3 apr 2015
After annual difficulty accessing religious sites, Palestinians have vowed to pursue "other means" if restrictions continue.
After annual difficulty accessing religious sites, Palestinians have vowed to pursue "other means" if restrictions continue. According to PNN/Al Jazeera, Palestinian Christians said they would not tolerate a repetition of the Israeli restrictions and violence which have in past years marred Holy Week festivities - culminating on Easter Sunday - and have vowed to pursue "other means" if no marked changes are made.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, community leaders expressed concerns that Israeli restrictions will prevent them from celebrating Easter this week, beginning with the Good Friday procession in Jerusalem, where thousands flock to walk along Via Dolorosa - the path believed to have been walked by Jesus before his crucifixion.
"There is one major change this year, and this is April 1, which is the day Palestine officially becomes a member of the International Criminal Court," said Bassem Khoury, a Christian from Jerusalem, and former Palestinian minister of economy. "Denial of freedom of religion is ... an issue we will pursue if we are denied [access to our holy sites]."
For almost a decade, the Easter celebrations have been marked with clashes between local Christians and Israeli troops, who regularly prevent worshippers from accessing the religious sites.
"Since 2005, Israel has closed the Old City of Jerusalem for us," said Hind Khoury, former Palestinian minister of Jerusalem affairs. "We arrive to celebrate Palm Sunday and Holy Friday only to find the access doors closed and many Israeli military checkpoints along the way."
This Friday, pilgrims and visitors will walk down the cobbled Via Dolorosa through the walled Old City, many bearing wooden crosses, to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where tradition has it Jesus was buried before rising again three days later.
Restrictions
This year, Easter festivities are coinciding with the Jewish holiday of Passover. Israeli authorities impose severe restrictions on Palestinians' movement during that time, affecting both Muslims and Christians' access to Jerusalem holy sites.
"Israeli authorities give some permits to Christians during religious holidays," said Fr Jamal Khader, the rector of the Latin Patriarchate Seminary, who described himself as one of the "lucky ones" to have received permission to enter Jerusalem this Easter time.
"But at the same time, the access to the Church of the Holy Sepulcre is restricted and during Pesach [Passover] there are even more restrictions," he said. "Permits are a means of control and this is a violation of our freedom of worship."
Khader said that families from his parish often complain that permits are not given to the entire household, which often means having to drop plans to attend the Jerusalem festivities. Even those with permits cannot always take part in the processions because the Old City is "practically closed", he said.
"Every year when we get here for the procession, we notice that the whole area is empty except for hundreds of soldiers and policemen," he said. "This is a real problem for regular people; it dissuades them from participating."
Dwindling numbers
Difficulties in reaching holy sites come at a time when Christian leaders concede that the community's numbers are in decline. In 1944, there were some 30,000 Christians living in Jerusalem's Old City, according to official figures. Today that number does not exceed 11,000.
Many Palestinian Christians have complained in the past that they were beaten, shoved and prevented by Israeli forces from entering the Old City during religious holidays. Israeli authorities said they were merely using "crowd-control measures" because of the large number of visitors. This year, the Israeli tourism ministry said it is expecting about 130,000 over the period of Holy Week and Passover.
"We are not happy with the measures by [the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem]," said Archbishop Fouad Twal, the Latin patriarch. "We are afraid of a repetition of last year['s events]. Sometimes I wonder whether the [Israeli] policemen know why they are there - to help or to make our lives more difficult."
Last year, the UN's peace envoy to the Middle East at the time and other high-ranking diplomats were prevented from going through a barricade to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for the "Holy Fire" procession - a traditional ceremony that takes place a day before Orthodox Easter.
Robert Serry said Israeli police forbade him and Italian, Norwegian and Dutch diplomats from getting to the church as he was being crushed by a waiting crowd at a barricade. They also ignored his requests to speak to a superior, he said.
At the time, Serry called their behaviour "unacceptable" and demanded in a statement that all parties "respect the right of religious freedom". Israeli authorities denied Serry's charges, saying he had displayed "a serious problem of judgement".
Last year, Palestinian Christian communities turned to Israel's Supreme Court, which agreed that Palestinians' rights were being violated, and that checkpoints and other restrictions were hindering access to places of worship.
'Unhindered access'
This year, they received official Israeli assurances of unhindered access to the church. "I'm not 100 percent optimistic that things will go fine even though we have assurances from Israeli security, even the president himself," Bassem Khoury said.
But some Christians fear that it's not only access to their holy sites that's being lost in these festivities: participating in celebrations that extend beyond the religious. Ra'ed Sa'adeh, who owns and manages the Jerusalem Hotel, said he grew up in the Old City and took part in Holy Week celebrations yearly.
"Many of the activities have both religious and cultural [significance]," Sa'adeh said. "And as Christians, we are being deprived from exercising our culture. Now it's impossible to be part of the popular celebrations, which are the natural cultural expression that people have been a part of for hundreds of years."
After annual difficulty accessing religious sites, Palestinians have vowed to pursue "other means" if restrictions continue. According to PNN/Al Jazeera, Palestinian Christians said they would not tolerate a repetition of the Israeli restrictions and violence which have in past years marred Holy Week festivities - culminating on Easter Sunday - and have vowed to pursue "other means" if no marked changes are made.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, community leaders expressed concerns that Israeli restrictions will prevent them from celebrating Easter this week, beginning with the Good Friday procession in Jerusalem, where thousands flock to walk along Via Dolorosa - the path believed to have been walked by Jesus before his crucifixion.
