31 mar 2014
Several Jerusalemites were assaulted on Monday evening, during a provocative march in the Old City of Jerusalem, by Israeli settlers who were assisted by security forces. WAFA news agency said in a report on the incident: “A group of settlers rallied in the Old City of Jerusalem to celebrate the month of Nissan. The settlers assaulted Jerusalemites who were harassed both by the settlers and the Israeli forces”.
The agency further stated that settlers rallied in the courtyard of the Buraq Wall and performed rituals before heading in their Talmudic march around Al-Aqsa gates.
The news agency added, quoting eye-witnesses, “Settlers stopped at Al-Aqsa gates and performed boisterous dances combined with chauvinistic lyrics and racist catchphrases.”
According to the Hebrew Calendar, Monday 31st marks the first day of the Jewish month of Nissan and a harbinger of the most important Talmudic holidays.
The agency further stated that settlers rallied in the courtyard of the Buraq Wall and performed rituals before heading in their Talmudic march around Al-Aqsa gates.
The news agency added, quoting eye-witnesses, “Settlers stopped at Al-Aqsa gates and performed boisterous dances combined with chauvinistic lyrics and racist catchphrases.”
According to the Hebrew Calendar, Monday 31st marks the first day of the Jewish month of Nissan and a harbinger of the most important Talmudic holidays.
Warnings against intended massive Jewish break-ins at the Aqsa Mosque
Senior fanatic rabbis and Israeli academic figures urged Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu to build a synagogue on part of the Aqsa Mosque, which they claim to be the temple mount. According to the Aqsa foundation for endowment and heritage, a number of rabbis and academics signed a letter written by an extremist Jewish group called Amutat Yishai demanding Netanyahu to officially facilitate the building of a synagogue at the Aqsa Mosque.
"The temple mount is a unique place for prayer. As prime minister, we ask you to do what is necessary to establish a place of prayer for Jews on the temple mount," the letter, which was handed to Netanyahu, read.
The Aqsa foundation also warned that Jewish temple groups circulated announcements calling on the Jews to participate on April 10 in drills that simulate a sacrificial ceremony at the alleged temple mount before holding it officially under police protection at the Aqsa Mosque on the Passover occasion that will be celebrated in mid-April.
The Jewish announcements also included calls for intensifying daily mass break-ins nowadays at the Aqsa Mosque.
The Aqsa foundation said that the renewed Jewish intents to hold a sacrificial ceremony, build a synagogue and intensify desecration break-ins at the Aqsa Mosque, reflect the real dangers threatening the Mosque and the level of hysteria and insanity which the Israeli occupation state and its executive wings have reached.
The organization appealed to the Arab and Muslim nations and their leaders to urgently take action to protect the Aqsa Mosque against any reckless moves by the occupation and its Jewish settlers.
Senior fanatic rabbis and Israeli academic figures urged Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu to build a synagogue on part of the Aqsa Mosque, which they claim to be the temple mount. According to the Aqsa foundation for endowment and heritage, a number of rabbis and academics signed a letter written by an extremist Jewish group called Amutat Yishai demanding Netanyahu to officially facilitate the building of a synagogue at the Aqsa Mosque.
"The temple mount is a unique place for prayer. As prime minister, we ask you to do what is necessary to establish a place of prayer for Jews on the temple mount," the letter, which was handed to Netanyahu, read.
The Aqsa foundation also warned that Jewish temple groups circulated announcements calling on the Jews to participate on April 10 in drills that simulate a sacrificial ceremony at the alleged temple mount before holding it officially under police protection at the Aqsa Mosque on the Passover occasion that will be celebrated in mid-April.
The Jewish announcements also included calls for intensifying daily mass break-ins nowadays at the Aqsa Mosque.
The Aqsa foundation said that the renewed Jewish intents to hold a sacrificial ceremony, build a synagogue and intensify desecration break-ins at the Aqsa Mosque, reflect the real dangers threatening the Mosque and the level of hysteria and insanity which the Israeli occupation state and its executive wings have reached.
The organization appealed to the Arab and Muslim nations and their leaders to urgently take action to protect the Aqsa Mosque against any reckless moves by the occupation and its Jewish settlers.
The Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage said that the Israeli Occupation Authorities (IOA) approved on Sunday the establishment of an Israeli synagogue in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem. The foundation said that this Judaization project is only 200 meters away from al-Aqsa Mosque. It comprises four floors in addition to an underground floor.
AFEH said that approximately 100 synagogues and Jewish schools were established in the Old City of Jerusalem.
The foundation pointed out that this project came as part of Israeli plans to Judaize the whole Old City during the next 20 years, stressing that Jerusalemites' steadfastness would foil such schemes.
The statement added that the Israeli authorities took advantage of these religious buildings in order to cover up its Judaization and settlement schemes.
The Aqsa Foundation said that the establishment of Jewish synagogues aims to intensify Israeli break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque especially that they provide crowds of extremists who call for the destruction of the holy mosque and the displacement of Palestinians.
It charged that the Israeli authorities have deliberately surrounded al-Aqsa Mosque with these synagogues as a prelude to take control over it.
The Aqsa Foundation has warned of the seriousness of this Judaization scheme that aims to falsify history and give alleged right to Jews in the area.
AFEH said that approximately 100 synagogues and Jewish schools were established in the Old City of Jerusalem.
The foundation pointed out that this project came as part of Israeli plans to Judaize the whole Old City during the next 20 years, stressing that Jerusalemites' steadfastness would foil such schemes.
The statement added that the Israeli authorities took advantage of these religious buildings in order to cover up its Judaization and settlement schemes.
The Aqsa Foundation said that the establishment of Jewish synagogues aims to intensify Israeli break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque especially that they provide crowds of extremists who call for the destruction of the holy mosque and the displacement of Palestinians.
It charged that the Israeli authorities have deliberately surrounded al-Aqsa Mosque with these synagogues as a prelude to take control over it.
The Aqsa Foundation has warned of the seriousness of this Judaization scheme that aims to falsify history and give alleged right to Jews in the area.
By Jack Moore
Palestinian protesters run away as an Israeli military bulldozer clears a road block placed by the protesters during clashes at a demonstration against the nearby Jewish settlement of Kdumim
Israeli bulldozers have destroyed a Palestinian-owned East Jerusalem complex that housed a mosque, apartments and a medical centre.
Abu Ghaliya, the owner of the compound, said that the building was demolished "without prior notice" from Israeli authorities.
Witnesses told Maan News Agency that Israeli police and special forces stormed Khallat al-Ein square in the al-Tur neighbourhood east of Jerusalem's Old City to prepare the building for demolition.
The officers evacuated the building and turned off the gas and water before the bulldozers were sent in.
The reason for the demolition is thought to be that Ghaliya did not have the required construction permit, though Ghaliya claims that he has been trying for 18 years to acquire a permit from the Jerusalem municipality.
The Mayor of Jerusalem "approved construction in the area...[but]...the Israeli ministry of interior opposed construction," he said.
Last month, a group of aid organisations expressed alarm at the rise in Israeli demolitions of Palestinian property.
In a statement, 25 aid organisations revealed that Israeli demolitions had increased year on year by almost 50% in the second half of 2013.
112 of the 663 Palestinian properties demolished in 2013 were built using money from international aid.
Source: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES
Palestinian protesters run away as an Israeli military bulldozer clears a road block placed by the protesters during clashes at a demonstration against the nearby Jewish settlement of Kdumim
Israeli bulldozers have destroyed a Palestinian-owned East Jerusalem complex that housed a mosque, apartments and a medical centre.
Abu Ghaliya, the owner of the compound, said that the building was demolished "without prior notice" from Israeli authorities.
Witnesses told Maan News Agency that Israeli police and special forces stormed Khallat al-Ein square in the al-Tur neighbourhood east of Jerusalem's Old City to prepare the building for demolition.
The officers evacuated the building and turned off the gas and water before the bulldozers were sent in.
The reason for the demolition is thought to be that Ghaliya did not have the required construction permit, though Ghaliya claims that he has been trying for 18 years to acquire a permit from the Jerusalem municipality.
The Mayor of Jerusalem "approved construction in the area...[but]...the Israeli ministry of interior opposed construction," he said.
Last month, a group of aid organisations expressed alarm at the rise in Israeli demolitions of Palestinian property.
