19 aug 2019
by Ramzy Baroud
Jewish Israeli settlers are on a roll as they rampage across the occupied Palestinian West Bank. While settler violence is part of the daily routine in Palestine, the violence of recent weeks is linked directly to the General Election in Israel, scheduled to be held on 17 September.
The previous election, just four months ago on 9 April, failed to bring about political stability. Although Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu is now the longest-serving Prime Minister in the 71-year history of the country, he was still unable to form a government coalition.
Tarnished by a series of corruption cases involving himself, his family and aides, Netanyahu’s leadership is in an unenviable position. Police investigators are closing in on him, while opportunistic political allies, such as Avigdor Lieberman, are twisting his arm in the hope of exacting future political concessions.
The political crisis in Israel is not the outcome of a resurrected Labor or invigorated central parties, but the failure of the Right (including far-right and ultra-nationalist parties) to articulate a unified political agenda.
Illegal Jewish settlers understand well that the future identity of any right-wing government coalition will have a lasting impact on their colonial enterprise.
The settlers, however, are not exactly worried, since all major political parties, including that of the Blue and White, the supposedly centrist party of Benjamin Gantz, have made support for Jewish colonies an important part of their election campaigns.
The decisive vote of the Jewish settlers of the West Bank and their backers inside Israel became very clear in the last election. Their power has forced Gantz to adopt an entirely different political approach.
The man who, two days before polling day in April, criticised Netanyahu’s “irresponsible” announcement regarding his intention to annex the West Bank, is now apparently a great supporter of the settlements.
According to the Israeli news website Arutz Sheva, Gantz has vowed to continue expanding the settlements “from a strategic point of view and not as a political strategy.”
Considering the shift in Gantz’s perspective regarding the settlements Netanyahu is left with no other option but to up the ante. He is now pushing for complete and irreversible annexation of the West Bank.
Annexing the occupied Palestinian territory is, from Netanyahu’s point of view, a sound political strategy. The Israeli Prime Minister, of course, is oblivious to international law which regards Israel’s military and settler presence as illegal.
Neither Netanyahu nor any other Israeli leader, though, has ever cared about international law. All that truly counts as far as Israel is concerned, is that it has Washington’s support, both blind and unconditional.
According to the Times of Israel, Netanyahu is now officially lobbying for a public statement by US President Donald Trump to back Israel’s annexation of the West Bank. Although the White House refused to comment on the story, and an official in Netanyahu’s office claimed that it was “incorrect”, the Israeli right is on the fast track to make that annexation possible.
Encouraged by US Ambassador David Friedman’s comment that, “Israel has the right to retain some of the West Bank,” more Israeli officials are speaking boldly and openly regarding their intentions to annex the occupied territory. Netanyahu actually hinted at that possibility in August during a visit to the illegal settlement of Beit El.
“We come to build. Our hands will reach out and we will deepen our roots in our homeland, in all parts of it,” he said at a ceremony celebrating the expansion of the illegal settlements with another 650 housing units.
Unlike Netanyahu, former Israeli Justice Minister and leader of the newly-formed United Right, Ayelet Shaked, didn’t speak in code.
In an interview with the Jerusalem Post, she called for the full annexation of Area C, which constitutes nearly 60 per cent of the West Bank. “We have to apply sovereignty to Judea and Samaria,” insisted Shaked, using Biblical terminology to describe Palestinian land as if that somehow strengthened her case.
Public Security, Strategic Affairs and Information Minister Gilad Erdan, however, wants to go the extra mile. According to Arutz Sheva and the Jerusalem Post, Erdan has called for the annexation of all illegal settlements in the West Bank as well as the ouster of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Now situated at the centre of Israeli politics, Jewish settlers are enjoying the spectacle of being courted by all major political parties. Their increased violence against the indigenous Palestinians in the West Bank is a form of political muscle-flexing, an expression of dominance and a brutish display of political priorities.
“There’s only one flag from the Jordan to the sea, the flag of Israel,” was the slogan of a rally involving over 1,200 Jewish settlers who roamed the streets of the Palestinian city of Hebron on 14 August. The settlers, together with Israeli soldiers, stormed along Al-Shuhada Street and harassed Palestinian residents and international activists in the beleaguered city.
Just a few days earlier, an estimated 1,700 Jewish settlers, backed by Israeli police, stormed into Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem. According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, over 60 Palestinians were wounded when Israeli forces and settlers attacked Muslim worshippers.
