18 feb 2015
Small groups of Israeli settlers broke into the courtyards of Al Aqsa Mosque from the Mughrabi Gate, on Wednesday, under the protection of Israeli special police.
Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency reports that, according to local sources, Israeli police assaulted a Palestinian woman, in order to secure and open the way for the settlers to enter the compound.
Local sources also quoted witnesses as saying that occupation forces deployed in Jerusalem's Old City stopped dozens of students, checked birth certificates and searched their school bags.
Extremist Israeli settlers and politicians have been violating the sanctity of Al Aqsa Mosque on am almost daily basis, and always under the protection of armed occupation forces, who often attack Palestinian worshipers trying to protect their holy site.
Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency reports that, according to local sources, Israeli police assaulted a Palestinian woman, in order to secure and open the way for the settlers to enter the compound.
Local sources also quoted witnesses as saying that occupation forces deployed in Jerusalem's Old City stopped dozens of students, checked birth certificates and searched their school bags.
Extremist Israeli settlers and politicians have been violating the sanctity of Al Aqsa Mosque on am almost daily basis, and always under the protection of armed occupation forces, who often attack Palestinian worshipers trying to protect their holy site.
Tension has been running high in Jerusalem’s Old City since early Wednesday morning after flocks of fanatic Israeli settlers stormed Muslims’ al-Aqsa Mosque and Israeli officers captured a number of Palestinian students.
Jerusalemite sources said over 62 settlers, escorted by Israeli occupation police, broke into the holy al-Aqsa Mosque in small hordes and vandalized its plaza.
The police assaulted a Palestinian lady inside the holy site to make way for the vandals.
Palestinian sit-inners have intensified their presence at the Mosque despite Israel’s s seizure of women’s and youths’ IDs at al-Aqsa gates.
Meanwhile, dozens of Jerusalemite male and female students were detained for a while by Israeli policemen in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Palestinian protesters flocked to the area in objection to the officers’ provocative inspections of the captives’ schoolbags and birth certificates.
Jerusalemite sources said over 62 settlers, escorted by Israeli occupation police, broke into the holy al-Aqsa Mosque in small hordes and vandalized its plaza.
The police assaulted a Palestinian lady inside the holy site to make way for the vandals.
Palestinian sit-inners have intensified their presence at the Mosque despite Israel’s s seizure of women’s and youths’ IDs at al-Aqsa gates.
Meanwhile, dozens of Jerusalemite male and female students were detained for a while by Israeli policemen in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Palestinian protesters flocked to the area in objection to the officers’ provocative inspections of the captives’ schoolbags and birth certificates.
17 feb 2015
Head of the National Christian Coalition in the holy city Dimitri Diliani said the Israeli municipal authority intends to turn part of east Jerusalem in an area between Ma'ale Adumim settlement and the E1 zone into a garbage dumb.
Diliani, who is a member of Fatah's revolutionary council, explained that after chief of the municipal authority Nir Barkat had failed once to get approval from members of his council for his wasteyard project, he went to the settlement council around Jerusalem to sanction his plan.
Diliani affirmed that the activities of the Israeli municipal authority in Jerusalem inside lands located within the borders of the internationally-recognized Palestinian state violate the international law.
He warned of the environmental and health dangers that would result from using this area as a dumpsite, where there are several nearby Bedouin communities and populated areas.
Diliani, who is a member of Fatah's revolutionary council, explained that after chief of the municipal authority Nir Barkat had failed once to get approval from members of his council for his wasteyard project, he went to the settlement council around Jerusalem to sanction his plan.
Diliani affirmed that the activities of the Israeli municipal authority in Jerusalem inside lands located within the borders of the internationally-recognized Palestinian state violate the international law.
He warned of the environmental and health dangers that would result from using this area as a dumpsite, where there are several nearby Bedouin communities and populated areas.
The Jerusalem district planning and building committee has approved a large-scale settlement plan that includes the construction of 5,230 housing units in the southern part of the holy city.
According to the Israeli economic newspaper 'The Marker' on Monday, the plan, which was approved last week, included the evacuation of Jewish settlers from south of the city and compensating them with new apartments.
Israel's settlement expansion activities in Jerusalem and the West Bank are ongoing all the time, but they have escalated recently as a result of the Knesset election fever.
More than half a million Jews live in over 120 illegal settlements built since Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
The UN and most countries consider these settlements illegal because they are located in territories seized by Israel in the 1967 war.
