20 mar 2016
Members of the United States Congress are delaying a payment of $159 million in aid allocated for the Palestinian Authority in effort to pressure the PA to relaunch negotiations with Israel, the PLO ambassador to Washington said Saturday.
Maen Erekat confirmed earlier reports that the US Congress was blocking the payment at the request of House Republican Kay Granger, the Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations, under the pretext that the PA supports “terrorism.”
The Obama administration allocated $440 million in aid to Palestinians for 2015, including $131 million for economic and development projects by USAID and $70 million for PA agencies and security agencies, while $80 million in aid was deducted following Israeli criticism of "incitement" by the PA last October.
Erekat added that some “pro-Israel” congress members are continuing to pressure the PA to relaunch diplomatic negotiations with Israel, and prevent Palestinians from joining international organizations and conventions.
The PA last year officially requested to join 15 international conventions, including membership in the International Criminal Court, which would allow war crimes complaints to be filed against Israel.
US congress members previously attempted to block aid for Palestinians in 2011 in response to the PA bid for full UN membership, but the hold was eventually lifted.
On March 12, PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi conducted a series of meetings in Washington, D.C., during which she discussed peace negotiations with Israel and urged US Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley to pressure House Republicans to release the $159 million in aid.
The White House is considering backing a UN Security Council resolution outlining parameters for future peace negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian leadership before Obama leaves office in January 2017, The Wall Street Journal reported this month.
US Vice President Joe Biden also visited Tel Aviv earlier this month, just as multiple attacks were carried out by Palestinian individuals in Israel and occupied Palestinian territory, one of which left an American tourist dead.
During his visit, Biden said Israel could not stop violent acts carried out by Palestinians solely through physical force.
The vice president also condemned the attacks -- as well as the failure by Palestinian leadership to condemn the attacks -- during a joint press conference, according to AP.
While US-Israel relations have seen a series of diplomatic disputes during Obama’s administration, Israel remains the number one long-time recipient of US military aid, and discussions regarding a new aid agreement have been ongoing.
Maen Erekat confirmed earlier reports that the US Congress was blocking the payment at the request of House Republican Kay Granger, the Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations, under the pretext that the PA supports “terrorism.”
The Obama administration allocated $440 million in aid to Palestinians for 2015, including $131 million for economic and development projects by USAID and $70 million for PA agencies and security agencies, while $80 million in aid was deducted following Israeli criticism of "incitement" by the PA last October.
Erekat added that some “pro-Israel” congress members are continuing to pressure the PA to relaunch diplomatic negotiations with Israel, and prevent Palestinians from joining international organizations and conventions.
The PA last year officially requested to join 15 international conventions, including membership in the International Criminal Court, which would allow war crimes complaints to be filed against Israel.
US congress members previously attempted to block aid for Palestinians in 2011 in response to the PA bid for full UN membership, but the hold was eventually lifted.
On March 12, PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi conducted a series of meetings in Washington, D.C., during which she discussed peace negotiations with Israel and urged US Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley to pressure House Republicans to release the $159 million in aid.
The White House is considering backing a UN Security Council resolution outlining parameters for future peace negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian leadership before Obama leaves office in January 2017, The Wall Street Journal reported this month.
US Vice President Joe Biden also visited Tel Aviv earlier this month, just as multiple attacks were carried out by Palestinian individuals in Israel and occupied Palestinian territory, one of which left an American tourist dead.
During his visit, Biden said Israel could not stop violent acts carried out by Palestinians solely through physical force.
The vice president also condemned the attacks -- as well as the failure by Palestinian leadership to condemn the attacks -- during a joint press conference, according to AP.
While US-Israel relations have seen a series of diplomatic disputes during Obama’s administration, Israel remains the number one long-time recipient of US military aid, and discussions regarding a new aid agreement have been ongoing.
The Knesset's ministerial committee for legislation on Sunday intends to rediscuss a bill calling for imposing the death penalty on Palestinians convicted of carrying out deadly attacks against Israelis, according to Reshet Bet radio.
Identical legislation was voted down by the Knesset last year. The bill, which was introduced by the Yisrael Beiteinu party and supported by other right-wing parties, seeks to increase Israeli military courts' ability to impose the death penalty on Palestinians.
Judges of military court are authorized to impose capital punishment on Palestinians under current Israeli law, but the death penalty has only been ordered in a few cases and has been commuted in each.
The proposed bill is intended to authorize courts to impose the death penalty even if the decision is not supported unanimously by a panel of judges, and to bar moves to commute a death sentence.
However, the Israeli occupation forces carry out summary executions on a daily basis against Palestinians accused of attacking settlers or soldiers with knives or cars.
Identical legislation was voted down by the Knesset last year. The bill, which was introduced by the Yisrael Beiteinu party and supported by other right-wing parties, seeks to increase Israeli military courts' ability to impose the death penalty on Palestinians.
Judges of military court are authorized to impose capital punishment on Palestinians under current Israeli law, but the death penalty has only been ordered in a few cases and has been commuted in each.
The proposed bill is intended to authorize courts to impose the death penalty even if the decision is not supported unanimously by a panel of judges, and to bar moves to commute a death sentence.
However, the Israeli occupation forces carry out summary executions on a daily basis against Palestinians accused of attacking settlers or soldiers with knives or cars.
