20 nov 2016
An Israeli military force stormed, in a predawn raid, Al-Quds University campus, in the town of Abu Dis, east of Jerusalem, sabotaging and seizing exhibits, the Palestinian Ministry of Education said on Saturday.
Troops broke down doors to an exhibition held at the Faculty of Medicine, sabotaging and seizing all exhibits, documents and electronic equipment, it said, according to WAFA correspondence.
The raid comes just two days after troops infiltrated the Palestine Technical University (Kadoori) campus, in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem, seizing electronic materials and recordings of surveillance cameras.
In a press statement, the Education Ministry said that Israeli troops broke into the administration building and other offices inside the Abu Dis campus of Al-Quds University, located right behind the concrete wall Israeli authorities built to separate East Jerusalem from its environs, and tampered with their contents.
It called upon all local and international human rights organizations to expose Israeli violations against Palestinian universities, and ensure that Palestinian students receive education in a safe environment.
The exhibition was sponsored by the Islamic Bloc at the university.
Troops broke down doors to an exhibition held at the Faculty of Medicine, sabotaging and seizing all exhibits, documents and electronic equipment, it said, according to WAFA correspondence.
The raid comes just two days after troops infiltrated the Palestine Technical University (Kadoori) campus, in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem, seizing electronic materials and recordings of surveillance cameras.
In a press statement, the Education Ministry said that Israeli troops broke into the administration building and other offices inside the Abu Dis campus of Al-Quds University, located right behind the concrete wall Israeli authorities built to separate East Jerusalem from its environs, and tampered with their contents.
It called upon all local and international human rights organizations to expose Israeli violations against Palestinian universities, and ensure that Palestinian students receive education in a safe environment.
The exhibition was sponsored by the Islamic Bloc at the university.
19 nov 2016
An Israeli newspaper has revealed that the Israeli government intends to build more than 30,000 housing units in east Jerusalem after US president-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office in January 2017.
According to the new Israeli plans, 15,000 housing units will be built in place of the Jerusalem-Qalandiya airport, and other thousands will be in the industrial zone of Qalandiya (Atarot) and hundreds in Ramot and Gilo settlements.
Meir Turgeman, deputy head of Israel's municipal authority in Occupied Jerusalem, told Kol Ha'ir newspaper that these settlement plans had been frozen over the last two years because of pressures by the international community and the outgoing US administration.
But now, he says, he is filing the construction plans for approval by the Israeli competent authorities.
According to the new Israeli plans, 15,000 housing units will be built in place of the Jerusalem-Qalandiya airport, and other thousands will be in the industrial zone of Qalandiya (Atarot) and hundreds in Ramot and Gilo settlements.
Meir Turgeman, deputy head of Israel's municipal authority in Occupied Jerusalem, told Kol Ha'ir newspaper that these settlement plans had been frozen over the last two years because of pressures by the international community and the outgoing US administration.
But now, he says, he is filing the construction plans for approval by the Israeli competent authorities.
18 nov 2016
The Israeli Jerusalem Municipality filed a court appeal to immediately implement demolition orders of Palestinian homes in east Jerusalem’s Beit Hanina neighborhood.
The Israeli municipality claimed the homes were illegally built on Israeli private lands and have thus to be immediately knocked down.
According to the Israeli radio, 14 Palestinian houses, sheltering 40 Palestinian families, are targeted by the demolition orders.
Following the High Court’s ruling to demolish Israeli housing units illegally built on Palestinian lands in Amona outpost, the Jerusalem Municipality’s legal adviser requested that the court carry out immediate execution of demolition orders for the 14 Palestinian buildings.
Left-wing Ir Amim organization lashed out at the move as "calculated" by Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat to curry favor in Likud.
The Israeli municipality claimed the homes were illegally built on Israeli private lands and have thus to be immediately knocked down.
According to the Israeli radio, 14 Palestinian houses, sheltering 40 Palestinian families, are targeted by the demolition orders.
Following the High Court’s ruling to demolish Israeli housing units illegally built on Palestinian lands in Amona outpost, the Jerusalem Municipality’s legal adviser requested that the court carry out immediate execution of demolition orders for the 14 Palestinian buildings.
Left-wing Ir Amim organization lashed out at the move as "calculated" by Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat to curry favor in Likud.
17 nov 2016
As part of massive Wednesday dawn invasions and breaking into homes, media centers and buildings, Israeli soldiers also invaded the office of Palestinian Legislator and the head of the Palestinian National Initiative, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi.