"There is one major change this year, and this is April 1, which is the day Palestine officially becomes a member of the International Criminal Court," said Bassem Khoury, a Christian from Jerusalem, and former Palestinian minister of economy. "Denial of freedom of religion is ... an issue we will pursue if we are denied [access to our holy sites]."
For almost a decade, the Easter celebrations have been marked with clashes between local Christians and Israeli troops, who regularly prevent worshippers from accessing the religious sites.
"Since 2005, Israel has closed the Old City of Jerusalem for us," said Hind Khoury, former Palestinian minister of Jerusalem affairs. "We arrive to celebrate Palm Sunday and Holy Friday only to find the access doors closed and many Israeli military checkpoints along the way."
This Friday, pilgrims and visitors will walk down the cobbled Via Dolorosa through the walled Old City, many bearing wooden crosses, to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where tradition has it Jesus was buried before rising again three days later.
Restrictions
This year, Easter festivities are coinciding with the Jewish holiday of Passover. Israeli authorities impose severe restrictions on Palestinians' movement during that time, affecting both Muslims and Christians' access to Jerusalem holy sites.
"Israeli authorities give some permits to Christians during religious holidays," said Fr Jamal Khader, the rector of the Latin Patriarchate Seminary, who described himself as one of the "lucky ones" to have received permission to enter Jerusalem this Easter time.
"But at the same time, the access to the Church of the Holy Sepulcre is restricted and during Pesach [Passover] there are even more restrictions," he said. "Permits are a means of control and this is a violation of our freedom of worship."
Khader said that families from his parish often complain that permits are not given to the entire household, which often means having to drop plans to attend the Jerusalem festivities. Even those with permits cannot always take part in the processions because the Old City is "practically closed", he said.
"Every year when we get here for the procession, we notice that the whole area is empty except for hundreds of soldiers and policemen," he said. "This is a real problem for regular people; it dissuades them from participating."
Dwindling numbers
Difficulties in reaching holy sites come at a time when Christian leaders concede that the community's numbers are in decline. In 1944, there were some 30,000 Christians living in Jerusalem's Old City, according to official figures. Today that number does not exceed 11,000.
Many Palestinian Christians have complained in the past that they were beaten, shoved and prevented by Israeli forces from entering the Old City during religious holidays. Israeli authorities said they were merely using "crowd-control measures" because of the large number of visitors. This year, the Israeli tourism ministry said it is expecting about 130,000 over the period of Holy Week and Passover.
"We are not happy with the measures by [the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem]," said Archbishop Fouad Twal, the Latin patriarch. "We are afraid of a repetition of last year['s events]. Sometimes I wonder whether the [Israeli] policemen know why they are there - to help or to make our lives more difficult."
Last year, the UN's peace envoy to the Middle East at the time and other high-ranking diplomats were prevented from going through a barricade to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for the "Holy Fire" procession - a traditional ceremony that takes place a day before Orthodox Easter.
Robert Serry said Israeli police forbade him and Italian, Norwegian and Dutch diplomats from getting to the church as he was being crushed by a waiting crowd at a barricade. They also ignored his requests to speak to a superior, he said.
At the time, Serry called their behaviour "unacceptable" and demanded in a statement that all parties "respect the right of religious freedom". Israeli authorities denied Serry's charges, saying he had displayed "a serious problem of judgement".
Last year, Palestinian Christian communities turned to Israel's Supreme Court, which agreed that Palestinians' rights were being violated, and that checkpoints and other restrictions were hindering access to places of worship.
'Unhindered access'
This year, they received official Israeli assurances of unhindered access to the church. "I'm not 100 percent optimistic that things will go fine even though we have assurances from Israeli security, even the president himself," Bassem Khoury said.
But some Christians fear that it's not only access to their holy sites that's being lost in these festivities: participating in celebrations that extend beyond the religious. Ra'ed Sa'adeh, who owns and manages the Jerusalem Hotel, said he grew up in the Old City and took part in Holy Week celebrations yearly.
"Many of the activities have both religious and cultural [significance]," Sa'adeh said. "And as Christians, we are being deprived from exercising our culture. Now it's impossible to be part of the popular celebrations, which are the natural cultural expression that people have been a part of for hundreds of years."
Political bureau member of Hamas, Ezzet Resheq, has warned of the serious repercussions of complying with Israeli calls to desecrate Muslims’ holy al-Aqsa Mosque and perform sacrilegious rituals at the Dome of the Rock on the occasion of the Jewish Passover holiday.
Resheq said in his statements to the Quds Press: “The simmering challenges and threats surrounding the al-Aqsa Mosque should be placed at the top of Palestinians’, Arabs’, and Muslims’ priority list. Serious and urgent moves have to be made so as to defend the Mosque and protect the Muslim sit-inners”
The Hamas official called on the Palestinian masses and sit-inners at the Mosque to stand on their guard to such preplanned sacrilegious assaults and to intensify their presence at the holy shrine so as to defend it against Israeli vandals.
