5 june 2018
Palestinian lawmaker Fathi al-Qarawi has denounced the detention of West Bank young men and women at Israeli checkpoints after they return from the Aqsa Mosque in Occupied Jerusalem, describing such practice as “a futile attempt to intimidate any Palestinian trying to go to or enter the Mosque without Israel’s permission.”
“The occupation authorities are trying in many ways to keep the [Palestinian] young people away from the Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem in view of the exceptional situation which the Palestinian cause is going through after the relocation of the US embassy to Jerusalem,” Qarawi stated in press remarks.
The lawmaker, however, hailed the insistence of many young people on facing different difficulties and challenging Israeli road barriers and restrictions in order to reach the Aqsa Mosque, saying such behavior reflects their strong faith and sense of belonging.
He stressed that “every Palestinian has the right to have access to the Aqsa Mosque without any permits or obstacles by the Israeli occupation,” calling on the Palestinian young people to continue marching to the Aqsa Mosque to perform their prayers, especially during the last ten days of the holy month of Ramadan.
“The occupation authorities are trying in many ways to keep the [Palestinian] young people away from the Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem in view of the exceptional situation which the Palestinian cause is going through after the relocation of the US embassy to Jerusalem,” Qarawi stated in press remarks.
The lawmaker, however, hailed the insistence of many young people on facing different difficulties and challenging Israeli road barriers and restrictions in order to reach the Aqsa Mosque, saying such behavior reflects their strong faith and sense of belonging.
He stressed that “every Palestinian has the right to have access to the Aqsa Mosque without any permits or obstacles by the Israeli occupation,” calling on the Palestinian young people to continue marching to the Aqsa Mosque to perform their prayers, especially during the last ten days of the holy month of Ramadan.
|
|
The Israeli occupation of Palestine was high on the agenda when the Foreign Affairs/International Relations Ministers of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) met in Pretoria on Monday ahead of the 10th BRICS Summit to be hosted by South Africa in July.
Criticizing Donald Trump's unilateral decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move the US embassy there, the BRICS ministers reiterated their position that the status of Jerusalem was an issue to be settled in negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis. The ministers also reiterated their support of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), praising the vital role it |
plays in providing health, education and other basic services to over 5 million Palestinian refugees in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, as well as Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
In January, the Trump administration announced it was cutting more than half of its funding to UNRWA - a move that could prove catastrophic for Palestinian refugees.
The comments of the BRICS ministers are significant since - collectively - these five major emerging national economies, represent over 3.6 billion people, or about 41% of the world's population. Russia and China both hold permanent veto power at the United Nations Security Council.
South Africa is chairing BRICS in 2018, and in March, Naledi Pandor, South Africa’s Minister of Higher Education, called on South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, to place the Israeli occupation of Palestine on the BRICS agenda.
Pandor suggested at the time, that, in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s reckless support of Israel's occupation, there was now “a need to identify powerful members of the global community who may give greater impetus to progress in finding a two-state solution, perhaps the BRICS countries should be called on to assume such global leadership.”
Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, seemingly affirmed Pandor’s position on Monday when he said: “The world is facing unprecedented changes and there is an expectation for BRICS to play a bigger role.”
His remarks suggest that BRICS may broaden its focus beyond trade, investment and development financing, and work towards developing common political positions on many of the pressing issues confronting the world today – including the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
Source: Afro-Palestine Newswire Service
In January, the Trump administration announced it was cutting more than half of its funding to UNRWA - a move that could prove catastrophic for Palestinian refugees.
The comments of the BRICS ministers are significant since - collectively - these five major emerging national economies, represent over 3.6 billion people, or about 41% of the world's population. Russia and China both hold permanent veto power at the United Nations Security Council.
South Africa is chairing BRICS in 2018, and in March, Naledi Pandor, South Africa’s Minister of Higher Education, called on South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, to place the Israeli occupation of Palestine on the BRICS agenda.
