31 july 2015
Israeli soldiers invaded, Friday, the West Bank districts of Jericho and Ramallah, searched homes and kidnapped two Palestinians. Soldiers also invaded a town near Qalqilia, while a man was injured in Jerusalem after being rammed by a settler’s car.
Media sources in Jericho said several Israeli military vehicles invaded the city, before breaking into, and violently searching, the home of ‘Ala Zoheir Badawi, 27 years of age, and kidnapped him.
Soldiers also kidnapped a Palestinian, identified as Wisam Sider, in Bab Hatta area, in occupied Jerusalem, and took him to an interrogation center in the city.
In addition, dozens of soldiers invaded ‘Azzoun town, east of the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia, and closed its main road, in addition to the road that leads to Ezbet at-Tabib village.
The invasion led to clashes between the soldiers and scores of youths.
In Jerusalem, a Palestinian man was injured after being struck by a speeding Israeli settler’s car, in Ras al-‘Amoud neighborhood.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic) said the Israeli driver “deliberately struck the Palestinian man, and fled the scene.”
It added that after Israeli soldiers arrived at the scene, the Israeli driver fled to an illegal colony in Ras al-‘Amoud.
Settler runs over a Jerusalemite while offering prayers
An Israeli settler deliberately ran over a Jerusalemite citizen on Friday while offering prayers near a mosque in Ras al-Amoud neighborhood in occupied Jerusalem.
Israeli police forces, deployed in large numbers in the area, provided protection for the settler who managed to flee the scene.
Fortunately, the Jerusalemite was not hurt during the attack.
Hundreds of worshipers were forced to perform Friday prayers in the streets after Israeli authorities blocked their access to al-Aqsa Mosque.
A state of tension has prevailed in the neighborhood following the incident in protest at the Israeli restrictions.
Meanwhile, Israeli media sources claimed that an Israeli car came under fire on Friday near Cochav Hashahar settlement in the Jordan Valley.
No injuries were reported during the alleged attack, while the shooters managed to get away.
Media sources in Jericho said several Israeli military vehicles invaded the city, before breaking into, and violently searching, the home of ‘Ala Zoheir Badawi, 27 years of age, and kidnapped him.
Soldiers also kidnapped a Palestinian, identified as Wisam Sider, in Bab Hatta area, in occupied Jerusalem, and took him to an interrogation center in the city.
In addition, dozens of soldiers invaded ‘Azzoun town, east of the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia, and closed its main road, in addition to the road that leads to Ezbet at-Tabib village.
The invasion led to clashes between the soldiers and scores of youths.
In Jerusalem, a Palestinian man was injured after being struck by a speeding Israeli settler’s car, in Ras al-‘Amoud neighborhood.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic) said the Israeli driver “deliberately struck the Palestinian man, and fled the scene.”
It added that after Israeli soldiers arrived at the scene, the Israeli driver fled to an illegal colony in Ras al-‘Amoud.
Settler runs over a Jerusalemite while offering prayers
An Israeli settler deliberately ran over a Jerusalemite citizen on Friday while offering prayers near a mosque in Ras al-Amoud neighborhood in occupied Jerusalem.
Israeli police forces, deployed in large numbers in the area, provided protection for the settler who managed to flee the scene.
Fortunately, the Jerusalemite was not hurt during the attack.
Hundreds of worshipers were forced to perform Friday prayers in the streets after Israeli authorities blocked their access to al-Aqsa Mosque.
A state of tension has prevailed in the neighborhood following the incident in protest at the Israeli restrictions.
Meanwhile, Israeli media sources claimed that an Israeli car came under fire on Friday near Cochav Hashahar settlement in the Jordan Valley.
No injuries were reported during the alleged attack, while the shooters managed to get away.
The situation of the Dawabsha family members, who sustained serious burns during a settlers’ arson attack, continues to be very severe, Israeli medical sources said.
Earlier Friday, a Palestinian toddler was burned to death while three of his family members were injured after a group of settlers deliberately started fire in two homes in Duma town south of Nablus.
The mother is suffering from third-degree burns over 90 percent of her bodies. Doctors say that her life is still in danger and that she has been transferred to the intensive care unit.
The child has second-degree burns over 60 percent of his body. He is sedated and on a respirator.
The father is in a critical condition suffering from third-degree burns over 80 percent of his body.
