18 feb 2015
Thirty-three sheep were killed by stray dogs on a farm in the village of Qarawat Bani Hussan west of Salfit on Wednesday, local farmers said.
Owner of the farm, Mahmoud Marie, told Ma'an that six stray dogs attacked his farm, killing the sheep in their pen.
Marie told Ma'an that each of the sheep is worth around 1,000 shekels ($260), meaning that the incident cost him nearly $8,600.
He called upon the Palestinian Minister of Agriculture and the veterinary services to solve the problem of stray dogs in the region.
Marie argued that the reason there are so many stray dogs in the area is that settlers bring them by car and leave them in the area, though this allegation could not be verified.
Owner of the farm, Mahmoud Marie, told Ma'an that six stray dogs attacked his farm, killing the sheep in their pen.
Marie told Ma'an that each of the sheep is worth around 1,000 shekels ($260), meaning that the incident cost him nearly $8,600.
He called upon the Palestinian Minister of Agriculture and the veterinary services to solve the problem of stray dogs in the region.
Marie argued that the reason there are so many stray dogs in the area is that settlers bring them by car and leave them in the area, though this allegation could not be verified.
Small groups of Israeli settlers broke into the courtyards of Al Aqsa Mosque from the Mughrabi Gate, on Wednesday, under the protection of Israeli special police.
Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency reports that, according to local sources, Israeli police assaulted a Palestinian woman, in order to secure and open the way for the settlers to enter the compound.
Local sources also quoted witnesses as saying that occupation forces deployed in Jerusalem's Old City stopped dozens of students, checked birth certificates and searched their school bags.
Extremist Israeli settlers and politicians have been violating the sanctity of Al Aqsa Mosque on am almost daily basis, and always under the protection of armed occupation forces, who often attack Palestinian worshipers trying to protect their holy site.
Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency reports that, according to local sources, Israeli police assaulted a Palestinian woman, in order to secure and open the way for the settlers to enter the compound.
Local sources also quoted witnesses as saying that occupation forces deployed in Jerusalem's Old City stopped dozens of students, checked birth certificates and searched their school bags.
Extremist Israeli settlers and politicians have been violating the sanctity of Al Aqsa Mosque on am almost daily basis, and always under the protection of armed occupation forces, who often attack Palestinian worshipers trying to protect their holy site.
A group of Jewish settlers, reportedly from the Metzad settlement, near Bethlehem, uprooted over 500 newly planted olive tree saplings on Wednesday, near the Hebron town of al-Shuyukh.
The damaged fields belong to the al-Ayaydeh family, local activists said.
The owners found the damaged trees in the morning, while going out to check the land, which is near the Gush Etzion settlement bloc.
Last week, settlers from Metzad destroyed over 70 tree saplings near the town of Sair, according to Ma'an News Agency.
Attacks on olive trees are a key way that Palestinians are forced out of their homes and their 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.
According to a United Nations OCHA report, "Israeli settlers destroyed over 5,500 Palestinian-owned olive trees and saplings in the period between December 30 2014, and January 12, 2015.”
AIC notes that, according to Palestinian News and Info Agency sources, the settlers were from Asfar and Bani Kadim, and that the uprooted saplings belonged to the families of both Abd al-Qader and Mousa al-Ayaydeh.
Local residents strongly denounced the settlers’ ‘heinous actions’ of destroying residential land, stressing that they will remain steadfast in their land and replant the trees again.
On Tuesday, Israeli forces uprooted dozens of Palestinian-owned olive trees in the northern West Bank town of Tayasir, to the east of Tubas.
The damaged fields belong to the al-Ayaydeh family, local activists said.
The owners found the damaged trees in the morning, while going out to check the land, which is near the Gush Etzion settlement bloc.
Last week, settlers from Metzad destroyed over 70 tree saplings near the town of Sair, according to Ma'an News Agency.
