10 july 2016
A joint Jordanian-Palestinian draft decision denying Jewish affinity with the Temple Mount, including the Wailing Wall, set to be voted on during annual UNESCO meeting: Draft accuses Israel of misconduct on the mount including deliberate vandalism: Foreign Ministry says document is 'malicious and dishonest.'
The subject of the Jewish connection with the Temple Mount has once again been returned to the UN as Palestinians and Jordanians seek to repudiate Jewish affinity with any part of the compound.
The Israeli foreign ministry and Israeli embassies around the world are currently dedicating significant efforts to undermine the acceptance of the draft decision in UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) which also accuses Israel of causing damage to holy Islamic sites.
The draft decision is supposed to be voted upon by the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO which meets once a year and consists of 21 representatives from the affiliate states.
Israel is seeking to exert greater pressure on the member states in an effort to prevent a recurrence of what took place in April when the committee unilaterally condemned "Israeli aggression on the Temple Mount," and disregarded all Israeli or Jewish claims over the area, including the Wailing Wall.
The draft decision presented by the Palestinians and Jordanians includes a number of problematic points in relation to Israel. Firstly, the draft calls on Israel to return the Temple Mount and the al-Aqsa mosque to “the historic status quo,” a new phrase implying that the sites should be returned to their pre-1967 status.
The recommendations constitute another attempt to remove any Jewish presence from the Temple Mount. Moreover, the text repeatedly refers to the entire compound as an exclusively holy Muslim site and makes no exception on the issue of the Wailing wall. In October 2015, a similar attempt failed when brought before UNESCO.
Throughout the entire document, Israel is repeatedly alluded to as an occupying force on the Temple Mount while being accused of breaching international treaties such as the Geneva Convention and the Hague Convention. According to the claims, Israel is causing damage to historic buildings on the mount, to gates, windows and to ceramics while simultaneously preventing repair and renovation projects initiated by the Jordanians.
According to Israeli officials, there is also an attempt to compose an indictment against Israel vis-a-vis its activities on the Temple Mount which will be presented to the Criminal Court of Justice in the Hague.
The Israeli ambassador at UNESCO, Carmel Shama Hacohen, said in response, “Anyone who thought that after the criticism voiced by Israeli and international Jewry against this decision and the recanting of the heads of state and foreign ministers around the world following the last decision that Palestinians would come to their senses need to come to their senses and internalize this complicated reality.”
“We have made a concerted diplomatic but the voting will be conducted by a secret ballot and the rules of the game are well known: Palestinians almost always have a majority.”
The foreign ministry released a statement slamming the Jordanian-Palestinian initiative: “The document that was presented to UNESCO is an another malicious and dishonest attempt to harm Israel’s affinity with its capital,” the statement read. “This is a tendentious text and we hope that it is does not receive support from the member states. Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the nation of Israel and of Israel’s alone.”
The subject of the Jewish connection with the Temple Mount has once again been returned to the UN as Palestinians and Jordanians seek to repudiate Jewish affinity with any part of the compound.
The Israeli foreign ministry and Israeli embassies around the world are currently dedicating significant efforts to undermine the acceptance of the draft decision in UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) which also accuses Israel of causing damage to holy Islamic sites.
The draft decision is supposed to be voted upon by the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO which meets once a year and consists of 21 representatives from the affiliate states.
Israel is seeking to exert greater pressure on the member states in an effort to prevent a recurrence of what took place in April when the committee unilaterally condemned "Israeli aggression on the Temple Mount," and disregarded all Israeli or Jewish claims over the area, including the Wailing Wall.
The draft decision presented by the Palestinians and Jordanians includes a number of problematic points in relation to Israel. Firstly, the draft calls on Israel to return the Temple Mount and the al-Aqsa mosque to “the historic status quo,” a new phrase implying that the sites should be returned to their pre-1967 status.
The recommendations constitute another attempt to remove any Jewish presence from the Temple Mount. Moreover, the text repeatedly refers to the entire compound as an exclusively holy Muslim site and makes no exception on the issue of the Wailing wall. In October 2015, a similar attempt failed when brought before UNESCO.
