12 sept 2018
An Islamic Christian committee concerned with the protection of holy sites in Jerusalem on Wednesday warned of an Israeli plan taking advantage of Jewish holidays this year to change the status quo at al-Aqsa Mosque.
The committee said in a statement that Jewish settlers' break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque are unprecedentedly escalated this years with the full support of the Israeli government.
The committee called on all Palestinian people to intensify their presence in al-Aqsa Mosque in the coming days to thwart Israel's plan, and called for a serious action at all levels by the Palestinian Authority.
It also asked the Jordanian government to assume its responsibilities toward al-Aqsa Mosque and called on UN Security Council to put an end to Israel's Judaization projects targeting Palestinian holy sites.
The committee said in a statement that Jewish settlers' break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque are unprecedentedly escalated this years with the full support of the Israeli government.
The committee called on all Palestinian people to intensify their presence in al-Aqsa Mosque in the coming days to thwart Israel's plan, and called for a serious action at all levels by the Palestinian Authority.
It also asked the Jordanian government to assume its responsibilities toward al-Aqsa Mosque and called on UN Security Council to put an end to Israel's Judaization projects targeting Palestinian holy sites.
Activists have unraveled underway Israeli efforts to turn a historical mosque in Majdal city, in territories occupied in 1948, into a museum and a liquor store.
A video posted on Facebook by activists from the so-called “Eraf Watanak” group shows the transformations made by the Israeli authorities who turned the mosque into a wine shop and an artistic exhibition hall.
Documents attached to the video show that the mosque dates back to the Ottoman era and that it was established following the liberation of Jerusalem by Salah al-Deen al-Ayoubi.
“This is another proof of Israeli plans to violate the sanctity of holy shrines,” Lawyer Khaled Zabarqa said. “The mosque still carries signs of its Islamic origin; it still has a minaret, a mihrab (a semicircular niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the qibla, that is, the direction of the Kaaba in Makkah and hence the direction that Muslims should face when praying), and a minbar (a pulpit in the mosque where the imam stands to deliver sermons).
“To open a bar and a restaurant in the mosque is a dangerous violation of the sanctity of the site and a provocation to adherents of Islam everywhere in the world”, he further stated, calling on the concerned institutions to immediately step in and cease such Israeli aggressions.
A video posted on Facebook by activists from the so-called “Eraf Watanak” group shows the transformations made by the Israeli authorities who turned the mosque into a wine shop and an artistic exhibition hall.
Documents attached to the video show that the mosque dates back to the Ottoman era and that it was established following the liberation of Jerusalem by Salah al-Deen al-Ayoubi.
“This is another proof of Israeli plans to violate the sanctity of holy shrines,” Lawyer Khaled Zabarqa said. “The mosque still carries signs of its Islamic origin; it still has a minaret, a mihrab (a semicircular niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the qibla, that is, the direction of the Kaaba in Makkah and hence the direction that Muslims should face when praying), and a minbar (a pulpit in the mosque where the imam stands to deliver sermons).
“To open a bar and a restaurant in the mosque is a dangerous violation of the sanctity of the site and a provocation to adherents of Islam everywhere in the world”, he further stated, calling on the concerned institutions to immediately step in and cease such Israeli aggressions.
Scores of Israeli settlers stormed on Wednesday morning Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa Mosque—the third holiest site in Islam—via the Maghareba Gate.
47 Israeli settlers, escorted by policemen, broke into al-Aqsa Mosque as part of the morning break-in shift and carried out a round of sacrilegious tours.
Nine Israeli intelligence and police officers also showed up at the site as part of the break-in.
Dozens more are expected to show up at the Mosque in the afternoon break-in shift.
At the same time, the peaceful Muslim worshipers have been subjected to tough crackdowns and restrictions by the Israeli police near the main entrances to the site.
Several worshipers have been searched and dozens more have had their IDs seized while attempting to enter al-Aqsa to perform their daily prayers.
47 Israeli settlers, escorted by policemen, broke into al-Aqsa Mosque as part of the morning break-in shift and carried out a round of sacrilegious tours.
Nine Israeli intelligence and police officers also showed up at the site as part of the break-in.
Dozens more are expected to show up at the Mosque in the afternoon break-in shift.
