23 dec 2015
Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz called the international community to assume its responsibilities and take the necessary measures to protect the Palestinians from the “antagonistic Israeli actions that are a provocation to the feelings of Arabs and Muslims”.
In his first address to the Shura (Consultative) Council since he became the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in January, King Salman said that Saudi Arabia was determined to tackle challenges faced by Arabs and Muslims in international forums.
"We are also determined to defend the Palestinian people till restoring their legitimate rights and establishing an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital," he added.
King Salman strongly condemned the Israeli escalated and irresponsible crimes against Palestinian children, women, and unarmed civilians.
He concluded by calling for putting an end to Israeli daily break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque and settlement construction.
In his first address to the Shura (Consultative) Council since he became the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in January, King Salman said that Saudi Arabia was determined to tackle challenges faced by Arabs and Muslims in international forums.
"We are also determined to defend the Palestinian people till restoring their legitimate rights and establishing an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital," he added.
King Salman strongly condemned the Israeli escalated and irresponsible crimes against Palestinian children, women, and unarmed civilians.
He concluded by calling for putting an end to Israeli daily break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque and settlement construction.
22 dec 2015
The Israeli occupation soldiers on Tuesday morning forced Palestinian shopkeepers out of their stores in the Old City of Occupied Jerusalem.
Palestinian academic Ahmad Sub Laban said the occupation troops forcibly evacuated commercial shops owned by Hussein al-Qaissi.
He said 71 illegal settlement outposts have been established by the Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) across Jerusalem’s Old City.
“Today the IOA are threatening to force 15 families out of their own homes as part of the mass-deportation policies perpetrated against the Palestinian locals in favor of illegal settlement,” the activist added.
Earlier, some few days ago, the Israeli soldiers ordered four Palestinian families living in Occupied Jerusalem to vacate their homes in favor of Israeli settlement organizations that claimed ownership of the targeted buildings.
Official documents, however, have been corroborating the fact that the families had set up roots in the area before the occupation of Jerusalem.
Palestinian academic Ahmad Sub Laban said the occupation troops forcibly evacuated commercial shops owned by Hussein al-Qaissi.
He said 71 illegal settlement outposts have been established by the Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) across Jerusalem’s Old City.
“Today the IOA are threatening to force 15 families out of their own homes as part of the mass-deportation policies perpetrated against the Palestinian locals in favor of illegal settlement,” the activist added.
Earlier, some few days ago, the Israeli soldiers ordered four Palestinian families living in Occupied Jerusalem to vacate their homes in favor of Israeli settlement organizations that claimed ownership of the targeted buildings.
Official documents, however, have been corroborating the fact that the families had set up roots in the area before the occupation of Jerusalem.
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) has impeded the implementation of over 21 projects to reconstruct the holy al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem Endowment Department reported.
A member of the Islamic Endowment personnel in Occupied Jerusalem said the IOA has been blocking the entry of reconstruction materials and impeding underway projects to renovate the al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Endowment department filed official complaints over such illegitimate intervention in the affairs of al-Aqsa, saying every single inch of the 144 dunums covered by such a sacred place of worship is for Muslims only.
The official said the IOA has turned blind eyes and deaf ears to such protests and, instead, propped up settler break-ins at the al-Aqsa in an attempt to hold sway over it and divide it, both spatially and temporally.
A member of the Islamic Endowment personnel in Occupied Jerusalem said the IOA has been blocking the entry of reconstruction materials and impeding underway projects to renovate the al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Endowment department filed official complaints over such illegitimate intervention in the affairs of al-Aqsa, saying every single inch of the 144 dunums covered by such a sacred place of worship is for Muslims only.
The official said the IOA has turned blind eyes and deaf ears to such protests and, instead, propped up settler break-ins at the al-Aqsa in an attempt to hold sway over it and divide it, both spatially and temporally.
Mohammad Ayyad
The U.S. government has yet to respond to the killing of two of its citizens by the Israeli military over the past three weeks - the latest being Mohammad Abdul-Rahman Ayyad, 21, shot while driving his car near Silwad on Friday December 18th.
