1 aug 2017
The incursions of Jewish settlers into al-Aqsa Mosque hit record high over the past few days. The highest numbers of settlers who desecrated the holy site in five years were recorded.
According to data published by the Temple of Solomon Organizations, 1,046 Jewish settlers defiled al-Aqsa Mosque on Tuesday morning. It exceeded the highest number that was recorded a few months ago and hit 900.
This increase resulted from the large-scale campaigns that have been recently launched by the Temple of Solomon Organizations calling for massive incursions into the Muslims’ holy shrine. The Israeli calls aimed at commemorating the anniversary of the so-called destruction of the alleged Temple of Solomon on August 09 according to the Jewish calendar.
According to data published by the Temple of Solomon Organizations, 1,046 Jewish settlers defiled al-Aqsa Mosque on Tuesday morning. It exceeded the highest number that was recorded a few months ago and hit 900.
This increase resulted from the large-scale campaigns that have been recently launched by the Temple of Solomon Organizations calling for massive incursions into the Muslims’ holy shrine. The Israeli calls aimed at commemorating the anniversary of the so-called destruction of the alleged Temple of Solomon on August 09 according to the Jewish calendar.
The Israeli district court in Occupied Jerusalem on Monday confirmed the validity of three real estate deals struck between officials from the Greek Orthodox Church and overseas straw buyers that acted secretly on behalf of an Israeli right-wing settler group.
According to Maariv newspaper on Tuesday, the district court judge ruled that the agreements, in which three major east Jerusalem buildings, including two hotels, had been leased for 99 renewable years by Ateret Cohanim organization through three overseas holding companies, were “valid and did not involve a fraudulent activity.”
The leased buildings are located in a sensitive Palestinian-populated area of the Old City of Jerusalem.
The judge said the contracts had been signed in 2004 by those authorized by the Patriarchate and the plaintiffs, and thus ordered the Church to pay 30,000 shekels to Ateret Cohanim group in legal costs.
The judgment will bring more unwelcome attention to the Patriarchate, which is already under fire for a series of real estate sales in west Jerusalem, according to Israeli newspapers.
The 2004 agreements were to lease buildings, not to sell them, but they are for 99 years, renewable for another 99 years, which essentially puts them into the settlers’ hands for good in one of the most visible positions in the Old City, between the Jaffa Gate (Bab al-Khalil) and the Old City market.
The agreements were so appalling and devastating to the Palestinians because behind them stood Ateret Cohanim, which works to acquire property to establish a Jewish majority in the Old City and in Arab neighborhoods of east Jerusalem.
The first lease was signed in August 2004 between the Patriarchate and Richards Marketing Corporation for the transfer of the New Imperial Hotel at a cost of $1.25 million.
The second, also signed in August 2004, was reached with Berisford Investments Ltd. for the lease on the Petra Hotel, at a cost of $500,000.
A third deal was signed in October 2004 by Gallow Global Ltd. to lease an Old City property and grounds in Muazmia Street 18 for $55,000.
According to Maariv newspaper on Tuesday, the district court judge ruled that the agreements, in which three major east Jerusalem buildings, including two hotels, had been leased for 99 renewable years by Ateret Cohanim organization through three overseas holding companies, were “valid and did not involve a fraudulent activity.”
The leased buildings are located in a sensitive Palestinian-populated area of the Old City of Jerusalem.
The judge said the contracts had been signed in 2004 by those authorized by the Patriarchate and the plaintiffs, and thus ordered the Church to pay 30,000 shekels to Ateret Cohanim group in legal costs.
The judgment will bring more unwelcome attention to the Patriarchate, which is already under fire for a series of real estate sales in west Jerusalem, according to Israeli newspapers.
The 2004 agreements were to lease buildings, not to sell them, but they are for 99 years, renewable for another 99 years, which essentially puts them into the settlers’ hands for good in one of the most visible positions in the Old City, between the Jaffa Gate (Bab al-Khalil) and the Old City market.
