yaser Abdul Karim Karaki (35), taxicab driver from Beit Hanina, was murdered in Tel Aviv by two Jewish emigrants from France. JCDHR knew that killers took Karaki's cab from Damascus Gate in Jerusalem, and asked him to drive them to Tel Aviv; where they inveigled and slaughtered him in an apartment. Killers confessed that hating and grudge were their motives; Israelis said victimizers invited their victim to a cup of coffee at the apartment in Yona Hanave' street, then they cut his throat. Karaki was married and had 5 children.

- Wednesday 23/5/2007: Israeli troops invaded Abu Dees and installed a checkpoint near ALQUDS University, so traffic was hampered. Witnesses stated that soldiers attacked Ismael Abdul Karim Halabeih and tore his clothes in public, Halabeih fled after getting injured in head. He received first aid at a local clinic, and then he was hospitalized to Ramallah. Israeli soldiers apprehended Halabeih's father to make his son surrender.

- Thursday 25/52005: Guards of ministry of interior assaulted Malik Sheikh, (21) from Shufat, while trying to renew his ID. Sheikh's shoulder was dislocated after a guard punched him from behind.

- Saturday 26/5/2007: 3 young men were shot to death -two were armed-, and 2 Israelis wounded in a fire battle at Sheikh Sa'ad quarter south of Jerusalem. Shooters were Mamdooh Muhammad Shukayrat (23) and Muhammad Hussein Oyyaisat (21), and both are from Mukabber quarter, while the third one is Anas Dawoud Oyyaisat (19), and witnesses said an Israeli guard fired at him when passing by.

- Wednesday 9/5/2007: "Adalah" center and Citizen's Rights Association clarified their legal status before Israeli Supreme Court. Both foundations petitioned against dispelling PLC deputies from Jerusalem, they said that doing so violates their rights rigorously, and the Israeli law does not allow pulling back permanent residency under the pretext of "breaching honesty" or "membership in a foreign parliament"! They asserted on the special position of the Palestinians who live in Jerusalem, and they differ from emigrants. They added that Israeli minister of interior thinks he has absolute authority, and it gives him the right to void constitutional rights arbitrarily, this authority must be given to a judicial authority. These foundations summed up that the cancellation of deputies' residency forms a severe violation against basic rights, and exceeds authority's duties of acting honestly and with a good intent.

- Friday 11/5/2007: Yadiout Aharonot newspaper unveiled an Israeli plan being prepared by Olmert's office in order to strengthen Jewish majority inside Jerusalem. This plan costs 650 million NIS, and it was done by prime minister and ministry of financials. It was meant to be announced during celebrating the 40^th anniversary for uniting Jerusalem, it includes moving ministries headquarters from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem -except for ministry of defense- during the next 8 years, along with thousands of Israelis, and offering Israeli businessmen huge privileges to urge them to invest in Jerusalem and allocate budgets for the development of Atarot (Qalandia) industrial zone.

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.