25 sept 2018
Israeli occupation authorities on Tuesday closed the Ibrahimi Mosque in al-Khalil city for Jewish holidays.
Hefzi Abu Sneineh, who is in charge of the Ibrahimi Mosque, said that the Israeli authorities decided to close the Mosque and ban Adhan (call of prayer) on Tuesday and Wednesday for Sukkot holiday.
Abu Sneineh told Quds Press that such closures, which are usually approved by Shamgar Committee which was formed following the Ibrahimi Mosque massacre in 1994, are a blatant aggression on the sanctity of the Islamic site.
In a related context, the Israeli army deployed its forces in Bab al-Zawiya area in the center of al-Khalil city and forced Palestinian citizens to close their shops to secure a settler break-in into a nearby archaeological site.
Hefzi Abu Sneineh, who is in charge of the Ibrahimi Mosque, said that the Israeli authorities decided to close the Mosque and ban Adhan (call of prayer) on Tuesday and Wednesday for Sukkot holiday.
Abu Sneineh told Quds Press that such closures, which are usually approved by Shamgar Committee which was formed following the Ibrahimi Mosque massacre in 1994, are a blatant aggression on the sanctity of the Islamic site.
In a related context, the Israeli army deployed its forces in Bab al-Zawiya area in the center of al-Khalil city and forced Palestinian citizens to close their shops to secure a settler break-in into a nearby archaeological site.
Heavily armed Israeli soldiers escorted hundreds of Israeli settlers into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, on Tuesday, to celebrate the Jewish Sukkot holiday, while the Israeli authorities prevented restoration work from being completed in the compound.
Firas al-Dibs, head of the Public Relations and Media Department at the Islamic Endowment (Waqf), said that at least 420 Israeli settlers stormed the compound from 7:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
Al-Dibs added, according to Ma’an, that Israeli settlers stormed the compound in large successive groups through the Moroccan Gate, one of the compound’s entrances under full Israeli control.
Al-Dibs mentioned that the Israeli settlers were chanting the Israeli national anthem “Hatikvah” as they provocatively toured the entire compound.
Director of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Omar al-Kiswani, said that Israeli forces took photographs of Muslim worshipers, as well as of the staff members of the Endowment department, as they were working on restoration projects in the compound.
Al-Kiswani also confirmed that the staff was prevented from completing restoration work on the compound, pointing out that Israeli authorities have been preventing restoration work through detentions and extensive interrogations.
Palestinians repeatedly accuse Israel of meddling in the internal affairs of the Muslim holy site with an intention to gain control over it and to turn it into a Jewish temple, due to the belief that it is the historical site of Jewish temples which were destroyed thousands of years ago.
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.
Archive IMEMC post 06/12/16 — Rabbi Lau: 3rd Temple Can be Built Without Destroying Al Aqsa
Firas al-Dibs, head of the Public Relations and Media Department at the Islamic Endowment (Waqf), said that at least 420 Israeli settlers stormed the compound from 7:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
Al-Dibs added, according to Ma’an, that Israeli settlers stormed the compound in large successive groups through the Moroccan Gate, one of the compound’s entrances under full Israeli control.
Al-Dibs mentioned that the Israeli settlers were chanting the Israeli national anthem “Hatikvah” as they provocatively toured the entire compound.
Director of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Omar al-Kiswani, said that Israeli forces took photographs of Muslim worshipers, as well as of the staff members of the Endowment department, as they were working on restoration projects in the compound.
Al-Kiswani also confirmed that the staff was prevented from completing restoration work on the compound, pointing out that Israeli authorities have been preventing restoration work through detentions and extensive interrogations.
Palestinians repeatedly accuse Israel of meddling in the internal affairs of the Muslim holy site with an intention to gain control over it and to turn it into a Jewish temple, due to the belief that it is the historical site of Jewish temples which were destroyed thousands of years ago.
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.
Archive IMEMC post 06/12/16 — Rabbi Lau: 3rd Temple Can be Built Without Destroying Al Aqsa
Israeli settlers, on Tuesday, uprooted at least half a dozen fruitful olive trees in al-Hamra area, south of Hebron, in the occupied West Bank, said a local activist.
