1 june 2016
At least 963 Israeli settlers and intelligence officers stormed Muslims’ the holy al-Aqsa Mosque during May month.
According to data by the Quds Press, 963 Israelis broke into the Mosque in May via the Maghareba Gate and under heavy police escort.
110 settlers stormed the al-Aqsa on May 12 to mark the anniversary of the occupation of the Palestinian territories.
The report further documented settlers’ attempts to perform provocative rituals and chant anti-Muslim slogans at the plazas of the holy site.
14 Palestinians were banned from Occupied Jerusalem and al-Aqsa during the same period for temporal intervals ranging from 15 days to three months.
The Quds Press also kept record of the break-in carried out by the notorious Israeli rabbi Yehuda Glick, a few days before he was sworn in as Knesset member.
The break-ins fall in line with calls launched by Israel’s alleged temple mount organizations for mass break-ins at al-Aqsa to mark the occupation of East Jerusalem on June 5.
According to data by the Quds Press, 963 Israelis broke into the Mosque in May via the Maghareba Gate and under heavy police escort.
110 settlers stormed the al-Aqsa on May 12 to mark the anniversary of the occupation of the Palestinian territories.
The report further documented settlers’ attempts to perform provocative rituals and chant anti-Muslim slogans at the plazas of the holy site.
14 Palestinians were banned from Occupied Jerusalem and al-Aqsa during the same period for temporal intervals ranging from 15 days to three months.
The Quds Press also kept record of the break-in carried out by the notorious Israeli rabbi Yehuda Glick, a few days before he was sworn in as Knesset member.
The break-ins fall in line with calls launched by Israel’s alleged temple mount organizations for mass break-ins at al-Aqsa to mark the occupation of East Jerusalem on June 5.
31 may 2016
A horde of Jewish settlers on Tuesday morning desecrated the Aqsa Mosque's courtyards in Occupied Jerusalem under tight police protection.
According to the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) reporter in the city, some settlers tried to perform rituals but refrained from doing so after several Muslim worshipers intervened and loudly shouted religious slogans at them.
Meanwhile, a number of Palestinian women rallied outside the Mosque's gates after Israeli police forces prevented them from entering it.
According to the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) reporter in the city, some settlers tried to perform rituals but refrained from doing so after several Muslim worshipers intervened and loudly shouted religious slogans at them.
Meanwhile, a number of Palestinian women rallied outside the Mosque's gates after Israeli police forces prevented them from entering it.
Head of the Supreme Commission to Support Occupied Jerusalem and al-Aqsa, Muhammad Aref Watad, urged Arabs and Muslims to jointly work on defending the al-Aqsa Mosque against Israeli assaults and sacrilegious schemes.
“Occupied Jerusalem is inherently Islamic. No single inch of its holy soil should be usurped,” said Watad. “We firmly reject any intention or action aimed at Judaizing or holding sway over the al-Aqsa Mosque.”
Watad called on Muslims and Arabs to join forces and stand up on guard to Israeli despotism and aggression at al-Aqsa.
He further called for intensifying presence at al-Aqsa after Israeli extremist gangs stepped up calls for mass break-ins on the occasion of the 49th anniversary of the occupation of Jerusalem and al-Aqsa, to be marked next Sunday.
Over recent days, Israeli fanatics and temple mount organizations called for storming the al-Aqsa Mosque and performing sacrilegious rituals to celebrate the occupation of Jerusalem. Israeli break-ins at al-Aqsa are expected to be carried out on Sunday 5/6/2016 starting 7.30 a.m. until the late afternoon hours.
“Occupied Jerusalem is inherently Islamic. No single inch of its holy soil should be usurped,” said Watad. “We firmly reject any intention or action aimed at Judaizing or holding sway over the al-Aqsa Mosque.”
Watad called on Muslims and Arabs to join forces and stand up on guard to Israeli despotism and aggression at al-Aqsa.
He further called for intensifying presence at al-Aqsa after Israeli extremist gangs stepped up calls for mass break-ins on the occasion of the 49th anniversary of the occupation of Jerusalem and al-Aqsa, to be marked next Sunday.
Over recent days, Israeli fanatics and temple mount organizations called for storming the al-Aqsa Mosque and performing sacrilegious rituals to celebrate the occupation of Jerusalem. Israeli break-ins at al-Aqsa are expected to be carried out on Sunday 5/6/2016 starting 7.30 a.m. until the late afternoon hours.
