8 apr 2016
Likud activists angry that the defense minister won't back soldier who shot dead neutralized terrorist distribute inciting photos of his, calling for an 'assassination' of his political career.
Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon said Friday he had no intention of changing his position condemning the Hebron shooting incident, even after inciting photos of him were posted on social media.
Ya'alon has been at the center of much contention in recent days in light of his comments backing IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and many senior officials and officers in the defense establishment who came out against a Kfir Brigade soldier for shooting dead a terrorist who was already lying wounded on the ground.
The photos, showing the defense minister's face framed by a rifle's target, were posted on social media and passed on WhatsApp groups of Likud activists, calling for an "assassination" of Ya'alon's political career.
"After all kinds of fringe radical elements tried to portray me as the troubler of Israel, the next stage has come (that should not have surprised anyone) - the distribution of photos inciting against me," Ya'alon wrote on Facebook and Twitter.
"This won't do them any good. I have no intention of caving in or conceding the fight for the nature of the State of Israel and Israeli society. I will continue fighting for a just, sane and moral State of Israel. One that fights with an iron fist and determination against those who mean to cause it harm, while at the same time doesn't lose sight of its values or becomes apathetic."
Ya'alon went on to say that "this isn't about the right wing or the left wing - this is about our future and that of our children. This is about what country we aspire to live in: One that is part of the family of nations, Jewish and democratic, modern and tolerant, or a country that is declining towards dangerous and destructive paths. We must stand firm and uncompromising against the kind of harmful discourse that has taken over the country. This fight is more important and significant than anything else, and the sane forces in Israeli society must remain united to defeat it."
The defense minister concluded his post by saying that "I am fighting for the sane majority of Israeli citizens. That is why I will not give up, and will not be deterred by any threat."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Likud party leader, condemned the photos, saying the distribution of such photos "is crossing a red line."
"A public debate must be conducted in a respectable and topical manner and has no room for this kind of incitement," Netayahu said in a statement.
Officials in the Likud party said Ya'alon's comments will come back to haunt him, adding that the defense minister will pay the price in the next party primary election for not backing the shooting soldier.
Ya'alon drew fire when he slammed those who are defending the soldier, saying at a Knesset speech: "What do you want: a brutalized military that lost its moral spine?"
He said the soldier is not a hero, but rather a soldier who transgressed. "This is a grave incident," he stressed. "It was important for us - the IDF chief, the defense minister and the prime minister - to immediately say how we view this incident. We're not like the other side. I'm proud of the fact the company commander pointed to this being an unusual incident."
Earlier this week, Ya'alon also sent a message to politicians backing the soldier. "The IDF chief, and not gang leaders, will determine the rules of engagement," he said.
The defense minister, who was speaking at an event in Herzliya, added: "I won't get into the criminal proceedings. I addressed the disciplinary proceedings that ended and were harsh because of the severity of the act, which is against the law, our values, and the rules of engagement. Not one of us has mentioned the word 'murder' and there's an attempt to use it for manipulation. The soldier was warned in the beginning of the investigation that the most serious charge he faces was murder, but later the suspicions changed to manslaughter."
Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon said Friday he had no intention of changing his position condemning the Hebron shooting incident, even after inciting photos of him were posted on social media.
Ya'alon has been at the center of much contention in recent days in light of his comments backing IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and many senior officials and officers in the defense establishment who came out against a Kfir Brigade soldier for shooting dead a terrorist who was already lying wounded on the ground.
The photos, showing the defense minister's face framed by a rifle's target, were posted on social media and passed on WhatsApp groups of Likud activists, calling for an "assassination" of Ya'alon's political career.
"After all kinds of fringe radical elements tried to portray me as the troubler of Israel, the next stage has come (that should not have surprised anyone) - the distribution of photos inciting against me," Ya'alon wrote on Facebook and Twitter.
"This won't do them any good. I have no intention of caving in or conceding the fight for the nature of the State of Israel and Israeli society. I will continue fighting for a just, sane and moral State of Israel. One that fights with an iron fist and determination against those who mean to cause it harm, while at the same time doesn't lose sight of its values or becomes apathetic."
