9 feb 2015
Israeli setters tried Monday to confiscate a Palestinian-owned home in the Old City in occupied Jerusalem.
The home’s owner Ahmed Sub Laban clarified that a group of settlers tried to storm his house accompanied with members of the Israeli immigration authority as a prelude to confiscate it.
Fortunately, Sub Laban’s 9-year-old son was in the home and refused to allow the settlers in.
The setters tried to storm the home after the family submitted an appeal against a court’s order that ruled in favor of the settlers. However, the settlers refused to wait for the court’s final decision and came into the home without the police's escort.
Sub Laban pointed out that his family rented the house since 1956 from the so-called ‘Jordan Custodian of Enemy Property (CEP)’.
Earlier, the Jewish organization Ateret Cohanim filed a lawsuit at the Israeli magistrate court to seize the property in 2010, and won it. Nevertheless, the family appealed the decision before the District Court, which is expected to release its final decision on May 31, 2015.
The researcher in settlements’ affairs Sub Laban said that a number of neighboring Palestinian-owned homes were also confiscated by Israeli settlers in the suburb.
The home’s owner Ahmed Sub Laban clarified that a group of settlers tried to storm his house accompanied with members of the Israeli immigration authority as a prelude to confiscate it.
Fortunately, Sub Laban’s 9-year-old son was in the home and refused to allow the settlers in.
The setters tried to storm the home after the family submitted an appeal against a court’s order that ruled in favor of the settlers. However, the settlers refused to wait for the court’s final decision and came into the home without the police's escort.
Sub Laban pointed out that his family rented the house since 1956 from the so-called ‘Jordan Custodian of Enemy Property (CEP)’.
Earlier, the Jewish organization Ateret Cohanim filed a lawsuit at the Israeli magistrate court to seize the property in 2010, and won it. Nevertheless, the family appealed the decision before the District Court, which is expected to release its final decision on May 31, 2015.
The researcher in settlements’ affairs Sub Laban said that a number of neighboring Palestinian-owned homes were also confiscated by Israeli settlers in the suburb.
Abu Ein's replacement detained during tree planting action
Extremist Israeli settlers cut down over 70 Palestinian olive trees in the Hebron district on Monday, according to locals. Meanwhile, some 3,740 dunams in areas of four West Bank settlements have been marked as "state lands" by Israeli authorities.
Witnesses told Ma'an News Agency that the settlers destroyed over 70 tree saplings near the town of Sair.
The trees had been planted a week ago in an area threatened with annexation, near the illegal settlement of Metzad, located in the Gush Etzion bloc west of Bethlehem.
Locals have organized a campaign to replant the trees.
Attacks on olive trees are a key way by which Palestinians are forced out of their homes and lands confiscated for settlement construction, as the loss of a year's crop can signal destitution for many.
The olive industry supports the livelihoods of roughly 80,000 families in the occupied West Bank.
Since 1967, approximately 800,000 West Bank olive trees have been uprooted, according to a joint report by the Palestinian Authority and the Applied Research Institute of Jerusalem.
In a related vein, Israeli forces were reported to have detained the president of the Palestinian Authority's committee against the apartheid wall and settlements while he was planting trees near Ramallah.
Sources told Ma'an that Jamil al-Barghouthi was arrested while taking part in a tree planting demonstration on Silwad land that is under threat of Israeli confiscation.
Israeli forces reportedly assaulted al-Barghouthi and other participants in the activity before making the arrest.
The soldiers also detained the man's escort, Iyad al-Barghouthi.
In December, PA President Mahmoud Abbas appointed al-Barghouthi to replace Ziad Abu Ein as the head of the PA committee against the wall and settlements.
Abu Ein died after being assaulted by Israeli soldiers during a tree planting demonstration in the village of Turmusayya in the Ramallah district on December 10th.
PNN reports that Israeli Civil Administration, last year, prepared major expansions of four West Bank settlements; Kedumim, Vered Yericho, Neveh Tzuf and Emanuel. Some 3,740 dunams in the areas of the settlements were marked as state lands. More than 99% of "state lands" are allocated to settlements.
According to Haaretz, Preparations for submitting construction plans were carried out on 18 projects encompassing 12,840 dunams. This marked a significant decline from 2013 when preparations were made on 26,548 dunams. An examination of the work done in these areas demonstrates the government's intentions to expand settlements.
There has also been a change in settlements' areas of jurisdiction. Last year they increased by 1,162 dunams. Psagot received 155 dunams, Elkana 904 dunams, and Mevo Horon 600 dunams. On the other hand, the settlements Tzufim, Kfar Oranim and Halamish became smaller.
Last December Haaretz reported that the state had marked 35,000 dunams located in firing zones near the settlements as state lands. Although the government claims that the firing zones are used for army training exercises, they have in fact started to prepare them for transfer to the settlements.
Researcher Dror Etkes, who heads the Peace Now settlement tracking project, analyzed the data and told Haaretz: "These data prove that the Netanyahu government continued in 2014 to energetically promote the End of Days vision of an apartheid state, where settlements are built simultaneously all over the West Bank, and millions of Palestinians live as second-class citizens in the enclaves between them."