On December 4th, Abdul-Rahman Wajeeh Barghouthi, 27, was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers in 'Aboud village, west of Ramallah. Barghouthi was visiting his fiancee in the village and was walking back to his parents’ home when Israeli soldiers
It should be noted that in June 2014, a gang of Israelis kidnapped and burned to death a 16-year old Palestinian boy, Mohammad Abu Khdeir after forcing him to drink gasoline. In the aftermath of that attack, a cousin of the 16-year old victim was badly beaten by Israeli troops during a protest in a Jerusalem neighborhood. The cousin, 15-year old Tariq Abu Khdeir, is a U.S. citizen from Florida who had been visiting his family when he was caught up by Israeli forces, beaten and imprisoned. (Video) At that time, after a pressure campaign from Abu Khdeir’s family and friends in the U.S., the State Department did call for an investigation.
And in October of 2014, another Palestinian-American teenager, Orwa Hammad, 14, was killed by Israeli forces during a protest in the West Bank.
A U.S. citizen who had been living illegally as a paramilitary settler, Ezra Schwartz, 18, was also killed in the latest round of violence – after allegedly being shot by a Palestinian in the militarized Israeli settlement ‘Gush Etzion’, built on Palestinian-owned land south of Bethlehem. During that incident, Israeli forces responded to the drive-by shooting by randomly shooting toward Palestinian vehicles in the road, killing a Palestinian passerby.
Nearly 130 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops and settlers since October 1st, including the 2 U.S. citizens.
On October 16th, during the U.S. State Department's daily press briefing, a State Department spokesperson reiterated that the U.S. government would not condemn Israeli violence against Palestinians, saying, "I want to be very clear that we have never accused Israeli Security Forces of excessive force with respect to these terrorist attacks. And, as I said numerous times yesterday, we recognize the Israeli Government’s right and responsibility to protect its citizens and to defend itself. And I think that’s where I’m going to leave it."
One reporter present at the briefing asked if the Israeli military's practice of shooting Palestinians armed with knives might be construed as using excessive force, to which the State Department spokesperson responded, "We never have accused Israeli Security Forces of using excessive force with respect to these terrorist attacks. And as I said, we recognize the right for Israel to protect its citizens."
There has been no statement from any U.S. official on the deaths of American citizens at the hands of the Israeli military over the past two and a half months of escalating attacks.
In November, during a visit to Israel, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry reiterated the U.S. government's 'unwavering support' for Israel, despite the numerous attacks against Palestinian civilians and property, and the daily invasions of Palestinian land.
Three of the alleged murderers of a Palestinian family, who were released from jail on Monday without charges, are also dual U.S.-Israeli citizens. They are suspected of illegally entering a Palestinian village in the dead of night and set on fire the Dawabsha family, killing the mother, father and two-year old, and critically wounding the family’s four-year old child.
The U.S. government has yet to respond to the killing of two of its citizens by the Israeli military over the past three weeks - the latest being Mohammad Abdul-Rahman Ayyad, 21, shot while driving his car near Silwad on Friday December 18th.
On December 4th, Abdul-Rahman Wajeeh Barghouthi, 27, was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers in 'Aboud village, west of Ramallah. Barghouthi was visiting his fiancee in the village and was walking back to his parents’ home when Israeli soldiers
It should be noted that in June 2014, a gang of Israelis kidnapped and burned to death a 16-year old Palestinian boy, Mohammad Abu Khdeir after forcing him to drink gasoline. In the aftermath of that attack, a cousin of the 16-year old victim was badly beaten by Israeli troops during a protest in a Jerusalem neighborhood. The cousin, 15-year old Tariq Abu Khdeir, is a U.S. citizen from Florida who had been visiting his family when he was caught up by Israeli forces, beaten and imprisoned. (Video) At that time, after a pressure campaign from Abu Khdeir’s family and friends in the U.S., the State Department did call for an investigation.
And in October of 2014, another Palestinian-American teenager, Orwa Hammad, 14, was killed by Israeli forces during a protest in the West Bank.
A U.S. citizen who had been living illegally as a paramilitary settler, Ezra Schwartz, 18, was also killed in the latest round of violence – after allegedly being shot by a Palestinian in the militarized Israeli settlement ‘Gush Etzion’, built on Palestinian-owned land south of Bethlehem. During that incident, Israeli forces responded to the drive-by shooting by randomly shooting toward Palestinian vehicles in the road, killing a Palestinian passerby.