Earlier Friday, a Palestinian toddler was burned to death while three of his family members were injured after a group of settlers deliberately started fire in two homes in Duma town south of Nablus.
The mother is suffering from third-degree burns over 90 percent of her bodies. Doctors say that her life is still in danger and that she has been transferred to the intensive care unit.
The child has second-degree burns over 60 percent of his body. He is sedated and on a respirator.
The father is in a critical condition suffering from third-degree burns over 80 percent of his body.
A horde of Jewish settlers on Thursday attacked Palestinian vehicles and citizens in area located between the towns of Jaba and Aja towns, south of Jenin.
Local sources said that a group of settlers spread along the Jenin-Nablus road near Jaba and Aja towns, hurled stones at Palestinian vehicles and clashed with its owners.
The sources added that the settlers has been in that area for several days in the presence of Israeli soldiers, who did not intervene seriously to stop their violations.
A Jewish group has recently launched a campaign to rebuild an outpost in Tarsela area, which was evacuated from settlers about 10 years ago.
Local sources said that a group of settlers spread along the Jenin-Nablus road near Jaba and Aja towns, hurled stones at Palestinian vehicles and clashed with its owners.
The sources added that the settlers has been in that area for several days in the presence of Israeli soldiers, who did not intervene seriously to stop their violations.
A Jewish group has recently launched a campaign to rebuild an outpost in Tarsela area, which was evacuated from settlers about 10 years ago.
Ali Saad Dawabsha 18 months
Right-wing Jewish extremist settlers near Nablus firebombed a Palestinian home on Thursday night, starting a fire which destroyed the house and burned a baby to death, as well as severely burning the baby's four-year-old brother, mother and father.
The baby who was killed in the attack was about 18 months old. He was identified as Ali Saad Dawabsha.
The attack took place at about 2:30 in the morning, in the village of Douma, in the northern part of the West Bank near the city of Nablus.
The Israeli fanatics arrived in the dead of night in the village, and began by spray-painting hate slogans against Palestinians on the Dawabsha family home. They then broke a window and threw a firebomb inside, setting off the fire that killed the baby.
The graffiti, written in Hebrew, included the phrase 'price tag', which is a slogan used by right-wing Israeli extremists against Palestinians - the reference being that continued Palestinian existence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank would exact a price from the Israeli colonizers.
Although the Israeli military spokesperson issued a 'tweet' on his Twitter account that this was a "barbarous act of terrorism," the army has not issued an official statement, and the perpetrators have not been found.
The Father Sa’ad Dawabsha, the mother Reham, 37, and their child Ahmad, four years of age, have been seriously injured in the attack.
Sa’ad’s home was completely burnt, while the home of Ma’moun Rashid Dawabsha was partially burnt.
Resident Musallam Dawabsha, 23, told the Maan News Agency that his family saw four Israeli fanatics running away towards the Ma'ale Efrayim illegal Israeli colony, built on stolen Palestinian lands near the village.
He added that a young woman, who lives near the Dawabsha home, saw the extremists hurling the firebombs into the home before fleeing the scene.
Palestinian and international human rights groups have documented on multiple occasions the relative impunity of Israeli settlers who attack Palestinian civilians. Very rarely do the cases result in an arrest, and prosecution of the perpetrator is even more rare.
Abbas: "Israeli Government Must Be Held Accountable for Baby’s Death In Nablus"
The office of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a statement condemning the criminal Israeli attack against a Palestinian home, near the northern West Bank district of Nablus, leading to the death to a Palestinian baby who was burnt to death, while his mother, father and 4-year old brother were seriously wounded with third degree burns.
The attack was carried out against a home in Douma village, in the northern West Bank district of Nablus. The assailants hurled firebombs into the home, completely burning it, wrote racist graffiti in Hebrew, including revenge, and Price Tag, and fled towards the Ma'ale Efrayim illegal Israeli colony, built on stolen Palestinian lands near the village.
The baby who was killed in the attack was identified as Ali Saad Dawabsha, 18 months of age, while the Father Sa’ad Dawabsha, the mother Reham, 37, and their child Ahmad, four years of age, were seriously injured in the attack.
Palestinian Presidency spokesperson, Nabil Abu Rodeina, said "the crime would never have happened without Israel’s protection of criminal fanatic settlers, and its ongoing construction and expansion of illegal settlements."