Attacks on olive trees are a key way that Palestinians are forced out of their homes and their 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.
According to a United Nations OCHA report, "Israeli settlers destroyed over 5,500 Palestinian-owned olive trees and saplings in the period between December 30 2014, and January 12, 2015.”
AIC notes that, according to Palestinian News and Info Agency sources, the settlers were from Asfar and Bani Kadim, and that the uprooted saplings belonged to the families of both Abd al-Qader and Mousa al-Ayaydeh.
Local residents strongly denounced the settlers’ ‘heinous actions’ of destroying residential land, stressing that they will remain steadfast in their land and replant the trees again.
On Tuesday, Israeli forces uprooted dozens of Palestinian-owned olive trees in the northern West Bank town of Tayasir, to the east of Tubas.
Tension has been running high in Jerusalem’s Old City since early Wednesday morning after flocks of fanatic Israeli settlers stormed Muslims’ al-Aqsa Mosque and Israeli officers captured a number of Palestinian students.
Jerusalemite sources said over 62 settlers, escorted by Israeli occupation police, broke into the holy al-Aqsa Mosque in small hordes and vandalized its plaza.
The police assaulted a Palestinian lady inside the holy site to make way for the vandals.
Palestinian sit-inners have intensified their presence at the Mosque despite Israel’s s seizure of women’s and youths’ IDs at al-Aqsa gates.
Meanwhile, dozens of Jerusalemite male and female students were detained for a while by Israeli policemen in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Palestinian protesters flocked to the area in objection to the officers’ provocative inspections of the captives’ schoolbags and birth certificates.
Jerusalemite sources said over 62 settlers, escorted by Israeli occupation police, broke into the holy al-Aqsa Mosque in small hordes and vandalized its plaza.
The police assaulted a Palestinian lady inside the holy site to make way for the vandals.
Palestinian sit-inners have intensified their presence at the Mosque despite Israel’s s seizure of women’s and youths’ IDs at al-Aqsa gates.
Meanwhile, dozens of Jerusalemite male and female students were detained for a while by Israeli policemen in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Palestinian protesters flocked to the area in objection to the officers’ provocative inspections of the captives’ schoolbags and birth certificates.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) afternoon Tuesday and at dawn Wednesday rounded up two Palestinian civilians following raids in the West Bank cities of Nablus and al-Khalil.
A PIC journalist quoted sources based in Nablus as reporting that the IOF troops stormed Ourata town, to the southeast of the city, at 1 a.m. and scoured a number of Palestinian family homes in the area.
The IOF soldiers reportedly broke into the family home of the Palestinian civilian Khaled al-Qadhi and ransacked it, moments before they locked up the native inhabitants, handcuffed and blindfolded, in a single room.
The attack culminated in the abduction of Khaled’s son, 35-year-old ex-prisoner Moslem al-Qadhi, working as an educational consultant.
Earlier, afternoon Tuesday, the IOF patrols nabbed the Palestinian ex-prisoner Ahmad Abu Hashem, 48, from al-Khalil’s northern town of Beit Ummar.
Locals said a group of IOF soldiers raided Beit Ummar and searched a vehicle carrying Abu Hashem, shortly before they abducted the man and transferred him to an unknown location.
Both Abu Hashem, an active anti-settlement campaigner, and his son have reportedly been arrested for several times before by the IOF.
Meanwhile, the IOF troops Tuesday stormed Ein Shebleh town, located in the Central Jordan Valley, near Nablus city.
A round of combing operations and abrupt home break-ins had randomly been carried out by the invading IOF soldiers, stirring up a round of altercations and clashes with the Palestinian natives.
In a related development a horde of Israeli fanatic settlers heavily beat a Palestinian civilian youth near Jaloud village, in Nablus.
Eye-witnesses said the settlers dealt heavy head blows to the casualty, identified as Dhafer Is, using an iron bar.
The casualty was transferred to the Rafidia public hospital in Nablus to receive urgent treatment for the wounds sustained in the assault.
