4 aug 2016
Extremist rabbi Yehuda Glick has incited against the guards of the Aqsa Mosque and the Islamic Waqf Authority in Occupied Jerusalem and called on the Israeli government to take control of the Islamic holy site immediately.
This came in a lengthy speech he delivered in the Knesset, in which he called the Aqsa Mosque "the temple mount", and urged Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu to impose what he labelled as Israel's sovereignty over the holy site.
Glick, who was recently appointed by the right-wing Likud party as a Knesset member, waged vicious incitement against the Aqsa Mosque's guards in particular, describing them as "bullies and rioters", and called on the Israeli police to keep them away from him.
He also launched a scathing attack on the Islamic Waqf Authority in Jerusalem and called for revoking its jurisdiction over the Aqsa Mosque, warning that the [alleged] temple mount would remain under the "gentiles' occupation" if there was no immediate action to change it.
In a related development, the Israeli occupation police intend to file indictments against three Aqsa Mosque employees, namely, Hamza al-Nabali, Hamza Addisi, and Ra'ed Zaghir, for allegedly assaulting visitors at the holy site.
The Israeli police already issued banishment orders against eight employees working for the Awqaf authority and the Aqsa Mosque. Two of them are still in detention.
For its part, Jordan, which is responsible for the Aqsa Mosque, has intervened to stop any Israeli interference in the work of the Mosque guards.
Jordanian awqaf official Abdullah al-Abbadi said the government initiated diplomatic contacts with its Israeli counterpart to protect the legal rights of Aqsa Mosque employees and guards and to prevent any Israeli interference in their duties.
This came in a lengthy speech he delivered in the Knesset, in which he called the Aqsa Mosque "the temple mount", and urged Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu to impose what he labelled as Israel's sovereignty over the holy site.
Glick, who was recently appointed by the right-wing Likud party as a Knesset member, waged vicious incitement against the Aqsa Mosque's guards in particular, describing them as "bullies and rioters", and called on the Israeli police to keep them away from him.
He also launched a scathing attack on the Islamic Waqf Authority in Jerusalem and called for revoking its jurisdiction over the Aqsa Mosque, warning that the [alleged] temple mount would remain under the "gentiles' occupation" if there was no immediate action to change it.
In a related development, the Israeli occupation police intend to file indictments against three Aqsa Mosque employees, namely, Hamza al-Nabali, Hamza Addisi, and Ra'ed Zaghir, for allegedly assaulting visitors at the holy site.
The Israeli police already issued banishment orders against eight employees working for the Awqaf authority and the Aqsa Mosque. Two of them are still in detention.
For its part, Jordan, which is responsible for the Aqsa Mosque, has intervened to stop any Israeli interference in the work of the Mosque guards.
Jordanian awqaf official Abdullah al-Abbadi said the government initiated diplomatic contacts with its Israeli counterpart to protect the legal rights of Aqsa Mosque employees and guards and to prevent any Israeli interference in their duties.
Israeli Special Forces Tuesday morning arrested the director of the renovation committee of the Aqsa Mosque, Bassam al-Hallaq, along with three of its employees and took them to a detention and investigation center in the Old City of Occupied Jerusalem.
This followed the Israeli order of halting renovation works of the Dome of the Rock which was refused by al-Hallaq who said it is of the business of Islamic Awqaf only.
Meanwhile, the guards of the Aqsa Mosque thwarted extremist settlers’ attempts to perform Talmudic rituals at the Aqsa Mosque.
In a similar context, Israeli police hindered repair works at the Aqsa Mosque in a step that was condemned by the Awqaf Department.
This followed the Israeli order of halting renovation works of the Dome of the Rock which was refused by al-Hallaq who said it is of the business of Islamic Awqaf only.
Meanwhile, the guards of the Aqsa Mosque thwarted extremist settlers’ attempts to perform Talmudic rituals at the Aqsa Mosque.
In a similar context, Israeli police hindered repair works at the Aqsa Mosque in a step that was condemned by the Awqaf Department.
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Palestinian poet and political prisoner Dareen Tatour finally returned to her hometown of Reineh, last week, after enduring various forms of Israeli detention for nearly nine months.