The agreements were so appalling and devastating to the Palestinians because behind them stood Ateret Cohanim, which works to acquire property to establish a Jewish majority in the Old City and in Arab neighborhoods of east Jerusalem.
The first lease was signed in August 2004 between the Patriarchate and Richards Marketing Corporation for the transfer of the New Imperial Hotel at a cost of $1.25 million.
The second, also signed in August 2004, was reached with Berisford Investments Ltd. for the lease on the Petra Hotel, at a cost of $500,000.
A third deal was signed in October 2004 by Gallow Global Ltd. to lease an Old City property and grounds in Muazmia Street 18 for $55,000.
Thousands of Jewish settlers on Monday night marched to al-Buraq Wall (Wailing Wall) plaza, west of the Aqsa Mosque, performed rituals near the holy site and chanted racist slogans against the Palestinians.
Local sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) thousands of settlers marched from Bab al-Jadeed (New Gate) area in the Old City of Jerusalem to al-Buraq wall, carrying Israeli flags to mark the two-day Jewish occasion of Tisha B'Av.
The sources added that several settlers acted provocatively against Palestinian citizens and chanted racist slurs in the holy city during their march under police guard.
Temple Mount groups already called for massive participation in the march on Monday and incited their followers to desecrate the Aqsa Mosque compound en masse on Tuesday to commemorate the same occasion.
Earlier, the Israeli police made security preparations ahead of the march through intensifying its forces’ presence in different streets of Jerusalem, especially in the Old City, and restricting the movement of the Palestinian natives.
Local sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) thousands of settlers marched from Bab al-Jadeed (New Gate) area in the Old City of Jerusalem to al-Buraq wall, carrying Israeli flags to mark the two-day Jewish occasion of Tisha B'Av.
The sources added that several settlers acted provocatively against Palestinian citizens and chanted racist slurs in the holy city during their march under police guard.
Temple Mount groups already called for massive participation in the march on Monday and incited their followers to desecrate the Aqsa Mosque compound en masse on Tuesday to commemorate the same occasion.
Earlier, the Israeli police made security preparations ahead of the march through intensifying its forces’ presence in different streets of Jerusalem, especially in the Old City, and restricting the movement of the Palestinian natives.
Hundreds of Israeli settlers and extremists have stormed Tuesday morning the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Israeli-occupied Old City of Jerusalem.
415 settlers forced their way into the holy site through the Bab al-Magharibah gate under tight protection of several groups of Israeli soldiers and special police forces, an official at al-Waqaf Department revealed.
The settlers performed provocative tours throughout the site, he added.
Meanwhile, Israeli police tightened restrictions on Palestinian worshipers’ entry into the holy shrine.
The settlers’ break-in came as Israeli extremist groups called for massive incursions into al-Aqsa on Monday and Tuesday commemorating the so-called "Destruction of the Temple" anniversary.
415 settlers forced their way into the holy site through the Bab al-Magharibah gate under tight protection of several groups of Israeli soldiers and special police forces, an official at al-Waqaf Department revealed.
The settlers performed provocative tours throughout the site, he added.
Meanwhile, Israeli police tightened restrictions on Palestinian worshipers’ entry into the holy shrine.
The settlers’ break-in came as Israeli extremist groups called for massive incursions into al-Aqsa on Monday and Tuesday commemorating the so-called "Destruction of the Temple" anniversary.
As Israeli extremists invaded the al-Aqsa Mosque on Monday, Israeli settler colonizers also moved into Palestinian areas in several parts of the West Bank. In Hebron, members of a right-wing militia group occupied a Palestinian home in the center of the city; while in Nablus, a dozen trailers were constructed on illegally-seized Palestinian land.
The home in Hebron had initially been taken over by the settler militia group last week, and then on Monday the head of the group, Yossi Dagan, announced that he will be moving his family into the home, ejecting the Palestinian family who owned and had lived in the home for generations.
The Abu Rajab family home in Hebron has been a target of the Israeli settler militia group ‘Homesh First’ for over five years. In 2012, Israeli settler colonizers took over the top two floors of the home, forcing the Abu Rajab family to huddle into the lowest level of their home.
