16 jan 2016
Yisrael Beiteinu (right-wing Israeli political party) leader Avigdor Liberman on Friday called Israeli human rights organizations B’Tselem and Breaking the Silence traitors, stating that the “left-leaning groups” were funded by the same people who finance Hamas.
The right-wing party leader said in an Israeli Channel interview on Friday January 15, that:
“As far as I’m concerned these entities are not [exercising] freedom of expression, it’s greed. They aren’t any different from Ehud Adiv or Mordechai Vanunu — they’re complete traitors.”
Ehud Adiv was found guilty of treason in the 1970s for traveling to Damascus, in Syria, to meet with members of the PLO, while Mordechai Vanunu was found guilty of the same charge for disclosing nuclear secrets to the British press.
According to the Israeli media, Liberman’s remarks came amid a growing debate over a bil lproposed by Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked of the far-right Jewish Home party requiring certain Israeli non-governmental organizations to publicly declare their foreign government funding.
The so-called NGO Law or Transparency Law would require all Israeli groups that receive half or more of their budget from foreign governments — which is true for many left-wing but few right-wing groups — to disclose their foreign benefactors.
“With all our desire to stay politically correct and be polite, there are things that need to be told as it is. There’s [cash] flow from the institutions most hostile to Israel. Not just the European Union, not just states. Also those same foundations that fund Hamas, they also fund B’Tselem and Breaking the Silence,” Liberman added.
Also, member of the Knesset earlier this week released a bill that seeks to turn the Breaking the Silence organization illegal. They described Breaking the Silence as “a subversive organization acting to change Israeli policy by non-democratic methods and by exerting international pressure that causes Israel damage.”
In the other hand, due to a lot of criticism from the Israeli media, former Israeli soldiers from Breaking the Silence said in recent weeks that they are only trying to expose the reality of IOF actions in the occupied Palestinian territories.The group added that its mission is essential to stopping violence in the region by helping to end the military occupation of the Palestinian territories. Members of the organization are trying to draw public attention to issues that are not covered by Israeli media and are not made public.
Last week, a fire broke out at B’Tselem’s office in Jerusalem. None of their staff were in the building, but people working on other floors had to be evacuated by the fire brigade.
The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, B’Tselem, endeavors to document and educate the Israeli public and policymakers about human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, combat the phenomenon of denial prevalent among the Israeli public, and help create a human rights culture in Israel.
According to its website, B’Tselem acts primarily to change Israeli policy in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and ensure that its government, which rules the Occupied Territories, protects the human rights of residents there and complies with its obligations under international law.
The right-wing party leader said in an Israeli Channel interview on Friday January 15, that:
“As far as I’m concerned these entities are not [exercising] freedom of expression, it’s greed. They aren’t any different from Ehud Adiv or Mordechai Vanunu — they’re complete traitors.”
Ehud Adiv was found guilty of treason in the 1970s for traveling to Damascus, in Syria, to meet with members of the PLO, while Mordechai Vanunu was found guilty of the same charge for disclosing nuclear secrets to the British press.
According to the Israeli media, Liberman’s remarks came amid a growing debate over a bil lproposed by Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked of the far-right Jewish Home party requiring certain Israeli non-governmental organizations to publicly declare their foreign government funding.
The so-called NGO Law or Transparency Law would require all Israeli groups that receive half or more of their budget from foreign governments — which is true for many left-wing but few right-wing groups — to disclose their foreign benefactors.
“With all our desire to stay politically correct and be polite, there are things that need to be told as it is. There’s [cash] flow from the institutions most hostile to Israel. Not just the European Union, not just states. Also those same foundations that fund Hamas, they also fund B’Tselem and Breaking the Silence,” Liberman added.
Also, member of the Knesset earlier this week released a bill that seeks to turn the Breaking the Silence organization illegal. They described Breaking the Silence as “a subversive organization acting to change Israeli policy by non-democratic methods and by exerting international pressure that causes Israel damage.”
