4 mar 2016
An Israeli weekly newspaper revealed that Israeli government is advancing construction plans to build about 1,000 housing units in four illegal settlements in occupied Jerusalem despite the stiff international criticism.
Kol Ha'ir Hebrew newspaper said that Israeli settlement construction is continuing within the existing settlements in occupied Jerusalem under the supervision of the Israeli government.
The 1,000 housing units are scheduled to be built in Har Homa, Pisgat Ze'ev, Maale Adumim, and Modi'in settlements. Har Homa settlement, which was established in 1977, houses nearly 30,000 settlers.
Israeli authorities work at expanding the settlement to house 40,000 settlers. Israel’s construction of settlements in occupied Jerusalem, which Palestinians seek as their future capital, and other Palestinian territories is illegal under international law.
Israel’s refusal to cease settlement-building activities has been widely condemned as an obstacle to achieving lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. The housing announcement would greatly escalate tensions in occupied Jerusalem, which has been the scene of violent unrest for months.
Kol Ha'ir Hebrew newspaper said that Israeli settlement construction is continuing within the existing settlements in occupied Jerusalem under the supervision of the Israeli government.
The 1,000 housing units are scheduled to be built in Har Homa, Pisgat Ze'ev, Maale Adumim, and Modi'in settlements. Har Homa settlement, which was established in 1977, houses nearly 30,000 settlers.
Israeli authorities work at expanding the settlement to house 40,000 settlers. Israel’s construction of settlements in occupied Jerusalem, which Palestinians seek as their future capital, and other Palestinian territories is illegal under international law.
Israel’s refusal to cease settlement-building activities has been widely condemned as an obstacle to achieving lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. The housing announcement would greatly escalate tensions in occupied Jerusalem, which has been the scene of violent unrest for months.
Adalah unpacks 10 Israeli laws and bills with provisions liable to harm Palestinians and those who defend Palestinian rights.
Adalah: the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel released a summary [PDF] of ten Israeli laws and bills that include “discriminatory and/or anti-democratic provisions that are liable to severely harm the human rights of Palestinian citizens of Israel and Palestinians living in the 1967 Occupied Palestinian Territory, as well as those who defend their rights.”
The ten laws fall into two categories: a) legislation developed in response to the Third Intifada, i.e. since September 2015 b) legislation that undermines or criminalizes human rights organizations and the BDS movement.
The first category is by far the largest; Adalah identifies eight new Israeli laws or bills that have been developed since September 2015 and function or can be expected to function to criminalize Palestinians and/or strip them of essential legal protections.
The first three laws Adalah analyzes reflect the Israeli government’s interest in severely punishing Palestinians convicted of a crime. First, Amendment 120 to the Israeli Penal Code imposes mandatory minimum prison sentences of two or four years on persons convicted of stone throwing or similar acts. According to Adalah, this law targets young Palestinians and dangerously undermines judges’ discretion in determining punishment. Second, is an amendment to the National Insurance Act, which allows Israeli authorities to withhold child welfare allowances from parents of minors convicted of a “security offence” – a charge almost solely leveled at Palestinian children. The third law, an amendment to the Youth Law, imposes fines on the parents of minors found to have offended the Israeli Penal Code. Adalah argues that the timing of this law (enacted on November 2nd, 2015) suggests that, in practice, it too will target Palestinian children and their families.
Adalah also points to worrying developments to the Israeli government’s “Stop and Frisk” Law. Whereas prior to its current articulation, the police could only stop and frisk passersby if, in Adalah’s words, “there was a reasonable suspicion that he or she was carrying a concealed weapon or other object intended for use in criminal activity,” now the police may search someone “in case of reasonable suspicion that he or she is about to commit a violent act.” Moreover, the law stipulates that if a district chief of police temporarily declares an area a “stop and frisk zone,” any person in the area can be stopped-and-frisked. This law was enacted recently, on February 7th, 2016.
Fifthly, Adalah points to Amendment No. 4 to the Criminal Procedure Law, which strips essential procedural safeguards from detainees suspected of committing “security offenses” by extending the permitted period of detention before “security suspects" are brought before a judge or meet with a lawyer. In specific cases, the law also allows for “security suspects" to be absent from some of their own legal hearings.
Adalah cites the “Suspension of MKs” Bill as another worrying development in the Israeli legal system. If approved, the bill would allow for a Member of Knesset (MK) to be ousted from the Knesset if a majority of 90 MKs deem an MK guilty of denying the existence of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, incitement to racism, and/or support of an armed struggle against Israel. The bill was developed in direct response to Palestinian MKs in the Knesset.
The last two bills identified by Adalah as drafted in response to the Third Intifada establish broad definitions of terrorism and incitement to terror. The “Counter Terrorism” bill is a lengthily piece of legislation that, along with mobilizing vague definitions of terrorism and terrorist organizations, strengthens the power of the Israeli police and security services to suppress protests and use “interrogation techniques.” The “incitement to terrorism” bill establishes incitement to terror as a special category within the state’s incitement laws, and, predictably, lowers the bar for what constitutes incitement to terror.
