9 may 2019
Israeli forces sealed off a major and vital road connecting the northwest villages of the central occupied West Bank city of Ramallah and the town of Birzeit, on Thursday, in addition to imposing a general closure on the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Local sources told Ma'an that Israeli forces closed the metal gate, that is set up at the entrance of the village of Nabi Saleh, which residents of several Ramallah-area villages usually use to travel to Ramallah and other towns nearby, forcing them to look for alternative roads.
Sources pointed out that Israeli forces imposed this closure, in order to allow Israeli settlers to hold celebrations near the illegal Israeli settlement of Halamish, which was built on Palestinian lands, marking the 71st anniversary of the establishment of Israel, which is also known as the 1948 Nakba or “catastrophe” to the Palestinians.
Palestinians commemorate the Nakba or “catastrophe,” which is when an estimated 750,000 Palestinians were forcibly expelled from their homes when the state of Israel was created.
Israeli authorities also imposed a general closure, including sealing off all border crossings across the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, for the entire day on the occasion of Israel’s independence.
Such restrictions effects the livelihoods of the tens of thousands of Palestinians.
Debilitating poverty and lack of employment drive many workers in the occupied West Bank to enter Israel in search of work. Israel's imposition of closures on the Palestinian territory has severely affected the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who depend on entering Israel, or its illegal settlements, for employment opportunities.
Meanwhile, the majority of the more than 2 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are sealed inside the coastal enclave due to a decade long military blockade imposed by Israel and upheld by Egypt on the southern border.
Local sources told Ma'an that Israeli forces closed the metal gate, that is set up at the entrance of the village of Nabi Saleh, which residents of several Ramallah-area villages usually use to travel to Ramallah and other towns nearby, forcing them to look for alternative roads.
Sources pointed out that Israeli forces imposed this closure, in order to allow Israeli settlers to hold celebrations near the illegal Israeli settlement of Halamish, which was built on Palestinian lands, marking the 71st anniversary of the establishment of Israel, which is also known as the 1948 Nakba or “catastrophe” to the Palestinians.
Palestinians commemorate the Nakba or “catastrophe,” which is when an estimated 750,000 Palestinians were forcibly expelled from their homes when the state of Israel was created.
Israeli authorities also imposed a general closure, including sealing off all border crossings across the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, for the entire day on the occasion of Israel’s independence.
Such restrictions effects the livelihoods of the tens of thousands of Palestinians.
Debilitating poverty and lack of employment drive many workers in the occupied West Bank to enter Israel in search of work. Israel's imposition of closures on the Palestinian territory has severely affected the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who depend on entering Israel, or its illegal settlements, for employment opportunities.
Meanwhile, the majority of the more than 2 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are sealed inside the coastal enclave due to a decade long military blockade imposed by Israel and upheld by Egypt on the southern border.
Dozens of Israeli settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, on Thursday, under the protection of heavily armed Israeli forces and police, on the occasion of Israel’s Independence Day.
Head of the public relations office at the Islamic Endowment Department, Firas al-Dibs, said that about 90 Israeli settlers stormed the compound through the Moroccan Gate in large consecutive groups.
Al-Dibs pointed out that the Israeli settlers provocatively toured the compound.
Such visits spark frustration among Palestinians who see the incursions as a direct threat to Palestinian sovereignty and any potential for a future independent Palestinian state, which has been effectively marred by increasing settler presence across Palestinian land.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which sits just above the Western Wall plaza, houses both the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa mosque. 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.
While Jewish visitation is permitted to the compound, non-Muslim worship at Al-Aqsa is prohibited according to an agreement signed between Israel and the Jordanian government after Israel's illegal occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967.
Despite the agreement with Jordan -- which is the custodian of Al-Aqsa -- Israeli authorities regularly allow Jewish visitors to enter the site, often under armed guard. Such visits are typically made by right-wingers attempting to unsettle the status quo at the site, and coincide with restrictions on Palestinian access, including bans on entrance and detentions.
Head of the public relations office at the Islamic Endowment Department, Firas al-Dibs, said that about 90 Israeli settlers stormed the compound through the Moroccan Gate in large consecutive groups.