Pandor suggested at the time, that, in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s reckless support of Israel's occupation, there was now “a need to identify powerful members of the global community who may give greater impetus to progress in finding a two-state solution, perhaps the BRICS countries should be called on to assume such global leadership.”
Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, seemingly affirmed Pandor’s position on Monday when he said: “The world is facing unprecedented changes and there is an expectation for BRICS to play a bigger role.”
His remarks suggest that BRICS may broaden its focus beyond trade, investment and development financing, and work towards developing common political positions on many of the pressing issues confronting the world today – including the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
Source: Afro-Palestine Newswire Service
Israeli soldiers invaded, Tuesday, the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in occupied East Jerusalem, assaulted many worshipers and abducted fifteen young men.
Eyewitnesses said dozens of Palestinians were siting and walking in the yard of the al-Qibli Mosque, in Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound, before the soldiers stormed it through the al-Magharba gate, to accompany groups of colonialist settlers in a provocative tour into the holy site.
They added that the soldiers attacked many young men with clubs and batons and tried to remove them from the holy site compound, before abducting fifteen of them.
Five of the abducted Palestinians have been identified as Assad Mifleh, Ezzeddin Zyoud, Mohammad Tafesh, Amjad al-Ashqar and Obeida ‘Ayesh.
The worshipers were just sitting, reading from the holy Quran and reciting its verses, in yet another day of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, when the soldiers assaulted them. video video
Furthermore, the soldiers stopped many Palestinians, who were filming the invasion and the unfolding attack, and threatening to abduct them.
Israeli police arrest 15 worshipers at al-Aqsa Mosque
The Israeli police on Tuesday arrested 15 Palestinian worshipers from inside al-Aqsa Mosque courtyards in Occupied Jerusalem.
Wafa news agency said, quoting an Aqsa guard, that the worshipers were arrested for reciting the Holy Quran while a group of Israeli settlers were roaming al-Aqsa Mosque courtyards.
The guard described Tuesday's break-in as a "dangerous escalation" since settler visits to the holy site are halted in the last ten days of Ramadan because of the intensified presence of Muslim worshipers in the Mosque these days.
Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli police in the morning hours opened al-Maghareba Gate and deployed its forces in large numbers in the Mosque courtyards in preparation for the settler break-in.
The witnesses added that during the break-in the police attacked a group of worshipers who were reciting the Holy Quran, arrested 15 young men and transferred them to an Israeli interrogation center in the Old City.
About 66 Israeli settlers forced their way into al-Aqsa Mosque via al-Maghareba Gate Tuesday morning.
The Israeli Temple Mount extremist groups earlier this week held a meeting in which they called for stepped-up break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque on Tuesday to break the tradition of suspending settler visits to the site during the last ten days of the holy month of Ramadan.
Eyewitnesses said dozens of Palestinians were siting and walking in the yard of the al-Qibli Mosque, in Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound, before the soldiers stormed it through the al-Magharba gate, to accompany groups of colonialist settlers in a provocative tour into the holy site.
They added that the soldiers attacked many young men with clubs and batons and tried to remove them from the holy site compound, before abducting fifteen of them.
Five of the abducted Palestinians have been identified as Assad Mifleh, Ezzeddin Zyoud, Mohammad Tafesh, Amjad al-Ashqar and Obeida ‘Ayesh.
The worshipers were just sitting, reading from the holy Quran and reciting its verses, in yet another day of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, when the soldiers assaulted them. video video
Furthermore, the soldiers stopped many Palestinians, who were filming the invasion and the unfolding attack, and threatening to abduct them.
Israeli police arrest 15 worshipers at al-Aqsa Mosque
The Israeli police on Tuesday arrested 15 Palestinian worshipers from inside al-Aqsa Mosque courtyards in Occupied Jerusalem.
Wafa news agency said, quoting an Aqsa guard, that the worshipers were arrested for reciting the Holy Quran while a group of Israeli settlers were roaming al-Aqsa Mosque courtyards.