29 may 2016
Hordes of Israeli extremist settlers stormed on early Sunday morning the holy al-Aqsa Mosque, in Occupied Jerusalem, via the Maghareba Gate.
The break-in was carried out under heavy escort by Israeli soldiers and special police troops. The fanatic Israeli settlers reportedly performed provocative rituals and chanted anti-Muslim slogans.
A group of Muslim women have been maintaining vigil outside the al-Aqsa after the Israeli occupation police prevented them from entering the Mosque to perform their prayers.
Tension has been running high in Occupied Jerusalem as Israeli fanatics stepped up assaults on the al-Aqsa Mosque.
Observers said the break-ins make part of Israeli intents to Judaize the mosque and divide it spatially and temporally between Muslims and Jews.
The break-in was carried out under heavy escort by Israeli soldiers and special police troops. The fanatic Israeli settlers reportedly performed provocative rituals and chanted anti-Muslim slogans.
A group of Muslim women have been maintaining vigil outside the al-Aqsa after the Israeli occupation police prevented them from entering the Mosque to perform their prayers.
Tension has been running high in Occupied Jerusalem as Israeli fanatics stepped up assaults on the al-Aqsa Mosque.
Observers said the break-ins make part of Israeli intents to Judaize the mosque and divide it spatially and temporally between Muslims and Jews.
Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Sebastia Atallah Hanna expressed his refusal of the cultural and artistic events being conducted by Israeli authorities in Occupied Jerusalem under the theme: "Lights of Jerusalem”.
He opined that these events aim at Judaizing the occupied city of Jerusalem by changing its historic Arab and Islamic landmarks.
In a statement on Saturday, Hanna said, "These activities are dangerous since they are implemented under the veil of civilization and culture while in reality they are political events against the holy city and its people".
He pointed to the suffering of the Jerusalemite people who complain about the Israeli aggressive practices that restrict their movement and target their existence in the city.
Archbishop Hanna also slammed the silence of the world towards Israeli aggressive practices in Occupied Jerusalem.
He opined that these events aim at Judaizing the occupied city of Jerusalem by changing its historic Arab and Islamic landmarks.
In a statement on Saturday, Hanna said, "These activities are dangerous since they are implemented under the veil of civilization and culture while in reality they are political events against the holy city and its people".
He pointed to the suffering of the Jerusalemite people who complain about the Israeli aggressive practices that restrict their movement and target their existence in the city.
Archbishop Hanna also slammed the silence of the world towards Israeli aggressive practices in Occupied Jerusalem.
27 may 2016
Israel's channel 10 has revealed an Israeli plan to allow the Palestinian Authority (PA) to have administrative and security control over some Palestinian neighborhoods in Occupied Jerusalem.
According to the channel, mayor of the Israeli municipality in Jerusalem Nir Barkat claimed that Arab neighborhoods in the holy city and its vicinity as well as Shu'fat refugee camp would be under the control of the PA.
In a seminar held at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem on Thursday, Barkat expressed his support for removing security walls from several neighborhoods in the city and annex them to what he labelled as the capital, but he emphasized his opposition to any intention to waive any part of Jerusalem.
Under the Oslo accords, the Palestinian occupied territories have been divided into three areas classified as A, B and C. Area A, which comprises 18 percent of the West Bank area, is supposed to be under full PA security and civil control, while Area B, 22 percent of the West Bank, should be under PA civil control and joint Israeli-PA security control.
Area C, which is about 61 percent of the West Bank, is under full Israeli military and administrative control.
According to the channel, mayor of the Israeli municipality in Jerusalem Nir Barkat claimed that Arab neighborhoods in the holy city and its vicinity as well as Shu'fat refugee camp would be under the control of the PA.
In a seminar held at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem on Thursday, Barkat expressed his support for removing security walls from several neighborhoods in the city and annex them to what he labelled as the capital, but he emphasized his opposition to any intention to waive any part of Jerusalem.
Under the Oslo accords, the Palestinian occupied territories have been divided into three areas classified as A, B and C. Area A, which comprises 18 percent of the West Bank area, is supposed to be under full PA security and civil control, while Area B, 22 percent of the West Bank, should be under PA civil control and joint Israeli-PA security control.
Area C, which is about 61 percent of the West Bank, is under full Israeli military and administrative control.
