Israel Killed 118 Palestinians, Demolished 535 Buildings in 2011, Says Official

RAMALLAH, December 28, 2011 (WAFA) – Israel killed 118 Palestinians and demolished 535 buildings in 2011, Wednesday said head of the Palestinian bureau in charge of the Apartheid Wall and Settlements affairs, Maher Ghneim.

Ghneim, in a joint press conference with the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian Territory, Maxwell Gaylard, said the escalation in the Israeli occupation assaults against Palestinians come in the framework of the Israeli policy of land acquisition, prevention of the establishment of a Palestinian state and targeting natural resources.

The Israeli occupation targeted around 41,000 dunums and more than 16,000 trees, including around 11,000 olive trees in 2011, said Ghneim, adding that Jewish settlers were responsible for the attacks on 10,000 dunums.

The Israeli government completed 444 kilometers of a total 757 kilometers currently under construction of the Apartheid Wall that will isolate 569 square kilometers of the West Bank, he added.

Israeli authorities annually steal around 711 million square meter of water, estimated of $700 million, and prevent Palestinians from exploiting the natural gas reserves in offshore the Gaza Strip, causing losses to the Palestinian economy estimated of %800 million, said Ghneim.

Moreover, Israel stole around 144,000 petrol barrels and 360 million square feet of natural gas in the Palestinian Territory in 2011.

Ghneim said the Israeli occupation razed 135 graves in ‘Ma’man Allah’ historical cemetery in East Jerusalem, and settlers took over 93 buildings in the city.

He added that a total of 577 demolition notices were handed to Palestinians in the West Bank.

Gaylard said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stressed that the Israeli settlement activities and the Apartheid Wall in the West Bank are illegal, as well as all assaults targeting Palestinians.

OCHA files a monthly report documenting the Israeli violations in the occupied Palestinian Territory to the UN bodies, in support of the Palestinian Authority’s work to assert the Palestinian rights, he added.

Gaylard described the settlers “Price Tag” vengeance campaign targeting Palestinians, following the Palestinian request for statehood membership in the United Nations, as “shameful,” stressing that attacks must stop and assailants must be brought to justice.
Palestine News & Info Agency - WAFA