Ya'alon went on to say that "this isn't about the right wing or the left wing - this is about our future and that of our children. This is about what country we aspire to live in: One that is part of the family of nations, Jewish and democratic, modern and tolerant, or a country that is declining towards dangerous and destructive paths. We must stand firm and uncompromising against the kind of harmful discourse that has taken over the country. This fight is more important and significant than anything else, and the sane forces in Israeli society must remain united to defeat it."
The defense minister concluded his post by saying that "I am fighting for the sane majority of Israeli citizens. That is why I will not give up, and will not be deterred by any threat."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Likud party leader, condemned the photos, saying the distribution of such photos "is crossing a red line."
"A public debate must be conducted in a respectable and topical manner and has no room for this kind of incitement," Netayahu said in a statement.
Officials in the Likud party said Ya'alon's comments will come back to haunt him, adding that the defense minister will pay the price in the next party primary election for not backing the shooting soldier.
Ya'alon drew fire when he slammed those who are defending the soldier, saying at a Knesset speech: "What do you want: a brutalized military that lost its moral spine?"
He said the soldier is not a hero, but rather a soldier who transgressed. "This is a grave incident," he stressed. "It was important for us - the IDF chief, the defense minister and the prime minister - to immediately say how we view this incident. We're not like the other side. I'm proud of the fact the company commander pointed to this being an unusual incident."
Earlier this week, Ya'alon also sent a message to politicians backing the soldier. "The IDF chief, and not gang leaders, will determine the rules of engagement," he said.
The defense minister, who was speaking at an event in Herzliya, added: "I won't get into the criminal proceedings. I addressed the disciplinary proceedings that ended and were harsh because of the severity of the act, which is against the law, our values, and the rules of engagement. Not one of us has mentioned the word 'murder' and there's an attempt to use it for manipulation. The soldier was warned in the beginning of the investigation that the most serious charge he faces was murder, but later the suspicions changed to manslaughter."
The Israeli Government, headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is set to approve more than 45 Million Israeli Shekels in aid to Jewish colonies, in the occupied West Bank, under the pretext of “helping families impacted by terrorism.”
The government will be holding its weekly cabinet meeting this Sunday, and is set to approve a comprehensive plan that would funnel nearly 45 million to the illegal colonies, built in direct violation of International Law and the Fourth Geneva Conventions, in different parts of the occupied West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem.
Formulated by the office of Netanyahu, the plan includes 15 Million Shekels from the Finance Ministry, 5 million from the Tourism Ministry, and 6 million from the Welfare Ministry.
Commenting on the latest decision, head of the Meretz leftist party Zahava Gal-On said the plan has nothing to do with “aiding bereaved families” as Netanyahu claims, and is merely a plan to funnel funds to construction contractors, who are acting in direction coordination with the Jewish Home Party, its leader Naftali Bennett and Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel (Jewish Home Party).
Arab Member of Knesset of the Meretz Party Issawi Freij, said the Netanyahu-led government does not need excuses “to continue spoiling the settlers with more money,” and added that “taxpayers in Israel became ATM machines for the settlers.”
Meretz party Member of Knesset Michal Rozen said the Israeli government, within a week, allocated dozens of millions for settlements under the pretext of “urgent aid.”
Rozen added, “the Netanyahu-led government coalition is using the current tension to pass laws and channel funds for settlements, and for the annexation of more Palestinian lands.”
Related Report By Middle East Eye: Israel Pouring Money Into West Bank Settlements
The government will be holding its weekly cabinet meeting this Sunday, and is set to approve a comprehensive plan that would funnel nearly 45 million to the illegal colonies, built in direct violation of International Law and the Fourth Geneva Conventions, in different parts of the occupied West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem.
Formulated by the office of Netanyahu, the plan includes 15 Million Shekels from the Finance Ministry, 5 million from the Tourism Ministry, and 6 million from the Welfare Ministry.
Commenting on the latest decision, head of the Meretz leftist party Zahava Gal-On said the plan has nothing to do with “aiding bereaved families” as Netanyahu claims, and is merely a plan to funnel funds to construction contractors, who are acting in direction coordination with the Jewish Home Party, its leader Naftali Bennett and Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel (Jewish Home Party).