Fatwa Supreme Council in Palestine called for renovating the Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan.
The call for renovation comes in light of the Israeli ceaseless excavations beneath the holy site aiming at Judaizing Occupied Jerusalem and changing its Arabic and Islamic landmarks.
The council, in a statement on Thursday, urged Muslims from all over the world to take action for the support of Palestinians who are defending the Aqsa and foiling Israeli attempts to take over the Muslims' sacred place.
The council condemned the Israeli provocative practice of hanging a poster at the UN headquarters that demonstrates East Jerusalem as “the eternal capital city for the Jewish people”.
It also slammed the UN for allowing such a poster to be hanged on its walls because it runs contrary to its duties and responsibilities which should guarantee that Jerusalem city remains part of the occupied Palestinian territories.
The call for renovation comes in light of the Israeli ceaseless excavations beneath the holy site aiming at Judaizing Occupied Jerusalem and changing its Arabic and Islamic landmarks.
The council, in a statement on Thursday, urged Muslims from all over the world to take action for the support of Palestinians who are defending the Aqsa and foiling Israeli attempts to take over the Muslims' sacred place.
The council condemned the Israeli provocative practice of hanging a poster at the UN headquarters that demonstrates East Jerusalem as “the eternal capital city for the Jewish people”.
It also slammed the UN for allowing such a poster to be hanged on its walls because it runs contrary to its duties and responsibilities which should guarantee that Jerusalem city remains part of the occupied Palestinian territories.
26 may 2016
Israeli extremist groups have called on Thursday for collective break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque on the 5th of June that coincides with the occupation of the eastern part of Jerusalem.
According to Quds Press, the extremist groups called through social media for massive participation in collective break-ins into the Islamic holy shrine and Talmudic rituals in its plazas to celebrate what they called “the anniversary of Jerusalem's reunification.”
Israeli police will provide security protection for the plan, the groups pointed out. Earlier Thursday, nearly 45 Israeli settlers stormed al-Aqsa Mosque from the Magharibeh Gate under the protection of Israeli police.
Meanwhile, Israeli authorities banned the entry of two Jerusalemites to the Mosque for three and six months respectively for unknown reasons.
According to Quds Press, the extremist groups called through social media for massive participation in collective break-ins into the Islamic holy shrine and Talmudic rituals in its plazas to celebrate what they called “the anniversary of Jerusalem's reunification.”
Israeli police will provide security protection for the plan, the groups pointed out. Earlier Thursday, nearly 45 Israeli settlers stormed al-Aqsa Mosque from the Magharibeh Gate under the protection of Israeli police.
Meanwhile, Israeli authorities banned the entry of two Jerusalemites to the Mosque for three and six months respectively for unknown reasons.
Hordes of Israeli extremist settlers stormed on early Thursday morning the holy al-Aqsa Mosque, in Occupied Jerusalem, via the Maghareba Gate.
The break-in was carried out under heavy escort by Israeli police officers. The fanatic Israeli settlers reportedly performed provocative rituals and chanted anti-Muslim slogans.
The peaceful Muslim learners and worshipers kept, meanwhile, chanting “Allah is the Greatest” in protest at the sacrilegious break-in.
A group of Muslim women have been maintaining vigil outside the al-Aqsa after the Israeli occupation police prevented them from entering the Mosque to perform their prayers. In a related development, the fanatic Israeli rabbi Yehuda Glick was sworn in to the Knesset on Wednesday after former war minister Moshe Ya’alon resigned from parliament last week.
Glick, who heads Israeli break-ins at the holy al-Aqsa Mosque, said he would work within the Knesset to change the absurd arrangements at the holy site. As member of the Knesset, Glick will be banned from entering the al-Aqsa Mosque as stipulated by Israeli law.
The break-in was carried out under heavy escort by Israeli police officers. The fanatic Israeli settlers reportedly performed provocative rituals and chanted anti-Muslim slogans.
The peaceful Muslim learners and worshipers kept, meanwhile, chanting “Allah is the Greatest” in protest at the sacrilegious break-in.
A group of Muslim women have been maintaining vigil outside the al-Aqsa after the Israeli occupation police prevented them from entering the Mosque to perform their prayers. In a related development, the fanatic Israeli rabbi Yehuda Glick was sworn in to the Knesset on Wednesday after former war minister Moshe Ya’alon resigned from parliament last week.