Resheq further appealed to all media outlets to cover the developments and events going on in Occupied Jerusalem and the al-Aqsa Mosque and to shed light on the terrorism perpetrated by Israeli fanatics against the Islamic holy sites in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Resheq said in his statements to the Quds Press: “The simmering challenges and threats surrounding the al-Aqsa Mosque should be placed at the top of Palestinians’, Arabs’, and Muslims’ priority list. Serious and urgent moves have to be made so as to defend the Mosque and protect the Muslim sit-inners”
The Hamas official called on the Palestinian masses and sit-inners at the Mosque to stand on their guard to such preplanned sacrilegious assaults and to intensify their presence at the holy shrine so as to defend it against Israeli vandals.
Resheq further appealed to all media outlets to cover the developments and events going on in Occupied Jerusalem and the al-Aqsa Mosque and to shed light on the terrorism perpetrated by Israeli fanatics against the Islamic holy sites in the occupied Palestinian territories.
2 apr 2015
Main road to Hebron's Cave of the Patriarchs was for Jews only, while Palestinians were only allowed on fenced, narrow path; policy ended for second time in two years.
Israeli security forces on Wednesday cancelled a policy of ethnic separation in Hebron for the second time.
A Ynet exclusive two years ago revealed that the IDF divided the main road leading to the Cave of the Patriarchs: The main section of the road limited entry exclusively to Jews, while a fenced side path was the only way for Palestinians to pass through. This policy was cancelled, but reinstated about two months ago.
A video attained by Ynet shows a Palestinian who works for the B'Tselem human rights organization attempting to use the main road and being halted by Border Police officers, who instruct him to go to the other side, which they said was meant for Muslims. "Only Jews come through here," an officer tells the Palestinian. When he asks why, she replies: "The captain decided. Jews here, only Jews, and only Muslims over there." When asked again why, the officer says, "Because." The video shows the Palestinian insisting on using the road, but the officers prevent him.
The officers explain that the two ways reach the same exact place, and at one point say that only elderly Muslims may use the main road, while children and adults must use the side path. When the Palestinian attempts to challenge them and continue walking down the road, they threaten to arrest him if he continues.
Nabila Jabri, a 45-year-old resident of Hebron, said she feels "humiliated when I walk on a path that is behind the fence and see the settlers walk through the main entrance; a screen separates us that has no justification for its existence."
Iman Abu Armaila, also from Hebron, said that over the past two years, the crossing has almost never been blocked. "The fact that we could walk on the wide side of the road slightly lessened our general suffering," she said. But now, she said, border guards force her to use the narrower path behind the fence.
Until the policy's renewal, security forces allowed Palestinian pedestrians and cyclists to use the road. In order to transport cargo, Palestinians had to use a horse-drawn cart or handcarts. Israeli citizens were and are permitted to use the road in cars or by foot.
B'Tselem said that "the situation at the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron is an allegory for the entire occupation – the settlers use a convenient road, while Palestinians who live in the area are allowed only to look at it from behind a fence, from the narrow and defective road they were forced into."
"The closure of the route is not in line with procedures in the area," an IDF spokesperson said.
"As soon as commanders were made aware of the incident, they handled it and opened the route. The IDF always works to enforce the law in Judea and Samaria, and to ensure normal life for all area residents."
Israeli security forces on Wednesday cancelled a policy of ethnic separation in Hebron for the second time.
A Ynet exclusive two years ago revealed that the IDF divided the main road leading to the Cave of the Patriarchs: The main section of the road limited entry exclusively to Jews, while a fenced side path was the only way for Palestinians to pass through. This policy was cancelled, but reinstated about two months ago.
A video attained by Ynet shows a Palestinian who works for the B'Tselem human rights organization attempting to use the main road and being halted by Border Police officers, who instruct him to go to the other side, which they said was meant for Muslims. "Only Jews come through here," an officer tells the Palestinian. When he asks why, she replies: "The captain decided. Jews here, only Jews, and only Muslims over there." When asked again why, the officer says, "Because." The video shows the Palestinian insisting on using the road, but the officers prevent him.
The officers explain that the two ways reach the same exact place, and at one point say that only elderly Muslims may use the main road, while children and adults must use the side path. When the Palestinian attempts to challenge them and continue walking down the road, they threaten to arrest him if he continues.
Nabila Jabri, a 45-year-old resident of Hebron, said she feels "humiliated when I walk on a path that is behind the fence and see the settlers walk through the main entrance; a screen separates us that has no justification for its existence."
Iman Abu Armaila, also from Hebron, said that over the past two years, the crossing has almost never been blocked. "The fact that we could walk on the wide side of the road slightly lessened our general suffering," she said. But now, she said, border guards force her to use the narrower path behind the fence.
Until the policy's renewal, security forces allowed Palestinian pedestrians and cyclists to use the road. In order to transport cargo, Palestinians had to use a horse-drawn cart or handcarts. Israeli citizens were and are permitted to use the road in cars or by foot.
B'Tselem said that "the situation at the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron is an allegory for the entire occupation – the settlers use a convenient road, while Palestinians who live in the area are allowed only to look at it from behind a fence, from the narrow and defective road they were forced into."
"The closure of the route is not in line with procedures in the area," an IDF spokesperson said.