Nearly 130 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops and settlers since October 1st, including the 2 U.S. citizens.
On October 16th, during the U.S. State Department's daily press briefing, a State Department spokesperson reiterated that the U.S. government would not condemn Israeli violence against Palestinians, saying, "I want to be very clear that we have never accused Israeli Security Forces of excessive force with respect to these terrorist attacks. And, as I said numerous times yesterday, we recognize the Israeli Government’s right and responsibility to protect its citizens and to defend itself. And I think that’s where I’m going to leave it."
One reporter present at the briefing asked if the Israeli military's practice of shooting Palestinians armed with knives might be construed as using excessive force, to which the State Department spokesperson responded, "We never have accused Israeli Security Forces of using excessive force with respect to these terrorist attacks. And as I said, we recognize the right for Israel to protect its citizens."
There has been no statement from any U.S. official on the deaths of American citizens at the hands of the Israeli military over the past two and a half months of escalating attacks.
In November, during a visit to Israel, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry reiterated the U.S. government's 'unwavering support' for Israel, despite the numerous attacks against Palestinian civilians and property, and the daily invasions of Palestinian land.
Three of the alleged murderers of a Palestinian family, who were released from jail on Monday without charges, are also dual U.S.-Israeli citizens. They are suspected of illegally entering a Palestinian village in the dead of night and set on fire the Dawabsha family, killing the mother, father and two-year old, and critically wounding the family’s four-year old child.
21 dec 2015
UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Michel Forst.
United Nations independent experts have expressed grave concerns at continued reports that human rights defenders are being subjected to physical attacks, harassment, arrest and detention, and death threats, particularly in Hebron in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), in an apparent bid by Israeli authorities and settler elements to stop their peaceful and important work.
“Amidst a charged and violent atmosphere over past months in the OPT, Palestinian and international defenders are providing a ‘protective presence’ for Palestinians at risk of violence, and documenting human rights violations,” said the UN Special Rapporteur the situation of human rights defenders, Michel Forst.
“The continued harassment of human rights defenders in the OPT, who are exercising their rights to freedoms of expression and association, is simply unacceptable. It should cease immediately,” Mr. Forst stressed.
Earlier this month, a group of UN human rights experts urged the Israeli Government to ensure a protective environment where human rights defenders in the Occupied Palestinian Territory can work without unlawful restriction and without fear of retaliatory acts.
“We recently addressed concerns to the Israeli Government regarding retaliatory acts by Israeli authorities against members of one organisation based in Hebron, Youth Against Settlements, after its Centre was subjected to raids and settlers allegedly called for it to be closed,” noted the UN Special Rapporteur the situation of human rights in the OPT, Makarim Wibisono.
“The Centre has now effectively been shut down as a result of the Israeli military declaring the surrounding area a military zone,” Mr. Wibisono said. “We urge Israeli authorities to lift this military order.”
The experts’ statement has been endorsed by the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Mr. Juan E. Méndez, and by the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Mr. Maina Kiai.
United Nations independent experts have expressed grave concerns at continued reports that human rights defenders are being subjected to physical attacks, harassment, arrest and detention, and death threats, particularly in Hebron in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), in an apparent bid by Israeli authorities and settler elements to stop their peaceful and important work.
“Amidst a charged and violent atmosphere over past months in the OPT, Palestinian and international defenders are providing a ‘protective presence’ for Palestinians at risk of violence, and documenting human rights violations,” said the UN Special Rapporteur the situation of human rights defenders, Michel Forst.
“The continued harassment of human rights defenders in the OPT, who are exercising their rights to freedoms of expression and association, is simply unacceptable. It should cease immediately,” Mr. Forst stressed.
Earlier this month, a group of UN human rights experts urged the Israeli Government to ensure a protective environment where human rights defenders in the Occupied Palestinian Territory can work without unlawful restriction and without fear of retaliatory acts.
“We recently addressed concerns to the Israeli Government regarding retaliatory acts by Israeli authorities against members of one organisation based in Hebron, Youth Against Settlements, after its Centre was subjected to raids and settlers allegedly called for it to be closed,” noted the UN Special Rapporteur the situation of human rights in the OPT, Makarim Wibisono.