Glick, who heads Israeli break-ins at the holy al-Aqsa Mosque, said he would work within the Knesset to change the absurd arrangements at the holy site. As member of the Knesset, Glick will be banned from entering the al-Aqsa Mosque as stipulated by Israeli law.
22 may 2016
Considered by many to be one of the most extreme members of the right, Yehuda Glick's battle to allow Jews to visit the Temple Mount nearly cost him his life when he was severely injured by a Palestinian terrorist; this week, a year and a half after he was miraculously saved, Glick will be sworn in to the Knesset, replacing the newly-resigned Minister of Defense Moshe Ya'alon
It was only a year and a half ago that right-wing activist Yehuda Glick was dangling between life and death. After being shot point-blank four times by a terrorist, he managed to utter "Shema yisrael" (the Jewish declaration of faith that the devout strive to say before death) before falling into a dark sleep from which he arose ten days later. This week, following Minister of Defense Moshe Ya'alon's resignation, Glick is to be sworn in to the Knesset, which will make him perhaps the most controversial MK in the current government, having incited severe criticism from the Palestinians, the left, and the right.
"I feel that God hugged me, and that he didn't let me go for a minute while my life was in danger, wrapping me up in so much love," said Glick. "I was in such critical condition that a lot of people thought I wasn't going to make it, and that if I were, I'd be severely disabled for the rest of my life. And now here I am, standing on my own two feet and being sworn in to the Knesset. God must have thought I still have things to do in the Knesset. I'm glad to be alive and have God put his faith in me."
Glick's politics are tricky to pin down. On the one hand, he is considered an extremist who fights for the entry of Jews to the Temple Mount, which could potentially ignite the Middle East and the entire world at large. On the other hand, he is one of the most vocal detractors of Sgt. Elor Azaria, who shot a neutralized terrorist to death earlier this year. His stance earned Glick some new enemies, this time from the right. Glick has also voiced criticism over Yisrael Beytenu Leader Avigdor Lieberman's appointment as minister of defense and has pushed instead for a unity government with the Labor Party. This is despite the fact that it was Lieberman's recent agreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that facilitated Glick's entry to the government.
"I understand Ya'alon's pain," said Glick. "But I think he shouldn't have resigned, and I even call upon him now—if there is still a chance—to stay. Ya'alon is an asset to the people of Israel and certainly to Likud."
Do you recant the things you said about Lieberman?
"I wish him a lot of luck. His success is our success. The position of minister of defense is the most senior position apart from that of the prime minister, and I hope he understands the obligation that comes with it. I also didn't like the comments Lieberman made against (Zionist Union Leader) Isaac Herzog. (Herzog) tried to do what he thought should be done, but the level of ridicule aimed at him at this point is beyond the pale."
Attacks from the right Glick, 51, vividly remembers October 29, 2014. "I was at an annual event celebrating the Rambam's visit to the Temple Mount," he recalled. "The event included a left-wing speaker and a Muslim and invoked a feeling of solidarity and strength. As it was winding down, the only people left were me and two of my friends, Moriah and Shai. My wife Yafi was bringing the car around. I started walking toward the car to load it up, when a short man with a small container stopped next to me. He said, 'I'm so sorry,' and since I didn't understand what he was referring to, I came closer. That was when he pulled out a gun, said, 'You're an enemy of Al-Aqsa' and shot me point-blank with four bullets in the center of my body.
"All four bullets entered and exited my body. I started bleeding. Moriah and Shai ran over to me, and I ran toward them, or rather limped. Then I lay down on the sidewalk. A few seconds later, Shai reached me. I hear Moriah saying, 'He's completely pale,' and Shai saying, 'We just witnessed a murder. Go take care of Yafi, and I'll take care of Yehuda.'"
"Shai lay on me, took my shirt off and screamed into my ear something I'll never forget: 'Rabbi Yehuda, don't leave us, we need you.' That was when I realized I was in mortal danger. Shai was on the phone with a paramedic friend of his, who was guiding him in how to treat me. He was trying to stop the blood when I began to stutter 'Shema Yisrael.' They put me in an ambulance, and my wife came in with me and held my hand. She spoke to me while I tried to calm her down. That was when I started losing consciousness."
Did the assassination attempt change you?
