Abbas decrees life imprisonment for selling land to Israelis
Abbas decrees life imprisonment
for selling land to Israelis:
"Life imprisonment with forced labor
for the clandestine transfer, leasing or selling of lands
to a hostile country or its citizens"
PA Mufti and Supreme Fatwa Council:
"Anyone selling Palestinian real estate to the enemy
[is] a traitor to Allah and His Messenger,
as well as to his religion and homeland"
Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
for selling land to Israelis:
"Life imprisonment with forced labor
for the clandestine transfer, leasing or selling of lands
to a hostile country or its citizens"
PA Mufti and Supreme Fatwa Council:
"Anyone selling Palestinian real estate to the enemy
[is] a traitor to Allah and His Messenger,
as well as to his religion and homeland"
Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
Palestinian Authority Chairman Abbas has announced a decree that any Palestinian who sells land "to a hostile country or its citizens" is now punished with "life imprisonment with forced labor":
"[Abbas] instituted life imprisonment with forced labor for the clandestine transfer, leasing or selling of lands to a hostile country or its citizens. The previous penalty for the duplicitous transfer of land was temporary forced labor."
[Official PA TV, Oct. 21, 2014]
The [Palestinian] Supreme Fatwa Council, chaired by the PA Mufti Sheikh Muhammad Hussein, added that selling land to "the enemy" not only violates PA law but violates Islamic law as well:
"The Council designated anyone selling Palestinian real estate to the
enemy a traitor to Allah and His Messenger, as well as to his religion and homeland, and [decreed that] he is to be shunned by all Muslims."
enemy a traitor to Allah and His Messenger, as well as to his religion and homeland, and [decreed that] he is to be shunned by all Muslims."
[Official PA TV, Oct. 23, 2014]
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PA TV news reported that this was in response to Palestinians who sold land to Israelis in Jerusalem in the Silwan neighborhood. (See sources below.)
Official PA TV further reported that Adnan Al-Damiri, the official spokesman of the PA Security Forces, "has confirmed that the Security Forces will settle accounts with anyone thinking of selling lands or apartments to settlers anywhere in the homeland":PA TV news reported that this was in response to Palestinians who sold land to Israelis in Jerusalem in the Silwan neighborhood. (See sources below.)
Adnan Al-Damiri, official spokesman of the PA Security Forces: "We will persecute anyone who violates the sanctity of the Palestinian lands, real estate and holy places in Palestine, whatever his title, nature, ID card (i.e., Israeli or Palestinian) or place [of residence]."
[Official PA TV, Oct. 23, 2014]
Palestinian Media Watch has documented that when the PA refers to "the homeland" it includes both PA areas as well asall of Israel.
Official PA TV News reported that "the previous penalty for the clandestine transfer of land was temporary forced labor." PMW reported that in 2012, the PA sentenced a man to 15 years of hard labor for selling land "to a Jew":"The court announced: 'The accused (N.A., 35 years old), from the village of Azzoun in the Qalqilya region, is sentenced to 15 years' hard labor, on the charge of selling land to the enemy (i.e., a Jew, see judge's words below), in violation of section 114.' In addition: 'The court is aware that the accused is the father of a family, and that he has children who suffer from illnesses. Out of compassion for the children, and since the accused has expressed remorse, the court has decided to ease his punishment and to change the duration of the hard labor to 7.5 years.' The press release said: 'The facts show that in September 2008, the accused sold his lot, part of the land in Saniria [village in Nablus region] to a Jew, with the mediation of an agent who fled for the sum of 5,000 shekels."
[Al-Ayyam, Jan. 31, 2012]
The following are longer excerpts of the three reports by official PA TV News:
Official PA TV newsreader:
"[PA] Chairman Mahmoud Abbas published a decision on an amendment to the Jordanian penal law (still in effect in the PA) and on its previous amendments in the northern districts (i.e., the West Bank). In the new amendment, he instituted life imprisonment with forced labor for the clandestine transfer, leasing or selling of lands to a hostile country or its citizens. The previous penalty for the clandestine transfer of land was temporary forced labor."
[Official PA TV, Oct. 21, 2014]
Official PA TV newsreader:
"The [Palestinian] Supreme Fatwa Council stressed in its meeting, chaired by the Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine, Sheikh Muhammad Hussein, the prohibition on selling lands and clandestinely transferring real estate property to enemies. This came following the occupation authorities' and settlers' takeover of several real estate properties in the area of Silwan [in Jerusalem]... The Council designated anyone selling Palestinian real estate to the enemy a traitor to Allah and His Messenger, as well as to his religion and homeland, and [decreed that] he is to be shunned by all Muslims."
[Official PA TV, Oct. 23, 2014]
Official PA TV newsreader:
"Adnan Al-Damiri, the official spokesman of the [PA] Security Forces, has confirmed that the Security Forces will settle accounts with anyone thinking of selling lands or apartments to settlers anywhere in the homeland. In a press conference at the [PA] governmental media center in Ramallah, Al-Damiri added that the excuse of several [of the offenders] - that they hold non-Palestinian identity cards - will not protect them from the law in any way whatsoever."
Adnan Al-Damiri, the official spokesman of the PA Security Forces:
"We will persecute anyone who violates the sanctity of the Palestinian lands, real estate and holy places in Palestine, whatever his title, nature, ID card (i.e., Israeli or Palestinian) or place [of residence]. This persecution is legal (i.e., judicial). In addition, there is popular and national persecution by the Palestinian people of those who harm [its] resources and national cause."
[Official PA TV, Oct. 23, 2014]