The soldiers broke into Dr. Barghouthi’s office, in Ramallah, amidst massive and violent invasions into dozens of homes, offices and media centers in different parts of the occupied West Bank, leading to excessive property damage, and many abductions.
Dr. Saeb Erekat, a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), strongly condemned the invasions and violations, that resulted in abducting, and wounding, dozens of Palestinians.
Dr. Erekat added that the invasion into the office of Dr. Barghouthi, a democratically-elected legislator, is a serious and direct violation of International Law, international treaties, and all signed agreements between Israel and the PLO.
“This is a violent, cowardice attack, it is a calculated Israeli escalation and aggression, meant to create further violence and tension,” Dr. Erekat said, “The invasion into the Health, Development, Information and Policy Institute” (HDIP), the detonation of its walls, doors and windows, and the illegal confiscating of computers and equipment, is a direct Israeli political message to the International Community defying all international laws with impunity. Israel is targeting our people, our elected officials, our lands, holy sites, media and health centers…”
Dr. Erekat added that the Israeli army carried out more than twenty-two invasions into the occupied territories in less than twenty-four hours.
“This Israeli hysteria and the deliberate targeting of representatives and elected figures, the escalating invasions and violations, will just lead to further tension and violence,” he said, “The International Community is required to act and provide the urgently-needed protection to the Palestinian people, living under this illegal occupation and constant violations.”
The soldiers broke into Dr. Barghouthi’s office, in Ramallah, amidst massive and violent invasions into dozens of homes, offices and media centers in different parts of the occupied West Bank, leading to excessive property damage, and many abductions.
Dr. Saeb Erekat, a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), strongly condemned the invasions and violations, that resulted in abducting, and wounding, dozens of Palestinians.
Dr. Erekat added that the invasion into the office of Dr. Barghouthi, a democratically-elected legislator, is a serious and direct violation of International Law, international treaties, and all signed agreements between Israel and the PLO.
“This is a violent, cowardice attack, it is a calculated Israeli escalation and aggression, meant to create further violence and tension,” Dr. Erekat said, “The invasion into the Health, Development, Information and Policy Institute” (HDIP), the detonation of its walls, doors and windows, and the illegal confiscating of computers and equipment, is a direct Israeli political message to the International Community defying all international laws with impunity. Israel is targeting our people, our elected officials, our lands, holy sites, media and health centers…”
Dr. Erekat added that the Israeli army carried out more than twenty-two invasions into the occupied territories in less than twenty-four hours.
“This Israeli hysteria and the deliberate targeting of representatives and elected figures, the escalating invasions and violations, will just lead to further tension and violence,” he said, “The International Community is required to act and provide the urgently-needed protection to the Palestinian people, living under this illegal occupation and constant violations.”
16 nov 2016
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat threatened Wednesday to demolish thousands of Palestinian homes in East Occupied Jerusalem, if the illegal West Bank outpost of Amona is evacuated, Haaretz reported.
The Israeli Jerusalem municipality asked for 14 demolition orders for the homes of some 40 Palestinians in Beit Hanina, which Barkat claimed were built on private Israeli land.
"Unless Amona is legalized, we'll have to destroy hundreds or thousands of houses in Jerusalem too," Barkat said.
"The Amona verdict leaves us no discretion to legalize building offences," he said.
The demolition orders Barkat asked for are for homes in the Beit Hanina neighborhood, allegedly built on land privately owned by Israeli settlers and run by the General Custodian's office.
Barkat asked for the demolition orders following the High Court of Justice ruling this week to evacuate and destroy the structures in illegal Amona outpost, which was built on private Palestinian land.
The Israeli Jerusalem municipality asked for 14 demolition orders for the homes of some 40 Palestinians in Beit Hanina, which Barkat claimed were built on private Israeli land.
"Unless Amona is legalized, we'll have to destroy hundreds or thousands of houses in Jerusalem too," Barkat said.
"The Amona verdict leaves us no discretion to legalize building offences," he said.
The demolition orders Barkat asked for are for homes in the Beit Hanina neighborhood, allegedly built on land privately owned by Israeli settlers and run by the General Custodian's office.
Barkat asked for the demolition orders following the High Court of Justice ruling this week to evacuate and destroy the structures in illegal Amona outpost, which was built on private Palestinian land.
15 nov 2016
Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs said Tuesday that any Israeli decision against Jerusalem's holy shrines, including Adhan ban bill, is false and insignificant.
