10 nov 2019
At the official memorial service commemorating slain prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was murdered by a far-right extremist, the president warned of the slippery slope from incitement and hate to bloodshed
Benjamin Netanyahu lashed out Sunday at accusations that he had allowed his supporters to brand Yitzhak Rabin a traitor, during the ceremony in Jerusalem to mark the 24th anniversary of the prime minister's murder by a far-right Jew.
Speaking at the official ceremony on at Mount Herzl to commemorate the late prime minister and his wife Leah, Netanyahu claimed the allegations were false, sayign that he had seen Rabin as mistaken in his push for peace but not a traitor.
"We had substantive disagreements over the Oslo accords," Netanyahu said.
"I represented a major part of the public that saw the agreement with the Palestinians as dangerous and wrong and that was a legitimate stance," he told the gathered crowd, which included President Reuven Rivlin, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, DeputyChief Justice Hanan Melcer and the Rabin family.
"I said on many occasions that Rabin was not a traitor, he was mistaken but not a traitor" Netanyahu added.
"After the murder efforts were made to stain our entire political camp. Calling people traitors, treasonous and worthy of death continue today but I do not lay blame on the political camp from which these calls are coming," Netanyahu said.
The prime minister also declined to walk over to greet the Rabin family after his speech, unlike President Reuven Rivlin who spoke before him.
"The days before Rabin’s murder were days of intense and legitimate public debate, that descended in some cases to criminal incitement and defamation that motivated the murderer to try and assassinate Israeli democracy,” the president said.
“We mustn’t forget the slippery slope from incitement and hate to bloodshed," Rivlin said, imploring all political camps not to "fuel hate. It is not the way of the Israeli nation.”
Rabin was assassinated on November 4, 1995 a right-wing extremist as he left the stage at a peace rally in Tel Aviv.
Rabin won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994, along with his long-time political rival Shimon Peres and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. In the same year he signed the peace treaty with Jordan that is currently marking its 25th anniversary.
Benjamin Netanyahu lashed out Sunday at accusations that he had allowed his supporters to brand Yitzhak Rabin a traitor, during the ceremony in Jerusalem to mark the 24th anniversary of the prime minister's murder by a far-right Jew.
Speaking at the official ceremony on at Mount Herzl to commemorate the late prime minister and his wife Leah, Netanyahu claimed the allegations were false, sayign that he had seen Rabin as mistaken in his push for peace but not a traitor.
"We had substantive disagreements over the Oslo accords," Netanyahu said.
"I represented a major part of the public that saw the agreement with the Palestinians as dangerous and wrong and that was a legitimate stance," he told the gathered crowd, which included President Reuven Rivlin, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, DeputyChief Justice Hanan Melcer and the Rabin family.
"I said on many occasions that Rabin was not a traitor, he was mistaken but not a traitor" Netanyahu added.
"After the murder efforts were made to stain our entire political camp. Calling people traitors, treasonous and worthy of death continue today but I do not lay blame on the political camp from which these calls are coming," Netanyahu said.
The prime minister also declined to walk over to greet the Rabin family after his speech, unlike President Reuven Rivlin who spoke before him.
"The days before Rabin’s murder were days of intense and legitimate public debate, that descended in some cases to criminal incitement and defamation that motivated the murderer to try and assassinate Israeli democracy,” the president said.
“We mustn’t forget the slippery slope from incitement and hate to bloodshed," Rivlin said, imploring all political camps not to "fuel hate. It is not the way of the Israeli nation.”
Rabin was assassinated on November 4, 1995 a right-wing extremist as he left the stage at a peace rally in Tel Aviv.
Rabin won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994, along with his long-time political rival Shimon Peres and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. In the same year he signed the peace treaty with Jordan that is currently marking its 25th anniversary.
Dozens of Jewish settlers on Sunday morning defiled al-Aqsa Mosque in Occupied Jerusalem under heavy police guard.
Local sources said that at least 78 Israeli settlers broke into al-Aqsa Mosque in consecutive groups and toured its courtyards while receiving presentations on the alleged "Temple Mount".