A Palestinian delegation from 1948 Occupied Palestine participated, within an event organized by Mizan institution for Human Rights - Nazareth, in the UN Human Rights Council’s 31st session at the UN headquarters in Geneva.
The delegation’s participation aims at raising and internationalizing the issue of the Palestinians residing in the 1948 Occupied Palestine as well as at exposing Israeli increasing discrimination.
Discussing other issues like blacklisting the Islamic Movement along with 23 of civil society institutions were among the objectives of the visit.
The delegation included Mohammad Baraka, head of the higher follow up committee, Yusuf Jabarin, the Arab deputy on the common list, and lawyers Omar Khamaysi and Ahmad Amara in addition to Muath Khatib from Mizan institution.
The delegation held talks with UN officials and the High Commissioner for Human Rights as well as ambassadors and international diplomats. Several issues in terms of human rights of Palestinians in the Green Line were put to discussion as well.
The visit also aimed to follow up international complaints filed to the UN last month and to generate a special report on the Israeli emergency laws.
The delegation’s participation aims at raising and internationalizing the issue of the Palestinians residing in the 1948 Occupied Palestine as well as at exposing Israeli increasing discrimination.
Discussing other issues like blacklisting the Islamic Movement along with 23 of civil society institutions were among the objectives of the visit.
The delegation included Mohammad Baraka, head of the higher follow up committee, Yusuf Jabarin, the Arab deputy on the common list, and lawyers Omar Khamaysi and Ahmad Amara in addition to Muath Khatib from Mizan institution.
The delegation held talks with UN officials and the High Commissioner for Human Rights as well as ambassadors and international diplomats. Several issues in terms of human rights of Palestinians in the Green Line were put to discussion as well.
The visit also aimed to follow up international complaints filed to the UN last month and to generate a special report on the Israeli emergency laws.
Husam Badran, the spokesman of Hamas Movement, warned Israeli occupation authorities of detaining the bodies of Palestinian martyrs saying that it will increase the outrage of Palestinians and will flame the uprising.
In a press statement on Saturday, Badran said detaining the bodies of martyrs will not weaken the determination of the Palestinian youths to keep up their heroic anti-occupation attacks and will not prevent Palestinian families from encouraging their sons to defend their land for the sake of freedom and dignity.
Badran called on the Palestinian people to organize events demanding the release of martyrs' bodies. He also urged the human rights institutions to prosecute Israeli occupation leaders at the international level for committing crimes against Palestinians especially the Israeli policy of collective punishment.
The Israeli authorities are still detaining 18 bodies of Palestinian martyrs, mostly Jerusalemites, who carried out anti-occupation attacks in Occupied Jerusalem and the West Bank.
In a press statement on Saturday, Badran said detaining the bodies of martyrs will not weaken the determination of the Palestinian youths to keep up their heroic anti-occupation attacks and will not prevent Palestinian families from encouraging their sons to defend their land for the sake of freedom and dignity.
Badran called on the Palestinian people to organize events demanding the release of martyrs' bodies. He also urged the human rights institutions to prosecute Israeli occupation leaders at the international level for committing crimes against Palestinians especially the Israeli policy of collective punishment.
The Israeli authorities are still detaining 18 bodies of Palestinian martyrs, mostly Jerusalemites, who carried out anti-occupation attacks in Occupied Jerusalem and the West Bank.
19 mar 2016
Hundreds of Palestinians attended a funeral held in Hebron on Saturday for a Palestinian man who was shot dead by Israeli troops after allegedly attempting to carry out a stabbing attack at the Gush Etzion junction on Friday.
Mourners marched from al-Ahli hospital as the body of Mahmud Ahmad Abu Fanunah, 21, was carried in a vehicle to the family home in the Wadi al-Hariyya neighborhood.
The body was then carried to Abu Eisha mosque where hundreds performed the funeral prayer before it was laid to rest in the neighborhood cemetery.
“It is obvious the Israeli occupation insists on killing Palestinians in cold blood,” the governor of Hebron, Kamil Hmeid, said during the funeral.
Fanunah was shot dead after allegedly attempting to carry out a stabbing attack at the Gush Etzion junction, shortly after two Palestinians were detained on suspicions of planning an attack in the illegal Shaare Benjamin settlement.
An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma'an that an "assailant armed with a knife exited his vehicle and charged at soldiers" at the Gush Etzion junction southwest of Bethlehem, with soldiers opening fire, killing the man and "foiling" the alleged attack.
Witnesses disputed the army’s account of the incident and told Ma’an that Fanunah was “not holding anything in his hands” when Israeli forces opened fire, killing him on the spot.
No Israeli injuries were reported.
The location of Fanunah’s killing has been the site of a number of deaths since a surge of violence increased in the occupied Palestinian territory last October.
More than 10 Palestinians and three Israelis have been killed at the Gush Etzion junction -- the entrance point to the illegal Gush Etzion settlement bloc.
Over 200 Palestinians and just under 30 Israelis have been killed since October, and attempts to quell the violence by the international community have subsequently failed.
Another young Palestinian man from Hebron was killed between the time Fanunah was shot and buried, allegedly shot dead after stabbing and lightly injuring a soldier in the face.
