14 jan 2015
The Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage (AFEH) warned of an Israeli plan to register Muslims’ holy al-Aqsa Mosque as an Israeli state property to be officially run by the so-called Tabu (land registration) office.
The Aqsa Foundation notified of Israeli intents to urge the future government to endorse the bid as a means to set the stage for establishing a Jewish synagogue over parts of the holy Mosque.
The move comes after the Yishai organization, led by the fanatic rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, failed to reap the authorities’ approval of a request to enlist al-Aqsa’s overall area as an Israeli state property.
The Yishai organization claimed that al-Buraq plaza was fully registered in 1996 as an Israeli-run Tabu.
The Foundation warned of an Israeli tender to build a Jewish synagogue in the eastern part of the al-Aqsa compound, between the Marwani Masjid and Bab al-Rahma.
The bid falls in line with Israel’s mounting Judaization plans, aimed at grabbing hold of the Mosque and enforcing a spatio-temporal division on the compound, and with Israel’s calculations for future elections and Judaization complots.
The fact that the Israeli occupation has ceaselessly tightened noose around the necks of Muslim worshipers and sit-inners on a quasi-daily basis stands as a living proof to Israel’s malevolent intents and the serious repercussion laid by its Judaization schemes, the statement added.
AFEH vowed that all Israeli “dreams” to set up the alleged temple on the ruins of the holy Aqsa Mosque shall never see the day and that the compound, covering an overall 144-dunum-area, will remain Muslims’ own crown of honor.
The Aqsa Foundation notified of Israeli intents to urge the future government to endorse the bid as a means to set the stage for establishing a Jewish synagogue over parts of the holy Mosque.
The move comes after the Yishai organization, led by the fanatic rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, failed to reap the authorities’ approval of a request to enlist al-Aqsa’s overall area as an Israeli state property.
The Yishai organization claimed that al-Buraq plaza was fully registered in 1996 as an Israeli-run Tabu.
The Foundation warned of an Israeli tender to build a Jewish synagogue in the eastern part of the al-Aqsa compound, between the Marwani Masjid and Bab al-Rahma.
The bid falls in line with Israel’s mounting Judaization plans, aimed at grabbing hold of the Mosque and enforcing a spatio-temporal division on the compound, and with Israel’s calculations for future elections and Judaization complots.
The fact that the Israeli occupation has ceaselessly tightened noose around the necks of Muslim worshipers and sit-inners on a quasi-daily basis stands as a living proof to Israel’s malevolent intents and the serious repercussion laid by its Judaization schemes, the statement added.
AFEH vowed that all Israeli “dreams” to set up the alleged temple on the ruins of the holy Aqsa Mosque shall never see the day and that the compound, covering an overall 144-dunum-area, will remain Muslims’ own crown of honor.
12 jan 2015
Israeli municipal bulldozers on Sunday morning demolished shade structures built a few week ago in Taso cemetery by the elected Islamic council in Yaffa (Jaffa) city.
According to the website Yaffa 48, Israeli municipal workers and bulldozers stormed the cemetery at dawn and removed two shade structures built to protect visitors from sunlight and rains at the pretext of unlicensed construction.
The Islamic council warned that the demolition of the shade structures in the cemetery would offend the feelings of Muslims in the city.
"Desecrating Taso cemetery and its sanctity is considered a very serious action, and the municipality flouted the feelings of Muslims when it sent its bulldozers to demolish the shades in the cemetery," the council stated.
Consequently, the Islamic council in the city held an emergency meeting on Sunday evening and decided to organize events and rallies during the current week to protest the demolition of structures in the cemetery.
In a statement released following the meeting, the council strongly condemned the Israeli action as "a barbaric act that can only be done by thugs," pointing out that the Tel Aviv municipal authorities broke the locks of the cemetery's main gate at dawn before carrying out the demolition.
