13 may 2018
White House senior advisors Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner receive a blessing from Israeli Chief Rabbi Yitzhak
Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump reportedly received a blessing in Jerusalem on Sunday from Israel’s Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef — who was condemned by the Anti-Defamation League earlier this year for comparing black people to monkeys.
Kushner and Trump, both senior advisors to President Trump, are in Israel as part of the American delegation celebrating the moving of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Jewish Insider reported that in addition to having dinner with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and attending a ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they also received a blessing from Yosef, one of the country’s two chief rabbis.
During a sermon in March on how to properly say a blessing, Yosef used the Hebrew word “kushi,” which was used in the Bible but is now considered a derogatory term for black people.
“You can’t make the blessing on every ‘kushi’ you see — in America you see one every five minutes, so you make it only on a person with a white father and mother,” he said, according to the Times of Israel. ”How do would you know? Let’s say you know! So they had a monkey as a son, a son like this, so you say the blessing on him.”
The ADL said in a tweet at the time that the remarks were “utterly unacceptable.” Yosef’s office responded that he was merely citing the Talmud, which also has similar language about other animals like elephants.
Yosef had also attracted criticism for other comments in the past few years, such as implying in 2017 that secular women behave like animals because of their immodest dress and claiming in 2016 that according to Jewish law, non-Jews are forbidden from living in Israel.
Contact Aiden Pink at pink@forward.com or on Twitter, @aidenpink
Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump reportedly received a blessing in Jerusalem on Sunday from Israel’s Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef — who was condemned by the Anti-Defamation League earlier this year for comparing black people to monkeys.
Kushner and Trump, both senior advisors to President Trump, are in Israel as part of the American delegation celebrating the moving of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Jewish Insider reported that in addition to having dinner with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and attending a ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they also received a blessing from Yosef, one of the country’s two chief rabbis.
During a sermon in March on how to properly say a blessing, Yosef used the Hebrew word “kushi,” which was used in the Bible but is now considered a derogatory term for black people.
“You can’t make the blessing on every ‘kushi’ you see — in America you see one every five minutes, so you make it only on a person with a white father and mother,” he said, according to the Times of Israel. ”How do would you know? Let’s say you know! So they had a monkey as a son, a son like this, so you say the blessing on him.”
The ADL said in a tweet at the time that the remarks were “utterly unacceptable.” Yosef’s office responded that he was merely citing the Talmud, which also has similar language about other animals like elephants.
Yosef had also attracted criticism for other comments in the past few years, such as implying in 2017 that secular women behave like animals because of their immodest dress and claiming in 2016 that according to Jewish law, non-Jews are forbidden from living in Israel.
Contact Aiden Pink at pink@forward.com or on Twitter, @aidenpink
The Israeli police on Sunday attacked a group of Palestinian women and girls who were protesting in Occupied Jerusalem against settler demonstrations.
Media sources reported that the Israeli police closed many roads which the settler marches are planned to pass on and deployed its forces in large numbers in the holy city, especially in Bab al-Amud area.
The sources added that Israeli special forces assaulted a group of women taking part in a protest against the "March of Flags" organized by Israeli settlers, and pushed them away from the place.
The police further restricted the movement of journalists who came to cover the protests and forced them to stay in one place.
National and Islamic forces in Jerusalem had called on Palestinian citizens to take to the streets on Sunday to confront the March of Flags launched by Israeli settlers to celebrate the Jerusalem Reunification Day, a day that marks the Israeli occupation of the eastern part of Jerusalem in 1967.
The Israelis this year celebrate the 51st anniversary of the Israeli occupation of the eastern part of Jerusalem in the 1967 war, also known as "June setback".
Media sources reported that the Israeli police closed many roads which the settler marches are planned to pass on and deployed its forces in large numbers in the holy city, especially in Bab al-Amud area.
The sources added that Israeli special forces assaulted a group of women taking part in a protest against the "March of Flags" organized by Israeli settlers, and pushed them away from the place.
The police further restricted the movement of journalists who came to cover the protests and forced them to stay in one place.
National and Islamic forces in Jerusalem had called on Palestinian citizens to take to the streets on Sunday to confront the March of Flags launched by Israeli settlers to celebrate the Jerusalem Reunification Day, a day that marks the Israeli occupation of the eastern part of Jerusalem in 1967.