Israeli forces shut down a number of roads in the Hebron area following the incident.
US and Israeli officials have criticized Palestinian leadership for failing to condemn a number of attacks carried out by Palestinian individuals -- the majority of which have been carried out on military targets -- while critics say Israel has practiced a policy of extrajudicial executions of Palestinians.
Earlier this year, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon condemned the wave of attacks, but said that Israeli security measures were failing to "address the profound sense of alienation and despair driving some Palestinians -- especially young people."
He added: "As oppressed peoples have demonstrated throughout the ages, it is human nature to react to occupation, which often serves as a potent incubator of hate and extremism."
Mourners marched from al-Ahli hospital as the body of Mahmud Ahmad Abu Fanunah, 21, was carried in a vehicle to the family home in the Wadi al-Hariyya neighborhood.
The body was then carried to Abu Eisha mosque where hundreds performed the funeral prayer before it was laid to rest in the neighborhood cemetery.
“It is obvious the Israeli occupation insists on killing Palestinians in cold blood,” the governor of Hebron, Kamil Hmeid, said during the funeral.
Fanunah was shot dead after allegedly attempting to carry out a stabbing attack at the Gush Etzion junction, shortly after two Palestinians were detained on suspicions of planning an attack in the illegal Shaare Benjamin settlement.
An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma'an that an "assailant armed with a knife exited his vehicle and charged at soldiers" at the Gush Etzion junction southwest of Bethlehem, with soldiers opening fire, killing the man and "foiling" the alleged attack.
Witnesses disputed the army’s account of the incident and told Ma’an that Fanunah was “not holding anything in his hands” when Israeli forces opened fire, killing him on the spot.
No Israeli injuries were reported.
The location of Fanunah’s killing has been the site of a number of deaths since a surge of violence increased in the occupied Palestinian territory last October.
More than 10 Palestinians and three Israelis have been killed at the Gush Etzion junction -- the entrance point to the illegal Gush Etzion settlement bloc.
Over 200 Palestinians and just under 30 Israelis have been killed since October, and attempts to quell the violence by the international community have subsequently failed.
Another young Palestinian man from Hebron was killed between the time Fanunah was shot and buried, allegedly shot dead after stabbing and lightly injuring a soldier in the face.
Israeli forces shut down a number of roads in the Hebron area following the incident.
US and Israeli officials have criticized Palestinian leadership for failing to condemn a number of attacks carried out by Palestinian individuals -- the majority of which have been carried out on military targets -- while critics say Israel has practiced a policy of extrajudicial executions of Palestinians.
Earlier this year, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon condemned the wave of attacks, but said that Israeli security measures were failing to "address the profound sense of alienation and despair driving some Palestinians -- especially young people."
He added: "As oppressed peoples have demonstrated throughout the ages, it is human nature to react to occupation, which often serves as a potent incubator of hate and extremism."
18 mar 2016
Mahmud Ahmad Abu Fanunah 21
A Palestinian man was shot dead after allegedly attempting to carry out a stabbing attack at the Gush Etzion junction, shortly after two Palestinians were detained on suspicions of planning an attack in the illegal Shaare Benjamin settlement.
An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma'an that an "assailant armed with a knife exited his vehicle and charged at soldiers" at the Gush Etzion junction southwest of Bethlehem, with soldiers opening fire, killing the man and "foiling" the alleged attack.
Witnesses told Ma'an that Israeli forces opened fire on and killed a Palestinian man in his 20s while he was driving near the junction.
One witness said the Palestinian had been driving alongside an Israeli settler who stopped his car at the junction in order to speak to soldiers there and pointed to the Palestinian's car.
The witness said the Palestinian also stopped his car and had just stepped out -- "not holding anything in his hands" -- when Israeli forces opened fire, killing him on the spot.
No Israeli injuries were reported.
The Palestinian was identified as Mahmud Ahmad Abu Fanunah, 21, from the Hebron district.
Shortly afterward, Israeli police said they detained two Palestinian minors near the entrance of the industrial zone of the illegal settlement of Shaare Binyamin northeast of Jerusalem for allegedly carrying knives.
Israeli police spokeswoman Luba al-Samri said Israeli troops spotted two youths exiting a car with Palestinian plates in the area.
The youths raised the suspicions of the forces, who searched them and found two knives in their possession, al-Samri said, adding that "initial investigations" indicated they had been planning to carry out a stabbing attack.
The Palestinian youths were taken into custody, and Israeli forces were searching for the individual who drove them to Shaare Binyamin, al-Samri said.
The locations where both Friday's incidents took place have been the site of a number of deaths since a surge of violence in the occupied Palestinian territory last October.
The Gush Etzion junction -- the entrance point to the illegal Gush Etzion settlement bloc -- has seen numerous deadly encounters that have left over 10 Palestinians and three Israelis dead.
Last month, two 14-year-old Palestinians were shot dead after carrying out an attack in a Rami Levi supermarket located in Shaare Benyamin industrial zone that killed one Israeli.
IOF shoots, kills Palestinian at Gush Etzion junction
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) shot and killed a Palestinian young man for allegedly attempting to carry out a stabbing attack at the Gush Etzion junction on Friday evening.