In a statement, 25 aid organisations revealed that Israeli demolitions had increased year on year by almost 50% in the second half of 2013.
112 of the 663 Palestinian properties demolished in 2013 were built using money from international aid.
Source: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES
Al-Quds international institution called for concrete Arab and Islamic support for the Palestinian people in occupied Jerusalem in order to strengthen their steadfastness on their land in the face of Israel's expanding Judaization activities.
"In light of the difficult situation which the Palestinian cause is coming through…, we demand the Arab and Islamic nations to provide spiritual and financial support necessary for strengthening the steadfastness of the Jerusalemites, making them have decent lives and motivate them to stay on their land and defend it," Al-Quds institution stated in press remarks to Quds Press on the 38th anniversary of the Land Day.
"On the 38th anniversary of the Land Day, the Palestinians continue to face the Israeli occupation with their steadfastness on their land, and their persistence in defending and clinging to it despite the Judaization policy which the occupation is pursuing in the occupied Palestinian lands, especially in Jerusalem," the international organization added.
Al-Quds institution demanded the Arab and Islamic countries to have a firm position against any Palestinian concession on any part of Jerusalem and against the negotiations taking place between the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli occupation.
"In light of the difficult situation which the Palestinian cause is coming through…, we demand the Arab and Islamic nations to provide spiritual and financial support necessary for strengthening the steadfastness of the Jerusalemites, making them have decent lives and motivate them to stay on their land and defend it," Al-Quds institution stated in press remarks to Quds Press on the 38th anniversary of the Land Day.
"On the 38th anniversary of the Land Day, the Palestinians continue to face the Israeli occupation with their steadfastness on their land, and their persistence in defending and clinging to it despite the Judaization policy which the occupation is pursuing in the occupied Palestinian lands, especially in Jerusalem," the international organization added.
Al-Quds institution demanded the Arab and Islamic countries to have a firm position against any Palestinian concession on any part of Jerusalem and against the negotiations taking place between the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli occupation.
Tunisian associations have organized a campaign in support of Al-Aqsa Mosque along the month of March under the title "Siraj Al-Aqsa campaign". A closing ceremony has taken place on the 30th of March to mark the Land Day.
According to Soumaya Hamdi, the spokeswoman for Al-Aqsa Youth Association, the campaign included collecting funds in favor of restoration work in al-Aqsa Mosque and to support Jerusalemites' steadfastness in face of Israeli Judaization policy.
A closing ceremony has been organized in the coastal city of Sousse, where flyers and reports on Israeli Judaization schemes in Al-Aqsa Mosque and occupied Jerusalem were distributed
A videotape on al-Magaribeh Gate and Quarter was broadcasted during the event, documenting Israeli excavations and continued violations in occupied Jerusalem.
Hamdi told PIC reporter that this event came as part of Al-Aqsa Mosque project that was earlier launched by her association, stressing that al-Aqsa Mosque is part of the faith and doctrine of 1.5 billion Muslims.
Al-Aqsa Youth Association is a Tunisian association established in 2012 in support of the Palestinian issue. It works at exposing Israeli violations and Judaization schemes in al-Aqsa Mosque.
According to Soumaya Hamdi, the spokeswoman for Al-Aqsa Youth Association, the campaign included collecting funds in favor of restoration work in al-Aqsa Mosque and to support Jerusalemites' steadfastness in face of Israeli Judaization policy.
A closing ceremony has been organized in the coastal city of Sousse, where flyers and reports on Israeli Judaization schemes in Al-Aqsa Mosque and occupied Jerusalem were distributed
A videotape on al-Magaribeh Gate and Quarter was broadcasted during the event, documenting Israeli excavations and continued violations in occupied Jerusalem.
Hamdi told PIC reporter that this event came as part of Al-Aqsa Mosque project that was earlier launched by her association, stressing that al-Aqsa Mosque is part of the faith and doctrine of 1.5 billion Muslims.
Al-Aqsa Youth Association is a Tunisian association established in 2012 in support of the Palestinian issue. It works at exposing Israeli violations and Judaization schemes in al-Aqsa Mosque.
30 mar 2014
Jewish settlers broke into the Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem via Maghareba gate in small groups on Sunday morning under heavy police protection.