The settlers claimed to have purchased the house, but this claim was never able to be proved in Israeli court. Since that time, the Abu Rajab family has been continually harassed, including having their entrance and exit to the home blocked, being beaten and threatened, having soldiers occupy their home and assist the settler colonizers in their takeover, and having one of the sons of the Abu Rajab family abducted and put into prison without charge for years.
Throughout 2015, Israeli settlers camped outside the home for months, harassing the Abu Rajab family and preventing them from leaving. The family filed six different complaints with the Israeli court system, which eventually ruled in their favor and ordered the settlers to evacuate.
Now, in 2017, the family finds themselves once again filing a complaint with the Israeli police, as the settlers have returned to force them from their home in violation of international and Israeli law.
In the Nablus incident, Israeli settler colonizers set up a dozen trailer homes on land belonging to Palestinian families in the al-Khafafish area of the village of Jalud, in the northern part of the West Bank.
The trailers were installed on Monday, after the land was leveled by Israeli bulldozers two weeks ago in preparation for the new settlement construction.
When the settlement expansion in the area was approved by the Israeli government a month ago, to compensate for the evacuation of the illegal settlement of Amona, the group Americans for Peace Now pointed out, “This is not the first time that the government utilizes a lawful evacuation of an illegal outpost built on private Palestinian lands in order to approve 2 settlements as “compensation.”
As part of the evacuation of the Migron outpost, the government established “New Migron” (located close to Kochav Yaakov settlement) as well as a plan for 184 housing units east of Adam settlement (aka Geva Binyamin). Just as in the case of Amona, the settlers of Migron rejected the offer to move to the site east of Adam, and yet the government approved the plan, which is currently under construction.
“Amichai, alongside Shvut Rachel East, enhance the expansion of Shilo settlement eastbound towards the Jordan valley and route number 80 (known as the Alon road). The new settlements are located between Shilo and Shvut Rachel (located to their west) and several illegal outposts: Achiya, Esh Kodesh, Kida and Adei Ad. Hence, the two new settlements are located in a region that serves as focal point of settler land takeover and settler violence, preventing Palestinians [PDF] from reaching their lands.
“The establishment of Amichai, as well as that of Shvut Rachel East, are a significant blow to the two-state solution. The settlements are located deep in the West Bank and east of route 60, the main highway in the occupied territories. It is impossible to reach a two-state solution without the evacuation of these settlements. Hence, the message that is being conveyed by the government of Israel is that it seeks to heighten its control over the West Bank and that it has no intention of ever evacuating the territories and achieving a political agreement with the Palestinians.”
The Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics has reported a 70% increase in the rate of Israeli settlement expansion this year in comparison to the previous year.
All Israeli settlements are considered illegal under international law, as they directly violate the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits an occupying power from transferring members of its civilian population to land occupied by military force.
The home in Hebron had initially been taken over by the settler militia group last week, and then on Monday the head of the group, Yossi Dagan, announced that he will be moving his family into the home, ejecting the Palestinian family who owned and had lived in the home for generations.
The Abu Rajab family home in Hebron has been a target of the Israeli settler militia group ‘Homesh First’ for over five years. In 2012, Israeli settler colonizers took over the top two floors of the home, forcing the Abu Rajab family to huddle into the lowest level of their home.
The settlers claimed to have purchased the house, but this claim was never able to be proved in Israeli court. Since that time, the Abu Rajab family has been continually harassed, including having their entrance and exit to the home blocked, being beaten and threatened, having soldiers occupy their home and assist the settler colonizers in their takeover, and having one of the sons of the Abu Rajab family abducted and put into prison without charge for years.
Throughout 2015, Israeli settlers camped outside the home for months, harassing the Abu Rajab family and preventing them from leaving. The family filed six different complaints with the Israeli court system, which eventually ruled in their favor and ordered the settlers to evacuate.
Now, in 2017, the family finds themselves once again filing a complaint with the Israeli police, as the settlers have returned to force them from their home in violation of international and Israeli law.
