27 july 2015
On Monday morning, the Israeli Ministerial Committee drafted an “anti-terrorism” law.
According to Israeli Channel 7, the committee is expected to approve the bill, which amends and expands the definition of “terrorist organizations”, and stresses that sanctions must be imposed on members of so-called organizations and perpetrators of “terrorist” attacks.
Under this bill, any members of organizations which fulfill the infrastructure necessary to be considered a “terrorist” organization will be sentenced to 25 years imprisonment, said the PNN. A member who holds a senior position in the organization could be sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Furthermore, according to the bill, any person who offers technical support, broadcast services or money laundering to the organization can be convicted. Furthermore, the bill prevents any judicial changes and reductions to the convicted sentence of 15 years or more.
According to Israeli Channel 7, the committee is expected to approve the bill, which amends and expands the definition of “terrorist organizations”, and stresses that sanctions must be imposed on members of so-called organizations and perpetrators of “terrorist” attacks.
Under this bill, any members of organizations which fulfill the infrastructure necessary to be considered a “terrorist” organization will be sentenced to 25 years imprisonment, said the PNN. A member who holds a senior position in the organization could be sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Furthermore, according to the bill, any person who offers technical support, broadcast services or money laundering to the organization can be convicted. Furthermore, the bill prevents any judicial changes and reductions to the convicted sentence of 15 years or more.
Right-wing Israelis broke into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound again on Monday, as the UN expressed concerns over "religious provocation" in and around holy sites in the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem.
Witnesses said that 70 right-wing Jews entered the compound via the Moroccan Gate under Israeli police escort.
Israeli police reportedly assaulted and detained a Palestinian worshiper, Ahmad Asaliyyeh, from the compound, and detained a Palestinian woman as she was leaving the compound.
An Israeli police spokesperson could not be reached for comment, according to Ma'an.
The incident came a day after Palestinian worshipers clashed with Israeli police and soldiers across the compound and inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque itself, leaving 19 Palestinians and four Israeli police injured.
The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, issued a statement on Monday to express concern over "recent incidents and heightened tensions" in and around Jerusalem's holy sites, and to "call upon people on all sides to maintain calm."
He said: "Provocative actions and language carry the seed of violence and ultimately undermine the ability of worshipers of all faiths to have access to their respective Holy Sites. Respect for the status quo is in the interest of all and is essential for stability."
The UN representative called on religious and political leaders to "prevent extremist elements from abusing the sanctity of Holy Sites and the different religious sentiments of all people."
Bans, arrests
Israeli forces reportedly detained eight Palestinians from the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Sunday, and an Israeli court on Monday banned four Palestinians from entering the compound for periods of up to 60 days. Dania Eid and Alaa Bashi, both Palestinians with Israeli citizenship, were banned from the site for 60 days, while two Palestinians from the West Bank, Akram Daana and a young man identified only as Fadi, were given bans of 30 and 45 days.
Right-wing Israelis were visiting the compound on Sunday to mark Tisha B'Av, an annual Jewish fast day that commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Jewish Temples.
The third holiest site in Islam, the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is also venerated as Judaism's most holy place as it sits where Jews believe the Temples once stood.
Following Israel's occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967, Israel has maintained an agreement with the Islamic Endowment that controls the compound not to allow non-Muslim prayer in the area.
Jewish prayer is allowed at the neighboring Western Wall, which is the last remnant of the Second Temple. The mosque compound has seen rising tensions in recent days, with Jewish organizations calling for the compound to be open to Jews for the week following Tisha B'Av and others seeking to celebrate unconfirmed reports that Israel is negotiating the reopening of the compound to non-Muslim worship.
At the end of June, International Crisis Group reported discussions between Israel and the Islamic Endowment on allowing non-Muslim worship at the site, although the move has not yet been confirmed.
Witnesses said that 70 right-wing Jews entered the compound via the Moroccan Gate under Israeli police escort.
