23 july 2015
An Israeli vehicle driving at high speed at noontime Wednesday rammed into two Palestinian youths near Ramallah’s town of Ni’lin, in the central West Bank.
Local sources said the 19-year-old youths Mohamed Nael Abu Fkheida and Bilal Said Sobh sustained wounds after an Israeli vehicle driving near the Ni’lin checkpoint, separating the West Bank and the 1948 occupied territories, hit them.
One of the casualties was rushed to the Tel Hashomer hospital inside the Green Line to be urgently treated for the inflicted wounds and bruises. The other youngster received field treatment.
Eye-witnesses said the vehicle deliberately ran over the two young men.
The youngsters’ families said the Israeli police claimed, in a phone call, they had captured the driver responsible for the accident pending further investigation into the attack.
A state of tension burst out across Ramallah after locals found out about the piece of news.
Local sources said the 19-year-old youths Mohamed Nael Abu Fkheida and Bilal Said Sobh sustained wounds after an Israeli vehicle driving near the Ni’lin checkpoint, separating the West Bank and the 1948 occupied territories, hit them.
One of the casualties was rushed to the Tel Hashomer hospital inside the Green Line to be urgently treated for the inflicted wounds and bruises. The other youngster received field treatment.
Eye-witnesses said the vehicle deliberately ran over the two young men.
The youngsters’ families said the Israeli police claimed, in a phone call, they had captured the driver responsible for the accident pending further investigation into the attack.
A state of tension burst out across Ramallah after locals found out about the piece of news.
Israeli soldiers attacked, on Thursday, an elderly Palestinian man while detaining him at the Chain Gate, one of the gates of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in occupied East Jerusalem, and released him later.
Eyewitnesses said the soldiers initially thought the elderly man, identified as Kheir ash-Sheemy, previously received an order denying him access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and released him after realizing no such orders were issued against him.
Dozens of police officers, and soldiers, have been deployed in Jerusalem’s Old City, especially around the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and prevented Palestinian children from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque, as part of their summer camp activities.
In addition, scores of Israeli extremists stormed the courtyards of the mosque, through the al-Magharba Gate, under heavy police and army accompaniment, and conducted proactive acts targeting Muslim worshipers.
Also on Thursday, soldiers kidnapped a young Palestinian man and two children, in Silwan town, in occupied East Jerusalem.
Israeli fanatics break into Muslims’ holy al-Aqsa Mosque
A flock of Israeli extremist settlers, escorted by army officers, stormed, on early Thursday morning, the plazas of the holy al-Aqsa Mosque via the Maghareba gate.
On-the-spot observers said Israeli fanatics provoked the peaceful Muslim worshipers and sit-inners at the Mosque and delivered sermons on the history of the alleged temple mount.
The non-violent Muslim sit-inners and congregation chanted “Allah the Greatest” in protest at the sacrilegious break-in.
The Israeli occupation police have, meanwhile, come down heavily on the Muslim worshipers, seizing youngsters’ and women’s IDs at the main entrances to the holy shrine.
Muslim summer campers who came to perform their religious prayers at al-Aqsa were also denied the right to enter the Mosque.
Eyewitnesses said the soldiers initially thought the elderly man, identified as Kheir ash-Sheemy, previously received an order denying him access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and released him after realizing no such orders were issued against him.
Dozens of police officers, and soldiers, have been deployed in Jerusalem’s Old City, especially around the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and prevented Palestinian children from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque, as part of their summer camp activities.
In addition, scores of Israeli extremists stormed the courtyards of the mosque, through the al-Magharba Gate, under heavy police and army accompaniment, and conducted proactive acts targeting Muslim worshipers.
Also on Thursday, soldiers kidnapped a young Palestinian man and two children, in Silwan town, in occupied East Jerusalem.
Israeli fanatics break into Muslims’ holy al-Aqsa Mosque
A flock of Israeli extremist settlers, escorted by army officers, stormed, on early Thursday morning, the plazas of the holy al-Aqsa Mosque via the Maghareba gate.
On-the-spot observers said Israeli fanatics provoked the peaceful Muslim worshipers and sit-inners at the Mosque and delivered sermons on the history of the alleged temple mount.