The guard described Tuesday's break-in as a "dangerous escalation" since settler visits to the holy site are halted in the last ten days of Ramadan because of the intensified presence of Muslim worshipers in the Mosque these days.
Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli police in the morning hours opened al-Maghareba Gate and deployed its forces in large numbers in the Mosque courtyards in preparation for the settler break-in.
The witnesses added that during the break-in the police attacked a group of worshipers who were reciting the Holy Quran, arrested 15 young men and transferred them to an Israeli interrogation center in the Old City.
About 66 Israeli settlers forced their way into al-Aqsa Mosque via al-Maghareba Gate Tuesday morning.
The Israeli Temple Mount extremist groups earlier this week held a meeting in which they called for stepped-up break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque on Tuesday to break the tradition of suspending settler visits to the site during the last ten days of the holy month of Ramadan.
Scores of Jewish settlers started on Tuesday morning to desecrate the Aqsa Mosque under tight police escort.
Local sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that about 27 settlers entered the Mosque and more others were seen gathering in groups outside al-Maghariba Gate as a prelude to escorting them into the holy site by police officers.
They added that the Israeli occupation police intensified the presence of its forces inside the Mosque compound ahead of these morning tours.
Extremist Jewish settlers deliberately defile the Aqsa Mosque every early morning during the holy month of Ramadan, taking advantage of the small numbers of Muslim worshipers at the Islamic holy shrine at this time of day.
Local sources told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that about 27 settlers entered the Mosque and more others were seen gathering in groups outside al-Maghariba Gate as a prelude to escorting them into the holy site by police officers.
They added that the Israeli occupation police intensified the presence of its forces inside the Mosque compound ahead of these morning tours.
Extremist Jewish settlers deliberately defile the Aqsa Mosque every early morning during the holy month of Ramadan, taking advantage of the small numbers of Muslim worshipers at the Islamic holy shrine at this time of day.
4 june 2018
Officers of Israel’s Nature And Parks Authority (INPA) reportedly resumed excavation work on Sunday, at the Palestinian Bab-al-Rahma cemetery, just outside the walls of the Old City in occupied East Jerusalem.
WAFA reported, according to Ma’an, that INPA staff began digging up graves and land in the cemetery around 20 days ago.
Officials returned on Sunday, to continue digging, which was noted as being “for the benefit of building a national [Israeli] park on parts of the cemetery’s land.”
Last month, Israeli authorities placed metal fences around the parts of the cemetery that it intends on confiscating. The parts of the cemetery subject to confiscation and destruction contain the centuries-old graves of Muslim leaders.
In 2015, the Bab al-Rahma cemetery was subject to demolitions after Israeli authorities announced plans to seize parts of the cemetery for a national park trail, in 2015.
While Israel annexed East Jerusalem in 1980, according to Palestinians and the international community, the city has remained an intricate part of the occupied Palestinian territory and would be considered the capital of any future Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution.
The fate of Jerusalem and its holy sites has been a focal point of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades, with numerous tensions arising over Israeli threats regarding the status of non-Jewish religious sites in the city, and the “Judaization” of East Jerusalem.
The United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization’s (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee adopted a resolution, in July of 2017, reaffirming the international body’s non-recognition of Israeli sovereignty in East Jerusalem, and condemned Israeli policies in the Old City.
The resolution referred to Israel as an “occupying power” in East Jerusalem, and stated that UNESCO “regrets the failure of the Israeli occupying authorities to cease the persistent excavations, tunneling, works, projects and other illegal practices in East Jerusalem, particularly in and around the Old City of Jerusalem, which are illegal under international law.”
WAFA reported, according to Ma’an, that INPA staff began digging up graves and land in the cemetery around 20 days ago.
Officials returned on Sunday, to continue digging, which was noted as being “for the benefit of building a national [Israeli] park on parts of the cemetery’s land.”
Last month, Israeli authorities placed metal fences around the parts of the cemetery that it intends on confiscating. The parts of the cemetery subject to confiscation and destruction contain the centuries-old graves of Muslim leaders.