Throughout the entire document, Israel is repeatedly alluded to as an occupying force on the Temple Mount while being accused of breaching international treaties such as the Geneva Convention and the Hague Convention. According to the claims, Israel is causing damage to historic buildings on the mount, to gates, windows and to ceramics while simultaneously preventing repair and renovation projects initiated by the Jordanians.
According to Israeli officials, there is also an attempt to compose an indictment against Israel vis-a-vis its activities on the Temple Mount which will be presented to the Criminal Court of Justice in the Hague.
The Israeli ambassador at UNESCO, Carmel Shama Hacohen, said in response, “Anyone who thought that after the criticism voiced by Israeli and international Jewry against this decision and the recanting of the heads of state and foreign ministers around the world following the last decision that Palestinians would come to their senses need to come to their senses and internalize this complicated reality.”
“We have made a concerted diplomatic but the voting will be conducted by a secret ballot and the rules of the game are well known: Palestinians almost always have a majority.”
The foreign ministry released a statement slamming the Jordanian-Palestinian initiative: “The document that was presented to UNESCO is an another malicious and dishonest attempt to harm Israel’s affinity with its capital,” the statement read. “This is a tendentious text and we hope that it is does not receive support from the member states. Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the nation of Israel and of Israel’s alone.”
The information center of Wadi Hilweh documented the martyrdom of seven Jerusalmite people including a girl child, a minor and a woman.
They were killed by Israeli gunfire. 963 others were arrested including 47 women, 58 elderly men, and 366 minors during the first half of year 2016.
In a report issued on Saturday, the center revealed that the martyrs were killed after alleged stabbing or shooting attempts without giving them a chance whether by arrest or even shooting at nonfatal positions.
The center pointed to the Israeli continuation of detaining the bodies of 6 Jerusalemite martyrs, storming the Aqsa Mosque by 6,272 settlers and deportation of 143 Muslim worshipers away from the holy site for various periods ranging from a week to 6 months since January.
The fanatic settlers sprayed racist anti-Christian slogans at the walls of a German Church called Dormition Sanctae Mariae and the Institute of the priesthood of the Orthodox Patriarchate in Mount Zion in the Old City of Occupied Jerusalem. They also assaulted three Jerusalmite men west of the city.
They were killed by Israeli gunfire. 963 others were arrested including 47 women, 58 elderly men, and 366 minors during the first half of year 2016.
In a report issued on Saturday, the center revealed that the martyrs were killed after alleged stabbing or shooting attempts without giving them a chance whether by arrest or even shooting at nonfatal positions.
The center pointed to the Israeli continuation of detaining the bodies of 6 Jerusalemite martyrs, storming the Aqsa Mosque by 6,272 settlers and deportation of 143 Muslim worshipers away from the holy site for various periods ranging from a week to 6 months since January.
The fanatic settlers sprayed racist anti-Christian slogans at the walls of a German Church called Dormition Sanctae Mariae and the Institute of the priesthood of the Orthodox Patriarchate in Mount Zion in the Old City of Occupied Jerusalem. They also assaulted three Jerusalmite men west of the city.
8 july 2016
Israeli authorities turned the occupied city of Jerusalem into a military barrack on Friday that coincides with the third day of Eid al-Fitr.
Dozens of Israeli police deployed at the entrances to the Old City where they stopped and searched all Palestinians heading to al-Aqsa Mosque.
Only West Bankers who hold Israeli permits were hardly allowed to reach al-Aqsa Mosque.
Israeli authorities also allowed nearly 300 Gazans over the age of 60 to attend Friday prayers at the Mosque.
Dozens of Israeli police deployed at the entrances to the Old City where they stopped and searched all Palestinians heading to al-Aqsa Mosque.
Only West Bankers who hold Israeli permits were hardly allowed to reach al-Aqsa Mosque.
Israeli authorities also allowed nearly 300 Gazans over the age of 60 to attend Friday prayers at the Mosque.
The Mayor of Jenin Ibrahim Ramadan announced, in his meeting with representatives on the security apparatuses and institutions in the governorate on Wednesday, the expansion of the security campaign in Jenin following President Mahmoud Abbas’s orders.
The campaign aimed at targeting the lawbreakers and those who try to wreak chaos after Eid al-Fitr, according to the Mayor.