According to the Israeli economic newspaper 'The Marker' on Monday, the plan, which was approved last week, included the evacuation of Jewish settlers from south of the city and compensating them with new apartments.
Israel's settlement expansion activities in Jerusalem and the West Bank are ongoing all the time, but they have escalated recently as a result of the Knesset election fever.
More than half a million Jews live in over 120 illegal settlements built since Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
The UN and most countries consider these settlements illegal because they are located in territories seized by Israel in the 1967 war.
Hundreds of Jewish settlers stormed the Yusuf tomb east of Nablus before dawn Tuesday under heavy Israeli troop protection.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that dozens of Israeli troops raided the city and closed the roads leading to the tomb to pave the way for a number of buses carrying hundreds of settlers.
The settlers arrived in seven buses and left after dawn after offering rituals, the sources added.
Clashes broke out in the area with Palestinian youths from nearby Balata refugee camp who threw stones and empty bottles at the intruders while the Israeli occupation forces fired tear gas and live bullets at the youths.
On the other hand, two young men were nabbed Monday afternoon after Israeli forces erected a number of military checkpoints at the entrances of Assira town to the north of Nablus. IOF soldiers also raided the town at dawn Tuesday and broke into several homes but no arrests were reported.
Eyewitnesses told the PIC reporter that dozens of Israeli troops raided the city and closed the roads leading to the tomb to pave the way for a number of buses carrying hundreds of settlers.
The settlers arrived in seven buses and left after dawn after offering rituals, the sources added.
Clashes broke out in the area with Palestinian youths from nearby Balata refugee camp who threw stones and empty bottles at the intruders while the Israeli occupation forces fired tear gas and live bullets at the youths.
On the other hand, two young men were nabbed Monday afternoon after Israeli forces erected a number of military checkpoints at the entrances of Assira town to the north of Nablus. IOF soldiers also raided the town at dawn Tuesday and broke into several homes but no arrests were reported.
Still Image From Quds Press Video
Israeli soldiers kidnapped, Tuesday, a Palestinian woman from Jerusalem while she was leaving the Al-Aqsa Mosque, through the Bab an-Nather Gate, and took her to an interrogation center in the city. Two Children, 12 and 10, handed interrogation notices.
The attack took place after a number of Israeli fanatics, accompanied by police officers and soldiers, invaded the yards of the mosque, and conducted provocative acts against the Palestinians.
Eyewitnesses said the extremists invaded the mosque yards through the al-Magharba Gate.
On Monday, the Police abducted four Palestinian women while leaving the Al-Aqsa Mosque, released them after hours of interrogation, and issued orders preventing them from entering the mosque for two weeks.
In related news, Israeli bulldozers demolished, on Tuesday morning, a wall surrounding a Palestinian home in at-Tour, overlooking Jerusalem’s Old City, allegedly for being built without a permit in a “Green Zone."
The owner, Mohammad Abu al-Hawa, never received prior notice, yet the soldiers demolished his wall.
In addition, soldiers invaded, on Tuesday at dawn, the home of resident Arafat Abu Sbeitan, in at-Tour neighborhood overlooking the Old City, and handed his two children military orders for interrogation.
The father said the soldiers handed the warrants, ordering his children Mohammad, 12 and Ibrahim, 10 years of age, to head to the al-Maskobiyya interrogation center for interrogation.
In addition, a number of Israeli military vehicles invaded Marda village, north of the central West Bank city of Salfit, and kidnapped a Palestinian identified as Ezzeddin Khuffash, 20, after storming his family home.
Israeli soldiers kidnapped, Tuesday, a Palestinian woman from Jerusalem while she was leaving the Al-Aqsa Mosque, through the Bab an-Nather Gate, and took her to an interrogation center in the city. Two Children, 12 and 10, handed interrogation notices.
The attack took place after a number of Israeli fanatics, accompanied by police officers and soldiers, invaded the yards of the mosque, and conducted provocative acts against the Palestinians.
Eyewitnesses said the extremists invaded the mosque yards through the al-Magharba Gate.
On Monday, the Police abducted four Palestinian women while leaving the Al-Aqsa Mosque, released them after hours of interrogation, and issued orders preventing them from entering the mosque for two weeks.
In related news, Israeli bulldozers demolished, on Tuesday morning, a wall surrounding a Palestinian home in at-Tour, overlooking Jerusalem’s Old City, allegedly for being built without a permit in a “Green Zone."