"I suppose it did. It became even clearer to me how dangerous violence can be, and how we as a democracy need to make sure that elected officials working toward certain principles are safe. One of the surgeons who operated on me was Muslim, and I think he did a lot more for Islam than the Muslim who shot me in the name of Islam. People who think God wants them to promote hatred are misinterpreting his will. Despite being all the more committed to the mission God has created me, I feel it has given me a new path for a dialogue with the many people who are willing to listen."
The Palestinians see you as a symbol for the extreme right, with your entry in to the Knesset together with Lieberman's new appointment seen as a radical break to the right.
"The Palestinian press is full of attacks against me as a radical Jew. They're right. I'm very extreme in my belief in peace. I'm extreme in my faith in a respectful dialogue, and that bothers those whose agenda is built on violence and hate. I'll keep working toward peace as well as human rights for everyone, and I'm sorry for any person who refuses to engage in a dialogue with me."
The father of eight (two of them foster children) and grandfather of six, Glick, who lives in the settlement of Otniel, has repeatedly enraged Palestinians, left-wing activists and moderate centrists. Over the last few months, he has even managed to anger his friends from the right when expressing his shock at the Hebron soldier who shot a neutralized terrorist. "The fact that the terrorist who set out on this mission didn't believe he would survive does not justify the soldier's horrifying actions," Glick had written on Twitter, adding that, despite the incident, the IDF remains the most moral army in the world.
Not that defending the IDF did him any good. Moments after the tweet went up, the soldier's supporters already began attacking him. The same day, Glick posted another tweet, saying, "It is grotesque and sickening to see the malicious satisfaction of those who dance upon the blood and protest the IDF following the soldier's behavior. No less sickening, though, are those who praise his actions." At this point, his Twitter and Facebook feeds began to fill up with personal threats, among them, "I'll get you yet, you stinking leftie," "Too bad they didn't murder you when you were injured" and "Too bad this is the man we were happy didn't die."
'We will be victorious at the Temple Mount!'Glick's Facebook cover photo has "We will be victorious at the Temple Mount!" written in bold letters, with his redheaded face appearing in his profile picture below. His father, former dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Ben-Gurion University, Prof. Shimon Glick, described his son during an interview to Ynet's sister publication, Yedioth Ahronoth, after his assassination attempt. "We agreed to disagree, and I love him with all my heart," said the senior Glick, whose political views differ from those of his son.
How does your father, a human rights activist, react to your joining the Knesset?
"My father is a very dear man. I myself am a human rights activist. I'm a very extreme person, who believes in human rights in an extreme way, and I got all that from my father. He is a humanist; he truly loves mankind."
"We don't always see eye to eye, but he was the one who taught me Jewish and Western values, which talk about a plethora of opinions. My parents taught me about human dignity, and that you should listen to the opinions of those who don't necessarily voice your own. The two of us communicate on a daily basis. He advises, encourages, supports and sometimes reprimands me. At times I accept what he tells me and at times I don't. He respects that."
What will do as an MK?
"I don't want to come out with any big declarations yet. Working in the Knesset is a team effort, not a solo one, and I'm going to be part of a wonderful, diverse group called Likud. We have a real democracy complete with distinct opinions. I am entering a government that is headed by a man, who despite what is said about him cares about the country and its people. I hope that I'll act in a cordial and open manner, and enter into a dialogue with people from all walks of life, both from the coalition and the opposition. I hope to be a part of promoting peace."
Glick continued, "I was elected to represent the Judea and Samaria region, and as their representative I am committed to doing anything to improve the security and quality of life in the area. There are half a million citizens living in the area (Jewish citizens. —NB) who should all have equal rights, and I hope we will figure out how to cohabitate in peace with the Arabs living with us."
Will you visit the Temple Mount as an MK?
"I hope so. I'm all for Jews and Muslims visiting the Temple Mount together, but if Prime Minister Netanyahu asks me not to go there, I won't."
You said the Temple Mount will be a center for peace.
"That's our goal, and the vision of the Jewish spirit. The Temple Mount is supposed to be the place out of which the message of 'They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks, neither shall they learn war any more' should come out."
It was only a year and a half ago that right-wing activist Yehuda Glick was dangling between life and death. After being shot point-blank four times by a terrorist, he managed to utter "Shema yisrael" (the Jewish declaration of faith that the devout strive to say before death) before falling into a dark sleep from which he arose ten days later. This week, following Minister of Defense Moshe Ya'alon's resignation, Glick is to be sworn in to the Knesset, which will make him perhaps the most controversial MK in the current government, having incited severe criticism from the Palestinians, the left, and the right.