Extremist Israeli settlers cut down over 70 Palestinian olive trees in the Hebron district on Monday, according to locals. Meanwhile, some 3,740 dunams in areas of four West Bank settlements have been marked as "state lands" by Israeli authorities.
Witnesses told Ma'an News Agency that the settlers destroyed over 70 tree saplings near the town of Sair.
The trees had been planted a week ago in an area threatened with annexation, near the illegal settlement of Metzad, located in the Gush Etzion bloc west of Bethlehem.
Locals have organized a campaign to replant the trees.
Attacks on olive trees are a key way by which Palestinians are forced out of their homes and lands confiscated for settlement construction, as the loss of a year's crop can signal destitution for many.
The olive industry supports the livelihoods of roughly 80,000 families in the occupied West Bank.
Since 1967, approximately 800,000 West Bank olive trees have been uprooted, according to a joint report by the Palestinian Authority and the Applied Research Institute of Jerusalem.
In a related vein, Israeli forces were reported to have detained the president of the Palestinian Authority's committee against the apartheid wall and settlements while he was planting trees near Ramallah.
Sources told Ma'an that Jamil al-Barghouthi was arrested while taking part in a tree planting demonstration on Silwad land that is under threat of Israeli confiscation.
Israeli forces reportedly assaulted al-Barghouthi and other participants in the activity before making the arrest.
The soldiers also detained the man's escort, Iyad al-Barghouthi.
In December, PA President Mahmoud Abbas appointed al-Barghouthi to replace Ziad Abu Ein as the head of the PA committee against the wall and settlements.
Abu Ein died after being assaulted by Israeli soldiers during a tree planting demonstration in the village of Turmusayya in the Ramallah district on December 10th.
PNN reports that Israeli Civil Administration, last year, prepared major expansions of four West Bank settlements; Kedumim, Vered Yericho, Neveh Tzuf and Emanuel. Some 3,740 dunams in the areas of the settlements were marked as state lands. More than 99% of "state lands" are allocated to settlements.
According to Haaretz, Preparations for submitting construction plans were carried out on 18 projects encompassing 12,840 dunams. This marked a significant decline from 2013 when preparations were made on 26,548 dunams. An examination of the work done in these areas demonstrates the government's intentions to expand settlements.
There has also been a change in settlements' areas of jurisdiction. Last year they increased by 1,162 dunams. Psagot received 155 dunams, Elkana 904 dunams, and Mevo Horon 600 dunams. On the other hand, the settlements Tzufim, Kfar Oranim and Halamish became smaller.
Last December Haaretz reported that the state had marked 35,000 dunams located in firing zones near the settlements as state lands. Although the government claims that the firing zones are used for army training exercises, they have in fact started to prepare them for transfer to the settlements.
Researcher Dror Etkes, who heads the Peace Now settlement tracking project, analyzed the data and told Haaretz: "These data prove that the Netanyahu government continued in 2014 to energetically promote the End of Days vision of an apartheid state, where settlements are built simultaneously all over the West Bank, and millions of Palestinians live as second-class citizens in the enclaves between them."
The Israeli Occupation Authorities (IOA) have released Sunday the extremist Jewish settler Ofer Gamliel, member of Bat Ayin Jewish underground group, who was sentenced to a 15-year prison term for a failed bomb plot against an Arab girls’ school in occupied Jerusalem.
Gamliel was convicted of plotting to bomb a local hospital in 2003 in Tur neighborhood in the occupied city of Jerusalem and an Arab girls’ school in the same year.
He was released early from prison as “he does no longer present any threat to the public,” according to the IOA.
Meanwhile, local Palestinian residents in Tur protested against Israeli police’s violations and attacks against their sons in occupied Jerusalem.
A member of the Education Committee in Tur neighborhood Khader Abu Sbaitan pointed out that dozens of local students were injured and arrested during clashes that broke out due to the Israeli forces’ heavy provocative presence in the neighborhood.
Gamliel was convicted of plotting to bomb a local hospital in 2003 in Tur neighborhood in the occupied city of Jerusalem and an Arab girls’ school in the same year.
He was released early from prison as “he does no longer present any threat to the public,” according to the IOA.
Meanwhile, local Palestinian residents in Tur protested against Israeli police’s violations and attacks against their sons in occupied Jerusalem.
A member of the Education Committee in Tur neighborhood Khader Abu Sbaitan pointed out that dozens of local students were injured and arrested during clashes that broke out due to the Israeli forces’ heavy provocative presence in the neighborhood.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center said that the Israeli occupation authority persisted in its violations against the Palestinians and the Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem during last January.
In a monthly report released on Sunday, the center stated that it had documented the detention of 150 Palestinian citizens, 65 of them were minors, in January 2015.
The detainees also included eight men aged between 40 and 60 as well as 27 women, five of them minors.
Most of the arrests in the reporting month took place in Silwan, Issawiya, Attur, Sur Baher, the Old City of Jerusalem, and Beit Hanina.
As for the violations against the Aqsa Mosque, 660 Jewish settlers desecrated the Islamic holy place under police protection in January.