The violence was repeated in Nablus, where armed women settlers stormed the town of Al-Masoudiya and conducted “military training” under the protection of the Israeli occupation army. The settlers’ message is clear: we now rule the roost, not only in the West Bank, but in Israeli politics as well.
At what cost, though? All of this is happening as if it is entirely an Israeli political affair. The PA, which has now been dropped out of US political calculations altogether, is left to issue occasional, irrelevant press releases about its intention to hold Israel accountable according to international law.
Moreover, the guardians of international law are also suspiciously absent. Neither the United Nations, nor advocates of democracy and international law in the European Union, seem to be interested in confronting Israeli intransigence and blatant violations of human rights.
With Jewish settlers dictating the political agenda in Israel, and constantly provoking Palestinians in the occupied territories, violence is likely to grow exponentially in the coming months.
As is often the case, this will be used strategically by the Israeli government, this time to set the stage for a final and complete annexation of Palestinian land. That will be a disastrous outcome, no matter which way you look at it.
Jewish Israeli settlers are on a roll as they rampage across the occupied Palestinian West Bank. While settler violence is part of the daily routine in Palestine, the violence of recent weeks is linked directly to the General Election in Israel, scheduled to be held on 17 September.
The previous election, just four months ago on 9 April, failed to bring about political stability. Although Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu is now the longest-serving Prime Minister in the 71-year history of the country, he was still unable to form a government coalition.
Tarnished by a series of corruption cases involving himself, his family and aides, Netanyahu’s leadership is in an unenviable position. Police investigators are closing in on him, while opportunistic political allies, such as Avigdor Lieberman, are twisting his arm in the hope of exacting future political concessions.
The political crisis in Israel is not the outcome of a resurrected Labor or invigorated central parties, but the failure of the Right (including far-right and ultra-nationalist parties) to articulate a unified political agenda.
Illegal Jewish settlers understand well that the future identity of any right-wing government coalition will have a lasting impact on their colonial enterprise.
The settlers, however, are not exactly worried, since all major political parties, including that of the Blue and White, the supposedly centrist party of Benjamin Gantz, have made support for Jewish colonies an important part of their election campaigns.
The decisive vote of the Jewish settlers of the West Bank and their backers inside Israel became very clear in the last election. Their power has forced Gantz to adopt an entirely different political approach.
The man who, two days before polling day in April, criticised Netanyahu’s “irresponsible” announcement regarding his intention to annex the West Bank, is now apparently a great supporter of the settlements.
According to the Israeli news website Arutz Sheva, Gantz has vowed to continue expanding the settlements “from a strategic point of view and not as a political strategy.”
Considering the shift in Gantz’s perspective regarding the settlements Netanyahu is left with no other option but to up the ante. He is now pushing for complete and irreversible annexation of the West Bank.
Annexing the occupied Palestinian territory is, from Netanyahu’s point of view, a sound political strategy. The Israeli Prime Minister, of course, is oblivious to international law which regards Israel’s military and settler presence as illegal.
Neither Netanyahu nor any other Israeli leader, though, has ever cared about international law. All that truly counts as far as Israel is concerned, is that it has Washington’s support, both blind and unconditional.
According to the Times of Israel, Netanyahu is now officially lobbying for a public statement by US President Donald Trump to back Israel’s annexation of the West Bank. Although the White House refused to comment on the story, and an official in Netanyahu’s office claimed that it was “incorrect”, the Israeli right is on the fast track to make that annexation possible.
Encouraged by US Ambassador David Friedman’s comment that, “Israel has the right to retain some of the West Bank,” more Israeli officials are speaking boldly and openly regarding their intentions to annex the occupied territory. Netanyahu actually hinted at that possibility in August during a visit to the illegal settlement of Beit El.
“We come to build. Our hands will reach out and we will deepen our roots in our homeland, in all parts of it,” he said at a ceremony celebrating the expansion of the illegal settlements with another 650 housing units.
Unlike Netanyahu, former Israeli Justice Minister and leader of the newly-formed United Right, Ayelet Shaked, didn’t speak in code.
In an interview with the Jerusalem Post, she called for the full annexation of Area C, which constitutes nearly 60 per cent of the West Bank. “We have to apply sovereignty to Judea and Samaria,” insisted Shaked, using Biblical terminology to describe Palestinian land as if that somehow strengthened her case.