The owner, Mohammad Abu al-Hawa, never received prior notice, yet the soldiers demolished his wall.
In addition, soldiers invaded, on Tuesday at dawn, the home of resident Arafat Abu Sbeitan, in at-Tour neighborhood overlooking the Old City, and handed his two children military orders for interrogation.
The father said the soldiers handed the warrants, ordering his children Mohammad, 12 and Ibrahim, 10 years of age, to head to the al-Maskobiyya interrogation center for interrogation.
In addition, a number of Israeli military vehicles invaded Marda village, north of the central West Bank city of Salfit, and kidnapped a Palestinian identified as Ezzeddin Khuffash, 20, after storming his family home.
Palestinian officials say the Israeli prime minister's plan to visit the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron is a "time bomb" that could drag the area into more violence and disorder.
Hebron's mayor, Kamel Hmeid, called upon the foreign ministers of six member countries in the Temporary International Presence in Hebron to hold an emergency meeting to protect residents from Benjamin Netanyahu's plans.
The visit to the Ibrahimi mosque, known to Jews as the Cave of the Patriarchs, will take place March 3, one week before the Israeli Knesset elections and close to the anniversary of the massacre in which 29 Palestinians were killed and dozens were injured when an Israeli settler opened fire at worshipers.
A Palestinian security source told Ma'an that "Netanyahu lit the wick of a big bomb in Hebron, and we do not know when or where it will explode."
"Residents of Hebron are preparing to commemorate the 21st memory of the Ibrahimi Mosque's massacre on Friday between the H1 and H2 parts of the Hebron," he added.
"Clashes with Israeli soldiers will surely erupt on contact points following the marches."
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added: "We expressed our fears of this visit to the Israeli side and we hold them responsible for the consequences."
Hebron's mayor said that "Netanyahu's visit to the mosque will represent cancelling the Hebron agreement that he signed in 1997."
Hmeid added that the premier "hesitated before signing the agreement that divided the city into two parts," and that the Israeli government did not commit to the agreement.
Muhammad al-Bakri, a Fatah leader, said that "Netanyahu does not realize what is good for Israel and the Israelis."
Al-Bakri added that Netanyahu "does not act wisely" toward the good of Israel and is holding on to the prime minister's chair.
Nasser Laham, chief editor of Ma'an, called Netanyahu's plans to visit Hebron and the Ibrahimi Mosque a "dangerous step" as it gives protection to Jewish settlements from the Israeli government.
Issa Amro, the coordinator of a local group against settlements, said that the step is "dangerous to residents of Hebron," especially in the Old City and between the Kiryat Arba and Bet Yashay settlements.
Hebron's mayor, Kamel Hmeid, called upon the foreign ministers of six member countries in the Temporary International Presence in Hebron to hold an emergency meeting to protect residents from Benjamin Netanyahu's plans.
The visit to the Ibrahimi mosque, known to Jews as the Cave of the Patriarchs, will take place March 3, one week before the Israeli Knesset elections and close to the anniversary of the massacre in which 29 Palestinians were killed and dozens were injured when an Israeli settler opened fire at worshipers.
A Palestinian security source told Ma'an that "Netanyahu lit the wick of a big bomb in Hebron, and we do not know when or where it will explode."
"Residents of Hebron are preparing to commemorate the 21st memory of the Ibrahimi Mosque's massacre on Friday between the H1 and H2 parts of the Hebron," he added.
"Clashes with Israeli soldiers will surely erupt on contact points following the marches."
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added: "We expressed our fears of this visit to the Israeli side and we hold them responsible for the consequences."
Hebron's mayor said that "Netanyahu's visit to the mosque will represent cancelling the Hebron agreement that he signed in 1997."
Hmeid added that the premier "hesitated before signing the agreement that divided the city into two parts," and that the Israeli government did not commit to the agreement.
Muhammad al-Bakri, a Fatah leader, said that "Netanyahu does not realize what is good for Israel and the Israelis."
Al-Bakri added that Netanyahu "does not act wisely" toward the good of Israel and is holding on to the prime minister's chair.
Nasser Laham, chief editor of Ma'an, called Netanyahu's plans to visit Hebron and the Ibrahimi Mosque a "dangerous step" as it gives protection to Jewish settlements from the Israeli government.
Issa Amro, the coordinator of a local group against settlements, said that the step is "dangerous to residents of Hebron," especially in the Old City and between the Kiryat Arba and Bet Yashay settlements.