Finally, Adalah identifies two bills that target human rights organizations and the BDS movement. First, the NGO “funding transparency bill” requires NGOs receiving more than 50% of their funding from foreign governments to indicate that they are funded by foreign governments in a number of situations, primarily when dealing with the Israeli government. It also levels heavy fines against such organizations for failing to do so. Lastly, is the anti-boycott bill will ban people, non-citizens and residents who call for a boycott of Israel or represent entities that advocate for a boycott from entering Israel or any of the occupied territories.
For an in-depth analysis of these laws and bills read Adalah’s full report [PDF].
Adalah: the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel released a summary [PDF] of ten Israeli laws and bills that include “discriminatory and/or anti-democratic provisions that are liable to severely harm the human rights of Palestinian citizens of Israel and Palestinians living in the 1967 Occupied Palestinian Territory, as well as those who defend their rights.”
The ten laws fall into two categories: a) legislation developed in response to the Third Intifada, i.e. since September 2015 b) legislation that undermines or criminalizes human rights organizations and the BDS movement.
The first category is by far the largest; Adalah identifies eight new Israeli laws or bills that have been developed since September 2015 and function or can be expected to function to criminalize Palestinians and/or strip them of essential legal protections.
The first three laws Adalah analyzes reflect the Israeli government’s interest in severely punishing Palestinians convicted of a crime. First, Amendment 120 to the Israeli Penal Code imposes mandatory minimum prison sentences of two or four years on persons convicted of stone throwing or similar acts. According to Adalah, this law targets young Palestinians and dangerously undermines judges’ discretion in determining punishment. Second, is an amendment to the National Insurance Act, which allows Israeli authorities to withhold child welfare allowances from parents of minors convicted of a “security offence” – a charge almost solely leveled at Palestinian children. The third law, an amendment to the Youth Law, imposes fines on the parents of minors found to have offended the Israeli Penal Code. Adalah argues that the timing of this law (enacted on November 2nd, 2015) suggests that, in practice, it too will target Palestinian children and their families.
Adalah also points to worrying developments to the Israeli government’s “Stop and Frisk” Law. Whereas prior to its current articulation, the police could only stop and frisk passersby if, in Adalah’s words, “there was a reasonable suspicion that he or she was carrying a concealed weapon or other object intended for use in criminal activity,” now the police may search someone “in case of reasonable suspicion that he or she is about to commit a violent act.” Moreover, the law stipulates that if a district chief of police temporarily declares an area a “stop and frisk zone,” any person in the area can be stopped-and-frisked. This law was enacted recently, on February 7th, 2016.
Fifthly, Adalah points to Amendment No. 4 to the Criminal Procedure Law, which strips essential procedural safeguards from detainees suspected of committing “security offenses” by extending the permitted period of detention before “security suspects" are brought before a judge or meet with a lawyer. In specific cases, the law also allows for “security suspects" to be absent from some of their own legal hearings.
Adalah cites the “Suspension of MKs” Bill as another worrying development in the Israeli legal system. If approved, the bill would allow for a Member of Knesset (MK) to be ousted from the Knesset if a majority of 90 MKs deem an MK guilty of denying the existence of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, incitement to racism, and/or support of an armed struggle against Israel. The bill was developed in direct response to Palestinian MKs in the Knesset.
The last two bills identified by Adalah as drafted in response to the Third Intifada establish broad definitions of terrorism and incitement to terror. The “Counter Terrorism” bill is a lengthily piece of legislation that, along with mobilizing vague definitions of terrorism and terrorist organizations, strengthens the power of the Israeli police and security services to suppress protests and use “interrogation techniques.” The “incitement to terrorism” bill establishes incitement to terror as a special category within the state’s incitement laws, and, predictably, lowers the bar for what constitutes incitement to terror.
Finally, Adalah identifies two bills that target human rights organizations and the BDS movement. First, the NGO “funding transparency bill” requires NGOs receiving more than 50% of their funding from foreign governments to indicate that they are funded by foreign governments in a number of situations, primarily when dealing with the Israeli government. It also levels heavy fines against such organizations for failing to do so. Lastly, is the anti-boycott bill will ban people, non-citizens and residents who call for a boycott of Israel or represent entities that advocate for a boycott from entering Israel or any of the occupied territories.
For an in-depth analysis of these laws and bills read Adalah’s full report [PDF].
received 2500 first preference votes and hopes to turn that into a Dáil seat next time around. This time, he received 4629 votes, according to the PNN.
Another candidate who also won, Independent John Halligan, launched his candidacy in January in the presence of Palestinian Authority Ambassador Ahmad Abdelrazek.
“Delighted that Palestinian Ambassador Ahmad Abdelrazek will be attending my #GE16 launch on Friday in the Granville at 7:30pm,” he proudly placed on his Facebook page in January.
