15 may 2016

Israeli Occupation Forces blocked a number of buses carrying Palestinians from 1948 Occupied Palestine to the “Jerusalem First” camp, which is held for the seventh year running, from accessing the Aqsa Mosque.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that the camp aims at intensifying Palestinians' visits to the Aqsa Mosque to protect it against settlers’ incursions and Judaization attempts.
The Islamic Movement offered buses for the transfer of Jerusalemites to the Aqsa Mosque, but Israeli forces barred them from approaching the Muslims’ sacred place.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that the camp aims at intensifying Palestinians' visits to the Aqsa Mosque to protect it against settlers’ incursions and Judaization attempts.
The Islamic Movement offered buses for the transfer of Jerusalemites to the Aqsa Mosque, but Israeli forces barred them from approaching the Muslims’ sacred place.
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For the second time, the “Hassan Bek” mosque in Jaffa, was defaced on Saturday at dawn with racist graffiti written in Hebrew, similar to dozens of previous incidents that targeted mosques and churches, with slogans such as “Death to Arabs”, “Revenge,” and “Kahane was right.”
The graffiti defaced the western walls of the mosque; the attack is not the first against this mosque, as it was previously defaced with similar graffiti, in addition to being subject to various attacks, including throwing stones at its windows, and raising the Israeli flag on it, similar to what happened last month, on April 13. “We were not surprised by this attack; Zionist groups have been attacking it, calling for its removal, in the open, and the Police never took the issue seriously,” the Imam of the mosque, Sheikh Ahmad ‘Ajwa said, “Such violations escalated in recent weeks, and they all take place usually at dawn – the police don’t even have to work hard to catch the perpetrators if they intended to.” |
“But we fear further escalation, such as attacking the worshipers themselves, God forbid – We call on all nongovernmental organization to take an active part in preventing such attacks,” ‘Ajwa added, “We all need to be effectively involved in protecting the mosque, protecting holy sites, and we need to take all needed precautions.”
The attack is part of a series of very serious attacks targeting several churches and mosques in different parts of the country, including attacks targeting Christian and Islamic cemeteries.
On June 18, 2015, Israeli extremists set on fire the Church of the Multiplication, where Christians believe that Jesus multiplied loaves and fishes, and wrote graffiti in Hebrew on the walls that read, ‘False idols will be smashed’ and ‘Pagans’.
The fire was set at about 3 am in the early hours of Thursday morning, severely damaging church offices and storage rooms. The entire church was saturated with smoke damage. In addition, Hebrew graffiti was spray-painted all over the front entrance to the church reading ‘Pagans’ in red paint.
On February 26, 2015, a group of Israeli fanatics burnt a section of the Church of the Dormition, in occupied Jerusalem, causing significant damage, and wrote racist anti-Christian graffiti. The fanatics burnt a study room belonging to the Church, a bathing room, and toilet rooms, used by priests, and students of Christian Studies.
On February 25, 2015, a group of Israeli extremists burnt a mosque in the al-Jab’a village, west of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, and wrote racist anti-Arab and anti-Islamic graffiti.
On November 11, 2014, a number of fanatic Israeli settlers infiltrated into the al-Mogheer village, near the central West Bank city of Ramallah, set its mosque on fire, and wrote racist graffiti.
On June 19, 2012, A number of extremist Israeli settlers burnt a local mosque in Jaba’ Palestinian village, in occupied East Jerusalem, and defaced some of its walls.
The attack is part of a series of very serious attacks targeting several churches and mosques in different parts of the country, including attacks targeting Christian and Islamic cemeteries.
On June 18, 2015, Israeli extremists set on fire the Church of the Multiplication, where Christians believe that Jesus multiplied loaves and fishes, and wrote graffiti in Hebrew on the walls that read, ‘False idols will be smashed’ and ‘Pagans’.
The fire was set at about 3 am in the early hours of Thursday morning, severely damaging church offices and storage rooms. The entire church was saturated with smoke damage. In addition, Hebrew graffiti was spray-painted all over the front entrance to the church reading ‘Pagans’ in red paint.
On February 26, 2015, a group of Israeli fanatics burnt a section of the Church of the Dormition, in occupied Jerusalem, causing significant damage, and wrote racist anti-Christian graffiti. The fanatics burnt a study room belonging to the Church, a bathing room, and toilet rooms, used by priests, and students of Christian Studies.
On February 25, 2015, a group of Israeli extremists burnt a mosque in the al-Jab’a village, west of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, and wrote racist anti-Arab and anti-Islamic graffiti.
On November 11, 2014, a number of fanatic Israeli settlers infiltrated into the al-Mogheer village, near the central West Bank city of Ramallah, set its mosque on fire, and wrote racist graffiti.
On June 19, 2012, A number of extremist Israeli settlers burnt a local mosque in Jaba’ Palestinian village, in occupied East Jerusalem, and defaced some of its walls.
13 may 2016