Arab Member of Knesset of the Meretz Party Issawi Freij, said the Netanyahu-led government does not need excuses “to continue spoiling the settlers with more money,” and added that “taxpayers in Israel became ATM machines for the settlers.”
Meretz party Member of Knesset Michal Rozen said the Israeli government, within a week, allocated dozens of millions for settlements under the pretext of “urgent aid.”
Rozen added, “the Netanyahu-led government coalition is using the current tension to pass laws and channel funds for settlements, and for the annexation of more Palestinian lands.”
Related Report By Middle East Eye: Israel Pouring Money Into West Bank Settlements
7 apr 2016
A group of Israeli settlers, escorted by Israeli forces, leveled Palestinian agricultural lands on Thursday, near the village of Deir Ghassana, in the central occupied West Bank district of Ramallah.
Local sources said that Israeli settlers uprooted trees and leveled lands, using heavy vehicles.
A spokesperson for Israel’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) could not be reached for comment. Deir Ghassana, in the town of Bani Zeid, is located near the illegal Israeli settlement of Bet Aryeh-Ofarim.
According to the Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem (ARIJ), thousands of dunams of land have been lost, over the years, in Bani Zeid, through Israeli land confiscations for the construction of Israeli settlements, Israeli bypass roads, the Israeli separation wall, and to isolate agricultural land.
Attacks by Israeli settlers’ living near Bani Zeid have historically attempted to intimidate Palestinians from accessing and returning to their agricultural lands, which are located in close proximity to the settlements.
Local sources said that Israeli settlers uprooted trees and leveled lands, using heavy vehicles.
A spokesperson for Israel’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) could not be reached for comment. Deir Ghassana, in the town of Bani Zeid, is located near the illegal Israeli settlement of Bet Aryeh-Ofarim.
According to the Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem (ARIJ), thousands of dunams of land have been lost, over the years, in Bani Zeid, through Israeli land confiscations for the construction of Israeli settlements, Israeli bypass roads, the Israeli separation wall, and to isolate agricultural land.
Attacks by Israeli settlers’ living near Bani Zeid have historically attempted to intimidate Palestinians from accessing and returning to their agricultural lands, which are located in close proximity to the settlements.
Violent clashes broke out at dawn Thursday after nearly 1,000 Israeli settlers stormed Youssef Tomb east of Nablus, while similar clashes erupted in the vicinity of Al-Najah University.
Local sources said that a number of Israeli buses carrying nearly 1,000 Israeli settlers stormed Balata town at 1 a.m. under heavy military protection, which led to the outbreak of violent confrontations with local youths.
At least four young men were injured with live and rubber bullets while dozens others suffered effects of teargas inhalation.
On the other hand, similar clashes erupted in the vicinity of al-Najah University when Israeli soldiers violently stormed student hostels.
On Wednesday, three minors were arrested while six other youths were injured with rubber bullets as clashes erupted in al-Khuder town west of Bethlehem. One of the injured young men was seriously injured in his head.
The clashes erupted when Israeli forces stormed the town since the early morning hours amid heavy fire of teargas bombs and rubber bullets. Dozens of homes were violently raided and searched, causing a state of tension among locals.
Local sources said that a number of Israeli buses carrying nearly 1,000 Israeli settlers stormed Balata town at 1 a.m. under heavy military protection, which led to the outbreak of violent confrontations with local youths.
At least four young men were injured with live and rubber bullets while dozens others suffered effects of teargas inhalation.
On the other hand, similar clashes erupted in the vicinity of al-Najah University when Israeli soldiers violently stormed student hostels.
On Wednesday, three minors were arrested while six other youths were injured with rubber bullets as clashes erupted in al-Khuder town west of Bethlehem. One of the injured young men was seriously injured in his head.
The clashes erupted when Israeli forces stormed the town since the early morning hours amid heavy fire of teargas bombs and rubber bullets. Dozens of homes were violently raided and searched, causing a state of tension among locals.