Public Security, Strategic Affairs and Information Minister Gilad Erdan, however, wants to go the extra mile. According to Arutz Sheva and the Jerusalem Post, Erdan has called for the annexation of all illegal settlements in the West Bank as well as the ouster of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Now situated at the centre of Israeli politics, Jewish settlers are enjoying the spectacle of being courted by all major political parties. Their increased violence against the indigenous Palestinians in the West Bank is a form of political muscle-flexing, an expression of dominance and a brutish display of political priorities.
“There’s only one flag from the Jordan to the sea, the flag of Israel,” was the slogan of a rally involving over 1,200 Jewish settlers who roamed the streets of the Palestinian city of Hebron on 14 August. The settlers, together with Israeli soldiers, stormed along Al-Shuhada Street and harassed Palestinian residents and international activists in the beleaguered city.
Just a few days earlier, an estimated 1,700 Jewish settlers, backed by Israeli police, stormed into Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem. According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, over 60 Palestinians were wounded when Israeli forces and settlers attacked Muslim worshippers.
The violence was repeated in Nablus, where armed women settlers stormed the town of Al-Masoudiya and conducted “military training” under the protection of the Israeli occupation army. The settlers’ message is clear: we now rule the roost, not only in the West Bank, but in Israeli politics as well.
At what cost, though? All of this is happening as if it is entirely an Israeli political affair. The PA, which has now been dropped out of US political calculations altogether, is left to issue occasional, irrelevant press releases about its intention to hold Israel accountable according to international law.
Moreover, the guardians of international law are also suspiciously absent. Neither the United Nations, nor advocates of democracy and international law in the European Union, seem to be interested in confronting Israeli intransigence and blatant violations of human rights.
With Jewish settlers dictating the political agenda in Israel, and constantly provoking Palestinians in the occupied territories, violence is likely to grow exponentially in the coming months.
As is often the case, this will be used strategically by the Israeli government, this time to set the stage for a final and complete annexation of Palestinian land. That will be a disastrous outcome, no matter which way you look at it.
Dozens of Jewish settlers broke into the Aqsa Mosque in Occupied Jerusalem on Monday morning amidst restrictions imposed on Palestinians’ entry to the holy Islamic site.
Israeli policemen stormed the holy site and kept Palestinian worshipers away from the planned tours of the Jewish settlers, some of whom tried to perform Talmudic rituals near the Dome of the Rock.
Islamic Awkaf officials said that the settlers conducted provocative tours of the holy site as Israeli policemen restricted the entry of Palestinian worshipers and took their IDs before allowing them access.
The officials said that 114 settlers roamed the Aqsa courtyards under heavy police protection.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center said that 2233 Jewish settlers had defiled the Aqsa Mosque in July.
Israeli policemen stormed the holy site and kept Palestinian worshipers away from the planned tours of the Jewish settlers, some of whom tried to perform Talmudic rituals near the Dome of the Rock.
Islamic Awkaf officials said that the settlers conducted provocative tours of the holy site as Israeli policemen restricted the entry of Palestinian worshipers and took their IDs before allowing them access.
The officials said that 114 settlers roamed the Aqsa courtyards under heavy police protection.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center said that 2233 Jewish settlers had defiled the Aqsa Mosque in July.
18 aug 2019
Hordes of Israeli settlers on Sunday forced their way into al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem under police guard.
Local sources said that 79 Jewish settlers and 45 Israeli intelligence officers broke into al-Aqsa Mosque and roamed its courtyards.
Israeli settlers carry out daily break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque, except on Fridays and Saturdays, in two rounds: in the morning and afternoon.
Local sources said that 79 Jewish settlers and 45 Israeli intelligence officers broke into al-Aqsa Mosque and roamed its courtyards.
Israeli settlers carry out daily break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque, except on Fridays and Saturdays, in two rounds: in the morning and afternoon.
16 aug 2019
Dozens of Israeli settlers on Friday morning raided al-Walaja village northwest of Bethlehem City under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces.
Activist Ibrahim Awadallah said that groups of Israeli settlers, accompanied by armed forces, stormed al-Walaja and deployed in its agricultural lands.
Since the first day of Eid al-Adha, al-Walaja village has been subjected to regular raids during which the Israeli forces handed several Palestinian families stop-construction orders.