"As soon as commanders were made aware of the incident, they handled it and opened the route. The IDF always works to enforce the law in Judea and Samaria, and to ensure normal life for all area residents."
Israeli policemen rounded up a young man in the Old City of Jerusalem as well as a woman who was praying inside the Aqsa Mosque at dawn Thursday. Settlers as well stormed the Aqsa Mosque in the morning.
The Israeli police arrests of Jerusalemite worshipers are usually followed by the imposition of house arrest and deportation away from the Aqsa Mosque for varying periods, in addition to fines.
In a similar context, Jewish settlers stormed Thursday morning the plazas of the Aqsa Mosque from the Magharibah gate under tight security measures by Israeli Special Forces and policemen.
Media sources said 27 settlers broke into the courtyards of the Mosque, gathered near the Dome of the Rock, and started taking photos provocatively. As a result, tension ran high as Muslim worshipers chanted Allahu Akbar from inside the Mosque.
The sources revealed that a group of Jerusalemite women managed to confront a group of settlers who tried to desecrate the holy site and got them out of it from al-Silsilah gate.
The Israeli policemen on the gates of the Aqsa Mosque continued to confiscate the identity cards of the worshipers especially Jerusalemite women until they came out of the Mosque.
The guards of the Aqsa Mosque foiled last night an attempt by a Jewish settler to sneak inside the holy site.
The settlers’ repeated incursions along with the policemen arrests of Jerusalemites have recently escalated in response to Jewish calls for massive incursions into the Aqsa Mosque to perform Talmudic rituals on the eve of the Jewish Holiday Bash on Saturday.
The Israeli police arrests of Jerusalemite worshipers are usually followed by the imposition of house arrest and deportation away from the Aqsa Mosque for varying periods, in addition to fines.
In a similar context, Jewish settlers stormed Thursday morning the plazas of the Aqsa Mosque from the Magharibah gate under tight security measures by Israeli Special Forces and policemen.
Media sources said 27 settlers broke into the courtyards of the Mosque, gathered near the Dome of the Rock, and started taking photos provocatively. As a result, tension ran high as Muslim worshipers chanted Allahu Akbar from inside the Mosque.
The sources revealed that a group of Jerusalemite women managed to confront a group of settlers who tried to desecrate the holy site and got them out of it from al-Silsilah gate.
The Israeli policemen on the gates of the Aqsa Mosque continued to confiscate the identity cards of the worshipers especially Jerusalemite women until they came out of the Mosque.
The guards of the Aqsa Mosque foiled last night an attempt by a Jewish settler to sneak inside the holy site.
The settlers’ repeated incursions along with the policemen arrests of Jerusalemites have recently escalated in response to Jewish calls for massive incursions into the Aqsa Mosque to perform Talmudic rituals on the eve of the Jewish Holiday Bash on Saturday.
1 apr 2015
Dozens of extremist Israeli settlers stormed Al Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday morning, from Mughrabi gate, amid tight security protection from private Israeli occupation police.
An employee at the Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem said, according to Al Ray, that about 41 Israelis stormed the mosque in groups and organized a provocative tour of its courtyards.
He added that Israeli police arrested Rowan Abu Hadwan as she was leaving the mosque from the door of Alqtanin.
Extremist Israeli settlers and politicians have been violating the sanctity of Al Aqsa Mosque on an almost daily basis, and always under the protection of armed occupation forces, which often attack Palestinian worshipers who try to protect their holy site.
An employee at the Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem said, according to Al Ray, that about 41 Israelis stormed the mosque in groups and organized a provocative tour of its courtyards.
He added that Israeli police arrested Rowan Abu Hadwan as she was leaving the mosque from the door of Alqtanin.
Extremist Israeli settlers and politicians have been violating the sanctity of Al Aqsa Mosque on an almost daily basis, and always under the protection of armed occupation forces, which often attack Palestinian worshipers who try to protect their holy site.
A series of bids, promoting the spatio-temporal division of the al-Aqsa Mosque between Muslims and Jew, had been put forth by a consortium of Israeli experts.
The bids were discussed during a seminar titled “The conflict on the Temple Mount” and hosted by the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies, in western occupied Jerusalem. Some 100 Israeli figures joined the conference.
The forum underscored the key role played by the Islamic Movement in the 1948 occupied territories in disclosing the violations committed by the Israeli occupation against Palestinian activists, sanctuaries, and peaceful congregations.
Photographer Jalee Tubon presented a video footage of activities and campaigns staged by the Temple Mount organizations over the past decade to instruct the masses on how to offer Passover sacrifices, adding that Israelis have been increasingly aware of the vitality of such practices.
Israeli journalist and researcher Nadav Shragai claimed during a lecture he delivered at the seminar that Jews’ smooth access into the al-Aqsa compound to perform religious rituals has grinned down over the past few years.
He further pointed out the proliferation in the activities of the Islamic Movement, led by Sheikh Raed Salah, at the al-Aqsa Mosque, slamming the Israeli government for failing to step in at the right time and to work out the crisis as decisively as required.
He said the Jewish organizations have to work on enforcing laws and bills, on the one hand, and to step up break-ins into the Mosque, on the other, as the only means to change the de facto situation and impose a new fait accompli on the ground.
Professor Yitzhak Reiter, meanwhile, delivered a presentation offering three detailed bids for a potential division of the Mosque, spatially and temporally, between Jews and Muslims.