6 apr 2016
An Israeli settler deliberately rammed his car on Wednesday into a 10-year-old Palestinian girl in al-Khalil south of occupied West Bank.
Palestinian media sources identified the injured girl as Duaa Diab Jaber, 10.
She was then taken to hospital with moderate injuries all over her body after she was hit by the settler’s car, which sped away immediately after the incident.
Palestinian media sources identified the injured girl as Duaa Diab Jaber, 10.
She was then taken to hospital with moderate injuries all over her body after she was hit by the settler’s car, which sped away immediately after the incident.
Israeli fanatic groups called for stepping up mass break-ins at Muslims’ the holy al-Aqsa Mosque on the occasion of the Jewish Passover holiday, at the same time as dozens of Israeli vandals stormed the holy site on Tuesday morning.
Reporting from Occupied Jerusalem, a PIC news correspondent said 42 Israeli fanatic settlers, escorted by police and army troops, broke into the holy al-Aqsa Mosque via the Maghareba Gate at the early morning hours.
Earlier, on Monday, the Israeli occupation police banned four peaceful Muslim worshipers from Occupied Jerusalem for 15 days on account of their involvement in anti-occupation activities. 29 alleged temple mount organizations also launched a media campaign calling for mass break-ins at al-Aqsa from April 24 to April 28 to mark the Jewish Passover holiday.
The groups further called Israeli fanatics to join drillings for Passover rituals and a series of Judaization rallies to mark the ceremony.
A snapshot circulated on social media network also appeared to replace the Dome of the Rock and the Islamic Crescent with the Israeli flag and the Star of David.
Meanwhile, members of the al-Aqsa supervision staff thwarted a break-in at al-Aqsa by two disguised Israeli fanatics.
Along the same line, Jordan on Tuesday submitted a letter of protest to Israeli embassy in Amman, condemning repeated Israeli raids into al-Aqsa Mosque. Jordan strongly protested the break-ins led by zealous rabbi Yehuda Glick of the ruling Likud party, and urged Israel, as the occupation power, to stop such provocations.
State Minister for Media Affairs, official government spokesman, Mohammad Momani, said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Affairs, through its close monitoring of the Israeli violations of al-Aqsa Mosque, which it considers a red line, today lodged an official protest with the Israeli embassy in Amman.
The memo, he said, held Israel, the power of occupation, fully responsible for the safety of al-Aqsa Mosque, and reiterated Jordan's condemnation and rejection of recurrent raids by Glick, an extremist Israeli rabbi who campaigns for expanding Jewish access to the Mosque compound.
He said the protest note also expressed rejection of any attempt to change the status quo at the holy compound or undermine the historic Hashemite custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites in East Jerusalem, demanding a halt to such provocations that took place amidst efforts to calm tensions in the holy city.
The memo urged Israel to carry out its obligations towards the holy sites under the international law and the Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty. Momani said the foreign and Awqaf (religious affairs) ministries were monitoring the situation at al-Aqsa Mosque, adding that Jordan would pursue its efforts through diplomacy and legal means to deter Israel and bring the breaches to a stop.
He urged the international community and the world’s organizations to help in this endeavor.
Reporting from Occupied Jerusalem, a PIC news correspondent said 42 Israeli fanatic settlers, escorted by police and army troops, broke into the holy al-Aqsa Mosque via the Maghareba Gate at the early morning hours.
Earlier, on Monday, the Israeli occupation police banned four peaceful Muslim worshipers from Occupied Jerusalem for 15 days on account of their involvement in anti-occupation activities. 29 alleged temple mount organizations also launched a media campaign calling for mass break-ins at al-Aqsa from April 24 to April 28 to mark the Jewish Passover holiday.
The groups further called Israeli fanatics to join drillings for Passover rituals and a series of Judaization rallies to mark the ceremony.
A snapshot circulated on social media network also appeared to replace the Dome of the Rock and the Islamic Crescent with the Israeli flag and the Star of David.
Meanwhile, members of the al-Aqsa supervision staff thwarted a break-in at al-Aqsa by two disguised Israeli fanatics.
