29 dec 2015
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested Tuesday evening four Palestinian youths from al-Mughir village north of Ramallah after they were kidnapped by Israeli settlers from the illegal settlement of Adi Ad.
Head of the village council Yasser Haj Mohamed said that Israeli settlers kidnapped four Palestinian youths after they stopped their vehicle near the village.
Few hours later, the Palestinian military liaison office informed the four youths’ families that their sons were arrested by the Israeli forces and taken to a nearby military camp after being kidnapped by a group of settlers.
Local residents gathered near Adi Ad settlement demanding the immediate release of the four youths, head of the village council added.
Meanwhile, IOF arrested a Palestinian young man after breaking into Jalama town northeast of Jenin.
Local sources identified the detainees as Rami Abu Farha, 20.
According to recent report, 6830 Palestinians were detained over 2015, an increase of 12.7% in comparison with 2014.
Head of the village council Yasser Haj Mohamed said that Israeli settlers kidnapped four Palestinian youths after they stopped their vehicle near the village.
Few hours later, the Palestinian military liaison office informed the four youths’ families that their sons were arrested by the Israeli forces and taken to a nearby military camp after being kidnapped by a group of settlers.
Local residents gathered near Adi Ad settlement demanding the immediate release of the four youths, head of the village council added.
Meanwhile, IOF arrested a Palestinian young man after breaking into Jalama town northeast of Jenin.
Local sources identified the detainees as Rami Abu Farha, 20.
According to recent report, 6830 Palestinians were detained over 2015, an increase of 12.7% in comparison with 2014.
After a court order was given in favor of al-Khayat family, the house stolen by the settler organization Elad was restored to its rightful owners.
The Israeli Magistrate Court refused an appeal submitted by Elad against its earlier decision to evacuate the confiscated house in favor of al-Khayat family.
Elad organization that seeks to increase Israeli settlements in occupied Jerusalem has confiscated last year along with Kandel Company 25 Palestinian houses including al-Khayat family’s house.
Since then, al-Khayat family filed a complaint demanding the evacuation of their stolen house.
The family’s lawyer told the PIC reporter that the Magistrate Court had accepted the complaint and ordered the evacuation of the house on Nov. 22, 2014 after Elad and Kandel failed to prove their purchase of the house.
However, Elad organization gained a court order from the District Court to stop the evacuation process of the house after appealing against the Magistrate Court’s evacuation order.
After long deliberations, the District Court refused Elad’s appeal and ordered the evacuation of the house in favor of al-Khayat family.
"We will start implementing the court order within the coming few days", the lawyer added.
The Israeli Magistrate Court refused an appeal submitted by Elad against its earlier decision to evacuate the confiscated house in favor of al-Khayat family.
Elad organization that seeks to increase Israeli settlements in occupied Jerusalem has confiscated last year along with Kandel Company 25 Palestinian houses including al-Khayat family’s house.
Since then, al-Khayat family filed a complaint demanding the evacuation of their stolen house.
The family’s lawyer told the PIC reporter that the Magistrate Court had accepted the complaint and ordered the evacuation of the house on Nov. 22, 2014 after Elad and Kandel failed to prove their purchase of the house.
However, Elad organization gained a court order from the District Court to stop the evacuation process of the house after appealing against the Magistrate Court’s evacuation order.
After long deliberations, the District Court refused Elad’s appeal and ordered the evacuation of the house in favor of al-Khayat family.
"We will start implementing the court order within the coming few days", the lawyer added.
Hordes of Israeli fanatics, escorted by police forces, stormed on Tuesday morning Muslims’ the holy al-Aqsa Mosque via the Maghareba Gate.
The settler groups performed sacrilegious rituals, provoking the anger of the peaceful Muslim sit-inners and learners who kept chanting “Allah is the Greatest” in protest at the break-in.
The Israeli occupation police also cracked down on the Muslim women, denying them access into al-Aqsa Mosque to perform their religious prayers.
Israeli extremist settlers have often desecrated the holy al-Aqsa Mosque—the third holiest site in Islam—sparking widespread tension across the occupied Palestinian territories.
Meanwhile, Israeli army troops rolled into Kifl Haris town, in northern Salfit, and provided a security shield for the extremist settlers who stormed Islamic holy places of worship in the area.
Eyewitnesses said several Israeli settlers flocked to the town in the early morning hours and performed provocative rituals.
The Israeli occupation soldiers reportedly broke into Palestinian civilian homes and ravaged them without prior notifications.
The settler groups performed sacrilegious rituals, provoking the anger of the peaceful Muslim sit-inners and learners who kept chanting “Allah is the Greatest” in protest at the break-in.