Her family and supporters joyously greeted her with music, food and fireworks when she arrived to the village on July 26th. Yet, Tartour’s future remains uncertain: she will remain under house arrest and electronic surveillance in her family’s home. Moreover, her trial remains ongoing. If Israeli authorities find her guilty of “incitement to violence,” she will be taken back to prison for up to eight years. Israeli forces arrested Tatour on October 11th, 2015. They charged her with incitement to violence, based on a YouTube video showcasing a poem she wrote titled Resist, My People, Resist Them, as well as two statuses and an image of Israa Abed posted on her Facebook profile. “It is ironic, but not surprising, that I was sent to jail for protesting the killing of my people whereas actual Israeli killers roam free,” Tatour told The Electronic Intifada in April. After her initial arrest, Tatour was shuffled between multiple Israeli prisons for three months. |
In January, Israeli authorities transferred her to strict house arrest in Kiyrat Ono – a suburb over 100 kilometers away from her hometown. There, in a small apartment her brother had to rent for the occasion, Tatour was trapped with round-the-clock Israeli guards, forbidden from accessing Internet, and forced to wear an ankle monitor at all times.
However, between her release from Kiryat Ono and arrival in Reineh, Tatour spent another unexpected night in Israeli prison. At a court hearing on July 25th, the private for-profit ankle monitor company failed to produce a report required to approve Tatour’s transfer to Reineh. In anticipation of “negative reply” from operators of the ankle monitor, the judge detained Tatour. She had expressed that she would prefer jail to the draconian conditions of her house arrest.
Tartour court proceedings continued the following day. But, the surveillance company did not produce the requied report. In lieu of the surveillance report, Israeli authorities decided that Tatour should be taken back to prison. However, when the Israeli guards arrived with Tatour at Damoun prison, the prison authorities maintained the court had “released her” and refused to lock her up.
Though Tatour was stranded at the prison for some time, eventually her family was able to rescue her and happily take her home. A meeting with the surveillance company was scheduled for the following day.
On Thursday, Tatour told +972: “I feel much better now that I am in my home with my parents. Maybe I am nearing the end of the nightmare. Now I can have guests — I would be happy to meet the people who supported me.”
Solidarity with Tatour has grown over the course of her case. Demonstrations, vigils, and poetry nights for her freedom have been held in Haifa, Nazareth Jaffa, London, New York and Philadelphia.
Moreover, over 400 acclaimed poets and writers, including Alice Walker, Viet Thanh Nguyen and Eve Ensler, signed a letter calling for Tatour’s freedom. In the letter, the artists decry her arrest as evidence of the Israeli government’s “desire to silence Tatour” as “part of a larger pattern of Israeli repression against all Palestinians.”
Indeed, Tartour’s arrest is exemplary of Israel’s increasing criminalization of Palestinians’ Facebook activity since the popular uprising began in October 2015. So far, since October 2015, Israeli forces have arrested 400 Palestinians for Facebook posts.
Article author Anna Ty is a poet, activist and student of Anthropology, Gender, Sexuality, Feminism and Social Justice Studies at McGill University in Montreal.
However, between her release from Kiryat Ono and arrival in Reineh, Tatour spent another unexpected night in Israeli prison. At a court hearing on July 25th, the private for-profit ankle monitor company failed to produce a report required to approve Tatour’s transfer to Reineh. In anticipation of “negative reply” from operators of the ankle monitor, the judge detained Tatour. She had expressed that she would prefer jail to the draconian conditions of her house arrest.
Tartour court proceedings continued the following day. But, the surveillance company did not produce the requied report. In lieu of the surveillance report, Israeli authorities decided that Tatour should be taken back to prison. However, when the Israeli guards arrived with Tatour at Damoun prison, the prison authorities maintained the court had “released her” and refused to lock her up.
Though Tatour was stranded at the prison for some time, eventually her family was able to rescue her and happily take her home. A meeting with the surveillance company was scheduled for the following day.
On Thursday, Tatour told +972: “I feel much better now that I am in my home with my parents. Maybe I am nearing the end of the nightmare. Now I can have guests — I would be happy to meet the people who supported me.”
Solidarity with Tatour has grown over the course of her case. Demonstrations, vigils, and poetry nights for her freedom have been held in Haifa, Nazareth Jaffa, London, New York and Philadelphia.
Moreover, over 400 acclaimed poets and writers, including Alice Walker, Viet Thanh Nguyen and Eve Ensler, signed a letter calling for Tatour’s freedom. In the letter, the artists decry her arrest as evidence of the Israeli government’s “desire to silence Tatour” as “part of a larger pattern of Israeli repression against all Palestinians.”
