13 june 2017
About 200 Israeli settlers broke on Tuesday afternoon into the archaeological area of Sebastia town to the north of Nablus city.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that 4 buses carrying settlers stormed the archaeological area under the Israeli army's escort.
They said that the Israeli occupation forces closed the area and prevented the Palestinian citizens from entering it.
They pointed out that Sebastia is repeatedly subjected to Israeli attacks in an attempt to control its archeological sites and claim a Jewish right in them.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that 4 buses carrying settlers stormed the archaeological area under the Israeli army's escort.
They said that the Israeli occupation forces closed the area and prevented the Palestinian citizens from entering it.
They pointed out that Sebastia is repeatedly subjected to Israeli attacks in an attempt to control its archeological sites and claim a Jewish right in them.
B'Tselem, the Israeli information center for human rights in the occupied territories, has accused the Israeli security and military authorities of exchanging roles with Jewish settlers in attacking the Palestinian citizens as part of Israel’s intents to strengthen its control over the West Bank.
In a recent report, B’Tselem said the Israeli authorities allow Jewish settlers to harm Palestinians in the West Bank without then being arrested and held accountable for their crimes.
It stated that the settlers’ acts of violence and intimidation against the Palestinians “are a type of privatization of force which serves to further entrench Israel’s control without official action on the part of the state.”
“Israel allows these acts to continue almost entirely unabated because they help further its agenda in the West Bank, which includes taking over more land.”
According to the human rights group, on 22 April 2017, settlers from Yizhar and its satellite outposts descended on the Palestinian village of Urif and threw stones at homes and cars. Later that day, a group of settlers also arrived at the northwestern outskirts of the town of Huwara, which is flanked by these settlements on the west, and by the settlement of Tapuah from the south, and assaulted people and homes in the area with sticks and stones.
An elderly woman called Badi’a Odeh, 68, was grazing her sheep in a plot of land near her daughter’s house at around 5:00 p.m. The outpost of Mitzpeh Yitzhar was built near the home. Her son-in-law, Muhammad Odeh, came out of the house and started walking toward her, when suddenly, some seven settlers appeared.
In the testimony she gave to B’Tselem on May 11, 2017, Badi’a Odeh recounted:
“I saw my son-in-law Muhammad approaching, and suddenly I saw seven or eight masked settlers a few meters away from me. Some of them ran toward me, and before I knew what was going on, they had surrounded me on all sides. I didn’t know what to do. I covered my head with my arms and just succumbed to my fate. They picked up stones and threw them at me. I felt a hard blow next to my right ear, and then I lost consciousness.”
In his own testimony, given to B’Tselem on May 1, 2017, Badi’a’s son-in-law, Muhammad ‘Odeh, who also suffered an arm injury in the attack, said:
“When the settlers caught sight of me, they started throwing stones at me, too. I shouted at them and threw stones back at them to defend myself. While this was happening, I shouted to my mother-in-law to get out of there fast. I could hear my daughters, who are 15 and 17 years old, screaming from the house and I saw settlers on the roof of the sheep pen next door. They were throwing stones. I was afraid they would go into our house… I kept throwing stones at the settlers, until they moved off and went to throw stones at the neighboring house. I went over to my mother-in-law, and then settlers suddenly showed up again, and I got hit by a stone in the right arm. In the meantime, some relatives and friends came from Huwara. My daughters must have called them. Some soldiers came, too. When they went up to our house, the settlers backed away.”
“I went over to my mother-in-law with a few guys. She was lying on the ground, unconscious. Her face was covered in blood. I called for help, and some more guys came and tried to take care of her until the ambulance came 15 minutes later.”
B’Tselem affirmed that “the security forces that arrived on the scene did not arrest any of the settlers involved in the attack, and let them leave the area as if nothing had happened.”