Abu Rodeina added that the silence, and idleness, of the International Community, to such crimes and the absence of accountability to the ongoing and escalating Israeli violations "have led to this crime, the burning to death of the Palestinian child, similar to what happened with Mohammad Abu Khdeir."
The official also said that this criminal attack would have a high priority in the list of files that would be presented to the International Criminal Court.
"Condemnations aren’t enough, the International Community cannot continue to just condemn and watch", he stated, “What is needed is actual steps, real accountability and prosecution of the criminals, and an end to this illegal and criminal Israeli occupation of Palestine.”
Right-wing Jewish extremist settlers near Nablus firebombed a Palestinian home on Thursday night, starting a fire which destroyed the house and burned a baby to death, as well as severely burning the baby's four-year-old brother, mother and father.
The baby who was killed in the attack was about 18 months old. He was identified as Ali Saad Dawabsha.
The attack took place at about 2:30 in the morning, in the village of Douma, in the northern part of the West Bank near the city of Nablus.
The Israeli fanatics arrived in the dead of night in the village, and began by spray-painting hate slogans against Palestinians on the Dawabsha family home. They then broke a window and threw a firebomb inside, setting off the fire that killed the baby.
The graffiti, written in Hebrew, included the phrase 'price tag', which is a slogan used by right-wing Israeli extremists against Palestinians - the reference being that continued Palestinian existence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank would exact a price from the Israeli colonizers.
Although the Israeli military spokesperson issued a 'tweet' on his Twitter account that this was a "barbarous act of terrorism," the army has not issued an official statement, and the perpetrators have not been found.
The Father Sa’ad Dawabsha, the mother Reham, 37, and their child Ahmad, four years of age, have been seriously injured in the attack.
Sa’ad’s home was completely burnt, while the home of Ma’moun Rashid Dawabsha was partially burnt.
Resident Musallam Dawabsha, 23, told the Maan News Agency that his family saw four Israeli fanatics running away towards the Ma'ale Efrayim illegal Israeli colony, built on stolen Palestinian lands near the village.
He added that a young woman, who lives near the Dawabsha home, saw the extremists hurling the firebombs into the home before fleeing the scene.
Palestinian and international human rights groups have documented on multiple occasions the relative impunity of Israeli settlers who attack Palestinian civilians. Very rarely do the cases result in an arrest, and prosecution of the perpetrator is even more rare.
Abbas: "Israeli Government Must Be Held Accountable for Baby’s Death In Nablus"
The office of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a statement condemning the criminal Israeli attack against a Palestinian home, near the northern West Bank district of Nablus, leading to the death to a Palestinian baby who was burnt to death, while his mother, father and 4-year old brother were seriously wounded with third degree burns.
The attack was carried out against a home in Douma village, in the northern West Bank district of Nablus. The assailants hurled firebombs into the home, completely burning it, wrote racist graffiti in Hebrew, including revenge, and Price Tag, and fled towards the Ma'ale Efrayim illegal Israeli colony, built on stolen Palestinian lands near the village.
The baby who was killed in the attack was identified as Ali Saad Dawabsha, 18 months of age, while the Father Sa’ad Dawabsha, the mother Reham, 37, and their child Ahmad, four years of age, were seriously injured in the attack.
Palestinian Presidency spokesperson, Nabil Abu Rodeina, said "the crime would never have happened without Israel’s protection of criminal fanatic settlers, and its ongoing construction and expansion of illegal settlements."
Abu Rodeina added that the silence, and idleness, of the International Community, to such crimes and the absence of accountability to the ongoing and escalating Israeli violations "have led to this crime, the burning to death of the Palestinian child, similar to what happened with Mohammad Abu Khdeir."
The official also said that this criminal attack would have a high priority in the list of files that would be presented to the International Criminal Court.
"Condemnations aren’t enough, the International Community cannot continue to just condemn and watch", he stated, “What is needed is actual steps, real accountability and prosecution of the criminals, and an end to this illegal and criminal Israeli occupation of Palestine.”
30 july 2015
The precise moment of the stabbing, caught on camera
In wake of Jerusalem gay pride parade stabbing attack, education minister says no one in Israel should 'fear walking outside due to their lifestyle.'
Right-wing Education Minister Naftali Bennett said Thursday night that he would "dramatically" increase state funding for the Israel Gay Youth (IGY) organization, which serves as a support system for LGBT minors in the school system.