In the meantime, four hordes of Israeli extremist settlers, escorted by police squads, stormed on Tuesday the plazas of Muslims’ holy al-Aqsa Mosque via the Maghareba gate.
The Israeli occupation police kidnapped a Palestinian female sit-inner and two other youths from Bab Hitta Gate. Another Palestinian citizen was also apprehended from Jerusalem’s Old city.
The Israeli occupation authorities released the youngster Ahmad al-Sharbati, on condition that he pays a 5,000-shekel-fine and be subjected to house arrest until the end of Jewish holidays. The IOA further ruled for the deportation of the young man from the holy al-Aqsa Mosque for one month.
The IOA further ruled that the Jerusalemite sit-inner Ayda al-Seidawi be deported from the compound for three months and sentenced her to 2,000-shekel-bail and a third party fine, estimated at some 10,000 shekels.
Another youth, identified as Ihab Jalad, was released by the IOA on condition of a one-week house arrest and a 20-day-deportation from the al-Aqsa Mosque.
The bids were discussed during a seminar titled “The conflict on the Temple Mount” and hosted by the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies, in western occupied Jerusalem. Some 100 Israeli figures joined the conference.
The forum underscored the key role played by the Islamic Movement in the 1948 occupied territories in disclosing the violations committed by the Israeli occupation against Palestinian activists, sanctuaries, and peaceful congregations.
Photographer Jalee Tubon presented a video footage of activities and campaigns staged by the Temple Mount organizations over the past decade to instruct the masses on how to offer Passover sacrifices, adding that Israelis have been increasingly aware of the vitality of such practices.
Israeli journalist and researcher Nadav Shragai claimed during a lecture he delivered at the seminar that Jews’ smooth access into the al-Aqsa compound to perform religious rituals has grinned down over the past few years.
He further pointed out the proliferation in the activities of the Islamic Movement, led by Sheikh Raed Salah, at the al-Aqsa Mosque, slamming the Israeli government for failing to step in at the right time and to work out the crisis as decisively as required.
He said the Jewish organizations have to work on enforcing laws and bills, on the one hand, and to step up break-ins into the Mosque, on the other, as the only means to change the de facto situation and impose a new fait accompli on the ground.
Professor Yitzhak Reiter, meanwhile, delivered a presentation offering three detailed bids for a potential division of the Mosque, spatially and temporally, between Jews and Muslims.
In the meantime, four hordes of Israeli extremist settlers, escorted by police squads, stormed on Tuesday the plazas of Muslims’ holy al-Aqsa Mosque via the Maghareba gate.
The Israeli occupation police kidnapped a Palestinian female sit-inner and two other youths from Bab Hitta Gate. Another Palestinian citizen was also apprehended from Jerusalem’s Old city.
The Israeli occupation authorities released the youngster Ahmad al-Sharbati, on condition that he pays a 5,000-shekel-fine and be subjected to house arrest until the end of Jewish holidays. The IOA further ruled for the deportation of the young man from the holy al-Aqsa Mosque for one month.
The IOA further ruled that the Jerusalemite sit-inner Ayda al-Seidawi be deported from the compound for three months and sentenced her to 2,000-shekel-bail and a third party fine, estimated at some 10,000 shekels.
Another youth, identified as Ihab Jalad, was released by the IOA on condition of a one-week house arrest and a 20-day-deportation from the al-Aqsa Mosque.
31 mar 2015
District Planning and Building Committee invites submission of master plan for building thousands of housing units in Jabel Mukaber; right-wing activists: Plan helps divide Jerusalem.
The Interior Ministry's District Planning and Building Committee on Monday invited the submission of a master plan for the construction of 2,200 new housing units for the Arab sector in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabel Mukaber. As part of the plan, several hundreds of housing units built illegally will also be retroactively approved.
The decision was approved despite strong objection from right-wing activists. Aryeh King, a member of the Jerusalem city council who is leading the charge against the plan, sent an urgent letter to Interior Minister Gilad Erdan on Sunday, claiming there are issues with the project, because in reality, according to him, many more units will be built than initially planned.
The plan allocates an area of some 1,500 dunman between Jabel Mukaber and Abu Dis for the construction of housing units. The project also includes areas allocated for commercial and employment centers, public buildings, schools, new roads and new parks. The "American road" will also be developed as part of the plan, a central traffic artery for east and south-east Jerusalem, along which commercial and employment centers will be developed.
The district committee had also been scheduled to discuss the construction of 1,500 housing units in Jewish East Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Homa, but the meeting on that project was cancelled last week without explanation.
Planning and Building officials said the Har Homa plan was frozen for political reasons, noting the order not to hold the meeting came from above. The Construction Ministry claimed there was no professional reason to cancel the meeting, while the Prime Minister's Office claimed the plans were not presented to them.
'The plan helps divide Jerusalem'
Right-wing factions in the Jerusalem municipality made several different attempts to stop the Jabel Mukaber plan's approval. According to King, "the state is approving construction of thousands of housing units for Arabs while at the same time freezing construction for Jews in the city's eastern parts." King noted that in reality, the plans create a "territorial contiguity" of Arab neighborhoods between Abus Dis and Jabel Mukaber and with that helps divide Jerusalem. "If we were wondering whether the mayor of Jerusalem was right- or left-wing, today we got our answer," he said. King defined the state's policy as "zero enforcement" and "a reward for construction criminals."