The popular committee coordinator in Yatta, Rateb al-Jabour, told WAFA that settlers from the Israeli settlements of Ma’on and Havat Ma’on, built illegally on Yatta town land, in Hebron, uprooted around six fruitful olive tress belonging to two local residents who were identified as Salameh and Ibrahim Rabee.
Such actions are routinely carried out by Israeli extremists, in the occupied West Bank, with no intervention from law enforcement officials.
The popular committee coordinator in Yatta, Rateb al-Jabour, told WAFA that settlers from the Israeli settlements of Ma’on and Havat Ma’on, built illegally on Yatta town land, in Hebron, uprooted around six fruitful olive tress belonging to two local residents who were identified as Salameh and Ibrahim Rabee.
Such actions are routinely carried out by Israeli extremists, in the occupied West Bank, with no intervention from law enforcement officials.
After dozens of Israeli colonialist settlers, accompanied by soldiers and police officers, stormed the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem, and conducted provocative tours into the holy site, the soldiers abducted two Waqf workers, and one worshiper.
The Maan Palestinian News Agency has reported that the soldiers abducted Anas Dabbagh and Ali Bkearat, who works for the Palestinian Waqf and Islamic Endowment, in Al-Aqsa Mosque, and took them to am interrogation facility.
It added that the two were working in the Dome of the Rock Mosque, in Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, when they were abducted.
Many employees of the Waqf Department, in addition to dozens of worshipers, gathered in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, protesting the abduction of the two employees, and the attempts to stop maintenance work in the holy site.
Furthermore, the soldiers stopped a young man near the “Gate of the Tribes,” and took him to an interrogation facility, in addition to stopping and searching the Muslim worshipers, and held their ID cards before allowing them into Al-Aqsa.
The Quds News Network has reported that more than 150 Israeli colonialist settlers, accompanied by dozens of police officers, stormed the courtyards of the holy site, and conducted provocative tours, after the soldiers forced scores of Palestinians away.
The Maan Palestinian News Agency has reported that the soldiers abducted Anas Dabbagh and Ali Bkearat, who works for the Palestinian Waqf and Islamic Endowment, in Al-Aqsa Mosque, and took them to am interrogation facility.
It added that the two were working in the Dome of the Rock Mosque, in Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, when they were abducted.
Many employees of the Waqf Department, in addition to dozens of worshipers, gathered in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, protesting the abduction of the two employees, and the attempts to stop maintenance work in the holy site.
Furthermore, the soldiers stopped a young man near the “Gate of the Tribes,” and took him to an interrogation facility, in addition to stopping and searching the Muslim worshipers, and held their ID cards before allowing them into Al-Aqsa.
The Quds News Network has reported that more than 150 Israeli colonialist settlers, accompanied by dozens of police officers, stormed the courtyards of the holy site, and conducted provocative tours, after the soldiers forced scores of Palestinians away.
24 sept 2018
Large groups of Israeli settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, on Monday noon, while many performed religious Talmudic rituals outside the mosque's gates in the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem.
The Islamic Endowment Department (Waqf) confirmed that hundreds of Israeli settlers started storming the compound since early morning hours, under armed protection by Israeli forces, through the Moroccans Gate.
Many Israeli settlers held palm branches while performing Talmudic rituals outside the Cotton Merchants Gate, one of the entrances to the compound, on the occasion of the Sukkot Jewish holiday.
Meanwhile, heavily armed Israeli forces were deployed across the compound as Israeli settlers toured the area; soldiers set up iron barriers.
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 this agreement, the Israeli authorities regularly allow Jewish visitors to enter the site -- often under the protection of armed guards. 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.
The Islamic Endowment Department (Waqf) confirmed that hundreds of Israeli settlers started storming the compound since early morning hours, under armed protection by Israeli forces, through the Moroccans Gate.
Many Israeli settlers held palm branches while performing Talmudic rituals outside the Cotton Merchants Gate, one of the entrances to the compound, on the occasion of the Sukkot Jewish holiday.
Meanwhile, heavily armed Israeli forces were deployed across the compound as Israeli settlers toured the area; soldiers set up iron barriers.
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 this agreement, the Israeli authorities regularly allow Jewish visitors to enter the site -- often under the protection of armed guards. 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.