It said that it would start on Monday to build three shade structures in the cemetery instead of the razed ones after it had received generous donations from Palestinian citizens in the city.
According to the website Yaffa 48, Israeli municipal workers and bulldozers stormed the cemetery at dawn and removed two shade structures built to protect visitors from sunlight and rains at the pretext of unlicensed construction.
The Islamic council warned that the demolition of the shade structures in the cemetery would offend the feelings of Muslims in the city.
"Desecrating Taso cemetery and its sanctity is considered a very serious action, and the municipality flouted the feelings of Muslims when it sent its bulldozers to demolish the shades in the cemetery," the council stated.
Consequently, the Islamic council in the city held an emergency meeting on Sunday evening and decided to organize events and rallies during the current week to protest the demolition of structures in the cemetery.
In a statement released following the meeting, the council strongly condemned the Israeli action as "a barbaric act that can only be done by thugs," pointing out that the Tel Aviv municipal authorities broke the locks of the cemetery's main gate at dawn before carrying out the demolition.
It said that it would start on Monday to build three shade structures in the cemetery instead of the razed ones after it had received generous donations from Palestinian citizens in the city.
11 jan 2015
Member of Hamas Political Bureau Izzat al-Rrsheq warned of the risks threatening the Aqsa Mosque due to increasing Israeli intrusions and threats of setting new regulations that would allow Jews to practice rituals at the Mosque.
Resheq opined, in statements posted on his Facebook page on Sunday, that Zionist calls for taking over the Aqsa Mosque is a “declaration of war”, referring to the recent statements by the Israeli Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Eli Ben-Dahan in this regard.
“Dahan’s announcement that his office has finalized regulations and mechanisms that allow Jews to perform rituals at the Aqsa Mosque along with his call for the Zionist sovereignty over the Mosque is tantamount to a declaration of war”, Resheq said.
He called on the Arabs and Muslims to shoulder their historic responsibility toward the Aqsa Mosque, and urged the Islamic Nation to urgently act to protect the holy site and to support the steadfastness of the Palestinian people.
Resheq opined, in statements posted on his Facebook page on Sunday, that Zionist calls for taking over the Aqsa Mosque is a “declaration of war”, referring to the recent statements by the Israeli Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Eli Ben-Dahan in this regard.
“Dahan’s announcement that his office has finalized regulations and mechanisms that allow Jews to perform rituals at the Aqsa Mosque along with his call for the Zionist sovereignty over the Mosque is tantamount to a declaration of war”, Resheq said.
He called on the Arabs and Muslims to shoulder their historic responsibility toward the Aqsa Mosque, and urged the Islamic Nation to urgently act to protect the holy site and to support the steadfastness of the Palestinian people.
Israeli settlers stormed Sunday morning the plazas of the Aqsa Mosque from the Magharibah gate under heavy police protection.
The settlers broke into and toured the courtyards of the Mosque in groups while listening to Jewish sermons.
Many Muslim worshipers, from Jerusalem and the 1948 occupied territories, were present in the holy place. They confronted, by chants of Allahu Akabar, the settlers and extremist Jewish groups which have been calling for the escalation of breaking into the Mosque in the coming days.
The settlers broke into and toured the courtyards of the Mosque in groups while listening to Jewish sermons.
Many Muslim worshipers, from Jerusalem and the 1948 occupied territories, were present in the holy place. They confronted, by chants of Allahu Akabar, the settlers and extremist Jewish groups which have been calling for the escalation of breaking into the Mosque in the coming days.
10 jan 2015
The Shin Bet, Israel's internal intelligence agency, claimed it had thwarted a terrorist attack on the Aqsa Mosque's Dome of the Rock planned by an American tourist, according to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.
The newspaper said the attack could have triggered a destructive fire in the Middle East if it had not been frustrated by the Shin Bet.
30-year-old Adam Livvix, an American extremist Christian, prepared two plans to carry out the attack, the first one with a missile and the second with a bobby-trapped drone.