The Israelis this year celebrate the 51st anniversary of the Israeli occupation of the eastern part of Jerusalem in the 1967 war, also known as "June setback".
Over 1000 Israeli settlers have broken into al-Aqsa Mosque since the morning hours of Sunday under heavy police presence.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that tension has flared up in the Mosque, especially that hundreds of extremist settlers, rabbis and Israeli leaders are expected to visit the Mosque during the day to mark the so-called "Jerusalem Reunification Day". video
The PIC reporter said that the Israeli police assaulted a group of Aqsa guards for protesting Talmudic and provocative rituals performed by the settlers in the holy site.
Media official at the Islamic Awqaf Department Firas al-Dibis said that the situation started to get worse when the Israeli police opened al-Maghareba Gate to allow more settler break-ins. video
So-called Temple Mount groups had called on social media for mass incursions into al-Aqsa Mosque on the anniversary of the Israeli occupation of Jerusalem. video
The Israelis on 13th May celebrate the 51st anniversary of the occupation of the eastern part of Jerusalem during the 1967 war, also known as "June setback".
Before 1967, Jerusalem was divided into two parts: the western part, and it was administered by Israel, and the eastern one which was administered by Jordan. The Israelis celebrate the "Jerusalem Reunification Day" in an attempt to emphasize that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel.
Israel occupied the western part of Jerusalem, which covers 84.1% of its area, in 1948, while the eastern part, which represents 11.5% of the city's area, remained administered by Jordan until 1967. The remaining part was declared a UN-controlled demilitarized zone.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that tension has flared up in the Mosque, especially that hundreds of extremist settlers, rabbis and Israeli leaders are expected to visit the Mosque during the day to mark the so-called "Jerusalem Reunification Day". video
The PIC reporter said that the Israeli police assaulted a group of Aqsa guards for protesting Talmudic and provocative rituals performed by the settlers in the holy site.
Media official at the Islamic Awqaf Department Firas al-Dibis said that the situation started to get worse when the Israeli police opened al-Maghareba Gate to allow more settler break-ins. video
So-called Temple Mount groups had called on social media for mass incursions into al-Aqsa Mosque on the anniversary of the Israeli occupation of Jerusalem. video
The Israelis on 13th May celebrate the 51st anniversary of the occupation of the eastern part of Jerusalem during the 1967 war, also known as "June setback".
Before 1967, Jerusalem was divided into two parts: the western part, and it was administered by Israel, and the eastern one which was administered by Jordan. The Israelis celebrate the "Jerusalem Reunification Day" in an attempt to emphasize that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel.
Israel occupied the western part of Jerusalem, which covers 84.1% of its area, in 1948, while the eastern part, which represents 11.5% of the city's area, remained administered by Jordan until 1967. The remaining part was declared a UN-controlled demilitarized zone.
National Palestinian factions have called for a large-scale participation in rallies set to be staged on Monday to protest the relocation of the US embassy in Occupied Jerusalem.
The factions said in a joint statement that buses carrying protesters from Bab al-Sahira will head for the US embassy at 02:30 p.m. on Monday.
The national factions also announced a partial one-hour strike on Monday and called for intensifying protests across Occupied Jerusalem.
Tension has been running high across the occupied Palestinian territories after the US announced its decision to transfer its embassy from Tel Aviv to Occupied Jerusalem, a city which is home to the third holiest site in Islam—al-Aqsa Mosque.
The factions said in a joint statement that buses carrying protesters from Bab al-Sahira will head for the US embassy at 02:30 p.m. on Monday.
The national factions also announced a partial one-hour strike on Monday and called for intensifying protests across Occupied Jerusalem.
Tension has been running high across the occupied Palestinian territories after the US announced its decision to transfer its embassy from Tel Aviv to Occupied Jerusalem, a city which is home to the third holiest site in Islam—al-Aqsa Mosque.
Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has once again reiterated country's firm position on the Palestinian issue, calling the recent hesitation within Arab League states on US decisions on Occupied Jerusalem "a mistake," Anadolu Agency reported, citing his statement.