In the Nablus incident, Israeli settler colonizers set up a dozen trailer homes on land belonging to Palestinian families in the al-Khafafish area of the village of Jalud, in the northern part of the West Bank.
The trailers were installed on Monday, after the land was leveled by Israeli bulldozers two weeks ago in preparation for the new settlement construction.
When the settlement expansion in the area was approved by the Israeli government a month ago, to compensate for the evacuation of the illegal settlement of Amona, the group Americans for Peace Now pointed out, “This is not the first time that the government utilizes a lawful evacuation of an illegal outpost built on private Palestinian lands in order to approve 2 settlements as “compensation.”
As part of the evacuation of the Migron outpost, the government established “New Migron” (located close to Kochav Yaakov settlement) as well as a plan for 184 housing units east of Adam settlement (aka Geva Binyamin). Just as in the case of Amona, the settlers of Migron rejected the offer to move to the site east of Adam, and yet the government approved the plan, which is currently under construction.
“Amichai, alongside Shvut Rachel East, enhance the expansion of Shilo settlement eastbound towards the Jordan valley and route number 80 (known as the Alon road). The new settlements are located between Shilo and Shvut Rachel (located to their west) and several illegal outposts: Achiya, Esh Kodesh, Kida and Adei Ad. Hence, the two new settlements are located in a region that serves as focal point of settler land takeover and settler violence, preventing Palestinians [PDF] from reaching their lands.
“The establishment of Amichai, as well as that of Shvut Rachel East, are a significant blow to the two-state solution. The settlements are located deep in the West Bank and east of route 60, the main highway in the occupied territories. It is impossible to reach a two-state solution without the evacuation of these settlements. Hence, the message that is being conveyed by the government of Israel is that it seeks to heighten its control over the West Bank and that it has no intention of ever evacuating the territories and achieving a political agreement with the Palestinians.”
The Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics has reported a 70% increase in the rate of Israeli settlement expansion this year in comparison to the previous year.
All Israeli settlements are considered illegal under international law, as they directly violate the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits an occupying power from transferring members of its civilian population to land occupied by military force.
Israeli army forces continued to uphold the closure imposed on the village of Azzun Atma, to the south of Qalqilia, and banned non-residents from entry.
Abd Al Karim Ayyob, an employee at the village council, said that Israel set up a checkpoint at the northern entrance of the village under the pretext that Palestinians illegally enter Israel through the village.
Additionally, WAFA reported that Israeli settlers from the illegal Sha’arei Tikva settlement pumped sewage into the Valley of Beit Amin, near Azzun Atma, especially in the area where sewage remains exposed and left untreated creating health problems.
Abd Al Karim Ayyob, an employee at the village council, said that Israel set up a checkpoint at the northern entrance of the village under the pretext that Palestinians illegally enter Israel through the village.
Additionally, WAFA reported that Israeli settlers from the illegal Sha’arei Tikva settlement pumped sewage into the Valley of Beit Amin, near Azzun Atma, especially in the area where sewage remains exposed and left untreated creating health problems.
31 july 2017
Dozens of Israeli extremist settlers stormed into Al-Aqsa Mosque early Monday morning, from Al-Maghariba gate, guarded by Israeli police, amid more restrictions imposed on Palestinian entry to the mosque.
Israeli police opened Al-Maghariba gate at 7:30 AM, deployed special forces and rapid deployment in the Al-Aqsa courtyards, to ensure the full protection of settlers’ provocative entry, Al Ray reports.
The incursions coincide with Jewish calls to intensify the daily raids on the mosque and to establish a full program during Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, inside and outside the compound.
The official of public relations and media department of Islamic endowments, Firas Aldebs, stated that 192 extremists stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque since the morning, and after the opening of the door of Al-Maghariba.
Settlers organized provocative tours in various areas of the courtyards and received explanations about the alleged Temple Mount and its landmarks during the intrusion.
Israeli occupation police tightened security measures at the gates of the mosque and checked the personal identities of the worshipers coming to it.