The Israeli occupation police also cracked down on the Muslim women, denying them access into al-Aqsa Mosque to perform their religious prayers.
Israeli extremist settlers have often desecrated the holy al-Aqsa Mosque—the third holiest site in Islam—sparking widespread tension across the occupied Palestinian territories.
Meanwhile, Israeli army troops rolled into Kifl Haris town, in northern Salfit, and provided a security shield for the extremist settlers who stormed Islamic holy places of worship in the area.
Eyewitnesses said several Israeli settlers flocked to the town in the early morning hours and performed provocative rituals.
The Israeli occupation soldiers reportedly broke into Palestinian civilian homes and ravaged them without prior notifications.
A net installed in the Old City to prevent garbage dropped by Israeli settlers into a Palestinian area.
An Israeli settler, on Tuesday, attacked four children in the old city of Hebron, causing them injuries and bruises.
WAFA correspondence said that an illegal Israeli settler, protected by Israeli forces, attacked Dana al-Tamimi, age 7, striking her repeatedly on her head and face, smashing her teeth and causing her bruises and cuts on her head.
Israeli soldiers reportedly prevented paramedics’ access to the scene of the attack, However, Dana’s father managed to carry her away and put her in an ambulance for medical treatment. Forces also reportedly beat three other children, including Dana’s 10-year-old brother, Mo’tasm. The other two were identified as brothers Nabil and Farhat al-Rajbi, ages 10 and 14.
An Israeli settler, on Tuesday, attacked four children in the old city of Hebron, causing them injuries and bruises.
WAFA correspondence said that an illegal Israeli settler, protected by Israeli forces, attacked Dana al-Tamimi, age 7, striking her repeatedly on her head and face, smashing her teeth and causing her bruises and cuts on her head.
Israeli soldiers reportedly prevented paramedics’ access to the scene of the attack, However, Dana’s father managed to carry her away and put her in an ambulance for medical treatment. Forces also reportedly beat three other children, including Dana’s 10-year-old brother, Mo’tasm. The other two were identified as brothers Nabil and Farhat al-Rajbi, ages 10 and 14.
The Israeli notorious settler Baruch Marzel attacked on Monday the Palestinian girl Dania Abu Ramlia near a make-shift military checkpoint, south of al-Khalil.
The brutal attack was carried out under the protection of Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) who were stationed in the area.
Medical sources said that the girl suffered moderate injuries all over her body.
Despite the fact that the international humanitarian law requires the "State of Israel" to provide protection for Palestinian civilians who reside in the territory it occupies, settlers’ attacks that take place on the ground and mostly go without punishment indicate that the occupying power feed settlers violence in the occupied West Bank, and encourages settlers to commit more crimes against Palestinians.
The brutal attack was carried out under the protection of Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) who were stationed in the area.
Medical sources said that the girl suffered moderate injuries all over her body.
Despite the fact that the international humanitarian law requires the "State of Israel" to provide protection for Palestinian civilians who reside in the territory it occupies, settlers’ attacks that take place on the ground and mostly go without punishment indicate that the occupying power feed settlers violence in the occupied West Bank, and encourages settlers to commit more crimes against Palestinians.
28 dec 2015
Haaretz newspaper has affirmed that the Israeli authorities refused to compensate for the damage which extremist Jewish settlers had caused last June to the Palestinian Church of the Multiplication at Tabgha near the Sea of Galilee.
The Israeli authorities even refuses to repair the extensive material damage which the Church has sustained in the settlers' arson attack, the newspaper added.
Haaretz newspaper quoted Father Nicodemus Schnabel, spokesman for the Benedictine Order in the 1948 occupied lands, as saying that the Israeli property tax authority had informed the Church leaders that it would not pay any compensation for the fire damage at the pretext that it was an anti-Christian hate crime and not a terror attack.
The Israeli authorities even refuses to repair the extensive material damage which the Church has sustained in the settlers' arson attack, the newspaper added.
Haaretz newspaper quoted Father Nicodemus Schnabel, spokesman for the Benedictine Order in the 1948 occupied lands, as saying that the Israeli property tax authority had informed the Church leaders that it would not pay any compensation for the fire damage at the pretext that it was an anti-Christian hate crime and not a terror attack.
In a blatant violation of the Muslims' freedom of worship, the Israeli prosecution office has asked a court in Occupied Jerusalem to criminalize the use of the Islamic Thakbir expression, "Allahu Akbar (God is the greatest)," inside the Aqsa Mosque.