The unexpected announcement came in the wake of a stabbing attack at the Jerusalem gay pride parade earlier in the afternoon, where six people were wounded and one was in critical condition.
One suspect was arrested and identified as Yishai Shlissel who was also responsible for a similar attack on the gay pride parade in 2005. Shlissel subsequently served 10 years in prison and was released in June. Bennett called an urgent meeting of his staff after the attack and condemned the incident saying, "I won't allow any youth in Israel to fear walking outside due to their lifestyle."
The education minister and chairman of the Bayit Yehudi party said on Twitter that the additional funds would be joined by a new program to help prevent instances of incitement against the LGBT community.
Bennett has often faced sharp criticism from Israel's gay community, namely for the policies of his party and his inclusion of Bezalel Smotrich who organized the "Beast Parade" in 2006 in mockery of Jerusalem's gay pride parade. Bennett also tweeted that Shlissel had attacked the morals of the Jewish faith and said that the attacker should receive the most severe punishment possible.
Interior security minister Gilad Erdan responded by appointing a special investigation team to examine the circumstances of the stabbing and the reasons why security forces were unable to prevent the attack.
Additional officials harshly condemned the attack including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who called the event a "deplorable hate crime."
In wake of Jerusalem gay pride parade stabbing attack, education minister says no one in Israel should 'fear walking outside due to their lifestyle.'
Right-wing Education Minister Naftali Bennett said Thursday night that he would "dramatically" increase state funding for the Israel Gay Youth (IGY) organization, which serves as a support system for LGBT minors in the school system.
The unexpected announcement came in the wake of a stabbing attack at the Jerusalem gay pride parade earlier in the afternoon, where six people were wounded and one was in critical condition.
One suspect was arrested and identified as Yishai Shlissel who was also responsible for a similar attack on the gay pride parade in 2005. Shlissel subsequently served 10 years in prison and was released in June. Bennett called an urgent meeting of his staff after the attack and condemned the incident saying, "I won't allow any youth in Israel to fear walking outside due to their lifestyle."
The education minister and chairman of the Bayit Yehudi party said on Twitter that the additional funds would be joined by a new program to help prevent instances of incitement against the LGBT community.
Bennett has often faced sharp criticism from Israel's gay community, namely for the policies of his party and his inclusion of Bezalel Smotrich who organized the "Beast Parade" in 2006 in mockery of Jerusalem's gay pride parade. Bennett also tweeted that Shlissel had attacked the morals of the Jewish faith and said that the attacker should receive the most severe punishment possible.
Interior security minister Gilad Erdan responded by appointing a special investigation team to examine the circumstances of the stabbing and the reasons why security forces were unable to prevent the attack.
Additional officials harshly condemned the attack including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who called the event a "deplorable hate crime."
Shlissel was imprisoned for the stabbing in 2005. He was originally sentenced to 12 years in prison, but was released early, just one month ago, on good behavior.
In a statment from his office, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the attack,
"We are talking about a very serious incident," he said. "We will find justice with the perpetrators. In the State of Israel the freedom of personal choice is one of the basic values we cherish. We must guarantee that in Israel, every man and women will live in safety in any way they choose."
Criticism of security forces was quick to hit social media. Concerned parties suggested that Shlissel shouldn't have been released or should have been carefully monitored leading up to the gay pride parade.
Officers providing security at the march were given intelligence reports along with the profiles of suspect individuals who could interfere with the parade or try to harm those marching. Shlissel's profile was included in the reports.
Interior security minister Gilad Erdan convened a meeting following the event to address the concerns, and decided to appoint a special investigation team to examine the circumstances of the stabbing.
Criticism of security forces was quick to hit social media. Concerned parties suggested that Shlissel shouldn't have been released or should have been carefully monitored leading up to the gay pride parade.
Officers providing security at the march were given intelligence reports along with the profiles of suspect individuals who could interfere with the parade or try to harm those marching. Shlissel's profile was included in the reports.
Interior security minister Gilad Erdan convened a meeting following the event to address the concerns, and decided to appoint a special investigation team to examine the circumstances of the stabbing.
The attack came just minutes into Jerusalem's yearly gay pride parade, which began with a lighter atmosphere. Thousands were in attendence, including government officials from the Meretz party and the Zionist Union.
Over 500 attended 2014's parade, which included tourists and even members of East Jerusalem's Arab gay community. The event is considered controversial by many, and regularly faces protest from right-wing organizations.