In the other hand, due to a lot of criticism from the Israeli media, former Israeli soldiers from Breaking the Silence said in recent weeks that they are only trying to expose the reality of IOF actions in the occupied Palestinian territories.The group added that its mission is essential to stopping violence in the region by helping to end the military occupation of the Palestinian territories. Members of the organization are trying to draw public attention to issues that are not covered by Israeli media and are not made public.
Last week, a fire broke out at B’Tselem’s office in Jerusalem. None of their staff were in the building, but people working on other floors had to be evacuated by the fire brigade.
The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, B’Tselem, endeavors to document and educate the Israeli public and policymakers about human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, combat the phenomenon of denial prevalent among the Israeli public, and help create a human rights culture in Israel.
According to its website, B’Tselem acts primarily to change Israeli policy in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and ensure that its government, which rules the Occupied Territories, protects the human rights of residents there and complies with its obligations under international law.
14 jan 2016
Israeli prosecutors, on Wednesday, called for life sentences with regard to two young Jewish extremists convicted, last year, of burning a Palestinian teen alive, part of an upsurge in violence ahead of the 2014 Gaza war.
Prosecutors, according to World Bulletin/Al Ray, made the request at a sentencing hearing in a Jerusalem court for the two, who were minors at the time of the chilling attack in which they and a third man snatched Mohammed Abu Khdeir, 16, from an east Jerusalem street and subsequently killed him.
Israeli settler Yosef Haim Ben-David, 31, is said to have led the attack on Abu Khdeir but his lawyers say he suffers from a mental illness and was not responsible for his actions at the time.
Ben-David had reportedly undergone psychiatric treatment in the past, in connection with another incident in which he attempted to strangle his own infant daughter.
When appearing for the arraignment, was reported to say at the entrance hall: "I am the messiah."
The court has found that he committed the crime, but is yet to rule if he is mentally competent.
The two others were 16 when they were charged in 2014 but are now adults.
Prosecutors, according to World Bulletin/Al Ray, made the request at a sentencing hearing in a Jerusalem court for the two, who were minors at the time of the chilling attack in which they and a third man snatched Mohammed Abu Khdeir, 16, from an east Jerusalem street and subsequently killed him.
Israeli settler Yosef Haim Ben-David, 31, is said to have led the attack on Abu Khdeir but his lawyers say he suffers from a mental illness and was not responsible for his actions at the time.
Ben-David had reportedly undergone psychiatric treatment in the past, in connection with another incident in which he attempted to strangle his own infant daughter.
When appearing for the arraignment, was reported to say at the entrance hall: "I am the messiah."
The court has found that he committed the crime, but is yet to rule if he is mentally competent.
The two others were 16 when they were charged in 2014 but are now adults.
Hundreds of Israeli settlers at dawn Thursday stored Nablus’ eastern town of Ourata, in the northern occupied West Bank, and performed sacrilegious rituals in an Islamic holy site.
Eyewitnesses told a PIC news reporter that several buses carrying Israeli fanatics rolled into the town under heavy escort by the Israeli occupation troops.
The fanatic settlers reportedly performed provocative rituals and chanted racist slogans in the Uzeirat shrine.
The Israeli occupation troops were, meanwhile, stationed around civilian homes and residential neighborhoods in the area.
Eyewitnesses told a PIC news reporter that several buses carrying Israeli fanatics rolled into the town under heavy escort by the Israeli occupation troops.
The fanatic settlers reportedly performed provocative rituals and chanted racist slogans in the Uzeirat shrine.
The Israeli occupation troops were, meanwhile, stationed around civilian homes and residential neighborhoods in the area.
Israeli fanatics on Wednesday wreaked havoc on Muslims’ place of worship at the Hadassah University, in Occupied Jerusalem, and tore copies of the Holy Koran.
The Hebrew Walla website quoted the university administration as reporting that Israelis vandalized Muslims’ chapel and threw Holy Koran books on dirty floors.
Muslim students found out about the attack soon as they came to perform their dawn prayers at the university.