Earlier, Israeli occupation police prevented Al-Aqsa guard Abdel Aziz Al-Helaisi from entering the mosque and tending to his work.
In the meantime, dozens of worshipers from Jerusalem and the occupied Palestinian territories have come to Al-Aqsa, since the early morning, attending in study seminars and reading the Koran, while chanting slogans to protest against the continuous Israeli intrusions.
The so-called “Back to the Mountain” extremist group within the union of the “Temple” organizations, headed by extremist Rafael Morris, called for a full program on Monday and Tuesday, inside and outside the mosque, where they will daily storm into Al-Aqsa from 7:30 am, with a full morning program in Al-Aqsa on Tuesday.
Hebrew sources confirmed that Israeli occupation forces stationed at the gates of Al-Aqsa have a list of names and photos of wanted individuals, on the pretext of posing a confrontation to the occupation.
Israeli police opened Al-Maghariba gate at 7:30 AM, deployed special forces and rapid deployment in the Al-Aqsa courtyards, to ensure the full protection of settlers’ provocative entry, Al Ray reports.
The incursions coincide with Jewish calls to intensify the daily raids on the mosque and to establish a full program during Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, inside and outside the compound.
The official of public relations and media department of Islamic endowments, Firas Aldebs, stated that 192 extremists stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque since the morning, and after the opening of the door of Al-Maghariba.
Settlers organized provocative tours in various areas of the courtyards and received explanations about the alleged Temple Mount and its landmarks during the intrusion.
Israeli occupation police tightened security measures at the gates of the mosque and checked the personal identities of the worshipers coming to it.
Earlier, Israeli occupation police prevented Al-Aqsa guard Abdel Aziz Al-Helaisi from entering the mosque and tending to his work.
In the meantime, dozens of worshipers from Jerusalem and the occupied Palestinian territories have come to Al-Aqsa, since the early morning, attending in study seminars and reading the Koran, while chanting slogans to protest against the continuous Israeli intrusions.
The so-called “Back to the Mountain” extremist group within the union of the “Temple” organizations, headed by extremist Rafael Morris, called for a full program on Monday and Tuesday, inside and outside the mosque, where they will daily storm into Al-Aqsa from 7:30 am, with a full morning program in Al-Aqsa on Tuesday.
Hebrew sources confirmed that Israeli occupation forces stationed at the gates of Al-Aqsa have a list of names and photos of wanted individuals, on the pretext of posing a confrontation to the occupation.
30 july 2017
Mahmud Daoud Sharaf, the father of Mohammed Sharaf, 17, who was shot dead in Jerusalem on Friday, said an Israeli settler executed his son.
Sharaf told the PIC that one of the Israeli settlers residing in Ras Al-Amud shot his son, and it was not the police or the army who did that, which confirms that his son was executed for no reason.
“The recording cameras proved that an Israeli settler killed my son after he shot him directly,” said Sharaf's father, adding that his son was not in the midst of Friday’s clashes in Jerusalem.
His father explained that Mohammed’s injury was in the neck, and shortly after, he lost his life.
“We prayed near al-Aqsa in Ras Al-Amoud, and there were some confrontations. When the Israeli army began firing sound and gas bombs, my son stood aside with a group of young men and was away from the clashes,” he told the PIC.
“A number of settlers in Ras Al-Amud took to the streets and started shooting at the young men. Journalists, who were near Mohammed, documented how one of the settlers shot my son dead.”
He pointed out that a sniper from the settlers was the one who killed Mohammed. “The shooting was documented and the settler is known to the army and the police,” the father said, pointing out that one of the journalists documented the shooting.
In response to a question about the investigation into the crime, the father of the martyr said: “The police did not open or initiate an investigation into the circumstances of the martyrdom of Mohammed. They did not ask us or arrest the settler, nor did they interrogate him.”
He explained that he is considering filing a complaint against the settler, stressing, “There is no justice in the occupation’s courts.”
Speaking of his son, he said: “Mohammed was a bright young man who was full of ambition. He loved life and thought a lot about his future. He also wanted to study engineering after finishing the high school.”