“Based on past experience, it is safe to assume that the police will not take any measures against the individuals involved in the incident, who will be able to continue their violent conduct. The inaction on the part of the Israeli authorities in this case is part of their longstanding policy throughout the West Bank of allowing settlers to harm Palestinians without then being held to account,” the rights group underlined.
In a recent report, B’Tselem said the Israeli authorities allow Jewish settlers to harm Palestinians in the West Bank without then being arrested and held accountable for their crimes.
It stated that the settlers’ acts of violence and intimidation against the Palestinians “are a type of privatization of force which serves to further entrench Israel’s control without official action on the part of the state.”
“Israel allows these acts to continue almost entirely unabated because they help further its agenda in the West Bank, which includes taking over more land.”
According to the human rights group, on 22 April 2017, settlers from Yizhar and its satellite outposts descended on the Palestinian village of Urif and threw stones at homes and cars. Later that day, a group of settlers also arrived at the northwestern outskirts of the town of Huwara, which is flanked by these settlements on the west, and by the settlement of Tapuah from the south, and assaulted people and homes in the area with sticks and stones.
An elderly woman called Badi’a Odeh, 68, was grazing her sheep in a plot of land near her daughter’s house at around 5:00 p.m. The outpost of Mitzpeh Yitzhar was built near the home. Her son-in-law, Muhammad Odeh, came out of the house and started walking toward her, when suddenly, some seven settlers appeared.
In the testimony she gave to B’Tselem on May 11, 2017, Badi’a Odeh recounted:
“I saw my son-in-law Muhammad approaching, and suddenly I saw seven or eight masked settlers a few meters away from me. Some of them ran toward me, and before I knew what was going on, they had surrounded me on all sides. I didn’t know what to do. I covered my head with my arms and just succumbed to my fate. They picked up stones and threw them at me. I felt a hard blow next to my right ear, and then I lost consciousness.”
In his own testimony, given to B’Tselem on May 1, 2017, Badi’a’s son-in-law, Muhammad ‘Odeh, who also suffered an arm injury in the attack, said:
“When the settlers caught sight of me, they started throwing stones at me, too. I shouted at them and threw stones back at them to defend myself. While this was happening, I shouted to my mother-in-law to get out of there fast. I could hear my daughters, who are 15 and 17 years old, screaming from the house and I saw settlers on the roof of the sheep pen next door. They were throwing stones. I was afraid they would go into our house… I kept throwing stones at the settlers, until they moved off and went to throw stones at the neighboring house. I went over to my mother-in-law, and then settlers suddenly showed up again, and I got hit by a stone in the right arm. In the meantime, some relatives and friends came from Huwara. My daughters must have called them. Some soldiers came, too. When they went up to our house, the settlers backed away.”
“I went over to my mother-in-law with a few guys. She was lying on the ground, unconscious. Her face was covered in blood. I called for help, and some more guys came and tried to take care of her until the ambulance came 15 minutes later.”
B’Tselem affirmed that “the security forces that arrived on the scene did not arrest any of the settlers involved in the attack, and let them leave the area as if nothing had happened.”
“Based on past experience, it is safe to assume that the police will not take any measures against the individuals involved in the incident, who will be able to continue their violent conduct. The inaction on the part of the Israeli authorities in this case is part of their longstanding policy throughout the West Bank of allowing settlers to harm Palestinians without then being held to account,” the rights group underlined.
47 Israeli settlers stormed on Tuesday morning holy al-Aqsa Mosque—the third holiest site in Islam.
Israeli settler hordes broke into the site accompanied by heavy police escort, a member of al-Aqsa supervision staff told the PIC.
The settlers performed sacrilegious rituals in the eastern plaza of al-Aqsa, sparking tension at the site.
Prior to the break-in, the Israeli police unlocked al-Maghareba Gate, which has been controlled by the occupation forces since 1967. Muslim worshipers are denied access into the site via the al-Maghareba Gate.
Israeli settler hordes broke into the site accompanied by heavy police escort, a member of al-Aqsa supervision staff told the PIC.