Al-Dibs pointed out that the Israeli settlers provocatively toured the compound.
Such visits spark frustration among Palestinians who see the incursions as a direct threat to Palestinian sovereignty and any potential for a future independent Palestinian state, which has been effectively marred by increasing settler presence across Palestinian land.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which sits just above the Western Wall plaza, houses both the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa mosque. 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.
While Jewish visitation is permitted to the compound, non-Muslim worship at Al-Aqsa is prohibited according to an agreement signed between Israel and the Jordanian government after Israel's illegal occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967.
Despite the agreement with Jordan -- which is the custodian of Al-Aqsa -- Israeli authorities regularly allow Jewish visitors to enter the site, often under armed guard. Such visits are typically made by right-wingers attempting to unsettle the status quo at the site, and coincide with restrictions on Palestinian access, including bans on entrance and detentions.
Dozens of right-wing Israeli settlers entered and held religious prayers at the Solomon's Pools area south of Bethlehem, in the central occupied West Bank, on Thursday, under the protection of heavily armed Israeli forces.
According to Palestinian security sources, Israeli forces sealed off the area as the settlers stormed Solomon’s Pools and surrounded the three pools where they performed Jewish religious rituals.
Sources added that such incursions have increased in the past few months.
Visits by Israeli Jews to sites across the West Bank often cause tensions with local Palestinians, as these visits are accompanied by large armed escorts.
Solomon's Pools are three large cisterns -- each more than 100 meters long -- that were historically part of an ancient aqueduct system connected to Jerusalem.
Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent repaired the cisterns in the 17th century and built a fortress beside them, which still stands today. Many Jews, however, believe that the pools are named for the Biblical Solomon.
Over 600,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law.
The internationally recognized Palestinian territories have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
According to Palestinian security sources, Israeli forces sealed off the area as the settlers stormed Solomon’s Pools and surrounded the three pools where they performed Jewish religious rituals.
Sources added that such incursions have increased in the past few months.
Visits by Israeli Jews to sites across the West Bank often cause tensions with local Palestinians, as these visits are accompanied by large armed escorts.
Solomon's Pools are three large cisterns -- each more than 100 meters long -- that were historically part of an ancient aqueduct system connected to Jerusalem.
Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent repaired the cisterns in the 17th century and built a fortress beside them, which still stands today. Many Jews, however, believe that the pools are named for the Biblical Solomon.
Over 600,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law.
The internationally recognized Palestinian territories have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
8 may 2019
The Israeli police on Wednesday arrested a number of Palestinian youths after they were attacked by Israeli settlers in the Old City of Jerusalem. video video
Quds Press said, quoting eyewitnesses, that scores of Israeli settlers in the early morning hours stormed Aqabat al-Saraya area and placed Israeli flags on a building they have seized recently.
The settlers clashed with Palestinian youths living in the area, chanted racist slogans, and insulted them.
The Israeli police intervened to protect the settlers, arrested a number of Palestinian youths, and transferred them to a nearby detention center.
Quds Press said, quoting eyewitnesses, that scores of Israeli settlers in the early morning hours stormed Aqabat al-Saraya area and placed Israeli flags on a building they have seized recently.
The settlers clashed with Palestinian youths living in the area, chanted racist slogans, and insulted them.
The Israeli police intervened to protect the settlers, arrested a number of Palestinian youths, and transferred them to a nearby detention center.
An Israeli court released a settler involved in the killing of 48-year-old Palestinian mother of eight Aisha Mohammad al-Rabi, from the town of Bidya, in the north of the West Bank, and placed him under house arrest.
Rabi was killed in front of her husband and 9-year-old daughter when Israeli settlers threw rocks at the car she was in with her husband on a northern West Bank road on October 12, 2018. The husband was moderately injured.
The other four settlers were released in January of this year.
In July of 2015, legislation was passed in the Israeli Knesset allowing sentencing, for up to 20 years, for someone convicted of throwing stones at vehicles, if intent to harm could be proven. However, the law allows the Israeli state to imprison someone for up to 10 years without proof of intent.