16 feb 2015
Israeli authorities on Monday approved a solid waste landfill project on over 500 kilometers of land in occupied East Jerusalem.
Israeli settlement researcher Ahmad Sublaban told Ma'an that the district planning and construction committee approved that plan, number 13900, to build a landfill on over 546 kilometers of land between the villages of al-Issawiya and Anata and over 13 of which will be used for a road network leading to the landfill.
Sublaban said there were several objections by Palestinians as well as residents of the French Hill settlement, which were declined by the committee.
The landfill will be built in a valley in Wadi Qasim and Wadi Kabina, on the lands of al-Issawiya and Anata where solid waste will be buried under construction remains, before a public park is built over it, the plan says.
The landfill will be built close to the E1 planned settlement compound which is planned to hold 4,000 settlement houses, and aims to unite East Jerusalem and Maale Adumim settlement.
Monitoring committee member in al-Issawiya village Mohammad Abu al-Homos said the committee will appeal to decision.
He told Ma'an that the project does not serve Palestinians, but serves settlements in Jerusalem, adding that it is the start of the implementation of the E1 project.
Abu al-Homos added that 30 Bedouin families have been living in that area for over 50 years, and their wishes were disregarded by the Israeli occupation.
Israeli settlement researcher Ahmad Sublaban told Ma'an that the district planning and construction committee approved that plan, number 13900, to build a landfill on over 546 kilometers of land between the villages of al-Issawiya and Anata and over 13 of which will be used for a road network leading to the landfill.
Sublaban said there were several objections by Palestinians as well as residents of the French Hill settlement, which were declined by the committee.
The landfill will be built in a valley in Wadi Qasim and Wadi Kabina, on the lands of al-Issawiya and Anata where solid waste will be buried under construction remains, before a public park is built over it, the plan says.
The landfill will be built close to the E1 planned settlement compound which is planned to hold 4,000 settlement houses, and aims to unite East Jerusalem and Maale Adumim settlement.
Monitoring committee member in al-Issawiya village Mohammad Abu al-Homos said the committee will appeal to decision.
He told Ma'an that the project does not serve Palestinians, but serves settlements in Jerusalem, adding that it is the start of the implementation of the E1 project.
Abu al-Homos added that 30 Bedouin families have been living in that area for over 50 years, and their wishes were disregarded by the Israeli occupation.
The right-wing Jewish foundation for the Western Wall Heritage has declared new tenders to carry out excavations under the Western Wall of al-Aqsa Mosque on February 20.
Head of the PLO department for Jerusalem's affairs Ahmad Qurei warned in a statement issued Sunday of the seriousness of the Israeli move.
A few days ago, a group of Israeli engineers and contractors had secretly toured al-Aqsa Mosque to explore the location as a prelude to participate in the tenders, Qurei revealed.
He pointed out that the Israeli occupation government works to create new paths and chambers under the Western Wall of al-Aqsa Mosque in order to enhance its Judaization schemes in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem.
He warned of Israel's excavation work under the Old City as part of its efforts to displace the indigenous Palestinian residents and replace them with Jewish settlers.
For its part, al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage has confirmed in a statement issued Sunday that Israeli authorities had already started excavations under the Buraq Square to west of al-Aqsa Mosque.
The excavation works aim at establishing a new centralized power control network under al-Aqsa Mosque, the statement added.
The Foundation pointed out that remains of historical buildings of al-Magaribeh Gate were removed a few weeks ago as a prelude for the construction of the mentioned power network.
Islamic historical archaeological sites will be removed during the excavations, the statement underlined.
Head of the PLO department for Jerusalem's affairs Ahmad Qurei warned in a statement issued Sunday of the seriousness of the Israeli move.
A few days ago, a group of Israeli engineers and contractors had secretly toured al-Aqsa Mosque to explore the location as a prelude to participate in the tenders, Qurei revealed.
He pointed out that the Israeli occupation government works to create new paths and chambers under the Western Wall of al-Aqsa Mosque in order to enhance its Judaization schemes in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem.
He warned of Israel's excavation work under the Old City as part of its efforts to displace the indigenous Palestinian residents and replace them with Jewish settlers.
For its part, al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage has confirmed in a statement issued Sunday that Israeli authorities had already started excavations under the Buraq Square to west of al-Aqsa Mosque.
The excavation works aim at establishing a new centralized power control network under al-Aqsa Mosque, the statement added.
