15 apr 2016
Nearly 65,000 Palestinian worshipers managed to perform Friday prayers at al-Aqsa Mosque despite the Israeli tight restrictions throughout the occupied city of Jerusalem.
65,000 worshipers performed Friday prayers at the holy shrine including 200 worshipers from Gaza Strip who headed to the occupied city via Erez crossing.
Israeli police forces were deployed in large numbers since the early morning hours throughout the surrounding areas of the Mosque and the Old City.
During the Friday sermon, the preacher of al-Aqsa Sheikh Youssef Abu Snineh strongly condemned the Israeli “unfair” arrest of Sheikh Mohamed Salim over his last week sermon.
He also pointed out that Israeli authorities turn blind eye to Jewish break-ins and violations in the holy shrine, while restricting Palestinian worshipers’ entry. Sheikh Abu Snineh concluded by calling for achieving a real national unity.
65,000 worshipers performed Friday prayers at the holy shrine including 200 worshipers from Gaza Strip who headed to the occupied city via Erez crossing.
Israeli police forces were deployed in large numbers since the early morning hours throughout the surrounding areas of the Mosque and the Old City.
During the Friday sermon, the preacher of al-Aqsa Sheikh Youssef Abu Snineh strongly condemned the Israeli “unfair” arrest of Sheikh Mohamed Salim over his last week sermon.
He also pointed out that Israeli authorities turn blind eye to Jewish break-ins and violations in the holy shrine, while restricting Palestinian worshipers’ entry. Sheikh Abu Snineh concluded by calling for achieving a real national unity.
Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, head of the Supreme Islamic Council in Occupied Jerusalem, has warned that Israel is trying to carry out its plot to divide the Aqsa Mosque temporally between Muslims and Jews.
Sheikh Sabri stressed that the Israeli occupation escalated recently its arrests and measures against pro-Aqsa activists in Jerusalem in order to pave the way for its temporal division plan at the Aqsa Mosque.
"For five years, we have noticed such attempts, albeit abortive, by the occupation at the Aqsa Mosque, and it will do it over and over again through carrying out arrests and issuing banishment orders in order to execute its temporal division plan at the Aqsa Mosque."
The head of the Islamic Council also pointed out that the Israeli occupation police prevent buses carrying Muslims from reaching the Aqsa Mosque with the aim of reducing their numbers at the Islamic holy shrine.
The Israeli occupation police have escalated during the last two weeks its arrest campaigns against Palestinian worshipers and pro-Aqsa activists in Jerusalem and banned several of them from entering the Mosque and the Old City.
Concurrently, they have facilitated the entry of more Jewish settlers to the Mosque.
Sheikh Sabri stressed that the Israeli occupation escalated recently its arrests and measures against pro-Aqsa activists in Jerusalem in order to pave the way for its temporal division plan at the Aqsa Mosque.
"For five years, we have noticed such attempts, albeit abortive, by the occupation at the Aqsa Mosque, and it will do it over and over again through carrying out arrests and issuing banishment orders in order to execute its temporal division plan at the Aqsa Mosque."
The head of the Islamic Council also pointed out that the Israeli occupation police prevent buses carrying Muslims from reaching the Aqsa Mosque with the aim of reducing their numbers at the Islamic holy shrine.
The Israeli occupation police have escalated during the last two weeks its arrest campaigns against Palestinian worshipers and pro-Aqsa activists in Jerusalem and banned several of them from entering the Mosque and the Old City.
Concurrently, they have facilitated the entry of more Jewish settlers to the Mosque.
The Israeli Occupation Authorities (IOA) allowed Friday visits to Al-Aqsa Mosque from Gaza Strip after being denied for a whole month.
Local sources said that 200 Palestinians above the age of 60 were permitted to cross via the Erez crossing Friday morning, and are expected to return immediately after performing Friday prayers at the holy compound.
Israeli authorities open Erez crossing on Fridays only for emergency cases and close it on Saturdays. Israel, following the ceasefire agreement that ended its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip in 2014, began permitting 200 elderly Gazans to worship at the holy site every Friday.
However, Israel froze the agreement on March 16 due to allegations that Palestinians traveling for worship were not returning to the Gaza Strip on the same day of the visit.
Local sources said that 200 Palestinians above the age of 60 were permitted to cross via the Erez crossing Friday morning, and are expected to return immediately after performing Friday prayers at the holy compound.