During their tours at the Mosque, some extremist settlers deliberately provoked the feelings of the Muslim worshipers and Mosque guards by performing Talmudic rituals in its courtyards and verbally attacking them; they also made attempts to defile the plateau of the Dome of the Rock.
Settlers also flew two radio-controlled planes above the Aqsa Mosque and Bab al-Rahmeh cemetery to cause panic among the Muslims.
The month saw entry restrictions on the Muslim worshipers at the Mosque, where the Israeli police were taking the ID cards of men and women at its gates before allowing them in.
The police also banned the entry of 24 citizens to the Aqsa Mosque for various periods ranging between 21 to 60 days.
In a monthly report released on Sunday, the center stated that it had documented the detention of 150 Palestinian citizens, 65 of them were minors, in January 2015.
The detainees also included eight men aged between 40 and 60 as well as 27 women, five of them minors.
Most of the arrests in the reporting month took place in Silwan, Issawiya, Attur, Sur Baher, the Old City of Jerusalem, and Beit Hanina.
As for the violations against the Aqsa Mosque, 660 Jewish settlers desecrated the Islamic holy place under police protection in January.
During their tours at the Mosque, some extremist settlers deliberately provoked the feelings of the Muslim worshipers and Mosque guards by performing Talmudic rituals in its courtyards and verbally attacking them; they also made attempts to defile the plateau of the Dome of the Rock.
Settlers also flew two radio-controlled planes above the Aqsa Mosque and Bab al-Rahmeh cemetery to cause panic among the Muslims.
The month saw entry restrictions on the Muslim worshipers at the Mosque, where the Israeli police were taking the ID cards of men and women at its gates before allowing them in.
The police also banned the entry of 24 citizens to the Aqsa Mosque for various periods ranging between 21 to 60 days.
The Israeli High Court ordered, on Sunday, the removal of nine homes illegally built in the “Ofra” colony, built on privately owned Palestinian lands in the northern part of the occupied West Bank, and gave the Israeli government two years to implement the ruling.
The decision was made after a number of human rights groups, legal organizations, and owners of the Palestinian lands, filed appeals demanding the removal of the illegal construction.
Residents of ‘Ein Yabroud, near the central West Bank city of Ramallah, along with Yesh Din and B’Tselem Israeli Human Rights groups filed the appeal against the illegal construction in 2008, demanding the removal of homes illegally built on privately-owned Palestinian lands.
The developments were built without the approval of the Israeli “Civil Administration Office," run by the Israeli military in the occupied West Bank.
It was recently revealed that the Israeli Housing Ministry financed the construction of dozens of homes, illegally built in Ofra settlements, despite its knowledge that the Civil Administration never approved those constructions.
Israeli daily Haaretz recently reported that one-third of the budget for development and construction in rural areas went, over the last two years, for the benefit of settlement construction and expansion, including Ofra colony that received 1.7 Million New Israeli Shekels, to construct 66 units.
On December 18 2013, the Housing Ministry approved a budget for the construction that actually started, without any license of approval, by the end of 2010.
It was also revealed that Amna Israeli movement, founded in 1978 as the colonial branch for the “Regional Council of Settlements,” started large-scale construction in an old Jordanian army base that was illegally confiscated by Israel and its lands became part of Ofra.
In April of 2011, the Palestinians filed an appeal to the Israeli High Court leading to a ruling to halt all construction, although many settlers have already moved into dozens of completely built units, while many units were still in the construction phase.
However, in January of this year, the Civil Administration made a decision, retroactively approving the construction, and retroactively approving the structural construction plan and maps, in order to avoid being accused of financing construction that had not been licensed, although Housing Ministry data reveals that the construction started in 2011.
The decision was made after a number of human rights groups, legal organizations, and owners of the Palestinian lands, filed appeals demanding the removal of the illegal construction.
Residents of ‘Ein Yabroud, near the central West Bank city of Ramallah, along with Yesh Din and B’Tselem Israeli Human Rights groups filed the appeal against the illegal construction in 2008, demanding the removal of homes illegally built on privately-owned Palestinian lands.
The developments were built without the approval of the Israeli “Civil Administration Office," run by the Israeli military in the occupied West Bank.
It was recently revealed that the Israeli Housing Ministry financed the construction of dozens of homes, illegally built in Ofra settlements, despite its knowledge that the Civil Administration never approved those constructions.
Israeli daily Haaretz recently reported that one-third of the budget for development and construction in rural areas went, over the last two years, for the benefit of settlement construction and expansion, including Ofra colony that received 1.7 Million New Israeli Shekels, to construct 66 units.
On December 18 2013, the Housing Ministry approved a budget for the construction that actually started, without any license of approval, by the end of 2010.
It was also revealed that Amna Israeli movement, founded in 1978 as the colonial branch for the “Regional Council of Settlements,” started large-scale construction in an old Jordanian army base that was illegally confiscated by Israel and its lands became part of Ofra.
In April of 2011, the Palestinians filed an appeal to the Israeli High Court leading to a ruling to halt all construction, although many settlers have already moved into dozens of completely built units, while many units were still in the construction phase.