Both Kenny and Halligan supported position statements circulated by two Irish-Palestinian solidarity groups.
Sadaka, the Ireland Palestine Alliance, circulated a “pledge” among all 551 candidates, asking them to sign off on the following position points:
Another candidate who also won, Independent John Halligan, launched his candidacy in January in the presence of Palestinian Authority Ambassador Ahmad Abdelrazek.
“Delighted that Palestinian Ambassador Ahmad Abdelrazek will be attending my #GE16 launch on Friday in the Granville at 7:30pm,” he proudly placed on his Facebook page in January.
Both Kenny and Halligan supported position statements circulated by two Irish-Palestinian solidarity groups.
Sadaka, the Ireland Palestine Alliance, circulated a “pledge” among all 551 candidates, asking them to sign off on the following position points:
- Ireland should formally recognize a Palestinian state;
- Vigorously work to end the blockade of Gaza;
- Seek a EU ban on trade and investment with Israeli colonies/settlements;
- Suspend military export licenses to Israel and public procurements from Israeli arms companies.
- Another organization, the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, asked the Irish candidates to commit themselves to working to end bilateral Israel-Irish arms trade, and to suspend the EU-Israel
- Association Agreement.
Defense for Children International (DCI), Palestine Branch, has reported that Israeli soldiers have killed 41 children in the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, since the current uprising began in Palestine, on October 1, 2015. Sixteen of the slain children were killed this year.
The IMEMC added the name of the child who was killed, along with her mother, in Gaza.
DCI said that, on February 5th of this year, soldiers killed Haitham Sa’da, aged 14, from Halhoul town. in the southern West Bank district of Hebron, while kidnapping his cousin, Wajdi Sa’ada. Also 14, and chased their friend, who was later taken prisoner.
Wajdi told DCI that he and Haitham, along with their friends, were walking near a bypass road used mainly by Israeli soldiers and settlers, before some soldiers hiding in the area opened fire on them. Haitham was killed after suffering gunshot wounds in his upper body, while Wajdi was taken prisoner.
“We never hurled stones on them, never attacked them, but a soldier jumped and punched me in my face. I fell down, and they ordered me to remove my shirt,” he said. “I was looking at Haitham; he was motionless, looked dead, and then the soldiers cuffed him, and left the area.”
DCI said Haitham was shot with a live round which entered his back, severing his spine and puncturing his lung, and exited through his mouth, and that the soldiers then cuffed and blindfolded Wajdi and took him to a nearby military outpost in Karmie Tzur colony, where he was forced to stand in the cold for more than 90 minutes.
The soldiers held the child until midnight and, then, started interrogating him, without any legal representation or even the presence of a family member.
“They had an interpreter; the interrogator asked me about what I was doing in that area,” Wajdi told DCI. “He then held me by my head and pushed it against a wall before he slapped me, pushed me, and left the room.”
“30 minutes later, he started threatening me, told me he would keep hitting me, place me in a cell for a very long time, and that I would be sentenced to a high term if I did not confess.” He added, “I never said a word, he made me watch a video recording on his computer, and the three of us were there on tape, but nothing in it implicated us of anything, including throwing stones.”
DCI said the interrogator tried to force Wajdi to say that he carried a Molotov cocktail, but he rejected their claims and demands. The interrogator then started shouting and banging his hand on the table, in an attempt to scare the child into making a false confession.
“I told them I did not carry anything; my hands were empty,” the child said. “Then, the interrogators forced me to sign some papers in Hebrew; I signed, but I never knew what they said.”
The next day, Wajdi was cuffed, chained and blindfolded; the soldiers forced him to walk in front of them while shouting and cursing at him, and then transferred him to the Ofer prison. He is now awaiting trial.
DCI also said that the Israeli army implements “shoot to kill” policies, reaching very dangerous levels of extrajudicial murder.
“Under International Law, the excessive use of force is only used against imminent danger, deadly situations, a serious injury or to prevent a serious crime that would likely lead to death or serious harm,” DCI stated. “The UN requires exerting all efforts to avoid the usage of firearms, especially against children.”
Another case DCI has been working on is that of Mahmoud Sha’lan, aged 16, from Deir Dibwan town, north of Ramallah, after soldiers killed him on February 26, near Beit EI settlement.
An eyewitness told DCI that he was waiting for the soldiers to allow him, and at least five other drivers in their cars, to pass through the Beit El roadblock. He said Sha’lan then started walking towards the roadblock, carrying nothing in his hands.
“We heard three gunshots when Sha’lan went behind a concrete room with one of the soldiers,” he said. “We then decided to turn around and leave, but that is when I saw the child laying on the ground, wounded. Then, a soldier fired two more rounds on him.”
Medical sources at the Palestine Medical Center told DCI that Sha’lan was shot with five live rounds; three in his chest and two in his arm.