Israeli authorities open Erez crossing on Fridays only for emergency cases and close it on Saturdays. Israel, following the ceasefire agreement that ended its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip in 2014, began permitting 200 elderly Gazans to worship at the holy site every Friday.
However, Israel froze the agreement on March 16 due to allegations that Palestinians traveling for worship were not returning to the Gaza Strip on the same day of the visit.
Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Sebastia Archbishop Atallah Hanna said “Occupied Jerusalem is the symbol of the unity of Christians and Muslims before God and all peoples on Earth”.
In his speech during the opening of civilizations and cultures conference hosted by Czech capital Prague on Thursday and organized by the embassies of Islamic cooperation states, Hanna stressed the spiritual and religious value of the city of Jerusalem.
He affirmed that Jerusalem represents the Christian and Muslim brotherhood among the Arab nation in general and the Palestinian people in particular.
"Palestinian Christians are biased to the justice of the Palestinian Question since they constitute an essential part of the Palestinian people" he said.
In his speech during the opening of civilizations and cultures conference hosted by Czech capital Prague on Thursday and organized by the embassies of Islamic cooperation states, Hanna stressed the spiritual and religious value of the city of Jerusalem.
He affirmed that Jerusalem represents the Christian and Muslim brotherhood among the Arab nation in general and the Palestinian people in particular.
"Palestinian Christians are biased to the justice of the Palestinian Question since they constitute an essential part of the Palestinian people" he said.
14 apr 2016
Groups of Israeli settlers embarked on desecration tours of the holy Aqsa Mosque’s plazas in the early morning hours of Thursday escorted by special police forces.
The settlers, who entered the holy Islamic site from Maghareba Gate, tried to perform Talmudic rituals but were confronted by chants of Allahu Akbar by Muslim vigilantes.
Israeli policemen, meanwhile, continued to block the entry into the Mosque of Palestinian women, whose names were included in the so-called Golden List of woman banned from entry into the site. The barred women staged a sit-in at the gates of the Aqsa Mosque and recited verses of the holy Quran.
Settlers deliberately enter the holy site as early as 0700 a.m. daily to avoid the gathering of worshippers during prayer at later times.
The settlers, who entered the holy Islamic site from Maghareba Gate, tried to perform Talmudic rituals but were confronted by chants of Allahu Akbar by Muslim vigilantes.
Israeli policemen, meanwhile, continued to block the entry into the Mosque of Palestinian women, whose names were included in the so-called Golden List of woman banned from entry into the site. The barred women staged a sit-in at the gates of the Aqsa Mosque and recited verses of the holy Quran.
Settlers deliberately enter the holy site as early as 0700 a.m. daily to avoid the gathering of worshippers during prayer at later times.
13 apr 2016
Member of Hamas Movement’s political bureau Ezzat al-Resheq has warned of the serious implications of Israeli settlers’ provocative break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Palestinian people will not stand idly towards the Israeli escalated threats and Judaization plans against al-Aqsa Mosque, he underlined in a press statement on Tuesday.
Al-Aqsa is a red line. Our people will never accept the Israeli temporal and spatial division to the compound as it will always remain a pure Islamic property, Resheq stressed.
The senior leader in Hamas called on the Palestinian people to intensify their presence in the holy shrine and to confront Israeli Judaization plans and daily break-ins into the compound.
Resheq also called on local, Arab, and foreign media outlets to expose the criminal reality of Israeli occupation and its escalated violations against Palestinian sit-inners in the Mosque.
The Palestinian people will not stand idly towards the Israeli escalated threats and Judaization plans against al-Aqsa Mosque, he underlined in a press statement on Tuesday.
Al-Aqsa is a red line. Our people will never accept the Israeli temporal and spatial division to the compound as it will always remain a pure Islamic property, Resheq stressed.
The senior leader in Hamas called on the Palestinian people to intensify their presence in the holy shrine and to confront Israeli Judaization plans and daily break-ins into the compound.
Resheq also called on local, Arab, and foreign media outlets to expose the criminal reality of Israeli occupation and its escalated violations against Palestinian sit-inners in the Mosque.
The so-called Temple Institute, an Israeli organization which works to "establish the Third Temple" on the ruins of al-Aqsa Mosque, declared that it secretly held a Jewish wedding in the holy shrine few days ago, Yediot Ahranot Hebrew newspaper revealed Wednesday.