Indeed, Tartour’s arrest is exemplary of Israel’s increasing criminalization of Palestinians’ Facebook activity since the popular uprising began in October 2015. So far, since October 2015, Israeli forces have arrested 400 Palestinians for Facebook posts.
Article author Anna Ty is a poet, activist and student of Anthropology, Gender, Sexuality, Feminism and Social Justice Studies at McGill University in Montreal.
3 aug 2016
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) attacked the expectant wife of the slain Palestinian anti-occupation activist Muhammad al-Fekih and inflicted a serious brain hemorrhage on her father.
The IOF attacked Muhamamd’s expectant wife, Hadeel, in her family home in al-Qalqilya. Her father Zuheir Barakat Awda sustained a critical brain hemorrhage after he was aggressively beaten by the IOF.
Both Hadeel and her father were rushed to the UNRWA hospital in Qalqilya for urgent treatment.
The father is still held in an intensive care unit. Al-Fekih family held the Israeli occupation authorities responsible for the lives of Hadeel and her father.
“Such an aggressive assault on four-month pregnant Hadeel and her father emanates from an Israeli attempt to take revenge on Palestinian anti-occupation protesters, dead or alive,” the family stated.
Israeli Soldiers Beat Pregnant Wife of Suspected Gunman
The IOF attacked Muhamamd’s expectant wife, Hadeel, in her family home in al-Qalqilya. Her father Zuheir Barakat Awda sustained a critical brain hemorrhage after he was aggressively beaten by the IOF.
Both Hadeel and her father were rushed to the UNRWA hospital in Qalqilya for urgent treatment.
The father is still held in an intensive care unit. Al-Fekih family held the Israeli occupation authorities responsible for the lives of Hadeel and her father.
“Such an aggressive assault on four-month pregnant Hadeel and her father emanates from an Israeli attempt to take revenge on Palestinian anti-occupation protesters, dead or alive,” the family stated.
Israeli Soldiers Beat Pregnant Wife of Suspected Gunman
Israeli military forces stormed, on Wednesday at dawn, the house of Hadeel Owda, wife of Mohammad al-Faqeeh, who was killed by Israeli forces on July 27, and proceeded to physically assault her.
Family members claimed, according to Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency, that an Israeli military detachment stormed the house, while a number of female soldiers beat Hadeel on her abdomen with the intent of causing an abortion for her unborn fetus.
The family added that the soldiers tried to arrest Owda, while her father subsequently fell into a coma, and was taken to an Israeli hospital.
Faqeeh’s wife is in her fourth month of pregnancy, and Israeli forces had reportedly demanded her to get abortion for her baby, previously.
Israeli authorities alleged that Faqeeh was the gunman who carried out a shooting attack on Route 60, between the illegal Israeli settlements of Beit Hagai and Otniel, to the south of Hebron, which killed Otniel resident Michael Marc.
The Israeli soldiers bombarded, destroyed the house and killed Faqeeh while he was inside it.
Family members claimed, according to Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency, that an Israeli military detachment stormed the house, while a number of female soldiers beat Hadeel on her abdomen with the intent of causing an abortion for her unborn fetus.
The family added that the soldiers tried to arrest Owda, while her father subsequently fell into a coma, and was taken to an Israeli hospital.
Faqeeh’s wife is in her fourth month of pregnancy, and Israeli forces had reportedly demanded her to get abortion for her baby, previously.
Israeli authorities alleged that Faqeeh was the gunman who carried out a shooting attack on Route 60, between the illegal Israeli settlements of Beit Hagai and Otniel, to the south of Hebron, which killed Otniel resident Michael Marc.
The Israeli soldiers bombarded, destroyed the house and killed Faqeeh while he was inside it.
Israeli soldiers kidnapped, on Tuesday morning, four workers of the Waqf and Islamic Affairs Department, in the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem, after ordering them to stop maintenance work in the Dome of the Rock.
Soldiers and extremists also stormed the courtyards of the mosque.
The Waqf Department said the soldiers kidnapped the head of the Reconstruction Committee Bassam al-Hallaq, in addition to work supervisor Issa Salhab, and two workers identified as Baha’ Abu Sbeih and Saed Abu Sneina, and took them to an interrogation center in Jerusalem.
The Department stated that the soldiers ordered the workers to stop all rehabilitation and maintenance work in the Dome of the Rock, but the workers refused to do so while al-Hallaq told them that this work falls solely under the Jurisdiction of the Ministry of Waqf and Islamic Affairs.