DCI reiterated that the occupying force, under International Humanitarian Law, must provide protection to the people it occupies, must protect the children, and is obliged to conduct serious investigations into all crimes committed against those civilians.
“But, this rarely happened; since October 1, Israel never investigated any of the fatal shooting incidents against children,” DCI added. Israeli authorities even rejected demands from the victims’ families to perform autopsies.
Israel is still holding the corpses of two children identified as Masan Manasra and Mo’taz Oweisat.
DCI said that the children killed by Israelis since October 1, 2015, until this day, have been identified as;
1. Abdul-Rahman Obeidallah, 13, from Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem, killed on October 5, 2005.
2. Ishaq Badran, 16, from Kafr Aqab in Jerusalem, killed on October, 10, 2016.
3. Marwan Barbakh, 10, from Khan Younis in southern Gaza, killed on October 10, 2015.
4. Ahmad Sharaka, from the al-Jalazoun refugee camp in Ramallah, killed on October 11, 2015.
5. Mustafa Khatib, 17, from Jabal al-Mokabber in Jerusalem, killed on October 12, 2015.
6. Hasan Mahani (al-Manasra), 15, from Beit Hanina in Jerusalem, killed on October 12, 2015.
7. Tareq Natsha, 16, from Hebron’s Old City, killed on October 17, 2015.
8. Bayan Asaliyya, 16, from Hebron’s Old City, killed on October 17, 2015.
9. Mo’taz ‘Oweisat, 16m from Jabal al-Mokabber in Jerusalem, from Hebron’s Old City, killed on October 17, 2015.
10. Bashar al-Ja’bari, 15, from Hebron, from Hebron’s Old City, killed on October 20, 2015.
11. Ahmad Kamil, 17, from Qabatia in Jenin, killed on October 24, 2015.
12. Dania Ersheid, 17, from Hebron’s Old City, killed on October 25, 2015.
13. Mahmoud Nazzal, from Qabatia in Jenin, killed on October 31, 2015.
14. Ahmad Abu ar-Rob, 16, from Qabatia in Jenin, killed on November 2, 2015.
15. Sadeq Abdul-Aziz Gharbiyya, 16, from Sanour in Jenin, killed on November 10, 2015.
16. Mahmoud Wadi, 17, from Sa’ir in Hebron, killed on November 13, 2015.
17. Ashraf Qatanani, 16, from Askar al-Jadeed refugee camp in Nablus, killed on November 22, 2015.
18. Hadeel Awwad, 14, from Qalandia refugee camp in Jerusalem, killed on November 23, 2015.
19. Ala Hashshash, 16, from Askar al-Jadeed refugee camp in Jerusalem, killed on November 23, 2015.
20. Ibrahim Daoud, 16, from Deir Ghassana in Ramallah, killed on November 25, 2015.
21. Ayman al-‘Abbassi, 17, from Ras Jerusalem, killed on November 29, 2015.
22. Ma’moun al-Khatib, 16, from Doha in Hebron, killed on December 1, 2015.
23. Mustafa Fannoun, from Hebron, killed on December 4, 2015.
24. Abdullah Nasasra, 15, from Beit Forik in Nablus, killed on December 10, 2015.
25. Noureddin Sabaghna, 17, from Qabatia in Jenin, killed on December 27, 2015.
26. Ahmad Kawazba, 17, from Sa’ir in Hebron, killed on January 5, 2016.
27. Ala Kawazba, 17, from Sa’ir in Hebron, killed on January 7, 2016.
28. Khalil Wadi, 15, from Sa’ir in Hebron, killed on January 7, 2016.
29. Adnan al-Mashni, 17, from Hebron, killed on January 12, 2016.
30. Roqayya Abu Eid, 13, from Anata in Jerusalem, killed on January 23, 2016.
31. Hussein Abu Ghosh, 17, from Qalandia in Jerusalem, killed on January 25, 2016.
32. Ahmad Toba, 17, from Kafr Jammal in Tulkarem, killed on February 1, 2016.
33. Ahmad Sa’ada, 14, from Halhoul in Hebron, killed on February 5, 2016.
34. Omar Madhi, 15, from al-‘Arroub refugee camp in Hebron, killed on February 10, 2016.
35. Na’im Safi, 16, from al-‘Obeydiyya in Bethlehem, killed on February 14, 2016.
36. Fuad Waked, 15, from al-‘Arqa in Jenin, killed on February 14, 2016.
37. Nihad Waked, 15, from al-‘Arqa in Jenin, killed on February 14, 2016.
38. Qussai Abu al-Rob, 16, from Qabatia in Jenin, killed on February 21, 2016.
39. Mahmoud Sha’lan, 16, from Deir Dibwan in Ramallah, killed on February 26, 2016.
40. Labeeb Azem, 17, from Qaryout in Nablus, killed on March 2, 2016.
41. Mohammad Zaghlawan, 17, from Qaryout in Nablus, killed on March 2, 2016.
It is worth mentioning that the Israeli army also killed Rahaf Yahya Hassan, 2, and her mother, Nour Rasmie Hassan, 30, who was five months pregnant, after bombarding their home in the Zeitoun neighborhood, in Gaza city, on October 11, 2015.