Local sources affirmed to the PIC’s reporter that the campaign followed summoning large-scale security reinforcement from Jericho and Ramallah to Jenin including Unit 101 which is known for storming refugee camps.
Jenin has recently been witnessing an unusual large-scale security deployment of the PA’s security forces in light of a status of tension prevailing since the latest incidents in the governorate, the sources added.
The campaign aimed at targeting the lawbreakers and those who try to wreak chaos after Eid al-Fitr, according to the Mayor.
Local sources affirmed to the PIC’s reporter that the campaign followed summoning large-scale security reinforcement from Jericho and Ramallah to Jenin including Unit 101 which is known for storming refugee camps.
Jenin has recently been witnessing an unusual large-scale security deployment of the PA’s security forces in light of a status of tension prevailing since the latest incidents in the governorate, the sources added.
6 july 2016
During the last days of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Israeli forces have implemented further restrictions in the area of the Ibrahimi Mosque, in occupied al-Khalil (Hebron.) These restrictions deliberately and exclusively target Palestinians in attempts to further cleanse this area of any Palestinian presence.
After 27-year old Sarah Tarayra was gunned down and killed with her unborn baby by Israeli forces at the checkpoint at Ibrahimi Mosque on Friday, 1 July, 2016, the checkpoint leading to Ibrahimi Mosque was blocked by Israeli forces for more than two hours.
Due to this closure, large numbers of Palestinians on their way to the noon prayer of the last Friday of Ramadan, were stuck at the checkpoint, forced to wait till Israeli forces decided to open and allow the Palestinians to reach the mosque for prayer.
In the days following, Israeli forces at the three checkpoints leading to the area immediately around Ibrahimi Mosque implemented age-restrictions, barring access for any Palestinian between 15 and 30 years old. As these restrictive measures on Palestinians was enforced at all three checkpoints leading to the mosque, it effectively prohibited from anyone in this age group from reaching Ibrahimi Mosque, thus denying them their freedom of religion. In the last few days, a 10-year old Palestinian girl was arrested on settler childrens’ accusations and a Palestinian man beaten up by Israeli forces.
The restrictions though, were implemented not consequently at all times – leaving Palestinians without any possibility to know whether they’d be allowed to pass the checkpoint. Thus, any Palestinian in this age-group is at the mercy of the Israeli forces and the only way to find out whether they’d be allowed to reach the mosque for prayers would be to go to the checkpoint and try to pass. Palestinians have reported, that often certain soldiers at the checkpoints would strictly enforce the restrictions, while others would allow some people in this age group to pass. This uncertainty of whether one would be allowed to pass, leaves Palestinians without any possibility to plan or know whether they’d be allowed to pass, leaving them entirely in the dark about whether they’d be able to reach prayer. At times, even residents in this age-group were denied passage through the checkpoint, denying them to reach their own homes.
As these age-restrictions, as any other restrictions, are only enforced on Palestinians, they clearly illustrate further the apartheid-measures implemented by the Israeli forces, during the last few days especially around the Ibrahimi Mosque. But this is not just yet another illustration of the apartheid system in occupied al-Khalil, but also the continuous denial of freedom of religion and movement for the Palestinians in attempts to ethnically cleanse the area of any Palestinian presence.
The Cave of the Patriarchs, also called the Cave of Machpelah and known by Muslims as the Sanctuary of Abraham or the Ibrahimi Mosque. According to tradition that has been associated with the Torah, Bible and the Quran, the cave and adjoining field were purchased by Abraham as a burial plot.
On February 25, 1994, Jewish extremist Baruch Goldstein opened fire on a large number of Palestinian Muslims who had gathered to pray inside the mosque. The massacre immediately set off mass Palestinian protests and riots throughout the West Bank, and within 48 hours, nine Palestinian protesters had been killed by Israeli forces.
After 27-year old Sarah Tarayra was gunned down and killed with her unborn baby by Israeli forces at the checkpoint at Ibrahimi Mosque on Friday, 1 July, 2016, the checkpoint leading to Ibrahimi Mosque was blocked by Israeli forces for more than two hours.
Due to this closure, large numbers of Palestinians on their way to the noon prayer of the last Friday of Ramadan, were stuck at the checkpoint, forced to wait till Israeli forces decided to open and allow the Palestinians to reach the mosque for prayer.