In 2015, the Bab al-Rahma cemetery was subject to demolitions after Israeli authorities announced plans to seize parts of the cemetery for a national park trail, in 2015.
While Israel annexed East Jerusalem in 1980, according to Palestinians and the international community, the city has remained an intricate part of the occupied Palestinian territory and would be considered the capital of any future Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution.
The fate of Jerusalem and its holy sites has been a focal point of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades, with numerous tensions arising over Israeli threats regarding the status of non-Jewish religious sites in the city, and the “Judaization” of East Jerusalem.
The United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization’s (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee adopted a resolution, in July of 2017, reaffirming the international body’s non-recognition of Israeli sovereignty in East Jerusalem, and condemned Israeli policies in the Old City.
The resolution referred to Israel as an “occupying power” in East Jerusalem, and stated that UNESCO “regrets the failure of the Israeli occupying authorities to cease the persistent excavations, tunneling, works, projects and other illegal practices in East Jerusalem, particularly in and around the Old City of Jerusalem, which are illegal under international law.”
The Israeli police on Monday morning secured a break-in by dozens of Israeli settlers into al-Aqsa Mosque via al-Maghareba Gate.
Media official at the Islamic Awqaf Department Feras al-Dibs told Quds Press that the Israeli police at 7:00 am opened al-Maghareba Gate in preparation for the first round of settler incursions which lasts for four hours.
Al-Dibs said that 92 Israeli settlers entered the Mosque and roamed its courtyards under the protection of special police forces.
At the same time, he added, the Israeli police tightened restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into the holy site.
The police usually allow another one-hour break-in following noon prayer.
Media official at the Islamic Awqaf Department Feras al-Dibs told Quds Press that the Israeli police at 7:00 am opened al-Maghareba Gate in preparation for the first round of settler incursions which lasts for four hours.
Al-Dibs said that 92 Israeli settlers entered the Mosque and roamed its courtyards under the protection of special police forces.
At the same time, he added, the Israeli police tightened restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into the holy site.
The police usually allow another one-hour break-in following noon prayer.
3 june 2018
Dozens of Israeli settlers stormed on Sunday morning Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa Mosque—the third holiest site in Islam—via the Maghareba Gate.
A horde of 50 Israeli settlers, escorted by policemen, broke into al-Aqsa Mosque and carried out a round of sacrilegious tours. Dozens more are expected to show up at the site in the next few hours.
At the same time, the peaceful Muslim worshipers have been subjected to tough crackdowns and restrictions by the Israeli police near the main entrances to the site.
Several worshipers have been searched and dozens more have had their IDs seized while attempting to enter al-Aqsa to perform Ramadan prayers.
A horde of 50 Israeli settlers, escorted by policemen, broke into al-Aqsa Mosque and carried out a round of sacrilegious tours. Dozens more are expected to show up at the site in the next few hours.
At the same time, the peaceful Muslim worshipers have been subjected to tough crackdowns and restrictions by the Israeli police near the main entrances to the site.
Several worshipers have been searched and dozens more have had their IDs seized while attempting to enter al-Aqsa to perform Ramadan prayers.
1 june 2018
An estimated 250,000 Muslims from all over Palestine attended the third Friday of the holy fast month of Ramadan prayer at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Worshippers filled the mosques and the open air plaza of the Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam.
Palestinians from the occupied West Bank and territories occupied in 1948 started arriving in Occupied Jerusalem since the early morning hours, heading toward Al-Aqsa Mosque, despite the heavy restrictions imposed by the Israeli occupation forces on the entry of Palestinians into the site.
Palestinians from the besieged Gaza Strip have, meanwhile, been banned from reaching the site.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians anxious to attend the Ramadan prayer in Occupied Jerusalem filled the Israeli military checkpoints around Jerusalem as they were intensively searched by soldiers before they were allowed to pass through on their way to the holy city.
A set of military checkpoints was pitched by the occupation forces around the holy city to block Palestinians’ free movement inside and out.