At the same time, the peaceful Muslim worshipers have been subjected to tough crackdowns and restrictions by the Israeli police near the main entrances to the site.
Several worshipers have been searched and dozens more have had their IDs seized while attempting to enter al-Aqsa to perform their daily prayers.
11 sept 2018
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Israeli settlers started building and setting up housing structures in a settlement outpost in Khirbet al-Sweida village in Tubas in the northern Jordan Valley of the West Bank.
Activist Aaref Daraghmeh said that Israel confiscated thousands of dunums of lands from its original Palestinian owners for Israeli settlement expansion in the area. Daraghmeh said that Israeli settlers set up mobile homes "caravans" five kilometers away from the "al-Sweida" settlement outpost near the village. He pointed out that settlers raised the Israeli flag on the structures. The settlement outpost was set up in May, 2018 south of the Shadmot |
Mehola Israeli settlement, the only area where Palestinian shepherds could herd their sheep.
The closure of the area would close off thousands of dunums of lands where Palestinian farmers could shepherd their sheep; the new settlement outpost would close obstruct the daily lives of dozens of families and land owners in the area.
Forming a third of the occupied West Bank, with 88 percent of its land classified as Area C -- under full Israeli military control, the Jordan Valley has long been seen by Israel as a strategic area to maintain under its authority.
International rights organisations consider the continuation of the Israeli campaign which targets Palestinians in the Jordan Valley, whether though confiscations, demolitions or evictions under the pretext of holding military exercises, as a violation of international humanitarian law.
Tubas is one of the West Bank's most important agricultural centers.
The majority of the Jordan Valley is under full Israeli military control, despite being within the West Bank. Meanwhile, at least 44 percent of the total land in the Jordan Valley has been re-appropriated by Israeli forces for military purposes and training exercises.
According to the Palestinian nonprofit the Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ), more than 400,000 dunums (98,842 acres) of the 720,000 dunums (177,916 acres) that make up the total area of the Jordan Valley has been transformed into closed military and firing zones, with at least 27,000 dunums (6,672 acres) confiscated for illegal Israeli settlement building.
The closure of the area would close off thousands of dunums of lands where Palestinian farmers could shepherd their sheep; the new settlement outpost would close obstruct the daily lives of dozens of families and land owners in the area.
Forming a third of the occupied West Bank, with 88 percent of its land classified as Area C -- under full Israeli military control, the Jordan Valley has long been seen by Israel as a strategic area to maintain under its authority.
International rights organisations consider the continuation of the Israeli campaign which targets Palestinians in the Jordan Valley, whether though confiscations, demolitions or evictions under the pretext of holding military exercises, as a violation of international humanitarian law.
Tubas is one of the West Bank's most important agricultural centers.
The majority of the Jordan Valley is under full Israeli military control, despite being within the West Bank. Meanwhile, at least 44 percent of the total land in the Jordan Valley has been re-appropriated by Israeli forces for military purposes and training exercises.
According to the Palestinian nonprofit the Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem (ARIJ), more than 400,000 dunums (98,842 acres) of the 720,000 dunums (177,916 acres) that make up the total area of the Jordan Valley has been transformed into closed military and firing zones, with at least 27,000 dunums (6,672 acres) confiscated for illegal Israeli settlement building.
10 sept 2018
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A video posted by a group of foreign pro-Palestinian activists, showed an Israeli settler attempting to prevent young Palestinian students from reaching their school in the southern occupied West Bank district of Hebron.
The video recorded an Israeli settler chasing after Palestinian students in his vehicle, blocking the road, and preventing them from reaching their school south of the Hebron district. The Israeli settler, who was under Israeli protection, was chanting racist, anti-Arab slogans at the students. No injuries were reported from the incident. |
Hebron’s city center is home to some 800 notoriously aggressive Israeli settlers, who live under the protection of thousands of Israeli forces, surrounded by more than 30,000 Palestinians.
The video shows the Israeli settler blocking the road and shouting at the students:
The video shows the Israeli settler blocking the road and shouting at the students:
Israeli settlers on Monday attacked a tent inhabited by a Palestinian family in the northern Jordan Valley and wreaked havoc on it.
Diab Daraghmeh said that his tent was destroyed and all of his family's belongings were stolen early in the morning, according to activist Aref Daraghmeh.
