- 10 mrt 2012
Settlers open fire at Silwan students, injured taken to hospital
Israeli settlers opened fire on a Palestinian bus carrying the Silwan University Students League home from a trip to the West Bank on 10 March.
Amongst the injured were four students hurt by shattering glass windows hit with live ammunition. They were taken to Al-Maqased Hospital along with three suffering from shock and trauma.
As news spread, parents in Silwan began to flock to the hospital to see if their children were amongst the injured.
The Students League and Fatah political party issued a statement condemning the settlers’ criminal act and Israeli authorities’ complicity.
http://silwanic.net/?p=25287 19 mar 2012, 00:51 , Respect -
Maria 12 mrt 2012
Follow up on the situation in Silwan which continues to stay tense.
Arrests
Between Sunday the 4th of March up to Sunday 11th of March 2012, within a time frame of only 1 week a total of 16 minors were arrested.
5 of the children who were arrested during the week (mentioned in the last communication) and should have had their Court hearing on Friday the 9th of March 2012 were in custody however till today the 12th of March Monday, since their hearing was postponed.
This means the children were in jail for a whole week. Age range: 13 – 16 yrs. Today, Monday the 12th of March 2012 only one 13 year old boy was released after the Court hearing, the parents had to pay 3000NIS bailout fee.
The other 4 boys are waiting for a Court hearing which is scheduled for the 15th of March, Thursday. Accusation: involvement in stone throwing and/or preparing of Molotov cocktails.
Search of children
The Israeli Police investigated and searched children and their bags coming from school on a 2nd occasion on Sunday 11th of March 2012.
Arrest of a teacher on school premises
Today, Monday the 12th of March 2012, a teacher from the Silwan School in Ras Al Amud was arrested by Police Forces from inside the school. The director suggested bringing the teacher personally to the police station as to prevent the children from being exposed to this massive force and being scared as a consequence. The police refused.
They entered the building and took the teacher without any further explanation. This is the 1st time that Police took a teacher from inside of a school which is under the Authority of the Jerusalem Municipality.
When contacting the police after the about where about of the teacher and allegations, the police refused to share information and stated the teacher was already released. The spouse of the teacher however confirmed, that her husband did not come home yet and she was not able to reach him yet.
Parking tickets
The Police started giving out parking tickets on several occasions in the last days to car’s parking in the Wadi Hilweh Street, although there is no designated mark.
http://silwanic.net/?p=25280
Israeli forces arrest school teacher
Israeli forces arrested a Silwan school teacher on the morning of 12 March.
1- Salah Mahaisen, 43,
was taken by troops inside the school grounds, despite management’s protest, whereupon he was taken to the Russian Compound.
Mahaisen faces charges of protecting a child accused of throwing stones at Israeli forces. He will remain under house arrest until he stands trial on 15 March.
http://silwanic.net/?p=25332 19 mar 2012, 00:51 , Respect -
Maria 13 mrt 2012
Huge Israeli forces Build up round al Bustan Neighborhood
On Tuesday’s night 13 March, there was a wide build up for the Israeli forces surrounding al Bustan Neighborhood .
One of the eyewitnesses stated that there were light clashes between the residents and the settlers which lead to the wide build of the Israeli forces around Al Bustan Neighborhood which is threatened by Jerusalem Municipality by removal and building a biblical park instead.
The Israeli Authorities consider the neighborhoods of Al Bustan ,Wadi Rababeh, Wadi Hilweh and Tantoor Pharoan in silwan a group of Biblical parks related to serial parks that surround the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem.
http://silwanic.net/?p=25386 19 mar 2012, 00:51 , Respect -
Maria 14 mrt 2012
Court extends four youth’s detention, one sentenced to house arrest
The Israeli Magistrate Court has extended the detention of four Silwan youth arrested this week.
1- Muhammad Abd Al-Munem Awar (13),
2- Shadad Awar (14),
3- Suhaib Awar (14) and
4- Elyas Awar (16)
are accused of throwing Molotov cocktails and stones at Israeli forces and settlers, and have had their detention extended by a further 72 hours.
A fifth boy, Ahmad Salah,
has been sentenced to house arrest on a bail of 800 NIS following negotiations by his lawyer, Muhammad Mahmoud,
Israeli forces have carried out a sweep of youth arrests throughout Silwan following the boys’ arrests.
http://silwanic.net/?p=25330 19 mar 2012, 00:51 , Respect -
Maria 16 mrt 2012
Tourist Guide to The Holy Tour of Crimes, Jerusalem
City of David visitor center in Silwan, East Jeruzalem
By Edra Arb
With 450,000 visitors annually, the City of David national park is a common destination in Jerusalem. Rumour has it this is the place where King David established the city itself 3000 years ago and where Solomon build his first temple.