Speaking at the Forum for Arab Journalists in Istanbul, Cavusoglu has once again lambasted the US decision to move its embassy in Israel to Occupied Jerusalem.
"This decision of the US is wrong," Cavusoglu stated as quoted by Anadolu. "We need to take a common stance against this wrong decision. We are seeing some hesitancy within the Arab League recently, which is a mistake."
The minister emphasized his country's unwavering supportive stance on the Palestinian question, calling for other states not to remain silent towards such serious move by the US administration.
"Turkey will continue to defend the Jerusalem issue for the Palestinians," he stated, adding that Ankara "will not keep silent" on the matter.
Speaking at the Forum for Arab Journalists in Istanbul, Cavusoglu has once again lambasted the US decision to move its embassy in Israel to Occupied Jerusalem.
"This decision of the US is wrong," Cavusoglu stated as quoted by Anadolu. "We need to take a common stance against this wrong decision. We are seeing some hesitancy within the Arab League recently, which is a mistake."
The minister emphasized his country's unwavering supportive stance on the Palestinian question, calling for other states not to remain silent towards such serious move by the US administration.
"Turkey will continue to defend the Jerusalem issue for the Palestinians," he stated, adding that Ankara "will not keep silent" on the matter.
The Inter-parliamentary Jerusalem Platform on Saturday announced the participation of about 3,000 lawmakers in the Jerusalem Oath" signing campaign that was launched to support the Palestinian people’s right to the holy city.
The announcement was made on the sidelines of a symbolic "Jerusalem Oath" signing ceremony attended in Istanbul by more than 50 lawmakers from Turkey, Algeria, Tunisia, Sudan, Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, Yemen and Libya, according to Anadolu news agency.
The Jerusalem Oath signing campaign, which started in early May, will continue in other countries, including Bahrain and Indonesia before concluding it on 14 of the same month.
US president Donald Trump's decision to move his embassy from Tel Aviv to Occupied Jerusalem was deplored by all the participants in the event.
“We would rather die than forsake Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa Mosque,” Nureddin Nebati, a ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's lawmaker and head of the Inter-parliamentary Jerusalem Platform, told Anadolu on Saturday.
"The US, which acts as a mediator, should write a book on insincerity and hypocrisy. Trump's decision was overwhelmingly rejected by the UN General Assembly. Yet the US announced that it would move the embassy on May 14. The children of this gang system [Israel] didn't waste a minute and announced they named the square near the embassy after Trump. With the decision he made as if he was a gang leader, Trump will not get away with violating the law."
"Jerusalem is the red line for Muslims, our unifying point. As a matter of fact, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation [OIC] was founded after 1969 incident," he said, referring to a Christian extremist who set fire to the Mosque.
"As long as we breathe, we will reject this occupation and oppose it. Jerusalem is our city, and its people are our blood brothers. We will not let anybody steal our Jerusalem, and we support all legitimate efforts to defend Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Palestine and shall always remain that way," he said, vowing to maintain the fight till the very end.
Nebati said the Jerusalem Oath campaign, launched by the platform, has been backed by thousands of lawmakers from almost 100 countries.
The announcement was made on the sidelines of a symbolic "Jerusalem Oath" signing ceremony attended in Istanbul by more than 50 lawmakers from Turkey, Algeria, Tunisia, Sudan, Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, Yemen and Libya, according to Anadolu news agency.
The Jerusalem Oath signing campaign, which started in early May, will continue in other countries, including Bahrain and Indonesia before concluding it on 14 of the same month.
US president Donald Trump's decision to move his embassy from Tel Aviv to Occupied Jerusalem was deplored by all the participants in the event.
“We would rather die than forsake Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa Mosque,” Nureddin Nebati, a ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's lawmaker and head of the Inter-parliamentary Jerusalem Platform, told Anadolu on Saturday.
"The US, which acts as a mediator, should write a book on insincerity and hypocrisy. Trump's decision was overwhelmingly rejected by the UN General Assembly. Yet the US announced that it would move the embassy on May 14. The children of this gang system [Israel] didn't waste a minute and announced they named the square near the embassy after Trump. With the decision he made as if he was a gang leader, Trump will not get away with violating the law."
