News / Palestine

Israel to revoke 230,000 Palestinians’ residency permits

Sunday, 20 December 2015 8:53 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 20 December 2015 9:34 AM ]

Israeli forces stand guard in Shu’fat refugee camp in the occupied East al-Quds (Jerusalem) ahead of a planned demolition of a home of a Palestinian, who allegedly carried out a car-ramming attack last year, on December 2, 2015. ©AFP

Israeli authorities are poised to strip tens of thousands of Palestinians in al-Quds (Jerusalem) of their residency rights as the Tel Aviv regime’s aggression against Palestinians in the occupied territories continues unabated.

The move, proposed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a cabinet session last month, targets 230,000 Palestinians, who hold residency permits in East al-Quds, and live in Shu’fat refugee camp as well as Kafr Aqab and Sawahra neighborhoods, Israeli Channel 2 television network reported.

Kahil Tufakji, a Palestinian settlement affairs expert, said Netanyahu’s proposal also affects the Arab neighborhoods of Jabel Mukaber, al-Issawiya, at-Tur and Beit Hanina.

According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, there are 350,000 Palestinians and 200,000 illegal settlers living within the municipal borders of East al-Quds.

A total of 145,000 Palestinians live outside the separation wall, which snakes across the occupied West Bank and isolates large swathes of Palestinian lands, while 195,000 others are encircled by the construct.

A Palestinian protester throws a tear gas canister back at Israeli forces during clashes following a demonstration against the expropriation of Palestinian land by Israel in the village of Kfar Qaddum in the occupied West Bank, on December 18, 2015. ©AFP

Tufakji further argued that Israel is seeking to change the demographic patterns of East al-Quds.

The report comes as a Palestinian human rights group has censured the Israeli regime over its attempts to clear al-Quds of Palestinians, saying Tel Aviv is committing “ethnic cleansing” against the oppressed people in the occupied city.

“Since Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem in 1967, it has implemented a comprehensive policy to deepen its control over the city by weakening Palestinian presence and ties there. In Jerusalem, a policy of ethnic cleansing was pushing Palestinians out of the city. Since September, the situation has erupted,” said Shawan Jabarin, director of the Ramallah-based al-Haq rights group.

Jabarin also urged the international community to sever cooperation with Israel, ban settlement products and implement sanctions against the regime.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has slammed “Israeli occupation” as the root cause of ongoing tensions in the Palestinian lands.

“The anger we are witnessing is bred from nearly five decades of Israeli occupation. It is the result of fear, humiliation, frustration, and mistrust,” the UN chief said.

Palestinian relatives of Nashat Asfour, 33, who was killed by Israelis soldiers the previous day during clashes at Sinjil village northeast of the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, mourn during his funeral at his home village on December 19, 2015. ©AFP

Tensions have dramatically escalated in the occupied territories since August, when the Israeli regime imposed restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East al-Quds.

The Palestinians are worried by Israel's bid to change the demographic status of the compound. They are also angry at increasing violence by Israeli settlers at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound and their attacks on Palestinian properties in the occupied territories.

Nearly 130 Palestinians have been killed in the recent escalation of violence since the start of October.

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