Israeli settlers on Sunday seized a Palestinian land in al-Khalil’s town of Tel Rumeida, in the southern occupied West Bank, and celebrated the Jewish Sukkot holiday.
A PIC news reporter said dozens of extremist Israeli settlers showed up on a large Palestinian land tract and set up tents to mark Sukkot.
The settlers performed dances and yelled racist anti-Arab slogans, before they closed off the main access road to the area and prevented the Palestinian locals from reaching their homes.
Heavily-armed Israeli patrols broke into the area to provide a security shield for the settler gangs.
A PIC news reporter said dozens of extremist Israeli settlers showed up on a large Palestinian land tract and set up tents to mark Sukkot.
The settlers performed dances and yelled racist anti-Arab slogans, before they closed off the main access road to the area and prevented the Palestinian locals from reaching their homes.
Heavily-armed Israeli patrols broke into the area to provide a security shield for the settler gangs.
23 sept 2018
Israeli police on Sunday morning decided to ban three Palestinians working for Jerusalem's Islamic Awqaf Department from entering al-Aqsa Mosque for one week.
Spokesman for the Islamic Awqaf Department Feras al-Dibs said that the Israeli police imposed a one-week entry ban on al-Aqsa guard Mahdi al-Abbasi, and Raed Zaghir and Husam Seder who work for the reconstruction committee.
Al-Dibs told Quds Press that the three employees received summonses to appear before the Israeli police for interrogation next week.
Israeli police have recently banned over 20 Palestinians from entering al-Aqsa Mosque for different periods.
Israeli police claimed that Palestinians who are present in al-Aqsa Mosque regularly disturb settlers' visits to the Mosque these days to celebrate Jewish holidays.
Spokesman for the Islamic Awqaf Department Feras al-Dibs said that the Israeli police imposed a one-week entry ban on al-Aqsa guard Mahdi al-Abbasi, and Raed Zaghir and Husam Seder who work for the reconstruction committee.
Al-Dibs told Quds Press that the three employees received summonses to appear before the Israeli police for interrogation next week.
Israeli police have recently banned over 20 Palestinians from entering al-Aqsa Mosque for different periods.
Israeli police claimed that Palestinians who are present in al-Aqsa Mosque regularly disturb settlers' visits to the Mosque these days to celebrate Jewish holidays.
About 87 Israeli settlers broke into al-Aqsa Mosque on Sunday and performed Talmudic rituals under the protection of special police forces.
'Temple Mount' organizations union have recently called on Israeli settlers to flock to al-Aqsa Mosque and celebrate Sukkot holiday which starts Sunday and lasts for a week.
Israeli police, ahead of the Jewish holiday, have tightened restrictions on Jerusalem and targeted its residents, activists, and employees working in al-Aqsa Mosque with arbitrary arrests, interrogations, and entry bans.
Most of Jerusalem notables believe that Israel is preparing to impose a new reality in the holy city by allowing settlers to perform their Talmudic rituals openly without restrictions. This is just a small step toward a spatial division of al-Aqsa Mosque, they think.
Israeli police accompanied the settlers during the break-in, and treated the Palestinians who were present in al-Aqsa Mosque aggressively. One of the worshipers was even arrested.
'Temple Mount' organizations union have recently called on Israeli settlers to flock to al-Aqsa Mosque and celebrate Sukkot holiday which starts Sunday and lasts for a week.
Israeli police, ahead of the Jewish holiday, have tightened restrictions on Jerusalem and targeted its residents, activists, and employees working in al-Aqsa Mosque with arbitrary arrests, interrogations, and entry bans.
Most of Jerusalem notables believe that Israel is preparing to impose a new reality in the holy city by allowing settlers to perform their Talmudic rituals openly without restrictions. This is just a small step toward a spatial division of al-Aqsa Mosque, they think.
Israeli police accompanied the settlers during the break-in, and treated the Palestinians who were present in al-Aqsa Mosque aggressively. One of the worshipers was even arrested.
22 sept 2018
Dozens of Israeli settlers on Saturday stormed the market of the Old City of al-Khalil and harassed Palestinian citizens.