In related news, dozens of soldiers and Israeli extremists stormed the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, after the army assaulted the guards and many Muslim worshipers, in order to facilitate the provocative tour into the holy site.
The attack comes only one day before the so-called “Temple Destruction Anniversary,” while many extremist Israeli groups are organizing massive marches into the Al-Aqsa, starting on Thursday.
Soldiers and extremists also stormed the courtyards of the mosque.
The Waqf Department said the soldiers kidnapped the head of the Reconstruction Committee Bassam al-Hallaq, in addition to work supervisor Issa Salhab, and two workers identified as Baha’ Abu Sbeih and Saed Abu Sneina, and took them to an interrogation center in Jerusalem.
The Department stated that the soldiers ordered the workers to stop all rehabilitation and maintenance work in the Dome of the Rock, but the workers refused to do so while al-Hallaq told them that this work falls solely under the Jurisdiction of the Ministry of Waqf and Islamic Affairs.
In related news, dozens of soldiers and Israeli extremists stormed the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, after the army assaulted the guards and many Muslim worshipers, in order to facilitate the provocative tour into the holy site.
The attack comes only one day before the so-called “Temple Destruction Anniversary,” while many extremist Israeli groups are organizing massive marches into the Al-Aqsa, starting on Thursday.
2 aug 2016
A guard at the holy al-Aqsa Mosque was aggressively attacked by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Tuesday morning.
According to a PIC journalist, the IOF soldiers heavily beat up the guard Majd Abideen. The guard was rushed to the Makasid hospital, in Occupied Jerusalem, for urgent treatment.
The Israeli occupation officers reportedly smoked cigarettes at the Mosque and subjected the supervision staff to psycho-physical crackdown.
The Israeli occupation police further prevented the members of the reconstruction personnel at al-Aqsa from repairing a water pipe.
According to a PIC journalist, the IOF soldiers heavily beat up the guard Majd Abideen. The guard was rushed to the Makasid hospital, in Occupied Jerusalem, for urgent treatment.
The Israeli occupation officers reportedly smoked cigarettes at the Mosque and subjected the supervision staff to psycho-physical crackdown.
The Israeli occupation police further prevented the members of the reconstruction personnel at al-Aqsa from repairing a water pipe.
The Journalist Support Committee (JSC) said that Israel's military and security forces committed 47 violations against journalists and media workers during July 2016.
In a recent report, the JSC said that the Israeli army and police arrested eight Palestinian journalists from Jerusalem, Qalqilya and Ramallah, and released most of them later during the month.
The Israeli authorities also extended the detention of journalist Adib al-Attrash and postponed the trial of another one called Samah Duweik.
According to the report, an administratively detained journalist named Malik al-Qadi was reportedly exposed to torture and maltreatment in an Israeli jail, which prompted him to go on hunger strike.
Other violations against journalists during the reporting month included raids on homes, confiscation of cars and cameras, assaults, harassment, banishment orders and removal of Facebook pages.
The report also highlighted several violations committed by the Palestinian Authority security apparatuses, including the arrest of journalists Mohamed Abu Juhaisha and Mohamed Khabisa, raids on homes, and banning journalists from holding a news conference.
In a recent report, the JSC said that the Israeli army and police arrested eight Palestinian journalists from Jerusalem, Qalqilya and Ramallah, and released most of them later during the month.
The Israeli authorities also extended the detention of journalist Adib al-Attrash and postponed the trial of another one called Samah Duweik.
According to the report, an administratively detained journalist named Malik al-Qadi was reportedly exposed to torture and maltreatment in an Israeli jail, which prompted him to go on hunger strike.
Other violations against journalists during the reporting month included raids on homes, confiscation of cars and cameras, assaults, harassment, banishment orders and removal of Facebook pages.
The report also highlighted several violations committed by the Palestinian Authority security apparatuses, including the arrest of journalists Mohamed Abu Juhaisha and Mohamed Khabisa, raids on homes, and banning journalists from holding a news conference.
Riyad al-Ashqar, researcher concerned with prisoners’ affairs, documented 510 arrests among Palestinians at the hands of Israeli occupation forces during last month.
The arrests included 75 children, 21 women, and 18 detainees from Gaza including 13 fishermen.
The report pointed out that Israeli courts issued 94 administrative detention orders against 28 new prisoners and 56 extension orders of administrative detention for 2-6-month periods.