A PIC journalist quoted sources based in Nablus as reporting that the IOF troops stormed Ourata town, to the southeast of the city, at 1 a.m. and scoured a number of Palestinian family homes in the area.
The IOF soldiers reportedly broke into the family home of the Palestinian civilian Khaled al-Qadhi and ransacked it, moments before they locked up the native inhabitants, handcuffed and blindfolded, in a single room.
The attack culminated in the abduction of Khaled’s son, 35-year-old ex-prisoner Moslem al-Qadhi, working as an educational consultant.
Earlier, afternoon Tuesday, the IOF patrols nabbed the Palestinian ex-prisoner Ahmad Abu Hashem, 48, from al-Khalil’s northern town of Beit Ummar.
Locals said a group of IOF soldiers raided Beit Ummar and searched a vehicle carrying Abu Hashem, shortly before they abducted the man and transferred him to an unknown location.
Both Abu Hashem, an active anti-settlement campaigner, and his son have reportedly been arrested for several times before by the IOF.
Meanwhile, the IOF troops Tuesday stormed Ein Shebleh town, located in the Central Jordan Valley, near Nablus city.
A round of combing operations and abrupt home break-ins had randomly been carried out by the invading IOF soldiers, stirring up a round of altercations and clashes with the Palestinian natives.
In a related development a horde of Israeli fanatic settlers heavily beat a Palestinian civilian youth near Jaloud village, in Nablus.
Eye-witnesses said the settlers dealt heavy head blows to the casualty, identified as Dhafer Is, using an iron bar.
The casualty was transferred to the Rafidia public hospital in Nablus to receive urgent treatment for the wounds sustained in the assault.
17 feb 2015
Hundreds of Jewish settlers stormed the Yusuf tomb east of Nablus before dawn Tuesday under heavy Israeli troop protection.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that dozens of Israeli troops raided the city and closed the roads leading to the tomb to pave the way for a number of buses carrying hundreds of settlers.
The settlers arrived in seven buses and left after dawn after offering rituals, the sources added.
Clashes broke out in the area with Palestinian youths from nearby Balata refugee camp who threw stones and empty bottles at the intruders while the Israeli occupation forces fired tear gas and live bullets at the youths.
On the other hand, two young men were nabbed Monday afternoon after Israeli forces erected a number of military checkpoints at the entrances of Assira town to the north of Nablus. IOF soldiers also raided the town at dawn Tuesday and broke into several homes but no arrests were reported.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that dozens of Israeli troops raided the city and closed the roads leading to the tomb to pave the way for a number of buses carrying hundreds of settlers.
The settlers arrived in seven buses and left after dawn after offering rituals, the sources added.
Clashes broke out in the area with Palestinian youths from nearby Balata refugee camp who threw stones and empty bottles at the intruders while the Israeli occupation forces fired tear gas and live bullets at the youths.
On the other hand, two young men were nabbed Monday afternoon after Israeli forces erected a number of military checkpoints at the entrances of Assira town to the north of Nablus. IOF soldiers also raided the town at dawn Tuesday and broke into several homes but no arrests were reported.
The Jerusalem district planning and building committee has approved a large-scale settlement plan that includes the construction of 5,230 housing units in the southern part of the holy city.
According to the Israeli economic newspaper 'The Marker' on Monday, the plan, which was approved last week, included the evacuation of Jewish settlers from south of the city and compensating them with new apartments.
Israel's settlement expansion activities in Jerusalem and the West Bank are ongoing all the time, but they have escalated recently as a result of the Knesset election fever.
More than half a million Jews live in over 120 illegal settlements built since Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
The UN and most countries consider these settlements illegal because they are located in territories seized by Israel in the 1967 war.
According to the Israeli economic newspaper 'The Marker' on Monday, the plan, which was approved last week, included the evacuation of Jewish settlers from south of the city and compensating them with new apartments.