The shooting came shortly after two Palestinians were detained on suspicion of planning an anti-occupation attack in Shaare Binyamin illegal settlement north of occupied Jerusalem.
Israeli media sources claimed that Israeli forces stationed at the Gush Etzion junction southwest of Bethlehem opened fire at a Palestinian youngster, killing the man and "foiling" the alleged stabbing attack.
The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the victim as Mahmoud Ahmad Abu Fanunah, 21, from al-Khalil.
Following the incident, IOF soldiers violently stormed Abu Fanunah’s house south of al-Khalil and questioned his family members. According to the PIC reporter, three journalists were arrested at Gush Etzion junction for unknown reasons.
Shortly afterwards, Israeli police declared the arrest of two Palestinian minors near the entrance of the industrial zone of the illegal settlement of Shaare Binyamin northeast of occupied Jerusalem for allegedly carrying knives. Israeli police spokeswoman Luba al-Samri said Israeli troops spotted two youths exiting a car with Palestinian plates in the area.
The youths raised the suspicion of the forces, who searched them and found two knives in their possession, al-Samri claimed, adding that "initial investigations" indicated they had been planning to carry out a stabbing attack.”
More than 185 Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire since the outbreak of Jerusalem Intifada on October 1, 2015 raising international concerns over the excessive, even extreme, use of force against Palestinian protesters. Israeli forces have carried out a series of unlawful killings of Palestinians using intentional lethal force without justification, said Amnesty International, based on the findings of an ongoing research trip to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
The organization has documented in depth at least several incidents in which Palestinians were deliberately shot dead by Israeli forces when they posed no imminent threat to life, in what appear to have been extrajudicial executions.
A Palestinian man was shot dead after allegedly attempting to carry out a stabbing attack at the Gush Etzion junction, shortly after two Palestinians were detained on suspicions of planning an attack in the illegal Shaare Benjamin settlement.
An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma'an that an "assailant armed with a knife exited his vehicle and charged at soldiers" at the Gush Etzion junction southwest of Bethlehem, with soldiers opening fire, killing the man and "foiling" the alleged attack.
Witnesses told Ma'an that Israeli forces opened fire on and killed a Palestinian man in his 20s while he was driving near the junction.
One witness said the Palestinian had been driving alongside an Israeli settler who stopped his car at the junction in order to speak to soldiers there and pointed to the Palestinian's car.
The witness said the Palestinian also stopped his car and had just stepped out -- "not holding anything in his hands" -- when Israeli forces opened fire, killing him on the spot.
No Israeli injuries were reported.
The Palestinian was identified as Mahmud Ahmad Abu Fanunah, 21, from the Hebron district.
Shortly afterward, Israeli police said they detained two Palestinian minors near the entrance of the industrial zone of the illegal settlement of Shaare Binyamin northeast of Jerusalem for allegedly carrying knives.
Israeli police spokeswoman Luba al-Samri said Israeli troops spotted two youths exiting a car with Palestinian plates in the area.
The youths raised the suspicions of the forces, who searched them and found two knives in their possession, al-Samri said, adding that "initial investigations" indicated they had been planning to carry out a stabbing attack.
The Palestinian youths were taken into custody, and Israeli forces were searching for the individual who drove them to Shaare Binyamin, al-Samri said.
The locations where both Friday's incidents took place have been the site of a number of deaths since a surge of violence in the occupied Palestinian territory last October.
The Gush Etzion junction -- the entrance point to the illegal Gush Etzion settlement bloc -- has seen numerous deadly encounters that have left over 10 Palestinians and three Israelis dead.
Last month, two 14-year-old Palestinians were shot dead after carrying out an attack in a Rami Levi supermarket located in Shaare Benyamin industrial zone that killed one Israeli.
IOF shoots, kills Palestinian at Gush Etzion junction
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) shot and killed a Palestinian young man for allegedly attempting to carry out a stabbing attack at the Gush Etzion junction on Friday evening.
The shooting came shortly after two Palestinians were detained on suspicion of planning an anti-occupation attack in Shaare Binyamin illegal settlement north of occupied Jerusalem.
Israeli media sources claimed that Israeli forces stationed at the Gush Etzion junction southwest of Bethlehem opened fire at a Palestinian youngster, killing the man and "foiling" the alleged stabbing attack.
The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the victim as Mahmoud Ahmad Abu Fanunah, 21, from al-Khalil.
Following the incident, IOF soldiers violently stormed Abu Fanunah’s house south of al-Khalil and questioned his family members. According to the PIC reporter, three journalists were arrested at Gush Etzion junction for unknown reasons.
Shortly afterwards, Israeli police declared the arrest of two Palestinian minors near the entrance of the industrial zone of the illegal settlement of Shaare Binyamin northeast of occupied Jerusalem for allegedly carrying knives. Israeli police spokeswoman Luba al-Samri said Israeli troops spotted two youths exiting a car with Palestinian plates in the area.
The youths raised the suspicion of the forces, who searched them and found two knives in their possession, al-Samri claimed, adding that "initial investigations" indicated they had been planning to carry out a stabbing attack.”