In the letter he sent Erdan, King presented correspondences between the Interior Ministry and the Jerusalem municipality, which raise claims that the plan contains significant planning problems. According to King, the area allocated for the plan and the density of buildings will eventually lead to four times the number of housing units being built.
"The plan uses green areas unnecessarily. The same number of housing units can be built in about a quarter of the area in buildings built at the acceptable height," King said. Right-wing activists' plans to take the plan off the district planning committee's agenda were unsuccessful. Four months ago, city councilman Moshe Leon submitted a request to hold another meeting on the plan, but his request was denied.
King, and the NGOs "Tevel b'Tzedek," "Green Now" and "The Legal Forum for Israel," also petitioned the Administrative Affairs Court, demanding the cancelation of the district planning committee's decision to adopt the plan. At the court hearing, Jerusalem municipality representatives rejected the claims made by opponents of the plan, saying the plan was vital for Jerusalem, which is in the process of resolving systematic planning failures that have been going on for years.
"The plan was approved as part of Mayor Nir Barkat's policy of a united Jerusalem, which will be achieved by narrowing the gaps in the east of the city, upgrading the quality of life and taking responsibility for Arab neighborhoods in all walks of life - planning and construction, infrastructure, education, welfare and cultural, social and community activities," the municipality's representatives said. The municipality representatives went on to say that, "the lack of planning led in recent years to a wide-spread phenomenon of illegal construction of some 20,000 structures, some built on public areas."
This, they said, meant many residents were not paying construction levies, creating land registry problems. "In light of these failures, the mayor decided not to take the 'head in the sand' policy his predecessors took, and instead act to significantly change the situation," they added.
The court dismissed the petition out of hand, saying it was too early to appeal the decision.
The Interior Ministry's District Planning and Building Committee on Monday invited the submission of a master plan for the construction of 2,200 new housing units for the Arab sector in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabel Mukaber. As part of the plan, several hundreds of housing units built illegally will also be retroactively approved.
The decision was approved despite strong objection from right-wing activists. Aryeh King, a member of the Jerusalem city council who is leading the charge against the plan, sent an urgent letter to Interior Minister Gilad Erdan on Sunday, claiming there are issues with the project, because in reality, according to him, many more units will be built than initially planned.
The plan allocates an area of some 1,500 dunman between Jabel Mukaber and Abu Dis for the construction of housing units. The project also includes areas allocated for commercial and employment centers, public buildings, schools, new roads and new parks. The "American road" will also be developed as part of the plan, a central traffic artery for east and south-east Jerusalem, along which commercial and employment centers will be developed.
The district committee had also been scheduled to discuss the construction of 1,500 housing units in Jewish East Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Homa, but the meeting on that project was cancelled last week without explanation.
Planning and Building officials said the Har Homa plan was frozen for political reasons, noting the order not to hold the meeting came from above. The Construction Ministry claimed there was no professional reason to cancel the meeting, while the Prime Minister's Office claimed the plans were not presented to them.
'The plan helps divide Jerusalem'
Right-wing factions in the Jerusalem municipality made several different attempts to stop the Jabel Mukaber plan's approval. According to King, "the state is approving construction of thousands of housing units for Arabs while at the same time freezing construction for Jews in the city's eastern parts." King noted that in reality, the plans create a "territorial contiguity" of Arab neighborhoods between Abus Dis and Jabel Mukaber and with that helps divide Jerusalem. "If we were wondering whether the mayor of Jerusalem was right- or left-wing, today we got our answer," he said. King defined the state's policy as "zero enforcement" and "a reward for construction criminals."
In the letter he sent Erdan, King presented correspondences between the Interior Ministry and the Jerusalem municipality, which raise claims that the plan contains significant planning problems. According to King, the area allocated for the plan and the density of buildings will eventually lead to four times the number of housing units being built.
"The plan uses green areas unnecessarily. The same number of housing units can be built in about a quarter of the area in buildings built at the acceptable height," King said. Right-wing activists' plans to take the plan off the district planning committee's agenda were unsuccessful. Four months ago, city councilman Moshe Leon submitted a request to hold another meeting on the plan, but his request was denied.
King, and the NGOs "Tevel b'Tzedek," "Green Now" and "The Legal Forum for Israel," also petitioned the Administrative Affairs Court, demanding the cancelation of the district planning committee's decision to adopt the plan. At the court hearing, Jerusalem municipality representatives rejected the claims made by opponents of the plan, saying the plan was vital for Jerusalem, which is in the process of resolving systematic planning failures that have been going on for years.
"The plan was approved as part of Mayor Nir Barkat's policy of a united Jerusalem, which will be achieved by narrowing the gaps in the east of the city, upgrading the quality of life and taking responsibility for Arab neighborhoods in all walks of life - planning and construction, infrastructure, education, welfare and cultural, social and community activities," the municipality's representatives said. The municipality representatives went on to say that, "the lack of planning led in recent years to a wide-spread phenomenon of illegal construction of some 20,000 structures, some built on public areas."
