2 aug 2016
A guard at the holy al-Aqsa Mosque was aggressively attacked by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Tuesday morning.
According to a PIC journalist, the IOF soldiers heavily beat up the guard Majd Abideen. The guard was rushed to the Makasid hospital, in Occupied Jerusalem, for urgent treatment.
The Israeli occupation officers reportedly smoked cigarettes at the Mosque and subjected the supervision staff to psycho-physical crackdown.
The Israeli occupation police further prevented the members of the reconstruction personnel at al-Aqsa from repairing a water pipe.
According to a PIC journalist, the IOF soldiers heavily beat up the guard Majd Abideen. The guard was rushed to the Makasid hospital, in Occupied Jerusalem, for urgent treatment.
The Israeli occupation officers reportedly smoked cigarettes at the Mosque and subjected the supervision staff to psycho-physical crackdown.
The Israeli occupation police further prevented the members of the reconstruction personnel at al-Aqsa from repairing a water pipe.
Hundreds of Jewish settlers at dawn Tuesday entered Nablus city under tight military protection to perform rituals at Joseph's Tomb, while another group of armed settlers stormed later Kifl Haris town, north of Salfit, for the same purpose.
Eyewitnesses told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that a large number of Israeli troops aboard military vehicles stormed after midnight Tuesday the eastern area of Nablus city where the Joseph's Tomb is located, cordoned off its streets and occupied the rooftops of some buildings.
Soon later, dozens of buses carrying scores of Jewish settlers crossed Beit Furik checkpoint into the city under military escort.
The eyewitnesses added that senior rabbis and officials participated in the rituals at Joseph's Tomb in the city.
Consequently, violent clashes broke out between local young men and the occupation troops on different streets around Joseph's Tomb. Later in the morning, a horde of armed settlers stormed Kifl Haris town in Salfit and defiled Islamic holy shrines.
Locals said that the settlers behaved provocatively during their presence in the town and performed rituals at Islamic sites.
Eyewitnesses told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that a large number of Israeli troops aboard military vehicles stormed after midnight Tuesday the eastern area of Nablus city where the Joseph's Tomb is located, cordoned off its streets and occupied the rooftops of some buildings.
Soon later, dozens of buses carrying scores of Jewish settlers crossed Beit Furik checkpoint into the city under military escort.
The eyewitnesses added that senior rabbis and officials participated in the rituals at Joseph's Tomb in the city.
Consequently, violent clashes broke out between local young men and the occupation troops on different streets around Joseph's Tomb. Later in the morning, a horde of armed settlers stormed Kifl Haris town in Salfit and defiled Islamic holy shrines.
Locals said that the settlers behaved provocatively during their presence in the town and performed rituals at Islamic sites.
Staffers of the Israeli Antiquities and Nature authorities Monday morning stormed and toured al-Rahma gate cemetery adjacent to the Aqsa Mosque in Occupied Jerusalem.
The Israeli forces have recently razed four graves in the same cemetery under the pretext of no permitted construction.
The cemetery, however, is one of the oldest Islamic monuments and cemeteries in the city in which a number of Prophet Mohammad’s companions were buried.
Israeli forces bans burying Palestinians in that historical graveyard because of using some of its land in establishing what they call “national parks” for Judaization purposes.
The Israeli forces have recently razed four graves in the same cemetery under the pretext of no permitted construction.
The cemetery, however, is one of the oldest Islamic monuments and cemeteries in the city in which a number of Prophet Mohammad’s companions were buried.
Israeli forces bans burying Palestinians in that historical graveyard because of using some of its land in establishing what they call “national parks” for Judaization purposes.
Until 2020 Jerusalem will be in need of 30,000 housing units, the Palestinian Housing Council said Monday.
The council’s technical director in the occupied West Bank, Zuheir Ali, said, at a workshop held in al-Bireh under the title “Housing in Occupied Jerusalem: Facts and Challenges,” that the Palestinians have been facing difficulties in constructing new homes on at least 13% of east Jerusalem lands.
