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Israel Denies Electricity to Palestinians: Orders Removal of EU-funded Solar Cells

March 20, 2013 by occupiedpalestine 0 Comments

Global Research, March 19, 2013

images_News_2013_03_16_panels_300_0AL-KHALIL (HEBRON): The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) ordered the removal of solar cell panels providing a Palestinian community east of Yatta town in Al-Khalil with electric power.

Local sources reported that the occupation civil administration handed on Friday notices to the residents of Umm Al-Kharouba area near Yatta stating that the solar panels they use to generate electricity will be confiscated.

The solar energy system in this area was funded by the European Union several years ago and is used to supply 15 Palestinian homes with power.

Ratib Al-Jabour, the coordinator of popular and national committees in south of Al-Khalil, said that the notification was also glued on those panels.

He charged that the IOA step was meant to harass Bedouins and shepherds in the area and force them to abandon their lands in a prelude to confiscating those lands.

Related: Cuts cost Lives! Electricity | Water | Communication

If Israel would be able to “turn off” the sun above Palestine, It would.

It can’t so it demolishes the solar panels which provide electricity for a whole village and facilities, including health care and the village’s waterpump. One, of the many ways to make Palestinians tired, and… ill. Basic needs are human rights. So is water, healthcare and electricity too.

In these related links  Cuts cost Lives! Electricity | Water | Communication you can behold the effects for Palestinians, their health, and foremost, the deliberate acting by apartheid policies to deprive Palestinians of those basic needs by all means possible. Effects which even can be deadly which is exactly in the lign of the greater plan of Israel to ethnic cleanse Palestine of it’s people (also by any mean possible)

These almost unoticed events, like demolishing solar power installations, wells, refusal for entry of repair materials, or just rude demolition of installations necessary to provide in basic needs like  water and electricity causing not only severe inconvenience but esp. in case of healthcare deaths. Sometimes immediately if one is dependant on breathing apparatuses, dialysis and more. The terminal impact of violation of basic need and thus human rights are an important factor of avoidable mortality.

Avoidable mortality cost 0,5 million Palestinians lives since 1967 only. The estimated deathtoll of restrictions due to deprivation of basic needs is about 5000 a year.

Compared to  statistical facts in equal surroundings and good governance – which of course is not in the benefit of the Greater Israel – A silent genocide.

Below the story of Imneizil demolitions we’re solar installations are about to be demolished depriving an entire village of almost all “free electricty from the Sun”.

While Israel is set to destroy the solar installations of Imneizil, it brings the “light” to poor countries in Africa. At least so far is stated in this article by YNet : GLW provides Africans with standalone light fixture that relies solely on solar energy stating ” that to most Westerners, streetlights are so common they hardly get noticed by anyone and such is  not the reality for most third world countries“.  “Many African countries, for example, have a complete lack of street lighting on major streets, making it extremely dangerous to drive in anything but clear and sunny conditions. “

Let’s debunk immediately this “Altruism” of Israel where the article starts saying: ‘Contributing to a better world’

A pictures of a Palestinian child, whose family is required to manual pump air into his lungs every time a power cut of electricity boots his breathing apparatuses. Day and Night…

Contributing to a better world does not give any solace to mankind, the altruism may prevent some accidents in Africa, while the State of Israel commits an ongoing silent onslaught in Gaza and the West Bank by deliberate depriving or even attacking power plant, lines and causing cuts.

Because of lack of treatment capacity and electricity, Gaza authorities must release around 80,000 cubic meters of sewage into the Mediterranean Sea on a daily basis causing water borne diseases. An aquifier also only works on electricity. Only 5% of Gaza’s water is fit to drink.

Due to lack of fuel, the Gaza Power Plant runs at 45 percent capacity, leading to daily blackouts of eight to twelve hours. Given this fuel shortage, 90 percent of private cars are no longer driven and of public services, only 15 percent are operational. (Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, The Illegal Closure of the Gaza Strip: Collective Punishment of the Civilian Population, December 10, 2010)

Contributing to a better world, means first obey to international law and the recognition, every human being has the right to his basic needs (which are human rights). But Israel is a disengaged occupier which not recognizes these rights at all, but only abuses every possible cut to endager rights… and lives.