The Foundation pointed out that remains of historical buildings of al-Magaribeh Gate were removed a few weeks ago as a prelude for the construction of the mentioned power network.
Islamic historical archaeological sites will be removed during the excavations, the statement underlined.
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) has warned of the serious implications of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the Ibrahimi mosque in al-Khalil.
The PFLP said in a statement on Sunday that Netanyahu’s planned visit to the Ibrahimi mosque is part of his electoral campaign similarly to his predecessor Ariel Sharon's provocative visit to al-Aqsa Mosque in 2000.
The PFLP held the Israeli government fully responsible over the implications of this visit that aims to enhance falsified Jewish religious claims.
This visit will further strengthen the Palestinian people’s resistance of Israeli occupation, the statement said.
The statement also called on the PLO to act immediately in coordination with the international community to hold Netanyahu’s government responsible for the serious implications of his upcoming visit.
The PFLP said in a statement on Sunday that Netanyahu’s planned visit to the Ibrahimi mosque is part of his electoral campaign similarly to his predecessor Ariel Sharon's provocative visit to al-Aqsa Mosque in 2000.
The PFLP held the Israeli government fully responsible over the implications of this visit that aims to enhance falsified Jewish religious claims.
This visit will further strengthen the Palestinian people’s resistance of Israeli occupation, the statement said.
The statement also called on the PLO to act immediately in coordination with the international community to hold Netanyahu’s government responsible for the serious implications of his upcoming visit.
15 feb 2015
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat announced hundreds of millions of New Israeli Shekels (NIS) have been set aside for the reinforcement of the Jewish identity in east Jerusalem under the guise of implementing vital investment projects.
During a press conference, Barkat said more than NIS 300 million has been allocated specifically for east Jerusalem over a five-year plan. Of that, he said NIS 100 million will go toward security, while NIS 200 million will be allocated for infrastructure.
“An additional NIS 350 million is earmarked for “boosting culture and tourism there”, he said.
Barkat also said one of the municipal priorities is the investments in Arab schools by changing the Palestinian educational curricula. He claimed that the Israeli curricula are more developed and “enhance the Jewishness of the state”.
Barkat, who is one of the settlers and supporters of settlement in Palestinian occupied lands, said that Arab youths were responsible for the vast majority of the city’s violence.
During a press conference, Barkat said more than NIS 300 million has been allocated specifically for east Jerusalem over a five-year plan. Of that, he said NIS 100 million will go toward security, while NIS 200 million will be allocated for infrastructure.
“An additional NIS 350 million is earmarked for “boosting culture and tourism there”, he said.
Barkat also said one of the municipal priorities is the investments in Arab schools by changing the Palestinian educational curricula. He claimed that the Israeli curricula are more developed and “enhance the Jewishness of the state”.
Barkat, who is one of the settlers and supporters of settlement in Palestinian occupied lands, said that Arab youths were responsible for the vast majority of the city’s violence.
Extremist Jewish groups of settlers desecrated on Sunday the Aqsa Mosque amid tight security measures by Israeli policemen.
Eyewitnesses said the settlers entered al-Aqsa Mosque from al-Magharebah Gate and the Palestinian worshipers started chanting “Allahu Akbar” to prevent the settlers from performing Talmudic rituals at the holy Mosque.
Israeli policemen deliberately held the identity cards of young worshipers until they came out of the Mosque.
Eyewitnesses said the settlers entered al-Aqsa Mosque from al-Magharebah Gate and the Palestinian worshipers started chanting “Allahu Akbar” to prevent the settlers from performing Talmudic rituals at the holy Mosque.
Israeli policemen deliberately held the identity cards of young worshipers until they came out of the Mosque.
The Israeli Occupation Authority (IOA) spares no effort to carry out its Judaization schemes in Occupied Jerusalem (OJ); some of which are obvious; others are hidden under the cover of tourism or trade.
The so called "Israel Lands Authority" announced a tender to build 580 hotel rooms, shopping malls and parking lots in OJ, by which the IOA can spread Zionist ideas, rumors and misconceptions about the Muslim and Arab society among tourists.
Anan Ghaith, the Executive Director of Jerusalem Tourism Cluster (JTC) told the (PIC): "Tourism is an essential economic engine in occupied Palestine, especially in Jerusalem; about four million tourists come to visit it every year for religious and touristic purposes in spite of the conflicts and the unstable political situation in the area."