The non-violent Muslim sit-inners and congregation chanted “Allah the Greatest” in protest at the sacrilegious break-in.
The Israeli occupation police have, meanwhile, come down heavily on the Muslim worshipers, seizing youngsters’ and women’s IDs at the main entrances to the holy shrine.
Muslim summer campers who came to perform their religious prayers at al-Aqsa were also denied the right to enter the Mosque.
22 july 2015
Two of the perpetrators get at least two years jail time and ordered to compensate Jerusalem school; 'It was worth it,' they said upon leaving the courtroom smiling.
The Jerusalem bilingual school arsonists, brothers Nahman and Shlomo Twito, were sentenced on Wednesday to two and a half and two years imprisonment, respectively.
The trial of the third accused, Yitzhak Gabai, is still ongoing because he did not confess and has yet to be convicted.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court gave Shlomo Twito eight months suspended sentence for three years following his release, and ordered him to pay NIS 10,000 in compensation to the bilingual school. His brother Nahman received ten months of suspended sentence, and ordered to pay the school NIS 15,000 in compensation.
The two left the courtroom smiling, singing songs in praise of God and claiming that "it was worth it." Security cameras captured the arson on tape.
The young men are members of the Lehava organization - a far right-wing group whose prime objective is to oppose assimilation of Jews, especially marriages between Jews and non-Jews.
After being caught, the three perpetrators said they vandalized and burned the school to protest the fact Jews and Arabs were attending it together and in order to raise their objection to intermarriage and assimilation to the public's attention.
The Twito brothers' mother told Ynet that "It’s disgusting that Jews and Arabs learn side by side. If we didn’t have a country governed by law, I would have done the same."
In his decision, Judge Zvi Segal referred to inciting posts the accused made on Facebook: "The freedom of expression is a fundamental principle in our country. As citizens of a democratic state, we must show the utmost of tolerance to expressions that are not easy to hear. However, freedom of expression cannot be a permission to commit acts of violence and terrorism. Those who incite to violence seek to harm and destroy the state's laws, public safety and public order."
Nihad Rashid, chairman of the bilingual school's steering committee said, "We respect the court's decision, but regret the leniency of the sentence. One of the defendants let out a dangerous statement according to which it was worth doing it. I hope this is not the message that will come out of the courthouse."
The school in Jerusalem's Pat neighborhood was set on fire at the end of November 2014. Firefighters called to the school found graffiti including "Death to Arabs", "Kahane was right" and statements condemning coexistence.
Hatem Matar, chairman of the school's PTA said immediately after the incident that contrary to previous incidents, this arson was perpetrated on school premises, and resulted in the first grade class being completely burned down.
"This arson was made by contemptible creatures. We will open the school as we normally do, we have already arranged for an alternative class. We will explain to the children what happened, we will come to school and strengthen them. This incident could only have beneficial effects, since every time they try to drag into these negative realms we just grow stronger," said Matar.
The young people arrested were active in an organization that fights assimilation, and they have a criminal record of nationalistically motivated acts. Two of them later signed a plea bargain with the Jerusalem district's prosecutor's office, and were convicted by the city's district court with an amended indictment that did not attribute to them offenses with a racist motive.
The arson at the Jerusalem school occurred at the height of tensions between the Arab and the Jewish communities on the background of the abduction and murder of the three teenagers, the murder of Mohammed Abu Khdeir and Operation Protective Edge.
The Jerusalem bilingual school arsonists, brothers Nahman and Shlomo Twito, were sentenced on Wednesday to two and a half and two years imprisonment, respectively.
The trial of the third accused, Yitzhak Gabai, is still ongoing because he did not confess and has yet to be convicted.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court gave Shlomo Twito eight months suspended sentence for three years following his release, and ordered him to pay NIS 10,000 in compensation to the bilingual school. His brother Nahman received ten months of suspended sentence, and ordered to pay the school NIS 15,000 in compensation.
The two left the courtroom smiling, singing songs in praise of God and claiming that "it was worth it." Security cameras captured the arson on tape.