Recent months have seen a striking surge in attacks by zealous Israeli settlers against the peaceful Muslim worshipers and holy Islamic sites in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Reports conducted by the Palestinian Ministry of Endowment and Religious Affairs kept record of over 1,336 sacrilegious attacks by Israeli fanatics in 2015.
The Hebrew Walla website quoted the university administration as reporting that Israelis vandalized Muslims’ chapel and threw Holy Koran books on dirty floors.
Muslim students found out about the attack soon as they came to perform their dawn prayers at the university.
Recent months have seen a striking surge in attacks by zealous Israeli settlers against the peaceful Muslim worshipers and holy Islamic sites in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Reports conducted by the Palestinian Ministry of Endowment and Religious Affairs kept record of over 1,336 sacrilegious attacks by Israeli fanatics in 2015.
12 jan 2016
Israel decided to use torture against it’s own, as the internal intelligence service, last year, struggled with the uncovering of a murder case against the Palestinian baby Ali Dawabsha and his parents, Riham and Saad. They were killed on July 31, last year, in their home, in the village of Douma, when Israeli settlers threw a Molotov cocktail into the house.
Excerpts of the fundamentalists’ plan
According to the PNN, the case has evolved from not only a cold-blooded murder, but also the unveiling of a political scandal. Behind the murder of the young family was a network of illegal Jewish settlers with a fundamentalist plan to get Israel to collapse in favor of a new messianic kingdom of Israel where the occupied Palestinian areas are today.
“Initially would all Arabs and non-Jews be warned that they were to leave the country. In the second phase, the plan was immediately to kill all who refuse to leave the country, including women and children.”
Interrogations have, according to Israeli journalist Ben Caspit, led to the unveiling of a Jewish underground network which upholds the sensational goal of evoking a political and violent chaos that was to cause Israel to collapse, and with the right to expel or kill Christians, Muslim and other non-Jewish citizens ("goyim").
Caspit has, in the magazine al-Monitor, described how the underground network would promote its fundamentalist revolt by killing Arabs.
Reportedly, the expectation was to pit the Arab world and the international community against Israel, undermine the authority of the central government and create chaos that would lead to a revolt. Then, during the revolt, the reins of government would be placed in the hands of those believing in the supremacy of the Torah over democracy.
The murder of the Dawabsha family was not the network’s first act of violence. The intelligence service was already on the trail of Jewish fundamentalists who previously had put churches and mosques on fire in the West Bank.
But, according to Israeli press, the murder and the heavy-handed interrogation of the Israelis led to the unveiling of the plan to get Israel to collapse.
The case has attracted attention in Israel. The Jewish underground network that threatened Israel from within has, according to Caspit, been covered by 30-40 activists who have carried out terror against Palestinians.
In addition, another group of about 100 young settlers have supported acts of terrorism and even been part of the fundamentalist network, residents of various illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
According to the Israeli commentator, further several hundred, and “perhaps several thousand ‘, have supported the network’s idea to seek that Israel be replaced by a Judaic kingdom.
Controversial use of torture
Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein gave, according to the newspaper Ha’aretz and other Israeli newspapers, a green light for the internal security service Shin Bet to make use of torture.
Defense lawyers of the three Jewish Israeli youth who were arrested and charged with the murders, according to forward.com, complained that their clients were blindfolded, deprived of sleep and beaten as part of the interrogation.
Education Minister Naftali Bennett, considered the settlers’ chief spokesman of the government, defended the police:
“Those like we, who support the Shin Bet’s actions against Palestinian terrorism to save Jewish lives, cannot resist (these actions, ed.), when applied against Jewish terrorism,” said Bennett, according to the Times of Israel.
The Israeli human rights movement B’Tselem, which often criticizes the mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody, has also complained in this case:
“People during interrogation must, under no circumstances, be subjected to maltreatment and torture,” said B’Tselem.
According to Caspit, the security services reckon that the incident in Douma was one of the formative causes for the eruption of the Palestinian revolt wave that broke out in October.
“The perception, that Israel hurries to solve Arab acts of ‘terror’ but is not capable of subduing Jewish terror, aroused much agitation among the Palestinians and, also, internal criticism in Israel.”