Ali added that Israeli restrictive measures resulted in a sharp housing crisis and that Occupied Jerusalem is in need of 30,000 housing units, to the tune of around three billion dollars, until 2020.
Chairman of the council’s Management Board, Hesham al-Omari, said the council has done every possible effort to provide homeless Palestinians with 8,000 housing units with a total value of up to 205 million dollars.
Representative of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in the occupied Palestinian territories, Ahmad al-Ruweidi, sounded the alarm over the tragic situation endured by Palestinians in Occupied Jerusalem in light of the crippling procedures perpetrated by the Israeli occupation as regards construction licenses.
The council’s technical director in the occupied West Bank, Zuheir Ali, said, at a workshop held in al-Bireh under the title “Housing in Occupied Jerusalem: Facts and Challenges,” that the Palestinians have been facing difficulties in constructing new homes on at least 13% of east Jerusalem lands.
Ali added that Israeli restrictive measures resulted in a sharp housing crisis and that Occupied Jerusalem is in need of 30,000 housing units, to the tune of around three billion dollars, until 2020.
Chairman of the council’s Management Board, Hesham al-Omari, said the council has done every possible effort to provide homeless Palestinians with 8,000 housing units with a total value of up to 205 million dollars.
Representative of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in the occupied Palestinian territories, Ahmad al-Ruweidi, sounded the alarm over the tragic situation endured by Palestinians in Occupied Jerusalem in light of the crippling procedures perpetrated by the Israeli occupation as regards construction licenses.
1 aug 2016
Hordes of extremist Israeli settlers stormed on Monday morning Muslims’ the holy al-Aqsa Mosque via the Maghareba Gate under heavy police escort.
The Israeli fanatics performed sacrilegious rituals and yelled anti-Muslim slogans, sparking tension across the site. The peaceful Muslim learners and worshipers kept, meanwhile, chanting “Allah is the Greatest” in protest at the break-in.
Muslim women have also been maintaining vigil outside the Mosque and recited verses of the holy Quran in protest at being banned, by the Israeli forces, from praying at the site.
The Israeli fanatics performed sacrilegious rituals and yelled anti-Muslim slogans, sparking tension across the site. The peaceful Muslim learners and worshipers kept, meanwhile, chanting “Allah is the Greatest” in protest at the break-in.
Muslim women have also been maintaining vigil outside the Mosque and recited verses of the holy Quran in protest at being banned, by the Israeli forces, from praying at the site.
31 july 2016
Hundreds of residents arrived to the scene to assist the firefighters as they battled to extinguish the gigantic flames; Serious damage caused to the mosque; Police believe fire caused by electrical malfunction.
A massive fire broke out on Sunday evening in the Al-Jazzar mosque in the northern city of Acre causing heavy damage to the structure. Police officials said that the fire was likely caused by a technical fault which led to an electrical failure.
One person was lightly injured from smoke inhalation and firefighters were immediately called to the scene to extinguish the flames which were consuming the holy site. Hundreds of residents in the area arrived at the mosque in an effort to assist the firefighters.
“The second that we saw the fire we left work and quickly ran to the scene,” said the residents. “We started to help to put out the massive fire. We don’t know how it happened. We are all waiting to hear the results of the checks.”
Al-Jazzar mosque is the largest and most important of all in Acre and the most important after the al-Aqsa mosque.
While the cause of the fire was not initially known, residents never really suspected that it could have been an arson attack, according to one resident who celebrated the good relations between Jews and Arabs. “There is no way that someone set the mosque on fire in the heart of the city. This is a place in which Arabs and Jews live together and have good relations. We never suspected that any person would want to harm a mosque - Not today or any other day."
The Imam of the mosque, Sheikh Samir Assi, was the victim on an attack in 2014 when a masked individual threw acid at his car. The Sheikh is known for his efforts, along with Jewish clergy and people of the municipality, in acting as a mediator between Muslims and Jews in the mixed city.
He undertook great efforts to prevent friction between the two communities and participated with Israel’s former chief rabbi, Shlomo Amar, along with other religious muslims, christians and Druze people, in a condolence visit to the synagogue in Har Nof which witnessed an infamous massacre in 2015.