The newspaper quoted Rabbi Chaim Richman, who manages the institute's international activity, as saying that he accepted a request by an Israeli couple who asked him to marry them at the Mosque.
He said all those involved were asked to keep the ceremony a secret, the newspaper added, pointing out that the wedding was held according to the law of Moses and Israel.
The paper described the event as an “unusual event that could reignite violence at the sensitive holy site and elsewhere.”
According to the Hebrew newspaper, Israeli police every week detain and at times also arrest right-wing activists on suspicion of praying or violating the rules in another manner.
The Jewish institute said the wedding ceremony in al-Aqsa Mosque is “a great achievement in light of the Waqf and the police's anti-Jewish discrimination, which rejects any Jewish expression at the holy site."
The institute claims that the moment was documented, but the couple has asked that the video would not be released in full. Instead, the institute posted photos of the married couple's ringed-fingers without exposing their identity.
“The wedding in al-Aqsa Mosque is a unique event in history, since the Temple's destruction 2,000 years ago," the institute claimed in its Facebook page.
The newspaper quoted Rabbi Chaim Richman, who manages the institute's international activity, as saying that he accepted a request by an Israeli couple who asked him to marry them at the Mosque.
He said all those involved were asked to keep the ceremony a secret, the newspaper added, pointing out that the wedding was held according to the law of Moses and Israel.
The paper described the event as an “unusual event that could reignite violence at the sensitive holy site and elsewhere.”
According to the Hebrew newspaper, Israeli police every week detain and at times also arrest right-wing activists on suspicion of praying or violating the rules in another manner.
The Jewish institute said the wedding ceremony in al-Aqsa Mosque is “a great achievement in light of the Waqf and the police's anti-Jewish discrimination, which rejects any Jewish expression at the holy site."
The institute claims that the moment was documented, but the couple has asked that the video would not be released in full. Instead, the institute posted photos of the married couple's ringed-fingers without exposing their identity.
“The wedding in al-Aqsa Mosque is a unique event in history, since the Temple's destruction 2,000 years ago," the institute claimed in its Facebook page.
12 apr 2016
Every early morning during the past three weeks, the Israeli occupation army has blocked before the Palestinians the road that runs between the village of Anata, north of Jerusalem, and the Hizmeh checkpoint, which leads to the holy city.
Palestinian local residents have complained the Israeli measure is aimed to prevent early-morning traffic jams at the checkpoint at a time of day when Jewish residents of West Bank settlements are on their way to work in Occupied Jerusalem.
Because it now takes one and a half hours for the Palestinian residents to get through the checkpoint there, some of them get up earlier at four am to be at work in Jerusalem by seven am.
Palestinian local residents have complained the Israeli measure is aimed to prevent early-morning traffic jams at the checkpoint at a time of day when Jewish residents of West Bank settlements are on their way to work in Occupied Jerusalem.
Because it now takes one and a half hours for the Palestinian residents to get through the checkpoint there, some of them get up earlier at four am to be at work in Jerusalem by seven am.
11 apr 2016
The Israeli occupation police on Sunday issued decisions banning the entry of six Palestinian women to the Aqsa Mosque and another one to the Old City of Jerusalem for several months.
Umm Ihab al-Jallad, one of many women already banned from entering the Aqsa Mosque, said that the Israeli police summoned six women to its center in Qishleh area in the Old City and handed them orders banning their entry to the Mosque for different periods.
Jallad added that she refused to sign or receive a written verdict ordering her to stay away from the Old City for six months. One of the six women, Samiha Shahin, also refused to take an order preventing her from entering the Aqsa Mosque for six months.
The Israeli police started to impose a ban on the entry of Palestinian women to the Aqsa Mosque in Ramadan 2014, especially during the morning hours when Jewish settlers carry out mass break-ins at the Islamic holy shrine under security protection.
The Israeli occupation authority uses such measure to prepare the ground for the Jews to desecrate the Aqsa Mosque at any time and provide them with an opportunity to perform their rituals without any angry reactions from Muslims.
Umm Ihab al-Jallad, one of many women already banned from entering the Aqsa Mosque, said that the Israeli police summoned six women to its center in Qishleh area in the Old City and handed them orders banning their entry to the Mosque for different periods.
Jallad added that she refused to sign or receive a written verdict ordering her to stay away from the Old City for six months. One of the six women, Samiha Shahin, also refused to take an order preventing her from entering the Aqsa Mosque for six months.