Israeli police reportedly assaulted and detained a Palestinian worshiper, Ahmad Asaliyyeh, from the compound, and detained a Palestinian woman as she was leaving the compound.
An Israeli police spokesperson could not be reached for comment, according to Ma'an.
The incident came a day after Palestinian worshipers clashed with Israeli police and soldiers across the compound and inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque itself, leaving 19 Palestinians and four Israeli police injured.
The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, issued a statement on Monday to express concern over "recent incidents and heightened tensions" in and around Jerusalem's holy sites, and to "call upon people on all sides to maintain calm."
He said: "Provocative actions and language carry the seed of violence and ultimately undermine the ability of worshipers of all faiths to have access to their respective Holy Sites. Respect for the status quo is in the interest of all and is essential for stability."
The UN representative called on religious and political leaders to "prevent extremist elements from abusing the sanctity of Holy Sites and the different religious sentiments of all people."
Bans, arrests
Israeli forces reportedly detained eight Palestinians from the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Sunday, and an Israeli court on Monday banned four Palestinians from entering the compound for periods of up to 60 days. Dania Eid and Alaa Bashi, both Palestinians with Israeli citizenship, were banned from the site for 60 days, while two Palestinians from the West Bank, Akram Daana and a young man identified only as Fadi, were given bans of 30 and 45 days.
Right-wing Israelis were visiting the compound on Sunday to mark Tisha B'Av, an annual Jewish fast day that commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Jewish Temples.
The third holiest site in Islam, the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is also venerated as Judaism's most holy place as it sits where Jews believe the Temples once stood.
Following Israel's occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967, Israel has maintained an agreement with the Islamic Endowment that controls the compound not to allow non-Muslim prayer in the area.
Jewish prayer is allowed at the neighboring Western Wall, which is the last remnant of the Second Temple. The mosque compound has seen rising tensions in recent days, with Jewish organizations calling for the compound to be open to Jews for the week following Tisha B'Av and others seeking to celebrate unconfirmed reports that Israel is negotiating the reopening of the compound to non-Muslim worship.
At the end of June, International Crisis Group reported discussions between Israel and the Islamic Endowment on allowing non-Muslim worship at the site, although the move has not yet been confirmed.
A group of Israeli settlers stormed al-Aqsa Mosque Monday morning via the Israeli-controlled Magaribeh gate under Israeli police protection.
The Israeli settlers roamed the compound after receiving explanations about their alleged Temple in total provocation to Palestinian worshipers who started shouting Takbeer protesting the Israeli repeated attacks.
Israeli police deliberately confiscated the identity cards of a number of worshipers especially women and minors at the Mosque's entrance gates.
The Israeli settlers roamed the compound after receiving explanations about their alleged Temple in total provocation to Palestinian worshipers who started shouting Takbeer protesting the Israeli repeated attacks.
Israeli police deliberately confiscated the identity cards of a number of worshipers especially women and minors at the Mosque's entrance gates.
Hundreds of settlers and supporters set up a tent city in protest of the High Court's decision to halt the construction of Beit El housing project.
In the wake of Sunday's High Court of Justice decision to halt construction in the West Bank settlement of Beit El, settler groups set up a protest tent near the site.
Hundreds of settlers and their supporters were expected to come to Beit El on Monday to join the protest against the construction freeze of the so-called Draynoff buildings, named for the contractor who built them, which have 24 housings. Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked was also expected be present.
Sunday night, in contradiction with last week's decision of the subcommittee for settlement in the IDF's Civil Administration, the High Court ordered an immediate halt to the preparation and development of the area until deliberations are held in early August.
The decision raised the ire of local settler leaders. "As observant Jews, along with the legal procedures, we turn in prayer to God to have mercy on his children and do what's right for the people of Israel," said Shay Alon, head of the Beit El council.
The High Court's decision, issued by Justice Anat Baron, was made following an urgent petition filed by Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights group providing legal assistance to citizens of the Palestinian Territories.