Wafa news agency quoted an employee with the Awqaf department in Jerusalem as saying that the settlers defiled the holy site in small and successive groups that embarked on “suspicious” tours of the Aqsa compound.
Eyewitnesses, meanwhile, pointed to the presence of a big number of worshipers and Jerusalem school students inside the Mosque.
They said that Israeli policemen deployed at the Aqsa entry gates scrutinized IDs of students and held those IDs until the students got out of the Mosque.
Wafa news agency quoted an employee with the Awqaf department in Jerusalem as saying that the settlers defiled the holy site in small and successive groups that embarked on “suspicious” tours of the Aqsa compound.
Eyewitnesses, meanwhile, pointed to the presence of a big number of worshipers and Jerusalem school students inside the Mosque.
They said that Israeli policemen deployed at the Aqsa entry gates scrutinized IDs of students and held those IDs until the students got out of the Mosque.
The Aqsa foundation for endowment and heritage said that the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) plans to build about 100 synagogues and religious schools in the Old City of Jerusalem. In a press release on Saturday, the Aqsa foundation stated these synagogues and schools are part of a big plan aimed at Judaizing the whole Old City of Jerusalem during the coming 20 years.
It warned that Israel wants to encircle the Aqsa Mosque with these synagogues and schools, which will serve as hotbeds for Jewish temple groups that target the Mosque.
The foundation noted that the IOA built in recent years two big synagogues in place of Islamic holy sites near the Aqsa Mosque and plans to build a third huge synagogue soon in the Old City of Jerusalem.
It warned that Israel wants to encircle the Aqsa Mosque with these synagogues and schools, which will serve as hotbeds for Jewish temple groups that target the Mosque.
The foundation noted that the IOA built in recent years two big synagogues in place of Islamic holy sites near the Aqsa Mosque and plans to build a third huge synagogue soon in the Old City of Jerusalem.
29 mar 2014
The Shoafat neighborhood of East Jerusalem
European Union diplomats stationed in Jerusalem and Ramallah cautioned about the changing status quo in the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the growing tension triggered by right-wing Jewish groups. “There remains a significant risk that incidents at this highly sensitive site, or perceived threats to the status quo, may spark extreme reactions locally as well as across the Arab and Muslim world, and have the potential to derail the peace negotiations,” according to the report obtained by Israeli daily Haaretz.
The report points to the Israeli policies mounted against almost 100,000 East Jerusalem residents, incarnated in the building ban and lack of freedom of movement, which are all "aimed at cementing Israel's unilateral and illegal annexation of East Jerusalem,”
It warns against allocating separate times for each Muslims and Jews to access the mosque's courtyards, similar to what happened at the 'al-Haram al-Ibrahmi' -Israeli dubbed as Cave of the Patriarchs- in Hebron, which could hinder the 'peace process'.
The report says there has been an "unprecedented surge in settlements activity” since the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations resumed in July 2013. It considered that as a part of Israel’s strategy to use the settlement construction and infrastructures “to expand Jerusalem deeply into the West Bank” so that it includes the settlement blocs of Maale Adumim, Gush Etzion and Givat Ze’ev.
While making out 39 percent Jerusalem’s 800,000 residents, Palestinians are only allocated 10 percent of the municipal budget, the report says. 200,000 of the residents are Israelis living in East Jerusalem settlements, the report confirms.
“Around 53 percent of the Israeli-defined municipal area of East Jerusalem is unavailable for development and 35 percent has been designated for settlement use,” leaving less than 13 percent for the housing needs of Palestinians.
In 2013 'Israel' demolished 98 houses in occupied East Jerusalem; the same number of houses that were demolished in the past three years which led to the displacement of 298 people, including 153 children, it added.
The report recommends empowering Palestinians and saving the status of Jerusalem as the capital of two states; to increase supervision over the Haram Al-Sharif and Silwan and respond to the uprooting of Bedouin areas E and to demand 'Israel' to allow European citizens and diplomats to move freely between Israel and the West Bank.
It also recommends imposing restrictions on the entry of settlers involved in violence in to Europe.
European Union diplomats stationed in Jerusalem and Ramallah cautioned about the changing status quo in the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the growing tension triggered by right-wing Jewish groups. “There remains a significant risk that incidents at this highly sensitive site, or perceived threats to the status quo, may spark extreme reactions locally as well as across the Arab and Muslim world, and have the potential to derail the peace negotiations,” according to the report obtained by Israeli daily Haaretz.