Related: 05/19/15 Netanyahu: Talmud Will be the Basis of Israeli Law
Excerpts of the fundamentalists’ plan
According to the PNN, the case has evolved from not only a cold-blooded murder, but also the unveiling of a political scandal. Behind the murder of the young family was a network of illegal Jewish settlers with a fundamentalist plan to get Israel to collapse in favor of a new messianic kingdom of Israel where the occupied Palestinian areas are today.
“Initially would all Arabs and non-Jews be warned that they were to leave the country. In the second phase, the plan was immediately to kill all who refuse to leave the country, including women and children.”
Interrogations have, according to Israeli journalist Ben Caspit, led to the unveiling of a Jewish underground network which upholds the sensational goal of evoking a political and violent chaos that was to cause Israel to collapse, and with the right to expel or kill Christians, Muslim and other non-Jewish citizens ("goyim").
Caspit has, in the magazine al-Monitor, described how the underground network would promote its fundamentalist revolt by killing Arabs.
Reportedly, the expectation was to pit the Arab world and the international community against Israel, undermine the authority of the central government and create chaos that would lead to a revolt. Then, during the revolt, the reins of government would be placed in the hands of those believing in the supremacy of the Torah over democracy.
The murder of the Dawabsha family was not the network’s first act of violence. The intelligence service was already on the trail of Jewish fundamentalists who previously had put churches and mosques on fire in the West Bank.
But, according to Israeli press, the murder and the heavy-handed interrogation of the Israelis led to the unveiling of the plan to get Israel to collapse.
The case has attracted attention in Israel. The Jewish underground network that threatened Israel from within has, according to Caspit, been covered by 30-40 activists who have carried out terror against Palestinians.
In addition, another group of about 100 young settlers have supported acts of terrorism and even been part of the fundamentalist network, residents of various illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
According to the Israeli commentator, further several hundred, and “perhaps several thousand ‘, have supported the network’s idea to seek that Israel be replaced by a Judaic kingdom.
Controversial use of torture
Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein gave, according to the newspaper Ha’aretz and other Israeli newspapers, a green light for the internal security service Shin Bet to make use of torture.
Defense lawyers of the three Jewish Israeli youth who were arrested and charged with the murders, according to forward.com, complained that their clients were blindfolded, deprived of sleep and beaten as part of the interrogation.
Education Minister Naftali Bennett, considered the settlers’ chief spokesman of the government, defended the police:
“Those like we, who support the Shin Bet’s actions against Palestinian terrorism to save Jewish lives, cannot resist (these actions, ed.), when applied against Jewish terrorism,” said Bennett, according to the Times of Israel.
The Israeli human rights movement B’Tselem, which often criticizes the mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody, has also complained in this case:
“People during interrogation must, under no circumstances, be subjected to maltreatment and torture,” said B’Tselem.
According to Caspit, the security services reckon that the incident in Douma was one of the formative causes for the eruption of the Palestinian revolt wave that broke out in October.
“The perception, that Israel hurries to solve Arab acts of ‘terror’ but is not capable of subduing Jewish terror, aroused much agitation among the Palestinians and, also, internal criticism in Israel.”
Related: 05/19/15 Netanyahu: Talmud Will be the Basis of Israeli Law
Groups of Jewish settlers along with members of Israeli intelligence apparatus on Tuesday morning stormed the plazas of the Aqsa Mosque from the Magharebah gate under the protection of Israeli police and Special Forces.
Some of the settlers, who roamed the courtyards of the Muslim's holy site, attempted to perform Talmudic rituals at the Mosque. However, Muslim sit-inners along with worshipers confronted settlers by chanting “Allah the Greatest”.
In the same context, the Jerusalemite women whose names are listed in the ban of entry list were barred from entering the Mosque by Israeli police. They got gathered in a sit-in at the Aqsa gates and recited verses of the Holy Quran.