Palestinian men aged below 40 have officially been banned by the occupation authorities from praying at al-Aqsa Mosque.
Worshippers filled the mosques and the open air plaza of the Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam.
Palestinians from the occupied West Bank and territories occupied in 1948 started arriving in Occupied Jerusalem since the early morning hours, heading toward Al-Aqsa Mosque, despite the heavy restrictions imposed by the Israeli occupation forces on the entry of Palestinians into the site.
Palestinians from the besieged Gaza Strip have, meanwhile, been banned from reaching the site.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians anxious to attend the Ramadan prayer in Occupied Jerusalem filled the Israeli military checkpoints around Jerusalem as they were intensively searched by soldiers before they were allowed to pass through on their way to the holy city.
A set of military checkpoints was pitched by the occupation forces around the holy city to block Palestinians’ free movement inside and out.
Palestinian men aged below 40 have officially been banned by the occupation authorities from praying at al-Aqsa Mosque.
Israeli soldiers attacked, Friday, many Palestinians, who were trying to enter Jerusalem for Friday prayers in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in occupied Jerusalem, and injured many of them, including a journalist. The soldiers also abducted a young man near Jenin, in northern West bank.
The soldiers attacked the Palestinians in Wad Abu al-Hummus area, near al-Khass and an-No’man villages, east of Bethlehem, and prevented them from entering Jerusalem.
Media sources in Bethlehem said the soldiers fired many gas bombs and concussion grenades, causing many Palestinians to suffer the effects of teargas inhalation.
They added that the soldiers also shot a journalist, identified as Safiyya Omar, with a concussion grenade in her back.
The journalist, who works for Baladna Radio, and the Palestinians who suffered the effects of teargas inhalation, received treatment by local medics.
Furthermore, the soldiers invaded Kafr Dan town, west of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, searched homes and abducted a young man, identified as Mohammad Marwan Mer’ey.
The soldiers attacked the Palestinians in Wad Abu al-Hummus area, near al-Khass and an-No’man villages, east of Bethlehem, and prevented them from entering Jerusalem.
Media sources in Bethlehem said the soldiers fired many gas bombs and concussion grenades, causing many Palestinians to suffer the effects of teargas inhalation.
They added that the soldiers also shot a journalist, identified as Safiyya Omar, with a concussion grenade in her back.
The journalist, who works for Baladna Radio, and the Palestinians who suffered the effects of teargas inhalation, received treatment by local medics.
Furthermore, the soldiers invaded Kafr Dan town, west of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, searched homes and abducted a young man, identified as Mohammad Marwan Mer’ey.
31 may 2018
Dozens of Israeli settlers on Thursday morning forced their way into al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of police forces.
Jerusalemite sources said that 62 settlers stormed al-Aqsa via the Israeli-controlled al-Magharibeh gate flanked by heavily armed police forces.
The settlers performed Talmudic prayers and religious rituals during their tours, the sources added.
On the other hand, Israel's Nature And Parks Authority (INPA) continues to demolish parts of the outer wall of Bab al-Rahma cemetery in occupied Jerusalem as a prelude to confiscate parts of the cemetery for a national park trail.
Jerusalemite sources said that 62 settlers stormed al-Aqsa via the Israeli-controlled al-Magharibeh gate flanked by heavily armed police forces.
The settlers performed Talmudic prayers and religious rituals during their tours, the sources added.
On the other hand, Israel's Nature And Parks Authority (INPA) continues to demolish parts of the outer wall of Bab al-Rahma cemetery in occupied Jerusalem as a prelude to confiscate parts of the cemetery for a national park trail.