The IMEMC added the name of the child who was killed, along with her mother, in Gaza.
DCI said that, on February 5th of this year, soldiers killed Haitham Sa’da, aged 14, from Halhoul town. in the southern West Bank district of Hebron, while kidnapping his cousin, Wajdi Sa’ada. Also 14, and chased their friend, who was later taken prisoner.
Wajdi told DCI that he and Haitham, along with their friends, were walking near a bypass road used mainly by Israeli soldiers and settlers, before some soldiers hiding in the area opened fire on them. Haitham was killed after suffering gunshot wounds in his upper body, while Wajdi was taken prisoner.
“We never hurled stones on them, never attacked them, but a soldier jumped and punched me in my face. I fell down, and they ordered me to remove my shirt,” he said. “I was looking at Haitham; he was motionless, looked dead, and then the soldiers cuffed him, and left the area.”
DCI said Haitham was shot with a live round which entered his back, severing his spine and puncturing his lung, and exited through his mouth, and that the soldiers then cuffed and blindfolded Wajdi and took him to a nearby military outpost in Karmie Tzur colony, where he was forced to stand in the cold for more than 90 minutes.
The soldiers held the child until midnight and, then, started interrogating him, without any legal representation or even the presence of a family member.
“They had an interpreter; the interrogator asked me about what I was doing in that area,” Wajdi told DCI. “He then held me by my head and pushed it against a wall before he slapped me, pushed me, and left the room.”
“30 minutes later, he started threatening me, told me he would keep hitting me, place me in a cell for a very long time, and that I would be sentenced to a high term if I did not confess.” He added, “I never said a word, he made me watch a video recording on his computer, and the three of us were there on tape, but nothing in it implicated us of anything, including throwing stones.”
DCI said the interrogator tried to force Wajdi to say that he carried a Molotov cocktail, but he rejected their claims and demands. The interrogator then started shouting and banging his hand on the table, in an attempt to scare the child into making a false confession.
“I told them I did not carry anything; my hands were empty,” the child said. “Then, the interrogators forced me to sign some papers in Hebrew; I signed, but I never knew what they said.”
The next day, Wajdi was cuffed, chained and blindfolded; the soldiers forced him to walk in front of them while shouting and cursing at him, and then transferred him to the Ofer prison. He is now awaiting trial.
DCI also said that the Israeli army implements “shoot to kill” policies, reaching very dangerous levels of extrajudicial murder.
“Under International Law, the excessive use of force is only used against imminent danger, deadly situations, a serious injury or to prevent a serious crime that would likely lead to death or serious harm,” DCI stated. “The UN requires exerting all efforts to avoid the usage of firearms, especially against children.”
Another case DCI has been working on is that of Mahmoud Sha’lan, aged 16, from Deir Dibwan town, north of Ramallah, after soldiers killed him on February 26, near Beit EI settlement.
An eyewitness told DCI that he was waiting for the soldiers to allow him, and at least five other drivers in their cars, to pass through the Beit El roadblock. He said Sha’lan then started walking towards the roadblock, carrying nothing in his hands.
“We heard three gunshots when Sha’lan went behind a concrete room with one of the soldiers,” he said. “We then decided to turn around and leave, but that is when I saw the child laying on the ground, wounded. Then, a soldier fired two more rounds on him.”
Medical sources at the Palestine Medical Center told DCI that Sha’lan was shot with five live rounds; three in his chest and two in his arm.
DCI reiterated that the occupying force, under International Humanitarian Law, must provide protection to the people it occupies, must protect the children, and is obliged to conduct serious investigations into all crimes committed against those civilians.
“But, this rarely happened; since October 1, Israel never investigated any of the fatal shooting incidents against children,” DCI added. Israeli authorities even rejected demands from the victims’ families to perform autopsies.
Israel is still holding the corpses of two children identified as Masan Manasra and Mo’taz Oweisat.
DCI said that the children killed by Israelis since October 1, 2015, until this day, have been identified as;