The Jewish settlers deliberately storm the Aqsa Mosque daily at seven o'clock in the morning so that they can take advantage of the small numbers of Muslim sit-inners at that early time.
Some of the settlers, who roamed the courtyards of the Muslim's holy site, attempted to perform Talmudic rituals at the Mosque. However, Muslim sit-inners along with worshipers confronted settlers by chanting “Allah the Greatest”.
In the same context, the Jerusalemite women whose names are listed in the ban of entry list were barred from entering the Mosque by Israeli police. They got gathered in a sit-in at the Aqsa gates and recited verses of the Holy Quran.
The Jewish settlers deliberately storm the Aqsa Mosque daily at seven o'clock in the morning so that they can take advantage of the small numbers of Muslim sit-inners at that early time.
11 jan 2016
Groups of Jewish settlers on Monday stormed the plazas of the Aqsa Mosque under the protection of Israeli police and Special Forces.
Eyewitnesses said that about 26 settlers, in three groups, broke into the Aqsa Mosque from the Magharebah gate. The settlers attempted to perform Talmudic rituals at the Mosque, but Muslim sit-inners along with the guards confronted settlers by chanting “Allah the Greatest”.
In the same context, a sit-in has been planned to be organized on Tuesday at the Lions gate in protest against the continuation of the Israeli policy of deporting Jerusalemites outside of the Muslims' holy site.
Eyewitnesses said that about 26 settlers, in three groups, broke into the Aqsa Mosque from the Magharebah gate. The settlers attempted to perform Talmudic rituals at the Mosque, but Muslim sit-inners along with the guards confronted settlers by chanting “Allah the Greatest”.
In the same context, a sit-in has been planned to be organized on Tuesday at the Lions gate in protest against the continuation of the Israeli policy of deporting Jerusalemites outside of the Muslims' holy site.
Hordes of Israeli fanatics at dawn Monday broke into Joseph’s Tomb, in southern Nablus city, sparking violent clashes with the native Palestinian inhabitants.
Eyewitnesses said hundreds of Israeli extremist settlers, escorted by armed troops, broke into Joseph’s Tomb in an attempt to perform a series of sacrilegious rituals at what they believe to be the tomb of a prophet.
Dozens of Israeli army jeeps escorted the vehicles and buses that carried the Israeli settlers from the Orata military checkpoint.
The fanatic settlers performed provocative rituals and shouted racist slogans.
Violent clashes burst out in the vicinity of Joseph’s Tomb following the break-in. Several Palestinians choked on tear gas canisters that were randomly discharged by the Israeli occupation soldiers.
Eyewitnesses said hundreds of Israeli extremist settlers, escorted by armed troops, broke into Joseph’s Tomb in an attempt to perform a series of sacrilegious rituals at what they believe to be the tomb of a prophet.
Dozens of Israeli army jeeps escorted the vehicles and buses that carried the Israeli settlers from the Orata military checkpoint.
The fanatic settlers performed provocative rituals and shouted racist slogans.
Violent clashes burst out in the vicinity of Joseph’s Tomb following the break-in. Several Palestinians choked on tear gas canisters that were randomly discharged by the Israeli occupation soldiers.
10 jan 2016
Jewish settlers entered the Aqsa Mosque on Sunday morning and roamed its courtyards under tight Israeli police security measures.
Meanwhile, the Israeli police are permanently blocking the entry of some Muslim female worshipers, who used to maintain vigil inside the Mosque, despite the absence of an official decision to this effect.
Israeli policemen at the gates of the holy site withhold the IDs of Muslims worshipers who enter the site and return them only at their departure.
Meanwhile, the Israeli police are permanently blocking the entry of some Muslim female worshipers, who used to maintain vigil inside the Mosque, despite the absence of an official decision to this effect.
Israeli policemen at the gates of the holy site withhold the IDs of Muslims worshipers who enter the site and return them only at their departure.
9 jan 2016
A Christian cemetery of “Dier Beit Jamal” of the Salesian monastery to the west of Occupied Jerusalem was desecrated by unknown people. The PIC reporter revealed that extremist settlers are suspected to have responsibility over the desecration.