However, in January of this year, the Civil Administration made a decision, retroactively approving the construction, and retroactively approving the structural construction plan and maps, in order to avoid being accused of financing construction that had not been licensed, although Housing Ministry data reveals that the construction started in 2011.
6 feb 2015
A net installed in the Old City to prevent garbage dropped by Israeli settlers into a Palestinian area.
On Monday, February 2nd, Palestinian demonstrators faced military violence at the hands of Israeli forces in occupied Al-Khalil (Hebron).
Protesters gathered in Bab Al-Zawiye, on the H1 (Palestinian administered) side of Shuhada checkpoint, to denounce Israeli president Reuven Rivlin’s visit to the illegal Israeli settlement of Beit Hadassah.
Israeli soldiers and border police fired rounds of tear gas and numerous stun grenades, injuring at least two protesters.
The demonstration was organised by local Palestinian organisation Youth Against Settlements against the visit of the Israeli president to the settlement, which is illegal under international law and serves as a frequent source of oppression and violence against local Palestinians. Palestinians claimed their own rights, trampled by the military occupation, in the face of the visit’s attempt to legitimate the settler colonisation. Some signs called for opening the once vibrant and now closed Shuhada street, some for an end to the illegal settlements, some for President Rivlin to be brought before the International Criminal Court.
Around fifty Palestinians began the demonstration outside of Shuhada Checkpoint, holding signs and banners and hanging Palestinian flags on the fence. Israeli forces stopped them from passing through the checkpoint, preventing them from protesting on Shuhada street, near where the president was due to speak. As protesters continued to demonstrate, holding signs, waving flags and chanting for an end to occupation, a group of Israeli soldiers and border police exited the checkpoint and pushed protesters further back. Soldiers also occupied the roofs overlooking Bab Al-Zawiye “I just heard a soldier on a roof say ‘okay, enough’ and five minutes later they started throwing stun grenades and tear gas,” stated an ISM activist. “It was extremely sudden, and very scary.”
Israeli forces targeted Palestinian activists and organizers, hitting many in the legs with stun grenades and tear gas grenades. One man was hit directly with a stun grenade, which detonated right by his leg. “He screamed and fell down, rolling on the ground” one ISM activist recalled. Another man was also hit in the head with a stun grenade after the Israeli forces continued to use potentially lethal force against unarmed Palestinian protesters.
Demonstrators then attempted to continue the protest into the souq (Al-Khalil’s Old City market), but Israeli forces threatened them with stun grenades and prevented them from advancing. The protesters decided to go back after the army launched one stun grenade directly into the group of demonstrators. The protest eventually dispersed in Bab Al-Zawiye, after being targetted by a few more rounds of tear gas grenades
On Monday, February 2nd, Palestinian demonstrators faced military violence at the hands of Israeli forces in occupied Al-Khalil (Hebron).
Protesters gathered in Bab Al-Zawiye, on the H1 (Palestinian administered) side of Shuhada checkpoint, to denounce Israeli president Reuven Rivlin’s visit to the illegal Israeli settlement of Beit Hadassah.
Israeli soldiers and border police fired rounds of tear gas and numerous stun grenades, injuring at least two protesters.
The demonstration was organised by local Palestinian organisation Youth Against Settlements against the visit of the Israeli president to the settlement, which is illegal under international law and serves as a frequent source of oppression and violence against local Palestinians. Palestinians claimed their own rights, trampled by the military occupation, in the face of the visit’s attempt to legitimate the settler colonisation. Some signs called for opening the once vibrant and now closed Shuhada street, some for an end to the illegal settlements, some for President Rivlin to be brought before the International Criminal Court.
Around fifty Palestinians began the demonstration outside of Shuhada Checkpoint, holding signs and banners and hanging Palestinian flags on the fence. Israeli forces stopped them from passing through the checkpoint, preventing them from protesting on Shuhada street, near where the president was due to speak. As protesters continued to demonstrate, holding signs, waving flags and chanting for an end to occupation, a group of Israeli soldiers and border police exited the checkpoint and pushed protesters further back. Soldiers also occupied the roofs overlooking Bab Al-Zawiye “I just heard a soldier on a roof say ‘okay, enough’ and five minutes later they started throwing stun grenades and tear gas,” stated an ISM activist. “It was extremely sudden, and very scary.”
Israeli forces targeted Palestinian activists and organizers, hitting many in the legs with stun grenades and tear gas grenades. One man was hit directly with a stun grenade, which detonated right by his leg. “He screamed and fell down, rolling on the ground” one ISM activist recalled. Another man was also hit in the head with a stun grenade after the Israeli forces continued to use potentially lethal force against unarmed Palestinian protesters.
Demonstrators then attempted to continue the protest into the souq (Al-Khalil’s Old City market), but Israeli forces threatened them with stun grenades and prevented them from advancing. The protesters decided to go back after the army launched one stun grenade directly into the group of demonstrators. The protest eventually dispersed in Bab Al-Zawiye, after being targetted by a few more rounds of tear gas grenades
5 feb 2015
A group of Israeli settlers stormed an outskirt of the northern West Bank village of Beita, to the south of Nablus, on Thursday, where they set up a new illegal settlement outpost, a Palestinian Authority official said.