The young men are members of the Lehava organization - a far right-wing group whose prime objective is to oppose assimilation of Jews, especially marriages between Jews and non-Jews.
After being caught, the three perpetrators said they vandalized and burned the school to protest the fact Jews and Arabs were attending it together and in order to raise their objection to intermarriage and assimilation to the public's attention.
The Twito brothers' mother told Ynet that "It’s disgusting that Jews and Arabs learn side by side. If we didn’t have a country governed by law, I would have done the same."
In his decision, Judge Zvi Segal referred to inciting posts the accused made on Facebook: "The freedom of expression is a fundamental principle in our country. As citizens of a democratic state, we must show the utmost of tolerance to expressions that are not easy to hear. However, freedom of expression cannot be a permission to commit acts of violence and terrorism. Those who incite to violence seek to harm and destroy the state's laws, public safety and public order."
Nihad Rashid, chairman of the bilingual school's steering committee said, "We respect the court's decision, but regret the leniency of the sentence. One of the defendants let out a dangerous statement according to which it was worth doing it. I hope this is not the message that will come out of the courthouse."
The school in Jerusalem's Pat neighborhood was set on fire at the end of November 2014. Firefighters called to the school found graffiti including "Death to Arabs", "Kahane was right" and statements condemning coexistence.
Hatem Matar, chairman of the school's PTA said immediately after the incident that contrary to previous incidents, this arson was perpetrated on school premises, and resulted in the first grade class being completely burned down.
"This arson was made by contemptible creatures. We will open the school as we normally do, we have already arranged for an alternative class. We will explain to the children what happened, we will come to school and strengthen them. This incident could only have beneficial effects, since every time they try to drag into these negative realms we just grow stronger," said Matar.
The young people arrested were active in an organization that fights assimilation, and they have a criminal record of nationalistically motivated acts. Two of them later signed a plea bargain with the Jerusalem district's prosecutor's office, and were convicted by the city's district court with an amended indictment that did not attribute to them offenses with a racist motive.
The arson at the Jerusalem school occurred at the height of tensions between the Arab and the Jewish communities on the background of the abduction and murder of the three teenagers, the murder of Mohammed Abu Khdeir and Operation Protective Edge.
The occupation forces arrested on Wednesday today two ladies and a youth from in front of Al-Aqsa Mosque gates.
Wadi Hilweh Information Center learnt that the occupation police arrested before the afternoon today two ladies as soon as they exited from Al-Aqsa Mosque through “Bab Alsilisleh”, they also arrested a youth as soon as he exited from “Bab Al-Majles” and were taken to the Police Station in “Bab Alsilisleh”.
The center also learnt that the occupation police detained the Prayers Identification cards before entering Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Witnesses reported that the occupation police attempted to arrest a lady from inside of the mosque fields in conjunction with the break in of the settlers in to the mosque; however, the Prayers and guards intervened and failed in the attempt.
95 settlers also broke into the mosque today with an invitation from what is called “The Temple Community Union”
Wadi Hilweh Information Center learnt that the occupation police arrested before the afternoon today two ladies as soon as they exited from Al-Aqsa Mosque through “Bab Alsilisleh”, they also arrested a youth as soon as he exited from “Bab Al-Majles” and were taken to the Police Station in “Bab Alsilisleh”.
The center also learnt that the occupation police detained the Prayers Identification cards before entering Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Witnesses reported that the occupation police attempted to arrest a lady from inside of the mosque fields in conjunction with the break in of the settlers in to the mosque; however, the Prayers and guards intervened and failed in the attempt.
95 settlers also broke into the mosque today with an invitation from what is called “The Temple Community Union”
Extremist Jewish groups have called for storming the Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday morning in order to celebrate the opening of the Maghareba gate after a two-week closure because of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr Muslim occasions.
They called for arranging a demonstration to the gate and performing Talmudic rituals in the early morning hours followed by massive incursions into the Mosque’s compound.
Jewish settlers were called upon to participate in the monthly demonstration at seven p.m. on Tuesday in celebration of the commencement of the Hebrew month on first of August.