The Israeli police started to impose a ban on the entry of Palestinian women to the Aqsa Mosque in Ramadan 2014, especially during the morning hours when Jewish settlers carry out mass break-ins at the Islamic holy shrine under security protection.
The Israeli occupation authority uses such measure to prepare the ground for the Jews to desecrate the Aqsa Mosque at any time and provide them with an opportunity to perform their rituals without any angry reactions from Muslims.
Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Sheikh Ra'ed Salah, head of the Islamic Movement in the 1948 occupied lands, of inflaming the situation in Jerusalem and at the Aqsa Mosque and called for putting him in jail.
According to Israel's channel 7, Netanyahu made his remarks during a cabinet meeting attended by senior Shin Bet officials on Sunday. Netanyahu claimed that Sheikh Salah was trying to stir up trouble in Jerusalem ahead of the Passover holiday and labelled him as a "bomb".
He also urged the Israeli ministries of interior and justice to work on exiling or imprisoning him. Senior Israeli officials have accused Sheikh Salah of igniting the spark of the third intifada (uprising), and using the slogan, "al-Aqsa in danger" to prevent Jewish settlers from visiting what they call the temple mount.
The Israeli occupation authority issued on November 17, 2015 a decision banning and outlawing the activities of the Islamic Movement and closed about 20 Palestinian charitable institutions at the pretext they were its affiliates.
According to Israel's channel 7, Netanyahu made his remarks during a cabinet meeting attended by senior Shin Bet officials on Sunday. Netanyahu claimed that Sheikh Salah was trying to stir up trouble in Jerusalem ahead of the Passover holiday and labelled him as a "bomb".
He also urged the Israeli ministries of interior and justice to work on exiling or imprisoning him. Senior Israeli officials have accused Sheikh Salah of igniting the spark of the third intifada (uprising), and using the slogan, "al-Aqsa in danger" to prevent Jewish settlers from visiting what they call the temple mount.
The Israeli occupation authority issued on November 17, 2015 a decision banning and outlawing the activities of the Islamic Movement and closed about 20 Palestinian charitable institutions at the pretext they were its affiliates.
10 apr 2016
A number of Israeli settlers defiled the holy Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem on Sunday morning under tight security measures.
Local sources said that 15 settlers entered the holy Islamic site after Israeli policemen were deployed in all its corners to provide protection for them.
The ongoing Jerusalem Intifada broke out in early October last year in reaction to the escalating Israeli raids into and violations of the Aqsa Mosque.
Local sources said that 15 settlers entered the holy Islamic site after Israeli policemen were deployed in all its corners to provide protection for them.
The ongoing Jerusalem Intifada broke out in early October last year in reaction to the escalating Israeli raids into and violations of the Aqsa Mosque.
A horde of fanatic Jewish settlers on Sunday morning spray-painted anti-Arab graffiti on the walls of a Palestinian Church in Safed city.
As always, the Israeli police claimed they launched an investigation into the incident to arrest the perpetrators, although similar incidents have previously taken place in the city without arresting anyone.
The Palestinian students studying at Safed College are constantly exposed to racist harassment by Jewish extremists and face a problem in finding housing units as a result of religious orders issued by rabbis prohibiting Jews from renting apartments to Arabs.
As always, the Israeli police claimed they launched an investigation into the incident to arrest the perpetrators, although similar incidents have previously taken place in the city without arresting anyone.
The Palestinian students studying at Safed College are constantly exposed to racist harassment by Jewish extremists and face a problem in finding housing units as a result of religious orders issued by rabbis prohibiting Jews from renting apartments to Arabs.
Preacher of Muslims’ the holy al-Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Muhammad Salim, spoke out against his detention by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF), saying it is rather a sign of provocation to the Muslim worshipers.
Talking to a PIC journalist, Sheikh Salim said the IOF detained him for hours on allegations of incitement. “It is the right of al-Aqsa preacher to raise people’s awareness and try to alleviate their pains,” said the preacher.
As he offered a copy of the sermon he delivered at al-Aqsa, Salim denied Israeli accusations that he incited to violence, saying: “Islam is the religion of peace, security, and stability.
Islam illegitimates oppression, whatever its form and means.” The Supreme Islamic Committee and Jerusalem’s Endowment Council also slammed, in a joint statement, Salim’s detention, saying the latter was rather targeted for his anti-occupation speeches.