This came up after the Israeli police arrested a Palestinian young man from the 1948 occupied lands on a charge of shouting Allahu Akbar as a horde of Jewish settlers were touring the Mosque's courtyards.
The police claimed that chanting such a religious slogan would stir up riots at the Mosque.
Palestinian lawyer Ramzi Katilat described the Israeli step as a dangerous precedent, pointing out that the previous arrest incidents that had happened at the Mosque because of shouting Thakbir were not dealt with as a crime and only led the police to question the detainee and then release him or ban his entry to the Islamic holy shrine.
Katilat affirmed that he and other lawyers would file a petition with the same court to explain that the Thakbir chant inside the Mosque is part of the freedoms of worship and expression and how the prosecutor's request would violate these rights.
This came up after the Israeli police arrested a Palestinian young man from the 1948 occupied lands on a charge of shouting Allahu Akbar as a horde of Jewish settlers were touring the Mosque's courtyards.
The police claimed that chanting such a religious slogan would stir up riots at the Mosque.
Palestinian lawyer Ramzi Katilat described the Israeli step as a dangerous precedent, pointing out that the previous arrest incidents that had happened at the Mosque because of shouting Thakbir were not dealt with as a crime and only led the police to question the detainee and then release him or ban his entry to the Islamic holy shrine.
Katilat affirmed that he and other lawyers would file a petition with the same court to explain that the Thakbir chant inside the Mosque is part of the freedoms of worship and expression and how the prosecutor's request would violate these rights.
A group of Israeli settlers attacked late Sunday Palestinian vehicles while passing near al-Bireh city in the West Bank.
Local sources affirmed that settlers from Beit El illegal settlement stoned Palestinian cars passing at the main road near Jalazoun refugee camp in al-Bireh city.
Attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians in the West Bank have escalated recently from what was already an unacceptably high level.
Local sources affirmed that settlers from Beit El illegal settlement stoned Palestinian cars passing at the main road near Jalazoun refugee camp in al-Bireh city.
Attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians in the West Bank have escalated recently from what was already an unacceptably high level.
Violent clashes erupted late Sunday throughout Bethlehem to the south of occupied West Bank.
Local sources said that the clashes broke out at the northern entrance to the city when Israeli forces stormed the city amid heavy fire of tear gas bombs.
Local youths responded by throwing stones at the invading soldiers after they closed the main road, north of the city.
A nearby Israeli military watchtower was also targeted with Molotov cocktails, while Israeli forces opened their gunfire at the protesters.
Also in Bethlehem, Israeli settlers fired live ammunition at Palestinian youths in al-Khuder town after their cars were allegedly stoned in the area.
On the other hand, Israeli forces targeted local homes in Beit Jabarin refugee camp, north of Bethlehem, with tear gas bombs, causing a number of tear gas suffocation cases among locals.
In Nablus, Israeli forces stormed Sunday evening al-Lubban town and heavily fired tear gas bombs at the citizens.
The IOF soldiers also closed the main entrance to the town and prevented the people’s movement in both directions.
Israeli soldiers earlier claimed that an Israeli settler was attacked with Molotov cocktails with no injuries reported.
Local sources said that the clashes broke out at the northern entrance to the city when Israeli forces stormed the city amid heavy fire of tear gas bombs.
Local youths responded by throwing stones at the invading soldiers after they closed the main road, north of the city.
A nearby Israeli military watchtower was also targeted with Molotov cocktails, while Israeli forces opened their gunfire at the protesters.
Also in Bethlehem, Israeli settlers fired live ammunition at Palestinian youths in al-Khuder town after their cars were allegedly stoned in the area.
On the other hand, Israeli forces targeted local homes in Beit Jabarin refugee camp, north of Bethlehem, with tear gas bombs, causing a number of tear gas suffocation cases among locals.
In Nablus, Israeli forces stormed Sunday evening al-Lubban town and heavily fired tear gas bombs at the citizens.
The IOF soldiers also closed the main entrance to the town and prevented the people’s movement in both directions.
Israeli soldiers earlier claimed that an Israeli settler was attacked with Molotov cocktails with no injuries reported.
27 dec 2015
In lieu of growing Israeli focus on Jewish extremism, Israel’s Prime Minister on Sunday said that comparing “Arab terror and Jewish terror” was impossible, Israeli media reported.
During a weekly meeting, Benjamin Netanyahu said: "Here we condemn and they [the Palestinians] praise," according to Israeli daily Haaretz.
The PM said that "Jewish terror" was rare, while “Arab terror” frequently took place on a large scale.
Netanyahu stated that while Israeli leadership condemned terror attacks carried out by Jews, the Palestinian Authority “encourages terror and incites.”