“Mohammed was a young man like the rest of his generation. He loved life, had a lot of friends and loved ones, and his departure was a shock to us.”
Ahmed, Mohammed’s eldest brother, is in jail and was sentenced to 39 months in prison, of which he spent 18 months.
Sharaf told the PIC that one of the Israeli settlers residing in Ras Al-Amud shot his son, and it was not the police or the army who did that, which confirms that his son was executed for no reason.
“The recording cameras proved that an Israeli settler killed my son after he shot him directly,” said Sharaf's father, adding that his son was not in the midst of Friday’s clashes in Jerusalem.
His father explained that Mohammed’s injury was in the neck, and shortly after, he lost his life.
“We prayed near al-Aqsa in Ras Al-Amoud, and there were some confrontations. When the Israeli army began firing sound and gas bombs, my son stood aside with a group of young men and was away from the clashes,” he told the PIC.
“A number of settlers in Ras Al-Amud took to the streets and started shooting at the young men. Journalists, who were near Mohammed, documented how one of the settlers shot my son dead.”
He pointed out that a sniper from the settlers was the one who killed Mohammed. “The shooting was documented and the settler is known to the army and the police,” the father said, pointing out that one of the journalists documented the shooting.
In response to a question about the investigation into the crime, the father of the martyr said: “The police did not open or initiate an investigation into the circumstances of the martyrdom of Mohammed. They did not ask us or arrest the settler, nor did they interrogate him.”
He explained that he is considering filing a complaint against the settler, stressing, “There is no justice in the occupation’s courts.”
Speaking of his son, he said: “Mohammed was a bright young man who was full of ambition. He loved life and thought a lot about his future. He also wanted to study engineering after finishing the high school.”
“Mohammed was a young man like the rest of his generation. He loved life, had a lot of friends and loved ones, and his departure was a shock to us.”
Ahmed, Mohammed’s eldest brother, is in jail and was sentenced to 39 months in prison, of which he spent 18 months.
Scores of Jewish settlers on Sunday morning desecrated the Aqsa Mosque’s courtyards under tight police protection.
A reporter for the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) said that 25 settlers escorted by police officers entered the Mosque through al-Maghariba Gate and toured the holy site.
He added that the Israeli police restricted the entry of the Aqsa Mosque guards and employees and searched them before allowing them in, affirming that the police arrested Ra’ed al-Zaghir, one of the officials in charge of the Mosque.
In a related context, hardline Knesset member and rabbi Yehuda Glick announced that he and more than 150 Jews would ascend to what he called the temple mount (Aqsa Mosque) in the coming hours.
Other notorious rabbis from different West Bank settlements also intend to defile the Mosque today, according to the PIC reporter.
A reporter for the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) said that 25 settlers escorted by police officers entered the Mosque through al-Maghariba Gate and toured the holy site.
He added that the Israeli police restricted the entry of the Aqsa Mosque guards and employees and searched them before allowing them in, affirming that the police arrested Ra’ed al-Zaghir, one of the officials in charge of the Mosque.
In a related context, hardline Knesset member and rabbi Yehuda Glick announced that he and more than 150 Jews would ascend to what he called the temple mount (Aqsa Mosque) in the coming hours.
Other notorious rabbis from different West Bank settlements also intend to defile the Mosque today, according to the PIC reporter.
Jewish settlers on Saturday night hurled stones at Palestinian homes in Umm al-Khair hamlet, east of Yatta city in the West Bank province of al-Khalil.
A local activist said that a group of settlers from the illegal settlement of Karmi'el threw a hail of stones at several homes in Umm al-Khair belonging to al-Haddalin family.
He added that the houses sustained some damage in the stone-throwing attack, which also caused panic among children and women.
A local activist said that a group of settlers from the illegal settlement of Karmi'el threw a hail of stones at several homes in Umm al-Khair belonging to al-Haddalin family.
He added that the houses sustained some damage in the stone-throwing attack, which also caused panic among children and women.