He added: "The Israeli government is striving to increase the number of tourists by building a network of bypass roads, one of which is a bypass road that directly connects Tel Aviv with OJ, many Palestinian lands were confiscated as a result of this project. Furthermore, the Israeli government is planning to establish an airport in Jericho."
Exploiting tourism to spread Zionism
"The IOA doesn't consider tourism an essential economic resource, but rather a malicious means to beautify the ugly image of Israel and spread the Zionist ideas in the western world," Ghaith said.
He added: “The Israelis promote lies aimed at defaming and distorting the image of the Arab society like warning the tourists to be aware of the Arab thieves who may steal their personal belongings, and they tell lies about the landmarks in a way that serves the mendacious Israeli narrative and justifies their heinous acts such as confiscating Palestinian lands."
Ghaith laid emphasis on the fact that the IOA steals the Palestinian folklore, antiques and even popular Palestinian dishes and attributes them to the Jews in an attempt to prove their alleged historical right to the land of Palestine, whereas all the historical and archaeological evidences suggest that the Canaanites are the first inhabitants of Palestine.
Tenders
Ghaith also pointed out that the last tender, which was announced few days ago, was not the first, and clarified that under the pretext of encouraging tourism Israel is carrying out its Judaization schemes in OJ.
Commenting on confiscating the Palestinian lands, Ghaith said: "The Israeli occupation state is taking over as many Palestinian lands and properties as possible in OJ and is establishing biblical parks in Silwan, al-Tour, Issawiya districts, Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood and the Old Town to the south of al-Aqsa Mosque; in order to resolve the issue of the so-called holy basin, which represents the heart of the Judaization project in Jerusalem."
Ghaith stressed that Jerusalem is a major tourist attraction and urged Palestinians to be present in the areas frequented by tourists, as well as to make use of the social media to raise awareness of the Palestinian cause and convey the right ideas about Arabs and their culture, customs and traditions.
The so called "Israel Lands Authority" announced a tender to build 580 hotel rooms, shopping malls and parking lots in OJ, by which the IOA can spread Zionist ideas, rumors and misconceptions about the Muslim and Arab society among tourists.
Anan Ghaith, the Executive Director of Jerusalem Tourism Cluster (JTC) told the (PIC): "Tourism is an essential economic engine in occupied Palestine, especially in Jerusalem; about four million tourists come to visit it every year for religious and touristic purposes in spite of the conflicts and the unstable political situation in the area."
He added: "The Israeli government is striving to increase the number of tourists by building a network of bypass roads, one of which is a bypass road that directly connects Tel Aviv with OJ, many Palestinian lands were confiscated as a result of this project. Furthermore, the Israeli government is planning to establish an airport in Jericho."
Exploiting tourism to spread Zionism
"The IOA doesn't consider tourism an essential economic resource, but rather a malicious means to beautify the ugly image of Israel and spread the Zionist ideas in the western world," Ghaith said.
He added: “The Israelis promote lies aimed at defaming and distorting the image of the Arab society like warning the tourists to be aware of the Arab thieves who may steal their personal belongings, and they tell lies about the landmarks in a way that serves the mendacious Israeli narrative and justifies their heinous acts such as confiscating Palestinian lands."
Ghaith laid emphasis on the fact that the IOA steals the Palestinian folklore, antiques and even popular Palestinian dishes and attributes them to the Jews in an attempt to prove their alleged historical right to the land of Palestine, whereas all the historical and archaeological evidences suggest that the Canaanites are the first inhabitants of Palestine.
Tenders
Ghaith also pointed out that the last tender, which was announced few days ago, was not the first, and clarified that under the pretext of encouraging tourism Israel is carrying out its Judaization schemes in OJ.
Commenting on confiscating the Palestinian lands, Ghaith said: "The Israeli occupation state is taking over as many Palestinian lands and properties as possible in OJ and is establishing biblical parks in Silwan, al-Tour, Issawiya districts, Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood and the Old Town to the south of al-Aqsa Mosque; in order to resolve the issue of the so-called holy basin, which represents the heart of the Judaization project in Jerusalem."
Ghaith stressed that Jerusalem is a major tourist attraction and urged Palestinians to be present in the areas frequented by tourists, as well as to make use of the social media to raise awareness of the Palestinian cause and convey the right ideas about Arabs and their culture, customs and traditions.
Hamas Sunday warned the Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu of the serious upshots of his intents to storm Muslims’ Ibrahimi Mosque in the West Bank city of al-Khalil.