Along the same line, Jordan on Tuesday submitted a letter of protest to Israeli embassy in Amman, condemning repeated Israeli raids into al-Aqsa Mosque. Jordan strongly protested the break-ins led by zealous rabbi Yehuda Glick of the ruling Likud party, and urged Israel, as the occupation power, to stop such provocations.
State Minister for Media Affairs, official government spokesman, Mohammad Momani, said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Affairs, through its close monitoring of the Israeli violations of al-Aqsa Mosque, which it considers a red line, today lodged an official protest with the Israeli embassy in Amman.
The memo, he said, held Israel, the power of occupation, fully responsible for the safety of al-Aqsa Mosque, and reiterated Jordan's condemnation and rejection of recurrent raids by Glick, an extremist Israeli rabbi who campaigns for expanding Jewish access to the Mosque compound.
He said the protest note also expressed rejection of any attempt to change the status quo at the holy compound or undermine the historic Hashemite custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites in East Jerusalem, demanding a halt to such provocations that took place amidst efforts to calm tensions in the holy city.
The memo urged Israel to carry out its obligations towards the holy sites under the international law and the Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty. Momani said the foreign and Awqaf (religious affairs) ministries were monitoring the situation at al-Aqsa Mosque, adding that Jordan would pursue its efforts through diplomacy and legal means to deter Israel and bring the breaches to a stop.
He urged the international community and the world’s organizations to help in this endeavor.
More than 17 Palestinian were hit and injured with rubber bullets while dozens others choked on teargas Tuesday evening as clashes broke out in Issawiya town in occupied Jerusalem.
Medical sources said that 17 slight rubber bullet injuries were reported during the clashes that broke out in Issawiya town when Israeli policemen stormed the town via its eastern and northern entrances amid heavy fire of teargas bombs.
The local youths responded by throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at the policemen. On other hand, violent clashes broke out in Surif town north of al-Khalil after Israeli occupation forces(IOF) stormed the prisoner Musab Agneymat’s house and handed over a demolition notification to his family.
IOF soldiers in 11 military vehicles stormed the town which led to the outbreak of violent confrontations amid heavy firing of teargas bombs and rubber and live bullets, eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter.
The 17-year-old Agneymat was shot and seriously injured by Israeli gunfire before his arrest for allegedly trying to carry out a stabbing attack on October 3, 2015.
Similar clashes were reported in Duma town south of Nablus after a group of settlers organized a march in support of the Jewish terror group suspected of launching an arson attack in July, in which sleeping 18-month-old Palestinian Ali Dawabsheh was burned to death. A week after the attack, Ali's father, Saad Dawabsheh, died from his wounds. The toddler's mother Reham Dawabsheh, 26, died in September, succumbing to third-degree burns over at least 80 percent of her body.
Four-year-old Ahmed Dawabsheh, the elder son, is still receiving treatment after sustaining burns to 60 percent of his body. Several rubber bullet injuries and teargas suffocation cases were reported during the clashes.
Medical sources said that 17 slight rubber bullet injuries were reported during the clashes that broke out in Issawiya town when Israeli policemen stormed the town via its eastern and northern entrances amid heavy fire of teargas bombs.
The local youths responded by throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at the policemen. On other hand, violent clashes broke out in Surif town north of al-Khalil after Israeli occupation forces(IOF) stormed the prisoner Musab Agneymat’s house and handed over a demolition notification to his family.
IOF soldiers in 11 military vehicles stormed the town which led to the outbreak of violent confrontations amid heavy firing of teargas bombs and rubber and live bullets, eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter.
The 17-year-old Agneymat was shot and seriously injured by Israeli gunfire before his arrest for allegedly trying to carry out a stabbing attack on October 3, 2015.
Similar clashes were reported in Duma town south of Nablus after a group of settlers organized a march in support of the Jewish terror group suspected of launching an arson attack in July, in which sleeping 18-month-old Palestinian Ali Dawabsheh was burned to death. A week after the attack, Ali's father, Saad Dawabsheh, died from his wounds. The toddler's mother Reham Dawabsheh, 26, died in September, succumbing to third-degree burns over at least 80 percent of her body.