There are 503 random settler outposts in the West Bank and Jerusalem. Nearly 800,000 Israeli settlers live there and they carry out almost daily attacks on the Palestinians and their property.
Activist Ibrahim Awadallah said that groups of Israeli settlers, accompanied by armed forces, stormed al-Walaja and deployed in its agricultural lands.
Since the first day of Eid al-Adha, al-Walaja village has been subjected to regular raids during which the Israeli forces handed several Palestinian families stop-construction orders.
There are 503 random settler outposts in the West Bank and Jerusalem. Nearly 800,000 Israeli settlers live there and they carry out almost daily attacks on the Palestinians and their property.
Ala'a Khidr Al-Harimi, 26
Israeli sources have reported that two colonialist settlers were injured, Friday, after being rammed by a Palestinian driver, near Gush Etzion colony, north of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. The sources said the Palestinian driver was “neutralized.”
One of the Israeli colonists, 18 years of age, was seriously wounded in the incident, and a 19-year-old suffered a moderate injury.
Israeli Ynetnews said “it remains unclear whether the incident was a deliberate attack, or a traffic accident,” and added that the driver was “neutralized.”
Israeli daily Haaretz said the driver, who has not been identified at the time of this report, was pronounced dead at the scene. video
Two settlers injured in alleged car-ramming attack in W. Bank
Two Jewish settlers were injured in a car-ramming attack that took place on Friday afternoon in the illegal settlement of Gush Etzion in the Occupied West Bank, according to Israeli media reports.
A 17-year-old male settler and a 20-year-old female settler were injured in the incident.
The male youth is in serious condition suffering from a severe head wound while the other settler has moderate injuries. Both were rushed to Hadassah Hospital in Occupied Jerusalem.
The driver behind the vehicular attack has been killed by Israeli soldiers. The Israeli occupation army claimed the driver attempted to flee the scene but was shot dead before getting away.
The incident took place near highway 60 in the West Bank settlement of Gush Etzion, about seven miles away from Bethlehem.
Israeli sources have reported that two colonialist settlers were injured, Friday, after being rammed by a Palestinian driver, near Gush Etzion colony, north of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. The sources said the Palestinian driver was “neutralized.”
One of the Israeli colonists, 18 years of age, was seriously wounded in the incident, and a 19-year-old suffered a moderate injury.
Israeli Ynetnews said “it remains unclear whether the incident was a deliberate attack, or a traffic accident,” and added that the driver was “neutralized.”
Israeli daily Haaretz said the driver, who has not been identified at the time of this report, was pronounced dead at the scene. video
Two settlers injured in alleged car-ramming attack in W. Bank
Two Jewish settlers were injured in a car-ramming attack that took place on Friday afternoon in the illegal settlement of Gush Etzion in the Occupied West Bank, according to Israeli media reports.
A 17-year-old male settler and a 20-year-old female settler were injured in the incident.
The male youth is in serious condition suffering from a severe head wound while the other settler has moderate injuries. Both were rushed to Hadassah Hospital in Occupied Jerusalem.
The driver behind the vehicular attack has been killed by Israeli soldiers. The Israeli occupation army claimed the driver attempted to flee the scene but was shot dead before getting away.
The incident took place near highway 60 in the West Bank settlement of Gush Etzion, about seven miles away from Bethlehem.
15 aug 2019
Scores of Jewish settlers broke into the Aqsa Mosque in Occupied Jerusalem on Thursday led by the Israeli minister of agriculture Uri Ariel.
Sources in the holy Islamic site said that the Jewish settlers defiled the Aqsa Mosque in droves and were protected by Israeli special forces.
They pointed out that Ariel was heading a group of those settlers and toured its courtyards.
Sources in the holy Islamic site said that the Jewish settlers defiled the Aqsa Mosque in droves and were protected by Israeli special forces.
They pointed out that Ariel was heading a group of those settlers and toured its courtyards.
Herds of Israeli settlers on Thursday morning sprayed racist slogans on houses and vehicles of Salfit.
Eyewitnesses said that a group of settlers raided the town of Zawiya, Salfit, and wrote racist slogans on the walls of a number of houses and vehicles.
Settlers spray graffiti on Palestinian property in Zawiya town
Jewish settlers on Thursday spray-painted racist graffiti on Palestinian cars and walls of homes in az-Zawiya town in Salfit province, north of the occupied West Bank.