Political Bureau member of Hamas Ezzet Resheq said in a written statement Sunday that Israel’s verbalization of intents to break into the Ibrahimi Mosque is a serious “escalation” and a “provocation” to the feelings of the Palestinian people and Muslims, who will not remain mum regarding such a sacrilegious act.
Resheq stressed that the Ibrahimi Mosque has always been, and will forever remain, Muslims’ own property and part of the Palestinian Islamic heritage in the West Bank.
“The Ibrahimi Mosque can never be exploited for Israel’s electoral propaganda,” he said.
Earlier the Israeli Yediot Aharonot newspaper revealed Netanyahu’s intents to storm the Ibrahimi Mosque and pop in the Cave of the Patriarchs, where Israel had built a synagogue sheltering extremist settlers and rightists.
Netanyahu’s projected move comes as part of attempts to hypnotize votes from the fanatic nationalists in the Knesset’s electoral race.
The same source further warned of a “flare-up” swelling across the West Bank due to Netanyahu’s planned sacrilegious break-in.
An earlier move adopted by Netanyahu in 1996 to excavate a tunnel under al-Aqsa Mosque led to confrontations that killed 60 Palestinians.
The Israeli occupation authorities imposed a spatio-temporal division on the Islamic shrine in the wake of the 1994 massacre perpetrated by an Israeli fanatic. 29 peaceful worshipers were killed and some 150 others sustained wounds.
The projected move is also a reminder of the notorious desecration assault carried out in 2000 by the notorious ex-Israeli premier Sharon on Muslims’ holy al-Aqsa Mosque. The break-in sparked the al-Aqsa Intifda (uprising).
Political Bureau member of Hamas Ezzet Resheq said in a written statement Sunday that Israel’s verbalization of intents to break into the Ibrahimi Mosque is a serious “escalation” and a “provocation” to the feelings of the Palestinian people and Muslims, who will not remain mum regarding such a sacrilegious act.
Resheq stressed that the Ibrahimi Mosque has always been, and will forever remain, Muslims’ own property and part of the Palestinian Islamic heritage in the West Bank.
“The Ibrahimi Mosque can never be exploited for Israel’s electoral propaganda,” he said.
Earlier the Israeli Yediot Aharonot newspaper revealed Netanyahu’s intents to storm the Ibrahimi Mosque and pop in the Cave of the Patriarchs, where Israel had built a synagogue sheltering extremist settlers and rightists.
Netanyahu’s projected move comes as part of attempts to hypnotize votes from the fanatic nationalists in the Knesset’s electoral race.
The same source further warned of a “flare-up” swelling across the West Bank due to Netanyahu’s planned sacrilegious break-in.
An earlier move adopted by Netanyahu in 1996 to excavate a tunnel under al-Aqsa Mosque led to confrontations that killed 60 Palestinians.
The Israeli occupation authorities imposed a spatio-temporal division on the Islamic shrine in the wake of the 1994 massacre perpetrated by an Israeli fanatic. 29 peaceful worshipers were killed and some 150 others sustained wounds.
The projected move is also a reminder of the notorious desecration assault carried out in 2000 by the notorious ex-Israeli premier Sharon on Muslims’ holy al-Aqsa Mosque. The break-in sparked the al-Aqsa Intifda (uprising).
14 feb 2015
Israel has shortlisted over 20,000 Palestinian homes for demolition in East Jerusalem al-Quds, reports the Jerusalem Center for Social and Economic Rights (JCSER).
The reason behind the move is that they were built without Israeli construction licenses, the center's head, Ziad Hamouri, said on Saturday.
Hamouri went on to say that Israel uses the licenses, which are rarely approved, as an excuse to remove Palestinians from the occupied city.
Even if the licenses are approved, he said, they take five to eight years to be issued and cost from $30,000 t0 $50,000 each.
"The Israeli demands for a construction license are punitive financially and procedurally," Hamouri noted, adding such regulations do not apply to the Israeli settlers living in the city.
Further expansion plans
On February 9, Israeli media reported that Tel Aviv had seized about four square-kilometers of Palestinian land near the settlements of Kedumim, Vered Yericho, Neveh Tzuf, and Emanuel.
According to reports, Israel has made preparations to construct 18 residential projects in these areas, with more than 99 percent of the occupied land being allocated to settlements.
Israel is facing widespread global condemnation over its settlement construction in the occupied Palestinian lands.