The Latin patriarchate in Occupied Jerusalem said, in a statement Saturday evening, that dozens of crosses were broken in the same cemetery that was similarly attacked in September 19981 and in March 2014 when anti-Christianity slogans were written on its walls.
The patriarchate condemned the action and pointed out that it is not the first of its kind in over the past years.
This comes after a week of President of the Israeli Lahava extremist right-wing organization Rabbi Pentsy Jobstein's call to torch Christian churches in Occupied Jerusalem. He opined that the Christian existence in Jerusalem is unwelcomed and said: “this is what we have to translate by actions, not only in words.”
Palestinian Christians, like Palestinian Muslims, are exposed to Israeli occupation practices and Jewish settlers' terror.
The Latin patriarchate in Occupied Jerusalem said, in a statement Saturday evening, that dozens of crosses were broken in the same cemetery that was similarly attacked in September 19981 and in March 2014 when anti-Christianity slogans were written on its walls.
The patriarchate condemned the action and pointed out that it is not the first of its kind in over the past years.
This comes after a week of President of the Israeli Lahava extremist right-wing organization Rabbi Pentsy Jobstein's call to torch Christian churches in Occupied Jerusalem. He opined that the Christian existence in Jerusalem is unwelcomed and said: “this is what we have to translate by actions, not only in words.”
Palestinian Christians, like Palestinian Muslims, are exposed to Israeli occupation practices and Jewish settlers' terror.
8 jan 2016
Scores of fanatic Jewish settlers at dawn Friday performed rituals at the historic castle of al-Mureq, which is located west of Dura town in al-Khalil.
Local sources told SAFA news agency that three buses carrying hordes of settlers entered the area of the castle escorted by Israeli military vehicles.
Dozens of Israeli soldiers cordoned off the site of the castle and its vicinity, and prevented Palestinian vehicles from passing by, the sources added.
Inside the castle, the settlers put on white clothing and embarked on uttering religious hymns and chants loudly.
Israeli soldiers and officials had come to the area recently and took pictures of the castle and other archaeological sites in the town as a prelude to bringing settlers regularly to the area to perform rituals.
Local sources told SAFA news agency that three buses carrying hordes of settlers entered the area of the castle escorted by Israeli military vehicles.
Dozens of Israeli soldiers cordoned off the site of the castle and its vicinity, and prevented Palestinian vehicles from passing by, the sources added.
Inside the castle, the settlers put on white clothing and embarked on uttering religious hymns and chants loudly.
Israeli soldiers and officials had come to the area recently and took pictures of the castle and other archaeological sites in the town as a prelude to bringing settlers regularly to the area to perform rituals.
7 jan 2016
A score of Jewish settlers stormed on Thursday the plazas of al-Aqsa Mosque from the Magharebah gate under tightened security measures by Israeli forces.
Sources in Jerusalem revealed that 13 settlers escorted by Israeli police and Special Forces broke into the courtyards of al-Aqsa Mosque. Meanwhile, the Jerusalemite sit-inners confronted settlers by chanting “Allah the Greatest”.
Israeli police are still banning Jerusalemite women from accessing the Muslims’ holy site as well as confiscating the IDs of some of the worshipers prior to their entry into the Mosque.
Sources in Jerusalem revealed that 13 settlers escorted by Israeli police and Special Forces broke into the courtyards of al-Aqsa Mosque. Meanwhile, the Jerusalemite sit-inners confronted settlers by chanting “Allah the Greatest”.
Israeli police are still banning Jerusalemite women from accessing the Muslims’ holy site as well as confiscating the IDs of some of the worshipers prior to their entry into the Mosque.
Greek Aegean airlines on Wednesday apologized to PLO Secretary-General Saeb Erekat for the forced removal of two Palestinians from a flight.
CEO of the Greek airline, Dimitris Gerogiannis, sent a letter to Erekat expressing the airline’s “greatest regret” after a group of Jewish Israelis reportedly pressured cabin crew earlier this week to force the Palestinians on board to disembark.