"Jerusalem is the red line for Muslims, our unifying point. As a matter of fact, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation [OIC] was founded after 1969 incident," he said, referring to a Christian extremist who set fire to the Mosque.
"As long as we breathe, we will reject this occupation and oppose it. Jerusalem is our city, and its people are our blood brothers. We will not let anybody steal our Jerusalem, and we support all legitimate efforts to defend Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Palestine and shall always remain that way," he said, vowing to maintain the fight till the very end.
Nebati said the Jerusalem Oath campaign, launched by the platform, has been backed by thousands of lawmakers from almost 100 countries.
Israeli soldiers abducted, on Sunday at dawn, at least seventeen Palestinians from their homes in several parts of the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) has reported.
The PPS said several army jeeps invaded the al-Asakra village, east of Bethlehem, searched homes and abducted Yazan Khaled al-Kamel, 18, and Ahmad Khalaf al-Kamel, 17.
The soldiers also invaded and searched homes in Qalqilia, in northern West Bank, and abducted three young men, in their twenties, identified as Saif Hisham Adwan, Hamada Adam Badwan and Mohannad Abu Shehab.
In Jenin, in northern West Bank, the soldiers invaded and searched homes Khirbit Abdullah Younis area, in Barta’a town, isolated by the Annexation Wall, southwest of Jenin and abducted Younis Raja Kabaha.
In Nablus, also in northern West Bank, the soldiers searched homes and abducted Zeid Osama Yousef Nasser.
In Ramallah, in central West Bank, the soldiers abducted Mahmoud Emad Rimawi, 20, from his home in Beit Rima town, northwest of the city, after breaking into his home, and caused many Palestinians to suffer the effects of teargas inhalation, in Nabi Saleh nearby town.
In addition, the soldiers also abducted a young man, identified as ‘Awwad Hamed, from his home in Silwad town, northeast of Ramallah.
The soldiers also abducted Bassel Osama Qassem, 19, Nash’at Anwar Hamed, 26, Jihad Abdullah Abu al-‘Arif, 24, Jamal Mahmoud Jaber, 55, and his son Baha’, 25.
In occupied Jerusalem, the soldiers stormed and searched homes and abducted Mohammad Bader and Jawhar Jawhar, from Abu Dis town east of Jerusalem.
Also in Jerusalem, the soldiers abducted a guard of Al-Aqsa Mosque, identified as Mohammad Salhi, after repeatedly assaulting him. video
His abduction came after more than 500 Israeli colonialist settlers and soldiers invaded the holy site, while many colonists raised Israeli flags and conducted provocative tours. Video
It is worth mentioning that the Palestinian Detainees’ Center for Studies has reported that the soldiers abducted 450 in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, including 90 children and 11 women, in April.
In related news, several Israeli military vehicles and bulldozers carried out a limited invasion into Palestinian lands, east of the al-Boreij refugee camp, in central Gaza, and installed sand hills while army drones flew overhead.
Israeli police attack Islamic Waqf personnel at al-Aqsa
Israeli police on Sunday assaulted Muslim guards at holy al-Aqsa Mosque in Occupied Jerusalem.
Feras Dabes, a media coordinator of the Islamic Waqf, said Israeli policemen were escorting about 500 Israeli settlers who forced their way into the site to perform rituals, provoking clashes with Muslim worshipers and Islamic Waqf personnel.
The Israeli police brutality resulted in the injury of a number of Waqf personnel. The police also arrested the guard Mohamed al-Salhi after they violently beat him.
The Islamic Waqf personnel are in charge of running the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, the third holiest site in Islam.
Over recent days, tension has prevailed across Occupied Jerusalem as Israeli settlers have been gearing up to celebrate the anniversary of Israel’s occupation of Jerusalem’s eastern part, marked on May 13.
Sometime earlier, Israeli fanatic organizations called for stepping up break-ins at al-Aqsa Mosque on the occasion of the so-called “unification day”.
The PPS said several army jeeps invaded the al-Asakra village, east of Bethlehem, searched homes and abducted Yazan Khaled al-Kamel, 18, and Ahmad Khalaf al-Kamel, 17.