"These directives are designed in accordance with its stated mission, to try and give a seal of approval to illegal building on private land, without permits and in violation of administrative orders," reads the petition regarding the approval of the Drayonff complex by the Civil Administration. "The acceleration of the program was clearly in bad faith, contrary to all basic rules of planning, and a head-on violation of domestic and international law, in an attempt to save the houses."
Settlers promised to stop tractors and bulldozers with their bodies in the event they come to fulfill the court's decision to demolish the pair of houses before the end of July.
Announcements published in Shabbat pamphlets distributed by the Yesha Council invited the general public to come to Beit El and take part in its activities. The Draynoff controversy comes after reports of an unofficial settlement freeze, implemented recently by the government, that was harshly condemned by settler leaders and right-wing MKs.
Last week, council leader Alon criticized the High Court's intervention on the issue, which, according to him, should be decided at the municipal level. "These houses are located within Beit El's jurisdiction," he said. "The High Court ruled that these houses will be demolished in one week's time and we're asking, since when does the High Court intervene within municipal boundaries? Why destroy only to build once again?"
Alon added, "This is part of the democracy we have that allows us to fight and say to all the people of Israel that something absurd is happening, there is protest, there is exploitation. It's illogical that the High Court in all other areas doesn't intervene in municipal jurisdictions, and suddenly here it is trampling with a heavy hand, it is violating the legislature, it is violating the rule of right, saying, I am the landlord here!"
The Beit El local council stated that "the Civil Administration validated the construction program of the Draynoff houses and we published the validation as required. Accordingly, the Council issued a building permit at the end of last week already, that was transmitted to the houses and therefore the temporary order issued today has no meaning as the building permit was issued in advance. The Council's intention is to turn to the Civil Administrator to cancel the demolition order due to the building permits given."
In the wake of Sunday's High Court of Justice decision to halt construction in the West Bank settlement of Beit El, settler groups set up a protest tent near the site.
Hundreds of settlers and their supporters were expected to come to Beit El on Monday to join the protest against the construction freeze of the so-called Draynoff buildings, named for the contractor who built them, which have 24 housings. Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked was also expected be present.
Sunday night, in contradiction with last week's decision of the subcommittee for settlement in the IDF's Civil Administration, the High Court ordered an immediate halt to the preparation and development of the area until deliberations are held in early August.
The decision raised the ire of local settler leaders. "As observant Jews, along with the legal procedures, we turn in prayer to God to have mercy on his children and do what's right for the people of Israel," said Shay Alon, head of the Beit El council.
The High Court's decision, issued by Justice Anat Baron, was made following an urgent petition filed by Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights group providing legal assistance to citizens of the Palestinian Territories.
"These directives are designed in accordance with its stated mission, to try and give a seal of approval to illegal building on private land, without permits and in violation of administrative orders," reads the petition regarding the approval of the Drayonff complex by the Civil Administration. "The acceleration of the program was clearly in bad faith, contrary to all basic rules of planning, and a head-on violation of domestic and international law, in an attempt to save the houses."
Settlers promised to stop tractors and bulldozers with their bodies in the event they come to fulfill the court's decision to demolish the pair of houses before the end of July.
Announcements published in Shabbat pamphlets distributed by the Yesha Council invited the general public to come to Beit El and take part in its activities. The Draynoff controversy comes after reports of an unofficial settlement freeze, implemented recently by the government, that was harshly condemned by settler leaders and right-wing MKs.
Last week, council leader Alon criticized the High Court's intervention on the issue, which, according to him, should be decided at the municipal level. "These houses are located within Beit El's jurisdiction," he said. "The High Court ruled that these houses will be demolished in one week's time and we're asking, since when does the High Court intervene within municipal boundaries? Why destroy only to build once again?"
Alon added, "This is part of the democracy we have that allows us to fight and say to all the people of Israel that something absurd is happening, there is protest, there is exploitation. It's illogical that the High Court in all other areas doesn't intervene in municipal jurisdictions, and suddenly here it is trampling with a heavy hand, it is violating the legislature, it is violating the rule of right, saying, I am the landlord here!"