More than 185 Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire since the outbreak of Jerusalem Intifada on October 1, 2015 raising international concerns over the excessive, even extreme, use of force against Palestinian protesters. Israeli forces have carried out a series of unlawful killings of Palestinians using intentional lethal force without justification, said Amnesty International, based on the findings of an ongoing research trip to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
The organization has documented in depth at least several incidents in which Palestinians were deliberately shot dead by Israeli forces when they posed no imminent threat to life, in what appear to have been extrajudicial executions.
A Palestinian press freedoms watchdog on Thursday said 2015 had seen an “unprecedented” increase in Israeli violations against Palestinian journalists across the occupied Palestinian territory.
The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms, known as MADA, recorded a total of 599 violations against media freedoms throughout the year, in what the group’s general director, Moussa Rimawi, said was the “highest ever to be monitored in Palestine since (the watchdog) started monitoring violations against media freedoms around a decade ago.”
The report [PDF] said 2015 had seen 134 more violations against Palestinian journalists than the year before, an increase of 29 percent, although it noted that that 2014 had witnessed the “worst and widest violations,” including the deaths of 17 journalists during the 50-day Gaza war.
The majority of 2015’s violations -- 407 incidents -- were committed by Israeli forces, MADA said, while the other 192 violations were committed by "various Palestinian bodies."
Almost half of the violations committed by Israeli forces -- 42 percent -- were physical assaults, although the watchdog also monitored cases of soldiers denying media coverage, targeting journalists through gas canisters, stun grenades, and rubber-coated steel bullets, the confiscation of equipment, deleting recorded material, and closing media outlets.
The report found that half the Israeli violations were concentrated in the final three months of 2015, after a wave of unrest swept across the occupied Palestinian territory.
MADA said the closure of Palestinian media outlets by Israeli forces represented one of the most dangerous trends for media freedoms throughout the year, with three radio stations shut down in November, and a number of other outlets threatened due to allegations of “inciting” Palestinians to acts of violence.
It is a trend that has carried into 2016, as another major news publication, Filistin al-Yawm (Palestinian Today), was ordered to close earlier this month.
Separately, the report also noted three cases where Palestinian journalists had been used as “human shields” by Israeli forces, up from two in 2014. The watchdog also documented 20 arrests of Palestinian journalists in 2015, in what it said was the highest number since 2008.
While Israeli forces committed the “the gravest and most hazardous of all monitored violations,” the group said that violations by Palestinian parties had also increased at an “alarming” rate -- 68 percent more than in 2014.
The increase in Palestinian violations “raises serious concerns in relation to the manner in which the official authorities deal with the freedom of expression and media in the West Bank and Gaza Strip,” Rimawi said in a press release accompanying the report.
The watchdog also pointed to a “step backward” in the legal environment for media freedoms in the occupied Palestinian territory, highlighting in particular the approval of the Higher Media Council law by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in December.
The report said the law, which expands the Palestinian Authority’s control over local media, was “unacceptable by all standards and measures,” and its approval had appeared rushed.
The watchdog called on the international community to pressure the Israeli government to end “all escalating attacks against media freedoms in Palestine… and to hold accountable all the perpetrators of these violations.”
The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms, known as MADA, recorded a total of 599 violations against media freedoms throughout the year, in what the group’s general director, Moussa Rimawi, said was the “highest ever to be monitored in Palestine since (the watchdog) started monitoring violations against media freedoms around a decade ago.”
The report [PDF] said 2015 had seen 134 more violations against Palestinian journalists than the year before, an increase of 29 percent, although it noted that that 2014 had witnessed the “worst and widest violations,” including the deaths of 17 journalists during the 50-day Gaza war.
The majority of 2015’s violations -- 407 incidents -- were committed by Israeli forces, MADA said, while the other 192 violations were committed by "various Palestinian bodies."
Almost half of the violations committed by Israeli forces -- 42 percent -- were physical assaults, although the watchdog also monitored cases of soldiers denying media coverage, targeting journalists through gas canisters, stun grenades, and rubber-coated steel bullets, the confiscation of equipment, deleting recorded material, and closing media outlets.
The report found that half the Israeli violations were concentrated in the final three months of 2015, after a wave of unrest swept across the occupied Palestinian territory.
MADA said the closure of Palestinian media outlets by Israeli forces represented one of the most dangerous trends for media freedoms throughout the year, with three radio stations shut down in November, and a number of other outlets threatened due to allegations of “inciting” Palestinians to acts of violence.
It is a trend that has carried into 2016, as another major news publication, Filistin al-Yawm (Palestinian Today), was ordered to close earlier this month.
Separately, the report also noted three cases where Palestinian journalists had been used as “human shields” by Israeli forces, up from two in 2014. The watchdog also documented 20 arrests of Palestinian journalists in 2015, in what it said was the highest number since 2008.
While Israeli forces committed the “the gravest and most hazardous of all monitored violations,” the group said that violations by Palestinian parties had also increased at an “alarming” rate -- 68 percent more than in 2014.
The increase in Palestinian violations “raises serious concerns in relation to the manner in which the official authorities deal with the freedom of expression and media in the West Bank and Gaza Strip,” Rimawi said in a press release accompanying the report.
The watchdog also pointed to a “step backward” in the legal environment for media freedoms in the occupied Palestinian territory, highlighting in particular the approval of the Higher Media Council law by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in December.
The report said the law, which expands the Palestinian Authority’s control over local media, was “unacceptable by all standards and measures,” and its approval had appeared rushed.