1. Abdul-Rahman Obeidallah, 13, from Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem, killed on October 5, 2005.
2. Ishaq Badran, 16, from Kafr Aqab in Jerusalem, killed on October, 10, 2016.
3. Marwan Barbakh, 10, from Khan Younis in southern Gaza, killed on October 10, 2015.
4. Ahmad Sharaka, from the al-Jalazoun refugee camp in Ramallah, killed on October 11, 2015.
5. Mustafa Khatib, 17, from Jabal al-Mokabber in Jerusalem, killed on October 12, 2015.
6. Hasan Mahani (al-Manasra), 15, from Beit Hanina in Jerusalem, killed on October 12, 2015.
7. Tareq Natsha, 16, from Hebron’s Old City, killed on October 17, 2015.
8. Bayan Asaliyya, 16, from Hebron’s Old City, killed on October 17, 2015.
9. Mo’taz ‘Oweisat, 16m from Jabal al-Mokabber in Jerusalem, from Hebron’s Old City, killed on October 17, 2015.
10. Bashar al-Ja’bari, 15, from Hebron, from Hebron’s Old City, killed on October 20, 2015.
11. Ahmad Kamil, 17, from Qabatia in Jenin, killed on October 24, 2015.
12. Dania Ersheid, 17, from Hebron’s Old City, killed on October 25, 2015.
13. Mahmoud Nazzal, from Qabatia in Jenin, killed on October 31, 2015.
14. Ahmad Abu ar-Rob, 16, from Qabatia in Jenin, killed on November 2, 2015.
15. Sadeq Abdul-Aziz Gharbiyya, 16, from Sanour in Jenin, killed on November 10, 2015.
16. Mahmoud Wadi, 17, from Sa’ir in Hebron, killed on November 13, 2015.
17. Ashraf Qatanani, 16, from Askar al-Jadeed refugee camp in Nablus, killed on November 22, 2015.
18. Hadeel Awwad, 14, from Qalandia refugee camp in Jerusalem, killed on November 23, 2015.
19. Ala Hashshash, 16, from Askar al-Jadeed refugee camp in Jerusalem, killed on November 23, 2015.
20. Ibrahim Daoud, 16, from Deir Ghassana in Ramallah, killed on November 25, 2015.
21. Ayman al-‘Abbassi, 17, from Ras Jerusalem, killed on November 29, 2015.
22. Ma’moun al-Khatib, 16, from Doha in Hebron, killed on December 1, 2015.
23. Mustafa Fannoun, from Hebron, killed on December 4, 2015.
24. Abdullah Nasasra, 15, from Beit Forik in Nablus, killed on December 10, 2015.
25. Noureddin Sabaghna, 17, from Qabatia in Jenin, killed on December 27, 2015.
26. Ahmad Kawazba, 17, from Sa’ir in Hebron, killed on January 5, 2016.
27. Ala Kawazba, 17, from Sa’ir in Hebron, killed on January 7, 2016.
28. Khalil Wadi, 15, from Sa’ir in Hebron, killed on January 7, 2016.
29. Adnan al-Mashni, 17, from Hebron, killed on January 12, 2016.
30. Roqayya Abu Eid, 13, from Anata in Jerusalem, killed on January 23, 2016.
31. Hussein Abu Ghosh, 17, from Qalandia in Jerusalem, killed on January 25, 2016.
32. Ahmad Toba, 17, from Kafr Jammal in Tulkarem, killed on February 1, 2016.
33. Ahmad Sa’ada, 14, from Halhoul in Hebron, killed on February 5, 2016.
34. Omar Madhi, 15, from al-‘Arroub refugee camp in Hebron, killed on February 10, 2016.
35. Na’im Safi, 16, from al-‘Obeydiyya in Bethlehem, killed on February 14, 2016.
36. Fuad Waked, 15, from al-‘Arqa in Jenin, killed on February 14, 2016.
37. Nihad Waked, 15, from al-‘Arqa in Jenin, killed on February 14, 2016.
38. Qussai Abu al-Rob, 16, from Qabatia in Jenin, killed on February 21, 2016.
39. Mahmoud Sha’lan, 16, from Deir Dibwan in Ramallah, killed on February 26, 2016.
40. Labeeb Azem, 17, from Qaryout in Nablus, killed on March 2, 2016.
41. Mohammad Zaghlawan, 17, from Qaryout in Nablus, killed on March 2, 2016.
It is worth mentioning that the Israeli army also killed Rahaf Yahya Hassan, 2, and her mother, Nour Rasmie Hassan, 30, who was five months pregnant, after bombarding their home in the Zeitoun neighborhood, in Gaza city, on October 11, 2015.
Palestinian business owners in the Old City of Jerusalem have complained that the Israeli movement restrictions imposed at the gates of the city led to the closure of 35 percent of their commercial stores and paralyzed their trade activities.
In a news conference on Thursday, spokesmen for the Old City merchants stated that the arbitrary and humiliating security measures pursued by the Israeli police at the gates of the Old City led to apathy among buyers.
Spokesman for the Salahuddin street merchants Hijazi al-Resheq said that the commercial paralysis in the Old City market forced some businesses to shut down and led to a noticeable decline in sales.
Resheq called on the Palestinian leadership to develop a strategy helping the Jerusalem merchants to confront the Israeli policies. For his part, dean of the Old City merchants Khaled al-Saheb described the business conditions in the market as "miserable and unbearable," affirming that 25 to 35 percent of the Old City stores closed their doors over the last six months as a result of Israeli measures, including the taxation policy.