The event includes dancing and singing within rituals of glorifying the alleged Temple of Solomon and praying for its reconstruction in place of the Aqsa Mosque, which provokes Muslim worshipers.
On the other hand, Palestinian youths used their Facebook accounts to call for intensifying presence inside the Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday in order to foil the Jewish settlers’ extremist plans.
They called for arranging a demonstration to the gate and performing Talmudic rituals in the early morning hours followed by massive incursions into the Mosque’s compound.
Jewish settlers were called upon to participate in the monthly demonstration at seven p.m. on Tuesday in celebration of the commencement of the Hebrew month on first of August.
The event includes dancing and singing within rituals of glorifying the alleged Temple of Solomon and praying for its reconstruction in place of the Aqsa Mosque, which provokes Muslim worshipers.
On the other hand, Palestinian youths used their Facebook accounts to call for intensifying presence inside the Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday in order to foil the Jewish settlers’ extremist plans.
The Muslim sit-inners have, meanwhile, been on the alert to such preplanned break-ins, chanting Allah the Greatest in protest at the sacrilegious scheme.
Large Israeli army troops have been deployed across the plazas of the al-Aqsa Mosque. An Israeli female unit has also come down heavily on the female Muslim worshipers at the Mosque.
Large Israeli army troops have been deployed across the plazas of the al-Aqsa Mosque. An Israeli female unit has also come down heavily on the female Muslim worshipers at the Mosque.
21 july 2015
Violent clashes broke out on Monday between dozens of Palestinian citizens and extremist Jewish settlers backed by soldiers in Beit Ummar town, north of al-Khalil city.
Local sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that a horde of settlers escorted by Israeli soldiers rallied in a Palestinian area near the illegal settlement of Karmi Tsur and embarked on provoking and clashing with Palestinian citizens.
The situation turned violent when the soldiers started to fire rubber bullets and tear gas grenades at the angry citizens and their homes, the sources added.
The sources noted that during the events, a fire broke out in Karmi Tsur settlement, without stating the reason behind the incident.
Local sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that a horde of settlers escorted by Israeli soldiers rallied in a Palestinian area near the illegal settlement of Karmi Tsur and embarked on provoking and clashing with Palestinian citizens.
The situation turned violent when the soldiers started to fire rubber bullets and tear gas grenades at the angry citizens and their homes, the sources added.
The sources noted that during the events, a fire broke out in Karmi Tsur settlement, without stating the reason behind the incident.
Amendment to existing law allows court to sentence rioter to up to 10 years in prison even without proof of intent to cause harm.
Legislation to impose harsher sentences on stone-throwers passed the final hurdle on Monday night in the Knesset after it passed the second and third readings, making it into law.
The bill, proposed by former justice minister Tzipi Livni and then promoted in this term by her successor Ayelet Shaked, passed with 69 in favor, including Zionist Union MKs, and 17 against. The new legislation is an amendment to the existing law, and serves to supplement and clarify it. Primarily, it defines stone-throwing at police with the intention of disturbing or preventing officers from doing their duty as an offense.
The amendment also splits the offense of stone-throwing to two different levels of severity. On the first level, stone-throwers could receive up to 10 years in prison without the prosecution having to prove intention to cause harm. On the second level, in cases where the prosecution can prove an intention to cause harm, stone-throwers could receive up to 20 years in prison.
Before the amendment's passing, the maximum punishment for throwing stones or other objects at vehicles or individuals on a road was 20 years, but it required the prosecution to prove the thrower intended to cause harm.
In many cases, this intention was hard to prove, creating a situation in which stone-throwers received relatively light sentences, which did not match the severity of the offense. "Justice was made today," Shaked said after the amendment's passing. "For years, terrorists got away from punishment and accountability. Leniency to terrorists stops today. A stone-thrower is a terrorist and only an appropriate punishment can serve as deterrence."
Tensions were running high at the Knesset during the discussion on the legislation.
Joint Arab List MK Jamal Zahalka said: "Imagine we brought both the stone-throwers and those who caused them to throw stones in front of a judge. Who would the judge put in prison? The one who demolished a house, expropriate the land, killed the brother? Or the boy who threw a stone? You are picking on people who are responding to greater wrongs. This is hypocrisy. Those who demolish homes get rewarded, but the boy whose anger is justified is being punished."