Rabi was killed in front of her husband and 9-year-old daughter when Israeli settlers threw rocks at the car she was in with her husband on a northern West Bank road on October 12, 2018. The husband was moderately injured.
The other four settlers were released in January of this year.
In July of 2015, legislation was passed in the Israeli Knesset allowing sentencing, for up to 20 years, for someone convicted of throwing stones at vehicles, if intent to harm could be proven. However, the law allows the Israeli state to imprison someone for up to 10 years without proof of intent.
6 may 2019
Scores of extremist Israeli settlers on Monday, the first day of the holy month of Ramadan, broke into al-Aqsa Mosque under police guard.
The Israeli police forces in the early morning hours opened al-Maghareba Gate and deployed in large numbers in the site in preparation for the break-in.
Meanwhile, restrictions were tightened on the Palestinian worshipers visiting al-Aqsa Mosque.
Israeli settlers carry out almost daily provocative tours inside al-Aqsa compound under the protection of the Israeli police.
The Israeli police forces in the early morning hours opened al-Maghareba Gate and deployed in large numbers in the site in preparation for the break-in.
Meanwhile, restrictions were tightened on the Palestinian worshipers visiting al-Aqsa Mosque.
Israeli settlers carry out almost daily provocative tours inside al-Aqsa compound under the protection of the Israeli police.
A number of bulldozers, belonging to Israeli settlers, razed and leveled Palestinian-owned agricultural lands, on Monday, in Madama village, south of the northern occupied West Bank district of Nablus.
Ghassan Daghlas, an official who monitors settlement activity in the northern West Bank, told Ma'an that bulldozers belonging to Israeli settlers started to raze and level Palestinian lands, in order to pave a settler-only road in the area.
Daghlas added that the Israeli settlers were from the illegal settlement of Yitzhar and that the settler-only road would enable Israeli settlers to reach spring water in the area.
The Israeli NGO B'Tselem reported that Israeli settlers' vandalism in the occupied West Bank is a daily routine and is fully backed by Israeli authorities.
The Palestinian government has no jurisdiction over Israelis in the West Bank, and violent acts carried out by Israeli settlers often occur in the presence of Israeli military forces who rarely act to protect Palestinian residents.
Over 600,000 Israelis live in Jewish-only settlements across occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank in violation of international law, with recent announcements of settlement expansion provoking condemnation from the international community.
Ghassan Daghlas, an official who monitors settlement activity in the northern West Bank, told Ma'an that bulldozers belonging to Israeli settlers started to raze and level Palestinian lands, in order to pave a settler-only road in the area.
Daghlas added that the Israeli settlers were from the illegal settlement of Yitzhar and that the settler-only road would enable Israeli settlers to reach spring water in the area.
The Israeli NGO B'Tselem reported that Israeli settlers' vandalism in the occupied West Bank is a daily routine and is fully backed by Israeli authorities.
The Palestinian government has no jurisdiction over Israelis in the West Bank, and violent acts carried out by Israeli settlers often occur in the presence of Israeli military forces who rarely act to protect Palestinian residents.
Over 600,000 Israelis live in Jewish-only settlements across occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank in violation of international law, with recent announcements of settlement expansion provoking condemnation from the international community.
5 may 2019
Dozens of Israeli settlers raided a Palestinian high school in Urif village, south of the northern occupied West Bank district of Nablus, overnight on Saturday.
Ghassan Daghlas, an official who monitors settlement activity in the northern West Bank, told Ma'an that Israeli settlers from the illegal settlement of Yitzhar, raided the high school by throwing rocks towards it and breaking the windows of several classrooms.
Daghlas said that the Israeli settlers fled the scene immediately afterwards.
Daghlas also confirmed that the raid caused moderate material damages to the school.
The Urif high school has been a target of a number of attacks carried out by both Israeli forces and settlers, forcing the staff to shut down the school eight times in the previous semester and six times in the current semester.
Both UNICEF and UNESCO confirmed in an official UN statement that "From January to December 2018, the UN documented 111 interference's to education in the West Bank affecting 19,196 children, an average of more than two violations every week."