The Beit El local council stated that "the Civil Administration validated the construction program of the Draynoff houses and we published the validation as required. Accordingly, the Council issued a building permit at the end of last week already, that was transmitted to the houses and therefore the temporary order issued today has no meaning as the building permit was issued in advance. The Council's intention is to turn to the Civil Administrator to cancel the demolition order due to the building permits given."
26 july 2015
Dozens of Jewish Israeli settlers, late Friday, attempted to attack Sheikh of the Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron during the night call for prayers, according to an official.
Head of Hebron Waqf, Ismail Abu Halawa, said that dozens of settlers attempted to attack Sheikh Motasim Sdr, while he was calling for the night prayers, when he heard the thud of settlers who were planning to attack him.
A large Israeli police and army present at the scene succeeded in securing his exit outside the mosque before being attacked by settlers.
WAFA notes that settlers have intensified their presence in the mosque to mark the Jewish holiday of Tisha B’Av.
Earlier today, dozens of Muslim worshipers were injured, while many suffocated by tear gas during clashes that erupted with Israeli police at Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa Mosque compound, after groups of Jewish broke into the Islamic holy site to mark the aforementioned holiday.
Abu Halawa expressed grave concern over the attempted attack, stressing that efforts with relevant sides are underway to insure the provision of the necessary protection to all Muslim and Christian holy sites against settler attacks.
Al-Ibrahimi Mosque is located in the old city of Hebron, few hundred meters away from the part of the city illegally occupied by around 400 extremist settlers, who are protected by about 1,500 Israeli soldiers.
Since 1967, al-Ibrahimi Mosque, like all other Muslim holy sites in Palestine, became a target for the Israeli occupying forces and Zionist settlers, reported the Hebron Rehabilitation Committee.
In 1994, Israel divided al-Ibrahimi Mosque between Muslims and Jews, after an Israeli settler gunned down 30 Palestinians during dawn prayer.
Baruch Goldstein, an extremist settler from the illegal settlement of ‘Kiryat Arba’ settlement, who holds US and Israeli citizenship, opened machine-gun fire at Muslim worshippers during prayer. He killed 29 people and injured 135. On the same day outside the mosque, the Israeli army opened fire towards fearful and panicky worshippers and killed at least ten civilians.
Following the incident, al-Ibrahimi Mosque was converted into a military post and later divided into two parts, one for Muslims and another for Jews. Thus the mosque became a point of conflict and constant tension that has marred its sanctity.
Nowadays, Israel controls Palestinians’ access to the mosque, prevents many from praying there on a regular basis and frequently bans the call for prayer under the pretext of disturbing the settlers.
The control is not only restricted to prayer at the mosque, but also calls for prayers through speakers. In January 2015 alone, the call for prayer was banned 51 times.
The Hebron Awqaf Directorate said that the policy of banning Muslims’ call for prayer is aimed at tightening the noose on Palestinians and stopping them from praying in the mosque, subsequently driven them away from their city.
Head of Hebron Waqf, Ismail Abu Halawa, said that dozens of settlers attempted to attack Sheikh Motasim Sdr, while he was calling for the night prayers, when he heard the thud of settlers who were planning to attack him.
A large Israeli police and army present at the scene succeeded in securing his exit outside the mosque before being attacked by settlers.
WAFA notes that settlers have intensified their presence in the mosque to mark the Jewish holiday of Tisha B’Av.
Earlier today, dozens of Muslim worshipers were injured, while many suffocated by tear gas during clashes that erupted with Israeli police at Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa Mosque compound, after groups of Jewish broke into the Islamic holy site to mark the aforementioned holiday.
Abu Halawa expressed grave concern over the attempted attack, stressing that efforts with relevant sides are underway to insure the provision of the necessary protection to all Muslim and Christian holy sites against settler attacks.