Israel's settlement expansion activities in Jerusalem and the West Bank are ongoing all the time, but they have escalated recently as a result of the Knesset election fever.
More than half a million Jews live in over 120 illegal settlements built since Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
The UN and most countries consider these settlements illegal because they are located in territories seized by Israel in the 1967 war.
Still Image From Quds Press Video
Israeli soldiers kidnapped, Tuesday, a Palestinian woman from Jerusalem while she was leaving the Al-Aqsa Mosque, through the Bab an-Nather Gate, and took her to an interrogation center in the city. Two Children, 12 and 10, handed interrogation notices.
The attack took place after a number of Israeli fanatics, accompanied by police officers and soldiers, invaded the yards of the mosque, and conducted provocative acts against the Palestinians.
Eyewitnesses said the extremists invaded the mosque yards through the al-Magharba Gate.
On Monday, the Police abducted four Palestinian women while leaving the Al-Aqsa Mosque, released them after hours of interrogation, and issued orders preventing them from entering the mosque for two weeks.
In related news, Israeli bulldozers demolished, on Tuesday morning, a wall surrounding a Palestinian home in at-Tour, overlooking Jerusalem’s Old City, allegedly for being built without a permit in a “Green Zone."
The owner, Mohammad Abu al-Hawa, never received prior notice, yet the soldiers demolished his wall.
In addition, soldiers invaded, on Tuesday at dawn, the home of resident Arafat Abu Sbeitan, in at-Tour neighborhood overlooking the Old City, and handed his two children military orders for interrogation.
The father said the soldiers handed the warrants, ordering his children Mohammad, 12 and Ibrahim, 10 years of age, to head to the al-Maskobiyya interrogation center for interrogation.
In addition, a number of Israeli military vehicles invaded Marda village, north of the central West Bank city of Salfit, and kidnapped a Palestinian identified as Ezzeddin Khuffash, 20, after storming his family home.
Israeli soldiers kidnapped, Tuesday, a Palestinian woman from Jerusalem while she was leaving the Al-Aqsa Mosque, through the Bab an-Nather Gate, and took her to an interrogation center in the city. Two Children, 12 and 10, handed interrogation notices.
The attack took place after a number of Israeli fanatics, accompanied by police officers and soldiers, invaded the yards of the mosque, and conducted provocative acts against the Palestinians.
Eyewitnesses said the extremists invaded the mosque yards through the al-Magharba Gate.
On Monday, the Police abducted four Palestinian women while leaving the Al-Aqsa Mosque, released them after hours of interrogation, and issued orders preventing them from entering the mosque for two weeks.
In related news, Israeli bulldozers demolished, on Tuesday morning, a wall surrounding a Palestinian home in at-Tour, overlooking Jerusalem’s Old City, allegedly for being built without a permit in a “Green Zone."
The owner, Mohammad Abu al-Hawa, never received prior notice, yet the soldiers demolished his wall.
In addition, soldiers invaded, on Tuesday at dawn, the home of resident Arafat Abu Sbeitan, in at-Tour neighborhood overlooking the Old City, and handed his two children military orders for interrogation.
The father said the soldiers handed the warrants, ordering his children Mohammad, 12 and Ibrahim, 10 years of age, to head to the al-Maskobiyya interrogation center for interrogation.
In addition, a number of Israeli military vehicles invaded Marda village, north of the central West Bank city of Salfit, and kidnapped a Palestinian identified as Ezzeddin Khuffash, 20, after storming his family home.
16 feb 2015
The right-wing Jewish foundation for the Western Wall Heritage has declared new tenders to carry out excavations under the Western Wall of al-Aqsa Mosque on February 20.
Head of the PLO department for Jerusalem's affairs Ahmad Qurei warned in a statement issued Sunday of the seriousness of the Israeli move.