Tens of thousands of Palestinian worshipers performed Friday prayers at al-Aqsa Mosque including 300 Gazans who were allowed to travel to occupied Jerusalem.
According to Quds Press, more than 50,000 worshipers managed to perform Friday prayers at the al-Aqsa Mosque.
300 Gazans above the age of 50 headed to occupied Jerusalem via the Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip early Friday, the sources added.
Tight military restrictions were imposed throughout the occupied city since the early morning hours. Heavy armed Israeli border guards stopped and searched dozens of youths and elderly people at al-Amoud Gate, one of the Mosque’s gates.
Sheikh Youssef Abu Esnineh called during the Friday sermon for protecting Islamic holy sites and lands, slamming the sale of Islamic properties to settlers. He also denounced the Israeli arbitrary detention of Jerusalemite youths who confront settlers’ break-ins into al-Aqsa.
According to Quds Press, more than 50,000 worshipers managed to perform Friday prayers at the al-Aqsa Mosque.
300 Gazans above the age of 50 headed to occupied Jerusalem via the Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip early Friday, the sources added.
Tight military restrictions were imposed throughout the occupied city since the early morning hours. Heavy armed Israeli border guards stopped and searched dozens of youths and elderly people at al-Amoud Gate, one of the Mosque’s gates.
Sheikh Youssef Abu Esnineh called during the Friday sermon for protecting Islamic holy sites and lands, slamming the sale of Islamic properties to settlers. He also denounced the Israeli arbitrary detention of Jerusalemite youths who confront settlers’ break-ins into al-Aqsa.

Israeli border police arrested 10 right-wing Israelis Thursday evening after they assaulted Palestinian residents of Jerusalem at the Damascus Gate entrance to occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City.
Witnesses told Ma’an that a group of Israeli extremists physically assaulted Palestinian youths and hurled verbal abuse at them, while repeating slogans calling for the destruction of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Spokesperson for the Israeli police Luba al-Samri said in a statement that police arrested 10 right-wing Israeli activists after they physically assaulted local Palestinians and formed a human chain preventing them from passing through Damascus Gate.
She added that three of the ten arrested were women carrying their infant children.
Tensions in the Old City contributed to the recent escalation of violence after right-wing Israelis made frequent visits to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during a succession of Jewish holidays last fall, as the mosque sits where Jews believe the First and Second Temples once stood; extremists call for the destruction of the mosque to make room for a Third Temple.
Witnesses told Ma’an that a group of Israeli extremists physically assaulted Palestinian youths and hurled verbal abuse at them, while repeating slogans calling for the destruction of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Spokesperson for the Israeli police Luba al-Samri said in a statement that police arrested 10 right-wing Israeli activists after they physically assaulted local Palestinians and formed a human chain preventing them from passing through Damascus Gate.
She added that three of the ten arrested were women carrying their infant children.
Tensions in the Old City contributed to the recent escalation of violence after right-wing Israelis made frequent visits to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during a succession of Jewish holidays last fall, as the mosque sits where Jews believe the First and Second Temples once stood; extremists call for the destruction of the mosque to make room for a Third Temple.

Israeli Occupation forces (IOF) on Thursday barred Palestinian marchers, who kicked off last Saturday from Haifa city in 1948 Occupied Palestine towards Occupied Jerusalem, from accessing the Aqsa Mosque.
The march’s spokesman Sindbad Taha told Quds Press that the IOF stopped the march in Wadi al-Joz district east of Occupied Jerusalem and barred participants from approaching the Aqsa neither collectively nor individually and threatened them with arrest.
Israeli police stopped the marchers on Wednesday at an Israeli barrier and forced them to use buses just to disrupt the march which is launched for the second year on the anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba in 1948.
The march’s spokesman Sindbad Taha told Quds Press that the IOF stopped the march in Wadi al-Joz district east of Occupied Jerusalem and barred participants from approaching the Aqsa neither collectively nor individually and threatened them with arrest.
Israeli police stopped the marchers on Wednesday at an Israeli barrier and forced them to use buses just to disrupt the march which is launched for the second year on the anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba in 1948.