Update 9 aug 2015: Video, what happens when a gay couple walk down Jerusalem street?
In a statment from his office, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the attack,
"We are talking about a very serious incident," he said. "We will find justice with the perpetrators. In the State of Israel the freedom of personal choice is one of the basic values we cherish. We must guarantee that in Israel, every man and women will live in safety in any way they choose."
Criticism of security forces was quick to hit social media. Concerned parties suggested that Shlissel shouldn't have been released or should have been carefully monitored leading up to the gay pride parade.
Officers providing security at the march were given intelligence reports along with the profiles of suspect individuals who could interfere with the parade or try to harm those marching. Shlissel's profile was included in the reports.
Interior security minister Gilad Erdan convened a meeting following the event to address the concerns, and decided to appoint a special investigation team to examine the circumstances of the stabbing.
Criticism of security forces was quick to hit social media. Concerned parties suggested that Shlissel shouldn't have been released or should have been carefully monitored leading up to the gay pride parade.
Officers providing security at the march were given intelligence reports along with the profiles of suspect individuals who could interfere with the parade or try to harm those marching. Shlissel's profile was included in the reports.
Interior security minister Gilad Erdan convened a meeting following the event to address the concerns, and decided to appoint a special investigation team to examine the circumstances of the stabbing.
The attack came just minutes into Jerusalem's yearly gay pride parade, which began with a lighter atmosphere. Thousands were in attendence, including government officials from the Meretz party and the Zionist Union.
Over 500 attended 2014's parade, which included tourists and even members of East Jerusalem's Arab gay community. The event is considered controversial by many, and regularly faces protest from right-wing organizations.
Update 9 aug 2015: Video, what happens when a gay couple walk down Jerusalem street?
Dozens of border police officers enter former West Bank settlement overnight and remove families barricaded inside; several youths forcibly taken away, but no violence reported; families claim pepper spray used and small children hit.
Army and police on Thursday night entered the fortress in the ruins of the village of Sa-Nur, where some 250 people had arrived Monday night without approval from Israeli security forces, ten years after the West Bank settlement was evacuated. The families who had barricaded themselves inside left the site without resistance at around 3am.
About one hundred young people initially refused to leave, but were evacuated after a few hours. The area was declared a closed military zone, buses were brought to take the families away, and barriers were placed at the entrance to the former settlement. The evacuation was ultimately completed at around 7am.
According to the families, troops used pepper spray on them. "Relatives who stayed at the scene and even small children were hit and violently dragged to buses and truck buses brought by security forces," the families said in a statement. The families and most of the teens were taken to the settlement of Kedumim.
One border police officer announced to the others that two fellow officers had refused orders to force the evacuation. He asked the officers to speak to their soldiers about the severity of this. According to the families, border police officers who refused orders were removed from the scene by their colleagues.
Yossi Dagan, the acting chief of Shomron Regional Council, said after the evacuation that he would work to annul the disengagement in the West Bank and reestablish Sa-Nur and Homesh.
"We are working with the backing of Knesset members and the Knesset chairman to cancel the disengagement law in the Samaria settlements. I am convinced that in the coming year we will be able to achieve progress," he said. "There is no reason for us not to correct this mistake, ten years after the disengagement." Dagan added that the prime minister had promised to meet with the families who were removed in the coming days.
"You arrive in Sa-Nur and you see roads, behind me there are flowers, trees, sidewalks," Dagan said. "The only thing missing is people. There was no logic to this expulsion and I hope to receive authorization from the prime minister to build Homesh and Sa-Nur in an official and organized manner."
The council head explained why the removal of the families transpired peacefully, without violence or resistance. "Knowing the families, these are responsible people who love Israel and love the IDF. No one has any interest in confronting the security forces. Despite the anger and outrage that they sent the army and the police back 10 years after the uprooting and explusion from Gush Katif, no one acted in a violent manner. The families here explained to me very clearly that for them the issue here is not to fight the security forces but to return to the displaced communities and rebuild them and I was very happy to hear this."
Shosh Shiloh, who was among those removed from the scene, said: "Tel Aviv, Kfar Shmaryahu and Kfar Saba exist thanks to our ancestors who lived here and thanks to God who promised us this land as an inheritance." She explained that the families who came to Sa-Nur are not "usurpers or tree-cutters". Sheila turned to the soldiers and warned them of the next evacuation. "I'm informing you that the commanders who will come after you, will have to deal with what you are dealing with and I suggest you prepare them so that they know that here there are people who love the land of Israel, and that they should get enough sleep before coming to us because it's not easy to deal with us."