Meanwhile, the Israeli police tightened restrictions on the Palestinian worshipers entering the site and ordered many of them to stay outside.
Israeli settlers on a daily basis, except Fridays and Saturdays, carry out mass break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque in two rounds: in the morning and afternoon.
Local sources said that at least 78 Israeli settlers broke into al-Aqsa Mosque in consecutive groups and toured its courtyards while receiving presentations on the alleged "Temple Mount".
Meanwhile, the Israeli police tightened restrictions on the Palestinian worshipers entering the site and ordered many of them to stay outside.
Israeli settlers on a daily basis, except Fridays and Saturdays, carry out mass break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque in two rounds: in the morning and afternoon.
At dawn, on Sunday,Israeli settlers destroyed dozens of Palestinian-owned olive trees in Yasuf and al-Sawiya villages, in the occupied West Bank districts of Salfit and Nablus.
Anti-settlement activist Ghassan Daghlas said that Israeli settlers from the illegal settlement of Rahalim chopped off about 60 olive trees in al-Sawiya village.
Head of Yasuf’s village council, Khaled Ibayya, said that 58 olive trees were cut down in his village.
Ghassan Daghlas, a local anti-settlement activist, said that settlers from the illegal settlement of Rahalim broke into Palestinian-owned groves in the village, before they proceeded to chop off about 60 trees which belong to three Palestinian villagers from from as-Sawiya.
Days of Palestine further reports that ever since the start of this year’s olive harvest season, a main source of livelihood for thousands of Palestinian families in the countryside, Israeli settlers carried out hundreds of attacks targeting this vital sector.
The cruelest of these attacks occurred on the morning of October 16, when more than 30 settlers, masked and armed, attacked Palestinian farmers and foreign volunteers in Burin, north of the West Bank, injuring three of them, one seriously.
Since the start of the olive harvest season in October Israeli settlers have stepped up their attacks on Palestinian groves in the West Bank.
Anti-settlement activist Ghassan Daghlas said that Israeli settlers from the illegal settlement of Rahalim chopped off about 60 olive trees in al-Sawiya village.
Head of Yasuf’s village council, Khaled Ibayya, said that 58 olive trees were cut down in his village.
Ghassan Daghlas, a local anti-settlement activist, said that settlers from the illegal settlement of Rahalim broke into Palestinian-owned groves in the village, before they proceeded to chop off about 60 trees which belong to three Palestinian villagers from from as-Sawiya.
Days of Palestine further reports that ever since the start of this year’s olive harvest season, a main source of livelihood for thousands of Palestinian families in the countryside, Israeli settlers carried out hundreds of attacks targeting this vital sector.
The cruelest of these attacks occurred on the morning of October 16, when more than 30 settlers, masked and armed, attacked Palestinian farmers and foreign volunteers in Burin, north of the West Bank, injuring three of them, one seriously.
Since the start of the olive harvest season in October Israeli settlers have stepped up their attacks on Palestinian groves in the West Bank.
Israeli occupation forces prevented Palestinians from harvesting their olive crops in the village of Sebastia, northwest of Nablus, WAFA reported.
Mayor of Sebastia, Mohammed Azem, said Israeli forces kicked farmers out of their land under the pretext of lacking prior coordination, despite the fact that their lands are located beyond the fence that surrounds the illegal Israeli settlement of Shafi Shomron.
Azem further stated that farmers were shocked to find pig carcasses on the property, and the land flooded with sewage, acts attributed to the illegal settlers from the nearby settlement.
Mayor of Sebastia, Mohammed Azem, said Israeli forces kicked farmers out of their land under the pretext of lacking prior coordination, despite the fact that their lands are located beyond the fence that surrounds the illegal Israeli settlement of Shafi Shomron.
Azem further stated that farmers were shocked to find pig carcasses on the property, and the land flooded with sewage, acts attributed to the illegal settlers from the nearby settlement.
A group of fanatic illegal Israeli colonialist settlers invaded, on Sunday morning, Palestinian orchards near the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and near Salfit, in central West Bank, before cutting and uprooting more than 60 olive trees.
Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian Authority official who monitors Israel’s colonialist activities in northern West Bank, said that assailants came from Rahalim illegal colony, which was built on private Palestinian lands.
Daghlas added that the colonists cut and uprooted more than 60 olive trees in Harayeq Rayyan area, west of the as-Sawiya village, south of Nablus, and Yasuf village, east of Salfit.
The trees are owned by Abdullah Abu Ras, Fawwaz Abu Qotban and Ziad ed-Deek, In Hareyeq Rayyan, in addition to Abdul-Rahman Mousa Hussein and Ma’rouf Issa Hussein, in the al-Mahawer area, east of Yasuf.
On Saturday, Israeli soldiers forced a Palestinian farmer out of his own grove near the village of Burin, to the south of Nablus, in the occupied West Bank.
On the same day, the soldiers invaded a Palestinian olive orchard near Huwwara military roadblock, south Nablus, and forced a farmer out of his land.
The attacks are part of the dozens of violations targeting the Palestinian and their lands by both the soldiers and illegal colonialist settlers.
These violations escalate during the olive harvest season, especially in lands that are isolated by the illegal Annexation Wall, or close to illegal colonies and outposts, which were built on stolen Palestinian lands.
They also include cutting, burning and uprooting trees, picking olive trees and stealing the produce, in addition to assaulting the Palestinians and forcing them out of their orchards.
Israel’s colonies in the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, are illegal under International Law, the Fourth Geneva Conventions, and various United Nations and Security Council Resolutions.
Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian Authority official who monitors Israel’s colonialist activities in northern West Bank, said that assailants came from Rahalim illegal colony, which was built on private Palestinian lands.
Daghlas added that the colonists cut and uprooted more than 60 olive trees in Harayeq Rayyan area, west of the as-Sawiya village, south of Nablus, and Yasuf village, east of Salfit.
The trees are owned by Abdullah Abu Ras, Fawwaz Abu Qotban and Ziad ed-Deek, In Hareyeq Rayyan, in addition to Abdul-Rahman Mousa Hussein and Ma’rouf Issa Hussein, in the al-Mahawer area, east of Yasuf.
On Saturday, Israeli soldiers forced a Palestinian farmer out of his own grove near the village of Burin, to the south of Nablus, in the occupied West Bank.
On the same day, the soldiers invaded a Palestinian olive orchard near Huwwara military roadblock, south Nablus, and forced a farmer out of his land.
The attacks are part of the dozens of violations targeting the Palestinian and their lands by both the soldiers and illegal colonialist settlers.
These violations escalate during the olive harvest season, especially in lands that are isolated by the illegal Annexation Wall, or close to illegal colonies and outposts, which were built on stolen Palestinian lands.
They also include cutting, burning and uprooting trees, picking olive trees and stealing the produce, in addition to assaulting the Palestinians and forcing them out of their orchards.
Israel’s colonies in the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, are illegal under International Law, the Fourth Geneva Conventions, and various United Nations and Security Council Resolutions.
9 nov 2019
Groups of Israeli settlers attacked the village of Jab’a in Bethlehem on Saturday.
The Chairman of the village council Dhyab Masha’leh said that settlers from the illegal settlement of Beit Ein attacked the village and targeted locals with fireworks.
In the same vein, the Israeli authorities summoned Palestinian families from Qalansawe to issue demolition orders against them.
Local sources confirmed the Israeli committee of planning and construction has delivered on Thursday demolition notices for 25 families.
The Israeli decision means that 50 families, consisting of nearly 300 persons who include women and children, are threatened to be displaced.
Illegal Colonists Invade Village Near Bethlehem
On Saturday evening, a group of fanatic illegal Israeli colonists, squatting on Palestinian lands near Bethlehem, south of occupied Jerusalem in the West Bank, and attacked several Palestinians, in addition to using fireworks against them, in al-Jab’a village, southeast of Bethlehem.
Thiab Masha’la, the head of the al-Jab’a Village Council, southwest of Bethlehem, said the attack was carried out by more than ten colonists.
He added that the assailant also used fireworks in assaulting the Palestinians before the locals intercepted their invasion and prevented from reaching its center.