The Israeli newspaper noted that Livvix planned the attack at the behest of Zionist and fanatic Christian groups in the US.
The terrorist told his interrogators that he had seen a vision in his sleep urging him to detonate the Dome of the Rock.
His dream to explode the holy site did not come true because the Shin Bet arrested him about one and half months ago during a raid on an apartment in Tel Aviv, Yedioth Ahronoth said.
Livvix was found in possession of weapons, ammunition and explosives kept in a storage shed next to his apartment in Tel Aviv. His accomplice, who lived with him in the same place, was an Israeli soldier.
The soldier is accused of supplying Livvix with means of combat and explosives stolen from the military base where he served.
An Israeli court ordered the identity of the soldier to be kept anonymous. The court do not intend to level terror charges against the defendants.
Livvix had arrived in Israel on March 7, 2013 as a tourist and outstayed his visa.
The newspaper said the attack could have triggered a destructive fire in the Middle East if it had not been frustrated by the Shin Bet.
30-year-old Adam Livvix, an American extremist Christian, prepared two plans to carry out the attack, the first one with a missile and the second with a bobby-trapped drone.
The Israeli newspaper noted that Livvix planned the attack at the behest of Zionist and fanatic Christian groups in the US.
The terrorist told his interrogators that he had seen a vision in his sleep urging him to detonate the Dome of the Rock.
His dream to explode the holy site did not come true because the Shin Bet arrested him about one and half months ago during a raid on an apartment in Tel Aviv, Yedioth Ahronoth said.
Livvix was found in possession of weapons, ammunition and explosives kept in a storage shed next to his apartment in Tel Aviv. His accomplice, who lived with him in the same place, was an Israeli soldier.
The soldier is accused of supplying Livvix with means of combat and explosives stolen from the military base where he served.
An Israeli court ordered the identity of the soldier to be kept anonymous. The court do not intend to level terror charges against the defendants.
Livvix had arrived in Israel on March 7, 2013 as a tourist and outstayed his visa.
The Islamic Endowment Department’s crews managed to stop the heavy rainwater infiltration into Marwani mosque over the two past days.
The department expressed deep fears of significant damage that could be inflicted on the mosque due to the heavy rainfall.
Israeli police, stationed at al-Aqsa Mosque, impose tight restrictions on Endowment Department and prevent its crews from maintaining the holy shrine.
Large numbers of the Islamic Endowment Department’s employees are currently stationed in the mosque to prevent any further rainwater infiltration in light of the massive weather storm that is currently hitting the region.
The department expressed deep fears of significant damage that could be inflicted on the mosque due to the heavy rainfall.
Israeli police, stationed at al-Aqsa Mosque, impose tight restrictions on Endowment Department and prevent its crews from maintaining the holy shrine.
Large numbers of the Islamic Endowment Department’s employees are currently stationed in the mosque to prevent any further rainwater infiltration in light of the massive weather storm that is currently hitting the region.
7 jan 2015
Palestinian Scholars League (PSL) condemned the call on Muslims to visit the Aqsa Mosque made by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Such visits were prohibited by majority of Islamic scholars since it constitutes normalization of relations with Israeli occupation, the PSL said in a statement on Wednesday.
The League said it would have been better to call for the liberation of the Aqsa Mosque and Palestine as well as for the support of the steadfastness of the Jerusalemite people.
The OIC scholars should have worked, instead, on determining the Islamic ruling vis-à-vis the recognition of the Israeli occupation in the first place, as well as determining the ruling regarding the normalization of relations with it, the statement said.
The League charged that the call made by the OIC Secretary General, Iyad Madani, was a call for normalization of relations with Israel and a free service for the occupation. It called for an end to such statements.
Such visits were prohibited by majority of Islamic scholars since it constitutes normalization of relations with Israeli occupation, the PSL said in a statement on Wednesday.