You can be educated in the history of the Holy Books with one of the popular guided tours from the organization Elad, as around 20% of the visitors do, according to the organization's figures. Afterward, you can relax with a stunning view from the visitor centre, also run by Elad.
People visit to experience holy Jerusalem, and be showed the ancient history.
Unfortunately, no guide reveals the brutal modern history and current climate of this area. To be sure you don't miss this important nuance, we will examine how Elad and City of David would not be possible without criminal actions, supported by the Israeli government. You can then decide if this place is truly "holy."
The real name of the area where City of David is located is actually Silwan.
Silwan is a part of East Jerusalem, which is Palestinian land according to internationally recognized borders since the 1967 war. During the last 20 years, the area has gone through a dramatic transformation.
In 1990, only Palestinians lived here.
In 1991 the first eleven settlers invaded, all of them from the settler organization Elad (Hebrew acronym for "To The City Of David").
Ariel Sharon, who was the head of the Ministry of Construction and Housing at that time, prepared this first invasion. In April 2009, settlers controlled one quarter of the area.
The human rights organization Ir Amim cites the Absentee Law when justifying the removal of Palestinians from neighbourhoods in East Jerusalem. This law was established in Israel in 1948, and adopted to East Jerusalem when occupied after the war 1967. It states that those not present in their homes at the exact date of the annexing of the law are "absentees."
An "absentee" loses the ownership for his or her property and the Israeli state can confiscate it.
Essentially, this means that Palestinians who fled from the war or were absent by another personal reason at this exact date in 1967 are no longer legal residents in their homes.
The same law claims that Israeli Jews can claim property that relatives had in possession before 1948. The law is commonly cited, even if evidence is deficient or completely baseless regarding where an individual resided, whether Palestinian or Israeli, on a single date 45 years ago.
Some Palestinians attempt to remain in their homes by appealing to the courts and through a judicial process some are successful. Unfortunately, many families cannot afford a lawyer. Refusals to leave the property are usually repressed by Israeli soldiers and settlers.
The Israeli state, in co-operation with the settler organization Elad, have succeeded in pushing out one third of the Arabic population in the area in favour of settlers' residences, public spaces and the tourist attraction, "City of David."
The confiscated property is regularly sold for nominal sums or even given away to private organizations of the Israeli ideological right. Elad is the principal owner of the City of David or Silwan, and is enjoying veto and voting power in the city planning board within the Palestinian sector. Israeli land code does not allow for a privatizing transfer of state owned land. Ir Amin asserted that Elad's position effectively violated the law.
The aim of Elad is no secret. Elad's founder, David Be'eri, made it clear during an advertising campaign to bring visitors to City of David:
"The goal of the campaign is for the public to know that the City of David is only 200 meters from the Old City and therefore in any negotiations must remain in Israel's hands...we must not give it up."
The massive visitor centre was built on former public space without a building license. The Israeli journalist Meron Rapoport's report, "Shady Dealings in Silwan" cites that the file regarding the illegal building was closed without any judicial process.
In 2009, the visitor centre made a 30 million shekel (over 8 million dollars) overhaul paid for by the Jerusalem Development Authority and the Ministry of Tourism. Tax money funded this even though Elad is not necessarily in need of funding.
When Elad registered as a non-profit organization in 2006, their assets totalled 159 million shekels, according to their own financial statements. 95% of their income was from donations.
According to Israeli Law, all donations over 20,000 should be identified. When Elad refused to name the donors after a citizen asked to identify them, the Justice Ministry last decided that they could make an "exception," and Elad was not forced to comply with the law.
Even the archaeological findings are raising suspicions of historical accuracy.
Archaeologist Eliat Mazar claimed that she found parts of the palace of King David.
Most scholars oppose this, saying these findings and all other findings made afterwards, are too weak and inadequate to prove the existence of King David or Salomon in Silwan.
Though this is what the tours consist of. "Towards an Inclusive Archaeology in the City of David/Silwan" by Raphael Greenberg, professor in archaeology at Tel Aviv University is one of the written reports where this is discussed and proved.
Children walk over rubble of a demolished house in Silwan, East Jeruzalem
Another example is when Professor Riech found a cistern in Silwan/City of David.
The members of Elad stated that this was the pit into which the prophet Jeremiah was thrown, and included this both in guided tours and on the website.
The professor himself saw it from another view; "I found a Byzantine water pit. They (Elad) said it was Jeremiah's pit. I told him that it was nonsense... sometimes they (Elad) make all kinds of things up." After significant pressure from archaeologists, Elad had to remove this from their website.