Four-year-old Ahmed Dawabsheh, the elder son, is still receiving treatment after sustaining burns to 60 percent of his body. Several rubber bullet injuries and teargas suffocation cases were reported during the clashes.
5 apr 2016
Israeli police arrested two right-wing Jewish Israelis on Tuesday after they attempted to sneak into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound disguised as Muslims, locals and Israeli police said.
Israeli police spokeswoman Luba al-Samri said in a statement that midday Tuesday Israeli police officers suspected two young men approaching the King Faisal gate of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
The officers approached the two for inspection, who said they were Muslims heading to the Al-Aqsa mosque. The officers checked their identification documents to reveal that they were 21-year-old Jewish Israelis.
They were arrested and taken to al-Qishla police station in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City for questioning, al-Samri added.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which sits just above the Western Wall plaza, houses both the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa mosque.
The third holiest site in Islam, it is also venerated as Judaism's most holy place, as it sits where Jews believe the First and Second Temples once stood. The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.
Following Israeli annexation of East Jerusalem in 1967, Israel has maintained a compromise with the Islamic trust that controls the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound to not allow non-Muslim prayers in the area.
Israeli forces regularly escort Jewish visitors to the site, however, leading to tension with Palestinian worshipers.
Israeli police spokeswoman Luba al-Samri said in a statement that midday Tuesday Israeli police officers suspected two young men approaching the King Faisal gate of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
The officers approached the two for inspection, who said they were Muslims heading to the Al-Aqsa mosque. The officers checked their identification documents to reveal that they were 21-year-old Jewish Israelis.
They were arrested and taken to al-Qishla police station in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City for questioning, al-Samri added.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which sits just above the Western Wall plaza, houses both the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa mosque.
The third holiest site in Islam, it is also venerated as Judaism's most holy place, as it sits where Jews believe the First and Second Temples once stood. The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.
Following Israeli annexation of East Jerusalem in 1967, Israel has maintained a compromise with the Islamic trust that controls the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound to not allow non-Muslim prayers in the area.
Israeli forces regularly escort Jewish visitors to the site, however, leading to tension with Palestinian worshipers.
The Israeli Ofer military court on Monday sentenced a Palestinian girl to 45 days in jail at the same time as Israeli soldiers detained two Palestinian children.
Palestinian citizen Nasr Atatra said the Salem military court ruled for sentencing his 16-year-old daughter Shaymaa to one month and a half in jail and a fine of 1,100 U.S. dollars.
The girl, held in the HaSharon jail, was kidnapped by the occupation army on March 15 at the Zaatara checkpoint, in southern Nablus, on allegations that she attempted to carry out an anti-occupation stabbing against an Israeli soldier.
Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation army arrested the two Palestinian children Bahaa and Mus’ab al-Shawaheen, in al-Khalil’s southern town of Yatta, after they had been chased down and aggressively attacked by Israeli extremist settlers.
Activist Rateb al-Jabour said the occupation troops who showed up at the scene opened fire at the two minor captives to scare them into stopping and handcuffed them before they detained them for long hours.
In a related development, the Israeli occupation authorities released two Palestinian children, from Occupied Jerusalem, after they had been locked up for six months in Israeli jails.
One of the newly-released children was identified as 16-year-old Amr Amer Abu Madi, arrested on October 13 on charges of stone-throwing. The other minor was identified as 17-year-old Samer Hamza Shludi.
Palestinian citizen Nasr Atatra said the Salem military court ruled for sentencing his 16-year-old daughter Shaymaa to one month and a half in jail and a fine of 1,100 U.S. dollars.
The girl, held in the HaSharon jail, was kidnapped by the occupation army on March 15 at the Zaatara checkpoint, in southern Nablus, on allegations that she attempted to carry out an anti-occupation stabbing against an Israeli soldier.
Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation army arrested the two Palestinian children Bahaa and Mus’ab al-Shawaheen, in al-Khalil’s southern town of Yatta, after they had been chased down and aggressively attacked by Israeli extremist settlers.