The League said it would have been better to call for the liberation of the Aqsa Mosque and Palestine as well as for the support of the steadfastness of the Jerusalemite people.
The OIC scholars should have worked, instead, on determining the Islamic ruling vis-à-vis the recognition of the Israeli occupation in the first place, as well as determining the ruling regarding the normalization of relations with it, the statement said.
The League charged that the call made by the OIC Secretary General, Iyad Madani, was a call for normalization of relations with Israel and a free service for the occupation. It called for an end to such statements.
6 jan 2015
The Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage has issued a detailed statistical and documentary report about the Israeli diggings and projects aiming to Judaize al-Aqsa Mosque during 2014.
In a summary statement of the report circulated on Monday, the foundation stated that the Israeli occupation continued its diggings under and around al-Aqsa Mosque and reached the deep foundations of the Mosque in some locations.
Moreover, the occupation continued executing its Judaization projects under and around al-Aqsa Mosque and approved other projects that would be launched during 2015.
The report warned that the occupation is likely to increase its projects aimed at Judaizing the vicinity of al-Aqsa Mosque.
The report also mentioned that during 2014, the occupation started deep digging works in the south-western corner of al-Aqsa Mosque along al-Buraq Wall, baring huge stones that serve as the foundations of the Mosque and continued digging under these foundations.
It said that the Israeli occupation authorities also continued to dig tunnels in Silwan town, southern Al-Aqsa Mosque, and these tunnels penetrated the old town towards Al-Khalil Gate, let alone the diggings in al-Ein al-Fouqa area in the middle of Silwan town.
During 2014, the IOA has also continued the diggings in the Magharba Gate road which were slow and were carried out using light tools preparing to build a military or wooden bridge, the report said.
It added that the IOA was about to build a new wooden bridge above the Magharba Gate road but it seems that because of the Jordanian pressure it was demolished at the orders of Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu.
However, the report said that the IOA turned a location in the Magharba Gate road into a synagogue for Jewish women.
In a summary statement of the report circulated on Monday, the foundation stated that the Israeli occupation continued its diggings under and around al-Aqsa Mosque and reached the deep foundations of the Mosque in some locations.
Moreover, the occupation continued executing its Judaization projects under and around al-Aqsa Mosque and approved other projects that would be launched during 2015.
The report warned that the occupation is likely to increase its projects aimed at Judaizing the vicinity of al-Aqsa Mosque.
The report also mentioned that during 2014, the occupation started deep digging works in the south-western corner of al-Aqsa Mosque along al-Buraq Wall, baring huge stones that serve as the foundations of the Mosque and continued digging under these foundations.
It said that the Israeli occupation authorities also continued to dig tunnels in Silwan town, southern Al-Aqsa Mosque, and these tunnels penetrated the old town towards Al-Khalil Gate, let alone the diggings in al-Ein al-Fouqa area in the middle of Silwan town.
During 2014, the IOA has also continued the diggings in the Magharba Gate road which were slow and were carried out using light tools preparing to build a military or wooden bridge, the report said.
It added that the IOA was about to build a new wooden bridge above the Magharba Gate road but it seems that because of the Jordanian pressure it was demolished at the orders of Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu.
However, the report said that the IOA turned a location in the Magharba Gate road into a synagogue for Jewish women.
The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, refused the call by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Arabs and Muslims to visit Jerusalem under Israeli occupation.
Hamas also refused, in a press release on Tuesday, turning the holy city into an Islamic touristic destination, saying that longing to visit the Islamic holy places does not justify the normalization of relations with Israel.
Hamas’s statement came in response to the call made by OIC Secretary General, Iyad Madani, to visit the holy city during his speech delivered at the inauguration of “Al-Quds in Memory” exhibition in Ramallah on Sunday.
The speech urged Muslims to visit the city in thousands and called for founding Palestinian and Jordanian touristic agencies to facilitate pilgrimage to Jerusalem as it is the case with Makkah in Saudi Arabia.
