Israeli forces have “raided 20 homes” in Akraba, south of Nablus, in the occupied West Bank as the search for the suspected perpetrator of an attack in Huwara which killed two Israeli settlers on Saturday continues.
The two men were father and son, aged 60 and 29. They were found with gunshot wounds at a car wash in the city, Israel's Magen David Adom emergency service said.
The Israeli army also entered the suspect’s family home and prepared the property for punitive demolition, a controversial and long-standing policy.
Speaking to The National, the father of suspect Eissa Bani Fadhel said Israeli forces “broke down doors”.
“They told us to go downstairs – and they remained upstairs (in our home) where they began drilling and leaving marks [for the placement of explosives] on the walls.
They threatened us – either we hand over our boy or they would demolish our home. We told them we don't know where he is – and that we only know that he went out to work. They said we have three days until Sunday and then they will 'take action'.”
“It was very difficult for us – we have women and children at home … it shouldn't have involved the entire family in the immoral manner that they did it.”
“They told us that our boy is young, has his whole life ahead of him and that they don't want to hand him over to us as a dead body. So they asked us to hand him over,” his father told J-media, a Palestinian news outlet.
“We're in a tough position. But our morale is higher than ever.”
The city’s entry and exit points remain closed off by the Israeli army, the city’s governor Salah Jaber told Palestinian state news agency Wafa.
Israeli forces have also set up road blocks and military checkpoints in and around the city, he said.
The raids began about 3am on Thursday, Mr Jaber said, and involved questioning civilians and carrying out searches.
“Occupation forces have currently withdrawn to the peripheries of the city and continue to keep the entry and exit points closed,” Mr Jaber said.
The official also said the closure adversely affects the city’s economy and education as some pupils cannot reach their schools.
Looming house demolition
Israeli news outlet Kan said it was “unusual” for Israeli forces to prepare for a demolition while a suspect is at large.
The preparations include making markings on the walls of the house and drilling holes where explosives will be placed.
“This practice dates back to the British mandate and falls under Article 119 of the Emergency Regulations of 1945,” Tel Aviv-based lawyer Kais Nasser told The National.
“This procedure has been challenged dozens of times in the Israeli Supreme Court on constitutional grounds and in the field of human rights and international law – but the Supreme Court has found this process legal and it has remained in effect until today.”
Mr Nasser says Israel considers the act “a deterrent” for Palestinians from carrying out terrorist acts.
“Of course, Palestinians and human rights organisations see that justifying the law as a means of deterrence is unacceptable,” he said. “In their view, it is an arbitrary punishment that violates international law.
“This is because the demolition of the house of the suspected citizen always affects other parties that have nothing to do with the operation, such as his family, brothers, or those who live in the house.
“Also, scientifically and according to data recognised by Israel itself, the continued use of this law did not lead to a decrease in the number of attacks against the Israelis and therefore the demolition of homes according to this law is not a deterrent.”
Human rights groups see the demolition of homes as a form of collective punishment and a breach of International Humanitarian Law.
Israeli NGO B'Tselem, which documents Israeli human rights violations, said the family of a home set to be demolished has 48 hours to appeal to the military commander in charge and to the High Court of Justice (HCJ) if the appeal is denied.
The High Court “appears to view such petitions as mere formalities”, B'Tselem said in a report in 2017.
“Over the years, scores of petitions against house-demolition orders have been brought before the HCJ … yet the court denied these petitions wholesale, with the exception of rare cases and several minority opinions.”
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
Get inspired
Here are a couple of Valentine’s Day food products that may or may not go the distance (but have got the internet talking anyway).
Sourdough sentiments: Marks & Spencer in the United Kingdom has introduced a slow-baked sourdough loaf dusted with flour to spell out I (heart) you, at £2 (Dh9.5). While it’s not available in the UAE, there’s nothing to stop you taking the idea and creating your own message of love, stencilled on breakfast-inbed toast.
Crisps playing cupid: Crisp company Tyrells has added a spicy addition to its range for Valentine’s Day. The brand describes the new honey and chilli flavour on Twitter as: “A tenderly bracing duo of the tantalising tingle of chilli with sweet and sticky honey. A helping hand to get your heart racing.” Again, not on sale here, but if you’re tempted you could certainly fashion your own flavour mix (spicy Cheetos and caramel popcorn, anyone?).
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg
Real Madrid (2) v Bayern Munich (1)
Where: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
When: 10.45pm, Tuesday
Watch Live: beIN Sports HD
FIXTURES
Thu Mar 15 – West Indies v Afghanistan, UAE v Scotland
Fri Mar 16 – Ireland v Zimbabwe
Sun Mar 18 – Ireland v Scotland
Mon Mar 19 – West Indies v Zimbabwe
Tue Mar 20 – UAE v Afghanistan
Wed Mar 21 – West Indies v Scotland
Thu Mar 22 – UAE v Zimbabwe
Fri Mar 23 – Ireland v Afghanistan
The top two teams qualify for the World Cup
Classification matches
The top-placed side out of Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong or Nepal will be granted one-day international status. UAE and Scotland have already won ODI status, having qualified for the Super Six.
Thu Mar 15 – Netherlands v Hong Kong, PNG v Nepal
Sat Mar 17 – 7th-8th place playoff, 9th-10th place playoff
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
AWARDS
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
A%20QUIET%20PLACE
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Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets
AL%20BOOM
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Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
FIGHT CARD
Bantamweight Hamza Bougamza (MAR) v Jalal Al Daaja (JOR)
Catchweight 67kg Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR) v Fouad Mesdari (ALG)
Lighweight Abdullah Mohammed Ali (UAE) v Abdelhak Amhidra (MAR)
Catchweight 73kg Mostafa Ibrahim Radi (PAL) v Yazid Chouchane (ALG)
Middleweight Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) v Badreddine Diani (MAR)
Catchweight 78kg Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Adnan Bushashy (ALG)
Middleweight Sallaheddine Dekhissi (MAR) v Abdel Emam (EGY)
Catchweight 65kg Rachid Hazoume (MAR) v Yanis Ghemmouri (ALG)
Lighweight Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Azouz Anwar (EGY)
Catchweight 79kg Omar Hussein (PAL) v Souhil Tahiri (ALG)
Middleweight Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Laid Zerhouni (ALG)
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
SPECS
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