A few days ago, a group of Israeli engineers and contractors had secretly toured al-Aqsa Mosque to explore the location as a prelude to participate in the tenders, Qurei revealed.
He pointed out that the Israeli occupation government works to create new paths and chambers under the Western Wall of al-Aqsa Mosque in order to enhance its Judaization schemes in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem.
He warned of Israel's excavation work under the Old City as part of its efforts to displace the indigenous Palestinian residents and replace them with Jewish settlers.
For its part, al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage has confirmed in a statement issued Sunday that Israeli authorities had already started excavations under the Buraq Square to west of al-Aqsa Mosque.
The excavation works aim at establishing a new centralized power control network under al-Aqsa Mosque, the statement added.
The Foundation pointed out that remains of historical buildings of al-Magaribeh Gate were removed a few weeks ago as a prelude for the construction of the mentioned power network.
Islamic historical archaeological sites will be removed during the excavations, the statement underlined.
Head of the PLO department for Jerusalem's affairs Ahmad Qurei warned in a statement issued Sunday of the seriousness of the Israeli move.
A few days ago, a group of Israeli engineers and contractors had secretly toured al-Aqsa Mosque to explore the location as a prelude to participate in the tenders, Qurei revealed.
He pointed out that the Israeli occupation government works to create new paths and chambers under the Western Wall of al-Aqsa Mosque in order to enhance its Judaization schemes in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem.
He warned of Israel's excavation work under the Old City as part of its efforts to displace the indigenous Palestinian residents and replace them with Jewish settlers.
For its part, al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage has confirmed in a statement issued Sunday that Israeli authorities had already started excavations under the Buraq Square to west of al-Aqsa Mosque.
The excavation works aim at establishing a new centralized power control network under al-Aqsa Mosque, the statement added.
The Foundation pointed out that remains of historical buildings of al-Magaribeh Gate were removed a few weeks ago as a prelude for the construction of the mentioned power network.
Islamic historical archaeological sites will be removed during the excavations, the statement underlined.
15 feb 2015
Extremist Jewish groups of settlers desecrated on Sunday the Aqsa Mosque amid tight security measures by Israeli policemen.
Eyewitnesses said the settlers entered al-Aqsa Mosque from al-Magharebah Gate and the Palestinian worshipers started chanting “Allahu Akbar” to prevent the settlers from performing Talmudic rituals at the holy Mosque.
Israeli policemen deliberately held the identity cards of young worshipers until they came out of the Mosque.
Eyewitnesses said the settlers entered al-Aqsa Mosque from al-Magharebah Gate and the Palestinian worshipers started chanting “Allahu Akbar” to prevent the settlers from performing Talmudic rituals at the holy Mosque.
Israeli policemen deliberately held the identity cards of young worshipers until they came out of the Mosque.
A number of Israeli extremists attacked, on Saturday at night, a Palestinian cab driver in an area in Jerusalem, causing several cuts and bruises that required hospitalization. Soldiers kidnap a Palestinian near Jerusalem, surround ‘Anata town.
Eyewitnesses said the driver was near in the western part of Jerusalem, when a number of extremists started shouting at him before physically assaulting him.
The WAFA News Agency said the wounded Palestinian man has been identified as Ibrahim Bader.
In addition, undercover soldiers of the Israeli army kidnapped a young Palestinian man, driving near the Maale Adumim junction, near the al-‘Ezariyya town, southeast of occupied Jerusalem.
The soldiers violently assaulted the man, before kidnapping him, and confiscated his car.
In addition, Israeli soldiers surrounded, on Sunday at dawn, the eastern part of ‘Anata town, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem, and installed a roadblock.
Media sources said the soldiers stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian cars, and investigated the ID cards of the residents while interrogating them.
Hundreds of Palestinians, including schoolchildren, workers and employees, were trying to cross but the soldiers delayed them for several hours.
Eyewitnesses said the driver was near in the western part of Jerusalem, when a number of extremists started shouting at him before physically assaulting him.