Hamas said the liberation of Palestine and Aqsa Mosque is the duty of all Muslims all over the world, stressing that the only way for that is resistance.
Hamas called on the Arab and Islamic countries to protect the Aqsa Mosque and other Palestinian sacred places as well as to support the Palestinian resistance and Jerusalemites’ steadfastness.
Hamas also refused, in a press release on Tuesday, turning the holy city into an Islamic touristic destination, saying that longing to visit the Islamic holy places does not justify the normalization of relations with Israel.
Hamas’s statement came in response to the call made by OIC Secretary General, Iyad Madani, to visit the holy city during his speech delivered at the inauguration of “Al-Quds in Memory” exhibition in Ramallah on Sunday.
The speech urged Muslims to visit the city in thousands and called for founding Palestinian and Jordanian touristic agencies to facilitate pilgrimage to Jerusalem as it is the case with Makkah in Saudi Arabia.
Hamas said the liberation of Palestine and Aqsa Mosque is the duty of all Muslims all over the world, stressing that the only way for that is resistance.
Hamas called on the Arab and Islamic countries to protect the Aqsa Mosque and other Palestinian sacred places as well as to support the Palestinian resistance and Jerusalemites’ steadfastness.
5 jan 2015
Arab member of the Knesset, Talab Abu Arar, refused, in a letter to Netanyahu, instructions to get Israel’s consent to gain access into Muslims’ holy al-Aqsa Mosque.
Arab MK Abu Arar said in a letter addressed to the Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu, the internal security minister, Yitzhak Ohronovic, and the Inspector General Yohanan Danino: “We’ve been updated, via a police statement, on the intents of the Israeli police to appeal to the Knesset Speaker to force the MKs, including Arabs and Muslims, to get the authorities’ permission before entering al-Aqsa Mosque.”
“This is entirely unacceptable,” he said. “I’ll never coordinate with any party to gain access into our holy Mosque. This is a barefaced complot to alter the status quo and a flagrant violation of our religious freedom and that of Muslims’ as a whole.”
He said Palestinians have always been on the alert to Israel’s frequent attempts at holding sway over al-Aqsa’s sovereignty and marring the overall mood around the Mosque.
He reiterated his alertness to Israeli attempts at enforcing a spatio-temporal division on the Mosque, saying: “This is both rejected and unacceptable.”
"We have live video-shots portraying Israeli security officials inciting fanatic Jewish hordes to step up desecration break-ins into the Mosque, as opposed to calls to tighten restrictions on the entry of the peaceful Muslim congregations", he added.
“This represents an infringement of the freedom of worship and an attempt to change the de facto situation,” he further warned.
Abu Arar called on the Israeli addressees to stop the Jewish provocative assaults on Muslims’ holy al-Aqsa Mosque and to cancel all restrictions on the Arab and Muslim visitors of the Mosque so as to avoid further simmering tension.
Arab MK Abu Arar said in a letter addressed to the Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu, the internal security minister, Yitzhak Ohronovic, and the Inspector General Yohanan Danino: “We’ve been updated, via a police statement, on the intents of the Israeli police to appeal to the Knesset Speaker to force the MKs, including Arabs and Muslims, to get the authorities’ permission before entering al-Aqsa Mosque.”
“This is entirely unacceptable,” he said. “I’ll never coordinate with any party to gain access into our holy Mosque. This is a barefaced complot to alter the status quo and a flagrant violation of our religious freedom and that of Muslims’ as a whole.”
He said Palestinians have always been on the alert to Israel’s frequent attempts at holding sway over al-Aqsa’s sovereignty and marring the overall mood around the Mosque.
He reiterated his alertness to Israeli attempts at enforcing a spatio-temporal division on the Mosque, saying: “This is both rejected and unacceptable.”
"We have live video-shots portraying Israeli security officials inciting fanatic Jewish hordes to step up desecration break-ins into the Mosque, as opposed to calls to tighten restrictions on the entry of the peaceful Muslim congregations", he added.