The watchdog called on the international community to pressure the Israeli government to end “all escalating attacks against media freedoms in Palestine… and to hold accountable all the perpetrators of these violations.”
“The International Jerusalem Marathon 2016” kicked off on Friday in occupied Jerusalem with the participation of nearly 25,000 runners from different countries all over the world.
The marathon came as part of Israel’s Judaization policy as its route cuts through occupied Jerusalem and its Arab and Islamic historical sites.
According to the marathon’s website, “the various tracks pass by fascinating historical sites that illuminate 3,000 years of the history of Jerusalem, Israel’s capital.”
The marathon is set to run from 7 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., during which an estimated 25,000 runners will be competing.
Earlier Thursday, Israeli authorities banned the entry of Secretary General of the National Committee Against Normalization Jihad Owaida and two other activists into occupied Jerusalem for three days.
The Israeli authorities claimed that their presence will pose a threat to the participants’ lives. The International Jerusalem Marathon 2016, seemingly an entertaining sports event, is in reality a camouflaged Judaization scheme aimed at holding sway over the holy city.
The marathon came as part of Israel’s Judaization policy as its route cuts through occupied Jerusalem and its Arab and Islamic historical sites.
According to the marathon’s website, “the various tracks pass by fascinating historical sites that illuminate 3,000 years of the history of Jerusalem, Israel’s capital.”
The marathon is set to run from 7 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., during which an estimated 25,000 runners will be competing.
Earlier Thursday, Israeli authorities banned the entry of Secretary General of the National Committee Against Normalization Jihad Owaida and two other activists into occupied Jerusalem for three days.
The Israeli authorities claimed that their presence will pose a threat to the participants’ lives. The International Jerusalem Marathon 2016, seemingly an entertaining sports event, is in reality a camouflaged Judaization scheme aimed at holding sway over the holy city.
17 mar 2016
Israeli authorities, on Wednesday, cancelled a weekly visit which allows elderly Palestinians, from the Gaza Strip, to travel to annexed East Jerusalem for Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque, according to Palestinian liaison officials.
Sources at the liaison office said that Israel had called off the agreement, which previously allowed 200 Gazans above the age of 60 to worship at the holy site as part of a ceasefire agreement that ended the 2014 Gaza war.
Sources said that Israel cancelled the agreement on the grounds that Palestinian worshipers traveling for worship were not returning to the Gaza Strip on the same day of the visit, as the agreement stipulated. A spokesperson for Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) confirmed the cancellation and said that: "Any claims regarding the freezing of permits for prayers in the Temple Mount [Al-Aqsa] should be directed to those who choose to exploit illegally the permits at the expense of the rest of the public."
"In light of inappropriate misusing of the permit and exploiting inappropriately the Israeli civil policy, it has been decided to freeze the permits for prayers in the Temple Mount [Al-Aqsa]," the spokesperson said, adding that over 1,000 Palestinians in Gaza are permitted to cross into Israel, each day, for a variety of purposes, including business affairs or medical treatment.
The spokesperson said that giving permits for entry to the Al-Aqsa compound is a "civil step" among others taken by the body, but added that any "attempts to harm the security of Israel" would not be tolerated.
The spokesperson told Ma'an that the decision was temporary until the issue was addressed by the Palestinian Civil Committee in the Gaza Strip.
The announcement comes after Israeli authorities, last week, reportedly said they were considering increasing the number of Palestinians able to travel from Gaza to Al-Aqsa, as well as lowering the age limit to 50.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam and is also venerated as Judaism's most holy place. Disputes surrounding visitation to the site have historically flared tensions in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Increased Israeli presence at the site, last year, contributed to an escalation of tensions that triggered a wave of unrest across Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories in October.
Sources at the liaison office said that Israel had called off the agreement, which previously allowed 200 Gazans above the age of 60 to worship at the holy site as part of a ceasefire agreement that ended the 2014 Gaza war.
Sources said that Israel cancelled the agreement on the grounds that Palestinian worshipers traveling for worship were not returning to the Gaza Strip on the same day of the visit, as the agreement stipulated. A spokesperson for Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) confirmed the cancellation and said that: "Any claims regarding the freezing of permits for prayers in the Temple Mount [Al-Aqsa] should be directed to those who choose to exploit illegally the permits at the expense of the rest of the public."
"In light of inappropriate misusing of the permit and exploiting inappropriately the Israeli civil policy, it has been decided to freeze the permits for prayers in the Temple Mount [Al-Aqsa]," the spokesperson said, adding that over 1,000 Palestinians in Gaza are permitted to cross into Israel, each day, for a variety of purposes, including business affairs or medical treatment.
The spokesperson said that giving permits for entry to the Al-Aqsa compound is a "civil step" among others taken by the body, but added that any "attempts to harm the security of Israel" would not be tolerated.
The spokesperson told Ma'an that the decision was temporary until the issue was addressed by the Palestinian Civil Committee in the Gaza Strip.
The announcement comes after Israeli authorities, last week, reportedly said they were considering increasing the number of Palestinians able to travel from Gaza to Al-Aqsa, as well as lowering the age limit to 50.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam and is also venerated as Judaism's most holy place. Disputes surrounding visitation to the site have historically flared tensions in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Increased Israeli presence at the site, last year, contributed to an escalation of tensions that triggered a wave of unrest across Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories in October.