In the days following, Israeli forces at the three checkpoints leading to the area immediately around Ibrahimi Mosque implemented age-restrictions, barring access for any Palestinian between 15 and 30 years old. As these restrictive measures on Palestinians was enforced at all three checkpoints leading to the mosque, it effectively prohibited from anyone in this age group from reaching Ibrahimi Mosque, thus denying them their freedom of religion. In the last few days, a 10-year old Palestinian girl was arrested on settler childrens’ accusations and a Palestinian man beaten up by Israeli forces.
The restrictions though, were implemented not consequently at all times – leaving Palestinians without any possibility to know whether they’d be allowed to pass the checkpoint. Thus, any Palestinian in this age-group is at the mercy of the Israeli forces and the only way to find out whether they’d be allowed to reach the mosque for prayers would be to go to the checkpoint and try to pass. Palestinians have reported, that often certain soldiers at the checkpoints would strictly enforce the restrictions, while others would allow some people in this age group to pass. This uncertainty of whether one would be allowed to pass, leaves Palestinians without any possibility to plan or know whether they’d be allowed to pass, leaving them entirely in the dark about whether they’d be able to reach prayer. At times, even residents in this age-group were denied passage through the checkpoint, denying them to reach their own homes.
As these age-restrictions, as any other restrictions, are only enforced on Palestinians, they clearly illustrate further the apartheid-measures implemented by the Israeli forces, during the last few days especially around the Ibrahimi Mosque. But this is not just yet another illustration of the apartheid system in occupied al-Khalil, but also the continuous denial of freedom of religion and movement for the Palestinians in attempts to ethnically cleanse the area of any Palestinian presence.
The Cave of the Patriarchs, also called the Cave of Machpelah and known by Muslims as the Sanctuary of Abraham or the Ibrahimi Mosque. According to tradition that has been associated with the Torah, Bible and the Quran, the cave and adjoining field were purchased by Abraham as a burial plot.
On February 25, 1994, Jewish extremist Baruch Goldstein opened fire on a large number of Palestinian Muslims who had gathered to pray inside the mosque. The massacre immediately set off mass Palestinian protests and riots throughout the West Bank, and within 48 hours, nine Palestinian protesters had been killed by Israeli forces.
Deputy Head of Hamas’ Political Bureau Ismail Haneyya called Wednesday on Palestinian people and Arab and Islamic nation to stand united against the Israeli occupation.
During Ed al-Fiter sermon, Haneyya said that the regional and sectarian conflicts and bloody bombings aim at diverting compass towards Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque.
Eid has come this year while we are witnessing very difficult and tough days, Haneyya said in reference to the bombing attacks that targeted Saudi Arabia.
Jerusalem, prisoners’ issue, and Palestine are our compass that must not change, he stressed.
Haneyya strongly condemned the bloody attacks targeting the Prophet's Mosque in the city of Medina and Istanbul airport in Turkey.
On the other hand, the senior leader in Hamas Movement stressed that Palestinian prisoners’ issue is on the top priorities of Palestinian people.
Palestinian resistance is ready to reach a new prisoner swap deal, he said, denying media reports about ongoing negotiations with Israeli authorities over prisoners exchange deal.
"We will never accept any prisoners deal before the release of Palestinian ex-prisoners who were earlier released during Shalit swap deal".
Israeli occupation has failed to put down the ongoing Jerusalem Intifada, he said, hailing the strong determination of the Palestinian people in the West Bank and al-Khalil in particular.
Haneyya concluded by thanking Qatar and Turkey for working to alleviate Israeli siege on Gaza, and Egypt for opening Rafah crossing.
During Ed al-Fiter sermon, Haneyya said that the regional and sectarian conflicts and bloody bombings aim at diverting compass towards Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque.
Eid has come this year while we are witnessing very difficult and tough days, Haneyya said in reference to the bombing attacks that targeted Saudi Arabia.
Jerusalem, prisoners’ issue, and Palestine are our compass that must not change, he stressed.
Haneyya strongly condemned the bloody attacks targeting the Prophet's Mosque in the city of Medina and Istanbul airport in Turkey.
On the other hand, the senior leader in Hamas Movement stressed that Palestinian prisoners’ issue is on the top priorities of Palestinian people.