The soldiers also invaded and searched homes in Qalqilia, in northern West Bank, and abducted three young men, in their twenties, identified as Saif Hisham Adwan, Hamada Adam Badwan and Mohannad Abu Shehab.
In Jenin, in northern West Bank, the soldiers invaded and searched homes Khirbit Abdullah Younis area, in Barta’a town, isolated by the Annexation Wall, southwest of Jenin and abducted Younis Raja Kabaha.
In Nablus, also in northern West Bank, the soldiers searched homes and abducted Zeid Osama Yousef Nasser.
In Ramallah, in central West Bank, the soldiers abducted Mahmoud Emad Rimawi, 20, from his home in Beit Rima town, northwest of the city, after breaking into his home, and caused many Palestinians to suffer the effects of teargas inhalation, in Nabi Saleh nearby town.
In addition, the soldiers also abducted a young man, identified as ‘Awwad Hamed, from his home in Silwad town, northeast of Ramallah.
The soldiers also abducted Bassel Osama Qassem, 19, Nash’at Anwar Hamed, 26, Jihad Abdullah Abu al-‘Arif, 24, Jamal Mahmoud Jaber, 55, and his son Baha’, 25.
In occupied Jerusalem, the soldiers stormed and searched homes and abducted Mohammad Bader and Jawhar Jawhar, from Abu Dis town east of Jerusalem.
Also in Jerusalem, the soldiers abducted a guard of Al-Aqsa Mosque, identified as Mohammad Salhi, after repeatedly assaulting him. video
His abduction came after more than 500 Israeli colonialist settlers and soldiers invaded the holy site, while many colonists raised Israeli flags and conducted provocative tours. Video
It is worth mentioning that the Palestinian Detainees’ Center for Studies has reported that the soldiers abducted 450 in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, including 90 children and 11 women, in April.
In related news, several Israeli military vehicles and bulldozers carried out a limited invasion into Palestinian lands, east of the al-Boreij refugee camp, in central Gaza, and installed sand hills while army drones flew overhead.
Israeli police attack Islamic Waqf personnel at al-Aqsa
Israeli police on Sunday assaulted Muslim guards at holy al-Aqsa Mosque in Occupied Jerusalem.
Feras Dabes, a media coordinator of the Islamic Waqf, said Israeli policemen were escorting about 500 Israeli settlers who forced their way into the site to perform rituals, provoking clashes with Muslim worshipers and Islamic Waqf personnel.
The Israeli police brutality resulted in the injury of a number of Waqf personnel. The police also arrested the guard Mohamed al-Salhi after they violently beat him.
The Islamic Waqf personnel are in charge of running the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, the third holiest site in Islam.
Over recent days, tension has prevailed across Occupied Jerusalem as Israeli settlers have been gearing up to celebrate the anniversary of Israel’s occupation of Jerusalem’s eastern part, marked on May 13.
Sometime earlier, Israeli fanatic organizations called for stepping up break-ins at al-Aqsa Mosque on the occasion of the so-called “unification day”.
12 may 2018
The Israeli occupation police intend to bar Mosques in Jerusalem from reciting Adhan (call to prayer) through loudspeakers when the opening ceremony of the US embassy starts on Monday.
According to Israel’s Channel 2, the measure aims to prevent Muezzins from disturbing the ceremony and its participants.
The channel also said there would unprecedented security measures in the holy city in conjunction with the embassy opening ceremony and the Palestinian Nakba anniversary.
According to Israel’s Channel 2, the measure aims to prevent Muezzins from disturbing the ceremony and its participants.
The channel also said there would unprecedented security measures in the holy city in conjunction with the embassy opening ceremony and the Palestinian Nakba anniversary.
Hebrew TV channel 10 reported that Israel on Friday foiled plans for a European Union (EU) statement condemning the relocation of the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
The channel said on its website on Saturday that the Israeli government had coordinated with Hungary, the Czech Republic and Romania to oppose a draft statement condemning the embassy transfer move.
The draft statement, presented by France and other European countries, had to be approved by all 28 EU members states.
The three-item statement stipulates that Jerusalem should be the capital of the two states, the status of Jerusalem should only be resolved as part of peace negotiations, and the EU nations will not follow the US in moving their embassies to the holy city.