The colonists then ran towards the eastern entrance of the village and stayed there for some time until the army arrived, and retreated to their colony.
The Chairman of the village council Dhyab Masha’leh said that settlers from the illegal settlement of Beit Ein attacked the village and targeted locals with fireworks.
In the same vein, the Israeli authorities summoned Palestinian families from Qalansawe to issue demolition orders against them.
Local sources confirmed the Israeli committee of planning and construction has delivered on Thursday demolition notices for 25 families.
The Israeli decision means that 50 families, consisting of nearly 300 persons who include women and children, are threatened to be displaced.
Illegal Colonists Invade Village Near Bethlehem
On Saturday evening, a group of fanatic illegal Israeli colonists, squatting on Palestinian lands near Bethlehem, south of occupied Jerusalem in the West Bank, and attacked several Palestinians, in addition to using fireworks against them, in al-Jab’a village, southeast of Bethlehem.
Thiab Masha’la, the head of the al-Jab’a Village Council, southwest of Bethlehem, said the attack was carried out by more than ten colonists.
He added that the assailant also used fireworks in assaulting the Palestinians before the locals intercepted their invasion and prevented from reaching its center.
The colonists then ran towards the eastern entrance of the village and stayed there for some time until the army arrived, and retreated to their colony.
8 nov 2019
Israeli settlers on Friday chopped off Palestinian-owned olive trees in Umm Safa village northwest of Ramallah City.
Head of Umm Safa's village council Marwan al-Sabbah said that a group of Israeli settlers destroyed six olive trees owned by the brothers Ayman and Akram Tanatra.
Al-Sabbah said that the village has been subjected to regular attacks by Israeli settlers and soldiers, calling on concerned international and local organizations to support the Palestinian farmers of Umm Safa by all possible means.
He noted that the Israeli authorities have threatened to confiscate 200 dunums of the village's land to expand the illegal settlement of Halamish.
Head of Umm Safa's village council Marwan al-Sabbah said that a group of Israeli settlers destroyed six olive trees owned by the brothers Ayman and Akram Tanatra.
Al-Sabbah said that the village has been subjected to regular attacks by Israeli settlers and soldiers, calling on concerned international and local organizations to support the Palestinian farmers of Umm Safa by all possible means.
He noted that the Israeli authorities have threatened to confiscate 200 dunums of the village's land to expand the illegal settlement of Halamish.
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Israeli settlers at daybreak Friday attacked Palestinian property and spray-painted racist graffiti in Hizma village, north of Jerusalem.
Eyewitnesses told Quds Press that hordes of Israeli settlers punctured the tires of 20 Palestinian-owned vehicles and spray-painted racist slogans and death threats on the walls of several homes and facilities. The previous night a Palestinian citizen was injured in a rock-throwing attack by Israeli settlers near Ramallah. Local residents said that a young man identified as Muhannad Qawariq suffered injuries after Israeli settlers hurled rocks at his car in al-Mughayyir village north of Ramallah. |
6 nov 2019
Dozens of Israeli settlers on Wednesday stormed al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem while escorted by a large police force.
Eyewitnesses said that 57 Jewish settlers, led by Israel's former Minister of Agriculture Uri Ariel, broke into al-Aqsa Mosque in the morning. video
The settlers roamed al-Aqsa Mosque's courtyards and performed provocative rituals at the site before they left through al-Silsila Gate.
Eyewitnesses said that 57 Jewish settlers, led by Israel's former Minister of Agriculture Uri Ariel, broke into al-Aqsa Mosque in the morning. video
The settlers roamed al-Aqsa Mosque's courtyards and performed provocative rituals at the site before they left through al-Silsila Gate.
5 nov 2019
Israeli settlers on Tuesday stole olives from Palestinian farms in al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya south of the West Bank city of Nablus.
Local sources said that Israeli settlers from the nearby illegal settlement of Elieh stole the harvest of about 900 olive trees in al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya.
The West Bank has been witnessing a stepped up wave of settler attacks since the beginning of the olive harvest season last month.
Local sources said that Israeli settlers from the nearby illegal settlement of Elieh stole the harvest of about 900 olive trees in al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya.