According to eyewitnesses, a horde of settlers infiltrated into az-Zawiya town and defaced walls and cars with racist slogans in Hebrew.
Incidents of sabotage and violence by extremist Jewish settlers against Palestinians and their property are a daily occurrence throughout the West Bank.
However, Israeli law enforcement authorities exhibit extreme incompetence in addressing such widespread occurrence of settlers’ crimes.
The vast majority of investigation files regarding harm to Palestinians and their property are closed due to deliberate police failure to investigate properly. The deficiencies and flaws in the work of the Israeli police are clearly noticed at every stage of an investigation when the victim is a Palestinian citizen.
Eyewitnesses said that a group of settlers raided the town of Zawiya, Salfit, and wrote racist slogans on the walls of a number of houses and vehicles.
Settlers spray graffiti on Palestinian property in Zawiya town
Jewish settlers on Thursday spray-painted racist graffiti on Palestinian cars and walls of homes in az-Zawiya town in Salfit province, north of the occupied West Bank.
According to eyewitnesses, a horde of settlers infiltrated into az-Zawiya town and defaced walls and cars with racist slogans in Hebrew.
Incidents of sabotage and violence by extremist Jewish settlers against Palestinians and their property are a daily occurrence throughout the West Bank.
However, Israeli law enforcement authorities exhibit extreme incompetence in addressing such widespread occurrence of settlers’ crimes.
The vast majority of investigation files regarding harm to Palestinians and their property are closed due to deliberate police failure to investigate properly. The deficiencies and flaws in the work of the Israeli police are clearly noticed at every stage of an investigation when the victim is a Palestinian citizen.
14 aug 2019
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife, Sara, (C) joins the ceremony for new immigrants from the United States and Canada at Ben Gurion Airport in the Israeli-occupied territories on August 14, 2019
Nearly 250 new immigrants from the United States and Canada have arrived in the Israeli-occupied territories and been received by Israeli officials amid the sounds of shofar blasts and the cheering of hundreds of Jewish extremists, as opposed to the Tel Aviv regime’s controversial plan to expel thousands of African refugees.
On Wednesday, a total of 242 immigrants landed at Ben Gurion Airport on a special flight chartered by Nefesh B'Nefesh – an organization which promotes and facilitates Aliyah (Jewish immigration to Israel) from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, and facilitated in cooperation with Israel’s Aliyah and Integration Ministry, the Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth Le’Israel (KKL), and Jewish National Fund-USA.
The group of immigrants, which included 31 families, hail from Canada and over 20 American states, and plan to settle throughout the Israeli-occupied lands.
Of the people, who decked out in Nefesh B’Nefesh caps and T-shirts, 41 plan to join the Israeli military as lone soldiers, and 103 are under the age of 18.
“You, the lone soldiers, I especially welcome. Welcome to Israel and welcome to the Israeli army… All of Israel embraces you today; we are all your family.
Even if you are called ‘lone soldiers’ – you are not alone: We are always with you,” Sara Netanyahu, the wife of the Israeli prime minister, said. tweet
The development comes as Israeli authorities are mulling over the deportation of a Filipina migrant worker and her teenage son born in Israeli-occupied territories.
Rosemarie Perez was arrested by immigration officials along with her 13-year-old son, Rohan, last week for visa overstays.
A Tel Aviv administrative tribunal ruled on Sunday that the two could be deported to the Philippines. They were taken to Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, but later taken off the plane.
This summer, the Israeli Interior Ministry's Population and Immigration Authority is planning to deport dozens of Filipina workers, whose visas were not renewed after they had children in the occupied territories.
Some 600 families could now face expulsion over a loss of residency status, according to the United Children of Israel (UCI) association.
In January 2018, Israeli officials approved a plan that asked asylum seekers to choose between indefinite detention in an Israeli prison or deportation to a third country in Africa.
Of the roughly 40,000 asylum seekers in Israel, Eritreans make up about 75 percent.
Most of them entered Israel via the Sinai Desert between 2006 and 2012, crossing over the Egyptian border before that route was cut off when Israel erected a fence in 2013.
Nearly 250 new immigrants from the United States and Canada have arrived in the Israeli-occupied territories and been received by Israeli officials amid the sounds of shofar blasts and the cheering of hundreds of Jewish extremists, as opposed to the Tel Aviv regime’s controversial plan to expel thousands of African refugees.