The WAFA News Agency said the wounded Palestinian man has been identified as Ibrahim Bader.
In addition, undercover soldiers of the Israeli army kidnapped a young Palestinian man, driving near the Maale Adumim junction, near the al-‘Ezariyya town, southeast of occupied Jerusalem.
The soldiers violently assaulted the man, before kidnapping him, and confiscated his car.
In addition, Israeli soldiers surrounded, on Sunday at dawn, the eastern part of ‘Anata town, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem, and installed a roadblock.
Media sources said the soldiers stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian cars, and investigated the ID cards of the residents while interrogating them.
Hundreds of Palestinians, including schoolchildren, workers and employees, were trying to cross but the soldiers delayed them for several hours.
14 feb 2015
Israeli settlers in Ras al-Amoud in occupied Jerusalem declared the formation of a new militia to confront alleged stone-throwing attacks against their settlement, Israeli media sources said.
Iroshalim Hebrew paper stated that the militia comprises former Israeli soldiers who are quipped with batons, bullet-proof vests, helmets, and other equipment.
According to the source, the militia aims at arresting those who throw stones and Molotov cocktails and hand them to the police.
However, the militia was not formed in coordination with the police, the newspaper pointed out.
The newspaper quoted the occupied Jerusalem Councilman Arieh King, who lives in the settlement of Ma'ale ha-Zeitim, as claiming that his settlement had recently turned into a permanent hotbed of tension.
Human rights institutions raised alarm bells against the establishment of the militia which would lead to more settlers’ attacks against Jerusalemites.
Along the past years, Israeli settlers carried out a number of heinous attacks against Jerusalemites most notably was the kidnapping and burning of the 15-year-old boy Mohamed Abu Khudair alive.
Iroshalim Hebrew paper stated that the militia comprises former Israeli soldiers who are quipped with batons, bullet-proof vests, helmets, and other equipment.
According to the source, the militia aims at arresting those who throw stones and Molotov cocktails and hand them to the police.
However, the militia was not formed in coordination with the police, the newspaper pointed out.
The newspaper quoted the occupied Jerusalem Councilman Arieh King, who lives in the settlement of Ma'ale ha-Zeitim, as claiming that his settlement had recently turned into a permanent hotbed of tension.
Human rights institutions raised alarm bells against the establishment of the militia which would lead to more settlers’ attacks against Jerusalemites.
Along the past years, Israeli settlers carried out a number of heinous attacks against Jerusalemites most notably was the kidnapping and burning of the 15-year-old boy Mohamed Abu Khudair alive.
An image released by the British consul shows the consul general planting an olive sapling during the trip
British Consul General Alastair McPhil on Wednesday said he was "horrified" by the effects of Jewish settlement construction on Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
The statement came during a visit to the villages of Turmsayyiah, Sinjil, Al Mghyyer, and Kusra where he met with local leaders and toured agricultural areas under threat of confiscation by Jewish settlers.
"I was horrified today to hear about the impact of settlements on Palestinian villages. Settler violence against Palestinian communities and property is unacceptable and must stop. Restrictions on access to land are hugely damaging to Palestinian farmers seeking to make a living," the official said in a statement.
"The UK's policy on settlements is clear: they are illegal under international humanitarian law, an obstacle to peace and take us further away from a two state solution."
"The UK is providing practical support to these communities to protect their land and property, and will continue to raise the issue of settlements with the Israeli authorities."
"Today I presented olive trees to the families we visited, as a symbol of our hope that they will be able to access their land in peace," he added.
British Consul General Alastair McPhil on Wednesday said he was "horrified" by the effects of Jewish settlement construction on Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
The statement came during a visit to the villages of Turmsayyiah, Sinjil, Al Mghyyer, and Kusra where he met with local leaders and toured agricultural areas under threat of confiscation by Jewish settlers.