The report points to the Israeli policies mounted against almost 100,000 East Jerusalem residents, incarnated in the building ban and lack of freedom of movement, which are all "aimed at cementing Israel's unilateral and illegal annexation of East Jerusalem,”
It warns against allocating separate times for each Muslims and Jews to access the mosque's courtyards, similar to what happened at the 'al-Haram al-Ibrahmi' -Israeli dubbed as Cave of the Patriarchs- in Hebron, which could hinder the 'peace process'.
The report says there has been an "unprecedented surge in settlements activity” since the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations resumed in July 2013. It considered that as a part of Israel’s strategy to use the settlement construction and infrastructures “to expand Jerusalem deeply into the West Bank” so that it includes the settlement blocs of Maale Adumim, Gush Etzion and Givat Ze’ev.
While making out 39 percent Jerusalem’s 800,000 residents, Palestinians are only allocated 10 percent of the municipal budget, the report says. 200,000 of the residents are Israelis living in East Jerusalem settlements, the report confirms.
“Around 53 percent of the Israeli-defined municipal area of East Jerusalem is unavailable for development and 35 percent has been designated for settlement use,” leaving less than 13 percent for the housing needs of Palestinians.
In 2013 'Israel' demolished 98 houses in occupied East Jerusalem; the same number of houses that were demolished in the past three years which led to the displacement of 298 people, including 153 children, it added.
The report recommends empowering Palestinians and saving the status of Jerusalem as the capital of two states; to increase supervision over the Haram Al-Sharif and Silwan and respond to the uprooting of Bedouin areas E and to demand 'Israel' to allow European citizens and diplomats to move freely between Israel and the West Bank.
It also recommends imposing restrictions on the entry of settlers involved in violence in to Europe.
28 mar 2014
Radical Jewish settlers are readying to move into a major property in the commercial heart of occupied East Jerusalem, overlooking the walls of the Old City, officials have told AFP.
A large part of the property, which also houses East Jerusalem's main post office and an Israeli police station, was purchased last year by a radical settler group called Ateret Cohanim, which bought it from Israel's Bezeq telecoms company.
Located on the corner of Salah al-Din and Sultan Suleiman in the busy center of East Jerusalem just outside the Old City walls, the property is currently being converted into a Jewish seminary, or yeshiva, an Israeli official and Palestinian workers said.
Ateret Cohanim actively works to settle as many Jews as possible in densely populated Palestinian areas in and around the Old City.
The purchase was first reported in Israel's Haaretz newspaper, which published part of an email in which Ateret Cohanim’s executive director Daniel Luria contacted supporters to announce the acquisition of more than 1,000 square meters in "a very large and strategic building" just outside the Old City.
An Israeli official confirmed the group had bought parts of the property and was currently carrying out renovations in order to have it ready for occupancy before the week-long Passover festival begins in mid-April.
"They are now renovating it for the yeshiva and for a school to prepare Orthodox Jews for military service," he told AFP. "They are trying to set it all up before Passover on April 13."
Contacted by AFP, a spokesman for Bezeq refused to confirm who was behind the purchase.
"We will not disclose the identity of the buyers," he said.
Luria declined to speak to AFP.
The building is currently being renovated by Palestinian workers under the supervision of Israeli technicians and engineers.
"We work day and night. It is almost ready," said one worker who refused to give his name.
Local shopkeepers said they had been aware of the plan for several months.
"We found out four months ago from the workers that settlers had purchased the property and are turning it into a yeshiva," said Adel al-Sharbati, who owns a nearby mobile phone shop and spoke of a sense of powerlessness.
"They’re the strong ones here -- who should we complain to?" he told AFP, saying it was likely to raise tensions in the area.
"The whole area will be affected negatively once they're here," he added.
A large part of the property, which also houses East Jerusalem's main post office and an Israeli police station, was purchased last year by a radical settler group called Ateret Cohanim, which bought it from Israel's Bezeq telecoms company.
Located on the corner of Salah al-Din and Sultan Suleiman in the busy center of East Jerusalem just outside the Old City walls, the property is currently being converted into a Jewish seminary, or yeshiva, an Israeli official and Palestinian workers said.
