Israel Speeds Up West Bank Barrier Construction Following Court Injunction, July 29, 2010
Ha'aretz reports that the Defense Ministry has accelerated construction on the portion of the Wall that surrounds the Palestinian village of Walajeh on three sides and separates village residents from large tracts of their land. A High Court hearing on Sunday revealed that the order to expropriate Walajeh lands for the Wall's route expired a year ago. Based on this discovery, the court imposed an injunction requiring the state to explain why the work should not be stopped. The justices, however, did not order the work stopped, leading to the current surge in construction.
Israel Demolishes Bedouin Village, July 27, 2010
Al Jazeera reports that Israeli authorities have demolished the homes of about 300 Bedouins in the village of Al-Arakib in the southern Negev desert. Arriving at 5:30 in the morning, Israeli bulldozers levelled the entire village, including 40 homes, trees, water tanks and generators, in three to four hours. Around 150 activists joined the villagers in an attempt to stop the demolitions, leaving several wounded and some arrested. Israeli authorities claimed that the homes were "illegally built."
23 Injured in Silwan Clashes Overnight, June 28, 2010
Ma'an News Agencyreports that at least 20 Palestinians were injured during clashes with Israeli forces in Silwan on Saturday night. The East Jerusalem neighborhood has recently been the focus of international attention, as it is threatened by an Israeli plan to raze 22 Palestinian homes in order to create a tourist park. During Saturday evening's clashes, witnesses report that one Palestinian was shot with live ammunition, two others were hit by tear gas canisters, and 20 others required medical attention for tear gas inhalation. Ambulances transporting the injured were allegedly not permitted to leave the scene by Israeli forces.
Road Shipments to Gaza Begin, June 23, 2010
Al Jazeera reports that road shipments of goods have begun to arrive in the Gaza Strip following changes in the conditions of the Israeli blockade. Uncertainty remains regarding the exact products that Israel will allow into Gaza, but it is clear that the existing ban on exports and the import of raw materials will continue. Israel maintains that these and other measures are necessary to prevent the smuggling of weapons into Gaza. The changes in policy have been met with criticism from Palestinian and international officials, who continue to press for the full removal of the blockade.
