Slippery Slope

Abdul Karim Lafi, an architect and chairman of the parents committee in Beit Safafa, was arrested and taken in for an interrogation at 2 am on the charge of calling for a strike in Beit Safafa schools to protest the construction of road number 4 that will take 250 dunums of private land and split the village in two. In addition, village residents have complained that ever since their protest has started, Israeli authorities have increased enforcement policies in the village, including sending in tax agents. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

The Police has been conducting enforcement operations in the East Jerusalem neighborhoods of Isawiya and Silwan. The operations included numerous arrests, roadblocks to inspect vehicles, tax collection, house demolitions, shutting off water, various fines, searches and random checks of identification, and more.

Residents said police officers and commanders have admitted to them that in practice it is punishment in response to rock-throwing and other disturbances.

“Learn not to throw rocks. As long as you continue to throw rocks we aren’t leaving,” one Silwan resident said a police officer told him. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

Data published by Ir Amim association reveals that in 2012 the Ministry of Construction and Housing and Israel Land Authority published tenders for the construction of 2,386 housing units beyond the green line in Jerusalem, a marked rise relative to the annual average of 726 housing units in the previous decade. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

Israel recently renewed restictions on the freedom of movement of foreign nationals who reside and work in the West Bank, and is not allowing them to enter Israel, including East Jerusalem. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

Residents of the East Jerusalem village of Issawiya claim that the police subjects them to collective punishment.  According to residents, the police initiates daily arrests without justification in order to cause provocations, and every vehicle entering the vehicle is checked by police safety inspectors.  In addition, several residents have had their water supply cut off due to debts accrued to the “Gihon” water corporation. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

The Ministry of Interior has been charging higher fees than those stipulated by law for processing freedom of information requests regarding family reunification requests by residents of East Jerusalem. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

A 15 year old Arab youth from East Jerusalem was moderately injured during an assault by ultra-Orthodox youths. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

The Jerusalem District Planning and Building Committee approved the construction of 1,242 housing units in the city’s Gilo neighborhood, which is beyond the green line. (Times of Israel)

(Hebrew – Walla!)

Undercover police officers (mista’arvim) beat a 17 year old boy from Shuafat refugee camp in East Jerusalem during his detention, resulting in his hospitalization. (Ynetnews)

(Hebrew – Ynet)

The Center for the Defence of the Individual (Hamoked), Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) and the Reform Center  for Religion and State have filed a petition with the High Court for Justice against the National Insurance Institute.  The organizations demand that the National Insurance Institute place a professional translator, knowledgabe in medical terms, in committees dealing with the insurance claims of residents of East Jerusalem, or alternately, that Arabic speaking physicians be posted in the committees.  The organizations claim that even though the National Insurance Institute website and the committee summons letters state that claimants are allowed to bring an interpreter with them to the committee hearing, the East Jerusalem branch of the Institute does not always allow them to do so.

(Hebrew – Haaretz)