“The Centre has now effectively been shut down as a result of the Israeli military declaring the surrounding area a military zone,” Mr. Wibisono said. “We urge Israeli authorities to lift this military order.”
The experts’ statement has been endorsed by the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Mr. Juan E. Méndez, and by the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Mr. Maina Kiai.
20 dec 2015
Hundreds of men, women and children participated in a demonstration on Saturday evening for "the orphans' sponsors" in Kafr Kanna in the 1948 occupied lands.
The march was in protest against Israel's decision to close 17 of the Islamic Movement’s institutions, including the “Humanitarian Relief Foundation", which is concerned with the affairs of orphans and their sponsorship.
The demonstration, which was organized by the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens in Israel, started from "Othman bin Affan" mosque in Kafr Kana. The demonstrators chanted slogans and raised banners condemning the ban on the Foundation which supports orphans. Dozens of orphans, who will be deprived of their monthly allowances as a result of the Israeli decision, participated in the demonstration.
Sheikh Raed Salah, head of the Islamic Movement, and his deputy, Sheikh Kamal Khatib, along with social and political leaders and figures, and a crowd of supporters of the Islamic Movement participated in the march.
In the same context, a rally was organized, in which leader of the High Follow-Up Committee, Muhammad Barakeh, delivered a speech. He stressed that the Committee stands by the Islamic Movement and its humanitarian projects carried out for the benefit of the Palestinian people wherever they are; in the West Bank, Jerusalem, Gaza and the 1948 occupied lands.
He said that the Israeli decision to close those institutions is political and is a criminal and racist act.
He stressed on the need for solidarity and unity among the Palestinians against these decisions, which aim to hit the very existence and steadfastness of the Palestinian people.
For his part, the lawyer Hussein Abu Hussein, a sponsor for orphans, denounced the decision of closing these institutions, and said that it is an illegal decision, targeting Palestinians and the projects for orphans' sponsorship. He affirmed that humanitarian projects will not stop, especially the Islamic Movement projects, topped by those supporting Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque.
Sheikh Raed Salah, in his turn, spoke about the Israeli unjust decision and stressed the need to support such institutions.
He stressed the need to support the humanitarian projects and to stand by the Palestinians in the West Bank, Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque.
“The Israeli offensive will not scare us and will not prevent us from communicating with our people to help them and to stand by them in their ordeal, especially our people in Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque”, he said, stressing that this offensive will fail as it has failed in the past.
The march was in protest against Israel's decision to close 17 of the Islamic Movement’s institutions, including the “Humanitarian Relief Foundation", which is concerned with the affairs of orphans and their sponsorship.
The demonstration, which was organized by the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens in Israel, started from "Othman bin Affan" mosque in Kafr Kana. The demonstrators chanted slogans and raised banners condemning the ban on the Foundation which supports orphans. Dozens of orphans, who will be deprived of their monthly allowances as a result of the Israeli decision, participated in the demonstration.
Sheikh Raed Salah, head of the Islamic Movement, and his deputy, Sheikh Kamal Khatib, along with social and political leaders and figures, and a crowd of supporters of the Islamic Movement participated in the march.
In the same context, a rally was organized, in which leader of the High Follow-Up Committee, Muhammad Barakeh, delivered a speech. He stressed that the Committee stands by the Islamic Movement and its humanitarian projects carried out for the benefit of the Palestinian people wherever they are; in the West Bank, Jerusalem, Gaza and the 1948 occupied lands.
He said that the Israeli decision to close those institutions is political and is a criminal and racist act.
He stressed on the need for solidarity and unity among the Palestinians against these decisions, which aim to hit the very existence and steadfastness of the Palestinian people.
For his part, the lawyer Hussein Abu Hussein, a sponsor for orphans, denounced the decision of closing these institutions, and said that it is an illegal decision, targeting Palestinians and the projects for orphans' sponsorship. He affirmed that humanitarian projects will not stop, especially the Islamic Movement projects, topped by those supporting Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque.
Sheikh Raed Salah, in his turn, spoke about the Israeli unjust decision and stressed the need to support such institutions.
He stressed the need to support the humanitarian projects and to stand by the Palestinians in the West Bank, Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque.