“This represents an infringement of the freedom of worship and an attempt to change the de facto situation,” he further warned.
Abu Arar called on the Israeli addressees to stop the Jewish provocative assaults on Muslims’ holy al-Aqsa Mosque and to cancel all restrictions on the Arab and Muslim visitors of the Mosque so as to avoid further simmering tension.
1 jan 2015
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested Thursday five women at Aqsa Mosque plazas after they confronted Jewish extremist groups who stormed the Mosque with chants of Allahu Akbar.
Local sources said all women are of Jerusalemite neighborhoods including Jabal al-Mukabir, Shufat refugee camp and Sour Baher.
Two of them are 19-year-old girls. All were taken to Qashle detention and investigation center at Bab al-Khalil in Occupied Jerusalem.
Earlier on Thursday, Jewish extremist groups raided the Aqsa Mosque from al-Megharibeh gate, escorted by policemen, while the Palestinian worshippers confronted them by chants of Allahu Akabar as a protest to the frequent incursions into the holy Mosque.
Tension ran high in the vicinity of the Mosque during the incident, the sources said.
In the same context, the IOF detained on Thursday at least one young man after storming Jabal al-Zaitoun mount, overlooking the Old City, as part of the large-scale arrest campaign that started two weeks ago in the area.
Witnesses said the IOF soldiers arrested Mutasim Abu al-Hawa and took him to one of the detention centers in the holy city.
Local sources said all women are of Jerusalemite neighborhoods including Jabal al-Mukabir, Shufat refugee camp and Sour Baher.
Two of them are 19-year-old girls. All were taken to Qashle detention and investigation center at Bab al-Khalil in Occupied Jerusalem.
Earlier on Thursday, Jewish extremist groups raided the Aqsa Mosque from al-Megharibeh gate, escorted by policemen, while the Palestinian worshippers confronted them by chants of Allahu Akabar as a protest to the frequent incursions into the holy Mosque.
Tension ran high in the vicinity of the Mosque during the incident, the sources said.
In the same context, the IOF detained on Thursday at least one young man after storming Jabal al-Zaitoun mount, overlooking the Old City, as part of the large-scale arrest campaign that started two weeks ago in the area.
Witnesses said the IOF soldiers arrested Mutasim Abu al-Hawa and took him to one of the detention centers in the holy city.
The Israeli occupation police on Wednesday evening detained a Turkish young man after physically assaulting him at the Aqsa Mosque.
Spokesman for the Islamic Waqf Authority Firas al-Debs said that Israeli policemen engaged in an altercation with a Turkish young man during his presence at the Dome of the Rock in the Mosque and violently subdued him.
Debs explained that one of the policemen provocatively talked with the young man and asked for his passport, although the latter did not know how to speak Hebrew, Arabic or English.
Afterwards, the young man was taken handcuffed to a police station outside the Mosque for questioning before releasing him.
Spokesman for the Islamic Waqf Authority Firas al-Debs said that Israeli policemen engaged in an altercation with a Turkish young man during his presence at the Dome of the Rock in the Mosque and violently subdued him.
Debs explained that one of the policemen provocatively talked with the young man and asked for his passport, although the latter did not know how to speak Hebrew, Arabic or English.
Afterwards, the young man was taken handcuffed to a police station outside the Mosque for questioning before releasing him.
Dormition Abbey, Jerusalem
Israeli forces, on Wednesday, abducted dozens of Palestinians, including minors, from various districts in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem. Several injuries and other violations by Israeli forces and extremist settlers were reported.
WAFA Palestinian News & Info Agency reports that Israeli police raided ath-Thuri neighborhood, in Silwan, where they arrested Mahmoud Hadia, Mohammad al-Jolani, Mohammad al-Mohtaseb, Adham Abu Nijma, Mohammad Iskafi, Hamzi al-Shwaiki and Mohammad at-Tawil.