The EU has often criticized Israel for building thousands of settlement units in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The presence and continued expansion of Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine has created a major obstacle in the way of efforts to establish peace in the Middle East.
Upwards of half a million Israelis live in more than 120 settlements built since Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank, including East al-Quds, in 1967.
The Israeli settlements are considered to be illegal by the United Nations and most countries because the territories were captured by Israel in the war in 1967 and are thus subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbid construction on occupied lands.
The reason behind the move is that they were built without Israeli construction licenses, the center's head, Ziad Hamouri, said on Saturday.
Hamouri went on to say that Israel uses the licenses, which are rarely approved, as an excuse to remove Palestinians from the occupied city.
Even if the licenses are approved, he said, they take five to eight years to be issued and cost from $30,000 t0 $50,000 each.
"The Israeli demands for a construction license are punitive financially and procedurally," Hamouri noted, adding such regulations do not apply to the Israeli settlers living in the city.
Further expansion plans
On February 9, Israeli media reported that Tel Aviv had seized about four square-kilometers of Palestinian land near the settlements of Kedumim, Vered Yericho, Neveh Tzuf, and Emanuel.
According to reports, Israel has made preparations to construct 18 residential projects in these areas, with more than 99 percent of the occupied land being allocated to settlements.
Israel is facing widespread global condemnation over its settlement construction in the occupied Palestinian lands.
The EU has often criticized Israel for building thousands of settlement units in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The presence and continued expansion of Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine has created a major obstacle in the way of efforts to establish peace in the Middle East.
Upwards of half a million Israelis live in more than 120 settlements built since Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank, including East al-Quds, in 1967.
The Israeli settlements are considered to be illegal by the United Nations and most countries because the territories were captured by Israel in the war in 1967 and are thus subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbid construction on occupied lands.
Chairman of the Supreme Islamic Council and preacher of al-Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Ekremah Sabri, warned of the Israeli policy of Judaization in occupied Jerusalem especially the Old City as well as besieging the Aqsa Mosque by the settlement outposts.
During his Friday sermon, Sheikh Ekremah Sabri called on the Palestinian owners of abandoned estates in the Old City of Jerusalem to inhabit their properties or rent them to trusted families.
The preacher of the al-Aqsa Mosque Sheikh Sabri condemned the Israeli Occupation practices including the administrative detention against Palestinians with no trials or charges based on the British Emergency Law. He called on lawyers along with human rights organizations to expose the Israeli racist actions.
During his Friday sermon, Sheikh Ekremah Sabri called on the Palestinian owners of abandoned estates in the Old City of Jerusalem to inhabit their properties or rent them to trusted families.
The preacher of the al-Aqsa Mosque Sheikh Sabri condemned the Israeli Occupation practices including the administrative detention against Palestinians with no trials or charges based on the British Emergency Law. He called on lawyers along with human rights organizations to expose the Israeli racist actions.
12 feb 2015
The Fatah Movement accused Israel of practicing a systematic ethnic cleansing policy against the Palestinian people in occupied Jerusalem, and appealed to the international community to necessarily put an end to its violations in the city.
In a statement on Wednesday, Fatah said that "Israel has been executing for long years an ethnic cleansing plan in stages and currently intensified its repressive measures against the Palestinians in Jerusalem."
The Israeli occupation state demolishes Palestinian homes and commercials stores, appropriates them for Jewish groups, build illegal settlements, arrests children, terrorizes the native population and puts financial pressures on them to force them to leave their city, the Movement underlined in its statement.
Fatah also accused Israel of imposing a security cordon on the Old City of Jerusalem and the Aqsa Mosque, protecting its settlers' daily desecration of the Aqsa Mosque and Judaizing the Islamic and Christian Arab identity of the holy city.
In a statement on Wednesday, Fatah said that "Israel has been executing for long years an ethnic cleansing plan in stages and currently intensified its repressive measures against the Palestinians in Jerusalem."
The Israeli occupation state demolishes Palestinian homes and commercials stores, appropriates them for Jewish groups, build illegal settlements, arrests children, terrorizes the native population and puts financial pressures on them to force them to leave their city, the Movement underlined in its statement.
Fatah also accused Israel of imposing a security cordon on the Old City of Jerusalem and the Aqsa Mosque, protecting its settlers' daily desecration of the Aqsa Mosque and Judaizing the Islamic and Christian Arab identity of the holy city.