The settlers performed sacrilegious rituals in the eastern plaza of al-Aqsa, sparking tension at the site.
Prior to the break-in, the Israeli police unlocked al-Maghareba Gate, which has been controlled by the occupation forces since 1967. Muslim worshipers are denied access into the site via the al-Maghareba Gate.
12 june 2017
50 Israeli settlers, escorted by fanatic guides and police officers, broke into holy al-Aqsa Mosque, in Occupied Jerusalem on Monday.
50 Israeli settlers stormed the plazas of al-Alqsa Mosque and attended lectures delivered by Israeli fanatic rabbis on the history of the alleged temple mount, a guard at al-Aqsa told the PIC.
Special police troops escorted the Israeli settlers all the way through the break-in.
The peaceful Muslim worshipers kept, meanwhile, chanting “Allah is the Greatest” in protest at the sacrilegious assault.
50 Israeli settlers stormed the plazas of al-Alqsa Mosque and attended lectures delivered by Israeli fanatic rabbis on the history of the alleged temple mount, a guard at al-Aqsa told the PIC.
Special police troops escorted the Israeli settlers all the way through the break-in.
The peaceful Muslim worshipers kept, meanwhile, chanting “Allah is the Greatest” in protest at the sacrilegious assault.
11 june 2017
Israeli police shut down, on Sunday, the gates of al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, denying entry and exit of Muslim worshipers to and from the compound.
Israeli police claimed, according to WAFA, that the site was shut down after some worshipers at the compound pelted stones at Israeli settlers who were performing rituals near the Moroccan Gate, just outside the compound.
The police declared that the site will remain closed until the worshipers hand over those who pelted stones at the Israeli settlers.
In the meantime, Israeli police allowed for the entry of a group of Jewish fanatics to the compound in the morning, where they toured the holy site and performed rituals.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam and is also venerated as Judaism’s most holy place. Disputes surrounding visitation to the site have historically flared tensions in the occupied Palestinian territory.
In 2003, the Israeli government unilaterally decided — despite the objections of the Islamic Endowments Department — to allow non-Muslim visitors into the complex.
Since then, under increasingly right-wing Israeli governments, extremist Jewish settlers have been allowed into the site in ever greater numbers — usually protected by Israeli security forces — while Palestinian access to the site has become increasingly restricted.
Israeli police claimed, according to WAFA, that the site was shut down after some worshipers at the compound pelted stones at Israeli settlers who were performing rituals near the Moroccan Gate, just outside the compound.
The police declared that the site will remain closed until the worshipers hand over those who pelted stones at the Israeli settlers.
In the meantime, Israeli police allowed for the entry of a group of Jewish fanatics to the compound in the morning, where they toured the holy site and performed rituals.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam and is also venerated as Judaism’s most holy place. Disputes surrounding visitation to the site have historically flared tensions in the occupied Palestinian territory.
In 2003, the Israeli government unilaterally decided — despite the objections of the Islamic Endowments Department — to allow non-Muslim visitors into the complex.
Since then, under increasingly right-wing Israeli governments, extremist Jewish settlers have been allowed into the site in ever greater numbers — usually protected by Israeli security forces — while Palestinian access to the site has become increasingly restricted.
9 june 2017
Dozens of settlers of Yitzhar settlement attacked on Friday afternoon the town of Asira al-Qibliya, south of Nablus city, under protection of Israeli occupation forces.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that extremist settlers started fire in Palestinians’ agricultural lands at the outskirts of the town leading to a huge fire in olive and fig fields.
The attacking settlers threw stones at homes in the town, then clashes erupted between the settlers and inhabitants. Israeli soldiers fired tear gas grenades at the local protesters to disperse them.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that extremist settlers started fire in Palestinians’ agricultural lands at the outskirts of the town leading to a huge fire in olive and fig fields.
The attacking settlers threw stones at homes in the town, then clashes erupted between the settlers and inhabitants. Israeli soldiers fired tear gas grenades at the local protesters to disperse them.
