IOF troops storm Jenin villages, detain 8 West Bankers

[ 09/03/2011 - 09:40 AM ]

JENIN, (PIC)--

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stormed villages east of Jenin city and another west of the city and installed a roadblock at entrance of Tanak village at dawn Wednesday, locals reported.

Eyewitnesses said that IOF soldiers aboard a number of army jeeps broke into three villages east of Jenin and provocatively roamed their streets without breaking-ins or arrests reported.

A similar act was witnessed in the western Jenin village of Tanak after which the soldiers installed a roadblock at its entrance.

Meanwhile, local sources reported that IOF troops arrested eight Palestinians in the districts of Ramallah, Nablus, and Al-Khalil at dawn Wednesday.

They said that the soldiers took away the detainees blindfolded and handcuffed.

Israeli Occupation Army Invades Several Villages Near Jenin, Kidnaps Eight Across The West Bank

Wednesday March 09, 2011 12:27 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Israeli occupation soldiers invaded on Wednesday at dawn several villages east of Jenin city, in the northern part of the West Bank. Eight Palestinian were kidnapped across the West Bank.

Eyewitnesses reported that soldiers invaded the villages of Deir Abu Da’eef, Dir Ghazala and Beit Qad, and Ta’nak, and drove their armored vehicles in the streets of the villages and their alleys.

Also, soldiers installed a roadblock at the entrance of Ta’nak village, obstructing its traffic while the soldiers checked identity cards of dozens of residents and searched several vehicles.

The roadblock also obstructed the movement of the residents of Aneen nearby village, as they can only leave their village through Ta’nak village due to the fact that the Annexation Wall isolated the village from all sides keeping Ta’nak village as their only remaining route.

In related news, Israeli soldiers invaded on Wednesday at dawn, the districts of Ramallah, Nablus, and Hebron, and kidnapped eight residents. The kidnapped residents were cuffed and blindfolded before being taken to a number of interrogation centers.

Israeli Occupation Army Does Not Believe It Can Contain A Widespread Revolution In The West Bank

Wednesday March 09, 2011 05:03 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

In light with the current events and protests against the ruling regimes in some Arab countries, and the latest removal of Egyptian and Tunisian presidents, the Israeli occupation amy’s so-called Central Command in the West Bank has been tightly monitoring what is happening in the Arab world, and updating its operational plans for an anticipated nonviolent uprising in the occupied territories.

Although plans to deal with massive protests in the West Bank are already there, the army started adjusting these plans following the revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia, Israeli daily, Haaretz, reported.

Haaretz, one of the largest news outlets in Israel, stated that former and current Israeli army commanders in the occupied West Bank believe that Israel cannot effectively deal with widespread nonviolent protests, similar to the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions.

Yet, the commanders also believe that “the chances for a totally nonviolent revolution in the occupied territories are low”, and that “certain elements will use the situation to attack the Israeli army”.

Yet, Palestinians, supported by Israeli and International peace activists, who are leading massive protests against the Annexation Wall and settlement, are involved in peaceful protests and are determined to continue the peaceful and popular approach despite being subject to excessive use of force by the army.

According to Haaretz, an army officer said that even before protests took place in Tunisia and Egypt, Israel anticipated such events, and presented plans that would deal with such situations, including the methods and crowd-dispersal means that would be used.

Haaretz stated that amidst the current usage of social network sites, the army realized the need to make preparations that are not only based on intelligence regarding intentions of Palestinian groups, but also on what Palestinians and their supporters are sending over the net, especially on social networking sites, such as twitter and Facebook.

But army commanders in the occupied territories said that, as long as the protestors do not attempt to march to Jewish settlements, the army does not need to prevent massive protests in the occupied territories.

The commanders also are considering the possibility that the protestors will try to damage sections of the Annexation Wall or checkpoints, and that should such incidents take place, “the army would use teargas and rubber-coated metal bullets”.

But ongoing experiences with the way the army deals with nonviolent protests against the Wall and settlements, push local Palestinian nonviolent leaders to believe the army will resort to more lethal weapons, especially since dozens of casualties were reported due to the army's use of excessive force against nonviolent protesters.

As for the Palestinian Authority security forces in the West Bank, and while “acknowledging their strategic role and security cooperation with Israel in the last two years”, Israeli security agencies do not believe that P.A security forces will be helpful in the event of a popular uprising, and that in this regard, the army is trying to locate other channels within the local civilian leaders in the territories.

Furthermore, the several army battalion commanders who are involved in operational tasks in the occupied territories are currently participating in seminars, briefing sessions and workshops, while brigade commanders are participating in discussions regarding operation plans in preparation for such anticipated massive popular protests, Haaretz concluded.

Lod Residents Protest Home Demolitions

Wednesday March 09, 2011 12:08 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian Arab residents of Lod held a massive protest, on Tuesday at night, in support of Abu Eid family that lost its seven homes after the Israeli occupation government demolished them four months ago.

The protest was held in front of the Lod city Council. At least a 100 residents participated in the protest carrying signs that read “no to home demolitions”, “No to stripping human beings from their right to live in dignity”, and other signs calling for equal rights.

The Lod City Council has recently stepped-up its violations against Arab natives of the city by presenting and conducting plans that do not serve the needs and interests of the Arab citizens.

Arab areas in Israel are largely underdeveloped due to Israel’s policy that refrains from conducting development projects that would improve their economy and living conditions, while local authorities are reluctant about approving the construction of new homes and facilities for the Arabs population in the city.

Al-Arakib Demolished Yet Again

Wednesday March 09, 2011 12:49 by David Steele - 1 of International Middle East Media Center Editorial Group

The Alternative Information Centre reports that al-Arakib village has been demolished again by Israeli occupation forces.

Four huts, which were being used for village meetings, were demolished on Monday by JNF (Jewish National Fund) bulldozers. The village has been demolished many times since July 2010. When the demolitions first began, villagers and volunteers would attempt to rebuild homes immediately afterwards.

More recently, Israeli authorities have removed even the remains of homes, rendering reconstruction all but impossible. Today, the villagers live in temporary structures in the village cemetery. The Israeli state attorney has recently announced plans to fine the villagers over NIS 1million for the cost of demolishing their homes.

The village is not recognized by the Israeli state. Al-Arakib has been fighting an ongoing battle for recognition since the establishment of Israel in 1948. Although the villagers have land deeds and receipts of paid taxes dating back to Ottoman times, the Israeli authorities do not accept these as valid. The fate of al-Arakib is indicative of a wider problem in Israel, and particularly for its Bedouin community, the majority of whom live in the Negev.

Over 110,000 Bedouin live in so-called ‘unrecognized villages’, many of which – like al-Arakib – significantly pre-date the state of Israel itself. Unrecognized villages are not entitled to services that the state provides to recognized settlements, notably water and sewage services, electricity, roads and educational provision.

Problems for villages like al-Arakib are likely to intensify as the JNF’s operation “Blueprint Negev” continues. Al-Arakib is being demolished in order to facilitate the JNF’s tree-planting operations there.