The groups dubbed the move “a dangerous and unprecedented attempt to suppress the freedom of speech and meddle in Muslims’ religious freedom.” “Religious speeches at al-Aqsa have their own sanctity.
Persecution of Muslim worshipers will never discourage them from performing their prayers at al-Aqsa for it is part and parcel of who they are,” the statement added.
Talking to a PIC journalist, Sheikh Salim said the IOF detained him for hours on allegations of incitement. “It is the right of al-Aqsa preacher to raise people’s awareness and try to alleviate their pains,” said the preacher.
As he offered a copy of the sermon he delivered at al-Aqsa, Salim denied Israeli accusations that he incited to violence, saying: “Islam is the religion of peace, security, and stability.
Islam illegitimates oppression, whatever its form and means.” The Supreme Islamic Committee and Jerusalem’s Endowment Council also slammed, in a joint statement, Salim’s detention, saying the latter was rather targeted for his anti-occupation speeches.
The groups dubbed the move “a dangerous and unprecedented attempt to suppress the freedom of speech and meddle in Muslims’ religious freedom.” “Religious speeches at al-Aqsa have their own sanctity.
Persecution of Muslim worshipers will never discourage them from performing their prayers at al-Aqsa for it is part and parcel of who they are,” the statement added.
9 apr 2016
The popular committee for the support of al-Aqsa condemned the Israeli threats to transportation companies that transfer Muslim worshipers to the Aqsa Mosque.
The committee revealed that some shows of a periodical festival were cancelled because of Israeli practices including arrests and threats of Palestinian workers in the festival.
In a statement on Saturday, the committee which sponsors the festival of “Al-Aqsa Child Spring” called on Palestinians including children to attend the festival, affirming that Israeli threats will not prevent Palestinians from visiting al-Aqsa Muslims’ holy site.
The committee revealed that some shows of a periodical festival were cancelled because of Israeli practices including arrests and threats of Palestinian workers in the festival.
In a statement on Saturday, the committee which sponsors the festival of “Al-Aqsa Child Spring” called on Palestinians including children to attend the festival, affirming that Israeli threats will not prevent Palestinians from visiting al-Aqsa Muslims’ holy site.
Israeli occupation authorities have recently published four new tenders for the establishment of hotels, commercial offices, and park in Ma'aleh Adumim settlement illegally built in occupied east Jerusalem, Kol Ha'ir Hebrew newspaper revealed.
According to the weekly newspaper, a hotel will be established on an area of 2.2 acres near the municipality headquarters.
The 6-story hotel will be the first of its kind to be built in Ma'aleh Adumim illegal settlement. Commercial shops and offices will be also established in the industrial zone in Mishor Adumim.
Israeli municipality said that the tenders include leasing lands for the establishment of commercial shops and offices for 49 years with the possibility of expending the leasing period for another 49 years.
The tenders also include two other pieces of lands estimated at 45 dunums near Rami Levy area. A park is scheduled to be built on an area of 100 acres east of the industrial zone.
According to the weekly newspaper, a hotel will be established on an area of 2.2 acres near the municipality headquarters.
The 6-story hotel will be the first of its kind to be built in Ma'aleh Adumim illegal settlement. Commercial shops and offices will be also established in the industrial zone in Mishor Adumim.
Israeli municipality said that the tenders include leasing lands for the establishment of commercial shops and offices for 49 years with the possibility of expending the leasing period for another 49 years.
The tenders also include two other pieces of lands estimated at 45 dunums near Rami Levy area. A park is scheduled to be built on an area of 100 acres east of the industrial zone.
Israeli police detained and later released the preacher of al-Aqsa Mosque Sheikh Mohamed Salim as he exited the Mosque after Friday prayers for unknown reasons.
Sheikh Salim stressed during his Friday sermon the historic importance of occupied Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque. He also pointed out that Israeli occupation authority (IOA) never ceased its violations and break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque, calling for intensifying Palestinian presence in the compound.
Commenting on Sheikh Salim’s arrest, MP Jamal al-Khudari said Israeli arrest of the Sheikh of al-Aqsa and Palestinian worshipers is a serious escalation against the holy shrine and the occupied city.
Khudari said that the IOA continues to impose a tight siege on the occupied city while escalating arrests and violations against Jerusalemites and their properties. Israeli Judaization policy will not succeed to evacuate the occupied city from its natives in light of the Palestinians’ strong adherence to their land, he said.