Most of the orders, 37, were issued against captives from al-Khalil. Ashqar revealed that Israeli courts last month issued life sentences against two prisoners: Ragheb Elaiwi, from Nablus, and Raed Khalil from al-Khalil.
This brought the number of prisoners who are serving life sentences to 491. The Israeli prison service carried out arbitrary transfer operations and stormed many sections and rooms especially in Nafha and Raymon jails.
Electric appliances of prisoners were also confiscated and some sections were turned into isolation places. 100 Prisoners, most prominent the secretary general of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine Ahmad Saadat, are going on hunger strike in solidarity with striking captives, Ashqar said.
The arrests included 75 children, 21 women, and 18 detainees from Gaza including 13 fishermen.
The report pointed out that Israeli courts issued 94 administrative detention orders against 28 new prisoners and 56 extension orders of administrative detention for 2-6-month periods.
Most of the orders, 37, were issued against captives from al-Khalil. Ashqar revealed that Israeli courts last month issued life sentences against two prisoners: Ragheb Elaiwi, from Nablus, and Raed Khalil from al-Khalil.
This brought the number of prisoners who are serving life sentences to 491. The Israeli prison service carried out arbitrary transfer operations and stormed many sections and rooms especially in Nafha and Raymon jails.
Electric appliances of prisoners were also confiscated and some sections were turned into isolation places. 100 Prisoners, most prominent the secretary general of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine Ahmad Saadat, are going on hunger strike in solidarity with striking captives, Ashqar said.
Staffers of the Israeli Antiquities and Nature authorities Monday morning stormed and toured al-Rahma gate cemetery adjacent to the Aqsa Mosque in Occupied Jerusalem.
The Israeli forces have recently razed four graves in the same cemetery under the pretext of no permitted construction.
The cemetery, however, is one of the oldest Islamic monuments and cemeteries in the city in which a number of Prophet Mohammad’s companions were buried.
Israeli forces bans burying Palestinians in that historical graveyard because of using some of its land in establishing what they call “national parks” for Judaization purposes.
The Israeli forces have recently razed four graves in the same cemetery under the pretext of no permitted construction.
The cemetery, however, is one of the oldest Islamic monuments and cemeteries in the city in which a number of Prophet Mohammad’s companions were buried.
Israeli forces bans burying Palestinians in that historical graveyard because of using some of its land in establishing what they call “national parks” for Judaization purposes.
1 aug 2016
Jordan called on the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) to cease its escalatory measures against supervision personnel at the holy al-Aqsa Mosque.
Jordanian Religious Affairs Minister Wael Arabiyat condemned Israel’s intervention in the affairs of the Islamic Awqaf department and reconstruction works at the al-Aqsa Mosque.
He dubbed Israel’s interference a violation of humanitarian and international laws, particularly the resolutions of the UN and the UNESCO.
Recently, five members of the al-Aqsa supervision staff were arrested and interrogated by the Israeli occupation police before they were sentenced to arbitrary bans from the al-Aqsa Mosque and to steep fines.
Jordan called on the IOA to backtrack on such oppressive measures, respect the sanctity of the al-Aqsa Mosque, and cease break-ins at the site. Arabiyat hailed the determination of the Muslim guards at al-Aqsa and their willingness to defend its Islamic idiosyncrasy.
Jordanian Religious Affairs Minister Wael Arabiyat condemned Israel’s intervention in the affairs of the Islamic Awqaf department and reconstruction works at the al-Aqsa Mosque.
He dubbed Israel’s interference a violation of humanitarian and international laws, particularly the resolutions of the UN and the UNESCO.
Recently, five members of the al-Aqsa supervision staff were arrested and interrogated by the Israeli occupation police before they were sentenced to arbitrary bans from the al-Aqsa Mosque and to steep fines.
Jordan called on the IOA to backtrack on such oppressive measures, respect the sanctity of the al-Aqsa Mosque, and cease break-ins at the site. Arabiyat hailed the determination of the Muslim guards at al-Aqsa and their willingness to defend its Islamic idiosyncrasy.
31 july 2016
From left, Halima and Hadiba Kayed, the first wife of the father of administrative detainee Bilal Kayed, and Bilal's mother, respectively, at home this month.
Israel may not be Nazi, nor even a fascist state. Yet it is a member of the same terrible family, the family of evil states. Just consider these acts of evil perpetrated by the state...