The standoff at Sa-Nur was something of a denouement to a stormy week – on Wednesday, the government tore down two controversial housing structures known as the Draynoff buildings in the West Bank settlement of Beit El after nearly two days of violence between settlers and police at the scene.
The families who returned to Sa-Nur this week decided on Wednesday to send a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu, in which they pleaded with him: "Please spare us, our children, and the entire people of Israel, the unnecessary sights of destruction and eviction."
The settlers were also concerned with the fact security forces closed off all access to the area, raising the fear they would have to stay in the settlement for days without food or water in the rising summer temperatures.
"A decade ago we were banished from Sa-Nur and the settlements of the northern Samaria, and with God's will we returned home two days ago," the settlers wrote. "Our stay here over the past two days proves that it is possible (to return)."
Netanyahu declined to respond, but he did make another decision that was certain to satisfy many settlers. The Prime Minister's Office announced that it was green lighting the construction of 296 housing units in Beit El. The prime minister also approved hundreds of housing units in Jerusalem neighborhoods beyond the Green Line, including the construction and marketing of 91 housing units and the planning of 24 homes in Pisgat Ze'ev, as well as the planning of 300 housing units in Ramot, 70 in Gilo and 19 in Har Homa.
The housing units that were approved on Wednesday were promised by the Israeli government three years ago following the evacuation of the Givat Ulpana neighborhood in the settlement and have been waiting for official approval since.
The Palestinian Authority condemned the decision to build the new homes. The European Union also condemned the decision and urged Israel to reverse the decision, saying "the recent decisions of the Israeli authorities to further advance settlement expansion in the West Bank and East Jerusalem call into question the Israeli government's stated commitment to a negotiated two-state solution in the Middle East Peace Process."
Mark Toner, deputy spokesperson of the US Department of State, also criticized the move. "We are deeply concerned about the Israeli government’s announcement today of the advancement of nearly 300 new housing units in the West Bank settlement of Beit El, as well as hundreds of new housing units in East Jerusalem," Toner said in a statement.
"The United States continues to view settlements as illegitimate and we strongly oppose steps to advance construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Settlement expansion threatens the two-state solution and calls into question Israel’s commitment to a negotiated resolution to the conflict. We continue to urge the Israeli government to refrain from unhelpful actions that undercut the possibility of a two-state solution."
Army and police on Thursday night entered the fortress in the ruins of the village of Sa-Nur, where some 250 people had arrived Monday night without approval from Israeli security forces, ten years after the West Bank settlement was evacuated. The families who had barricaded themselves inside left the site without resistance at around 3am.
About one hundred young people initially refused to leave, but were evacuated after a few hours. The area was declared a closed military zone, buses were brought to take the families away, and barriers were placed at the entrance to the former settlement. The evacuation was ultimately completed at around 7am.
According to the families, troops used pepper spray on them. "Relatives who stayed at the scene and even small children were hit and violently dragged to buses and truck buses brought by security forces," the families said in a statement. The families and most of the teens were taken to the settlement of Kedumim.
One border police officer announced to the others that two fellow officers had refused orders to force the evacuation. He asked the officers to speak to their soldiers about the severity of this. According to the families, border police officers who refused orders were removed from the scene by their colleagues.
Yossi Dagan, the acting chief of Shomron Regional Council, said after the evacuation that he would work to annul the disengagement in the West Bank and reestablish Sa-Nur and Homesh.
"We are working with the backing of Knesset members and the Knesset chairman to cancel the disengagement law in the Samaria settlements. I am convinced that in the coming year we will be able to achieve progress," he said. "There is no reason for us not to correct this mistake, ten years after the disengagement." Dagan added that the prime minister had promised to meet with the families who were removed in the coming days.
"You arrive in Sa-Nur and you see roads, behind me there are flowers, trees, sidewalks," Dagan said. "The only thing missing is people. There was no logic to this expulsion and I hope to receive authorization from the prime minister to build Homesh and Sa-Nur in an official and organized manner."