The statement added, “During military escalations from November 11th to 13th, schools in the besieged Gaza Strip and in southern Israel were closed for at least one day, including four schools in Gaza that received minor damage, and one learning support centre and one kindergarten that both severely damaged."
Ghassan Daghlas, an official who monitors settlement activity in the northern West Bank, told Ma'an that Israeli settlers from the illegal settlement of Yitzhar, raided the high school by throwing rocks towards it and breaking the windows of several classrooms.
Daghlas said that the Israeli settlers fled the scene immediately afterwards.
Daghlas also confirmed that the raid caused moderate material damages to the school.
The Urif high school has been a target of a number of attacks carried out by both Israeli forces and settlers, forcing the staff to shut down the school eight times in the previous semester and six times in the current semester.
Both UNICEF and UNESCO confirmed in an official UN statement that "From January to December 2018, the UN documented 111 interference's to education in the West Bank affecting 19,196 children, an average of more than two violations every week."
The statement added, “During military escalations from November 11th to 13th, schools in the besieged Gaza Strip and in southern Israel were closed for at least one day, including four schools in Gaza that received minor damage, and one learning support centre and one kindergarten that both severely damaged."
4 may 2019
A group of fanatic illegal Israeli colonialist settlers attacked, Saturday, Sheikh Makki Mosque in al-Qadisiyah Street in Jerusalem’s Old City, and destroyed its gate.
The colonists broke the lock, and sabotaged its gate, for the third time in just a few months, the Palestinian Waqf and Islamic Endowment Ministry has reported,
The mosque is on the same road extending from the Sahera Gate towards the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and is located on the opposite direction of the local al-Qadisiyah School.
Husam Abu ar-Rob, the administrator of the Waqf and Islamic Endowment Ministry, denounced the attack, and said that it is part of ongoing Israeli violations targeting the Al-Aqsa Mosque and holy sites in occupied Jerusalem.
He added that Israel is ongoing with its excavations under al-Aqsa, along with several parts of Jerusalem, causing serious damage to homes and buildings.
Abu ar-Rob called for countering the escalating violations, and Israel’s ongoing attempts to alter the demography and geography of the occupied city.
The colonists broke the lock, and sabotaged its gate, for the third time in just a few months, the Palestinian Waqf and Islamic Endowment Ministry has reported,
The mosque is on the same road extending from the Sahera Gate towards the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and is located on the opposite direction of the local al-Qadisiyah School.
Husam Abu ar-Rob, the administrator of the Waqf and Islamic Endowment Ministry, denounced the attack, and said that it is part of ongoing Israeli violations targeting the Al-Aqsa Mosque and holy sites in occupied Jerusalem.
He added that Israel is ongoing with its excavations under al-Aqsa, along with several parts of Jerusalem, causing serious damage to homes and buildings.
Abu ar-Rob called for countering the escalating violations, and Israel’s ongoing attempts to alter the demography and geography of the occupied city.
3 may 2019
A group of fanatic illegal Israeli colonists invaded, on Friday at dawn, Huwwara town, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, punctured car tires and wrote racist graffiti.
Media sources said the assailants came from the illegal Yitzhar colony, built on private Palestinian lands.
They added that the invasion targeted al-Hara al-Foqa neighborhood before puncturing the tires of three parked cars.
The colonists also wrote racist, ant-Arab, anti-Palestinian graffiti on walls and cars, before fleeing the scene.
Media sources said the assailants came from the illegal Yitzhar colony, built on private Palestinian lands.
They added that the invasion targeted al-Hara al-Foqa neighborhood before puncturing the tires of three parked cars.
The colonists also wrote racist, ant-Arab, anti-Palestinian graffiti on walls and cars, before fleeing the scene.
|
|
Dozens of illegal Israeli colonialist settlers attacked, on Thursday evening, the Palestinian village of Orif, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and caused serious damage to one car.
Media sources in the village said the colonists came from the nearby illegal Yitzhar colony, which was built on private Palestinian lands. They added that the colonists caused damage to a car, owned by a local identified as Mo’taz Najeh Safadi, in the eastern part of the village where the invasion took place. The Palestinians intercepted the invaders, and tried to force them out of |
the village, before Israeli soldiers invaded it and started firing gas bombs and concussion grenades at the residents. video
The colonists claim that some of their sheep “were stolen,” by the Palestinians, an allegation that comes amidst repeated attacks and violations by the colonialist settlers, not only against the Palestinians, their homes and lands, but also against the livestock.