After we’ve cited nationalism and racism, hatred and contempt for Arab life, the security cult and resistance to the occupation, victimhood and messianism, one more element must be added without which the behavior of the Israeli occupation regime cannot be explained: Evil. Pure evil. Sadistic evil. Evil for its own sake. Sometimes, it’s the only explanation.
Eva Illouz described its signs (“Evil now,” Haaretz, July 30). Her essay, which challenges the idea of the banality of evil, considers the national group as the source of the evil. Using philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein’s concept, she finds a “family resemblance” between the Israeli occupation and history’s evil regimes. This similarity does not mean that Israel is Nazi, nor even fascist. And yet it is a member of the same terrible family, the family of evil states. It’s a depressing and brilliant analysis.
The evil that Illouz attributes to Israel is not banal, it cannot happen anywhere, and it has political and social roots that are deeply embedded in Israeli society. Thus, Illouz joins Zeev Sternhell, who warned in his impressive and resounding essay about the cultural soil out of which fascism is now growing in Israel (“The birth of fascism,” Haaretz Hebrew edition, July 7).
But alongside these analyses, we must also present a brief history of evil. We must present the instances that combine to create a great and horrific picture, a picture of Israeli evil in the territories, so as to stand up to those who deny the evil. It is not the case of the individual – Sgt. Elor Azaria, for example, who is being tried for the death of a subdued Palestinian assailant in Hebron – but the conduct of the establishment and the occupation regime that proves the evil. In fact, the continuation of the occupation proves the evil. Illouz, Sternhell and others provide debatable analyses on its origins, but whatever they are, it can no longer be denied.
One case is like a thousand witnesses: the case of Bilal Kayed. A young man who completed a prison term of 14.5 years – his entire sentence – without a single furlough, without being allowed to at least say goodbye by phone to his dying father; a clear sign of evil.
About six weeks ago, Kayed was getting ready for his release. A representative of the Shin Bet security service – one of the greatest agencies of evil in Israel – even showed him a photograph of the home his family had built for him to stir him up even more ahead of his release. And then, as his family waited impatiently for him at the crossing point and Kayed grew ever more excited in his cell, he was informed that he was being thrown into administrative detention for at least another six months, without trial and without explanation.
Since then, he has been on hunger strike. He is cuffed to his bed. His family is not allowed to see him. Prison guards never leave his room and the lights are not turned out for a moment. Evil.
Only evil can explain the state’s conduct toward Kayed – only an evil state acts this way. The arbitrary announcement, at the last moment, of a senseless detention is abuse, and the way he has been treated since then is also abuse.
Only evil can explain the detention last week of another young man, Hiran Jaradat, whose brother Arif (who had Down syndrome) was killed in June and whose father died two days ago. He is under arrest for “incitement on Facebook” and was not released to attend his father’s funeral. Evil.
The continuation of the detention of poet Darin Tatur – evil. The destruction of the tiny swimming pool that the residents of Khirbet Tana in the northern West Bank had built for themselves – evil. The confiscation of water tanks from a community of shepherds in the Jordan Valley in the July heat – evil.
A great many of the decisions of the occupation regime that decides the fates of individuals, families, communities, villages and cities cannot be explained without evil. The list is as long as the occupation. The extortion of sick people from Gaza to enlist them as collaborators, the blockades on cities and towns for weeks, the Gaza blockade, the demolition of homes – all evil.
Banal or not, its existence must be acknowledged and it must be recognized as one of the most influential values in Israel. Yes, there is an evil regime at work in Israel, and therefore it is an evil state.
Israel may not be Nazi, nor even a fascist state. Yet it is a member of the same terrible family, the family of evil states. Just consider these acts of evil perpetrated by the state...
After we’ve cited nationalism and racism, hatred and contempt for Arab life, the security cult and resistance to the occupation, victimhood and messianism, one more element must be added without which the behavior of the Israeli occupation regime cannot be explained: Evil. Pure evil. Sadistic evil. Evil for its own sake. Sometimes, it’s the only explanation.
Eva Illouz described its signs (“Evil now,” Haaretz, July 30). Her essay, which challenges the idea of the banality of evil, considers the national group as the source of the evil. Using philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein’s concept, she finds a “family resemblance” between the Israeli occupation and history’s evil regimes. This similarity does not mean that Israel is Nazi, nor even fascist. And yet it is a member of the same terrible family, the family of evil states. It’s a depressing and brilliant analysis.