According to Israeli media reports, the group said the two Palestinians -- both citizens of Israel -- constituted a “security risk” and prevented the flight from taking off until the two were removed from the aircraft.
PLO Secretary-General in response expressed “outrage” at the “discrimination and prejudice at the hands of the Aegean cabin crew.”
“We call upon the Greek government to take strong action against this racist act,” Erekat said following the incident, adding that the move was reminiscent of apartheid-era South Africa, “which is not different than the policies carried out by the Israeli government against Palestinians under the pretext of ‘security.”
Aegean CEO in reply to Erekat’s statement acknowledged that “there was unwarranted and indeed unfair continued reaction by a large group of passengers,”
Gerogiannis’ letter concluded: “Again we regret the whole event, once which is quite unprecedented in our experience despite flying for many years to the Middle East.”
CEO of the Greek airline, Dimitris Gerogiannis, sent a letter to Erekat expressing the airline’s “greatest regret” after a group of Jewish Israelis reportedly pressured cabin crew earlier this week to force the Palestinians on board to disembark.
According to Israeli media reports, the group said the two Palestinians -- both citizens of Israel -- constituted a “security risk” and prevented the flight from taking off until the two were removed from the aircraft.
PLO Secretary-General in response expressed “outrage” at the “discrimination and prejudice at the hands of the Aegean cabin crew.”
“We call upon the Greek government to take strong action against this racist act,” Erekat said following the incident, adding that the move was reminiscent of apartheid-era South Africa, “which is not different than the policies carried out by the Israeli government against Palestinians under the pretext of ‘security.”
Aegean CEO in reply to Erekat’s statement acknowledged that “there was unwarranted and indeed unfair continued reaction by a large group of passengers,”
Gerogiannis’ letter concluded: “Again we regret the whole event, once which is quite unprecedented in our experience despite flying for many years to the Middle East.”
6 jan 2016
Tension ran high at the plazas of the Aqsa Mosque Wednesday morning after a group of Jewish settlers performed Talmudic rituals at the holy site under protection of Israeli forces.
Eyewitnesses revealed that Muslim worshipers confronted settlers by chanting “Allah the Greatest”. Meanwhile, an Israeli officer arrested the Palestinian young man Wael al-Rajabi. He was taken to the police station of al-Silsila gate in the Old City of Occupied Jerusalem.
A female settler broke into the Aqsa Mosque three times in the morning, while 24 other settlers stormed the plazas of the Muslims’ holy site from the Magharebah gate under tightened security measures, eyewitnesses reported.
Israeli policemen stationed at the various gates of the Aqsa Mosque continued confiscating the IDs of Palestinian youths and women prior to their entry to the Mosque. The policemen also continued barring Jerusalemite women who have been banned of accessing the Mosque for four months.
Settlers’ attempts to perform Talmudic rituals at the Aqsa Mosque have recently escalated in light of the increase of Israeli arrests and attacks on Muslim worshipers and guards of the Aqsa Mosque for confronting the repeated settlers’ incursions into the Mosque.
Eyewitnesses revealed that Muslim worshipers confronted settlers by chanting “Allah the Greatest”. Meanwhile, an Israeli officer arrested the Palestinian young man Wael al-Rajabi. He was taken to the police station of al-Silsila gate in the Old City of Occupied Jerusalem.
A female settler broke into the Aqsa Mosque three times in the morning, while 24 other settlers stormed the plazas of the Muslims’ holy site from the Magharebah gate under tightened security measures, eyewitnesses reported.
Israeli policemen stationed at the various gates of the Aqsa Mosque continued confiscating the IDs of Palestinian youths and women prior to their entry to the Mosque. The policemen also continued barring Jerusalemite women who have been banned of accessing the Mosque for four months.
Settlers’ attempts to perform Talmudic rituals at the Aqsa Mosque have recently escalated in light of the increase of Israeli arrests and attacks on Muslim worshipers and guards of the Aqsa Mosque for confronting the repeated settlers’ incursions into the Mosque.