MK Ahmad Tibi added: "There is an order in the army that if soldiers arrive at a place where Jews are protesting and one of the protesters jumps the soldiers, they are not allowed to shoot him because he's Jewish. Under the same circumstances, when it's Arabs, they shoot to kill. 'Neutralize,' they call it. That is why a Palestinian is doomed even if he throws a non-lethal stone."
Things got heated further when Deputy Knesset Speaker Hilik Bar, who presided over the discussion, answered to Tibi: "It's all fine for you to criticize IDF soldiers, but just remember that it's thanks to them that you we can have this discussion here.
Just like they're protecting me, they're protecting you too in the jungle of the Middle East."
MKs from the Joint Arab List were enrage and the discussion was stopped for several minutes due to shouting from the MKs.
Legislation to impose harsher sentences on stone-throwers passed the final hurdle on Monday night in the Knesset after it passed the second and third readings, making it into law.
The bill, proposed by former justice minister Tzipi Livni and then promoted in this term by her successor Ayelet Shaked, passed with 69 in favor, including Zionist Union MKs, and 17 against. The new legislation is an amendment to the existing law, and serves to supplement and clarify it. Primarily, it defines stone-throwing at police with the intention of disturbing or preventing officers from doing their duty as an offense.
The amendment also splits the offense of stone-throwing to two different levels of severity. On the first level, stone-throwers could receive up to 10 years in prison without the prosecution having to prove intention to cause harm. On the second level, in cases where the prosecution can prove an intention to cause harm, stone-throwers could receive up to 20 years in prison.
Before the amendment's passing, the maximum punishment for throwing stones or other objects at vehicles or individuals on a road was 20 years, but it required the prosecution to prove the thrower intended to cause harm.
In many cases, this intention was hard to prove, creating a situation in which stone-throwers received relatively light sentences, which did not match the severity of the offense. "Justice was made today," Shaked said after the amendment's passing. "For years, terrorists got away from punishment and accountability. Leniency to terrorists stops today. A stone-thrower is a terrorist and only an appropriate punishment can serve as deterrence."
Tensions were running high at the Knesset during the discussion on the legislation.
Joint Arab List MK Jamal Zahalka said: "Imagine we brought both the stone-throwers and those who caused them to throw stones in front of a judge. Who would the judge put in prison? The one who demolished a house, expropriate the land, killed the brother? Or the boy who threw a stone? You are picking on people who are responding to greater wrongs. This is hypocrisy. Those who demolish homes get rewarded, but the boy whose anger is justified is being punished."
MK Ahmad Tibi added: "There is an order in the army that if soldiers arrive at a place where Jews are protesting and one of the protesters jumps the soldiers, they are not allowed to shoot him because he's Jewish. Under the same circumstances, when it's Arabs, they shoot to kill. 'Neutralize,' they call it. That is why a Palestinian is doomed even if he throws a non-lethal stone."
Things got heated further when Deputy Knesset Speaker Hilik Bar, who presided over the discussion, answered to Tibi: "It's all fine for you to criticize IDF soldiers, but just remember that it's thanks to them that you we can have this discussion here.
Just like they're protecting me, they're protecting you too in the jungle of the Middle East."
MKs from the Joint Arab List were enrage and the discussion was stopped for several minutes due to shouting from the MKs.
Unable to organize provocative visits to Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque during the fasting month of Ramadan, when Palestinian Muslims maintain a permanent presence in the holy site, Jewish settlers resumed their regular daily visits to the holy site, on Monday.
WAFA correspondence reports that groups of settlers entered the site gradually in the morning, almost two weeks since they were last allowed entry into the site by the Israeli police, which prohibits entry of Jews into the site during the last 10 days of Ramadan given the large numbers of Muslim worshipers who fill the yards for prayers.
The settlers toured the site before a number of worshipers present there shouted religious chants to demonstrate their anger against the Jewish presence at the site, the third holiest place in Islam.