This, they said, meant many residents were not paying construction levies, creating land registry problems. "In light of these failures, the mayor decided not to take the 'head in the sand' policy his predecessors took, and instead act to significantly change the situation," they added.
The court dismissed the petition out of hand, saying it was too early to appeal the decision.
30 mar 2015
The annual mission report, written by heads of the diplomatic missions of EU member states in the Palestinian Authority, is strongly worded and very critical of Israel’s policies in and around Jerusalem.
The EU report on Jerusalem warns that the city has reached a dangerous boiling point of “polarisation and violence” not seen since the end of the second intifada in 2005.
The report describes the emergence of a “vicious cycle of violence …increasingly threatening the viability of the two-state solution”, which it says has been stoked by the continuation of “systematic” settlement building by Israel in “sensitive areas” of Jerusalem.
In addition, the report blames tension over the status of the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount complex as well as heavy-handed policing and punitive measures – including evictions and home demolitions by Israeli forces – for the escalating confrontation.
The report list 40 recommendations suggested by the heads of diplomatic missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah that recommend several steps which include preserving the viability of Jerusalem as the capital of two states, strengthening the religious and cultural identity of Jerusalem, ending East Jerusalem’s socioeconomic isolation, and strengthening the role of the EU.
The 2014 report suggests a series of potential punitive measures targeting extremist settlers and settlement products. Among the recommendations in the report are:
Potential new restrictions against “known violent settlers and those calling for acts of violence as regards immigration regulations in EU member states”.
Further coordinated steps to ensure consumers in the EU are able to exercise their right to informed choice in respect of settlement products in line with existing EU rules.
New efforts to raise awareness among European businesses about the risks of working with settlements, and the advancement of voluntary guidelines for tourism operators to prevent support for settlement business.
Read the report here. [PDF]
The European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine (ECCP) - founded in 1986 is a network of 52 European committees, organizations, NGOs, unions and international solidarity movements from 22 European countries, dedicated to the struggle of the Palestinian people for freedom, justice and equality
The EU report on Jerusalem warns that the city has reached a dangerous boiling point of “polarisation and violence” not seen since the end of the second intifada in 2005.
The report describes the emergence of a “vicious cycle of violence …increasingly threatening the viability of the two-state solution”, which it says has been stoked by the continuation of “systematic” settlement building by Israel in “sensitive areas” of Jerusalem.
In addition, the report blames tension over the status of the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount complex as well as heavy-handed policing and punitive measures – including evictions and home demolitions by Israeli forces – for the escalating confrontation.
The report list 40 recommendations suggested by the heads of diplomatic missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah that recommend several steps which include preserving the viability of Jerusalem as the capital of two states, strengthening the religious and cultural identity of Jerusalem, ending East Jerusalem’s socioeconomic isolation, and strengthening the role of the EU.
The 2014 report suggests a series of potential punitive measures targeting extremist settlers and settlement products. Among the recommendations in the report are:
Potential new restrictions against “known violent settlers and those calling for acts of violence as regards immigration regulations in EU member states”.
Further coordinated steps to ensure consumers in the EU are able to exercise their right to informed choice in respect of settlement products in line with existing EU rules.
New efforts to raise awareness among European businesses about the risks of working with settlements, and the advancement of voluntary guidelines for tourism operators to prevent support for settlement business.
Read the report here. [PDF]
The European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine (ECCP) - founded in 1986 is a network of 52 European committees, organizations, NGOs, unions and international solidarity movements from 22 European countries, dedicated to the struggle of the Palestinian people for freedom, justice and equality
Media sources in Jerusalem said Israeli soldiers kidnapped, on Monday morning, a Palestinian woman near the Silsila Gate (Chain Gate), one of the Gates of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, as she stood there protesting an order denying her access to the holy site.
The sources said the soldiers assaulted ‘Aida Saidawi, before dragging and kidnapping her, and took her to an interrogation center in the city.
Saidawi was repeatedly kidnapped and detained for trying to prevent Israeli extremists from marching in the Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyards.
Meanwhile, Israeli extremists continued Monday their provocative tours in the Al-Aqsa courtyards, while carrying Israeli flags and chanting anti-Arab slogans, under heavy police protection.
Eyewitnesses said a few fanatic groups conducted the provocative tours consecutively, while the police withheld ID cards of Palestinian women before allowing them into the mosque.
Also on Monday, Israeli soldiers stormed dozens of homes in different parts of occupied Jerusalem, and kidnapped at least ten Palestinians.
The sources said the soldiers assaulted ‘Aida Saidawi, before dragging and kidnapping her, and took her to an interrogation center in the city.
Saidawi was repeatedly kidnapped and detained for trying to prevent Israeli extremists from marching in the Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyards.
Meanwhile, Israeli extremists continued Monday their provocative tours in the Al-Aqsa courtyards, while carrying Israeli flags and chanting anti-Arab slogans, under heavy police protection.
Eyewitnesses said a few fanatic groups conducted the provocative tours consecutively, while the police withheld ID cards of Palestinian women before allowing them into the mosque.
Also on Monday, Israeli soldiers stormed dozens of homes in different parts of occupied Jerusalem, and kidnapped at least ten Palestinians.