The EU had previously criticized the US president Donald Trump's decision on 6th December 2017 to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move his country's embassy there to the holy city.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry slammed the three European countries who opposed the draft statement, saying that this position contradicts the EU policies and encourages Israel to commit further crimes against the Palestinian people.
The channel said on its website on Saturday that the Israeli government had coordinated with Hungary, the Czech Republic and Romania to oppose a draft statement condemning the embassy transfer move.
The draft statement, presented by France and other European countries, had to be approved by all 28 EU members states.
The three-item statement stipulates that Jerusalem should be the capital of the two states, the status of Jerusalem should only be resolved as part of peace negotiations, and the EU nations will not follow the US in moving their embassies to the holy city.
The EU had previously criticized the US president Donald Trump's decision on 6th December 2017 to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move his country's embassy there to the holy city.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry slammed the three European countries who opposed the draft statement, saying that this position contradicts the EU policies and encourages Israel to commit further crimes against the Palestinian people.
11 may 2018
The Israeli police said it completed all security preparations for the opening ceremony of the US embassy in Occupied Jerusalem next Monday, May 14.
In a statement on Thursday, the police said thousands of security forces and volunteers would be deployed throughout Jerusalem on Monday morning ahead of the ceremony.
The police added that hundreds of officers will be placed, in particular, in the Arnona neighborhood where the embassy is located.
In addition to the Israeli police presence, the American delegation will arrive in Israel with its own security forces.
In this regard, the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab citizens of Israel in cooperation with national and religious figures in Jerusalem intend to stage massive marches next Monday in the holy city to protest the relocation of the US embassy.
In a statement on Thursday, the police said thousands of security forces and volunteers would be deployed throughout Jerusalem on Monday morning ahead of the ceremony.
The police added that hundreds of officers will be placed, in particular, in the Arnona neighborhood where the embassy is located.
In addition to the Israeli police presence, the American delegation will arrive in Israel with its own security forces.
In this regard, the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab citizens of Israel in cooperation with national and religious figures in Jerusalem intend to stage massive marches next Monday in the holy city to protest the relocation of the US embassy.
Thousands of Indonesian citizens marched on Friday in support of Occupied Jerusalem and in protest at the US administration’s intent to move its embassy to the holy city.
A reporter for the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) said that scores of citizens rallied outside the main mosque in Jakarta and then marched carrying Palestinian flags and placards, and chanting slogans in support of Palestine and Jerusalem.
The march was called for by religious and popular groups in Indonesia and staged in cooperation with the International Union for Muslim Scholars.
A reporter for the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) said that scores of citizens rallied outside the main mosque in Jakarta and then marched carrying Palestinian flags and placards, and chanting slogans in support of Palestine and Jerusalem.
The march was called for by religious and popular groups in Indonesia and staged in cooperation with the International Union for Muslim Scholars.
Israeli soldiers injured, on Friday at dawn, 61 Palestinians, including two with live fire, in the northern West Bank city of Nablus.
Medical sources said the soldiers shot two young men with live fire, fourteen with rubber-coated steel bullets and caused 45 others to suffer the effects of teargas inhalation.
The attack came after dozens of Palestinians protested in the city when many army jeeps and buses loaded with colonialist settlers invaded the city and headed towards “Joseph’s Tomb.”
The soldiers resorted to the excessive use of force against the protesters, and fire live rounds, rubber-coated steel bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades.
The site of Joseph’s Tomb is contentious; Palestinians believe the site to be the funerary monument to Sheikh Yousef Dweikat, a local religious figure, while Israeli settlers believe it to belong to the biblical patriarch, Joseph, revered by Muslims, Christians and Jews.
37 injured in night clashes with Israeli soldiers east of Nablus
At least seven Palestinian young men suffered bullet injuries during overnight clashes with Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of the area surrounding Joseph’s Tomb, east of Nablus in the occupied West Bank.
According to Red Crescent sources, 30 Palestinians suffered from their exposure to tear gas fumes and received medical assistance.
The sources added that seven young protesters suffered injuries from live ammunition and were evacuated to hospitals.