"I was horrified today to hear about the impact of settlements on Palestinian villages. Settler violence against Palestinian communities and property is unacceptable and must stop. Restrictions on access to land are hugely damaging to Palestinian farmers seeking to make a living," the official said in a statement.
"The UK's policy on settlements is clear: they are illegal under international humanitarian law, an obstacle to peace and take us further away from a two state solution."
"The UK is providing practical support to these communities to protect their land and property, and will continue to raise the issue of settlements with the Israeli authorities."
"Today I presented olive trees to the families we visited, as a symbol of our hope that they will be able to access their land in peace," he added.
13 feb 2015
A group of Palestinians has decided to continue a lawsuit against several US-based "charitable organizations" accused of supporting violent Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
Although the case had been rejected by a judge, the group has now decided to appeal against the dismissal.
The complaint was originally filed almost two years ago on behalf of thirteen Palestinian residents of the West Bank (two of whom are US citizens), a mosque and a Greek Orthodox monastery. All of the plaintiffs have suffered attacks by settlers.
In May last year, US District Judge Jesse Furman dismissed the complaint, claiming that the plaintiffs had failed to prove the US organizations had intended to facilitate violence.
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear arguments for appeal on 15 April. If the case is allowed to go forward it will be the first time for a Palestinian to sue a US-based charity under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).
The ATA allows civil action in US courts against those who allegedly support acts of terror. It has been primarily used to prosecute Muslim and Palestinian-Americans.
The plaintiffs have alleged that five US-based, tax-exempt organizations that have given large donations to settlements in the West Bank provided material support for terrorism due to the fact that settlers were known to have undertaken "price tag" attacks on Palestinians and their property. "Price tag" attacks have occurred when buildings or structures erected by settlers without permission from the Israeli authorities have been demolished.
In 2011, the US State Department referred to "price tag" attacks as "terrorist incidents."
The plaintiffs have suffered attacks by settlers, including by gunfire, firebombs, vandalism of a church or mosque and the burning of farmland.
Tax-exempt
Melito and Adolfsen, the commercial law firm representing the plaintiffs, told The Electronic Intifada that their scope is more narrow than the judge characterized in his dismissal. Their suit is not looking at all settlements in the West Bank or alleging that all settlement activity amounts to terrorism; rather they are focusing on specific fringe settlements — Yitzhar and Bat Ayin — the residents of which espouse the most radical ideologies and carry out some of the worst violence.
These settlements, the suit alleges, have received ample funding from the five organizations that conduct their fundraising campaigns in the US with the benefit of a tax-exempt status.
For example, the Central Fund of Israel, one of the defendants named in the case, has given thousands of dollars to the Yitzhar settlement, which has advocated for such extreme violence that the Israeli army intervened last year. The Israeli government has, however, also funded the Yitzhar settlement.
In 2009, the Yitzhar settlement's yeshiva — a religious school — published a book that provided a "justification" for killing non-Jews who allegedly pose a threat to Israel. Just last week, Israeli police seized arms from Yitzhar, which they believed were intended to be used against Palestinians.
The five organizations accused of aiding Israeli settlers are The Hebron Fund, Central Fund of Israel, One Israel Fund, Christian Friends of Israel and American Friends of Ateret Cohanim. All are based in New York.
Although the case had been rejected by a judge, the group has now decided to appeal against the dismissal.
The complaint was originally filed almost two years ago on behalf of thirteen Palestinian residents of the West Bank (two of whom are US citizens), a mosque and a Greek Orthodox monastery. All of the plaintiffs have suffered attacks by settlers.
In May last year, US District Judge Jesse Furman dismissed the complaint, claiming that the plaintiffs had failed to prove the US organizations had intended to facilitate violence.
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear arguments for appeal on 15 April. If the case is allowed to go forward it will be the first time for a Palestinian to sue a US-based charity under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).
The ATA allows civil action in US courts against those who allegedly support acts of terror. It has been primarily used to prosecute Muslim and Palestinian-Americans.