More "findings," continue to be excavated within Palestinian neighbourhoods. In January 2008, a part of Wadi Hilweh Street sank, and the residents realized what was going on under their homes. Seven
Palestinians were beginning a judicial process but the following day, five of them were arrested for "damaging the City of David visitor centre." They were released one day later.
The Jerusalem Municipality published a Town Plan, which includes the total demolishing of a Palestinian neighbourhood in Silwan in favour of what the settlers call "Givati parking lot", named after the Israeli army brigade Givati.
This will confiscate 16,000 square meters in the crowded Arabic area.
Here, a second Elad visitor centre currently under construction will be erected exclusively for Jews and tourists. On the 13th of February, the Cultural Centre of Silwan was demolished, a primary source of community in Silwan. This was cited as "property of Israeli Parks Authority," though it was located inside Palestinian recognized borders. The case currently remains in court.
Jawad, a spokesman for the Wadi Hilweh information centre, living in Silwan remarked, "we don't know when it (Givati parking lot) is going to be ready but we are going to reject and resist the project."
The Palestinians in Silwan are also suffering from a complete lack of police presence and security.
While all settlers over 18 years old have the right to carry a gun, it is strictly forbidden for Palestinians.
The settlers are enjoying private security through a special Israeli police force available through the Jerusalem Municipality. This Israeli security police usually refrain from investigating documented crimes by settlers against Palestinians.
These crimes include mistreatment, house demolitions and even in some cases, murders.
The impunity of settlers is well known, and strongly condemned by Human Rights organizations like Israeli B'Tselem and Amnesty International. This security police force cost the taxpayers in Jerusalem millions of shekels each year.
Worth noticing is that Palestinians in Jerusalem also pay taxes to the Israeli state. Their share of the budget is only 10%.
The visitor centre and the connected tour is only a single aspect of what is occurring in Silwan and the surrounding settlements.
Israel openly discriminates Palestinians in the name of the Holy Books on the basis of ethnicity, nationality and background.
Elad is a private organization, co-operating with the government, running the visitor centre and leading the slow and steady seizure of Silwan.
The human rights abuses, both past present and future cannot be ignored.
When you have listened to Elad's tour as thousands of others have, you can walk down the street to Wadi Hilweh Information Centre and hear the other side of the story. When claiming the Israeli right to this historical sight, 2000 years are ignored and every single cup of coffee at the visitor centre contributes to furthering the apartheid.
http://fwd4.me/0wfU 19 mar 2012, 00:51 , Respect -
Maria 16 mrt 2012
German Bundestag member visited Silwan
Kerstin Müller, Member of the German Bundestag and Greens Parliamentary Spokesperson for Foreign Policy, had made a tour in Silwan. Her Visit included the most targeted neighborhoods by the Israeli forces the settlers and the Israeli Authority of Nature .
Müller, the German Parliament Member ,Jörn Böhme, the consultant of the Middle East affairs and the Islamic States in the green party and the director of Heinrich Böll Stiftung , Dr. René Wildangel all made a visit to the WHIC in Silwan. The WHIC made a detailed explanation about the situation in Silwan .
Then the visiting delegation were accompanied by Jawad Siyam in a tour to the most targeted neighborhoods in Silwan where he explained them about the Israeli Authorities, the settlers and the Israeli National Park treatment to the Palestinians.
Then Siyam explained to delegation the continuous attempts of the settlers to support the official Israeli departments which participate in adding pressures over the Palestinian residents especially children , then he acknowledged them about how the Israeli Authority consider the Palestinian constructions and properties ” as illegal constructions” and how some of them are seen by them as “garbage”
That has to be taken away exactly as they treated the Children Cultural Center which was removed by the Israeli Jerusalem Municipality Bulldozers few weeks ago under the pretext of having a ”cleaning order” and has to be removed , then he concluded by addressing Al Bustan crises and the Jerusalem Municipality attempts to remove it and turn it into Biblical Park that serve the settlers tourist business.
Yoni Mizrahi an archaeologist has explained to the delegation about the back ground of the excavation in Silwan.
MRS Müller focused on the importance of the Palestinian community work which is held by the WHIC to attach news from credible resources to the whole world in addition to Madaa Silwan Creative Center.
http://silwanic.net/?p=25382 19 mar 2012, 00:57 , Respect -
Maria 17 mrt 2012
Bavaria strengthens its support for Israeli national parks
Israeli National Park Authority bulldozer destoys a wall on Palestinian Land in East Jerusalem
The Minister of Environmental Protection, Gilad Erdan met with the Environment and Public Health Minister of the German state of Bavaria Dr. Marcos on Wednesday, 14 March. The two discussed possibilities for mutual cooperation in conservation and national parks initiatives, as well as exchange in environmental services, specialists and training.