East of Jerusalem, Israeli police raided al-Eizariya town, took three Palestinians, including 16-year-old Bara’ Mahmoud and 14-year-old ‘Ali Abu al-Hummus. The third person has not yet been identified.
Police also raided Ras al-‘Amud and at-Tur neighborhoods, kidnapping two minors identified as Naser Fares and Khader Da’oud.
Eight Palestinian children were also abducted near Ofer Prison, on the West Bank-Israel border near Ramallah, according to local sources.
Witnesses said that an Israeli army force ambushed the children near the prison and abducted them. The attacking soldiers also reportedly assaulted the children’s mothers, who attempted to release their children.
Soldiers fired teargas and toxic gas canisters towards the mothers, causing some of them to suffocate.
A report published by UNICEF, in 2013, stated that the “ill treatment of children who come in contact with military detention system appears to be widespread, systematic, and institutionalized throughout the process from the moment of arrest until the child’s prosecution and eventual conviction and sentencing.”
According to October 2014 statistics, a total of 182 children had been imprisoned by Israeli, 19 of them are under the age of 14 to 16.
Hours earlier, on Wednesday, police took into custody Saif and Deya’ ‘Ubaid, two residents from al-‘Isawiya village, while they were near Bab al-‘Amud.
In the West Bank and, in particular, the Tulkarem district, forces raided Shwaika neighborhood, to the north of the city, where they kidnapped 21-year-old Muhammad Badawi, 18-year-old Mujahed Kattawi and 22-year-old ‘Adel Kadduha, after breaking into and ransacking their homes.
Meanwhile, in the Tubas district, forces took 24-year-old Hazem Maslamani and Hamza Daraghma after invading their homes with canine units.
Maslamani, whose father was imprisoned and exiled to the Gaza Strip by Israel, sustained injuries as a result of being brutally assaulted by soldiers.
Israeli authorities also confiscated the contents of a commercial store in the village of Housan, to the west of Bethlehem.
A local activist told WAFA correspondence that an Israeli army force, accompanied by heavy machinery, broke into the village before raiding the store and ravaging its contents, estimated at a value of around $65,000.
The village of Housan has been subject to recurrent army incursions during the past three days, including provocative firing of teargas canisters and stun grenades.
In Jerusalem, on Wednesday, an Israeli settler was arrested for attacking the Dormition Abbey, and vandalizing a cross and a statue, local media reported.
The Executive Secretary of the Jerusalem Inter-Church Center of the Heads of Churches of Jerusalem (JIC), Yusef Daher, told WAFA that the church was attacked by an Israeli settler who vandalized its content, an incident which is not the first of its kind.
In 2013, a similar attack took place where vandals targeted the church, believed to be where the Virgin Mary passed away. Vandals sprayed graffiti on its walls with anti-Christian slogans such as 'Christians are monkeys' and 'Christians are slaves”.
Related: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9RY83mAr5uA
According to media reports, the church’s guard arrested the settler after the latter jumped over the wall and vandalized a cross and a statue.
Mr. Daher said such incidents take place often. The only difference is that, this time, Israeli police arrested the settler the same day, he said.
Christian holy sites in Israel and Palestine are frequently vandalized or even burned by extremist Jewish militants, with threats to Christian clergy also a frequent occurence.
The Jerusalem Fund report “When Settlers Attack” stated, “From 2010 to 2011 there was a 39 percent increase in incidents of Israel Settler violence. In the five year period from 2007 through 2011 there has been a 315 percent increase. Conversely, over the same 5-year period, there has been a 95 percent decrease in Palestinian violence in the West Bank.”
Israeli forces, on Wednesday, abducted dozens of Palestinians, including minors, from various districts in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem. Several injuries and other violations by Israeli forces and extremist settlers were reported.