The colonists claim that some of their sheep “were stolen,” by the Palestinians, an allegation that comes amidst repeated attacks and violations by the colonialist settlers, not only against the Palestinians, their homes and lands, but also against the livestock.
1 may 2019
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Wednesday kidnapped 7 Palestinian citizens during overnight raids on different West Bank areas.
Local sources said that the IOF at daybreak stormed al-Mazra'a al-Gharbiya village in Ramallah and arrested the brothers Jihad Abu Laila and Mohammed Abu Laila after searching their family home.
The same sources reported that the IOF raided the neighboring village of Abu Shkeidem, kidnapped the Palestinian youth Ahmad Farouq, and transferred him to an undeclared destination.
Meanwhile in Nablus, the IOF arrested the ex-prisoners Asem Ghuneim and Mujahed al-Qotob after searching their homes and wreaking havoc on them.
Violent clashes broke out in the area between Palestinian youths and the IOF soldiers who heavily fired tear gas bombs.
Eyewitnesses said that the IOF stormed Kafr Thulth town in Qalqilya and arrested Jaree Shawahneh from his home. At the same time in Bethlehem, the IOF abducted Ahmad al-Amour after raiding his family home in Tuqu' town.
At daybreak Wednesday 12,000 Israeli settlers stormed Kifl Haris in Salfit and performed Talmudic rituals at Islamic shrines under the protection of the IOF who had sealed off the town.
Quds Press said, quoting local sources, that the IOF soldiers deployed in large numbers on Kifl Haris roads, climbed the rooftops of Palestinian homes, and installed checkpoints in different areas.
Local sources said that the IOF at daybreak stormed al-Mazra'a al-Gharbiya village in Ramallah and arrested the brothers Jihad Abu Laila and Mohammed Abu Laila after searching their family home.
The same sources reported that the IOF raided the neighboring village of Abu Shkeidem, kidnapped the Palestinian youth Ahmad Farouq, and transferred him to an undeclared destination.
Meanwhile in Nablus, the IOF arrested the ex-prisoners Asem Ghuneim and Mujahed al-Qotob after searching their homes and wreaking havoc on them.
Violent clashes broke out in the area between Palestinian youths and the IOF soldiers who heavily fired tear gas bombs.
Eyewitnesses said that the IOF stormed Kafr Thulth town in Qalqilya and arrested Jaree Shawahneh from his home. At the same time in Bethlehem, the IOF abducted Ahmad al-Amour after raiding his family home in Tuqu' town.
At daybreak Wednesday 12,000 Israeli settlers stormed Kifl Haris in Salfit and performed Talmudic rituals at Islamic shrines under the protection of the IOF who had sealed off the town.
Quds Press said, quoting local sources, that the IOF soldiers deployed in large numbers on Kifl Haris roads, climbed the rooftops of Palestinian homes, and installed checkpoints in different areas.
A group of illegal Israeli colonialist settlers invaded, on Wednesday at dawn, Palestinian olive orchards near the central West Bank city of Ramallah and cut more than 150 trees.
Media sources said the assailants came from an illegal outpost, which was installed on private Palestinian lands in Burqa village, east of Ramallah, and cut more than 150 olive trees.
Ibrahim Kanaan, one of the villagers whose trees were cut, said the attack came just two days after several colonists attempted to assault him while he was plowing his land.
Such violations and assaults are frequent in the occupied West Bank, and include bulldozing Palestinian lands, burning them and even flooding them with sewage.
Media sources said the assailants came from an illegal outpost, which was installed on private Palestinian lands in Burqa village, east of Ramallah, and cut more than 150 olive trees.
Ibrahim Kanaan, one of the villagers whose trees were cut, said the attack came just two days after several colonists attempted to assault him while he was plowing his land.
Such violations and assaults are frequent in the occupied West Bank, and include bulldozing Palestinian lands, burning them and even flooding them with sewage.