Ghassan Daghlas told Ma'an News Agency that several settler vehicles arrived at the Jabal Subeih area and set up movable houses and water tanks. The settlers, he added, surrounded the area with a fence.
Extremist settlers have tried to take control of the area in the past. Now they have arrived with their families for the first time, which means they want to settle down and create a new illegal outpost, he added.
The Palestinian Authority's liaison department has asked its Israeli counterpart for an explanation.
Ghassan Daghlas told Ma'an News Agency that several settler vehicles arrived at the Jabal Subeih area and set up movable houses and water tanks. The settlers, he added, surrounded the area with a fence.
Extremist settlers have tried to take control of the area in the past. Now they have arrived with their families for the first time, which means they want to settle down and create a new illegal outpost, he added.
The Palestinian Authority's liaison department has asked its Israeli counterpart for an explanation.
The management of the Cooperative Village, Ahihud, established on the ruins of al-Barweh displaced village in Acre, desecrated the Islamic and Christian cemetery of the village. Ahihud covered the cemetery’s ground with soil in a preparatory step to turn it into a cattle barn.
The Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage warned, in a statement on Thursday, of this dangerous step, describing it as brutally breaching the sacredness of the dead.
Abdulmajid Eghbariyeh, official at the Foundation, strongly denounced turning the cemetery into a cattle barn.
The Cooperative village has been violating the Islamic and Christian holy places in al-Barweh Palestinian village for establishing such projects. Many stockades and barns have been constructed on the remains of dead Muslims and Christians, he said.
The Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage warned, in a statement on Thursday, of this dangerous step, describing it as brutally breaching the sacredness of the dead.
Abdulmajid Eghbariyeh, official at the Foundation, strongly denounced turning the cemetery into a cattle barn.
The Cooperative village has been violating the Islamic and Christian holy places in al-Barweh Palestinian village for establishing such projects. Many stockades and barns have been constructed on the remains of dead Muslims and Christians, he said.
The Islamic Waqf Authority in occupied Jerusalem said a number of Jewish settlers on Thursday morning desecrated the Aqsa Mosque under security protection, while the Israeli occupation police detained three female Muslim worshipers there.
According to Waqf Authority, small groups of settlers escorted by policemen defiled the Aqsa Mosque, which angered the Muslim worshipers in its courtyards and prompted them to protest their presence by chanting religious slogans.
Meanwhile, some of the Mosque's guard intervened to stop a Jewish settler from reciting Talmudic prayers inside the Islamic holy place near the Gate of King Faisal, while another settler tried to attack one of the guards who asked him to leave the place after he performed similar rituals.
Israeli policemen, in their turn, intervened to protect the settlers and tried to prevent an official from the Islamic Waqf Authority from taking pictures of them as they were violently dealing with the Mosque's guards and Muslim worshipers.
The Waqf Authority noted that the Israeli police confiscated in the morning the ID card of a Palestinian working as a guard at the Aqsa Mosque.
In a separate incident, the Israeli occupation forces at dawn Thursday kidnapped five Palestinians during raids on several homes in al-Khalil city and towns in Ramallah. All the detainees are claimed to be wanted by the Shin Bet.
According to Waqf Authority, small groups of settlers escorted by policemen defiled the Aqsa Mosque, which angered the Muslim worshipers in its courtyards and prompted them to protest their presence by chanting religious slogans.
Meanwhile, some of the Mosque's guard intervened to stop a Jewish settler from reciting Talmudic prayers inside the Islamic holy place near the Gate of King Faisal, while another settler tried to attack one of the guards who asked him to leave the place after he performed similar rituals.
Israeli policemen, in their turn, intervened to protect the settlers and tried to prevent an official from the Islamic Waqf Authority from taking pictures of them as they were violently dealing with the Mosque's guards and Muslim worshipers.
The Waqf Authority noted that the Israeli police confiscated in the morning the ID card of a Palestinian working as a guard at the Aqsa Mosque.
In a separate incident, the Israeli occupation forces at dawn Thursday kidnapped five Palestinians during raids on several homes in al-Khalil city and towns in Ramallah. All the detainees are claimed to be wanted by the Shin Bet.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) nabbed late Wednesday two Palestinians including a child in occupied Jerusalem.
Israeli police nabbed a ten-year-old boy while playing outside his parents’ home in al-Tur town. A police official asked the detained child’s mother to pay 750 shekels when she intervened to free him, the PIC reporter confirmed.
Chairman of Prisoners' Relatives Committee in Jerusalem, Amjad Abu Asab, said that a young man was also arrested at Allenby Bridge and taken to Nabi Yacoub police station.
On the other hand, a number of people suffered breathing difficulties Wednesday evening during clashes that erupted in Burqin town to southwest of Jenin.
WAFA news agency quoted local sources as saying that IOF provocatively broke into the town and deployed in its neighborhoods which led to the outbreak of violent clashes.
Heavy live bullets and tear gas bombs were fired during the clashes.
Meanwhile, an Israeli settler deliberately ran over a five-year-old Palestinian child near Kiryat Arba settlement to the east of al-Khalil, causing him moderate injuries and bruises.