"I feel that God hugged me, and that he didn't let me go for a minute while my life was in danger, wrapping me up in so much love," said Glick. "I was in such critical condition that a lot of people thought I wasn't going to make it, and that if I were, I'd be severely disabled for the rest of my life. And now here I am, standing on my own two feet and being sworn in to the Knesset. God must have thought I still have things to do in the Knesset. I'm glad to be alive and have God put his faith in me."
Glick's politics are tricky to pin down. On the one hand, he is considered an extremist who fights for the entry of Jews to the Temple Mount, which could potentially ignite the Middle East and the entire world at large. On the other hand, he is one of the most vocal detractors of Sgt. Elor Azaria, who shot a neutralized terrorist to death earlier this year. His stance earned Glick some new enemies, this time from the right. Glick has also voiced criticism over Yisrael Beytenu Leader Avigdor Lieberman's appointment as minister of defense and has pushed instead for a unity government with the Labor Party. This is despite the fact that it was Lieberman's recent agreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that facilitated Glick's entry to the government.
"I understand Ya'alon's pain," said Glick. "But I think he shouldn't have resigned, and I even call upon him now—if there is still a chance—to stay. Ya'alon is an asset to the people of Israel and certainly to Likud."
Do you recant the things you said about Lieberman?
"I wish him a lot of luck. His success is our success. The position of minister of defense is the most senior position apart from that of the prime minister, and I hope he understands the obligation that comes with it. I also didn't like the comments Lieberman made against (Zionist Union Leader) Isaac Herzog. (Herzog) tried to do what he thought should be done, but the level of ridicule aimed at him at this point is beyond the pale."
Attacks from the right Glick, 51, vividly remembers October 29, 2014. "I was at an annual event celebrating the Rambam's visit to the Temple Mount," he recalled. "The event included a left-wing speaker and a Muslim and invoked a feeling of solidarity and strength. As it was winding down, the only people left were me and two of my friends, Moriah and Shai. My wife Yafi was bringing the car around. I started walking toward the car to load it up, when a short man with a small container stopped next to me. He said, 'I'm so sorry,' and since I didn't understand what he was referring to, I came closer. That was when he pulled out a gun, said, 'You're an enemy of Al-Aqsa' and shot me point-blank with four bullets in the center of my body.
"All four bullets entered and exited my body. I started bleeding. Moriah and Shai ran over to me, and I ran toward them, or rather limped. Then I lay down on the sidewalk. A few seconds later, Shai reached me. I hear Moriah saying, 'He's completely pale,' and Shai saying, 'We just witnessed a murder. Go take care of Yafi, and I'll take care of Yehuda.'"
"Shai lay on me, took my shirt off and screamed into my ear something I'll never forget: 'Rabbi Yehuda, don't leave us, we need you.' That was when I realized I was in mortal danger. Shai was on the phone with a paramedic friend of his, who was guiding him in how to treat me. He was trying to stop the blood when I began to stutter 'Shema Yisrael.' They put me in an ambulance, and my wife came in with me and held my hand. She spoke to me while I tried to calm her down. That was when I started losing consciousness."
Did the assassination attempt change you?
"I suppose it did. It became even clearer to me how dangerous violence can be, and how we as a democracy need to make sure that elected officials working toward certain principles are safe. One of the surgeons who operated on me was Muslim, and I think he did a lot more for Islam than the Muslim who shot me in the name of Islam. People who think God wants them to promote hatred are misinterpreting his will. Despite being all the more committed to the mission God has created me, I feel it has given me a new path for a dialogue with the many people who are willing to listen."
The Palestinians see you as a symbol for the extreme right, with your entry in to the Knesset together with Lieberman's new appointment seen as a radical break to the right.
"The Palestinian press is full of attacks against me as a radical Jew. They're right. I'm very extreme in my belief in peace. I'm extreme in my faith in a respectful dialogue, and that bothers those whose agenda is built on violence and hate. I'll keep working toward peace as well as human rights for everyone, and I'm sorry for any person who refuses to engage in a dialogue with me."