On Wednesday, a total of 242 immigrants landed at Ben Gurion Airport on a special flight chartered by Nefesh B'Nefesh – an organization which promotes and facilitates Aliyah (Jewish immigration to Israel) from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, and facilitated in cooperation with Israel’s Aliyah and Integration Ministry, the Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth Le’Israel (KKL), and Jewish National Fund-USA.
The group of immigrants, which included 31 families, hail from Canada and over 20 American states, and plan to settle throughout the Israeli-occupied lands.
Of the people, who decked out in Nefesh B’Nefesh caps and T-shirts, 41 plan to join the Israeli military as lone soldiers, and 103 are under the age of 18.
“You, the lone soldiers, I especially welcome. Welcome to Israel and welcome to the Israeli army… All of Israel embraces you today; we are all your family.
Even if you are called ‘lone soldiers’ – you are not alone: We are always with you,” Sara Netanyahu, the wife of the Israeli prime minister, said. tweet
The development comes as Israeli authorities are mulling over the deportation of a Filipina migrant worker and her teenage son born in Israeli-occupied territories.
Rosemarie Perez was arrested by immigration officials along with her 13-year-old son, Rohan, last week for visa overstays.
A Tel Aviv administrative tribunal ruled on Sunday that the two could be deported to the Philippines. They were taken to Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, but later taken off the plane.
This summer, the Israeli Interior Ministry's Population and Immigration Authority is planning to deport dozens of Filipina workers, whose visas were not renewed after they had children in the occupied territories.
Some 600 families could now face expulsion over a loss of residency status, according to the United Children of Israel (UCI) association.
In January 2018, Israeli officials approved a plan that asked asylum seekers to choose between indefinite detention in an Israeli prison or deportation to a third country in Africa.
Of the roughly 40,000 asylum seekers in Israel, Eritreans make up about 75 percent.
Most of them entered Israel via the Sinai Desert between 2006 and 2012, crossing over the Egyptian border before that route was cut off when Israel erected a fence in 2013.
The presidency warned Israel today against attempts to change the existing status quo in Al-Aqsa Mosque, condemning in particular statements by the Israeli Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan in which he called for changing the historical status quo at the Muslim holy site by allowing Jews to worship there as well.
"We condemn these statements aimed at increasing tension and fueling the feelings of the Palestinian people and the Arab and Islamic nations," said the presidency in a statement, stressing that "Al-Aqsa Mosque is a red line and will not be touched in any way."
The statement held the Israeli government responsible for the provocations and attacks by Jewish fanatics on religious places in occupied Jerusalem, especially against the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
It called on the international community to intervene to pressure Israel to stop these provocations, which if continued will lead to a situation that will not be controlled and has very serious consequences.
The presidency asserted that the Palestinian leadership, headed by President Mahmoud Abbas, is in coordination and continuous contact with the various concerned parties to bring a halt to the attacks against Al-Aqsa Mosque by Jewish extremists under the protection of the Israeli government.
"We condemn these statements aimed at increasing tension and fueling the feelings of the Palestinian people and the Arab and Islamic nations," said the presidency in a statement, stressing that "Al-Aqsa Mosque is a red line and will not be touched in any way."
The statement held the Israeli government responsible for the provocations and attacks by Jewish fanatics on religious places in occupied Jerusalem, especially against the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
It called on the international community to intervene to pressure Israel to stop these provocations, which if continued will lead to a situation that will not be controlled and has very serious consequences.
The presidency asserted that the Palestinian leadership, headed by President Mahmoud Abbas, is in coordination and continuous contact with the various concerned parties to bring a halt to the attacks against Al-Aqsa Mosque by Jewish extremists under the protection of the Israeli government.
13 aug 2019
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Several armed illegal Israeli colonialist settlers, accompanied by soldiers, invaded the al-Mas’udiyya area, on Palestinian lands in Burqa village, northwest of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and conducted training.
Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian official who monitors Israel’s illegal colonialist activities in northern West Bank, said the colonists were armed with assault rifles, and conducted training in the archeological site. He added that the soldiers closed the area and surrounded it, before allowing the colonist in, and prevented the Palestinians from entering. Daghlas stated that the colonists were mainly women and children, and almost all of them were armed. Al-Mas’udiyya area is a destination for internal Palestinian tourism and is known for once having the railway station during the Ottoman era. |
When the railway lines were functional during the Ottoman era, they linked the area with Haifa, and all the way to Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