Al-Ibrahimi Mosque is located in the old city of Hebron, few hundred meters away from the part of the city illegally occupied by around 400 extremist settlers, who are protected by about 1,500 Israeli soldiers.
Since 1967, al-Ibrahimi Mosque, like all other Muslim holy sites in Palestine, became a target for the Israeli occupying forces and Zionist settlers, reported the Hebron Rehabilitation Committee.
In 1994, Israel divided al-Ibrahimi Mosque between Muslims and Jews, after an Israeli settler gunned down 30 Palestinians during dawn prayer.
Baruch Goldstein, an extremist settler from the illegal settlement of ‘Kiryat Arba’ settlement, who holds US and Israeli citizenship, opened machine-gun fire at Muslim worshippers during prayer. He killed 29 people and injured 135. On the same day outside the mosque, the Israeli army opened fire towards fearful and panicky worshippers and killed at least ten civilians.
Following the incident, al-Ibrahimi Mosque was converted into a military post and later divided into two parts, one for Muslims and another for Jews. Thus the mosque became a point of conflict and constant tension that has marred its sanctity.
Nowadays, Israel controls Palestinians’ access to the mosque, prevents many from praying there on a regular basis and frequently bans the call for prayer under the pretext of disturbing the settlers.
The control is not only restricted to prayer at the mosque, but also calls for prayers through speakers. In January 2015 alone, the call for prayer was banned 51 times.
The Hebron Awqaf Directorate said that the policy of banning Muslims’ call for prayer is aimed at tightening the noose on Palestinians and stopping them from praying in the mosque, subsequently driven them away from their city.
Jewish settlers, on Saturday, severely assaulted a Palestinian child near one of the gates leading to Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Witnesses at the scene reported that extremist Israeli settlers assaulted the child, who was not identified, near al-Ghawanma Gate, prompting a group of Palestinians to intervene and save him. Settlers eventually managed to flee the scene.
This came as Jewish settlers performed Talmudic rituals in front of King Faisal Gate and al-Qattanin Gate, urging large numbers of Palestinian Muslims from the Old City to gather in the area before being dispersed by Israeli police.
The performance of these rituals by Jewish settlers came following calls made by right-wing Jewish organizations, which urged settlers to storm the holy site to mark the ‘destruction of the Temple’.
WAFA Palestinian News & Info Agency reports that Jewish settler groups, known as ‘Temple Mount’ organizations, recently urged all Jewish settlers to storm the holy site to mark Tisha B’Av Day, a Jewish holiday commemorating the ‘destruction of the temple’.
Tisha B’Av, which means “the ninth of the month of Av’, commences on Saturday, July 25 and ends on Sunday 26. This day is marked by fasting and mourning by Jews to commemorate what they believe was the destruction of the temples that stood in the place of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. They also pray on this day for the rebuilding of the ‘temple’ in this spot.
These organizations have presented an appeal signed by 1,000 Israelis to both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, demanding that Al-Aqsa Mosque be open for Jews via the Moroccan Gate round the clock starting Sunday 26 July until the end of the week.
The organizations reportedly demanded that Al-Aqsa be entirely closed to Muslims starting Saturday evening and all day Sunday. They also requested the holy site to be closed to Muslims during proposed provocative Israeli visit hours from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. from Monday to Thursday next week.
The organizations also demanded that Jews entering the mosque’s compound on Sunday would be allowed to pray freely inside, and that groups entering the compound from Monday to Thursday would be allowed to enter the Qabali and Marwani mosques inside of the Al-Aqsa compound.
According to a 1967 agreement the Israeli authorities made after occupying Jerusalem, only Muslim Palestinians are allowed in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound while Jewish prayer is allowed at the Western Wall next door.
However, in recent months the right-wing Jewish groups who have previously called for the destruction of the Mosque and the construction of a Jewish temple on the site have repeatedly entered the area under heavy police escort.
The visits, combined with proposals for a Knesset vote to divide the site between Jews and Muslims, have outraged the Palestinian public, which sees the encroachment on Al-Aqsa as symptomatic of the wider denial of their rights in historic Palestine as well as intense discrimination in housing, employment, and social services by Israeli authorities.