The statement comes as ongoing investigations into the murder of three members of the Palestinian Dawabsha family by Jewish extremists as well as video footage released from an Israeli wedding party celebrating violence against Palestinians has been at the epicenter of Israeli public discussion.
Focus on the growing influence of Israeli extremist groups also coincides with a wave of violence that has left nearly 140 Palestinians and 20 Israelis dead since Oct. 1.
The majority of Palestinians were killed while carrying out attacks on Israeli military and civilians. Palestinian leadership has yet to condemn the individual attacks but has criticized Israel for its response to the recent violence.
While condemning the attacks, a UN official earlier this month said: “The injustices associated with an occupation which shows no prospect of ending feed into a perspective -- particularly among the youth -- that they have nothing to lose by sacrificing their lives."
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon on Saturday said that recent cases of Jewish extremism had caused politicians to ignore “seemingly less serious” offenses against Palestinians and their property, in effect supporting the perpetrators, according to Haaretz.
Focus on the cases have put other offenses on the back burner, Yaalon said, including the uprooting of Palestinian olive trees and the burning of Palestinian property by Israeli settlers.
The minister said that encouragement from ministers and members of Knesset for settlement expansion as well as verbal attacks on public figures helped to enable incidents like the Dawabsha murder and incitement, Haaretz reported.
Threat of ‘Jewish terror’
Israel has received criticism from the international community and rights groups in the past regarding government policies that encourage violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.
Israeli police earlier this week opened an investigation into the wedding of two right-wing Israelis after a video showed attendees dancing and singing songs about revenge while waving knives and guns in the air.
At one point during the ceremony, a masked Israeli youth waves a firebomb while another stabs a photo of Ali Dawabsha, an 18-month-old Palestinian burned alive in the arson attack that also left his parents dead.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said at the time that the video showed "the real face of a group that poses danger to Israeli society and security,” the daily said.
The suspects in the Dawabsha murder case have yet to be convicted, and Israel’s domestic security agency Shin Bet has received push-back from right-wing groups over its conduct in the investigation.
The Shin Bet last week warned that the case revealed the growing threat of Jewish terror organizations against the Israeli state as well as regional security.
Israeli settlers regularly carry out attacks on Palestinians and their property, purportedly in revenge for actions taken by Palestinians or the Israeli government against the illegal settlement enterprise.
The attacks -- over 324 of which were carried out in 2014 according to UN documentation -- were labelled as “acts of terrorism” by the US government in 2013.
During a weekly meeting, Benjamin Netanyahu said: "Here we condemn and they [the Palestinians] praise," according to Israeli daily Haaretz.
The PM said that "Jewish terror" was rare, while “Arab terror” frequently took place on a large scale.
Netanyahu stated that while Israeli leadership condemned terror attacks carried out by Jews, the Palestinian Authority “encourages terror and incites.”
The statement comes as ongoing investigations into the murder of three members of the Palestinian Dawabsha family by Jewish extremists as well as video footage released from an Israeli wedding party celebrating violence against Palestinians has been at the epicenter of Israeli public discussion.
Focus on the growing influence of Israeli extremist groups also coincides with a wave of violence that has left nearly 140 Palestinians and 20 Israelis dead since Oct. 1.
The majority of Palestinians were killed while carrying out attacks on Israeli military and civilians. Palestinian leadership has yet to condemn the individual attacks but has criticized Israel for its response to the recent violence.
While condemning the attacks, a UN official earlier this month said: “The injustices associated with an occupation which shows no prospect of ending feed into a perspective -- particularly among the youth -- that they have nothing to lose by sacrificing their lives."
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon on Saturday said that recent cases of Jewish extremism had caused politicians to ignore “seemingly less serious” offenses against Palestinians and their property, in effect supporting the perpetrators, according to Haaretz.
Focus on the cases have put other offenses on the back burner, Yaalon said, including the uprooting of Palestinian olive trees and the burning of Palestinian property by Israeli settlers.
The minister said that encouragement from ministers and members of Knesset for settlement expansion as well as verbal attacks on public figures helped to enable incidents like the Dawabsha murder and incitement, Haaretz reported.
Threat of ‘Jewish terror’
Israel has received criticism from the international community and rights groups in the past regarding government policies that encourage violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.
Israeli police earlier this week opened an investigation into the wedding of two right-wing Israelis after a video showed attendees dancing and singing songs about revenge while waving knives and guns in the air.
At one point during the ceremony, a masked Israeli youth waves a firebomb while another stabs a photo of Ali Dawabsha, an 18-month-old Palestinian burned alive in the arson attack that also left his parents dead.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said at the time that the video showed "the real face of a group that poses danger to Israeli society and security,” the daily said.