Israeli national council for planning and building will be holding on Tuesday, March 22 a lengthy session in Occupied Jerusalem to discuss again the objections on the construction plan of the alleged Temple of Solomon.
According to QPress center, which is concerned with the affairs of Occupied Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque, the meeting will open again the door for the endorsement of the plan and the reconstruction of the alleged temple.
This runs contrary to the previous resolutions of the same council which were issued last May and stipulate for reduction in the size of the building.
The project will be constructed only 20 meters away from the historical wall of the Aqsa Mosque and 100 meters from the Aqsa Mosque itself. The project is upheld by the Israeli government and Jerusalem municipality headed by Nir Barakat. It will be built on an area estimated at 16,000 square meters.
According to QPress center, which is concerned with the affairs of Occupied Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque, the meeting will open again the door for the endorsement of the plan and the reconstruction of the alleged temple.
This runs contrary to the previous resolutions of the same council which were issued last May and stipulate for reduction in the size of the building.
The project will be constructed only 20 meters away from the historical wall of the Aqsa Mosque and 100 meters from the Aqsa Mosque itself. The project is upheld by the Israeli government and Jerusalem municipality headed by Nir Barakat. It will be built on an area estimated at 16,000 square meters.
Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas Movement, announced that martyr Qassem Jaber, who was killed last Monday, is a member of the brigades.
The armed wing revealed, in a report published on its website, that martyr Jaber, 31, is a member of the cell called “fast death” which is also called by Israeli intelligence “the anonymous cell”.
It was formed in 2004 and considered by Israeli leaders as one of the most dangerous resistance cells in the southern West Bank.
Qassem Jaber was killed on Monday, March, 14 with the company of martyr Amir al-Juniadi after carrying out an anti-occupation hit-and-run attack near Kiryat Arba settlement.
The armed wing revealed, in a report published on its website, that martyr Jaber, 31, is a member of the cell called “fast death” which is also called by Israeli intelligence “the anonymous cell”.
It was formed in 2004 and considered by Israeli leaders as one of the most dangerous resistance cells in the southern West Bank.
Qassem Jaber was killed on Monday, March, 14 with the company of martyr Amir al-Juniadi after carrying out an anti-occupation hit-and-run attack near Kiryat Arba settlement.
16 mar 2016
The Israeli violations practiced against the Palestinian educational process had notably increased in 2015.
Official statistics, according to a report issued by Quds Press, revealed that 53,998 Palestinian male and female students and 3,840 Palestinian male and female teachers, as well as a number of the staff of the Palestinian Ministry of Education and its institutions, were subjected to attacks by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) during the last year; these attacks included killing, wounding, arrests and detentions, as well as house arrests, restriction of movement at checkpoints and denial of safe access to schools.
255 Palestinian schools were subjected to attacks by the Israeli occupation and the settlers, the Israelis attacks against Palestinian schools included, incursions, shooting and bomb attacks, causing material losses, in addition to disabling the educational process completely or partially.
Over the last year, 22 students and a Palestinian teacher were killed, in addition to one of the Ministry of Education's staff, while 265 students, teachers and employees of the ministry from the northern West Bank provinces were arrested, 75 students and 30 teachers were stopped and investigated by the IOF at checkpoints.
The number of the wounded students, teachers and school staff reached 1,019 Palestinians, the causes of their injuries varied between exposure to live or/and rubber bullets, fragments of shells, rockets, severe beatings, and other causes.
With regard to preventing students and teachers from safe access to schools; data released by the Palestinian Ministry of Education showed that, the students of 57 schools were delayed at checkpoints and electronic gates installed on the roads leading to them.
According to the ministry's data; the IOF imposed house arrest on 17 students from Jerusalem schools, and 15 Palestinian students in Israeli schools in the occupied city of Jerusalem, for various periods of time.
The ministry said in its report that education was partially suspended in 35 schools during last year, for varied reasons, mostly due to the closure of checkpoints or streets leading to the school, firing of sound and tear gas bombs near those schools, settlers' incursions and other causes.
Regarding the attacks on schools, the ministry data showed that 54 schools had been subjected to the Israeli occupation's violations, during which tear gas canisters, sound bombs and bullets were fired toward the school yards and classrooms, as well as beating teachers and students severely, and storming the school yards.
The Israeli practices against the educational process in Palestine resulted in, according to the ministry's report, the cancellation of 9,322 courses, as well as the delivery of orders to stop the work in two schools.
Official statistics, according to a report issued by Quds Press, revealed that 53,998 Palestinian male and female students and 3,840 Palestinian male and female teachers, as well as a number of the staff of the Palestinian Ministry of Education and its institutions, were subjected to attacks by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) during the last year; these attacks included killing, wounding, arrests and detentions, as well as house arrests, restriction of movement at checkpoints and denial of safe access to schools.
255 Palestinian schools were subjected to attacks by the Israeli occupation and the settlers, the Israelis attacks against Palestinian schools included, incursions, shooting and bomb attacks, causing material losses, in addition to disabling the educational process completely or partially.