Diab Daraghmeh, who lives in Khirbet Samra close to an Israeli military camp, accused Israeli settlers, who have repeatedly harassed Palestinian citizens in the area, of attacking his property.
According to international and humanitarian organizations, Israel on a regular basis attacks Palestinian families in the Jordan Valley and targets them with demolition and eviction in an attempt to push them to leave the area because of its importance on the agricultural and military levels.
Diab Daraghmeh said that his tent was destroyed and all of his family's belongings were stolen early in the morning, according to activist Aref Daraghmeh.
Diab Daraghmeh, who lives in Khirbet Samra close to an Israeli military camp, accused Israeli settlers, who have repeatedly harassed Palestinian citizens in the area, of attacking his property.
According to international and humanitarian organizations, Israel on a regular basis attacks Palestinian families in the Jordan Valley and targets them with demolition and eviction in an attempt to push them to leave the area because of its importance on the agricultural and military levels.
Dozens of Israeli settlers on Monday morning forced their way into al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of Israeli police to celebrate the new Hebrew year.
Spokesman for Jerusalem's Islamic Awqaf Department Feras al-Dibs said that 93 Israeli settlers in the morning broke into the Mosque in consecutive groups via al-Maghareba Gate.
Al-Dibs told Quds Press that the settlers carried out provocative tours in al-Aqsa courtyards and performed Talmudic rituals, adding that more settlers are expected to visit the Islamic site later in the day.
According to statistics published by the extremist Temple Mount Faithful Movement on Monday, 28,800 Jewish settlers broke into al-Aqsa Mosque during the Hebrew year 5778, which is the highest recorded number since Israel's occupation of Jerusalem in 1967.
The Jewish organization added that this number indicates a 27% increase in the number of settlers visiting al-Aqsa Mosque compared to the pervious Hebrew year.
Temple Mount Faithful Movement is a radical Jewish movement established in 1967 following the Six Day War in Jerusalem. Its major goal is to help rebuild the alleged "Solomon Temple".
Spokesman for Jerusalem's Islamic Awqaf Department Feras al-Dibs said that 93 Israeli settlers in the morning broke into the Mosque in consecutive groups via al-Maghareba Gate.
Al-Dibs told Quds Press that the settlers carried out provocative tours in al-Aqsa courtyards and performed Talmudic rituals, adding that more settlers are expected to visit the Islamic site later in the day.
According to statistics published by the extremist Temple Mount Faithful Movement on Monday, 28,800 Jewish settlers broke into al-Aqsa Mosque during the Hebrew year 5778, which is the highest recorded number since Israel's occupation of Jerusalem in 1967.
The Jewish organization added that this number indicates a 27% increase in the number of settlers visiting al-Aqsa Mosque compared to the pervious Hebrew year.
Temple Mount Faithful Movement is a radical Jewish movement established in 1967 following the Six Day War in Jerusalem. Its major goal is to help rebuild the alleged "Solomon Temple".
A number of Israeli colonizers invaded, on Monday morning, a Palestinian olive orchard in the al-Hamra area, east of Yatta town, south of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, and cut at least fifteen trees.
The coordinator of the National and Popular Committees in southern Hebron, Rateb Jabour, told the Palestinian News and Info Agency (WAFA) that the Israeli assailants cut more than fifteen trees, owned by members of Rib’ey family.
Jabour added that the colonizer came from Ma’on and Havat Ma’on colonies, which were illegally built on private Palestinian lands.
He also stated that the attack is part of numerous similar violations over the last several years, and added that the colonists are trying to occupy the lands to build and expand their illegal colonies, and outposts.
Jabour called on national, legal, regional and international organizations and human rights groups, to intervene and help in ending the seriously escalating Israeli violations.
The coordinator of the National and Popular Committees in southern Hebron, Rateb Jabour, told the Palestinian News and Info Agency (WAFA) that the Israeli assailants cut more than fifteen trees, owned by members of Rib’ey family.
Jabour added that the colonizer came from Ma’on and Havat Ma’on colonies, which were illegally built on private Palestinian lands.
He also stated that the attack is part of numerous similar violations over the last several years, and added that the colonists are trying to occupy the lands to build and expand their illegal colonies, and outposts.