The suspects in the Dawabsha murder case have yet to be convicted, and Israel’s domestic security agency Shin Bet has received push-back from right-wing groups over its conduct in the investigation.
The Shin Bet last week warned that the case revealed the growing threat of Jewish terror organizations against the Israeli state as well as regional security.
Israeli settlers regularly carry out attacks on Palestinians and their property, purportedly in revenge for actions taken by Palestinians or the Israeli government against the illegal settlement enterprise.
The attacks -- over 324 of which were carried out in 2014 according to UN documentation -- were labelled as “acts of terrorism” by the US government in 2013.
The Israeli occupation police on Sunday morning allowed a horde of Jewish settlers to desecrate the Aqsa Mosque's courtyards under security protection.
Local sources said that Palestinian men and women inside the Mosque compound chanted religious slogans to express their protest at the desecration of the Islamic holy site by settlers and police officers.
Meanwhile, policemen at the entrances to the Mosque imposed entry restrictions on Palestinian young men and women.
The same sources said the policemen confiscated ID cards of Palestinian young people and searched them before allowing them to enter the Mosque.
Local sources said that Palestinian men and women inside the Mosque compound chanted religious slogans to express their protest at the desecration of the Islamic holy site by settlers and police officers.
Meanwhile, policemen at the entrances to the Mosque imposed entry restrictions on Palestinian young men and women.
The same sources said the policemen confiscated ID cards of Palestinian young people and searched them before allowing them to enter the Mosque.
A 23-year-old Palestinian girl on Saturday evening suffered neck injuries and a trauma after fanatic Jewish settlers attacked her car and physically assaulted her in an attempt to kidnap her in Occupied Jerusalem.
A group of masked and armed settlers threw stones and opened fire at the car of Inas Asiyouri and then assaulted her after she lost her way and arrived in Ramot area near Shuafat town, northeast of Jerusalem, according to her husband Samer Asiyouri.
The husband explained that the settlers forced his wife to stop and leave her vehicle before one of them grabbed hold of her coat and tried to strangle her, but she managed to slip out of the coat and run away.
He added that the settlers stole her cellphone and caused damage to the car, noting that his wife was admitted to Hadassah hospital in Jerusalem for medical treatment.
A group of masked and armed settlers threw stones and opened fire at the car of Inas Asiyouri and then assaulted her after she lost her way and arrived in Ramot area near Shuafat town, northeast of Jerusalem, according to her husband Samer Asiyouri.
The husband explained that the settlers forced his wife to stop and leave her vehicle before one of them grabbed hold of her coat and tried to strangle her, but she managed to slip out of the coat and run away.
He added that the settlers stole her cellphone and caused damage to the car, noting that his wife was admitted to Hadassah hospital in Jerusalem for medical treatment.
25 dec 2015
The Israeli district court in Occupied Jerusalem on Thursday accepted to discuss the mental status of Yosef Haim Ben-David, the Jewish settler who masterminded the brutal murder of Palestinian teenager Mohamed Abu Khudair, in an attempt to acquit him.
The same court refused last month to condemn Ben-David at the pretext that he could be mentally disordered, although it admitted that he and his accomplices committed the crime.
The court decided to give more time to determine the mental state of Ben-David, the only adult suspect in the murder of Abu Khudair, after the defense submitted a medical report claiming their defendant as mentally ill and thus ineligible to stand trial.
For his part, lawyer Muhannad Jabara, who represents the family of Abu Khudair, said that the court agreed to study the medical report of the accused and listen to the psychiatrist who wrote the report.
Jabara added that a court hearing would be held on January 20 to look into the report.
16-year-old Mohamed Abu Khudair was kidnapped and burned alive in Occupied Jerusalem by Ben-David and two of his followers on July 2, 2014.
The same court refused last month to condemn Ben-David at the pretext that he could be mentally disordered, although it admitted that he and his accomplices committed the crime.
The court decided to give more time to determine the mental state of Ben-David, the only adult suspect in the murder of Abu Khudair, after the defense submitted a medical report claiming their defendant as mentally ill and thus ineligible to stand trial.
For his part, lawyer Muhannad Jabara, who represents the family of Abu Khudair, said that the court agreed to study the medical report of the accused and listen to the psychiatrist who wrote the report.
Jabara added that a court hearing would be held on January 20 to look into the report.
16-year-old Mohamed Abu Khudair was kidnapped and burned alive in Occupied Jerusalem by Ben-David and two of his followers on July 2, 2014.