The West Bank has been witnessing a stepped up wave of settler attacks since the beginning of the olive harvest season last month.
Military tent set ablaze by settlers in Yitzhar
The soldiers must enforce a 'closed military zone' order, conduct police work and clash with civilians, which is not the kind of mission they want to be assigned to
Fifteen IDF troops have been posted to protect Kumi Ori Hill, an illegal outpost in the West Bank settlement of Yitzhar, in which only seven families reside.
IDF Central Command Commander Maj. Gen. Nadav Padan had signed an order two weeks ago making the outpost a closed military zone. The decision came after a slew of violent incidents, culminating in 30 settlers hurling stones at IDF troops, lightly wounding one of them and damaging their vehicle.
Padan's move escalated the already tense situation on the ground, with at least 10 more violent incidents against soldiers reported.
Declaring the area a closed military zone was meant to prevent violence committed by supporters of the seven families who live in the outpost.
The hilltop was often visited by youth from other settlements and from all over the country. Some would attend classes in the makeshift seminary set up on the premises, while others assumed goat herding or other farming or maintenance jobs.
Many of these visitors were known to the Jewish department of the Shin Bet security agency and had been arrested in the past.
The leadership of the settlement decided to ban the youth from visiting the area, assuming they were the source of at least some of the troubles.
It is the soldiers though, who were being made to pay for that decision along with the families, who have remained on-site and are bound by the military's decree.
To enforce the directive, 15 Border Police troops were deployed in eight-hour shifts around the clock, tasked with ensuring only registered residents enter.
The soldiers must enforce a 'closed military zone' order, conduct police work and clash with civilians, which is not the kind of mission they want to be assigned to
Fifteen IDF troops have been posted to protect Kumi Ori Hill, an illegal outpost in the West Bank settlement of Yitzhar, in which only seven families reside.
IDF Central Command Commander Maj. Gen. Nadav Padan had signed an order two weeks ago making the outpost a closed military zone. The decision came after a slew of violent incidents, culminating in 30 settlers hurling stones at IDF troops, lightly wounding one of them and damaging their vehicle.
Padan's move escalated the already tense situation on the ground, with at least 10 more violent incidents against soldiers reported.
Declaring the area a closed military zone was meant to prevent violence committed by supporters of the seven families who live in the outpost.
The hilltop was often visited by youth from other settlements and from all over the country. Some would attend classes in the makeshift seminary set up on the premises, while others assumed goat herding or other farming or maintenance jobs.
Many of these visitors were known to the Jewish department of the Shin Bet security agency and had been arrested in the past.
The leadership of the settlement decided to ban the youth from visiting the area, assuming they were the source of at least some of the troubles.
It is the soldiers though, who were being made to pay for that decision along with the families, who have remained on-site and are bound by the military's decree.
To enforce the directive, 15 Border Police troops were deployed in eight-hour shifts around the clock, tasked with ensuring only registered residents enter.
Troops enforcing military zone orders in the settlement of Yitzhar
The Border Police troops, who did not know the families they were guarding, often demanded to see identification cards proving they live there, much to the locals' chagrin.
In addition to the 15 soldiers stationed on the hilltop, there are 40 additional fighters stationed around the settlement who oversee the safety of Palestinian olive pickers tending to their trees.
Most often, only 10 Israeli military personnel would have been assigned to guard the pickers, but after recent clashes with settlers, who attacked Palestinians as well as soldiers, the military had decided to increase its forces' presence in the area.
These troops have been in charge of securing the Tapuah Junction, the roads leading to Nablus, Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley.
Until recent events, soldiers posted to the area of Yitzhar and the neighboring Palestinian villages were preoccupied with thwarting terror attacks in the Nablus area. They were sent on nightly excursions to detain terror suspects.
"Now our fighters find themselves carrying out civilian police duties, chasing children and teens, preventing them from entering the closed area," Said a local official, adding that the soldiers are frustrated by the assignment.
The soldiers were instructed to record any incident on the ground while assuming they themselves were being filmed at all times by settlers.