|
|
POSTED BY: AMALYA DUBROVSKY MAY 30, 2018
Throughout May, the Israeli Nature and Parks Authority has been hard at work confiscating Bab al-Rahmah Cemetery in East Jerusalem. Following years of unearthing graves, preventing burials, and installing wire fencing there, Israeli construction crews cordoned off the cemetery with a metal fence this month. Bab al-Rahmah is an Islamic cemetery that sits outside of the eastern walls of the Old City, abutting al-Aqsa Mosque. It is over 1,000 years old. Palestinian residents of Silwan have long buried their dead there. Israeli authorities want to confiscate the graveyard by integrating it into the Jerusalem Walls (City of David) National Park. The Wadi Hilweh Information Center reports that the Israeli workers installing the metal fence are barring Palestinians from approaching the construction site or documenting changes to the landscape. The Israeli police supervising the fencing project are also detaining concerned Palestinians. Most recently, on May 25, 2018, Israeli forces detained Khaled al-Zeer at the site, alleging that he is banned from Bab al-Rahmah. Al-Zeer was also arrested in April when Palestinians from Silwan organized a sit-in in Bab al-Rahmah to protest the land confiscation and destruction of graves. Al-Zeer and a number of other protesters were issued temporary bans from the cemetery and al-Aqsa Mosque. On May 23, 2018, Israeli police sought to extend such bans for nine Palestinians for a period of 60 days, but the courts refused the request. Bab al-Rahmah was included in the Jerusalem municipality’s 1974 Jerusalem Walls National Park plan. In 2009, a High Court ruling empowered Israeli authorities to regulate where locals can bury their dead in Bab al-Rahmah, arguing that because the cemetery had been declared an Israeli antiquities site and part of the Jerusalem Walls National Park, any digging or burial there would “damage antiquities.” The Jerusalem municipality is well known for classifying Palestinian areas as national parks to wrest control over more territory. The parks, like Israeli settlements, stand in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions, such as 194, 181, 252, 476 and 478. The area of Bab al-Rahmah is crucial to Israeli settlement plans, which aim to link four concentric circles of settlements, starting with the Old City, |
followed by the “Holy Basin” (Silwan, Sheikh Jarrah, a-Tur, Mount Zion, and the Kidron Valley), Jerusalem’s annexation border, and finally the West Bank. video
30 may 2018
About 68 Israeli settlers on Wednesday morning stormed al-Aqsa Mosque via al-Maghareba Gate which has been under Israeli control since 1967.
Media official at the Islamic Awqaf Department Feras al-Dibs said that dozens of Israeli settlers broke into al-Aqsa Mosque in the morning amid heavy police presence.
Al-Dibs told Quds Press that the Israeli police allowed 66 settlers to enter the Mosque and roam its courtyards, adding that two Israeli intelligence officers were present during the break-in.
Settler break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque are allowed every day in two rounds: in the morning and in the afternoon, except Fridays and Saturdays.
Media official at the Islamic Awqaf Department Feras al-Dibs said that dozens of Israeli settlers broke into al-Aqsa Mosque in the morning amid heavy police presence.
Al-Dibs told Quds Press that the Israeli police allowed 66 settlers to enter the Mosque and roam its courtyards, adding that two Israeli intelligence officers were present during the break-in.
Settler break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque are allowed every day in two rounds: in the morning and in the afternoon, except Fridays and Saturdays.
29 may 2018
Scores of Israeli settlers on Tuesday morning stormed al-Aqsa Mosque amid heavy police presence.
Quds Press reported that the Israeli police allowed 70 settlers to enter the Mosque via al-Maghareba Gate.
According to the news agency, the settlers roamed the Mosque's courtyards and performed Talmudic rituals while escorted by dozens of Israeli policemen.
The Israeli police open al-Aqsa gates for settler break-ins on a daily basis, except Friday and Saturday, even during the holy month of Ramadan, which sometimes sparks clashes between Muslim worshipers and settlers.
Quds Press reported that the Israeli police allowed 70 settlers to enter the Mosque via al-Maghareba Gate.
According to the news agency, the settlers roamed the Mosque's courtyards and performed Talmudic rituals while escorted by dozens of Israeli policemen.
The Israeli police open al-Aqsa gates for settler break-ins on a daily basis, except Friday and Saturday, even during the holy month of Ramadan, which sometimes sparks clashes between Muslim worshipers and settlers.