Palestinian resistance is ready to reach a new prisoner swap deal, he said, denying media reports about ongoing negotiations with Israeli authorities over prisoners exchange deal.
"We will never accept any prisoners deal before the release of Palestinian ex-prisoners who were earlier released during Shalit swap deal".
Israeli occupation has failed to put down the ongoing Jerusalem Intifada, he said, hailing the strong determination of the Palestinian people in the West Bank and al-Khalil in particular.
Haneyya concluded by thanking Qatar and Turkey for working to alleviate Israeli siege on Gaza, and Egypt for opening Rafah crossing.
4 july 2016
Israeli cabinet held on Sunday a session to discuss the latest developments and ways to stop the Jerusalem Intifada that broke out in early October 2015.
According to Israeli media sources, the cabinet decided to take ‘aggressive measures’ to stop the escalated Palestinian ant-occupation attacks.
Earlier on Saturday night, the Israeli cabinet imposed a number of ‘collective punishment measures’ against al-Khalil city to the south of occupied West Bank after two of its residents carried out two separate anti-occupation attacks.
In a related context, Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu stated that his government would make special efforts to intensify settlement construction in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
According to the Israeli media, Netanyahu issued directives during a cabinet meeting on Sunday to his ministers to work together on finding ways to boost building in the settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
He said the cabinet would discuss in the coming meeting a plan to promote settlement construction in Kiryat Arba, east of al-Khalil.
According to Israeli media sources, the cabinet decided to take ‘aggressive measures’ to stop the escalated Palestinian ant-occupation attacks.
Earlier on Saturday night, the Israeli cabinet imposed a number of ‘collective punishment measures’ against al-Khalil city to the south of occupied West Bank after two of its residents carried out two separate anti-occupation attacks.
In a related context, Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu stated that his government would make special efforts to intensify settlement construction in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
According to the Israeli media, Netanyahu issued directives during a cabinet meeting on Sunday to his ministers to work together on finding ways to boost building in the settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
He said the cabinet would discuss in the coming meeting a plan to promote settlement construction in Kiryat Arba, east of al-Khalil.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested 3,412 Palestinians during the first half of 2016 including 706 children and 96 women and girls.
The figures were documented in a joint report issued by the PA committee for prisoners and ex-prisoners, the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS), Addameer organisation for human rights, and al-Mizan center for human rights.
Since the outbreak of Jerusalem Intifada in October 2015, 6,326 Palestinians were arrested at the hands of Israeli forces.
Since the beginning of 2016, Israeli authorities issued 1,028 administrative detention orders. 7,000 Palestinian women, 11 children and two MPs were also placed under administrative detention during the reported period.
There are currently 750 administrative detainees in Israeli jails, the report pointed out. 123 Palestinians from Gaza Strip were also arrested since the beginning of the year including 83 fishermen.
According to the report, 330 Palestinian minors are still held in Megiddo and Ofer prisons including sick and injured boys. 15 girls are also held in HaSharon and Damon prisons. Along the same line, Israeli authorities placed 65 Jerusalemite minors under house arrest since the start of 2016.
The report said that 65 Palestinian women and 700 sick prisoners are arbitrarily held in Israeli jails in total disregard to their special needs. Since October 2015, 170 Palestinians mostly minors were arrested on charges of “incitement” on online social media.
During the reported period, 33 Palestinian prisoners declared hunger strike in protest against Israeli arbitrary and punitive measures. The joint statement called on international human rights organizations and the free world to act urgently to expose Israeli documented violations and breaches of international laws.
The figures were documented in a joint report issued by the PA committee for prisoners and ex-prisoners, the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS), Addameer organisation for human rights, and al-Mizan center for human rights.
Since the outbreak of Jerusalem Intifada in October 2015, 6,326 Palestinians were arrested at the hands of Israeli forces.
Since the beginning of 2016, Israeli authorities issued 1,028 administrative detention orders. 7,000 Palestinian women, 11 children and two MPs were also placed under administrative detention during the reported period.
There are currently 750 administrative detainees in Israeli jails, the report pointed out. 123 Palestinians from Gaza Strip were also arrested since the beginning of the year including 83 fishermen.