The council head explained why the removal of the families transpired peacefully, without violence or resistance. "Knowing the families, these are responsible people who love Israel and love the IDF. No one has any interest in confronting the security forces. Despite the anger and outrage that they sent the army and the police back 10 years after the uprooting and explusion from Gush Katif, no one acted in a violent manner. The families here explained to me very clearly that for them the issue here is not to fight the security forces but to return to the displaced communities and rebuild them and I was very happy to hear this."
Shosh Shiloh, who was among those removed from the scene, said: "Tel Aviv, Kfar Shmaryahu and Kfar Saba exist thanks to our ancestors who lived here and thanks to God who promised us this land as an inheritance." She explained that the families who came to Sa-Nur are not "usurpers or tree-cutters". Sheila turned to the soldiers and warned them of the next evacuation. "I'm informing you that the commanders who will come after you, will have to deal with what you are dealing with and I suggest you prepare them so that they know that here there are people who love the land of Israel, and that they should get enough sleep before coming to us because it's not easy to deal with us."
The standoff at Sa-Nur was something of a denouement to a stormy week – on Wednesday, the government tore down two controversial housing structures known as the Draynoff buildings in the West Bank settlement of Beit El after nearly two days of violence between settlers and police at the scene.
The families who returned to Sa-Nur this week decided on Wednesday to send a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu, in which they pleaded with him: "Please spare us, our children, and the entire people of Israel, the unnecessary sights of destruction and eviction."
The settlers were also concerned with the fact security forces closed off all access to the area, raising the fear they would have to stay in the settlement for days without food or water in the rising summer temperatures.
"A decade ago we were banished from Sa-Nur and the settlements of the northern Samaria, and with God's will we returned home two days ago," the settlers wrote. "Our stay here over the past two days proves that it is possible (to return)."
Netanyahu declined to respond, but he did make another decision that was certain to satisfy many settlers. The Prime Minister's Office announced that it was green lighting the construction of 296 housing units in Beit El. The prime minister also approved hundreds of housing units in Jerusalem neighborhoods beyond the Green Line, including the construction and marketing of 91 housing units and the planning of 24 homes in Pisgat Ze'ev, as well as the planning of 300 housing units in Ramot, 70 in Gilo and 19 in Har Homa.
The housing units that were approved on Wednesday were promised by the Israeli government three years ago following the evacuation of the Givat Ulpana neighborhood in the settlement and have been waiting for official approval since.
The Palestinian Authority condemned the decision to build the new homes. The European Union also condemned the decision and urged Israel to reverse the decision, saying "the recent decisions of the Israeli authorities to further advance settlement expansion in the West Bank and East Jerusalem call into question the Israeli government's stated commitment to a negotiated two-state solution in the Middle East Peace Process."
Mark Toner, deputy spokesperson of the US Department of State, also criticized the move. "We are deeply concerned about the Israeli government’s announcement today of the advancement of nearly 300 new housing units in the West Bank settlement of Beit El, as well as hundreds of new housing units in East Jerusalem," Toner said in a statement.
"The United States continues to view settlements as illegitimate and we strongly oppose steps to advance construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Settlement expansion threatens the two-state solution and calls into question Israel’s commitment to a negotiated resolution to the conflict. We continue to urge the Israeli government to refrain from unhelpful actions that undercut the possibility of a two-state solution."
Two-hundred French Jewish immigrants have arrived in Israel, according to a Tuesday statement issued by The Jewish Agency for Israel.
The newcomers – half of whom are children – were brought to the self-proclaimed Jewish state on a flight jointly organized by the agency and Israel’s Immigration Ministry, the statement noted.
Immigration Minister Zeev Elkin said his ministry hoped to receive between 30,000 and 35,000 additional Jewish immigrants from around the world, the statement added, according to Press TV/Al Ray.
Over the past five years, Israel has taken in more than 20,000 French Jewish immigrants, including 7,500 in 2014 and 4,260 in 2015.
The newcomers – half of whom are children – were brought to the self-proclaimed Jewish state on a flight jointly organized by the agency and Israel’s Immigration Ministry, the statement noted.
Immigration Minister Zeev Elkin said his ministry hoped to receive between 30,000 and 35,000 additional Jewish immigrants from around the world, the statement added, according to Press TV/Al Ray.
Over the past five years, Israel has taken in more than 20,000 French Jewish immigrants, including 7,500 in 2014 and 4,260 in 2015.
Controversial Israeli right-wing rabbi activist Yehuda Glick was escorted, under armed protection, into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound Wednesday, as groups of right-wing Israelis entered the area for the third time this week.