The compound, which sits just above the Western Wall plaza, houses both the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque and is the third holiest site in Islam.
It is also venerated as Judaism's most holy place as it sits where Jews believe the First and Second Temples once stood.
Al-Aqsa is located in East Jerusalem, a part of the internationally recognized Palestinian territories that have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
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 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.
Witnesses at the scene reported that extremist Israeli settlers assaulted the child, who was not identified, near al-Ghawanma Gate, prompting a group of Palestinians to intervene and save him. Settlers eventually managed to flee the scene.
This came as Jewish settlers performed Talmudic rituals in front of King Faisal Gate and al-Qattanin Gate, urging large numbers of Palestinian Muslims from the Old City to gather in the area before being dispersed by Israeli police.
The performance of these rituals by Jewish settlers came following calls made by right-wing Jewish organizations, which urged settlers to storm the holy site to mark the ‘destruction of the Temple’.
WAFA Palestinian News & Info Agency reports that Jewish settler groups, known as ‘Temple Mount’ organizations, recently urged all Jewish settlers to storm the holy site to mark Tisha B’Av Day, a Jewish holiday commemorating the ‘destruction of the temple’.
Tisha B’Av, which means “the ninth of the month of Av’, commences on Saturday, July 25 and ends on Sunday 26. This day is marked by fasting and mourning by Jews to commemorate what they believe was the destruction of the temples that stood in the place of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. They also pray on this day for the rebuilding of the ‘temple’ in this spot.
These organizations have presented an appeal signed by 1,000 Israelis to both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, demanding that Al-Aqsa Mosque be open for Jews via the Moroccan Gate round the clock starting Sunday 26 July until the end of the week.
The organizations reportedly demanded that Al-Aqsa be entirely closed to Muslims starting Saturday evening and all day Sunday. They also requested the holy site to be closed to Muslims during proposed provocative Israeli visit hours from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. from Monday to Thursday next week.
The organizations also demanded that Jews entering the mosque’s compound on Sunday would be allowed to pray freely inside, and that groups entering the compound from Monday to Thursday would be allowed to enter the Qabali and Marwani mosques inside of the Al-Aqsa compound.
According to a 1967 agreement the Israeli authorities made after occupying Jerusalem, only Muslim Palestinians are allowed in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound while Jewish prayer is allowed at the Western Wall next door.
However, in recent months the right-wing Jewish groups who have previously called for the destruction of the Mosque and the construction of a Jewish temple on the site have repeatedly entered the area under heavy police escort.
The visits, combined with proposals for a Knesset vote to divide the site between Jews and Muslims, have outraged the Palestinian public, which sees the encroachment on Al-Aqsa as symptomatic of the wider denial of their rights in historic Palestine as well as intense discrimination in housing, employment, and social services by Israeli authorities.
The compound, which sits just above the Western Wall plaza, houses both the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque and is the third holiest site in Islam.
It is also venerated as Judaism's most holy place as it sits where Jews believe the First and Second Temples once stood.
Al-Aqsa is located in East Jerusalem, a part of the internationally recognized Palestinian territories that have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
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 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 officers on the Muslim women who have been maintaining vigil at the Mosque.
“I was heavily beaten by a flock of Israeli policemen as I attempted to cover the break-ins,” journalist Liwa Abu Rmila told the Anadolu News Agency.
Abu Rmila warned of an underway abduction campaign launched by the IOF against the Muslim sit-inners, some among whom have just been kidnapped and others wounded.
The IOF further sealed off the main entrances to Jerusalem’s Old City with iron roadblocks and propped up military deployment at al-Amoud, al-Sahira, and Al-Asbat Gates in an attempt to provide protection for a group of Israeli pro-Judaization marchers.
National and Islamic committees across the occupied Palestinian territories called for stepping up presence at the Mosque at a time when Israel’s alleged temple mount organizations launched calls for more desecration break-ins to mark the so-called destruction of the temple ceremony.