Ateret Cohanim actively works to settle as many Jews as possible in densely populated Palestinian areas in and around the Old City.
The purchase was first reported in Israel's Haaretz newspaper, which published part of an email in which Ateret Cohanim’s executive director Daniel Luria contacted supporters to announce the acquisition of more than 1,000 square meters in "a very large and strategic building" just outside the Old City.
An Israeli official confirmed the group had bought parts of the property and was currently carrying out renovations in order to have it ready for occupancy before the week-long Passover festival begins in mid-April.
"They are now renovating it for the yeshiva and for a school to prepare Orthodox Jews for military service," he told AFP. "They are trying to set it all up before Passover on April 13."
Contacted by AFP, a spokesman for Bezeq refused to confirm who was behind the purchase.
"We will not disclose the identity of the buyers," he said.
Luria declined to speak to AFP.
The building is currently being renovated by Palestinian workers under the supervision of Israeli technicians and engineers.
"We work day and night. It is almost ready," said one worker who refused to give his name.
Local shopkeepers said they had been aware of the plan for several months.
"We found out four months ago from the workers that settlers had purchased the property and are turning it into a yeshiva," said Adel al-Sharbati, who owns a nearby mobile phone shop and spoke of a sense of powerlessness.
"They’re the strong ones here -- who should we complain to?" he told AFP, saying it was likely to raise tensions in the area.
"The whole area will be affected negatively once they're here," he added.
27 mar 2014
The Arab organization for human rights (AOHR) in London called on the world's decision-makers to take action against the Israeli dangers and violations threatening the occupied city of Jerusalem and its holy sites, especially the Aqsa Mosque. The Arab organization stated that the international silence encouraged Israel to persist in committing war crimes in Jerusalem and using all its legislative, security, military and executive tools to Judaize the holy city.
"Every day, Israeli issues tenders for the construction of settlement units and works on appropriating Palestinian homes and withdrawing IDs as part of an ethnic cleansing process that has never been seen in history," AOHR added.
During the current month of March, for example, Israel demolished four Jerusalemite homes and one store, forced Palestinians to knock down three of their homes at the pretext of unlicensed construction and threatened to destroy 13 others in the neighborhoods of Thawri and Silwan, according to the organization.
The month also saw new Israeli plans to build 2,250 housing units in seven settlements in occupied Jerusalem as well as a Jewish neighborhood on Palestinian annexed lands in Beit Hanina town, a religious school and a Jewish museum.
"The official settlement expansion in Jerusalem city goes on together with restrictions on the Arab neighborhoods, where the Palestinians are prevented from building new housing units, despite the urgent need for them, and from renovating ramshackle buildings."
"This policy has created a serious impact on the educational situation, where there are more than 15,000 [Palestinian] children deprived every year of regular school attendance as result of overcrowding and lack of adequate classrooms," the organization explained further.
AOHR pointed out that such violations are also practiced against the Palestinian Islamic and Christian holy sites, especially the Aqsa Mosque, where Israel continues digging tunnels under and around its foundations, prevents Muslims from entering it and physically assault them during daily raids in its courtyards.
It warned that Israel's escalating violations against the Palestinian natives of Jerusalem and the Aqsa Mosque do not only portend the explosion of the fragile situation in the city but also threaten the international peace and security.
"Every day, Israeli issues tenders for the construction of settlement units and works on appropriating Palestinian homes and withdrawing IDs as part of an ethnic cleansing process that has never been seen in history," AOHR added.
During the current month of March, for example, Israel demolished four Jerusalemite homes and one store, forced Palestinians to knock down three of their homes at the pretext of unlicensed construction and threatened to destroy 13 others in the neighborhoods of Thawri and Silwan, according to the organization.
The month also saw new Israeli plans to build 2,250 housing units in seven settlements in occupied Jerusalem as well as a Jewish neighborhood on Palestinian annexed lands in Beit Hanina town, a religious school and a Jewish museum.
"The official settlement expansion in Jerusalem city goes on together with restrictions on the Arab neighborhoods, where the Palestinians are prevented from building new housing units, despite the urgent need for them, and from renovating ramshackle buildings."