The raid came despite the UN's condemnation earlier this week of "religious provocations" in and around holy sites in the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem.
Sources in the Islamic Endowment Department told Ma'an News Agency that Glick as well as a group of 63 rightists stormed the compound and carried out religious rituals.
Israeli forces were deployed in and around the compound to secure the raid, the department added.
Separately, an Israeli bride and groom attempted to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque but were prevented by Israeli police, and two Palestinian women were detained as they were leaving the compound.
An Israeli police spokesperson did not immediately respond for comment.
Glick came to prominence for leading groups of rightists into the mosque compound for worship, in contravention of an agreement between Israel and the Islamic endowment since 1967 that prohibits non-Muslim prayer in the compound.
The right-wing activist was barred from the compound in August of 2014 after he attacked a 67-year-old Palestinian woman, Ziva Badarna.
In October last year,Muataz Ibrahim Hijazi, 32, from Silwan attempted to assassinate Glick during a rally in Jerusalem. The suspect was shot dead by Israeli forces during a raid hours after the incident.
An Israeli court granted permission in May for Glick to visit the compound once a month.
This month's visit by Glick came after intense clashes erupted between Palestinian worshipers and Israeli forces at the compound on Monday, resulting in at least eight arrests and several minor injuries.
On Sunday, Israeli forces injured 19 Palestinian guards during clashes inside and around the mosque. Four Israeli police were also inured during clashes.
Al-Aqsa compound director Omar Kiswani said at the time that 70 Israelis had "raided" the compound Sunday afternoon accompanied by 100 to 150 Israeli special forces to secure their entry.
The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, issued a statement shortly after 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.
Mladenov 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."
Israeli forces frequently enable Israeli Jews to tour the compound despite the state's agreement not to allow non-Muslim prayer in the area following the occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967, considered illegal under international law.
The Al-Aqsa mosque -- the third holiest site in Islam -- has been the location of inflammatory visits by Israeli leadership and worshipers in the past, whose visits signal a threat to Palestinians who hope for occupied East Jerusalem to be the capital of an independent Palestinian state.
Jewish prayer is allowed at the neighboring Western Wall, which is the last remnant of the Second Temple.
The raid came despite the UN's condemnation earlier this week of "religious provocations" in and around holy sites in the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem.
Sources in the Islamic Endowment Department told Ma'an News Agency that Glick as well as a group of 63 rightists stormed the compound and carried out religious rituals.
Israeli forces were deployed in and around the compound to secure the raid, the department added.
Separately, an Israeli bride and groom attempted to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque but were prevented by Israeli police, and two Palestinian women were detained as they were leaving the compound.
An Israeli police spokesperson did not immediately respond for comment.
Glick came to prominence for leading groups of rightists into the mosque compound for worship, in contravention of an agreement between Israel and the Islamic endowment since 1967 that prohibits non-Muslim prayer in the compound.
The right-wing activist was barred from the compound in August of 2014 after he attacked a 67-year-old Palestinian woman, Ziva Badarna.
In October last year,Muataz Ibrahim Hijazi, 32, from Silwan attempted to assassinate Glick during a rally in Jerusalem. The suspect was shot dead by Israeli forces during a raid hours after the incident.
An Israeli court granted permission in May for Glick to visit the compound once a month.
This month's visit by Glick came after intense clashes erupted between Palestinian worshipers and Israeli forces at the compound on Monday, resulting in at least eight arrests and several minor injuries.
On Sunday, Israeli forces injured 19 Palestinian guards during clashes inside and around the mosque. Four Israeli police were also inured during clashes.
Al-Aqsa compound director Omar Kiswani said at the time that 70 Israelis had "raided" the compound Sunday afternoon accompanied by 100 to 150 Israeli special forces to secure their entry.
The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, issued a statement shortly after 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.
Mladenov 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."
Israeli forces frequently enable Israeli Jews to tour the compound despite the state's agreement not to allow non-Muslim prayer in the area following the occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967, considered illegal under international law.
The Al-Aqsa mosque -- the third holiest site in Islam -- has been the location of inflammatory visits by Israeli leadership and worshipers in the past, whose visits signal a threat to Palestinians who hope for occupied East Jerusalem to be the capital of an independent Palestinian state.
Jewish prayer is allowed at the neighboring Western Wall, which is the last remnant of the Second Temple.