According to the Islamic Foundation for Waqf and Heritage, over 80,000 Palestinians performed Eid prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque yards after Israel allowed thousands from the cities of the West Bank entry into Jerusalem.
Even though Israel granted hundreds of thousands permits to enter Jerusalem as well as allowed both women and men of certain age to enter freely, the decision has been met with suspension since day one.
Vice President of the Islamic movement in Israel Sheikh Kamal al-Khatib said that this decision should be “looked at with a skeptical eye”, predicting the “next stage to be very difficult on Al-Aqsa Mosque.”
Many Palestinian worshipers who stay at Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan and throughout the year have received banning orders from the Israeli court, preventing them from entering or praying at the holy site.
Sources in Jerusalem reported that Israel has put together a black list of all activists and worshipers who remain at Al-Aqsa Mosque and threatened to impose grave sanctions on them and their families, including the demolition of their homes.
Zena Amro, a female activist and one of the worshipers staying at Al-Aqsa Mosque has received a demolition order of her house which was built in 1964, before Jerusalem was occupied.
The site has been at the heart of unrest in recent months as Palestinian protester took to the streets over frequent and increasing Jewish visitors to the holy compound.
Palestinians worry that if Jewish visitors were allowed to pray in the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque’s yards daily, it would eventually lead to a permanent change, which will result in full Israeli control and ban on Muslims’ entry and prayer.
The fear stems from ongoing Israeli policy which prevents Palestinians living in the West Bank from obtaining permits to enter Jerusalem to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque and many restrictions on Jerusalemites’ entrance to the holy Compound, including holding their identity cards until they leave the mosque.
Settlers’ provocative visits to the holy site have given rise to mass protests in the holy city in recent months, during which hundreds of Palestinians were apprehended by Israeli police.
WAFA correspondence reports that groups of settlers entered the site gradually in the morning, almost two weeks since they were last allowed entry into the site by the Israeli police, which prohibits entry of Jews into the site during the last 10 days of Ramadan given the large numbers of Muslim worshipers who fill the yards for prayers.
The settlers toured the site before a number of worshipers present there shouted religious chants to demonstrate their anger against the Jewish presence at the site, the third holiest place in Islam.
According to the Islamic Foundation for Waqf and Heritage, over 80,000 Palestinians performed Eid prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque yards after Israel allowed thousands from the cities of the West Bank entry into Jerusalem.
Even though Israel granted hundreds of thousands permits to enter Jerusalem as well as allowed both women and men of certain age to enter freely, the decision has been met with suspension since day one.
Vice President of the Islamic movement in Israel Sheikh Kamal al-Khatib said that this decision should be “looked at with a skeptical eye”, predicting the “next stage to be very difficult on Al-Aqsa Mosque.”
Many Palestinian worshipers who stay at Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan and throughout the year have received banning orders from the Israeli court, preventing them from entering or praying at the holy site.
Sources in Jerusalem reported that Israel has put together a black list of all activists and worshipers who remain at Al-Aqsa Mosque and threatened to impose grave sanctions on them and their families, including the demolition of their homes.
Zena Amro, a female activist and one of the worshipers staying at Al-Aqsa Mosque has received a demolition order of her house which was built in 1964, before Jerusalem was occupied.
The site has been at the heart of unrest in recent months as Palestinian protester took to the streets over frequent and increasing Jewish visitors to the holy compound.
Palestinians worry that if Jewish visitors were allowed to pray in the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque’s yards daily, it would eventually lead to a permanent change, which will result in full Israeli control and ban on Muslims’ entry and prayer.
The fear stems from ongoing Israeli policy which prevents Palestinians living in the West Bank from obtaining permits to enter Jerusalem to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque and many restrictions on Jerusalemites’ entrance to the holy Compound, including holding their identity cards until they leave the mosque.
Settlers’ provocative visits to the holy site have given rise to mass protests in the holy city in recent months, during which hundreds of Palestinians were apprehended by Israeli police.
Israeli checkpoint in Bethlehem
Israeli settlers, Monday, put up banners in multiple areas in Bethlehem district calling for more Palestinian lands to be confiscated for the purpose of settlement construction and expansion, according to local and security sources.