A massive fire broke out on Sunday evening in the Al-Jazzar mosque in the northern city of Acre causing heavy damage to the structure. Police officials said that the fire was likely caused by a technical fault which led to an electrical failure.
One person was lightly injured from smoke inhalation and firefighters were immediately called to the scene to extinguish the flames which were consuming the holy site. Hundreds of residents in the area arrived at the mosque in an effort to assist the firefighters.
“The second that we saw the fire we left work and quickly ran to the scene,” said the residents. “We started to help to put out the massive fire. We don’t know how it happened. We are all waiting to hear the results of the checks.”
Al-Jazzar mosque is the largest and most important of all in Acre and the most important after the al-Aqsa mosque.
While the cause of the fire was not initially known, residents never really suspected that it could have been an arson attack, according to one resident who celebrated the good relations between Jews and Arabs. “There is no way that someone set the mosque on fire in the heart of the city. This is a place in which Arabs and Jews live together and have good relations. We never suspected that any person would want to harm a mosque - Not today or any other day."
The Imam of the mosque, Sheikh Samir Assi, was the victim on an attack in 2014 when a masked individual threw acid at his car. The Sheikh is known for his efforts, along with Jewish clergy and people of the municipality, in acting as a mediator between Muslims and Jews in the mixed city.
He undertook great efforts to prevent friction between the two communities and participated with Israel’s former chief rabbi, Shlomo Amar, along with other religious muslims, christians and Druze people, in a condolence visit to the synagogue in Har Nof which witnessed an infamous massacre in 2015.
The Israeli police on Sunday morning allowed a horde of Jewish settlers to desecrate the Aqsa Mosque's courtyards under security protection.
According to eyewitnesses, some settlers tried to perform Talmudic rituals at the Mosque, which raised the ire of Muslim worshipers there and prompted them to protest by chanting religious slogans loudly to stop them from doing so.
Meanwhile, a group of Palestinian women continued to rally at the Aqsa Mosque's gates as a result of the Israeli ban imposed on entry to the Islamic holy shrine.
According to eyewitnesses, some settlers tried to perform Talmudic rituals at the Mosque, which raised the ire of Muslim worshipers there and prompted them to protest by chanting religious slogans loudly to stop them from doing so.
Meanwhile, a group of Palestinian women continued to rally at the Aqsa Mosque's gates as a result of the Israeli ban imposed on entry to the Islamic holy shrine.
30 july 2016
The National Bureau for Defending Land and Resisting Settlement has warned that Jerusalem and the West Bank are witnessing a grave escalation of Israel's settlement activities and its ethnic cleansing practices against the Palestinians.
In a report released on Saturday, the bureau said that Israel's approval of plans to build hundreds of housing units and its widespread demolition campaign against Palestinian homes in the West Bank and Jerusalem are aimed at strengthening the presence of settlers on the occupied Palestinian lands and Judaizing Jerusalem and other Palestinian areas classified as C, in violation of the international law.
The bureau stressed the need to urgently refer Israel's expansion of settlements and demolition of Palestinian homes to the UN Security Council and the International Criminal Court to take decisive action against its violations and curb its crimes against the Palestinians.
In a report released on Saturday, the bureau said that Israel's approval of plans to build hundreds of housing units and its widespread demolition campaign against Palestinian homes in the West Bank and Jerusalem are aimed at strengthening the presence of settlers on the occupied Palestinian lands and Judaizing Jerusalem and other Palestinian areas classified as C, in violation of the international law.
The bureau stressed the need to urgently refer Israel's expansion of settlements and demolition of Palestinian homes to the UN Security Council and the International Criminal Court to take decisive action against its violations and curb its crimes against the Palestinians.
The al-Awqaf Council for Islamic Affairs, the Islamic Supreme Authority, and Dar al-Fatwa issued a joint statement on Friday evening denouncing Israeli arrests and violations at al-Aqsa Mosque.
The joint statement pointed out that Israeli authorities arrested over the few past days two guards of al-Aqsa Mosque and an employee at the holy shine's administration.