A horde of Israeli settlers sprayed anti-Palestinian and racist graffiti in Beit Safafa town, in Occupied Jerusalem, sparking furor in the area.
A PIC news correspondent quoted eyewitnesses as saying that extremist Israeli settlers sprayed anti-Palestinian graffiti on Beit Safafa walls and damaged local vehicles parked in the area.
Observers said the assault was carried out in the presence of the Israeli occupation forces, who often turn blind eyes and deaf ears to felonies perpetrated by fanatic settlers.
A PIC news correspondent quoted eyewitnesses as saying that extremist Israeli settlers sprayed anti-Palestinian graffiti on Beit Safafa walls and damaged local vehicles parked in the area.
Observers said the assault was carried out in the presence of the Israeli occupation forces, who often turn blind eyes and deaf ears to felonies perpetrated by fanatic settlers.
8 june 2017
Dozens of Israeli settlers, escorted by police troops, broke into holy al-Aqsa Mosque—the third holiest site in Islam—on Thursday morning.
Member of al-Aqsa supervision personnel told the PIC that Israeli settler hordes stormed the site via al-Maghareba Gate under a heavy police shield.
63 Israeli fanatic settlers and 98 religious learners, accompanied by Jewish guides, defiled the site and attended presentations on the history of the alleged temple mount during the morning break-in shift.
Over recent weeks, Israel’s alleged temple mount organizations stepped up calls for mass break-ins at al-Aqsa in an attempt to impose a new fait accompli at the site.
Member of al-Aqsa supervision personnel told the PIC that Israeli settler hordes stormed the site via al-Maghareba Gate under a heavy police shield.
63 Israeli fanatic settlers and 98 religious learners, accompanied by Jewish guides, defiled the site and attended presentations on the history of the alleged temple mount during the morning break-in shift.
Over recent weeks, Israel’s alleged temple mount organizations stepped up calls for mass break-ins at al-Aqsa in an attempt to impose a new fait accompli at the site.
A fanatic Israeli settler launched threats via WhatsApp to detonate holy al-Aqsa Mosque—the third holiest site in Islam.
According to the Hebrew-speaking Israel Hayom newspaper, Tel Aviv police received a notification about a preplanned blast at al-Aqsa.
Following a police probe into the communiqué, preliminary investigation identified the settler as a 20-year-old Israeli from Bani Barak community.
The suspect was brought before the Magistrate’s Court in Tel Aviv and had his remand extended under police request.
“The threats against al-Aqsa are strategic threats to the state of Israel,” said the police spokesman.
The defense attorney claimed the defendant suffers from psychological disorders and that he just wanted to show off.
According to the Hebrew-speaking Israel Hayom newspaper, Tel Aviv police received a notification about a preplanned blast at al-Aqsa.
Following a police probe into the communiqué, preliminary investigation identified the settler as a 20-year-old Israeli from Bani Barak community.
The suspect was brought before the Magistrate’s Court in Tel Aviv and had his remand extended under police request.
“The threats against al-Aqsa are strategic threats to the state of Israel,” said the police spokesman.
The defense attorney claimed the defendant suffers from psychological disorders and that he just wanted to show off.
7 june 2017
A horde of Jewish settlers on Tuesday evening set fire to large swathes of land in Burin town, south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire spread over vast tracts of land on the Mount of Salman near the illegal settlement of Har Brakha.
The settlers started the fire shortly before the sunset adhan (call to prayer) and fled to a settlement post located on the same mount, the eyewitnesses said.
According to local residents, it was not the first time Jewish settlers set lands on fire during the current summer in the town.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire spread over vast tracts of land on the Mount of Salman near the illegal settlement of Har Brakha.
The settlers started the fire shortly before the sunset adhan (call to prayer) and fled to a settlement post located on the same mount, the eyewitnesses said.
According to local residents, it was not the first time Jewish settlers set lands on fire during the current summer in the town.