Ahmad Salah, coordinator of the Anti-Settlement Committee in the village of al-Khader, south of Bethlehem, said a group of settlers arrived at the entrance of the village and set up large banners warning of a new round of “struggle for land” and a rise in settlements activity.
According to WAFA, the incident came a day after Jewish settlers organized three provocative rallies near Ramallah and Bethlehem in call-up for more settlement activity in the occupied West Bank.
One of the rallies was organized at road 60 between Nablus and Ramallah, and developed into a riot and a clash with Palestinians from the village of Lubban e-Sharkiya. WAFA correspondent said the settlers waved slogans and banners that threaten Palestinians of an imminent war.
Settlements built on Palestinian land occupied by Israel, including East Jerusalem, are deemed illegal by the United Nations. Israel’s refusal to halt their construction and expansion has at times obstructed the peace process and increased resentment and distrust with the Palestinians.
Peace Now, an Israeli human rights group, says, “Over the years, Israel has used a number of legal and bureaucratic procedures in order to appropriate West Bank lands, with the primary objective of establishing settlements and providing land reserves for them.”
“Using primarily these five methods: seizure for military purposes; declaration of state lands; seizure of absentee property; confiscation for public needs; and initial registration, Israel has managed to take over about 50% of the lands in the West Bank, barring the local Palestinian public from using them,” it added.
Since 2009, when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to office, until 2014, figures show that the Jewish settler population in the West Bank has grew by 23 percent.
According to the Council for European Palestinian Relations (CEPR), “There are currently 121 Israeli settlements and approximately 102 Israeli outposts built illegally on Palestinian land occupied militarily by Israel since 1967 (West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights). The largest of the illegal settlements is Modi'in Ilit, with a population of 46,245 as of 2009.”
It added, “These settlements and outposts are inhabited by a population of some 462,000 Israeli settlers: 191,000 live in settlements around Jerusalem and an additional 271,400 are spread throughout the West Bank.”
Israeli settlers, Monday, put up banners in multiple areas in Bethlehem district calling for more Palestinian lands to be confiscated for the purpose of settlement construction and expansion, according to local and security sources.
Ahmad Salah, coordinator of the Anti-Settlement Committee in the village of al-Khader, south of Bethlehem, said a group of settlers arrived at the entrance of the village and set up large banners warning of a new round of “struggle for land” and a rise in settlements activity.
According to WAFA, the incident came a day after Jewish settlers organized three provocative rallies near Ramallah and Bethlehem in call-up for more settlement activity in the occupied West Bank.
One of the rallies was organized at road 60 between Nablus and Ramallah, and developed into a riot and a clash with Palestinians from the village of Lubban e-Sharkiya. WAFA correspondent said the settlers waved slogans and banners that threaten Palestinians of an imminent war.
Settlements built on Palestinian land occupied by Israel, including East Jerusalem, are deemed illegal by the United Nations. Israel’s refusal to halt their construction and expansion has at times obstructed the peace process and increased resentment and distrust with the Palestinians.
Peace Now, an Israeli human rights group, says, “Over the years, Israel has used a number of legal and bureaucratic procedures in order to appropriate West Bank lands, with the primary objective of establishing settlements and providing land reserves for them.”
“Using primarily these five methods: seizure for military purposes; declaration of state lands; seizure of absentee property; confiscation for public needs; and initial registration, Israel has managed to take over about 50% of the lands in the West Bank, barring the local Palestinian public from using them,” it added.
Since 2009, when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to office, until 2014, figures show that the Jewish settler population in the West Bank has grew by 23 percent.
According to the Council for European Palestinian Relations (CEPR), “There are currently 121 Israeli settlements and approximately 102 Israeli outposts built illegally on Palestinian land occupied militarily by Israel since 1967 (West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights). The largest of the illegal settlements is Modi'in Ilit, with a population of 46,245 as of 2009.”
It added, “These settlements and outposts are inhabited by a population of some 462,000 Israeli settlers: 191,000 live in settlements around Jerusalem and an additional 271,400 are spread throughout the West Bank.”