The child was transferred to a local medical center for treatment.
Also in al-Khalil, eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that IOF erected two make-shift checkpoints at the northern entrance to the city and at the entrance to Halhul town.
Palestinian vehicles were stopped and searched at the checkpoints, while Israeli military vehicles were stationed near Aroub refugee camp.
Israeli police nabbed a ten-year-old boy while playing outside his parents’ home in al-Tur town. A police official asked the detained child’s mother to pay 750 shekels when she intervened to free him, the PIC reporter confirmed.
Chairman of Prisoners' Relatives Committee in Jerusalem, Amjad Abu Asab, said that a young man was also arrested at Allenby Bridge and taken to Nabi Yacoub police station.
On the other hand, a number of people suffered breathing difficulties Wednesday evening during clashes that erupted in Burqin town to southwest of Jenin.
WAFA news agency quoted local sources as saying that IOF provocatively broke into the town and deployed in its neighborhoods which led to the outbreak of violent clashes.
Heavy live bullets and tear gas bombs were fired during the clashes.
Meanwhile, an Israeli settler deliberately ran over a five-year-old Palestinian child near Kiryat Arba settlement to the east of al-Khalil, causing him moderate injuries and bruises.
The child was transferred to a local medical center for treatment.
Also in al-Khalil, eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that IOF erected two make-shift checkpoints at the northern entrance to the city and at the entrance to Halhul town.
Palestinian vehicles were stopped and searched at the checkpoints, while Israeli military vehicles were stationed near Aroub refugee camp.
4 feb 2015
Approximately one thousand Israeli settlers in January alone have invaded the holy al-Aqsa Mosque Compound in East Jerusalem al-Quds.
Some 965 Israeli settlers accompanied by Israeli security forces stormed the holy Islamic site in January, said the al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage.
Israel continues to restrict the movement of Palestinian worshipers to the al-Aqsa Mosque. The invasion has led to many conflicts between Palestinian worshipers and Israelis.
Nearly 90 percent of Palestinians believe that Israel is going to destroy the al-Aqsa Mosque and replace it with a temple, a new survey shows.
The Tel Aviv regime has tried to change the demographic makeup of al-Quds over the past decades by constructing illegal settlements, destroying historical sites and expelling the local Palestinian population.
The al-Aqsa Mosque compound, located in the Israeli-occupied Old City of al-Quds, is a flashpoint Islamic site, also holy to the Jews. The mosque is Islam’s third holiest site after Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina.
Some 965 Israeli settlers accompanied by Israeli security forces stormed the holy Islamic site in January, said the al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage.
Israel continues to restrict the movement of Palestinian worshipers to the al-Aqsa Mosque. The invasion has led to many conflicts between Palestinian worshipers and Israelis.
Nearly 90 percent of Palestinians believe that Israel is going to destroy the al-Aqsa Mosque and replace it with a temple, a new survey shows.
The Tel Aviv regime has tried to change the demographic makeup of al-Quds over the past decades by constructing illegal settlements, destroying historical sites and expelling the local Palestinian population.
The al-Aqsa Mosque compound, located in the Israeli-occupied Old City of al-Quds, is a flashpoint Islamic site, also holy to the Jews. The mosque is Islam’s third holiest site after Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina.
3 feb 2015
Jewish settlers razed on Tuesday more than fifty dunums of Palestinians’ lands in Eskaka village to the east of Salfit governorate.
Local sources said settlers’ bulldozers razed the village lands under Israeli army protection near Zaatarah checkpoint.
Khaled Maalai, Palestinian researcher from Salfit, pointed out that the Israeli occupation has been razing eleven locations in the district. Settlement expansion activities have been unprecedentedly escalated in the governorate, he added.
Maali opined that this action falls in line with Netanyahu’s election campaign.
Local sources said settlers’ bulldozers razed the village lands under Israeli army protection near Zaatarah checkpoint.
Khaled Maalai, Palestinian researcher from Salfit, pointed out that the Israeli occupation has been razing eleven locations in the district. Settlement expansion activities have been unprecedentedly escalated in the governorate, he added.
Maali opined that this action falls in line with Netanyahu’s election campaign.
A group of Jewish settlers and officials headed by the Israeli police commander stormed Tuesday morning al-Aqsa Mosque and launched provocative desecration tours in its plaza.
Nearly 20 Jewish settlers along with 15 Israeli officials broke into al-Aqsa Mosque this morning from al-Magaribeh gate under heavy police protection, eyewitnesses reported.
In the same context, a Palestinian report revealed that 956 Israeli settlers stormed al-Aqsa Mosque during January, while Israeli daily attacks against Palestinian worshipers were registered in the same period.
The data showed that during January 25 Palestinians were prevented from having access to the holy shrine for 15-60 days.
During the reporting period, two Palestinian Islamic associations working on the defense of al-Aqsa Mosque within the Green Line were shut down following a decision by Israeli war minister Moshe Ya’alon.
The report pointed out that break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque have been notably invested by political parties prior to the projected March elections in Israel.
Several Israeli attempts were also reported during January to launch a remotely controlled flying device with camera over the Mosque's compound.
