Israel uses legislation and judiciary to tighten occupation

Israel also wantonly violates international humanitarian standards. For example, Israel has obstructed fuel deliveries from the Gaza Strip. The Israeli defence ministry announced the move in a bid to stop balloons and kites flown into southern Israel.  Goods crossing for food and medicine will be allowed by only on a case-by-case basis. Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, declared the move as a blatant “crime against humanity”.

And with each move, the occupation gets more and more expensive especially to Israel’s supporters. Donald Trump who earlier claimed he would save taxpayers’ money by avoiding construction of a new embassy in Jerusalem refusing to approve the building of a new embassy finds himself having to shell out $21.2 million to design and build an “addition and compound security upgrade at the country’s embassy in Jerusalem.

Such is occupation imprudence.  Equally tough is rebelliousness- even among children who fight to protect their school form an obnoxious order to demolish their school.

Ranjan Solomon

Israeli minister wants bombs dropped on heads of Gaza children
Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennet has insisted that Israeli warplanes should drop bombs over the heads of Palestinian children flying kites into Israel, Ynet Net News reported. During the meeting of the Israeli Security Cabinet on Sunday, which convened to discuss the latest Israeli attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip, Bennet said: “Why not shoot anyone who launches aerial weapons at our communities, and at the cells? “There is no legal impediment. Why shoot next to them and not directly at them? These are terrorists for all intents and purposes.”

When the Israeli Army Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot responded, saying: “I don’t think shooting teens and children – who are sometimes the ones launching the balloons and kites – is right.” He also asked Bennet: “Are you proposing to drop a bomb from a plane on incendiary balloon and kite cells?” Bennett stressed that the Israeli army should do this, pushing the army chief to say: “I disagree with you. It’s against my operational and moral positions.”

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180717-israeli-minister-israeli-jets-should-drop-bombs-over-the-heads-of-gaza-children/

Knesset’s limits Palestinians from taking petitions to the High Court
According to several Israeli news outlets, the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee approved the first reading of a new law that will limit Palestinians accessing the High Court of Justice. The limitation will regard cases involving Palestinians living in the West Bank who wish to petition against illegal Jewish settlement construction. The committee of Constitution, Law and Justice approved the government sponsored bill for further readings. The bill would seek to transfer administrative petitions to the Jerusalem District Court instead of the High Court of Justice. In Israel, the same justices sit on both the Supreme Court and the High Court of Justice.

The Supreme Court functions as a trial court which involves “issues of justice that do not fall under the jurisdiction of any other court” – mainly meaning that it deals with petitions against the State of Israel.  The High Court of Justice is the country’s highest appeal court.

http://www.palestinemonitor.org/details.php?id=pkj9una19403y1nxb6et3b

Israeli Knesset Passes “Breaking the Silence” Bill
 

US Embassy upgrade in Jerusalem shoots up to $21.5 Million
Before the opening of the Embassy in Jerusalem, which enraged the Palestinians and was met with reproach from some US allies, Donald Trump stated the initial bill for relocation would be $400k. He insisted that he could save up to nearly a billion dollars of taxpayers’ money by refusing to approve the building of a new embassy.

Washington has awarded a Maryland-based firm a contract worth $21.2 million to design and build an “addition and compound security upgrade at the country’s embassy in Jerusalem, which was opened there in May, according to information in the official US spending database. With the $335K spent on the adjustment of the former US consulate where the embassy was moved before its grand opening, the final bill for the facility has jumped up to $21.5 million.
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201807171066428015-us-embassy-jerusalem-price/

Children rebel against Israeli plan to demolish school
Under the sun’s harsh glare, dozens of students sing the Palestinian national anthem — beginning a new school year early as part of efforts to keep their village from being demolished. The students of Khan al-Ahmar went back to their village school in the occupied West Bank yesterday, while Israeli authorities seek to evict them. “We are starting the school year earlier because the Israelis want to destroy the school,” said Amani Ali, 11. “So when they come to demolish it, we will be here.”

Israel says the Bedouin village, located in a strategic spot east of Jerusalem near Israeli settlements and on the road to the Dead Sea, was constructed illegally and is seeking to move its 191 residents elsewhere. The residents of the village point out that it is nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain building permits from Israeli authorities in around 60 per cent of the West Bank where they maintain full control.

On May 24, Israel’s Supreme Court allowed authorities to go ahead with demolition of the small hillside village that sits between a highway, the desert and two Israeli settlements.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/international/palestinian-pupils-scrap-school-holidays-to-save-village_138800?profile=1373