The father of eight (two of them foster children) and grandfather of six, Glick, who lives in the settlement of Otniel, has repeatedly enraged Palestinians, left-wing activists and moderate centrists. Over the last few months, he has even managed to anger his friends from the right when expressing his shock at the Hebron soldier who shot a neutralized terrorist. "The fact that the terrorist who set out on this mission didn't believe he would survive does not justify the soldier's horrifying actions," Glick had written on Twitter, adding that, despite the incident, the IDF remains the most moral army in the world.
Not that defending the IDF did him any good. Moments after the tweet went up, the soldier's supporters already began attacking him. The same day, Glick posted another tweet, saying, "It is grotesque and sickening to see the malicious satisfaction of those who dance upon the blood and protest the IDF following the soldier's behavior. No less sickening, though, are those who praise his actions." At this point, his Twitter and Facebook feeds began to fill up with personal threats, among them, "I'll get you yet, you stinking leftie," "Too bad they didn't murder you when you were injured" and "Too bad this is the man we were happy didn't die."
'We will be victorious at the Temple Mount!'Glick's Facebook cover photo has "We will be victorious at the Temple Mount!" written in bold letters, with his redheaded face appearing in his profile picture below. His father, former dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Ben-Gurion University, Prof. Shimon Glick, described his son during an interview to Ynet's sister publication, Yedioth Ahronoth, after his assassination attempt. "We agreed to disagree, and I love him with all my heart," said the senior Glick, whose political views differ from those of his son.
How does your father, a human rights activist, react to your joining the Knesset?
"My father is a very dear man. I myself am a human rights activist. I'm a very extreme person, who believes in human rights in an extreme way, and I got all that from my father. He is a humanist; he truly loves mankind."
"We don't always see eye to eye, but he was the one who taught me Jewish and Western values, which talk about a plethora of opinions. My parents taught me about human dignity, and that you should listen to the opinions of those who don't necessarily voice your own. The two of us communicate on a daily basis. He advises, encourages, supports and sometimes reprimands me. At times I accept what he tells me and at times I don't. He respects that."
What will do as an MK?
"I don't want to come out with any big declarations yet. Working in the Knesset is a team effort, not a solo one, and I'm going to be part of a wonderful, diverse group called Likud. We have a real democracy complete with distinct opinions. I am entering a government that is headed by a man, who despite what is said about him cares about the country and its people. I hope that I'll act in a cordial and open manner, and enter into a dialogue with people from all walks of life, both from the coalition and the opposition. I hope to be a part of promoting peace."
Glick continued, "I was elected to represent the Judea and Samaria region, and as their representative I am committed to doing anything to improve the security and quality of life in the area. There are half a million citizens living in the area (Jewish citizens. —NB) who should all have equal rights, and I hope we will figure out how to cohabitate in peace with the Arabs living with us."
Will you visit the Temple Mount as an MK?
"I hope so. I'm all for Jews and Muslims visiting the Temple Mount together, but if Prime Minister Netanyahu asks me not to go there, I won't."
You said the Temple Mount will be a center for peace.
"That's our goal, and the vision of the Jewish spirit. The Temple Mount is supposed to be the place out of which the message of 'They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks, neither shall they learn war any more' should come out."
Israeli settlers Sunday stormed the Aqsa Mosque from the Magharebah gate under the protection of Israeli police. According to Jerusalmite sources, some of the Jewish settlers attempted to perform Talmudic rituals at the Muslims’ holy site.
Meanwhile, worshipers along with Quran students at the Mosque confronted them by chanting Allah the greatest. Israeli police continued barring the Jerusalemites women whose names are listed in the ban of entry list from accessing the Aqsa Mosque along with other women who were sitting-in at the Aqsa's gates.
The settlers deliberately desecrate and break into the plazas of the Aqsa Mosque at seven o’clock in the early morning each day, taking advantage of the small numbers of Muslim worshipers at the that time.
Meanwhile, worshipers along with Quran students at the Mosque confronted them by chanting Allah the greatest. Israeli police continued barring the Jerusalemites women whose names are listed in the ban of entry list from accessing the Aqsa Mosque along with other women who were sitting-in at the Aqsa's gates.
The settlers deliberately desecrate and break into the plazas of the Aqsa Mosque at seven o’clock in the early morning each day, taking advantage of the small numbers of Muslim worshipers at the that time.
The State of Kuwait has strongly denounced, on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the presence of an Israeli poster at the UN headquarters in New York touting Occupied Jerusalem as the eternal capital of the Jewish people.