Saheb added that the intensive presence of Israeli troops on the streets of the market also dissuaded the residents in Jerusalem from going there to avoid arbitrary arrests and humiliating searches. He called for strengthening the steadfastness of the Jerusalemite merchants and preparing a Palestinian strategy to face Israel's attempts to expel them from the Old City.
He noted that the volume of purchases in the Old City market dropped to about 80 percent.
In a news conference on Thursday, spokesmen for the Old City merchants stated that the arbitrary and humiliating security measures pursued by the Israeli police at the gates of the Old City led to apathy among buyers.
Spokesman for the Salahuddin street merchants Hijazi al-Resheq said that the commercial paralysis in the Old City market forced some businesses to shut down and led to a noticeable decline in sales.
Resheq called on the Palestinian leadership to develop a strategy helping the Jerusalem merchants to confront the Israeli policies. For his part, dean of the Old City merchants Khaled al-Saheb described the business conditions in the market as "miserable and unbearable," affirming that 25 to 35 percent of the Old City stores closed their doors over the last six months as a result of Israeli measures, including the taxation policy.
Saheb added that the intensive presence of Israeli troops on the streets of the market also dissuaded the residents in Jerusalem from going there to avoid arbitrary arrests and humiliating searches. He called for strengthening the steadfastness of the Jerusalemite merchants and preparing a Palestinian strategy to face Israel's attempts to expel them from the Old City.
He noted that the volume of purchases in the Old City market dropped to about 80 percent.
3 mar 2016
A delegation from the Palestinian Authority (PA) officially warned Israeli authorities several days ago that the Palestinian government would end its security coordination with Israel if the state did not "commit to past agreements," a member of the PLO executive committee told Ma'an.
Wassel Abu Youssef said the head of PA Intelligence Majed Faraj, as well as the Palestinian Minister of Civil Affairs Hussein al-Sheikh and head of PA preventive security Ziyad Hab al-Reeh, met with an Israeli security delegation to deliver the warning.
The PA delegation informed their Israeli counterparts that the PLO Central Council came to an official decision to work towards ending security coordination with Israel if the "current situation" were to continue, Abu Youssef said.
Abu Youssef stressed that Palestinian leadership does not fear the consequences of ending security coordination, as Israel is already "carrying out an open war against Palestinians."
He added that the decision to end security coordination has the support of other Arab countries.
Abu Youssef said PA leaderships expects to be contacted by Israeli authorities trying to challenge the Palestinian government and to pressure the PA to reconsider its stance.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas made the same announcement during a speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Oct. 30.
While many understood the president's speech to be groundbreaking, no clear changes have been made in regards to security cooperation between the PA and Israel in occupied Palestinian territory.
Wassel Abu Youssef said the head of PA Intelligence Majed Faraj, as well as the Palestinian Minister of Civil Affairs Hussein al-Sheikh and head of PA preventive security Ziyad Hab al-Reeh, met with an Israeli security delegation to deliver the warning.
The PA delegation informed their Israeli counterparts that the PLO Central Council came to an official decision to work towards ending security coordination with Israel if the "current situation" were to continue, Abu Youssef said.
Abu Youssef stressed that Palestinian leadership does not fear the consequences of ending security coordination, as Israel is already "carrying out an open war against Palestinians."
He added that the decision to end security coordination has the support of other Arab countries.
Abu Youssef said PA leaderships expects to be contacted by Israeli authorities trying to challenge the Palestinian government and to pressure the PA to reconsider its stance.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas made the same announcement during a speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Oct. 30.
While many understood the president's speech to be groundbreaking, no clear changes have been made in regards to security cooperation between the PA and Israel in occupied Palestinian territory.
Dozens of Israeli settlers stormed Thursday evening Hafira area to the south of Jenin city under heavy military protection and performed Talmudic rituals.
Local sources told a PIC news reporter that the settlers performed Talmudic rituals in the area while Palestinian residents' movement was restricted near and around the site.
Hafira area is a historical site that dates back to ancient times. Israeli settlers’ break-ins into historical sites usually raise Palestinian concerns over Israeli confiscation plans.
Earlier Thursday, Israeli occupation forces stormed a local home in Yabad town south of Jenin and erected a number of checkpoints throughout the town.
Local sources affirmed to the PIC reporter that IOF soldiers violently stormed Abu Shamla family’s home and questioned the family members about local youths involved in stone-throwing attacks.
A military checkpoint was also erected at the main road leading to Yabad town. Palestinian vehicles were stopped and searched at the checkpoint.
Local sources told a PIC news reporter that the settlers performed Talmudic rituals in the area while Palestinian residents' movement was restricted near and around the site.
Hafira area is a historical site that dates back to ancient times. Israeli settlers’ break-ins into historical sites usually raise Palestinian concerns over Israeli confiscation plans.
Earlier Thursday, Israeli occupation forces stormed a local home in Yabad town south of Jenin and erected a number of checkpoints throughout the town.