“The Israeli offensive will not scare us and will not prevent us from communicating with our people to help them and to stand by them in their ordeal, especially our people in Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque”, he said, stressing that this offensive will fail as it has failed in the past.
19 dec 2015
Former Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman has ruled out that Turkey will give up its request to end the blockade on Gaza as a condition for reviving its relations with Israel.
Lieberman, the chief of the right-wing party Yisrael Beiteinu, slammed in press remarks on Friday the Israeli government's intention to normalize relations with Ankara, describing president Recep Erdogan as a leader of an extremist Islamist regime.
He warned that Israel would damage its relations with Greece, Cyprus and Egypt if it decided to normalize its relations with Turkey, expressing his belief that Israel would not respond to Turkey's insistence on lifting the blockade on Gaza.
In this regard, an official source in Tel Aviv told a Hebrew radio that the Israeli government would never accept ending the siege on Gaza, affirming that if Turkey insisted on this matter, there would be no political agreement with it.
Lieberman, the chief of the right-wing party Yisrael Beiteinu, slammed in press remarks on Friday the Israeli government's intention to normalize relations with Ankara, describing president Recep Erdogan as a leader of an extremist Islamist regime.
He warned that Israel would damage its relations with Greece, Cyprus and Egypt if it decided to normalize its relations with Turkey, expressing his belief that Israel would not respond to Turkey's insistence on lifting the blockade on Gaza.
In this regard, an official source in Tel Aviv told a Hebrew radio that the Israeli government would never accept ending the siege on Gaza, affirming that if Turkey insisted on this matter, there would be no political agreement with it.
Scores of Jordanian citizens on Friday afternoon participated in a sit-in in Amman outside the Mosque of the Jordanian University in protest at Israel's ongoing crimes against the Palestinian people and in solidarity with al-Quds intifada (uprising).
The participants carried banners and chanted slogans applauding the Palestinians for resisting the occupation and defending the Aqsa Mosque.
Organizers of the event from the Islamic Movement and youth groups demanded their government, in press remarks, to expel the Israeli ambassador from Amman and sever all diplomatic ties with the occupation in response to its crimes against the Palestinians and their holy sites.
They also called for providing the Palestinian resistance with every support possible.
In a speech during the sit-in, senior official of the Islamic Movement Ahmed al-Raqb said that the Jordanian people would keep standing by the Palestinian resistance and anxiously waiting for the liberation battle.
Raqb affirmed that the Jordanian people would never forget the crimes and massacres which the Israeli occupation and its collaborators had committed against the Palestinian people.
The participants carried banners and chanted slogans applauding the Palestinians for resisting the occupation and defending the Aqsa Mosque.
Organizers of the event from the Islamic Movement and youth groups demanded their government, in press remarks, to expel the Israeli ambassador from Amman and sever all diplomatic ties with the occupation in response to its crimes against the Palestinians and their holy sites.
They also called for providing the Palestinian resistance with every support possible.
In a speech during the sit-in, senior official of the Islamic Movement Ahmed al-Raqb said that the Jordanian people would keep standing by the Palestinian resistance and anxiously waiting for the liberation battle.
Raqb affirmed that the Jordanian people would never forget the crimes and massacres which the Israeli occupation and its collaborators had committed against the Palestinian people.
Preacher of al-Aqsa Mosque Sheikh Ikrema Sabri denounced during Friday sermon Israel’s deportation policy against Jerusalemites.
"Israel is the only state in the world that prevents people’s access to their worship places," Sheikh Sabri said.
“We strongly condemn Israel’s deportation policy that is carried out increasingly against Jerusalemite female worshipers.”
Israel’s deportation policy is an unfair policy that prevents people’s right of worship and restricts their freedom of movement and expression, he continued.
He pointed out that al-Aqsa Mosque is in a real danger as it is still targeted by Israeli Judaization schemes.
According to him, the ongoing tension would only stop when Israeli settlers’ break-ins into the holy shrine were stopped.
"Al-Aqsa will be in danger as long as al-Magaribeh Gate is controlled by Israeli authorities," Sheikh Sabri stressed.
Sheikh Sabri was summoned two days ago for investigation by Israeli authorities for allegedly inciting violence.
"Israel is the only state in the world that prevents people’s access to their worship places," Sheikh Sabri said.
“We strongly condemn Israel’s deportation policy that is carried out increasingly against Jerusalemite female worshipers.”