"This policy has created a serious impact on the educational situation, where there are more than 15,000 [Palestinian] children deprived every year of regular school attendance as result of overcrowding and lack of adequate classrooms," the organization explained further.
AOHR pointed out that such violations are also practiced against the Palestinian Islamic and Christian holy sites, especially the Aqsa Mosque, where Israel continues digging tunnels under and around its foundations, prevents Muslims from entering it and physically assault them during daily raids in its courtyards.
It warned that Israel's escalating violations against the Palestinian natives of Jerusalem and the Aqsa Mosque do not only portend the explosion of the fragile situation in the city but also threaten the international peace and security.
26 mar 2014
Israeli soldiers invaded the Khallit al-Ein neighborhood, in the at-Tour town in occupied East Jerusalem, and demolished an apartment building that belongs to a local family. The building also contained a mosque and a clinic.
The building belongs to resident Ghadir Ajram Abu Ghalia; dozens of soldiers, undercover soldiers and police officers invaded the area and surrounded the building before forcing the residents out and violently removing their furniture and belongings.
Ghadir said the soldiers demolished the building without any prior notice, and that the demolished structure is a two-story 700 square/meter building has a mosque, a clinic, two apartments, and storage rooms. Eleven persons were rendered homeless.
The building was constructed nearly three years ago; the family spent 18 years filing legal documents and permit applications just to get a structural plan approved.
The City Council approved the construction as the land in question is designated for constructions, but the Ministry of Interior denied the application altogether.
On Tuesday, the family obtained a High Court order to delay the destruction of the property, and the Central Court was supposed to discuss the case in May, but the city council went ahead and demolished it.
This is the second time Israeli demolishes the building, as it was first demolished in 2007.
The building belongs to resident Ghadir Ajram Abu Ghalia; dozens of soldiers, undercover soldiers and police officers invaded the area and surrounded the building before forcing the residents out and violently removing their furniture and belongings.
Ghadir said the soldiers demolished the building without any prior notice, and that the demolished structure is a two-story 700 square/meter building has a mosque, a clinic, two apartments, and storage rooms. Eleven persons were rendered homeless.
The building was constructed nearly three years ago; the family spent 18 years filing legal documents and permit applications just to get a structural plan approved.
The City Council approved the construction as the land in question is designated for constructions, but the Ministry of Interior denied the application altogether.
On Tuesday, the family obtained a High Court order to delay the destruction of the property, and the Central Court was supposed to discuss the case in May, but the city council went ahead and demolished it.
This is the second time Israeli demolishes the building, as it was first demolished in 2007.
24 mar 2014
Israeli institutes have begun implementing "the biggest Judaization" project in Jerusalem, the Waqf organization that overseas the Al-Aqsa Mosque said in a statement Monday.
The project, called the "National Antiquities Complex," will be constructed on a 20 dunams (5 acres) of land in West Jerusalem near Hebrew University's Givat Ram campus, the statement said.
The complex will contain an "antiquities library," a "national scientific antiquities archive," a department for "the home of the Israeli antiquities authority," and other offices for archiving and storing antiquities.
It will hold around 2 million artifacts, including the "alleged" Dead Sea scrolls, the press release said.
The "antiquities library" will hold 150,000 books, including 500 rare books and scrolls, and over 1,000 journals. The archives will include documents from the British Mandate in Palestine such as maps and publications related to British excavations in the 1900s.
Project coordinators raised approximately $100 million for the National Antiquities Complex, collecting funds from 26 Zionist, mostly American, organizations, the Waqf statement said.
Additionally, some of the funding for the project came from the Israeli government.
Construction on the complex is expected to be completed in 2016.
The Waqf organization condemned the project, saying it aimed "to show the Talmudic account on the land of Palestine."
The project, called the "National Antiquities Complex," will be constructed on a 20 dunams (5 acres) of land in West Jerusalem near Hebrew University's Givat Ram campus, the statement said.
The complex will contain an "antiquities library," a "national scientific antiquities archive," a department for "the home of the Israeli antiquities authority," and other offices for archiving and storing antiquities.
It will hold around 2 million artifacts, including the "alleged" Dead Sea scrolls, the press release said.
The "antiquities library" will hold 150,000 books, including 500 rare books and scrolls, and over 1,000 journals. The archives will include documents from the British Mandate in Palestine such as maps and publications related to British excavations in the 1900s.