The evil that Illouz attributes to Israel is not banal, it cannot happen anywhere, and it has political and social roots that are deeply embedded in Israeli society. Thus, Illouz joins Zeev Sternhell, who warned in his impressive and resounding essay about the cultural soil out of which fascism is now growing in Israel (“The birth of fascism,” Haaretz Hebrew edition, July 7).
But alongside these analyses, we must also present a brief history of evil. We must present the instances that combine to create a great and horrific picture, a picture of Israeli evil in the territories, so as to stand up to those who deny the evil. It is not the case of the individual – Sgt. Elor Azaria, for example, who is being tried for the death of a subdued Palestinian assailant in Hebron – but the conduct of the establishment and the occupation regime that proves the evil. In fact, the continuation of the occupation proves the evil. Illouz, Sternhell and others provide debatable analyses on its origins, but whatever they are, it can no longer be denied.
One case is like a thousand witnesses: the case of Bilal Kayed. A young man who completed a prison term of 14.5 years – his entire sentence – without a single furlough, without being allowed to at least say goodbye by phone to his dying father; a clear sign of evil.
About six weeks ago, Kayed was getting ready for his release. A representative of the Shin Bet security service – one of the greatest agencies of evil in Israel – even showed him a photograph of the home his family had built for him to stir him up even more ahead of his release. And then, as his family waited impatiently for him at the crossing point and Kayed grew ever more excited in his cell, he was informed that he was being thrown into administrative detention for at least another six months, without trial and without explanation.
Since then, he has been on hunger strike. He is cuffed to his bed. His family is not allowed to see him. Prison guards never leave his room and the lights are not turned out for a moment. Evil.
Only evil can explain the state’s conduct toward Kayed – only an evil state acts this way. The arbitrary announcement, at the last moment, of a senseless detention is abuse, and the way he has been treated since then is also abuse.
Only evil can explain the detention last week of another young man, Hiran Jaradat, whose brother Arif (who had Down syndrome) was killed in June and whose father died two days ago. He is under arrest for “incitement on Facebook” and was not released to attend his father’s funeral. Evil.
The continuation of the detention of poet Darin Tatur – evil. The destruction of the tiny swimming pool that the residents of Khirbet Tana in the northern West Bank had built for themselves – evil. The confiscation of water tanks from a community of shepherds in the Jordan Valley in the July heat – evil.
A great many of the decisions of the occupation regime that decides the fates of individuals, families, communities, villages and cities cannot be explained without evil. The list is as long as the occupation. The extortion of sick people from Gaza to enlist them as collaborators, the blockades on cities and towns for weeks, the Gaza blockade, the demolition of homes – all evil.
Banal or not, its existence must be acknowledged and it must be recognized as one of the most influential values in Israel. Yes, there is an evil regime at work in Israel, and therefore it is an evil state.
Palestinian lawmaker Basem Za'arir has hailed martyr Mohamed al-Faqih, who died in recent armed clashes with Israeli soldiers in al-Khalil, for the great sacrifice he made and the courage he demonstrated during his confrontation with the Israeli occupation forces.
In press remarks, MP Za'arir described martyr Faqih as a "blessed candle that lit up the path of salvation and freedom for his own people and nation, and revived their hopes."
He also praised the family of the martyr for their steadfastness and patience, adding that the Palestinian people have all the right to be proud of the martyr and his family.
"Palestine is proud of people like al-Faqih. They are its real and finest sons who insist on keeping the flag raised and passing it to each other in order not to fall down until God bestows victory and salvation from the yoke of occupation upon our people."
Mohamed al-Faqih was killed last Wednesday at dawn by Israeli troops who used portable missiles to destroy the house he was in following six hours of armed clashes with him in Surif town north of al-Khalil.
In press remarks, MP Za'arir described martyr Faqih as a "blessed candle that lit up the path of salvation and freedom for his own people and nation, and revived their hopes."
He also praised the family of the martyr for their steadfastness and patience, adding that the Palestinian people have all the right to be proud of the martyr and his family.
"Palestine is proud of people like al-Faqih. They are its real and finest sons who insist on keeping the flag raised and passing it to each other in order not to fall down until God bestows victory and salvation from the yoke of occupation upon our people."
Mohamed al-Faqih was killed last Wednesday at dawn by Israeli troops who used portable missiles to destroy the house he was in following six hours of armed clashes with him in Surif town north of al-Khalil.