The Bavarian federal government has had an existing environmental agreement with Israel since 1993, with the government supporting Israeli national parks. Israeli environmental parks serve a key role in state control of annexed Palestinian land.
http://silwanic.net/?p=25408 22 mar 2012, 15:59 , Respect -
Maria 22 mrt 2012
Jerusalem Minor Expelled From Home
JERUSALEM, (WAFA) – The Israeli Magistrate Court in West Jerusalem ruled on Wednesday to expel of a minor from his home in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan and fined him $1300, according to Wadi Hilweh Information Center.
Elias Awar, 16, was ordered to leave his home and move to Jabal al-Mukaber neighborhood, not far from Silwan, and be placed under house arrest until his trial.
Four family members had also to put up $1300 personal bail to make sure Awar will not return to Silwan and will appear in court on trial date.
Awar was arrested on March 5 on allegations of throwing stones at Israeli settlers and police in Silwan, a hotbed for fanatic Jewish settlers.
Attorney Mohamed Mahmoud, from Addameer human rights organization, denounced the ruling as harsh and unfair since it keeps the boy away from his family and school.
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=19352 28 mar 2012, 13:20 , Respect -
Maria 27 mrt 2012
Demolition Orders Issued for Silwan Residents
The West Jerusalem Israeli municipality handed six Palestinian families living in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan home demolition notices under the pretext of building without a permit, the Wadi Hilweh Information Center said Tuesday in a statement.
It said municipality staff accompanied by a large police force handed the notices to the residents.
One of the homes that received a demolition order was demolished seven years ago. It was later rebuilt. The owner has already received three demolition orders over the last five months.
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=19392 28 mar 2012, 13:30 , Respect -
Maria 28 mrt 2012
Tax Collectors Raid Silwan Shops, Clash with Residents
Israeli tax collectors backed by a large police force raided shops in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan Wednesday and seized goods from several stores on the pretext the owners did not pay their taxes, according to a local activist.
Fakhri Abu Diab, who heads the Committee for the Defense of Silwan, said residents clashed with police when they confronted the tax collectors, who were confiscating goods from shops and loading them onto trucks.
Police fired tear gas at the protesters and the crowded homes in the neighborhood, while young Palestinians threw rocks at the police force and tax collectors, said the Silwan activist.
Police arrested a 24-year-old resident, he said.
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=19395 29 mar 2012, 11:30 , Respect -
Maria 29 mrt 2012
Israeli forces fire at demonstrators in occupied Jerusalem
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- Israeli occupation police forces fired rubber bullets and teargas canisters at Jerusalemite youths in Silwan and Tur towns in occupied Jerusalem on Wednesday.
A police spokesperson said that stones were thrown on an Israeli car in Tur and that police forces were combing the town in search of the stone throwers.
In Silwan, Israeli tax collectors were escorted by Israeli policemen south of the Aqsa mosque and clashed with citizens.
Locals said that the Israeli policemen used rubber bullets and tear gas against the inhabitants who responded throwing stones and empty bottles at the forces.
The sources said that the policemen arrested
-- 24-year-old Marwan Abu Diyab in Silwan.
2 apr 2012, 17:34 , Respect -
Maria 2 apr 2012
Municipal Court Cancels Demolition Order of Silwan Protest Tent
An Israeli municipal court Monday canceled an administrative order to demolish the protest tent in al-Bustan area of the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, said head of the Committee for the Defense of Silwan, Fakhri Abu Diab.
The Israel West Jerusalem municipality has ordered demolition of 88 homes in al-Bustan prompting activists to set up the protest tent to prevent the demolitions, which would displace hundreds of Palestinian families.
Several activities are usually held in the protest tent, including the Friday prayers.
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=19441 20 apr 2012, 09:13 , Respect -
Maria 18 apr 2012
Israel Constructs 20 Fake Grave Stones in Silwan
Over two months ago, Israeli forces began raising land in Wadi al-Rababa in Silwan and constructing fake grave stones in an attempt to seize the area as a sacred space.
Salim Siyam, the head of legal affairs in the Wadi Hilwa Information Center said Israeli forces have constructed approximately 20 graves so far.
Siyam also explained that Israeli forces work slowly to prevent any suspicion as they systematically change the make up of the land and continue to build as many graves as they can.