"There is a lot of pressure living under the Big Brother's constant gaze," said a security official posted to the area. "Each movement you make is filmed and you have to understand that the reality there is complex. These soldiers did not enlist for this kind of task".
The settlers seem to be trying to provoke the troops and make their jobs more difficult - using both verbal and physical violence.
"My neighbors and I were all asked to show our IDs when we came home with sleeping children in our arms," Aviya Danino told Ynet's sister publication Yediot Ahronoth, as she described the hardships of living in a closed military zone. "I was trying to get home to my daughter, whom I had not seen since early in the morning. She had been waiting for me for the past two hours at a neighbor's house".
Danino describes the soldiers' unreasonable demands, as they reprimanded her for not carrying her ID with her while going to pick up her child. "All the while my daughter is crying, asking to go home," said Danino.
Residents of Yitzhar began holding protest vigils after Danino's story became public, demanding the harassment stop, while children from the settlement and the area began running up to the closed military zone. The troops were unable to enforce the orders as settlers passed by them.
"My young children never knew the concept of confronting a soldier, but the past couple of weeks have been too much," a local told Ynet.
The Border Police troops, who did not know the families they were guarding, often demanded to see identification cards proving they live there, much to the locals' chagrin.
In addition to the 15 soldiers stationed on the hilltop, there are 40 additional fighters stationed around the settlement who oversee the safety of Palestinian olive pickers tending to their trees.
Most often, only 10 Israeli military personnel would have been assigned to guard the pickers, but after recent clashes with settlers, who attacked Palestinians as well as soldiers, the military had decided to increase its forces' presence in the area.
These troops have been in charge of securing the Tapuah Junction, the roads leading to Nablus, Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley.
Until recent events, soldiers posted to the area of Yitzhar and the neighboring Palestinian villages were preoccupied with thwarting terror attacks in the Nablus area. They were sent on nightly excursions to detain terror suspects.
"Now our fighters find themselves carrying out civilian police duties, chasing children and teens, preventing them from entering the closed area," Said a local official, adding that the soldiers are frustrated by the assignment.
The soldiers were instructed to record any incident on the ground while assuming they themselves were being filmed at all times by settlers.
"There is a lot of pressure living under the Big Brother's constant gaze," said a security official posted to the area. "Each movement you make is filmed and you have to understand that the reality there is complex. These soldiers did not enlist for this kind of task".
The settlers seem to be trying to provoke the troops and make their jobs more difficult - using both verbal and physical violence.
"My neighbors and I were all asked to show our IDs when we came home with sleeping children in our arms," Aviya Danino told Ynet's sister publication Yediot Ahronoth, as she described the hardships of living in a closed military zone. "I was trying to get home to my daughter, whom I had not seen since early in the morning. She had been waiting for me for the past two hours at a neighbor's house".
Danino describes the soldiers' unreasonable demands, as they reprimanded her for not carrying her ID with her while going to pick up her child. "All the while my daughter is crying, asking to go home," said Danino.
Residents of Yitzhar began holding protest vigils after Danino's story became public, demanding the harassment stop, while children from the settlement and the area began running up to the closed military zone. The troops were unable to enforce the orders as settlers passed by them.
"My young children never knew the concept of confronting a soldier, but the past couple of weeks have been too much," a local told Ynet.
settlers at the West Bank settlement of Yitzhar confront IDF troops
The settler also said that though parents try to explain the situation to their young kids, the children pick up on the tension.
"A new generation of people, who will not respect the law or the security forces, is being primed," he said, blaming the military's irrational position on the matter.
"Police and military vehicles are coming in and out every few minutes, bringing soldiers in for their shifts and taking others out. This causes discomfort in the settlement," he said. "There are only families left on the hilltop, and they should not be blamed for what some misbehaving youth have done".
The settler also said that though parents try to explain the situation to their young kids, the children pick up on the tension.
"A new generation of people, who will not respect the law or the security forces, is being primed," he said, blaming the military's irrational position on the matter.
"Police and military vehicles are coming in and out every few minutes, bringing soldiers in for their shifts and taking others out. This causes discomfort in the settlement," he said. "There are only families left on the hilltop, and they should not be blamed for what some misbehaving youth have done".