Other employees at al-Aqsa were earlier summoned for investigation and denied access into the compound for different periods of time. Heavy fines were also imposed on them.
The statement described the Israeli deliberate targeting of al-Aqsa’s employees and guards as a systematic punitive policy aims at silencing protests against settlers’ provocative presence in the Islamic holy shrine.
The statement also warned Israeli authorities of continuing attacks against al-Aqsa’s employees and guards.
The joint statement pointed out that Israeli authorities arrested over the few past days two guards of al-Aqsa Mosque and an employee at the holy shine's administration.
Other employees at al-Aqsa were earlier summoned for investigation and denied access into the compound for different periods of time. Heavy fines were also imposed on them.
The statement described the Israeli deliberate targeting of al-Aqsa’s employees and guards as a systematic punitive policy aims at silencing protests against settlers’ provocative presence in the Islamic holy shrine.
The statement also warned Israeli authorities of continuing attacks against al-Aqsa’s employees and guards.
28 july 2016
Extremist Jewish groups have started making preparations and holding meetings to incite their followers to participate in events in Jerusalem and group marches to the Aqsa Mosque to be organized during August to commemorate what they claim to be the destruction of the first and second temples.
According to Qpress news website, these preparations include symposiums, conferences, lectures, sit-ins and other anti-Aqsa events to be held in Occupied Jerusalem and other major cities.
These preparatory events are aimed to whip up the Jewish masses and encourage them to march en masse to the Aqsa Mosque, which they falsely call the temple mount.
According to Qpress news website, these preparations include symposiums, conferences, lectures, sit-ins and other anti-Aqsa events to be held in Occupied Jerusalem and other major cities.
These preparatory events are aimed to whip up the Jewish masses and encourage them to march en masse to the Aqsa Mosque, which they falsely call the temple mount.
The Israeli occupation police on Thursday summoned the head of the media and public relations at the Awqaf Department and a guard at al-Aqsa Mosque for interrogation.
Member of the Awqaf (Endowment) department in Occupied Jerusalem, Firas al-Debs, and member of the supervision personnel at the al-Aqsa Mosque, Arafat Najeeb, were both summoned for questioning at the Israeli Qishleh detention center, in Jerusalem’s Old City.
On Wednesday, the Israeli occupation forces arrested the al-Aqsa guards Hamza al-Deisi and Hamza Nebali, along with the member of the reconstruction staff at al-Aqsa, Raed Zgheir, on allegations of their involvement in altercations with an Israeli extremist settler who tried to uproot olive branches and steal archaeological stones from the Mosque.
The three arrestees were dragged to the Qishleh investigation center. A hearing is expected to be held sometime on Thursday by the Israeli Magistrate’s Court, in western Occupied Jerusalem, to put on trial the newly-arrested guards al-Deisi, Nebali, and al-Zgheir, after the occupation authorities extended their remand on Wednesday.
Member of the Awqaf (Endowment) department in Occupied Jerusalem, Firas al-Debs, and member of the supervision personnel at the al-Aqsa Mosque, Arafat Najeeb, were both summoned for questioning at the Israeli Qishleh detention center, in Jerusalem’s Old City.
On Wednesday, the Israeli occupation forces arrested the al-Aqsa guards Hamza al-Deisi and Hamza Nebali, along with the member of the reconstruction staff at al-Aqsa, Raed Zgheir, on allegations of their involvement in altercations with an Israeli extremist settler who tried to uproot olive branches and steal archaeological stones from the Mosque.
The three arrestees were dragged to the Qishleh investigation center. A hearing is expected to be held sometime on Thursday by the Israeli Magistrate’s Court, in western Occupied Jerusalem, to put on trial the newly-arrested guards al-Deisi, Nebali, and al-Zgheir, after the occupation authorities extended their remand on Wednesday.
Hordes of extremist Israeli settlers stormed on Thursday morning Muslims’ the holy al-Aqsa Mosque via the Maghareba Gate under heavy police escort.
The Israeli fanatics performed sacrilegious rituals and yelled anti-Muslim slogans, sparking tension across the site.