Israel’s deportation policy is an unfair policy that prevents people’s right of worship and restricts their freedom of movement and expression, he continued.
He pointed out that al-Aqsa Mosque is in a real danger as it is still targeted by Israeli Judaization schemes.
According to him, the ongoing tension would only stop when Israeli settlers’ break-ins into the holy shrine were stopped.
"Al-Aqsa will be in danger as long as al-Magaribeh Gate is controlled by Israeli authorities," Sheikh Sabri stressed.
Sheikh Sabri was summoned two days ago for investigation by Israeli authorities for allegedly inciting violence.
18 dec 2015
Mahmoud Muhammad al-Agha
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) on Friday killed one Palestinian and shot at least 40 others including two journalists during clashes in the Gaza Strip.
The 22-year-old Mahmoud Muhammad al-Agha was shot dead by Israeli forces when clashes broke out near Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
Spokesman for Health Ministry Ashraf al-Qudra said 40 people were injured during the clashes including 31 youths who were shot and injured by live fire, 9 by rubber-coated steel bullets, and five suffered from severe tear gas inhalation.
The clashes broke out when IOF heavily fired tear gas bombs and live rounds at peaceful protests gathering near a secondary school in the area, injuring dozens of them including two journalists.
In eastern Gaza Strip, three Palestinian youths were injured with live shots as IOF stationed near the border fence east of al-Bureij refugee camp opened heavy fire towards a group of Palestinians who gathered near the border areas.
Two Palestinians were also hit with live bullets during clashes at the Nahal Oz crossing in eastern Gaza City.
Al-Algha is one of at least 20 Palestinians to be killed by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 1.
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip began demonstrations in solidarity with Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.
Since Oct. 1, 126 Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire including 26 children and six women, while nearly 15,000 others were injured.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) on Friday killed one Palestinian and shot at least 40 others including two journalists during clashes in the Gaza Strip.
The 22-year-old Mahmoud Muhammad al-Agha was shot dead by Israeli forces when clashes broke out near Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
Spokesman for Health Ministry Ashraf al-Qudra said 40 people were injured during the clashes including 31 youths who were shot and injured by live fire, 9 by rubber-coated steel bullets, and five suffered from severe tear gas inhalation.
The clashes broke out when IOF heavily fired tear gas bombs and live rounds at peaceful protests gathering near a secondary school in the area, injuring dozens of them including two journalists.
In eastern Gaza Strip, three Palestinian youths were injured with live shots as IOF stationed near the border fence east of al-Bureij refugee camp opened heavy fire towards a group of Palestinians who gathered near the border areas.
Two Palestinians were also hit with live bullets during clashes at the Nahal Oz crossing in eastern Gaza City.
Al-Algha is one of at least 20 Palestinians to be killed by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 1.
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip began demonstrations in solidarity with Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.
Since Oct. 1, 126 Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire including 26 children and six women, while nearly 15,000 others were injured.
Reports have recently been released on an Israeli plan to dismember Palestinian towns and villages by constructing more separation walls in the West Bank.
The Israeli Channel 2 said the army is planning to build nine-meter apartheid fences in Beit Ummar, the Arroub, and Gush Etzion areas, along with other areas of the West Bank.
According to the same source, the plan is allegedly carried out to prevent hurling stones and Molotov Cocktails on Israeli targets.
The Israeli occupation army has tightened grip on Palestinian towns and villages since the outbreak of the Jerusalem Intifada, in early October.
A 700-kilometer apartheid wall has been under construction by the Israeli occupation authorities since June 16, 2002 that will eventually tear West Bank towns and villages from limb to limb.
The plan also makes part of Israeli intents to hold sway over West Bank areas and force the Palestinians to leave their own homes in favor of illegal settlement expansion.
The Israeli Channel 2 said the army is planning to build nine-meter apartheid fences in Beit Ummar, the Arroub, and Gush Etzion areas, along with other areas of the West Bank.
According to the same source, the plan is allegedly carried out to prevent hurling stones and Molotov Cocktails on Israeli targets.
The Israeli occupation army has tightened grip on Palestinian towns and villages since the outbreak of the Jerusalem Intifada, in early October.