Rapporteur of Jerusalem Committee at the Palestinian Legislative Council Dr. Ahmed Abu Halabiya said: "The situation is Occupied Jerusalem is very serious and quite difficult." He pointed, in this respect, to the Israeli attempts to complete the so-called Greater Jerusalem project which is aimed at Judaizing the whole city by 2020.
MP Abu Halabiya clarified in an exclusive interview with the PIC that this puts the Jerusalemites at the first line of defense against the Israeli schemes to obliterate the Islamic and Christian character and landmarks, judaize Jerusalem demographically and geographically, and fabricate a story of the Jews' historical right to the land of Palestine. He also hailed the Jerusalemites' legendary resilience and steadfastness against Israel and the individual operations like hurling stones and attacking the illegal settlers.
"We hoped that the unity government would put an end to the internal division, unify the efforts exerted to defend Jerusalem, achieve the reconciliation between the Palestinian factions especially Hamas and Fatah and act as a government for all Palestinians without any discrimination," Abu Halabya said, adding: "but it seems that the government is pursuing (PA chairman) Mahmoud Abbas's policy as he said "this is my government and it is implementing my policy."
The MP also laid emphasis on the Israeli violations against Jerusalem and its people like imposing a temporal division on al-Aqsa Mosque, escalating the break-ins into it, arresting minors, carrying out armed assaults against worshipers and students, demolishing a huge number of Muslim graves where some companions of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), martyrs and Muslim icons were laid to rest, and establishing fake Jewish graves in an attempt to prove the Jews' alleged historical right to the land.
Abu Halabiya warned that the diggings under and around al-Aqsa Mosque is posing a serious threat to the whole area, and slammed Israel's enforcement of a spatio-temporal division of holy al-Aqsa Mosque, as well as confiscating thousands of acres of the Palestinian lands, establishing new settlements and expanding the existing settlements by building thousands of housing units.
Abu Halabiya declared that the Israeli harassments like stipulating a punishment of up to 20 years imprisonment on anyone throwing stones at Israelis, and demolishing Jerusalemites' homes under pretext of unlicensed construction will never weaken the steadfastness or determination of the Palestinian people. He also emphasized that the current crises Gaza is preoccupied with will never distract Gazans from protecting Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque which is on top of their priorities.
The MP stressed that the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip is a legitimate right according to the International Law and preventing its reconstruction provokes the Gazans and may ignite a new war.
"Unfortunately, Arabs and Muslims are not fulfilling their roles in protecting Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque," Abu Halabiya charged, adding: "Arab countries are preoccupied with their own affairs and have totally forgotten the Palestinian cause."
The MP concluded by saying: "Muslims and Arabs are supposed to provide the Palestinians with all forms of support; because by defending al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem and Palestine we are actually defending the whole Arab and Muslim nation; Palestine is an Islamic endowment for all Muslims and not restricted to the Palestinians."
MP Abu Halabiya clarified in an exclusive interview with the PIC that this puts the Jerusalemites at the first line of defense against the Israeli schemes to obliterate the Islamic and Christian character and landmarks, judaize Jerusalem demographically and geographically, and fabricate a story of the Jews' historical right to the land of Palestine. He also hailed the Jerusalemites' legendary resilience and steadfastness against Israel and the individual operations like hurling stones and attacking the illegal settlers.
"We hoped that the unity government would put an end to the internal division, unify the efforts exerted to defend Jerusalem, achieve the reconciliation between the Palestinian factions especially Hamas and Fatah and act as a government for all Palestinians without any discrimination," Abu Halabya said, adding: "but it seems that the government is pursuing (PA chairman) Mahmoud Abbas's policy as he said "this is my government and it is implementing my policy."
The MP also laid emphasis on the Israeli violations against Jerusalem and its people like imposing a temporal division on al-Aqsa Mosque, escalating the break-ins into it, arresting minors, carrying out armed assaults against worshipers and students, demolishing a huge number of Muslim graves where some companions of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), martyrs and Muslim icons were laid to rest, and establishing fake Jewish graves in an attempt to prove the Jews' alleged historical right to the land.
Abu Halabiya warned that the diggings under and around al-Aqsa Mosque is posing a serious threat to the whole area, and slammed Israel's enforcement of a spatio-temporal division of holy al-Aqsa Mosque, as well as confiscating thousands of acres of the Palestinian lands, establishing new settlements and expanding the existing settlements by building thousands of housing units.
Abu Halabiya declared that the Israeli harassments like stipulating a punishment of up to 20 years imprisonment on anyone throwing stones at Israelis, and demolishing Jerusalemites' homes under pretext of unlicensed construction will never weaken the steadfastness or determination of the Palestinian people. He also emphasized that the current crises Gaza is preoccupied with will never distract Gazans from protecting Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque which is on top of their priorities.
The MP stressed that the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip is a legitimate right according to the International Law and preventing its reconstruction provokes the Gazans and may ignite a new war.
"Unfortunately, Arabs and Muslims are not fulfilling their roles in protecting Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque," Abu Halabiya charged, adding: "Arab countries are preoccupied with their own affairs and have totally forgotten the Palestinian cause."
The MP concluded by saying: "Muslims and Arabs are supposed to provide the Palestinians with all forms of support; because by defending al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem and Palestine we are actually defending the whole Arab and Muslim nation; Palestine is an Islamic endowment for all Muslims and not restricted to the Palestinians."