According to the report, 330 Palestinian minors are still held in Megiddo and Ofer prisons including sick and injured boys. 15 girls are also held in HaSharon and Damon prisons. Along the same line, Israeli authorities placed 65 Jerusalemite minors under house arrest since the start of 2016.
The report said that 65 Palestinian women and 700 sick prisoners are arbitrarily held in Israeli jails in total disregard to their special needs. Since October 2015, 170 Palestinians mostly minors were arrested on charges of “incitement” on online social media.
During the reported period, 33 Palestinian prisoners declared hunger strike in protest against Israeli arbitrary and punitive measures. The joint statement called on international human rights organizations and the free world to act urgently to expose Israeli documented violations and breaches of international laws.
3 july 2016
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) accused the Palestinian Authority (PA) Ministry of Foreign Affairs of hindering popular efforts for internationalizing the issue of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails especially at the UN.
Mohammad al-Khatib, PFLP member and coordinator of “Samedoun” Network in Europe, said in a press statement that the PA’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Riyad al-Malki had not sent any circulation to the embassies of Palestine on the issue of Palestinian prisoners who have been on hunger strike in Israeli jails for two weeks.
Khatib pointed out that the role by Detainees and Ex-detainees Committee in this regard is not enough. The Committee has been incapable to act due to its affiliation with the PA, he said.
Mohammad al-Khatib, PFLP member and coordinator of “Samedoun” Network in Europe, said in a press statement that the PA’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Riyad al-Malki had not sent any circulation to the embassies of Palestine on the issue of Palestinian prisoners who have been on hunger strike in Israeli jails for two weeks.
Khatib pointed out that the role by Detainees and Ex-detainees Committee in this regard is not enough. The Committee has been incapable to act due to its affiliation with the PA, he said.
The Israeli security cabinet on Saturday decided not to return the bodies of Palestinian martyrs to their families and bury them secretly in a new cemetery allocated for them.
The Israeli government claims the step is part of other punitive measures taken against the Palestinians in both the West Bank and Jerusalem in response to recent deadly attacks against Jewish settlers.
Since al-Quds intifada (uprising) started in early October last year in response to Israel's escalation of violations against the Palestinians and their holy sites, the Israeli security authorities have been withholding bodies of attackers as a punitive measure.
This practice was implemented mainly against attackers who were residents of east Jerusalem.
While bodies of attackers from the West Bank are usually returned to their families within a short time, the bodies of attackers from east Jerusalem have been withheld by the Israeli occupation police since the start of the intifada.
The security cabinet also decided during that meeting to impose a complete closure on al-Khalil province, where two deadly attacks happened recently.
Other reprisal measures include seizing some of the tax funds collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority and its government, building 42 housing units in Kiryat Arba settlement, and cancelling work permits for some 2,800 Palestinians from Bani Na'im village, where one of the attackers came from.
The Israeli government claims the step is part of other punitive measures taken against the Palestinians in both the West Bank and Jerusalem in response to recent deadly attacks against Jewish settlers.
Since al-Quds intifada (uprising) started in early October last year in response to Israel's escalation of violations against the Palestinians and their holy sites, the Israeli security authorities have been withholding bodies of attackers as a punitive measure.
This practice was implemented mainly against attackers who were residents of east Jerusalem.
While bodies of attackers from the West Bank are usually returned to their families within a short time, the bodies of attackers from east Jerusalem have been withheld by the Israeli occupation police since the start of the intifada.
The security cabinet also decided during that meeting to impose a complete closure on al-Khalil province, where two deadly attacks happened recently.
Other reprisal measures include seizing some of the tax funds collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority and its government, building 42 housing units in Kiryat Arba settlement, and cancelling work permits for some 2,800 Palestinians from Bani Na'im village, where one of the attackers came from.
28 june 2016
The United Nations Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon traveled to Gaza Monday, following a meeting with the Israeli President in Tel Aviv.
In a press statement following his meeting with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, Ban condemned an attack by a Palestinian several weeks ago in which four Israelis were killed. In 2016 so far 66 Palestinians have been killed, and 6 Israelis.
But Ban did not mention the Palestinians who were killed during his meeting with the President.
He did, however, point to the illegality of the Israeli military occupation that has lasted nearly fifty years. He said that the occupation “has had a devastating impact on Palestinian lives, undermining the belief in a peaceful resolution to this conflict. It also has not brought security for Israelis.”