A 700-kilometer apartheid wall has been under construction by the Israeli occupation authorities since June 16, 2002 that will eventually tear West Bank towns and villages from limb to limb.
The plan also makes part of Israeli intents to hold sway over West Bank areas and force the Palestinians to leave their own homes in favor of illegal settlement expansion.
From December 16 to 17, envoys of the Middle East Quartet met in Jerusalem and Ramallah, with Israeli and Palestinian counterparts.
According to a press release the Palestine News Network received, envoys from the EU, Russia, U.S., and UN met with officials from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as officials from the Palestinian Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority.
Over the two days, they discussed current conditions in the Levant, and concrete actions to demonstrate their commitment to a two-state solution.
The Quartet envoys strongly condemned all acts of terror and stressed the importance of opposing unequivocal incitement and violence and de-escalating the situation.
The envoys further reiterated the need for significant steps "on the ground", in line with previous agreements, which will strengthen Palestinian institutions, security and economic prospects, while respecting Israel’s legitimate security concerns.
The envoys stated that they will review the results of their recent engagement with the parties and with regional states, and report to their principals with recommendations on the next steps.
According to a press release the Palestine News Network received, envoys from the EU, Russia, U.S., and UN met with officials from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as officials from the Palestinian Liberation Organization and Palestinian Authority.
Over the two days, they discussed current conditions in the Levant, and concrete actions to demonstrate their commitment to a two-state solution.
The Quartet envoys strongly condemned all acts of terror and stressed the importance of opposing unequivocal incitement and violence and de-escalating the situation.
The envoys further reiterated the need for significant steps "on the ground", in line with previous agreements, which will strengthen Palestinian institutions, security and economic prospects, while respecting Israel’s legitimate security concerns.
The envoys stated that they will review the results of their recent engagement with the parties and with regional states, and report to their principals with recommendations on the next steps.
Thousands of Palestinian citizens on Friday afternoon rallied in al-Awdah square in Rafah district, south of the Gaza Strip, in support of the Aqsa Mosque and al-Quds intifada (uprising).
Scores of citizens flocked following the Friday prayers from different mosques in Rafah to the square, where they participated in a march called for by the Islamic Jihad Movement.
Several participants carried Palestinian flags, Islamic Jihad banners, holy Qur'an books, and models of vehicles to refer to the heroic car-ramming attacks in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
Scores of citizens flocked following the Friday prayers from different mosques in Rafah to the square, where they participated in a march called for by the Islamic Jihad Movement.
Several participants carried Palestinian flags, Islamic Jihad banners, holy Qur'an books, and models of vehicles to refer to the heroic car-ramming attacks in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
The Jordanian government has strongly denounced the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) for persisting in allowing Jewish settlers to desecrate the Aqsa Mosque, describing such behavior as a flagrant violation and a provocative act.
In press remarks on Thursday, minister of media affairs and spokesman for the government Mohamed al-Momani demanded the IOA to refrain from facilitating and providing security protection for the settlers' break-ins at the Aqsa Mosque.
Momani deplored the police in Occupied Jerusalem for allowing recently groups of settlers to tour the Mosque's courtyards barefoot as part of Talmudic rituals, stressing that such incident was a serious indicator of Israel's persistence in escalating its violations against the Islamic holy site.
He also condemned the occupation police for interfering in the responsibilities of the Hashemite reconstruction committee at the Mosque and their attempt to prevent it from carrying out repairs to its water system on Thursday morning.
The government spokesman underlined that Israel's aggressive practices against the Aqsa Mosque constitute a clear violation of its peace treaty with Jordan and the international law.
He added that Israel's ongoing violations at the Mosque clearly proved its attempt to impose a new fait accompli at the Islamic holy site as it had done in several areas of east Jerusalem.
The spokesman affirmed that Jordan would continue to protect the Aqsa Mosque and all Islamic and Christian holy sites in the occupied territories and use all diplomatic and legal tools to stand firmly against Israel's violations.
In press remarks on Thursday, minister of media affairs and spokesman for the government Mohamed al-Momani demanded the IOA to refrain from facilitating and providing security protection for the settlers' break-ins at the Aqsa Mosque.
Momani deplored the police in Occupied Jerusalem for allowing recently groups of settlers to tour the Mosque's courtyards barefoot as part of Talmudic rituals, stressing that such incident was a serious indicator of Israel's persistence in escalating its violations against the Islamic holy site.