Along the same line, Israeli media sources unveiled an Israeli plan to register Muslims’ holy al-Aqsa Mosque as an Israeli state property to be officially run by the so-called Tabu (land registration) office as a prelude for establishing a Jewish synagogue over parts of the holy site.
Nearly 20 Jewish settlers along with 15 Israeli officials broke into al-Aqsa Mosque this morning from al-Magaribeh gate under heavy police protection, eyewitnesses reported.
In the same context, a Palestinian report revealed that 956 Israeli settlers stormed al-Aqsa Mosque during January, while Israeli daily attacks against Palestinian worshipers were registered in the same period.
The data showed that during January 25 Palestinians were prevented from having access to the holy shrine for 15-60 days.
During the reporting period, two Palestinian Islamic associations working on the defense of al-Aqsa Mosque within the Green Line were shut down following a decision by Israeli war minister Moshe Ya’alon.
The report pointed out that break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque have been notably invested by political parties prior to the projected March elections in Israel.
Several Israeli attempts were also reported during January to launch a remotely controlled flying device with camera over the Mosque's compound.
Along the same line, Israeli media sources unveiled an Israeli plan to register Muslims’ holy al-Aqsa Mosque as an Israeli state property to be officially run by the so-called Tabu (land registration) office as a prelude for establishing a Jewish synagogue over parts of the holy site.
Clashes broke out afternoon Monday between the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) and a group of Palestinian activists after the latter rallied in protest at a visit to be paid by the Israeli president Reuven Rivlin to the southern West Bank city of al-Khalil.
Palestinian activists said heavy volleys of tear gas grenades and rubber bullets were unleashed by the Israeli occupation troops on the peaceful Palestinian protesters who flocked in Bab al-Zaouia, near al-Shuhada'a street in al-Khalil, in protest at Rivlin’s projected stopover in the city.
A number of peaceful Palestinian rally-goers sustained injuries and others choked on tear gas as the IOF violently disbanded the demo.
Rivlin’s projected visit falls in line with intents to prop up Judaization schemes in al-Khalil city, the activists further warned.
The Mayor of al-Khalil, Kamel Hamid, slammed the intended visit, dubbing it an attempt to legitimize the Israeli occupation and boost up illegal settlement in the city.
“This is a blow dealt by the extremist Israeli government to the efforts made by the international community to restore peace and Palestinians’ legitimate right to rule their state freely and independently,” the mayor said.
“This is also a barefaced violation of Israel’s obligations as an occupying power under international law,” he added.
Palestinian activists said heavy volleys of tear gas grenades and rubber bullets were unleashed by the Israeli occupation troops on the peaceful Palestinian protesters who flocked in Bab al-Zaouia, near al-Shuhada'a street in al-Khalil, in protest at Rivlin’s projected stopover in the city.
A number of peaceful Palestinian rally-goers sustained injuries and others choked on tear gas as the IOF violently disbanded the demo.
Rivlin’s projected visit falls in line with intents to prop up Judaization schemes in al-Khalil city, the activists further warned.
The Mayor of al-Khalil, Kamel Hamid, slammed the intended visit, dubbing it an attempt to legitimize the Israeli occupation and boost up illegal settlement in the city.
“This is a blow dealt by the extremist Israeli government to the efforts made by the international community to restore peace and Palestinians’ legitimate right to rule their state freely and independently,” the mayor said.
“This is also a barefaced violation of Israel’s obligations as an occupying power under international law,” he added.
2 feb 2015
A settler vehicle crashed into a car belonging to Palestinian Authority security forces near Hebron, on Monday, injuring seven security officers.
Palestinian security officials told Ma'an News Agnecy that the crash occurred near el-Arrub refugee camp, to the north of Hebron, with initial reports indicating that the incident was deliberate.
The officers were taken to hospital with light to moderate injuries.
There are now over 500,000 settlers living in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank. All settlements are illegal under international law.
Palestinian security officials told Ma'an News Agnecy that the crash occurred near el-Arrub refugee camp, to the north of Hebron, with initial reports indicating that the incident was deliberate.
The officers were taken to hospital with light to moderate injuries.
There are now over 500,000 settlers living in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank. All settlements are illegal under international law.
A settler’s car, on Monday, ran over a nun in Bab al-Amoud, also known as the Damascus Gate, in occupied East Jerusalem, said a Palestinian paramedic.
A nun was hit by a settler’s speeding car and also knocked down at a pedestrian crossing the street, said Basem Zeidani, who works as a paramedic.
Zeidani, who provided the nun with emergency medical treatment at the scene, added that the nun sustained a moderate injury.
The nun, who remains unidentified, according to WAFA, was taken to Hadassah Hospital in West Jerusalem, to receive further medical care.
The circumstances behind the incident are unclear, but there have been several cases of Israeli settlers running over Palestinians in recent months, which can only be confirmed after police investigation.
A nun was hit by a settler’s speeding car and also knocked down at a pedestrian crossing the street, said Basem Zeidani, who works as a paramedic.
Zeidani, who provided the nun with emergency medical treatment at the scene, added that the nun sustained a moderate injury.
The nun, who remains unidentified, according to WAFA, was taken to Hadassah Hospital in West Jerusalem, to receive further medical care.