In Gaza, he told a group of reporters and dignitaries, “The UN stands with the people of Gaza.” He also stated, “Refugees are people, just like you and me.”
Ban’s visit to Israel and Palestine occurred on the same day that Israel and Turkey negotiated an end to their six years of reduced trade and cooperation. The Turkish government cut off relations with Israel following an Israeli raid on a Turkish ship carrying aid to Gaza, in which nine Turkish aid workers were killed.
The negotiated agreement includes the launching of a Turkish aid ship to Gaza – the first foreign vessel of any kind to be allowed to travel to Gaza since Israel imposed the siege six years ago.
In an op-ed published in the Huffington Post regarding Ban ki-Moon’s visit, former Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Ron Prosor railed against the United Nations for his perception that the international organization is somehow biased against Israel. He compared Ban to the warden at a mental institution in which, “the inmates have taken over the asylum and the warden has been glad to give them the keys.”
But Prosor gave little evidence to support his theory that the United Nations unfairly criticizes Israel or holds it to a different standard than any other country.
In a press statement following his meeting with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, Ban condemned an attack by a Palestinian several weeks ago in which four Israelis were killed. In 2016 so far 66 Palestinians have been killed, and 6 Israelis.
But Ban did not mention the Palestinians who were killed during his meeting with the President.
He did, however, point to the illegality of the Israeli military occupation that has lasted nearly fifty years. He said that the occupation “has had a devastating impact on Palestinian lives, undermining the belief in a peaceful resolution to this conflict. It also has not brought security for Israelis.”
In Gaza, he told a group of reporters and dignitaries, “The UN stands with the people of Gaza.” He also stated, “Refugees are people, just like you and me.”
Ban’s visit to Israel and Palestine occurred on the same day that Israel and Turkey negotiated an end to their six years of reduced trade and cooperation. The Turkish government cut off relations with Israel following an Israeli raid on a Turkish ship carrying aid to Gaza, in which nine Turkish aid workers were killed.
The negotiated agreement includes the launching of a Turkish aid ship to Gaza – the first foreign vessel of any kind to be allowed to travel to Gaza since Israel imposed the siege six years ago.
In an op-ed published in the Huffington Post regarding Ban ki-Moon’s visit, former Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Ron Prosor railed against the United Nations for his perception that the international organization is somehow biased against Israel. He compared Ban to the warden at a mental institution in which, “the inmates have taken over the asylum and the warden has been glad to give them the keys.”
But Prosor gave little evidence to support his theory that the United Nations unfairly criticizes Israel or holds it to a different standard than any other country.
The majority of the member states of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Monday condemned Israel for persisting in committing serious abuses against the Palestinians in their occupied territories and demanded a halt to all its aggressive practices and racist policies against them.
As part of the proceedings of the 32nd regular UNHRC meeting, the conferees discussed Monday, under Agenda Item 7, the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and the occupied Syrian Golan.
The countries of the Arab, African and Islamic groups as well as pro-Palestine states from Latin America and Europe, and human rights groups took the floor and condemned Israel in their statements.
Pro-Israel western countries, including from Europe, boycotted the Agenda 7 debate at the UNHRC in Geneva.
The statements highlighted different abuses committed by Israel against the Palestinians, including its systematic extrajudicial killings, settlement activities and the inhumane blockade on the Gaza Strip.
Their statements also called for immediate moves to end human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories and to compel Israel as an occupying power to abide by the international law and the four Geneva conventions.
As part of the proceedings of the 32nd regular UNHRC meeting, the conferees discussed Monday, under Agenda Item 7, the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and the occupied Syrian Golan.
The countries of the Arab, African and Islamic groups as well as pro-Palestine states from Latin America and Europe, and human rights groups took the floor and condemned Israel in their statements.
Pro-Israel western countries, including from Europe, boycotted the Agenda 7 debate at the UNHRC in Geneva.
The statements highlighted different abuses committed by Israel against the Palestinians, including its systematic extrajudicial killings, settlement activities and the inhumane blockade on the Gaza Strip.
Their statements also called for immediate moves to end human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories and to compel Israel as an occupying power to abide by the international law and the four Geneva conventions.