Jabour called on national, legal, regional and international organizations and human rights groups, to intervene and help in ending the seriously escalating Israeli violations.
9 sept 2018
Israeli soldiers are joining colonialist settlers in attacks on a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank, according to human rights NGO B’Tselem.
The village of ‘Urif, which is located near Nablus, lies in close proximity to the notorious settlement of Yitzhar, established in 1983.
All Israeli settlements are illegal under international law, and described by international human rights groups as part of an inherently discriminatory regime.
According to B’Tselem, the Palestinian residents of ‘Urif “have been suffering for years from repeated attacks by settlers”, with most attacks taking place “in farmland close to the village water tower, which is situated some 500 metres from its easternmost homes”.
In recent months, moreover, the Israeli human rights group “has documented three attacks by settlers in the area, some of which included the active participation of soldiers”.
In March, “settlers assaulted residents of the village”, while the Israeli occupation forces “who accompanied them shot and killed one resident and injured a boy aged 14”. In April, settlers cut down 57 trees on ‘Urif’s land and vandalized vehicles.
In June, “settlers injured a shepherd and assaulted other residents, while soldiers joined in the attack, injuring another resident,” B’Tselem added.
Since then, the NGO continued, there have been four more documented incidents of settlers and soldiers assaulting ‘Urif residents, torching fruit trees and vandalizing cars.
These repeated attacks “are intended to usurp ever-increasing areas of Palestinian land and to annex the land de facto to the settlements”, said B’Tselem, with the result that Palestinians “lose not only their land but also their livelihood.”
In addition, the conduct of Israeli forces, “providing guarding services for the assailants and actively participating in attacks”, part of what B’Tselem describes as a “violent routine”, sends Palestinians “a message of complete disregard for their lives, safety and property.”
B’Tselem added, according to Days of Palestine, that the violence experienced by Palestinians in ‘Urif, and other communities, “is part of an integrated policy which sees the state, through the military and the settlers – engaging in continued efforts, over time, to dispossess as many Palestinians as possible, driving them to leave their land ‘voluntarily’ so that it can be seized.”
The village of ‘Urif, which is located near Nablus, lies in close proximity to the notorious settlement of Yitzhar, established in 1983.
All Israeli settlements are illegal under international law, and described by international human rights groups as part of an inherently discriminatory regime.
According to B’Tselem, the Palestinian residents of ‘Urif “have been suffering for years from repeated attacks by settlers”, with most attacks taking place “in farmland close to the village water tower, which is situated some 500 metres from its easternmost homes”.
In recent months, moreover, the Israeli human rights group “has documented three attacks by settlers in the area, some of which included the active participation of soldiers”.
In March, “settlers assaulted residents of the village”, while the Israeli occupation forces “who accompanied them shot and killed one resident and injured a boy aged 14”. In April, settlers cut down 57 trees on ‘Urif’s land and vandalized vehicles.
In June, “settlers injured a shepherd and assaulted other residents, while soldiers joined in the attack, injuring another resident,” B’Tselem added.
Since then, the NGO continued, there have been four more documented incidents of settlers and soldiers assaulting ‘Urif residents, torching fruit trees and vandalizing cars.
These repeated attacks “are intended to usurp ever-increasing areas of Palestinian land and to annex the land de facto to the settlements”, said B’Tselem, with the result that Palestinians “lose not only their land but also their livelihood.”
In addition, the conduct of Israeli forces, “providing guarding services for the assailants and actively participating in attacks”, part of what B’Tselem describes as a “violent routine”, sends Palestinians “a message of complete disregard for their lives, safety and property.”
B’Tselem added, according to Days of Palestine, that the violence experienced by Palestinians in ‘Urif, and other communities, “is part of an integrated policy which sees the state, through the military and the settlers – engaging in continued efforts, over time, to dispossess as many Palestinians as possible, driving them to leave their land ‘voluntarily’ so that it can be seized.”
Extremist Jewish settlers, last night, assaulted Palestinian homes and property in the neighborhood of Silwan in occupied East Jerusalem, ahead of the Jewish New Year celebrations, according to local sources.
WAFA correspondence said that groups of extremist settlers, escorted by Israeli police forces, smashed the windshields of many vehicles and threw stones at Palestinians’ homes, during the night hours.