Escorted by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF), the settlers carried out provocative tours in the market and disrupted the movement of Palestinian citizens in the Old City's streets.
Meanwhile, the IOF stopped the Islamic Awqaf employee Islam Zahdeh while he was heading to his work, arrested him, and transferred him to an unknown destination.
Islamic Awqaf employees and other Palestinians working for Palestinian institutions in the Old City are constantly harassed by Israeli settlers and soldiers. These attacks come within the framework of an Israeli plan to pressure Palestinian citizens to leave the area.
Escorted by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF), the settlers carried out provocative tours in the market and disrupted the movement of Palestinian citizens in the Old City's streets.
Meanwhile, the IOF stopped the Islamic Awqaf employee Islam Zahdeh while he was heading to his work, arrested him, and transferred him to an unknown destination.
Islamic Awqaf employees and other Palestinians working for Palestinian institutions in the Old City are constantly harassed by Israeli settlers and soldiers. These attacks come within the framework of an Israeli plan to pressure Palestinian citizens to leave the area.
Haaretz newspaper on Saturday reported that Israeli settlers of Efrat settlement last week established a new outpost on a nearby hill in protest at the killing of an Israeli settler at Gush Etzion junction earlier that week.
The hill, which the settlers call "Givat Eitam", is known for its strategic importance.
Israel in the past tried to boost settlement construction on the hill but it backtracked because any construction project in the area would separate Bethlehem from Palestinian villages in the south.
Israeli settlers rallying in the new outpost affirmed that Efrat council had sent them. They even raised the council's flag there.
As far as is known, Israel's Civil Administration does not intend to evacuate the outpost immediately, in light of previous requests by Efrat council to allow settlement construction on Givat Eitam.
The new outpost is not the first of its kind. An outpost was built there in 2013 but it was evacuated two years later.
The hill, which the settlers call "Givat Eitam", is known for its strategic importance.
Israel in the past tried to boost settlement construction on the hill but it backtracked because any construction project in the area would separate Bethlehem from Palestinian villages in the south.
Israeli settlers rallying in the new outpost affirmed that Efrat council had sent them. They even raised the council's flag there.
As far as is known, Israel's Civil Administration does not intend to evacuate the outpost immediately, in light of previous requests by Efrat council to allow settlement construction on Givat Eitam.
The new outpost is not the first of its kind. An outpost was built there in 2013 but it was evacuated two years later.
Jewish temple mount groups have incited their followers to intensify their presence as of next Sunday to mark the holiday of the Sukkot, which will last for a week.
In response, Palestinian social media activists urged the Palestinian citizens who are able to enter Occupied Jerusalem to march en masse to the Mosque to protect it against settlers’ violations during the Sukkot holiday.
Last week, about 1,000 settlers desecrated the Aqsa Mosque’s courtyards under police protection.
In response, Palestinian social media activists urged the Palestinian citizens who are able to enter Occupied Jerusalem to march en masse to the Mosque to protect it against settlers’ violations during the Sukkot holiday.
Last week, about 1,000 settlers desecrated the Aqsa Mosque’s courtyards under police protection.
21 sept 2018
A 16-year-old Palestinian teen was hospitalized after an Israeli settler ran him over, on Friday, in the Tel Rumeida neighborhood of the southern occupied West Bank city of Hebron.
Witnesses told a Ma’an reporter that an Israeli settler deliberately ran over the Palestinian teen with his vehicle, in Hebron City.
The teen was identified by locals as Munir Abdullah Gharib, aged 16.
Mounir suffered injuries from the attack, and was immediately transferred to the Alia Governmental Hospital in Hebron, for necessary medical treatment; his condition remained unknown.
Incidents involving Israeli settlers hitting Palestinians, in the occupied Palestinian territory, are a relatively regular occurrence, and are usually treated by Israeli security forces as accidents, even in cases when witnesses claim the car rammings were deliberate.
Some 800 notoriously aggressive Israeli settlers now live under the protection of the Israeli military in the Old City, surrounded by more than 30,000 Palestinians.
Palestinian residents of Old City 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.
Witnesses told a Ma’an reporter that an Israeli settler deliberately ran over the Palestinian teen with his vehicle, in Hebron City.
The teen was identified by locals as Munir Abdullah Gharib, aged 16.