Project coordinators raised approximately $100 million for the National Antiquities Complex, collecting funds from 26 Zionist, mostly American, organizations, the Waqf statement said.
Additionally, some of the funding for the project came from the Israeli government.
Construction on the complex is expected to be completed in 2016.
The Waqf organization condemned the project, saying it aimed "to show the Talmudic account on the land of Palestine."
Hamas movement condemned the growing Israeli occupation authority’s Judaization campaign in occupied Jerusalem. The movement said in a press release on Monday that the IOA was exploiting the negotiations with the Palestinian Authority, the American bias, and the international collusion vis-à-vis continued IOA crimes to accomplish its Judaization schemes.
Hamas warned the IOA against persisting in such schemes in a bid to impose a fait accompli, which would not be accepted by the Palestinian people.
Hamas was commenting on the new IOA plan to establish a national archaeology complex over an area of 35,000 square meters in the western area of occupied Jerusalem.
The movement urged the PA to immediately suspend the “frivolous” negotiations with the IOA, which uses the process to cover up for its crimes, and to return to national reconciliation based on a unified struggle program.
Hamas, in conclusion, affirmed that the IOA relentless attempts to seize more Palestinian land and to Judaize its holy shrines would not succeed in wiping out its historical landmarks.
Hamas warned the IOA against persisting in such schemes in a bid to impose a fait accompli, which would not be accepted by the Palestinian people.
Hamas was commenting on the new IOA plan to establish a national archaeology complex over an area of 35,000 square meters in the western area of occupied Jerusalem.
The movement urged the PA to immediately suspend the “frivolous” negotiations with the IOA, which uses the process to cover up for its crimes, and to return to national reconciliation based on a unified struggle program.
Hamas, in conclusion, affirmed that the IOA relentless attempts to seize more Palestinian land and to Judaize its holy shrines would not succeed in wiping out its historical landmarks.
Jordanian minister of religious affairs Ha'yel Al-Dawoud said that Israel's control of the Aqsa Mosque is reprehensible and stressed the need for activating the Jordanian sovereignty over the Mosque. Dawoud made his remarks during a symposium organized by Jerusalem cultural forum in Amman on Sunday.
The minister affirmed that Jordan has religious, legal and administrative sovereignty over the Aqsa Mosque, but Israel imposed its political sovereignty by force on the Mosque and this cannot be accepted.
For his part, head of the forum Isaac Farhan stated that Jordan's sovereignty over the Aqsa Mosque is on behalf of the Muslim Nation and any threat to it targets the whole Nation.
Farhan added that the Islamic sovereignty over the Mosque must be achieved on the ground through curbing Israel's intervention in the Mosque's affairs.
In a related context, the Aqsa foundation for endowment and heritage renewed its warning against the mounting Jewish break-ins, especially by soldiers, at the Aqsa Mosque.
The Aqsa foundation stated that the repeated break-ins by Israeli soldiers serve as warnings to the Muslim Nation and threatens the safety and security of the Aqsa Mosque and its Muslim visitors.
The foundation made its warning after about 60 Israeli soldiers in uniform desecrated the Aqsa Mosque on Sunday afternoon under tight police protection.
The minister affirmed that Jordan has religious, legal and administrative sovereignty over the Aqsa Mosque, but Israel imposed its political sovereignty by force on the Mosque and this cannot be accepted.
For his part, head of the forum Isaac Farhan stated that Jordan's sovereignty over the Aqsa Mosque is on behalf of the Muslim Nation and any threat to it targets the whole Nation.
Farhan added that the Islamic sovereignty over the Mosque must be achieved on the ground through curbing Israel's intervention in the Mosque's affairs.
In a related context, the Aqsa foundation for endowment and heritage renewed its warning against the mounting Jewish break-ins, especially by soldiers, at the Aqsa Mosque.
The Aqsa foundation stated that the repeated break-ins by Israeli soldiers serve as warnings to the Muslim Nation and threatens the safety and security of the Aqsa Mosque and its Muslim visitors.
The foundation made its warning after about 60 Israeli soldiers in uniform desecrated the Aqsa Mosque on Sunday afternoon under tight police protection.