The circumstances behind the incident are unclear, but there have been several cases of Israeli settlers running over Palestinians in recent months, which can only be confirmed after police investigation.
Extremist Jewish settlers opened fire at noon Monday at a Palestinian boy in al-Thawri neighborhood to the south of al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem.
The PIC reporter said the settlers shot the 17-year-old Mohammad Barqan from occupied Jerusalem while strolling in the woods near Mukabir mountain.
Local sources said Barqan was shot with three bullets in his foot before being immediately transferred to al-Maqasid hospital in Jerusalem.
Palestinian Teen Shot and Injured by Settler in East Jerusalem
A settler shot and injured a 17-year-old Muhammad Yusuf Burqan in the Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan on Monday, according to witnesses.
The youth was shot while tending to a small herd of sheep in the Wadi Yasul area of the neighborhood, his cousin told Ma'an News Agency.
"I came back to check up on Muhammad and found him lying on the ground surrounded by about 15 settlers, one of whom had a gun in his hand. I tried to access Muhammad and give him first aid, but the settler with the gun threatened to shoot me, while the others started to swear at me," Suheib Burqan said.
He used his mobile phone to call his brother, who took Muhammad to al-Maqasid hospital for treatment.
The settlers fled the scene before his brother arrived.
Ma'an further reports that Jewish groups buying up property in the heart of Palestinian neighborhoods is an explosive political issue, as it touches on the future of East Jerusalem, which the international community sees as the capital of a future Palestinian state.
The groups are looking to establish a contiguous Jewish presence in the area, thereby preventing any future division of the Holy City under a peace deal with the Palestinians.
The PIC reporter said the settlers shot the 17-year-old Mohammad Barqan from occupied Jerusalem while strolling in the woods near Mukabir mountain.
Local sources said Barqan was shot with three bullets in his foot before being immediately transferred to al-Maqasid hospital in Jerusalem.
Palestinian Teen Shot and Injured by Settler in East Jerusalem
A settler shot and injured a 17-year-old Muhammad Yusuf Burqan in the Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan on Monday, according to witnesses.
The youth was shot while tending to a small herd of sheep in the Wadi Yasul area of the neighborhood, his cousin told Ma'an News Agency.
"I came back to check up on Muhammad and found him lying on the ground surrounded by about 15 settlers, one of whom had a gun in his hand. I tried to access Muhammad and give him first aid, but the settler with the gun threatened to shoot me, while the others started to swear at me," Suheib Burqan said.
He used his mobile phone to call his brother, who took Muhammad to al-Maqasid hospital for treatment.
The settlers fled the scene before his brother arrived.
Ma'an further reports that Jewish groups buying up property in the heart of Palestinian neighborhoods is an explosive political issue, as it touches on the future of East Jerusalem, which the international community sees as the capital of a future Palestinian state.
The groups are looking to establish a contiguous Jewish presence in the area, thereby preventing any future division of the Holy City under a peace deal with the Palestinians.
Youth against Settlement has warned that Israeli president Reuven Rivlin will visit on Monday al-Shuhada'a street in al-Khalil city to support Judaization projects and urged the city young men to rally against his visit.
In a press release on its Facebook page, the Palestinian youth group said Rivlin would visit Judaization projects threatening the Palestinian presence in the street, where a number of homes were appropriated and commercial stores were closed a few days ago by Jewish settlers under police protection.
The group called for necessarily moving to expose Israel's violations in al-Khalil, especially in the Old City and stand in the face of Rivlin's visit.
The Israeli occupation has been closing al-Shuhada'a street since the Ibrahimi Mosque massacre that was committed by a US-born Jewish settler on February 25, 1994.
In a press release on its Facebook page, the Palestinian youth group said Rivlin would visit Judaization projects threatening the Palestinian presence in the street, where a number of homes were appropriated and commercial stores were closed a few days ago by Jewish settlers under police protection.
The group called for necessarily moving to expose Israel's violations in al-Khalil, especially in the Old City and stand in the face of Rivlin's visit.
The Israeli occupation has been closing al-Shuhada'a street since the Ibrahimi Mosque massacre that was committed by a US-born Jewish settler on February 25, 1994.
1 feb 2015
A Jewish settler ran over a Palestinian journalist called Raed Abu Rmaileh at noon Sunday near al-Haram al-Ibrahimi Mosque in the Old City of al-Khalil.
The PIC reporter said the journalist Abu Rmaileh was transferred to hospital by Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance for treatment in one of the city’s hospitals.
Abu Rmaileh is a journalist from al-Khalil. He is working at B'Tselem human rights organization; he documents the Israeli crimes against Palestinians in al-Khalil, specially the Old City and the vicinity of al-Haram al-Ibrahimi Mosque.
The PIC reporter said the journalist Abu Rmaileh was transferred to hospital by Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance for treatment in one of the city’s hospitals.
Abu Rmaileh is a journalist from al-Khalil. He is working at B'Tselem human rights organization; he documents the Israeli crimes against Palestinians in al-Khalil, specially the Old City and the vicinity of al-Haram al-Ibrahimi Mosque.