Siyam said a similar incident happened 10 years ago in Tantour Faroun, where Israeli forces also constructed fake gravestones. In this instance, Palestinians did not take much notice, seeing it more as a harmless absurdity than a significant property seizure tactic.
In his interview with PNN, Siyam implored Palestinians to take this issue to court to prevent the impending consequences if Israeli forces are successful.
http://fwd4.me/14r2
Israel Builds Graves in East Jerusalem Neighborhood
The committee for the defense of Silwan Wednesday uncovered the building of Jewish graves in Wadi Rababa area of the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan.
A committee statement said Israeli bulldozers razed Palestinian land and built graves, which residents believe to be fake, in order to justify takeover of the Palestinian-owned land.
Israel claims that Silwan, which is just outside Jerusalem's Old City wall and falls right below Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and the Jewish Quartet, is the site of the ancient City of David.
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=19576 20 apr 2012, 10:17 , Respect -
Maria 19 apr 2012
Foreign activists visit Silwan
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- A delegation of the foreign solidarity activists participating in the “Welcome to Palestine” campaign visited Silwan town in occupied Jerusalem on Wednesday.
The delegates made field visits to a number of suburbs and listened to testimonies of inhabitants about the Israeli occupation authority’s practices against them.
The inhabitants explained how the IOA plans to raze the entire Bustan suburb to build a Talmudic park in its place. They also briefed the delegates on the IOA digging of tunnels underneath their homes and the confiscation of houses.
The foreign activists said that they would continue supporting the Palestinian people in their bid for establishing their own state and would continue visits to the Palestinian land regardless of the Israeli harassment.
20 may 2012, 02:03 , Respect -
Maria 1 mei 2012
A kid and a boy were arrested in Silwan
Alaa G’eth, 12 years old, was arrested. In the past Alaa was hit by a settler’s car.
Also T’aer Karaen was arrested near Ein Silwan at Wadi Hilwa.
The atmosphere in Silwan is tensed, especially after The Israeli forces set up a border on the entrance of Wadi Hilwa, harassing the locals.
http://silwanic.net/?p=26141
Extension of detention for 3 kid and 7 youth in Silwan
The Israeli court decides to extend the arrest of 3 kids from Silwan until Monday, and 2 other youth until Tuesday, regarding the other 5 arrested people, the court decided to delay the decision until next Sunday; they also sent Amad Sarhan to a house arrest after paying 1000 NIS bail money.
http://silwanic.net/?p=26145
- 12 febr 2012
Hate slogans again daubed on Jerusalem school
JERUSALEM (Ma’an) -- Extremists painted anti-Arab slogans on a mixed Jewish and Palestinian school in East Jerusalem for the second time in a week, Israeli media reports said Sunday.
The 'Hand in Hand' school in Beit Safafa was found spray-painted with "Muhammad is dead" and "death to the Arabs" written in Hebrew, Hebrew-language Maariv reported.
On Tuesday, similar slogans were painted on the school's playground.
Police told Maariv they expect far-right Jewish activists are behind the vandalizm. The report said slogans and badges of Beitar Yerushalaym football team, associated with right-wing politics, were found near the school.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=459701 13 feb 2012, 09:53 , Respect -
Maria 13 febr 2012
Four Injured After Troops Broke Into Palestinian Home In Jerusalem
Palestinian medical sources in Jerusalem reported that four residents were wounded, on Sunday evening, when Israeli troops and policemen broke into a Palestinian home of a former political prisoner, in Al-Esawiyya town, in occupied East Jerusalem.
Eyewitnesses said that the army broke into the home of former political prisoner, Samer Al Eesawy, by smashing the main door, and attacked his relative, lawyer Shereen Al-Eesawy, her mother Laila, and her brother Shadi.
The lawyer suffered fractures in her arm and leg, and was taken prisoner by the police. Her mother was moved to the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem suffering bruises in the neck, and a fracture in her arm, the Palestinian Information Center reported.
Also, resident Rami Ismat was shot by a rubber-coated metal bullet fired by the army while invading the town; he was also moved to Hadassah Hospital.
It is worth mentioning that, in October last year, Samer Al Eesawy was released under the prisoner-swap deal that secured the release of Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, in exchange for the release of over a thousand Palestinian political prisoners.
The first phase of the deal was implemented on October 18, 2011, when Israel released 450 detainees, and Shalit was handed by the resistance to Egypt, and on December 18, 2011, Israel released 550 Palestinian detainees in the second phase of swap-deal.
http://www.imemc.org/article/62987
Israeli Bulldozers Destroy Playground in Silwan
(2:21) Demolition Silwan Community Center, 13.2.12
Israeli bulldozers of the Jerusalem Municipality destroyed, on Monday morning, a playground in Wadi Hilweh area , in Silwan, in occupied East Jerusalem, and removed the protest tent in Silwan.