Activist Rateb al-Jabour said the occupation troops who showed up at the scene opened fire at the two minor captives to scare them into stopping and handcuffed them before they detained them for long hours.
In a related development, the Israeli occupation authorities released two Palestinian children, from Occupied Jerusalem, after they had been locked up for six months in Israeli jails.
One of the newly-released children was identified as 16-year-old Amr Amer Abu Madi, arrested on October 13 on charges of stone-throwing. The other minor was identified as 17-year-old Samer Hamza Shludi.
The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) on Monday sealed off large areas of Palestinian lands in Nablus at the same time as Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian farmers in the city.
A PIC journalist quoted member of the Qaryout village council, in southern Nablus, Bashar al-Qaryuti, as stating that Israeli civil administration crews escorted by the occupation army sealed off large tracts of Palestinian lands in the area.
Anti-settlement activist Ghassan Dughlas said the Israeli occupation bulldozers destroyed an agricultural road leading to confiscated lands in southern Qaryout.
The occupation soldiers pitched sand barriers around the targeted lands, which reportedly cover hundreds of dunums, so as to block Palestinians’ access to the area.
In a related context, Israeli extremist settlers aggressively attacked Palestinian farmers in Ourata town, to the southeast of Nablus, while they were cultivating their lands near the Israeli illegal settlement of Elon Moreh.
Locals said at least three farmers were subjected to heavy beating and insults by the Israeli vandals.
A PIC journalist quoted member of the Qaryout village council, in southern Nablus, Bashar al-Qaryuti, as stating that Israeli civil administration crews escorted by the occupation army sealed off large tracts of Palestinian lands in the area.
Anti-settlement activist Ghassan Dughlas said the Israeli occupation bulldozers destroyed an agricultural road leading to confiscated lands in southern Qaryout.
The occupation soldiers pitched sand barriers around the targeted lands, which reportedly cover hundreds of dunums, so as to block Palestinians’ access to the area.
In a related context, Israeli extremist settlers aggressively attacked Palestinian farmers in Ourata town, to the southeast of Nablus, while they were cultivating their lands near the Israeli illegal settlement of Elon Moreh.
Locals said at least three farmers were subjected to heavy beating and insults by the Israeli vandals.
Fanatic Jewish rabbi Yehudah Glick expressed his happiness to desecrate the Aqsa Mosque's courtyards on Monday without any problems.
"Again today on the temple mount, I was with a group of 13 Jews being surrounded quietly by dozens of Muslims," Glick said on his Facebook page.
"Apparently, the government's decision to outlaw the Islamic Movement and send away al-Murabetoun and Murabitat from the mount has given us more freedom," he added.
"The Muslims are seemingly starting to get used to such natural scenes," he said.
The Israeli police threatened yesterday to arrest and impose an entry ban on anyone who get near Glick and his companions during their presence at the Aqsa Mosque.
Glick is one of the most extreme right-wing Jewish figures who advocates the desecration of the Aqsa Mosque and the building of the temple mount in its place.
"Again today on the temple mount, I was with a group of 13 Jews being surrounded quietly by dozens of Muslims," Glick said on his Facebook page.
"Apparently, the government's decision to outlaw the Islamic Movement and send away al-Murabetoun and Murabitat from the mount has given us more freedom," he added.
"The Muslims are seemingly starting to get used to such natural scenes," he said.
The Israeli police threatened yesterday to arrest and impose an entry ban on anyone who get near Glick and his companions during their presence at the Aqsa Mosque.
Glick is one of the most extreme right-wing Jewish figures who advocates the desecration of the Aqsa Mosque and the building of the temple mount in its place.
4 apr 2016
Israeli settlers leveled lands of Palestinian inhabitants of Hares and Dierestia towns in Salfit governorate for the establishment of new settlement units in the vicinity of Rafafa outpost.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that settlement expansion works are focused in the northeast side of Rafafa settlement.
Researcher Khaled Maali said that settlement expansion runs contrary to the international humanitarian law and Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that settlement expansion works are focused in the northeast side of Rafafa settlement.
Researcher Khaled Maali said that settlement expansion runs contrary to the international humanitarian law and Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