Israeli soldiers attacked, on Wednesday evening, the funeral ceremony of an elderly Palestinian woman, east of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in occupied Jerusalem, as the mourners were heading towards the graveyard in Silwan town.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic) has reported that the soldiers attacked the funeral of Jamila Ibrahim al-A’war, 89, from Ein al-Louza neighborhood in Silwan, just as the mourners reached Bab ar-Rahma graveyard, adjacent to the eastern wall of Al-Aqsa Mosque, after conducting prayers in Ein al-Louza mosque.
Silwanic said that the army surrounded the graveyard, and when the Palestinians reached there to conduct burial ceremonies, the soldiers started insulting them and assaulted several Palestinians with batons, before throwing concussion grenades, and gas bombs on them, causing many injuries.
The soldiers removed the Palestinians from the graveyard, and alleged that it is located on a confiscated land that the Palestinians are not allowed to use, before closing its gate, and assaulted many of them.
Nearly 30 minutes later, the soldiers allowed a few Palestinians to enter the graveyard to bury the deceased woman, while dozens of residents stayed on the main street. This came after an army officer checked the issue with his superiors, who told him that “the location of the grave is not within the confiscated area.”
Two weeks ago, the soldiers attacked the funeral procession of Jamal Mohammad al-‘Abbassi, in the same graveyard, causing dozens to suffer the effects of tear gas inhalation, and many others suffered cuts and bruises.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic) has reported that the soldiers attacked the funeral of Jamila Ibrahim al-A’war, 89, from Ein al-Louza neighborhood in Silwan, just as the mourners reached Bab ar-Rahma graveyard, adjacent to the eastern wall of Al-Aqsa Mosque, after conducting prayers in Ein al-Louza mosque.
Silwanic said that the army surrounded the graveyard, and when the Palestinians reached there to conduct burial ceremonies, the soldiers started insulting them and assaulted several Palestinians with batons, before throwing concussion grenades, and gas bombs on them, causing many injuries.
The soldiers removed the Palestinians from the graveyard, and alleged that it is located on a confiscated land that the Palestinians are not allowed to use, before closing its gate, and assaulted many of them.
Nearly 30 minutes later, the soldiers allowed a few Palestinians to enter the graveyard to bury the deceased woman, while dozens of residents stayed on the main street. This came after an army officer checked the issue with his superiors, who told him that “the location of the grave is not within the confiscated area.”
Two weeks ago, the soldiers attacked the funeral procession of Jamal Mohammad al-‘Abbassi, in the same graveyard, causing dozens to suffer the effects of tear gas inhalation, and many others suffered cuts and bruises.
12 may 2016

Israeli settlers stepped up overnight their attacks against Palestinians and their properties as they were celebrating their Jewish holidays.
In al-Khalil, a group of settlers stoned late yesterday several Palestinian homes in the Old City. The settlers threw stones and empty bottles at a number of local homes after they performed Talmudic rituals at the Ibrahimi Mosque, the PIC reporter affirmed.
Following the settlers’ attack, clashes erupted in the area during which several local youths were injured.
On the other hand, hundreds of settlers closed all roads leading to the evacuated settlements of Sanur and Homesh north of occupied West Bank and performed Talmudic rituals in the area.
Sanur and Homesh settlements were evacuated in 2005 and returned to their Palestinian owners amid a rise in attempts by Israeli settlers to wrest back control of the lands.
In al-Khalil, a group of settlers stoned late yesterday several Palestinian homes in the Old City. The settlers threw stones and empty bottles at a number of local homes after they performed Talmudic rituals at the Ibrahimi Mosque, the PIC reporter affirmed.
Following the settlers’ attack, clashes erupted in the area during which several local youths were injured.
On the other hand, hundreds of settlers closed all roads leading to the evacuated settlements of Sanur and Homesh north of occupied West Bank and performed Talmudic rituals in the area.
Sanur and Homesh settlements were evacuated in 2005 and returned to their Palestinian owners amid a rise in attempts by Israeli settlers to wrest back control of the lands.
11 may 2016