The ministry undersecretary Abdullah Abbadi told Petra news agency that "an occupier cannot make any historical change to the city it occupies.”
According to international resolutions, things must remain the same without any change, a fact that underlines that any Israeli decision on Jerusalem is false and insignificant for the city is under occupation, he continued.
The Israeli Ministerial Committee on Legislation approved on Sunday draft legislation which could ban the use of loudspeakers to broadcast the Muslim call to prayer in Israel.
The bill would need to go through three readings in the before making it into law.
The ministry undersecretary Abdullah Abbadi told Petra news agency that "an occupier cannot make any historical change to the city it occupies.”
According to international resolutions, things must remain the same without any change, a fact that underlines that any Israeli decision on Jerusalem is false and insignificant for the city is under occupation, he continued.
The Israeli Ministerial Committee on Legislation approved on Sunday draft legislation which could ban the use of loudspeakers to broadcast the Muslim call to prayer in Israel.
The bill would need to go through three readings in the before making it into law.
The Higher Islamic Commission (HIC) in Occupied Jerusalem has urged the leaders of the Arab and Islamic countries to direct their “compass” towards Jerusalem and work together on activating the last UNESCO resolution on the Aqsa Mosque.
This came in a letter sent by the commission on Monday to Arab and Muslim heads of state.
The commission also called for financially supporting the Palestinian educational, health and housing sectors to protect the steadfastness of the natives in Jerusalem, and taking diplomatic and economic steps to curb Israel’s ongoing violations against the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
This came in a letter sent by the commission on Monday to Arab and Muslim heads of state.
The commission also called for financially supporting the Palestinian educational, health and housing sectors to protect the steadfastness of the natives in Jerusalem, and taking diplomatic and economic steps to curb Israel’s ongoing violations against the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
The Islamic Awqaf (endowment) Department in Occupied Jerusalem slammed the Israeli ministerial committee for approving a bid banning Adhan (Muslim call to prayers) via mosque loudspeakers.
“The draft resolution is a sign of Israel’s disregard for whatever is Arab and Islamic in Occupied Jerusalem,” a statement by the department read. “Such a racist resolution signals a war on Muslims and Islam.”
“Voting on a bid to ban the call to prayers and lowering the volume of loudspeakers is an unacceptable racist move,” said the Endowment authorities.
“The minarets of Occupied Jerusalem and the holy al-Aqsa Mosque, along with other mosques in the occupied Palestinian territories, shall keep reciting the call to prayers and invite people to worship Allah, the Greatest,” the statement added.
“The ban is a flagrant violation of the freedom of worship and a serious assault on a key Islamic ritual,” it further stated.
Adhan is an Islamic ritual recited five times a day to invite Muslims to perform their religious prayers. It was first chanted by the Companion of Prophet Mohamed (Peace Be Upon Him) some 1,400 years ago.
The text of Adhan reads literally as follows: “ALLAH is Most Great. I testify that there is no god except ALLAH. I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of ALLAH. Come to prayer. Come to success. Prayer is better than sleep. ALLAH is Most Great. There is no god except ALLAH.”
The Israeli occupation government claimed Adhan—the peaceful call to prayers as the text above shows—is a nuisance to the Israelis residing across the occupied Palestinian territories.
“The draft resolution is a sign of Israel’s disregard for whatever is Arab and Islamic in Occupied Jerusalem,” a statement by the department read. “Such a racist resolution signals a war on Muslims and Islam.”
“Voting on a bid to ban the call to prayers and lowering the volume of loudspeakers is an unacceptable racist move,” said the Endowment authorities.
“The minarets of Occupied Jerusalem and the holy al-Aqsa Mosque, along with other mosques in the occupied Palestinian territories, shall keep reciting the call to prayers and invite people to worship Allah, the Greatest,” the statement added.
“The ban is a flagrant violation of the freedom of worship and a serious assault on a key Islamic ritual,” it further stated.
Adhan is an Islamic ritual recited five times a day to invite Muslims to perform their religious prayers. It was first chanted by the Companion of Prophet Mohamed (Peace Be Upon Him) some 1,400 years ago.
The text of Adhan reads literally as follows: “ALLAH is Most Great. I testify that there is no god except ALLAH. I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of ALLAH. Come to prayer. Come to success. Prayer is better than sleep. ALLAH is Most Great. There is no god except ALLAH.”
The Israeli occupation government claimed Adhan—the peaceful call to prayers as the text above shows—is a nuisance to the Israelis residing across the occupied Palestinian territories.