Related Report:  “Palestinian Village Condemned To Live In Darkness”

by Jenna Bereld | 18 November 2011 | International Solidarity Movement, West Bank

Imneizil demolitions: “Hanging between the ground and the sky”

The solar panels in the village  of Imneizil, near Hebron, became effective almost two years ago,  improved the living conditions for about four hundred inhabitants in the village, but recently  residents learned that the Israeli army issued a demolition order for the solar power installations.

“When the electricity came, we could have light at night. So right now, we could sit with our friends in the night, and we can see each other,” said  25-year-old Nihad who has seen her life change since electricity become available in Imneizil. She talks about how the school now has access to computers and printers, and how radio and TV have connected the village to the rest of the world. Now they have washing machines, and refrigerators that make it possible to store food.

Nihad gives her 3-year-old son a hug and states that she also has a four-months’ baby at home.

Threatening the light of the village

” Earlier, women used to go to Yatta to have an ultrasound. It is far away and it costs a lot of money to go there. Now, those who are pregnant can have ultrasound here at the clinic.”

Before the installation of solar panels, the village had no electricity, and the evenings were sparsely lit by dangerous kerosene lamps and candles. A few households had access to diesel generators that were used at parties and weddings.

The solar cells that have been installed cannot satisfy the village’s full electricity needs, but it is sufficient for moderate household consumption, and the needs of the school, health clinic, and common water pump. During the day people are trying to limit their consumption for the school to have enough electricity.

The project was planned to be extended so that later there would be electricity for regular usage. But  in October, residents learned that the Israeli army issued a demolition order for the solar power installation. The consequence is that the power will be lost for forty households, they health clinic, and the school. The reason is that the solar panels were constructed without a permit from the Israeli Civil Administration which controls the occupied territory of Palestine.

– When I think about that they will cut our electricity, I am very, very angry, Nihad says.

Imneizil is not the only village in Palestine affected by the demolition policy. During the years between 2000 to 2007 nearly five thousand demolition orders were issued for Palestinian buildings, of which one third were implemented.

“They never requested a building permit here,” says Ali Mohammad, head of the village.  ”And you see that the other structures in the village were built thirty years ago. So we never applied for a building permit for solar panels, either. If we would try to apply, we know that we will never get a permit.”

The reason for the Israeli Civil Administration’s influence over Imneizil is that the village is located in what is known as Area C, which is under Israeli civil and military control.

“It is apparent to  us that it means to displace us from here, to push us out of this area, silently, without declaring it, Ali Mohammad continues.

The solar panels were installed in cooperation with the Spanish organization SEBA. A spokesperson for the organization says that they appealed the demolition order through a lawyer, whereupon the Israeli Civil Administration issued a new demolition order. The demolition order is now frozen pending a court decision. But hope is fading that the half-million dollar project can be saved.

Demolitions are illegal under the Geneva Convention. The Fourth Geneva Convention 53rd article provides that: “Any destruction by the Occupying Power of real or personal property belonging individually or collectively to private persons […] is prohibited, except where such destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations.”

“I don’t think these solar panels cause any harm to anyone,” Ali Mohammad says. “They’re not affecting anybody. They’re not cutting the road to the settlement. I cannot understand what’s the point of coming here to demolish these solar panels! Now we’re astonished with the Israeli Authority’s demolishing orders. We’re feeling that we are hanging between the ground and the sky. ”

Imneizil is located in Area C, which makes up 62 percent of the West Bank area. Building permits for houses and other devices, such as structures for collection of rain water, must be applied for from the Israeli Civil Administration.

Jenna Bereld is a volunteer with International Solidarity Movement (name has been changed).

Source and more at the International Solidarity Movement

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Israel’s Jerusalem municipality plans to build more than 50,000 new homes in the city’s occupied eastern sector over two decades:

  • 23,628 homes have already been approved, 20,263 in East Jerusalem and 3,365 in the west.
  • 13,824 are pending review, 12,819 in East Jerusalem and 1,005 in the west.
  • 23,266 housing units are still in planning stages, 19,281 in the east and 3,985 in the west.



Of these, the municipality plans:

  • 10,366 homes in northern East Jerusalem, including illegal Israeli settlement Pisgat Zeev and Palestinian town Beit Hanina.
  • 5,239 homes in southern East Jerusalem, including Gilo settlement and Palestinian district Beit Safafa.
  • 4,886 new units in central eastern Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan and Jerusalem’s Old City.

Read More



Besides this, Israel approved plans to ethnic cleanse 57.000 bedouin from Palestine



Save yourself time. It is only about this : Ethnic Cleansing



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