He also condemned the occupation police for interfering in the responsibilities of the Hashemite reconstruction committee at the Mosque and their attempt to prevent it from carrying out repairs to its water system on Thursday morning.
The government spokesman underlined that Israel's aggressive practices against the Aqsa Mosque constitute a clear violation of its peace treaty with Jordan and the international law.
He added that Israel's ongoing violations at the Mosque clearly proved its attempt to impose a new fait accompli at the Islamic holy site as it had done in several areas of east Jerusalem.
The spokesman affirmed that Jordan would continue to protect the Aqsa Mosque and all Islamic and Christian holy sites in the occupied territories and use all diplomatic and legal tools to stand firmly against Israel's violations.
Israeli media is replete with incitement against Palestinians and the current Al-Quds Intifada. This wave of hate is an echo to the Zionist leaders’ propaganda that mainly targets Palestinians of Jerusalem.
PIC monitored Israeli Walla’s report of Israeli police “confiscating a shipment of weapons and military equipment” at Ashdod Port bound for East Jerusalem Palestinian merchants.
According to Walla, Israeli police seized tens of thousands of tasers, guns, swords, fatigues, binoculars, and cipher machines hidden among flour, clothes and other food imports. Israeli occupation authorities now keep these “weapons” in what they dubbed as “Intifada Stockpile”.
Incitement against Jerusalemites
PIC's Israeli affairs analyst sees this as clear incitement against Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem and a call to tighten the economic siege on Palestinians.
“Israel is already flooding Jerusalem merchants and stores with taxes; this hoax will add more restraints that eventually aim at expelling Arab residents of Jerusalem, and thus benefiting the Jewish settlers,” he said.
The PIC analyst added that the Israeli occupation is carefully targeting the Palestinian economy in Jerusalem to overturn Al-Quds Intifada’s tremendous impacts on Israeli security and economy.
Silent expulsion
According to our analyst, “The Israeli occupation is making it impossible for Palestinians to live in Jerusalem, through checkpoints, sanctions on imports, isolation, and restrictions. When merchants are constantly harassed, their imports confiscated and their movement restricted, they might ultimately move outside Jerusalem.”
“Israeli measures always mean collective punishment, sanctions, and restrictions on movement and travel. This means more poverty and pressure on Palestinians living in Jerusalem. That occupation policy, in which Palestinians are obliged to willingly leave due to poverty and restrictions, is called “Silent Expulsion” which paves the way before the Zionist scheme of Greater Jerusalem for Jews only and building the so-called temple.”
PIC monitored Israeli Walla’s report of Israeli police “confiscating a shipment of weapons and military equipment” at Ashdod Port bound for East Jerusalem Palestinian merchants.
According to Walla, Israeli police seized tens of thousands of tasers, guns, swords, fatigues, binoculars, and cipher machines hidden among flour, clothes and other food imports. Israeli occupation authorities now keep these “weapons” in what they dubbed as “Intifada Stockpile”.
Incitement against Jerusalemites
PIC's Israeli affairs analyst sees this as clear incitement against Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem and a call to tighten the economic siege on Palestinians.
“Israel is already flooding Jerusalem merchants and stores with taxes; this hoax will add more restraints that eventually aim at expelling Arab residents of Jerusalem, and thus benefiting the Jewish settlers,” he said.
The PIC analyst added that the Israeli occupation is carefully targeting the Palestinian economy in Jerusalem to overturn Al-Quds Intifada’s tremendous impacts on Israeli security and economy.
Silent expulsion
According to our analyst, “The Israeli occupation is making it impossible for Palestinians to live in Jerusalem, through checkpoints, sanctions on imports, isolation, and restrictions. When merchants are constantly harassed, their imports confiscated and their movement restricted, they might ultimately move outside Jerusalem.”
“Israeli measures always mean collective punishment, sanctions, and restrictions on movement and travel. This means more poverty and pressure on Palestinians living in Jerusalem. That occupation policy, in which Palestinians are obliged to willingly leave due to poverty and restrictions, is called “Silent Expulsion” which paves the way before the Zionist scheme of Greater Jerusalem for Jews only and building the so-called temple.”