Representatives of the so-called “Natural Gardens” Authority, accompanied by officials of the municipality, invaded the area and ordered the bulldozers to destroy the playground, local sources reported.
Furthermore, the municipality also removed the protest tent that was installed by the indigenous Palestinian inhabitants of Silwan in 2007 to protest the illegal takeover of Palestinian homes by extremist groups that fund the illegal Israeli settlement activities.
(1:20) Demolition of Playground and Community Center in Silwan Feb. 13 2012
Dozens of policemen surrounded the area and instated a closed military zone before removing the tent, the WAFA news agency reported.
Palestinian residents of Jerusalem are subject to frequent violations, including home demolitions, and home takeover by extremist settlers.
While the illegal settlement construction and expansion is taking over most of the Arab areas in and around occupied East Jerusalem, Palestinian residents are unable to build homes, or expand exiting one, due to Israeli restrictions.
Last Tuesday, February 7th, soldiers invaded the Esawiyya in East Jerusalem and broke into the home of Ahmad Saleh Dary, 46, before kidnapping his 13-year-old son, the Wadi Hilweh information Center reported.
Soldiers violently broke into the building and pushed Dary while he was carrying his 2-year-old son; the father fell on his son and both were moderately injured.
Soldiers also used pepper-spray against the family, and attacked the father with taser-guns until he collapsed, and then proceeded to violently attack and beat his wife who was seriously injured, and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem.
http://www.imemc.org/article/62989
Policeman lightly injured during razing op in east Jerusalem
A policeman suffered light injuries after being stoned by youths protesting the razing of illegal structures in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan.
The officer was taken to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem.
http://fwd4.me/0tZ2 14 feb 2012, 12:39 , Respect -
Maria 14 febr 2012
Israel approves plan to build huge Jewish tourist center in Silwan
OCCUPIED JEUSALEM, (PIC)-- The Zionist district committee for planning and building approved on Monday a plan to build what it called the foot center in Wadi Hilwa neighborhood of Silwan area, Al-Aqsa foundation for endowment and heritage said.
In a report, the Aqsa foundation stated that Israel intensified and accelerated unprecedentedly its Judaization activities around the Aqsa Mosque compared to its plans in the past which took years before approval and implementation.
The foundation said it had monitored Israeli moves to build a huge tourist project on a seized Palestinian land near the fence of the old city of occupied Jerusalem.
The Israeli occupation authority used this Palestinian land as a parking lot for Jewish settlers and the settlement outpost Zuwar center or David city and now it intends to build a Jewish center in this land, according to the report.
The report noted that this project is part of a larger scheme to Judaize the entire circumference of the Aqsa Mosque.
It also warned that this Jewish center and its annexes would be connected to a network of tunnels that were established beneath Silwan and Wadi Hilwa areas, and the vicinity of the Aqsa Mosque and would be like a pivot point for Judaization activities in Jerusalem.
http://fwd4.me/0tvd 16 feb 2012, 20:17 , Respect -
Maria 16 febr 2012
German Minister Condemns Israeli Demolition of Center in Silwan
(2:21) Demolition Silwan Community Center, 13.2.12
RAMALLAH, (WAFA) – The German Minister of Economy and Development Cooperation, Dirk Niebel, condemned the demolition of a German-funded center in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, Thursday said a press release by the German representative office in Ramallah.
“I was shocked by the sudden demolition of the German-funded youth center which I just visited two weeks ago…the photographs I received from the demolition site are very disturbing,” said Niebel.
(1:20) Demolition of Playground and Community Center in Silwan Feb. 13 2012
He added that such measures will not help with the peace process in the Middle East, rather it breaks the trust built with a lot of efforts, scarring the new generations.
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=19015 17 feb 2012, 21:23 , Respect -
Maria 17 febr 2012
EU Condemns Israeli Demolition of Community Center
(2:21) Demolition Silwan Community Center, 13.2.12
JERUSALEM, February 17, 2012 (WAFA) – The European Union Friday criticized the Israeli demolition of Maada Community Center in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, according to a statement issued by its Jerusalem and Ramallah missions.
Israel demolished the German-funded center on February 13 claiming it was built without a permit.
The demolition took place 10 days after the German Minister of Economy and Development Cooperation, Dirk Niebel, had visited the center as part of his tour of German projects in the area.
Niebel also condemned the demolition in a statement issued on Thursday.