Jewish organizations Tuesday called for raising the Israeli flag over the Dome of the Rock at the Aqsa Mosque during the commemoration of the Palestine Nakba in 1948 which coincides on May 15.
The organizations concerned with what has been known as “calling for building Temple of Solomon” published posters on social media networking and electronic websites demonstrating a Jewish settler over the Dome of the Rock while raising the Israeli flag.
In a similar context, Hebrew Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper stated that Israeli Minister of Culture and Sports Miri Regev works on setting a new law that obligates all institutions funded by the Israeli government to raise the Israeli flag including sports stadiums, theaters, and public halls.
The organizations concerned with what has been known as “calling for building Temple of Solomon” published posters on social media networking and electronic websites demonstrating a Jewish settler over the Dome of the Rock while raising the Israeli flag.
In a similar context, Hebrew Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper stated that Israeli Minister of Culture and Sports Miri Regev works on setting a new law that obligates all institutions funded by the Israeli government to raise the Israeli flag including sports stadiums, theaters, and public halls.
10 may 2016

A group of Israeli settlers led by the extremist Israeli rabbi Yehuda Glick stormed al-Aqsa Mosque via the Israeli-controlled al-Magharibah gate, early Tuesday.
The extremist rabbi and the settlers broke into the compound under tight protection by Israeli Special Forces, in total provocation to Palestinian worshipers who started shouting Takbeer protesting at the settlers’ daily break-ins into the holy shrine.
A number of the settlers group tried to perform Talmudic rituals in the compound before being prevented by the worshipers.
Israeli police, stationed at the Mosque’s main gates, imposed tight measures on Palestinian women’s access to the holy Islamic shrine.
Al-Aqsa Mosque witnesses, almost daily, incursions and violations by Israeli settlers and extremists, amid tight Israeli restrictions imposed on the entry of Palestinian worshipers.
The extremist rabbi and the settlers broke into the compound under tight protection by Israeli Special Forces, in total provocation to Palestinian worshipers who started shouting Takbeer protesting at the settlers’ daily break-ins into the holy shrine.
A number of the settlers group tried to perform Talmudic rituals in the compound before being prevented by the worshipers.
Israeli police, stationed at the Mosque’s main gates, imposed tight measures on Palestinian women’s access to the holy Islamic shrine.
Al-Aqsa Mosque witnesses, almost daily, incursions and violations by Israeli settlers and extremists, amid tight Israeli restrictions imposed on the entry of Palestinian worshipers.

Israeli police installed security cameras at Ghawanmeh gate’s minaret in the northwest corner of the Aqsa Mosque within a campaign of fixing dozens of mobile digital cameras at various locations.
The Islamic Awqaf Department along with the Awqaf council and the higher Islamic committee in Occupied Jerusalem condemned the Israeli measure.
They considered the move as violating the status quo and understandings applicable in Jerusalem since its eastern part was occupied by Israel in 1967.
Sheikh Azzam al-Khatib, head of the Islamic Awqaf Department, denounced the measure and said it is a blatant violation of Muslims’ rights of worship as well as the international norms and laws.
Khatib underlined that the Ministry of Awqaf, the government and the Jordanian Royal Diwan were acquainted with these Israeli violations which also included installing cameras at al-Magharebah gate and above the windows of al-Tankaziya School which overlooks the Aqsa Mosque from the eastern side.
The Islamic Awqaf Department along with the Awqaf council and the higher Islamic committee in Occupied Jerusalem condemned the Israeli measure.
They considered the move as violating the status quo and understandings applicable in Jerusalem since its eastern part was occupied by Israel in 1967.
Sheikh Azzam al-Khatib, head of the Islamic Awqaf Department, denounced the measure and said it is a blatant violation of Muslims’ rights of worship as well as the international norms and laws.
Khatib underlined that the Ministry of Awqaf, the government and the Jordanian Royal Diwan were acquainted with these Israeli violations which also included installing cameras at al-Magharebah gate and above the windows of al-Tankaziya School which overlooks the Aqsa Mosque from the eastern side.
9 may 2016

Dozens of extremist Jewish settlers on Sunday evening participated in a march near the Aqsa Mosque calling for building the alleged temple of Solomon.
Their march took place a few hours after they toured under police protection the Aqsa Mosque's courtyards.
According to the Jerusalem Media Center, the settlers marched in the Old City of Jerusalem and near the Aqsa Mosque while chanting slogans demanding the building of Solomon temple in place of the Aqsa Mosque.
During their march, the Israeli police blocked the road near al-Asbat Gate area and prevented the Palestinians from using it for a while.
For his part, senior official of the Islamic Waqf authority in Jerusalem Firas al-Debs said that the same group of settlers performed some rituals during their desecration of the Aqsa Mosque's courtyards, which provoked Muslim worshipers there into chanting religious slogans in protest at their entry to the Islamic holy shrine.
Their march took place a few hours after they toured under police protection the Aqsa Mosque's courtyards.
According to the Jerusalem Media Center, the settlers marched in the Old City of Jerusalem and near the Aqsa Mosque while chanting slogans demanding the building of Solomon temple in place of the Aqsa Mosque.
During their march, the Israeli police blocked the road near al-Asbat Gate area and prevented the Palestinians from using it for a while.
For his part, senior official of the Islamic Waqf authority in Jerusalem Firas al-Debs said that the same group of settlers performed some rituals during their desecration of the Aqsa Mosque's courtyards, which provoked Muslim worshipers there into chanting religious slogans in protest at their entry to the Islamic holy shrine.
8 may 2016