Dozens of settlers, yesterday evening, carried out two provocative marches near to Basajut settlement and Bet El settlement, northeast of Ramallah, and a third march near Shilo and Aili settlements, south of Nablus.
PNN reports that, according to official sources, dozens of settlers participated in an incendiary march from Shilo settlement to Aili on the main road north of Ramallah, under the protection of Israeli forces, carrying banners threatening another war on Palestinians.
The sources added that soldiers spread out over the main road from Senjel village to eastern Laban and Qariyout, in order to give protection to the settlers as they attempted to incite clashes with Palestinians by way of provocative chants and threats.
Clashes reportedly broke out between the settlers and families from eastern Laban village. A Palestinian man in his twenties, Nadem Adnan Daraghmeh, was abducted by settlers in Laban, as well as Ahmed Abdulkarem Daraghmeh.
The settlers vandalised several Palestinian properties in eastern Laban, and attempted to force entry into a gas station on the main road and attack the workers. They were, however, prevented by civilians.
The third march from Bet El passed close by Beten military checkpoint and caused huge traffic delays around al-Beera town.
PNN reports that, according to official sources, dozens of settlers participated in an incendiary march from Shilo settlement to Aili on the main road north of Ramallah, under the protection of Israeli forces, carrying banners threatening another war on Palestinians.
The sources added that soldiers spread out over the main road from Senjel village to eastern Laban and Qariyout, in order to give protection to the settlers as they attempted to incite clashes with Palestinians by way of provocative chants and threats.
Clashes reportedly broke out between the settlers and families from eastern Laban village. A Palestinian man in his twenties, Nadem Adnan Daraghmeh, was abducted by settlers in Laban, as well as Ahmed Abdulkarem Daraghmeh.
The settlers vandalised several Palestinian properties in eastern Laban, and attempted to force entry into a gas station on the main road and attack the workers. They were, however, prevented by civilians.
The third march from Bet El passed close by Beten military checkpoint and caused huge traffic delays around al-Beera town.
20 july 2015
A horde of Jewish settlers on Sunday night attacked Palestinian cars and property in Palestinian areas to the south of Nablus city.
Local sources said that settlers rallied near the villages of Sawiya and al-Laban, south of Nablus, and chanted racist slurs against Arabs and slogans calling for killing them and expel them from their areas.
They added that the settlers hurled stones at Palestinian homes and cars during their provocative rally in the area.
The sources also affirmed that a large number of Israeli troops escorted the settlers to protect them and prevented Palestinian villagers from repelling the attackers.
Local sources said that settlers rallied near the villages of Sawiya and al-Laban, south of Nablus, and chanted racist slurs against Arabs and slogans calling for killing them and expel them from their areas.
They added that the settlers hurled stones at Palestinian homes and cars during their provocative rally in the area.
The sources also affirmed that a large number of Israeli troops escorted the settlers to protect them and prevented Palestinian villagers from repelling the attackers.
A horde of Israeli extremist settlers on Monday morning broke into Muslims’ holy al-Aqsa Mosque via the Maghareba Gate, a few days after Muslims marked the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.
Local media sources said three groups of Israeli settlers stormed al-Aqsa Mosque and desecrated its plazas in the presence of the occupation officers.
The peaceful Muslim sit-inners maintaining vigil at the Mosque kept chanting “Allah the Greatest” in protest at the sacrilegious break-in.
Dozens of Muslim worshipers headed to the holy shrine since early morning hours to perform their religious prayers in congregation.
A looming tension is expected to rock Occupied Jerusalem on Sunday due to the calls by the so-called temple mount organizations for mass break-ins at al-Aqsa.
Local media sources said three groups of Israeli settlers stormed al-Aqsa Mosque and desecrated its plazas in the presence of the occupation officers.
The peaceful Muslim sit-inners maintaining vigil at the Mosque kept chanting “Allah the Greatest” in protest at the sacrilegious break-in.
Dozens of Muslim worshipers headed to the holy shrine since early morning hours to perform their religious prayers in congregation.
A looming tension is expected to rock Occupied Jerusalem on Sunday due to the calls by the so-called temple mount organizations for mass break-ins at al-Aqsa.