Over the last year, 22 students and a Palestinian teacher were killed, in addition to one of the Ministry of Education's staff, while 265 students, teachers and employees of the ministry from the northern West Bank provinces were arrested, 75 students and 30 teachers were stopped and investigated by the IOF at checkpoints.
The number of the wounded students, teachers and school staff reached 1,019 Palestinians, the causes of their injuries varied between exposure to live or/and rubber bullets, fragments of shells, rockets, severe beatings, and other causes.
With regard to preventing students and teachers from safe access to schools; data released by the Palestinian Ministry of Education showed that, the students of 57 schools were delayed at checkpoints and electronic gates installed on the roads leading to them.
According to the ministry's data; the IOF imposed house arrest on 17 students from Jerusalem schools, and 15 Palestinian students in Israeli schools in the occupied city of Jerusalem, for various periods of time.
The ministry said in its report that education was partially suspended in 35 schools during last year, for varied reasons, mostly due to the closure of checkpoints or streets leading to the school, firing of sound and tear gas bombs near those schools, settlers' incursions and other causes.
Regarding the attacks on schools, the ministry data showed that 54 schools had been subjected to the Israeli occupation's violations, during which tear gas canisters, sound bombs and bullets were fired toward the school yards and classrooms, as well as beating teachers and students severely, and storming the school yards.
The Israeli practices against the educational process in Palestine resulted in, according to the ministry's report, the cancellation of 9,322 courses, as well as the delivery of orders to stop the work in two schools.
The Islamic Radio Stations and Televisions’ Union said on Tuesday that Israeli occupation forces (IOF) had attacked and injured at least 14 Palestinian female journalists since the start of the anti-occupation uprising in October until the month of February.
The union said in a report marking the Arab Female Journalist’s Day that three of the journalists were from Occupied Jerusalem, four from Ramallah, four from al-Khalil, two from Bethlehem, and one from the blockaded Gaza Strip.
Each of the 14 journalists were either hit with live or rubber-coated steel bullets, or other Israeli crowd dispersal means such as teargas canisters and stun grenades.
A number of female journalists sustained critical injuries in their heads, stomachs, and faces while others were used as human shields.
News correspondent Faten Aref Ulwan, working for the al-Hurra TV Channel, was reportedly used as a human shield by the Israeli occupation soldiers while she was covering clashes in al-Bireh city.
31-year-old reporter Sayraa Ghassen Sarhan, working for the Filastin al-Yawm TV Channel, was also used as a human shield for three hours and was hit with teargas grenades while she was covering a rally in Ramallah.
The union said in a report marking the Arab Female Journalist’s Day that three of the journalists were from Occupied Jerusalem, four from Ramallah, four from al-Khalil, two from Bethlehem, and one from the blockaded Gaza Strip.
Each of the 14 journalists were either hit with live or rubber-coated steel bullets, or other Israeli crowd dispersal means such as teargas canisters and stun grenades.
A number of female journalists sustained critical injuries in their heads, stomachs, and faces while others were used as human shields.
News correspondent Faten Aref Ulwan, working for the al-Hurra TV Channel, was reportedly used as a human shield by the Israeli occupation soldiers while she was covering clashes in al-Bireh city.
31-year-old reporter Sayraa Ghassen Sarhan, working for the Filastin al-Yawm TV Channel, was also used as a human shield for three hours and was hit with teargas grenades while she was covering a rally in Ramallah.
An Israeli settler escorted by a soldier stormed on Tuesday evening a room at the Afula hospital, where the Palestinian prisoner Muhammad al-Qeiq is being treated, and insulted him.
Al-Qeiq’s Facebook page quoted his wife, journalist Fayhaa Shalash, as stating that an Israeli soldier and a settler crept into his room at the Afula hospital before they insulted him and yelled such racist threats as “you must die.”
Palestinians present near the room and police guards forced the soldier and the settler out of the hospital.
Muhammad al-Qeiq is currently being treated for the health complications inflicted by a three-month hunger strike in protest at his administrative detention, with neither charge nor trial. He suspended his hunger strike after Israeli prison authorities promised to release him in May.
Al-Qeiq’s Facebook page quoted his wife, journalist Fayhaa Shalash, as stating that an Israeli soldier and a settler crept into his room at the Afula hospital before they insulted him and yelled such racist threats as “you must die.”
Palestinians present near the room and police guards forced the soldier and the settler out of the hospital.
Muhammad al-Qeiq is currently being treated for the health complications inflicted by a three-month hunger strike in protest at his administrative detention, with neither charge nor trial. He suspended his hunger strike after Israeli prison authorities promised to release him in May.
Thousands of Palestinians in al-Khalil at noon on Tuesday bade farewell to two martyrs: Amir al-Junaidi and Qasem Jaber.
Participants in the funeral waved photos of the martyrs as well as Palestinian flags and banners.
Palestinians also chanted pro-resistance slogans and asked for avenging both martyrs.
The two martyrs along with a third were killed by Israeli forces Monday morning after they had carried out anti-occupation car-ramming attacks as well as shooting east of the city.
Participants in the funeral waved photos of the martyrs as well as Palestinian flags and banners.
Palestinians also chanted pro-resistance slogans and asked for avenging both martyrs.
The two martyrs along with a third were killed by Israeli forces Monday morning after they had carried out anti-occupation car-ramming attacks as well as shooting east of the city.