“I was heavily beaten by a flock of Israeli policemen as I attempted to cover the break-ins,” journalist Liwa Abu Rmila told the Anadolu News Agency.
Abu Rmila warned of an underway abduction campaign launched by the IOF against the Muslim sit-inners, some among whom have just been kidnapped and others wounded.
The IOF further sealed off the main entrances to Jerusalem’s Old City with iron roadblocks and propped up military deployment at al-Amoud, al-Sahira, and Al-Asbat Gates in an attempt to provide protection for a group of Israeli pro-Judaization marchers.
National and Islamic committees across the occupied Palestinian territories called for stepping up presence at the Mosque at a time when Israel’s alleged temple mount organizations launched calls for more desecration break-ins to mark the so-called destruction of the temple ceremony.
Palestinian villagers and farmers from Salfit have complained that Jewish settlers filled an agricultural water well with dirt and rocks to prevent them from using it to irrigate their lands in Wadi Qana (Qana Valley), west of Deir Istiya town.
Local sources said that the settlers buried the well with mounds of dirt and rocks and fled the scene.
Specialist in settlement affairs Khaled Maali said that the settlers aim to seize the whole area of Wadi Qana and force the famers to leave their lands in order to expand eight settlements encircling the valley.
Maali expressed his belief that there is a kind of coordination between the Israeli occupation army and the settlers in the area to expel the farmers from the valley, where the former bars them from working their lands and the latter harasses them by unleashing pigs into their fields.
Local sources said that the settlers buried the well with mounds of dirt and rocks and fled the scene.
Specialist in settlement affairs Khaled Maali said that the settlers aim to seize the whole area of Wadi Qana and force the famers to leave their lands in order to expand eight settlements encircling the valley.
Maali expressed his belief that there is a kind of coordination between the Israeli occupation army and the settlers in the area to expel the farmers from the valley, where the former bars them from working their lands and the latter harasses them by unleashing pigs into their fields.
25 july 2015
Tension flared up after a group of Israeli fanatics broke into Muslims’ holy al-Aqsa Mosque and performed Talmudic rituals on Saturday morning.
Local media sources said groups of Israeli break-inners performed rituals at various gates of al-Aqsa Mosque and assaulted a number of Palestinian youths at the holy site.
Israeli forces evacuated the Jewish settlers after detaining Palestinians who protested against settlers’ incursion into the Mosque.
The forces also waged a large-scale arrest campaign against around 20 Jerusalemites most of whom were released later, under conditions of house arrest and deportation away from al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Israeli practices came in the wake of the calls launched by the so-called temple mount organizations to step up break-ins at the Mosque on the occasion of what they call the destruction of the temple marked on Saturday and Sunday.
The calls demanded the closure of the Mosque on Sunday for Muslims and to be opened completely and only for Jewish settlers to perform Talmudic rituals.
The Muslim sit-inners have been invited by Jerusalemite organizations to visit the Muslims’ holy site intensively in order to foil settlers’ preplanned break-ins.
Local media sources said groups of Israeli break-inners performed rituals at various gates of al-Aqsa Mosque and assaulted a number of Palestinian youths at the holy site.
Israeli forces evacuated the Jewish settlers after detaining Palestinians who protested against settlers’ incursion into the Mosque.
The forces also waged a large-scale arrest campaign against around 20 Jerusalemites most of whom were released later, under conditions of house arrest and deportation away from al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Israeli practices came in the wake of the calls launched by the so-called temple mount organizations to step up break-ins at the Mosque on the occasion of what they call the destruction of the temple marked on Saturday and Sunday.
The calls demanded the closure of the Mosque on Sunday for Muslims and to be opened completely and only for Jewish settlers to perform Talmudic rituals.
The Muslim sit-inners have been invited by Jerusalemite organizations to visit the Muslims’ holy site intensively in order to foil settlers’ preplanned break-ins.