(1:20) Demolition of Playground and Community Center in Silwan Feb. 13 2012
'The EU missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah condemn the demolition of several structures of the Maada Community Center in the neighbourhood of Silwan,” said the EU statement.
“The Maada Community Center, with its cultural and educational activities for youth and women, plays a vital role in the community of Silwan, one the most sensitive neighbourhoods of East Jerusalem,” it added.
The statement called on the Israeli government “to cease all discriminatory treatment of Palestinians in East Jerusalem,” stressing that “demolitions on occupied land are illegal under international law.”
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=19019 29 feb 2012, 16:10 , Respect -
Maria 24 febr 2012
Confrontations erupt after martyred Jerusalem man’s funeral
Violent clashes broke out between Palestinians and Israeli troops immediately after the funeral of Palestinian man Tala’t Ramyeh on 24 February, who was shot dead by Israeli forces during clashes in Al-Ram district of north Jerusalem.
Israeli forces hit back with a heavy crackdown throughout the region, shutting down Qalandia checkpoint between Jerusalem and the West Bank, and fired heavy amounts of sound grenades, tear gas projectiles and high-pressure water hoses at protesters.
http://silwanic.net/?p=25099
Israeli sniper units deployed in Al-Ram
Israeli military forces deployed sniper units throughout Al-Ram district of north Jerusalem following heavy confrontations between locals and armed forces as the funeral of martyred local man Tala’t Ramyeh drew to a close on Friday, 24 February.
Israeli forces attempted to storm the neighborhood but were thwarted by local youth, who presented strong resistance. A heavy buildup of troops stayed in the area, as the situation remained tense. Undercover units were also deployed, though local resistance prevented any arrests from being made.
A high number of injuries have been reported as the clashes continue.
http://silwanic.net/?p=25101 2 mar 2012, 11:36 , Respect -
Maria 25 febr 2012
Violence sweeps through Ras al-Amoud and Al-Hara al-Wasta
Heavy violence struck Ras al-Amoud and Al-Hara al-Wasta neighborhoods of Silwan at 8:30pm on Saturday, 25 February. Israeli troops fired heavy amounts of tear gas and sound grenades throughout the densely populated areas as local youth responded with stones and firecrackers.
Eyewitnesses report that the confrontations were the most violent since the recent raids on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
http://silwanic.net/?p=25103 2 mar 2012, 18:45 , Respect -
Maria 27 febr 2012
Israeli PM Netanyahu visits Ras al-Amoud Cemetery
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu visited Ras al-Amoud Cemetery in Silwan on Monday, 27 February. The official visit saw main streets shut down by Israeli forces and worshipers prevented from accessing Ras al-Amoud Mosque.
http://silwanic.net/?p=25105 2 mar 2012, 18:45 , Respect -
Maria 28 febr 2012
Parks Authority extends reach in Wadi Hilweh
Jerusalem Municipality and Parks Authority officers surveyed the demolished remains of the Wadi Hilweh playground in Silwan on Tuesday, 28 February, in what was seen by residents as a provocative move.
Together with an Israeli photographer employed by ELAD settler group, the officials’ visit to the playground constituted an act of trespassing, given that none had legal permission to enter the private property. One Parks Authority officer stole several tools lying in the playground, and threatened nearby residents with arrest.
The Jerusalem Municipality had the children’s cultural center in the playground demolished some weeks earlier, claiming that it was waste that needed to be removed. The demolition was carried out without showing the land owner an order for the destruction. It would later become known that the order in question allowed only cleaning of space, not demolition.
The Israeli Parks Authority is a key player in the realization of the settlers’ agenda in Wadi Hilweh and the conversion of Palestinian land to a biblical park. Parks Authority chairman Avitar Kuhin was previously employed as an ELAD coordinator, and responsible for Palestinian land acquisition by deceptive means. Another high-ranking ELAD employee and known police informant (with a hand in the arrest of many Silwan residents), known as Shlumi, has recently joined Kuhin in the Parks Authority.
ELAD group is working on many settler construction projects throughout Silwan. The same day that the cultural centre was demolished, the Jerusalem Municipality approved a large ELAD project that will see construction on a 16,000 sq meter area.
http://silwanic.net/?p=25097 2 mar 2012, 18:45 , Respect -
Maria 29 febr 2012
Silwan committee warns of collapse of school due to Israeli digging
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- The committee for the defense of Silwan has warned of the collapse of an old school in the town, south of the Aqsa mosque in occupied Jerusalem.
Head of the committee Fakhri Diyab blamed the Israeli occupation authority’s incessant excavations to the fact that the school might cave in at any time.
He said in a statement on Wednesday that the school is in real danger as a result of the IOA digging underneath it and in its vicinity.