Scores of Israeli soldiers stormed the eastern district of Nablus city at dawn to secure the arrival of hundreds of Jewish settlers aboard buses and cars at the tomb for alleged rituals.
The settlers, as always, spent hours at the tomb deliberately making noisy screams and sounds in order to disturb local residents living in the area.
Medical sources said the soldiers shot two young men with live fire, fourteen with rubber-coated steel bullets and caused 45 others to suffer the effects of teargas inhalation.
The attack came after dozens of Palestinians protested in the city when many army jeeps and buses loaded with colonialist settlers invaded the city and headed towards “Joseph’s Tomb.”
The soldiers resorted to the excessive use of force against the protesters, and fire live rounds, rubber-coated steel bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades.
The site of Joseph’s Tomb is contentious; Palestinians believe the site to be the funerary monument to Sheikh Yousef Dweikat, a local religious figure, while Israeli settlers believe it to belong to the biblical patriarch, Joseph, revered by Muslims, Christians and Jews.
37 injured in night clashes with Israeli soldiers east of Nablus
At least seven Palestinian young men suffered bullet injuries during overnight clashes with Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of the area surrounding Joseph’s Tomb, east of Nablus in the occupied West Bank.
According to Red Crescent sources, 30 Palestinians suffered from their exposure to tear gas fumes and received medical assistance.
The sources added that seven young protesters suffered injuries from live ammunition and were evacuated to hospitals.
Scores of Israeli soldiers stormed the eastern district of Nablus city at dawn to secure the arrival of hundreds of Jewish settlers aboard buses and cars at the tomb for alleged rituals.
The settlers, as always, spent hours at the tomb deliberately making noisy screams and sounds in order to disturb local residents living in the area.
10 may 2018
The Turkish presidency has announced the launch of a humanitarian aid campaign to help the Palestinians during the holy month of Ramadan in cooperation with the UN.
Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told a news conference on Wednesday that his country decided to take step after the US administration shrank its aid to the Palestinian Authority.
Kalin affirmed that Turkish president Recep Erdogan, in his capacity as chairman of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, would send letters to leaders of Islamic countries to urge them to launch similar campaigns to support the Palestinians.
He described the intended opening of the US embassy in Occupied Jerusalem on May 14 as “null and void to Turkey,” stressing that his country would continue its efforts to protect the religious and cultural identity of the holy city, “which is a red line to Ankara.”
Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told a news conference on Wednesday that his country decided to take step after the US administration shrank its aid to the Palestinian Authority.
Kalin affirmed that Turkish president Recep Erdogan, in his capacity as chairman of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, would send letters to leaders of Islamic countries to urge them to launch similar campaigns to support the Palestinians.
He described the intended opening of the US embassy in Occupied Jerusalem on May 14 as “null and void to Turkey,” stressing that his country would continue its efforts to protect the religious and cultural identity of the holy city, “which is a red line to Ankara.”
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Wednesday cordoned off the archeological area of Sebastia town, northwest of Nablus in the West Bank, before scores of Jewish settlers swarmed the same area under military protection.
Sebastia mayor Mohamed Azzam said that Israeli soldiers were deployed around the archeological area to secure the presence of settlers who visited the site on allegations of performing rituals.
Azem noted that skirmishes took place between school students from the town and Israeli soldiers, who fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse them.
He told Quds Press that the Israeli occupation regime persistently targets the archeological site of Sebastia and refuses to allow the Palestinian side to carry out renovations and repairs to the place at the pretext that it is located in an Israeli-controlled area.
The Israeli occupation authority is trying to take control of the archaeological area through increasing visits to the site by settlers and moving any sign that show it as a Palestinian area.
Sebastia mayor Mohamed Azzam said that Israeli soldiers were deployed around the archeological area to secure the presence of settlers who visited the site on allegations of performing rituals.
Azem noted that skirmishes took place between school students from the town and Israeli soldiers, who fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse them.
He told Quds Press that the Israeli occupation regime persistently targets the archeological site of Sebastia and refuses to allow the Palestinian side to carry out renovations and repairs to the place at the pretext that it is located in an Israeli-controlled area.
The Israeli occupation authority is trying to take control of the archaeological area through increasing visits to the site by settlers and moving any sign that show it as a Palestinian area.