Mounir suffered injuries from the attack, and was immediately transferred to the Alia Governmental Hospital in Hebron, for necessary medical treatment; his condition remained unknown.
Incidents involving Israeli settlers hitting Palestinians, in the occupied Palestinian territory, are a relatively regular occurrence, and are usually treated by Israeli security forces as accidents, even in cases when witnesses claim the car rammings were deliberate.
Some 800 notoriously aggressive Israeli settlers now live under the protection of the Israeli military in the Old City, surrounded by more than 30,000 Palestinians.
Palestinian residents of Old City 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.
20 sept 2018
Hordes of Jewish settlers on Thursday morning desecrated the Aqsa Mosque’s courtyards under police escort.
The Islamic Waqf Authority in Occupied Jerusalem said that the Israeli police allowed 93 Jewish settlers to enter the Mosque and tour its courtyards for about four hours.
The Waqf Authority added that the settlers provocatively performed Talmudic prayers under police protection at the Islamic holy site, whose Muslim guards intervened in an attempt to prevent them from doing so.
Meanwhile, the Israeli police arrested one of the Aqsa guards as he was trying to enter the Mosque as usual in the morning and then released him on bail.
The guard, Hamza al-Nabali, was also banned from entering the Mosque for two weeks.
The Islamic Waqf Authority in Occupied Jerusalem said that the Israeli police allowed 93 Jewish settlers to enter the Mosque and tour its courtyards for about four hours.
The Waqf Authority added that the settlers provocatively performed Talmudic prayers under police protection at the Islamic holy site, whose Muslim guards intervened in an attempt to prevent them from doing so.
Meanwhile, the Israeli police arrested one of the Aqsa guards as he was trying to enter the Mosque as usual in the morning and then released him on bail.
The guard, Hamza al-Nabali, was also banned from entering the Mosque for two weeks.
Extremist Israeli settlers attempted on Thursday to seize a plot of land owned by a Palestinian family in Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, before they were spotted by the locals and forced out of the area.
Local sources said fanatic Israeli settler Arieh King, who spearheads settlement activity in the area, led a group of settlers as they leveled a land tract owned by Palestinian citizen Abdul Razzak al-Sheikh for settlement purposes.
The residents quickly intervened and prevented the settlers from further damaging the land.
Takeover of Palestinian homes and property by Israel’s settler gangs and authorities in occupied Jerusalem has been on the rise over recent years.
Local sources said fanatic Israeli settler Arieh King, who spearheads settlement activity in the area, led a group of settlers as they leveled a land tract owned by Palestinian citizen Abdul Razzak al-Sheikh for settlement purposes.
The residents quickly intervened and prevented the settlers from further damaging the land.
Takeover of Palestinian homes and property by Israel’s settler gangs and authorities in occupied Jerusalem has been on the rise over recent years.
Ecologists and farmers have sounded alarm bells over the acute damage wrought by Israel’s sewage disposal pouring into Palestinian olive groves in Salfit.
Reporting from the scene, eye-witnesses said Palestinian cultivated lands have been terribly tainted by sewage waste spilling from the Israeli Baduel settlement, built on Palestinian lands in Salfit.
Researcher Khaled Maali warned of the tragic fallouts of sewage waste, mingled with industrial chemicals, which has been pouring into Palestinian springs and streams from 25 Israeli settlements and industrial zones.
Salfit, home to natural masterpieces and prolific agricultural output, has been turned into a source of epidemics, infectious diseases, insects, rodents, pigs, and stench due to Israel’s untreated sewage disposal and frenzied settlement activity.
Reporting from the scene, eye-witnesses said Palestinian cultivated lands have been terribly tainted by sewage waste spilling from the Israeli Baduel settlement, built on Palestinian lands in Salfit.
Researcher Khaled Maali warned of the tragic fallouts of sewage waste, mingled with industrial chemicals, which has been pouring into Palestinian springs and streams from 25 Israeli settlements and industrial zones.
Salfit, home to natural masterpieces and prolific agricultural output, has been turned into a source of epidemics, infectious diseases, insects, rodents, pigs, and stench due to Israel’s untreated sewage disposal and frenzied settlement activity.