In the same context, Jordanian authorities strongly condemned the Israeli arrest of Sheikh Salim, considering it “a violation of the international law.” Jordanian Endowment Minister Hayel Dawoud said that the Israeli arrest of Sheikh Salim constitutes “an intervention in the Mosque affairs and a violation of the Israeli role as an occupation authority and a violation of the international law.”
According to the PIC reporter, nearly 70,000 Palestinian worshipers performed Friday prayers at al-Aqsa amid very tight Israeli restrictions throughout the occupied city. Israeli policemen were deployed in large numbers in the Old City after the arrest of a Palestinian young man for allegedly trying to carry out an anti-occupation attack.
Meanwhile, Jerusalemite activists held banners in protest against Jordanian intention to install surveillance cameras in the holy shrine's courtyards. Palestinian and Jordanian activists have earlier declared a campaign against the Jordanian plan of installing surveillance cameras in the Mosque.
Sheikh Salim stressed during his Friday sermon the historic importance of occupied Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque. He also pointed out that Israeli occupation authority (IOA) never ceased its violations and break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque, calling for intensifying Palestinian presence in the compound.
Commenting on Sheikh Salim’s arrest, MP Jamal al-Khudari said Israeli arrest of the Sheikh of al-Aqsa and Palestinian worshipers is a serious escalation against the holy shrine and the occupied city.
Khudari said that the IOA continues to impose a tight siege on the occupied city while escalating arrests and violations against Jerusalemites and their properties. Israeli Judaization policy will not succeed to evacuate the occupied city from its natives in light of the Palestinians’ strong adherence to their land, he said.
In the same context, Jordanian authorities strongly condemned the Israeli arrest of Sheikh Salim, considering it “a violation of the international law.” Jordanian Endowment Minister Hayel Dawoud said that the Israeli arrest of Sheikh Salim constitutes “an intervention in the Mosque affairs and a violation of the Israeli role as an occupation authority and a violation of the international law.”
According to the PIC reporter, nearly 70,000 Palestinian worshipers performed Friday prayers at al-Aqsa amid very tight Israeli restrictions throughout the occupied city. Israeli policemen were deployed in large numbers in the Old City after the arrest of a Palestinian young man for allegedly trying to carry out an anti-occupation attack.
Meanwhile, Jerusalemite activists held banners in protest against Jordanian intention to install surveillance cameras in the holy shrine's courtyards. Palestinian and Jordanian activists have earlier declared a campaign against the Jordanian plan of installing surveillance cameras in the Mosque.
7 apr 2016
Violent clashes broke out at dawn Thursday after nearly 1,000 Israeli settlers stormed Youssef Tomb east of Nablus, while similar clashes erupted in the vicinity of Al-Najah University.
Local sources said that a number of Israeli buses carrying nearly 1,000 Israeli settlers stormed Balata town at 1 a.m. under heavy military protection, which led to the outbreak of violent confrontations with local youths.
At least four young men were injured with live and rubber bullets while dozens others suffered effects of teargas inhalation.
On the other hand, similar clashes erupted in the vicinity of al-Najah University when Israeli soldiers violently stormed student hostels.
On Wednesday, three minors were arrested while six other youths were injured with rubber bullets as clashes erupted in al-Khuder town west of Bethlehem. One of the injured young men was seriously injured in his head.
The clashes erupted when Israeli forces stormed the town since the early morning hours amid heavy fire of teargas bombs and rubber bullets. Dozens of homes were violently raided and searched, causing a state of tension among locals.
Local sources said that a number of Israeli buses carrying nearly 1,000 Israeli settlers stormed Balata town at 1 a.m. under heavy military protection, which led to the outbreak of violent confrontations with local youths.
At least four young men were injured with live and rubber bullets while dozens others suffered effects of teargas inhalation.
On the other hand, similar clashes erupted in the vicinity of al-Najah University when Israeli soldiers violently stormed student hostels.
On Wednesday, three minors were arrested while six other youths were injured with rubber bullets as clashes erupted in al-Khuder town west of Bethlehem. One of the injured young men was seriously injured in his head.
The clashes erupted when Israeli forces stormed the town since the early morning hours amid heavy fire of teargas bombs and rubber bullets. Dozens of homes were violently raided and searched, causing a state of tension among locals.