Local sources affirmed to the PIC reporter that IOF soldiers violently stormed Abu Shamla family’s home and questioned the family members about local youths involved in stone-throwing attacks.
A military checkpoint was also erected at the main road leading to Yabad town. Palestinian vehicles were stopped and searched at the checkpoint.
The Hamas Movement has said that the recurrence of attacks against Israeli settlements in the West Bank affirms that the days of security for their residents have gone.
In press remarks on Thursday, Hamas spokesman Husam Badran applauded the successful stabbing attack which was carried out by two Palestinian young men at Har Bracha settlement south of Nablus on Wednesday evening and led to the injury of two Israeli soldiers.
He also hailed the shooting attack that led to the injury of one soldier last night near Rechelim settlement in Nablus.
The spokesman said that these two heroic operations, which took place one day after two young men carried out a break-in at Eli settlement, entrenched a state of terror among the settlers in the West Bank despite their presence in fortified settlements.
He stressed that the coming days would bring more surprises for the West Bank settlers, who persist in attacking the residents of the Palestinian towns and villages under military protection.
In press remarks on Thursday, Hamas spokesman Husam Badran applauded the successful stabbing attack which was carried out by two Palestinian young men at Har Bracha settlement south of Nablus on Wednesday evening and led to the injury of two Israeli soldiers.
He also hailed the shooting attack that led to the injury of one soldier last night near Rechelim settlement in Nablus.
The spokesman said that these two heroic operations, which took place one day after two young men carried out a break-in at Eli settlement, entrenched a state of terror among the settlers in the West Bank despite their presence in fortified settlements.
He stressed that the coming days would bring more surprises for the West Bank settlers, who persist in attacking the residents of the Palestinian towns and villages under military protection.
The former minister of prisoners Wasfi Qabaha said the Israeli arrest campaigns carried out in the West Bank and Occupied Jerusalem are the fuel that guarantee the continuation of Jerusalem Intifada and demonstrate the confusion of the Israeli occupation.
Qabaha told Quds Press on Wednesday that the arrests affected all of the Palestinian factions as well as all segments of the Palestinian people.
Palestinian human rights sources revealed that Israeli forces arrested in February 616 Palestinians including 140 minors and 18 female captives out of 4,120 prisoners who have been arrested since the beginning of Jerusalem Intifada which broke out last October.
Qabaha told Quds Press on Wednesday that the arrests affected all of the Palestinian factions as well as all segments of the Palestinian people.
Palestinian human rights sources revealed that Israeli forces arrested in February 616 Palestinians including 140 minors and 18 female captives out of 4,120 prisoners who have been arrested since the beginning of Jerusalem Intifada which broke out last October.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the legal adviser to his government to study the possibility of deporting families of Palestinians who carry out anti-occupation attacks to the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu’s office published on Wednesday a copy of the letter addressed to the attorney general. It says: “using this legal method will decrease the terrorist attacks against the state of Israel and its people”.
Israel endorsed a score of punitive measures against those Palestinians who implement anti-occupation operations. the measures include demolition of homes, barring their families from rebuilding their razed houses, and depriving Jerusalemites of staying permanently in their town as well as confiscating their properties.
Netanyahu’s office published on Wednesday a copy of the letter addressed to the attorney general. It says: “using this legal method will decrease the terrorist attacks against the state of Israel and its people”.
Israel endorsed a score of punitive measures against those Palestinians who implement anti-occupation operations. the measures include demolition of homes, barring their families from rebuilding their razed houses, and depriving Jerusalemites of staying permanently in their town as well as confiscating their properties.
Palestinians Wednesday bade farewell to three martyrs one east of Ramallah city and two others near Nablus.
The martyrs are Mahmoud Shalan, 17, from Deir Dabwan town to the east of Ramallah, and both of Labib Azzam, 18, and Mohammad Zaghlawan, 18, from Qaryout town near Nablus.
Participants in the funerals waved Palestinian flags along with the flags of the factions. They chanted for avenging the martyrs and for the continuation of resistance against Israeli occupation.
Martyr Shalan was killed Friday evening by Israeli gunfire in clashes with Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of Beit El settlement.
Both of Azzam and Zaghlawan martyrs were killed by Israeli shooting as well after they carried out anti-occupation stabbing attack in a settlement in the northern West Bank. One Jewish settler was injured in the attack.
The martyrs are Mahmoud Shalan, 17, from Deir Dabwan town to the east of Ramallah, and both of Labib Azzam, 18, and Mohammad Zaghlawan, 18, from Qaryout town near Nablus.
Participants in the funerals waved Palestinian flags along with the flags of the factions. They chanted for avenging the martyrs and for the continuation of resistance against Israeli occupation.
Martyr Shalan was killed Friday evening by Israeli gunfire in clashes with Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of Beit El settlement.
Both of Azzam and Zaghlawan martyrs were killed by Israeli shooting as well after they carried out anti-occupation stabbing attack in a settlement in the northern West Bank. One Jewish settler was injured in the attack.