Kuwait's permanent representative to the UN Ambassador Mansour al-Otaibi affirmed in a letter addressed to secretary-general Ban Ki-moon that displaying such poster, especially at the UN headquarters, is "legally, politically and morally wrong."
Otaibi stressed that "such act directly challenges the international legal principle prohibiting the acquisition of territory by force and numerous UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, which have determined clearly that east Jerusalem, the rest of the Palestinian territory and other Arabs lands occupied by Israel in June 1967 remain occupied."
"Both the Security Council and General Assembly have rejected Israel's illegal annexation of east Jerusalem via the extension of its so-called "basic law" in 1980 and condemned all policies and practices by Israel as an occupying power that aim to alter the demographic composition, character and status of the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem," the letter stated.
The letter stressed the need for appropriate measures to be taken as soon as possible for the removal of this poster, which is an affront to the member states of the OIC, including Palestine, and the majority of the UN members, which respect the international law.
Kuwait's permanent representative to the UN Ambassador Mansour al-Otaibi affirmed in a letter addressed to secretary-general Ban Ki-moon that displaying such poster, especially at the UN headquarters, is "legally, politically and morally wrong."
Otaibi stressed that "such act directly challenges the international legal principle prohibiting the acquisition of territory by force and numerous UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, which have determined clearly that east Jerusalem, the rest of the Palestinian territory and other Arabs lands occupied by Israel in June 1967 remain occupied."
"Both the Security Council and General Assembly have rejected Israel's illegal annexation of east Jerusalem via the extension of its so-called "basic law" in 1980 and condemned all policies and practices by Israel as an occupying power that aim to alter the demographic composition, character and status of the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem," the letter stated.
The letter stressed the need for appropriate measures to be taken as soon as possible for the removal of this poster, which is an affront to the member states of the OIC, including Palestine, and the majority of the UN members, which respect the international law.
19 may 2016
The International Relations Council in Palestine has strongly denounced French president François Hollande for apologizing to Israel for the UNESCO's resolution that refuted any Jewish link to the Aqsa Mosque.
In a press release on Wednesday, head of the council Basem Na'im stated that the Jews have no historical link to the Aqsa Mosque and there is nothing proving their claims about it.
"This has been confirmed by the organization's resolution last month, which set the record straight," he said.
Na'im expressed concern that the positions of some major countries could affect the resolutions taken by UN organizations and cause considerable injustice to other countries. He accused Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu of leading an Israeli campaign to pressure UN organizations and its members to change their positions on the Aqsa Mosque and adopt the Jewish fake claims about it.
He demanded the Arab and Islamic countries to quickly and seriously move to confront this Israeli campaign and prevent any attempt to pressure the UNESCO to backtrack on its decision.
In a press release on Wednesday, head of the council Basem Na'im stated that the Jews have no historical link to the Aqsa Mosque and there is nothing proving their claims about it.
"This has been confirmed by the organization's resolution last month, which set the record straight," he said.
Na'im expressed concern that the positions of some major countries could affect the resolutions taken by UN organizations and cause considerable injustice to other countries. He accused Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu of leading an Israeli campaign to pressure UN organizations and its members to change their positions on the Aqsa Mosque and adopt the Jewish fake claims about it.
He demanded the Arab and Islamic countries to quickly and seriously move to confront this Israeli campaign and prevent any attempt to pressure the UNESCO to backtrack on its decision.
18 may 2016
Groups of Israeli settlers stormed Wednesday morning al-Aqsa Mosque from the Israeli-controlled al-Magharibeh Gate under heavy protection of Israeli police and Special Forces.
Israeli police were deployed in large numbers in order to provide military protection for the intruding settlers.
Palestinian worshipers started shouting Takbeer in protest against the settlers’ presence in their holy shrine especially after some of them tried to perform Talmudic rituals in the compound.
Meanwhile, Palestinian women, who are denied access into the Mosque, continued to protest at the entrance to the holy shrine against Israeli ban on their entry.
Israeli police were deployed in large numbers in order to provide military protection for the intruding settlers.
Palestinian worshipers started shouting Takbeer in protest against the settlers’ presence in their holy shrine especially after some of them tried to perform Talmudic rituals in the compound.
Meanwhile, Palestinian women, who are denied access into the Mosque, continued to protest at the entrance to the holy shrine against Israeli ban on their entry.