The plaintiffs have alleged that five US-based, tax-exempt organizations that have given large donations to settlements in the West Bank provided material support for terrorism due to the fact that settlers were known to have undertaken "price tag" attacks on Palestinians and their property. "Price tag" attacks have occurred when buildings or structures erected by settlers without permission from the Israeli authorities have been demolished.
In 2011, the US State Department referred to "price tag" attacks as "terrorist incidents."
The plaintiffs have suffered attacks by settlers, including by gunfire, firebombs, vandalism of a church or mosque and the burning of farmland.
Tax-exempt
Melito and Adolfsen, the commercial law firm representing the plaintiffs, told The Electronic Intifada that their scope is more narrow than the judge characterized in his dismissal. Their suit is not looking at all settlements in the West Bank or alleging that all settlement activity amounts to terrorism; rather they are focusing on specific fringe settlements — Yitzhar and Bat Ayin — the residents of which espouse the most radical ideologies and carry out some of the worst violence.
These settlements, the suit alleges, have received ample funding from the five organizations that conduct their fundraising campaigns in the US with the benefit of a tax-exempt status.
For example, the Central Fund of Israel, one of the defendants named in the case, has given thousands of dollars to the Yitzhar settlement, which has advocated for such extreme violence that the Israeli army intervened last year. The Israeli government has, however, also funded the Yitzhar settlement.
In 2009, the Yitzhar settlement's yeshiva — a religious school — published a book that provided a "justification" for killing non-Jews who allegedly pose a threat to Israel. Just last week, Israeli police seized arms from Yitzhar, which they believed were intended to be used against Palestinians.
The five organizations accused of aiding Israeli settlers are The Hebron Fund, Central Fund of Israel, One Israel Fund, Christian Friends of Israel and American Friends of Ateret Cohanim. All are based in New York.
12 feb 2015
A Palestinian young workman from east Jerusalem survived a murder attempt after extremist Jewish settlers from an Israeli settlement on the western side of the holy city inveigled him into coming to their area.
21-year-old Anas Manasrah, from Silwan district, told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that he had survived a physical assault targeting his life after a Jewish settler phoned him and craftily enticed him into coming to his home in Beit Shemesh settlement, west of Jerusalem, in order to install curtains.
Manasrah, who provides curtain installation services, explained further that he had gone along with his father to the home address of the caller in Beit Shemesh where a group of about seven settlers suddenly attacked them, forcing them to engage in a hand-to-hand fight with them.
He added that Israeli policemen came to the area but did not arrest the assailants, noting that an anonymous person talked to him over the phone in Hebrew recently and threatened to burn him alive as happened to the Palestinian child Mohamed Abu Khudair months ago.
In previous killing incidents, the Palestinian natives in the holy city accused the Israeli police of connivance after they did not work seriously on arresting the Jewish killers who burned 16-year-old Mohamed Abu Khudair alive last year and who lynched a Palestinian bus driver in the holy city.
21-year-old Anas Manasrah, from Silwan district, told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that he had survived a physical assault targeting his life after a Jewish settler phoned him and craftily enticed him into coming to his home in Beit Shemesh settlement, west of Jerusalem, in order to install curtains.
Manasrah, who provides curtain installation services, explained further that he had gone along with his father to the home address of the caller in Beit Shemesh where a group of about seven settlers suddenly attacked them, forcing them to engage in a hand-to-hand fight with them.
He added that Israeli policemen came to the area but did not arrest the assailants, noting that an anonymous person talked to him over the phone in Hebrew recently and threatened to burn him alive as happened to the Palestinian child Mohamed Abu Khudair months ago.
In previous killing incidents, the Palestinian natives in the holy city accused the Israeli police of connivance after they did not work seriously on arresting the Jewish killers who burned 16-year-old Mohamed Abu Khudair alive last year and who lynched a Palestinian bus driver in the holy city.