The peaceful Muslim learners and worshipers kept, meanwhile, chanting “Allah is the Greatest” in protest at the break-in.
Muslim women have also been maintaining vigil outside the Mosque and recited verses of the holy Quran in protest at being banned, by the Israeli forces, from praying at the site.
The Israeli fanatics performed sacrilegious rituals and yelled anti-Muslim slogans, sparking tension across the site.
The peaceful Muslim learners and worshipers kept, meanwhile, chanting “Allah is the Greatest” in protest at the break-in.
Muslim women have also been maintaining vigil outside the Mosque and recited verses of the holy Quran in protest at being banned, by the Israeli forces, from praying at the site.
25 july 2016
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) on Sunday embarked on building fortified security rooms at the entrance to the Ibrahimi Mosque in al-Khalil city after it dismantled the electronic barriers there.
The Hebron rehabilitation committee said that these stone made rooms will be built in place of the security barriers in the area and will be provided with electronic search and surveillance utilities.
The committee condemned this Israeli step as a new serious development in Israel's military measures that have existed at the Islamic holy shrine following the shooting massacre of Muslims by an extremist Jewish settler in 1994.
It added that Israel's persistence in imposing restrictions on Muslims' freedom of worship at the Mosque and changing its Islamic identity is a violation of the international law.
The committee appealed to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the UNESCO to take serious action to curb Israel's violations against the Ibrahimi Mosque.
The Hebron rehabilitation committee said that these stone made rooms will be built in place of the security barriers in the area and will be provided with electronic search and surveillance utilities.
The committee condemned this Israeli step as a new serious development in Israel's military measures that have existed at the Islamic holy shrine following the shooting massacre of Muslims by an extremist Jewish settler in 1994.
It added that Israel's persistence in imposing restrictions on Muslims' freedom of worship at the Mosque and changing its Islamic identity is a violation of the international law.
The committee appealed to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the UNESCO to take serious action to curb Israel's violations against the Ibrahimi Mosque.
Groups of Israeli settlers stormed Monday morning al-Aqsa Mosque via the Israeli controlled al-Magharibeh Gate under protection of Israeli police and Special Forces.
A number of settlers who have stormed the compound tried to perform Talmudic rituals during their tours in total provocation to Palestinian worshipers who started chanting “Allah the Greatest” in protest against the settlers’ desecration of the Islamic holy place.
On the other hand, Israeli police continued to prevent a number of Jerusalemite women from having access to al-Aqsa for allegedly being involved in protests against settlers’ presence in the holy shrine.
Tension remained high in and around al-Aqsa Mosque since early October 2015 after Israeli police repeatedly stormed the site and restricted Palestinians’ access into it, while allowing large numbers of settlers to access the holy site under tight protection.
For Muslims, al-Aqsa represents the world's third holiest site. Jews, for their part, refer to the area as the "Temple Mount," claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.
Israel occupied the city of Jerusalem during the 1967 war. It later annexed the city in 1980, claiming it as the capital of the “Jewish state” in a move never recognized by the international community.
A number of settlers who have stormed the compound tried to perform Talmudic rituals during their tours in total provocation to Palestinian worshipers who started chanting “Allah the Greatest” in protest against the settlers’ desecration of the Islamic holy place.
On the other hand, Israeli police continued to prevent a number of Jerusalemite women from having access to al-Aqsa for allegedly being involved in protests against settlers’ presence in the holy shrine.
Tension remained high in and around al-Aqsa Mosque since early October 2015 after Israeli police repeatedly stormed the site and restricted Palestinians’ access into it, while allowing large numbers of settlers to access the holy site under tight protection.
For Muslims, al-Aqsa represents the world's third holiest site. Jews, for their part, refer to the area as the "Temple Mount," claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.
Israel occupied the city of Jerusalem during the 1967 war. It later annexed the city in 1980, claiming it as the capital of the “Jewish state” in a move never recognized by the international community.
24 july 2016
Israeli police Sunday morning allowed 65 Jewish settlers, in groups, to storm the Aqsa Mosque. They toured the plazas of the holy site amid explanations on the alleged Temple of Solomon.