Local Palestinian citizens attempted to confront the attacking settlers, but were also attacked with teargas canisters and stun grenades by the escorting police forces.
WAFA correspondence said that groups of extremist settlers, escorted by Israeli police forces, smashed the windshields of many vehicles and threw stones at Palestinians’ homes, during the night hours.
Local Palestinian citizens attempted to confront the attacking settlers, but were also attacked with teargas canisters and stun grenades by the escorting police forces.
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Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian ambulance on Saturday evening, which was transporting a patient from the al-Shuhada street to a nearby hospital in the southern occupied West Bank city of Hebron.
According to local sources, Israeli settlers blocked the al-Shuhada street and closed it down, in order to prevent the ambulance from transporting the patient to a hospital. Sources said that Israeli settlers continued by throwing rocks at the ambulance, which broke the rear glass window of the ambulance. This attack came a few days after the Israeli authorities agreed to allow |
Palestinian ambulances to enter al-Shuhada street, without any prior notice, in the case of necessary transport of patients to hospitals.
Sources also confirmed that Israeli settlers under the heavy protection of Israeli forces, showered several Palestinian homes with rocks in the Hebron district and attacked a number of Palestinian shepherds in the same area.
Palestinian residents of the Old City of Hebron face a large Israeli military presence on a daily basis, with at least 32 permanent and partial checkpoints set up at the entrances of many streets.
Additionally, Palestinians are not allowed to drive on al-Shuhada street, have had their homes and shops on the street welded shut, and in some areas of the Old City, are not permitted to walk on certain roads.
Meanwhile, Israeli settlers move freely on the street, drive cars, and carry machine guns.
The Palestinian government has no jurisdiction over Israelis in the West Bank, and acts carried out by Israeli settlers often occur in the presence of Israeli military forces who rarely act to protect Palestinian residents.
According to a report by the Israeli rights group B'Tselem, "Settler violence and vandalism takes place with full backing by the Israeli authorities. Sometimes soldiers take part in the assault; at other times, they stand idly by. The police makes no substantial effort to investigate the incidents, nor takes measures to prevent them or stop them in real time."
The video shows damage to the ambulance, resulting from the Israeli settlers' attack:
Sources also confirmed that Israeli settlers under the heavy protection of Israeli forces, showered several Palestinian homes with rocks in the Hebron district and attacked a number of Palestinian shepherds in the same area.
Palestinian residents of the Old City of Hebron face a large Israeli military presence on a daily basis, with at least 32 permanent and partial checkpoints set up at the entrances of many streets.
Additionally, Palestinians are not allowed to drive on al-Shuhada street, have had their homes and shops on the street welded shut, and in some areas of the Old City, are not permitted to walk on certain roads.
Meanwhile, Israeli settlers move freely on the street, drive cars, and carry machine guns.
The Palestinian government has no jurisdiction over Israelis in the West Bank, and acts carried out by Israeli settlers often occur in the presence of Israeli military forces who rarely act to protect Palestinian residents.
According to a report by the Israeli rights group B'Tselem, "Settler violence and vandalism takes place with full backing by the Israeli authorities. Sometimes soldiers take part in the assault; at other times, they stand idly by. The police makes no substantial effort to investigate the incidents, nor takes measures to prevent them or stop them in real time."
The video shows damage to the ambulance, resulting from the Israeli settlers' attack:
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About 150 Israeli settlers on Sunday morning forced their way into al-Aqsa Mosque in the presence of Israel's Minister of Agriculture Uri Ariel.
Jerusalem's Islamic Awqaf Department said that the settlers carried out provocative tours in al-Aqsa courtyards and performed Talmudic rituals. So-called Temple Mount Organizations have recently called on Israeli settlers to participate in mass break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque scheduled for September to mark the new Hebrew year and other Jewish holidays. Israeli police on Sunday morning arrested the Islamic Awqaf employee Raed al-Zaghir during his work at al-Aqsa Mosque and transferred him to a nearby detention center for interrogation. For his part, Palestinian Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Sheikh Yousef Edeis strongly condemned Israeli settlers' stepped-up break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque which usually witness the presence of senior Israeli officials like Ariel. |