Dozens of Israeli settlers stormed Sunday morning al-Aqsa Mosque from the Israeli-controlled al-Magharibeh Gate, Quds Press said.
Nearly 20 Israeli policemen and 70 Israeli settlers stormed the Mosque and roamed throughout its squares under heavy Special Forces’ protection in total provocation to Palestinian worshipers who started shouting Takbeer in protest against the settlers’ presence in their holy shrine.
Meanwhile, Israeli police prevented a Jerusalemite citizen from having access into the Mosque and summoned him for investigation for unknown reasons.
He was earlier held under house arrest for a week and prevented from entering into the Mosque for 15 days.
Quds Press earlier reported that almost 1,868 Israeli settlers stormed al-Aqsa Mosque during April 2016, pointing out that Israeli provocative break-ins into the holy shrine have notably escalated during the Passover Holiday.
Nearly 20 Israeli policemen and 70 Israeli settlers stormed the Mosque and roamed throughout its squares under heavy Special Forces’ protection in total provocation to Palestinian worshipers who started shouting Takbeer in protest against the settlers’ presence in their holy shrine.
Meanwhile, Israeli police prevented a Jerusalemite citizen from having access into the Mosque and summoned him for investigation for unknown reasons.
He was earlier held under house arrest for a week and prevented from entering into the Mosque for 15 days.
Quds Press earlier reported that almost 1,868 Israeli settlers stormed al-Aqsa Mosque during April 2016, pointing out that Israeli provocative break-ins into the holy shrine have notably escalated during the Passover Holiday.
7 may 2016

After Netanyahu offered a seminar for all UN personnel in Israel on the Jewish people's historical connection with the land, their leader replied with a firm no.
The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process turned down on Saturday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's idea to give a history lesson to United Nations personnel, after UNESCO called on Israel to respect the Muslim freedom of religion in a document that completely omitted any Jewish historical connection or religious significance to the site.
Last month, UNESCO "strongly condemn(ed) the Israeli aggressions and illegal measures against the freedom of worship and Muslims’ access to their Holy Site Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al Sharif," the third holiest site in Islam.
For Jews, who refer to the area as the Temple Mount, it is the holiest site in the religion.
Netanyahu was furious that the Jewish term for the site was not mentioned and terming the resolution "absurd" and stating that it "ignores the unique historic connection of Judaism to the Temple Mount, where the two temples stood for a thousand years and to which every Jew in the world has prayed for thousands of years." On Friday, he proposed to "personally organize" what he termed "a seminar on Jewish history for all UN personnel in Israel" and for diplomats.
No thanks, responded the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, the next day.
"If somebody wants to send invitations, he can address them to Paris and to the member states' ambassadors to UNESCO there," he stated in a communiqué. "The UN personnel in Jerusalem knows very well the history of the region, of its people and of its religions."
The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process turned down on Saturday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's idea to give a history lesson to United Nations personnel, after UNESCO called on Israel to respect the Muslim freedom of religion in a document that completely omitted any Jewish historical connection or religious significance to the site.
Last month, UNESCO "strongly condemn(ed) the Israeli aggressions and illegal measures against the freedom of worship and Muslims’ access to their Holy Site Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al Sharif," the third holiest site in Islam.
For Jews, who refer to the area as the Temple Mount, it is the holiest site in the religion.
Netanyahu was furious that the Jewish term for the site was not mentioned and terming the resolution "absurd" and stating that it "ignores the unique historic connection of Judaism to the Temple Mount, where the two temples stood for a thousand years and to which every Jew in the world has prayed for thousands of years." On Friday, he proposed to "personally organize" what he termed "a seminar on Jewish history for all UN personnel in Israel" and for diplomats.
No thanks, responded the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, the next day.
"If somebody wants to send invitations, he can address them to Paris and to the member states' ambassadors to UNESCO there," he stated in a communiqué. "The UN personnel in Jerusalem knows very well the history of the region, of its people and of its religions."