Quds Press revealed that the Muslim worshipers attempted to confront settlers by chanting “Allah the Greatest”.
However, the settlers were protected by Israeli security forces who escorted the settlers along their way out of the Mosque while performing dances and singing provocatively.
According to Quds Press, the number of settlers who have stormed the Aqsa Mosque since the beginning of July exceeded 700 settlers.
Quds Press revealed that the Muslim worshipers attempted to confront settlers by chanting “Allah the Greatest”.
However, the settlers were protected by Israeli security forces who escorted the settlers along their way out of the Mosque while performing dances and singing provocatively.
According to Quds Press, the number of settlers who have stormed the Aqsa Mosque since the beginning of July exceeded 700 settlers.
Israeli settlers, on Sunday, broke into Kifl Haris town, to the north of the West Bank district of Salfit, and proceeded to desecrate Islamic shrines there.
Witnesses said, according to WAFA correspondence, that a large number of settlers broke into the town in the predawn hours, and proceeded to ‘intentionally provoke’ the town’s locals by performing religious rituals on the Islamic sites.
Israeli military soldiers reportedly provided the settlers with protection and secured their entrance and exit out of the town, causing a state of tension among the town’s locals.
Head of Kafl Hares municipality, Abdel-Rahim Bothyeh, said the religious sites there are constantly subjected to destruction and desecration by settlers; settlers have previously set fire to the sites.
According to POICA, “Religious sites of Kifl Haris town, north Salfit governorate are considered the living example of area’s long history. The town accommodates three religious shrines namely (Thu Al-Kifl, Thu Al-Noon, and shrine of Joshua). This is how the area acquired religious importance throughout the eras.”
The village of Kifl Haris witnessed, on May 05, 2016, an attack carried out by colonists, who broke into the area in buses and sabotaged the shrine of Thu Al-Kifl.
At time of the attack, colonists print sprayed hateful slogans calling to “kill all Arabs” and ” revenge”.
Kifl Haris is surrounded by the villages of Deir Istiya, Zeita, Jamma’in and Haris. With a total area of 9,254 dunams, of which 786 dunams is the village’s a, Kifl Haris is inhabited by 3,248 people.
Israeli occupation forces razed 278 dunams of Kifl Haris lands for the construction of the Ariel colony, where American restaurant chain McDonald’s recently refused to open a branch in the settlement, in a move that swiftly prompted calls from settler organisations for a boycott of its restaurants.
Witnesses said, according to WAFA correspondence, that a large number of settlers broke into the town in the predawn hours, and proceeded to ‘intentionally provoke’ the town’s locals by performing religious rituals on the Islamic sites.
Israeli military soldiers reportedly provided the settlers with protection and secured their entrance and exit out of the town, causing a state of tension among the town’s locals.
Head of Kafl Hares municipality, Abdel-Rahim Bothyeh, said the religious sites there are constantly subjected to destruction and desecration by settlers; settlers have previously set fire to the sites.
According to POICA, “Religious sites of Kifl Haris town, north Salfit governorate are considered the living example of area’s long history. The town accommodates three religious shrines namely (Thu Al-Kifl, Thu Al-Noon, and shrine of Joshua). This is how the area acquired religious importance throughout the eras.”
The village of Kifl Haris witnessed, on May 05, 2016, an attack carried out by colonists, who broke into the area in buses and sabotaged the shrine of Thu Al-Kifl.
At time of the attack, colonists print sprayed hateful slogans calling to “kill all Arabs” and ” revenge”.
Kifl Haris is surrounded by the villages of Deir Istiya, Zeita, Jamma’in and Haris. With a total area of 9,254 dunams, of which 786 dunams is the village’s a, Kifl Haris is inhabited by 3,248 people.
Israeli occupation forces razed 278 dunams of Kifl Haris lands for the construction of the Ariel colony, where American restaurant chain McDonald’s recently refused to open a branch in the settlement, in a move that swiftly prompted calls from settler organisations for a boycott of its restaurants.