WAFA Palestinian News & Info Agency reports that Israeli police raided ath-Thuri neighborhood, in Silwan, where they arrested Mahmoud Hadia, Mohammad al-Jolani, Mohammad al-Mohtaseb, Adham Abu Nijma, Mohammad Iskafi, Hamzi al-Shwaiki and Mohammad at-Tawil.
East of Jerusalem, Israeli police raided al-Eizariya town, took three Palestinians, including 16-year-old Bara’ Mahmoud and 14-year-old ‘Ali Abu al-Hummus. The third person has not yet been identified.
Police also raided Ras al-‘Amud and at-Tur neighborhoods, kidnapping two minors identified as Naser Fares and Khader Da’oud.
Eight Palestinian children were also abducted near Ofer Prison, on the West Bank-Israel border near Ramallah, according to local sources.
Witnesses said that an Israeli army force ambushed the children near the prison and abducted them. The attacking soldiers also reportedly assaulted the children’s mothers, who attempted to release their children.
Soldiers fired teargas and toxic gas canisters towards the mothers, causing some of them to suffocate.
A report published by UNICEF, in 2013, stated that the “ill treatment of children who come in contact with military detention system appears to be widespread, systematic, and institutionalized throughout the process from the moment of arrest until the child’s prosecution and eventual conviction and sentencing.”
According to October 2014 statistics, a total of 182 children had been imprisoned by Israeli, 19 of them are under the age of 14 to 16.
Hours earlier, on Wednesday, police took into custody Saif and Deya’ ‘Ubaid, two residents from al-‘Isawiya village, while they were near Bab al-‘Amud.
In the West Bank and, in particular, the Tulkarem district, forces raided Shwaika neighborhood, to the north of the city, where they kidnapped 21-year-old Muhammad Badawi, 18-year-old Mujahed Kattawi and 22-year-old ‘Adel Kadduha, after breaking into and ransacking their homes.
Meanwhile, in the Tubas district, forces took 24-year-old Hazem Maslamani and Hamza Daraghma after invading their homes with canine units.
Maslamani, whose father was imprisoned and exiled to the Gaza Strip by Israel, sustained injuries as a result of being brutally assaulted by soldiers.
Israeli authorities also confiscated the contents of a commercial store in the village of Housan, to the west of Bethlehem.
A local activist told WAFA correspondence that an Israeli army force, accompanied by heavy machinery, broke into the village before raiding the store and ravaging its contents, estimated at a value of around $65,000.
The village of Housan has been subject to recurrent army incursions during the past three days, including provocative firing of teargas canisters and stun grenades.
In Jerusalem, on Wednesday, an Israeli settler was arrested for attacking the Dormition Abbey, and vandalizing a cross and a statue, local media reported.
The Executive Secretary of the Jerusalem Inter-Church Center of the Heads of Churches of Jerusalem (JIC), Yusef Daher, told WAFA that the church was attacked by an Israeli settler who vandalized its content, an incident which is not the first of its kind.
In 2013, a similar attack took place where vandals targeted the church, believed to be where the Virgin Mary passed away. Vandals sprayed graffiti on its walls with anti-Christian slogans such as 'Christians are monkeys' and 'Christians are slaves”.
Related: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9RY83mAr5uA
According to media reports, the church’s guard arrested the settler after the latter jumped over the wall and vandalized a cross and a statue.
Mr. Daher said such incidents take place often. The only difference is that, this time, Israeli police arrested the settler the same day, he said.
Christian holy sites in Israel and Palestine are frequently vandalized or even burned by extremist Jewish militants, with threats to Christian clergy also a frequent occurence.
The Jerusalem Fund report “When Settlers Attack” stated, “From 2010 to 2011 there was a 39 percent increase in incidents of Israel Settler violence. In the five year period from 2007 through 2011 there has been a 315 percent increase. Conversely, over the same 5-year period, there has been a 95 percent decrease in Palestinian violence in the West Bank.”
Page: 2 - 1