Diyab said that the school, which was built in 1917, was controlled by the IOA after the occupation of Jerusalem in 1967 that gave part of it to a settlement society that turned into a warehouse for its digging equipment.
He feared that the IOA would close the school, which is for children, at the pretext of cracks in its walls and deliver it to the society.
The committee head noted that the IOA’s Judaization projects, such as parks, had reached near to the school’s walls.
http://fwd4.me/0vYA 2 mar 2012, 18:45 , Respect -
Maria 1 mrt 2012
Occupation authorities order new demolitions in Silwan suburb
Jerusalem municipality officials and the so called environment department posted a demolition order for a horse tent and a petrol station at the Wadi Hilwa neighbourhood of the Silwan suburb.
http://fwd4.me/0vfa 4 mar 2012, 08:16 , Respect -
Maria 3 mrt 2012
City of David settlement digging causes another cave-in
Another cave-in has occured in Wadi Hilweh due to settler tunneling underneath the neighborhood in extension of the City of David project.
The roof of a dug tunnel, believed to be several years old and safety-approved by the Israeli Archaeological Authority, collapsed on the morning of 3 March next to Al-Ein Mosque.
The collapse has caused damage to a number of Palestinian properties.
http://silwanic.net/?p=25216
Land caves in near mosque in Silwan
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- Land caved in at an area adjacent to Ein Silwan mosque in Siwlan town, south of the Aqsa mosque, on Saturday.
Mahmoud Qara’een, a member in Wadi Hilwa information center, said that the incident occurred as a result of the intensified Israeli excavations in the area especially those undertaken by the Elad Association.
He underlined that this is the second time land caves in near the same mosque in Silwan.
The repeated collapses in the area point to the reckless digging, which does not use appropriate support for tunnels dug underneath the area, Qara’een said.
The human rights activist accused the Israeli antiquities authority of providing a cover for the Association’s digging rather than stopping it.
http://fwd4.me/0vl9 9 mar 2012, 10:55 , Respect -
Maria 5 mrt 2012
Five children arrested in dawn raid on Silwan
A huge force of Israeli troops stormed Silwan on the morning of 5 March, arresting five children. The arrested are:
1- Islam Ahmad Awar (17),
2- Shadad Muhammad Awar (12),
3- Suhayb Arafat Awar (13) ,
4- Elyas Khader Awar (14) and
5- Ahmad Salah Awar (14).
The raid was focused in Ein al-Louzeh neighborhood, where a buildup of Israeli troops continued throughout the day around settlement compounds
http://silwanic.net/?p=25221
Buildup of Israeli forces, new surveillance cameras
A heavy buildup of Israeli armed forces has been reported in recent days throughout Silwan, particularly at the entrances to its neighborhoods. A number of new surveillance cameras have also been set up near Silwan Club, adjacent to the Israeli settlement in Ras al-Amoud district.
The settlement has been attempting to take over the nearby Palestinian family home of Jadallah, in what is viewed by residents as moves to expand the reaches of the settlement apparatus in Ras al-Amoud.
http://silwanic.net/?p=25158 9 mar 2012, 10:55 , Respect -
Maria 8 mrt 2012
Two teenagers arrested without evidence amidst clashes in Ras al-Amoud
Confrontations erupted in Ras al-Amoud district of Silwan on 8 March, as a heavy build-up of Israeli forces triggered a Molotov cocktail thrown at an Israeli settler compound. Two young brothers,
1- Basel al-Zagal (14) and
2- Ismail al-Zagal (15)
were arrested by Israeli forces, despite no evidence of their involvement in the clashes. The two boys were running through the neighborhood to reach a maths tutorial.
The two brothers were taken to Salah al-Din police station, whereupon their father was refused permission to enter the compound until their lawyer arrived. Both remain under interrogation.
The Zagal brothers are only the most recent youngsters amongst 11 that have been arrested in the past 4 days in Silwan.
http://silwanic.net/?p=25272 19 mar 2012, 00:51 , Respect -
Maria 9 mrt 2012
19 new witnesses in cases against Information Center director Jawad Siyam
Siyam in his home after it was searched by police
The Israeli state prosecution in the three ongoing cases against Wadi Hilweh Information Center director Jawad Siyam has called 19 witnesses to testify against him.
Three sessions commenced today in the Jerusalem Magistrates Court at 10am and will continue for three days, to be followed by a hearing with more witnesses.
The witnesses will include ELAD settler group employees, police interrogators, and a Palestinian man involved in land acquisition for settler groups, who has constructed a claim of assault against Siyam.
http://silwanic.net/?p=25218