14 nov 2016
Arab Member of the Israeli Knesset, Ahmad al-Tibi, called for a vote of no-confidence in the incumbent Netanyahu government after the latter okayed a bid to ban Muslim call to prayers in the occupied territories.
As he stood on the Knesset podium, head of the Joint Arab List, al-Tibi called for a vote of no-confidence in the Netanyahu government, which approved a motion to ban the Muslim call to prayers via Mosque loudspeakers.
According to al-Tibi, the bill was the latest of "frequent attempts to harm the feelings of Muslims, under the trivial pretext of preventing noise."
During the Knesset session, al-Tibi expressed his objection to the proposed legislation by reciting to the plenum the call to prayer.
“The one who is causing millions to suffer is Benjamin Netanyahu, the first and foremost inciter against the Arab citizens and their leadership,” said the MK.
“A few years ago, as I stood on this very plenum, I warned how Israeli dogs are trained to pounce and attack any Arab who chants Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest) as a Pavlovian reaction. Today we are facing another kind of dog unit, one that is ready to pounce whoever says Allahu Akbar.”
By the end of his speech, al-Tibi recited the call to prayer on the Knesset plenum, saying: “The muezzin will keep reciting the call to prayers . . . . God is greater than you.”
The bill, which calls for barring the use of loudspeakers for religious call to prayer, would need to go through several readings in the Knesset -- Israel’s parliament -- before making it into law, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on Sunday.
Speaking ahead of a vote on the bill in the Ministerial Committee for Legislation, the Israeli prime minister said that the blared prayer calls are a public nuisance that cuts across all religious denominations.
The prayer calls, traditionally announced through minarets five times, have been a frequent target of Israeli ire, with many claiming they are a loud nuisance that echoes in Jewish towns and neighborhoods.
The bill was penned by Jewish Home MK Moti Yogev. Supporters of the bill say freedom of religion should take a backseat to quality of life in this case.
Arab lawmakers attacked the proposal as a hate-fueled assault on Muslim freedom of religion.
As he stood on the Knesset podium, head of the Joint Arab List, al-Tibi called for a vote of no-confidence in the Netanyahu government, which approved a motion to ban the Muslim call to prayers via Mosque loudspeakers.
According to al-Tibi, the bill was the latest of "frequent attempts to harm the feelings of Muslims, under the trivial pretext of preventing noise."
During the Knesset session, al-Tibi expressed his objection to the proposed legislation by reciting to the plenum the call to prayer.
“The one who is causing millions to suffer is Benjamin Netanyahu, the first and foremost inciter against the Arab citizens and their leadership,” said the MK.
“A few years ago, as I stood on this very plenum, I warned how Israeli dogs are trained to pounce and attack any Arab who chants Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest) as a Pavlovian reaction. Today we are facing another kind of dog unit, one that is ready to pounce whoever says Allahu Akbar.”
By the end of his speech, al-Tibi recited the call to prayer on the Knesset plenum, saying: “The muezzin will keep reciting the call to prayers . . . . God is greater than you.”
The bill, which calls for barring the use of loudspeakers for religious call to prayer, would need to go through several readings in the Knesset -- Israel’s parliament -- before making it into law, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on Sunday.
Speaking ahead of a vote on the bill in the Ministerial Committee for Legislation, the Israeli prime minister said that the blared prayer calls are a public nuisance that cuts across all religious denominations.
The prayer calls, traditionally announced through minarets five times, have been a frequent target of Israeli ire, with many claiming they are a loud nuisance that echoes in Jewish towns and neighborhoods.
The bill was penned by Jewish Home MK Moti Yogev. Supporters of the bill say freedom of religion should take a backseat to quality of life in this case.
Arab lawmakers attacked the proposal as a hate-fueled assault on Muslim freedom of religion.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) closed Monday evening the main entrance to Sawia town south of Nablus.
Eyewitnesses told PIC reporter that Israeli military vehicles were stationed at the entrance to the town and prevented Palestinian movement in both directions.
Local residents were forced to use other alternative roads.
Israeli forces claimed that tight restrictions were imposed on the town after a number of Israeli settlers’ vehicles were allegedly stoned near the area.
Eyewitnesses told PIC reporter that Israeli military vehicles were stationed at the entrance to the town and prevented Palestinian movement in both directions.
Local residents were forced to use other alternative roads.
Israeli forces claimed that tight restrictions were imposed on the town after a number of Israeli settlers’ vehicles were allegedly stoned near the area.