3 nov 2015
The “Temple Mount Youths” declared its intention to hold a meeting in Jaffa next Thursday to discuss the issue of the alleged “Temple” with the participation of MK Moshe Feiglin.
Israeli police and intelligence services have earlier declared rejection to provide security for the scheduled meeting.
The meeting’s organizers have received an advice from the police warning against the serious consequences of holding the meeting in Jaffa.
Such meetings and issues would ignite tension and clashes in the city, the police warned.
Despite the police’s warnings, the group renewed calls for holding the meeting as scheduled with the possibility of changing its location.
Commenting on the issue, head of the Islamic Supreme Authority in Jaffa Mohamed al-Ashqar said that the meeting, if held, would be in provocation to the Palestinian people in Jaffa, who are well known by their support for al-Aqsa Mosque and occupied Jerusalem.
He emphasized that al-Aqsa Mosque will forever remain solely for Muslims.
Israeli police and intelligence services have earlier declared rejection to provide security for the scheduled meeting.
The meeting’s organizers have received an advice from the police warning against the serious consequences of holding the meeting in Jaffa.
Such meetings and issues would ignite tension and clashes in the city, the police warned.
Despite the police’s warnings, the group renewed calls for holding the meeting as scheduled with the possibility of changing its location.
Commenting on the issue, head of the Islamic Supreme Authority in Jaffa Mohamed al-Ashqar said that the meeting, if held, would be in provocation to the Palestinian people in Jaffa, who are well known by their support for al-Aqsa Mosque and occupied Jerusalem.
He emphasized that al-Aqsa Mosque will forever remain solely for Muslims.
Violent clashes broke out at dawn Tuesday between Palestinian young men and Israeli soldiers after the latter escorted scores of Jewish settlers to Joseph's tomb on the eastern side of Nablus city at the pretext of making repairs.
Eyewitnesses told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that large cargo vehicles carrying construction materials and passenger buses escorted by military troops arrived at the mausoleum of Joseph at an early hour in the morning.
They reported seeing dozens of workmen embarking on repairing the fire damage at the mausoleum, which was attacked recently by angry local young men reacting to Israel's escalation of its violations against the Aqsa Mosque.
They added that a large number of Jewish rabbis and settlers were present at the site.
The unwelcome presence of Israeli troops and settlers in the city raised the ire of local young men and provoked clashes with them in different areas, particularly in Balata refugee camp and Amman street.
In a separate incident, the Israeli occupation forces kidnapped at dawn today two Palestinians during a campaign in Nablus and two others at Za'atara military checkpoint, south of the city.
Eyewitnesses told the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that large cargo vehicles carrying construction materials and passenger buses escorted by military troops arrived at the mausoleum of Joseph at an early hour in the morning.
They reported seeing dozens of workmen embarking on repairing the fire damage at the mausoleum, which was attacked recently by angry local young men reacting to Israel's escalation of its violations against the Aqsa Mosque.
They added that a large number of Jewish rabbis and settlers were present at the site.
The unwelcome presence of Israeli troops and settlers in the city raised the ire of local young men and provoked clashes with them in different areas, particularly in Balata refugee camp and Amman street.
In a separate incident, the Israeli occupation forces kidnapped at dawn today two Palestinians during a campaign in Nablus and two others at Za'atara military checkpoint, south of the city.
1 nov 2015
Israeli extremist settlers on Sunday morning broke into the plazas of Muslims’ the holy al-Aqsa Mosque, in Occupied Jerusalem, under heavy police escort.
According to eye-witnesses, 26 Israeli settlers stormed al-Aqsa Mosque via the Maghareba Gate.
The peaceful Muslim sit-inners who stood on their guard to the break-in kept chanting “Allah the Greatest” in protest at such a sacrilegious move.
Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation police have cracked down on the female Muslim worshipers at al-Aqsa, seizing their IDs at the entrances to the Mosque.
The Israeli occupation authorities and soldiers have often provided a security shield to the frequent desecration break-ins carried out by extremist settlers at the holy al-Aqsa Mosque—the third holiest site in Islam—adding fuel to simmering tension across the occupied Palestinian territories.
Settlers Resume Provocative Visits to al-Aqsa
Israeli settlers Sunday resumed their provocative tours into al-Aqsa Mosque compound, in Jerusalem, despite of recent remarks made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, by which he vowed that ‘his’ government will not change the status quo at the compound, according to local sources.
WAFA correspondence reports that groups of Jewish settlers, accompanied by a police escort, entered the site through the Moroccan Gate, before they were confronted by Palestinian worshipers who chanted religious slogans to protest their entry.
The news comes amid intensified presence of outdoor students and Islamic Waqf personnel who barricaded themselves inside the compound to confront illegal Jewish entry to the Islamic holy site.
Meanwhile, a group of Palestinian women who have been denied entry to the compound rallied on Sunday at Bab es-Selsila Gate, which leads to the compound, in protest of being denied entry there.
Since the beginning of October 2015, tension has been running high across the West Bank, including Jerusalem and Gaza, against the backdrop of Israel’s repeated assaults on the mosque, including its unilateral enforcement of a temporal division between Muslims and Jews.
Prior to unrest in early October, the Euro Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor pointed out in a report that Israeli incitement and violations against Arabs in Jerusalem have increased dramatically in 2015.
The report, titled “Fire under the Ashes: Provoking Muslims in Jerusalem,” warned that Israeli incitement against Muslims could trigger a conflict that would likely result in disastrous consequences.
“Among the provocative acts documented by Euro-Med researchers against Palestinians in Jerusalem were performance of Talmudic prayers near Muslim worshippers, beating, throwing rubbish, cursing, death threats and preventing worshippers from reaching the mosque,” the report said.
Since the beginning of unrest on early October 2015, 72 Palestinians have been killed and over 2,270 others injured with live ammunition or rubber-coated steel rounds used by Israeli forces in the West Bank and Gaza.
Over 3,000 Palestinians sustained suffocation due to intensive use of teargas and toxic gas by Israeli forces.
According to eye-witnesses, 26 Israeli settlers stormed al-Aqsa Mosque via the Maghareba Gate.
The peaceful Muslim sit-inners who stood on their guard to the break-in kept chanting “Allah the Greatest” in protest at such a sacrilegious move.
Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation police have cracked down on the female Muslim worshipers at al-Aqsa, seizing their IDs at the entrances to the Mosque.
The Israeli occupation authorities and soldiers have often provided a security shield to the frequent desecration break-ins carried out by extremist settlers at the holy al-Aqsa Mosque—the third holiest site in Islam—adding fuel to simmering tension across the occupied Palestinian territories.
Settlers Resume Provocative Visits to al-Aqsa
Israeli settlers Sunday resumed their provocative tours into al-Aqsa Mosque compound, in Jerusalem, despite of recent remarks made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, by which he vowed that ‘his’ government will not change the status quo at the compound, according to local sources.
WAFA correspondence reports that groups of Jewish settlers, accompanied by a police escort, entered the site through the Moroccan Gate, before they were confronted by Palestinian worshipers who chanted religious slogans to protest their entry.
The news comes amid intensified presence of outdoor students and Islamic Waqf personnel who barricaded themselves inside the compound to confront illegal Jewish entry to the Islamic holy site.
Meanwhile, a group of Palestinian women who have been denied entry to the compound rallied on Sunday at Bab es-Selsila Gate, which leads to the compound, in protest of being denied entry there.
Since the beginning of October 2015, tension has been running high across the West Bank, including Jerusalem and Gaza, against the backdrop of Israel’s repeated assaults on the mosque, including its unilateral enforcement of a temporal division between Muslims and Jews.
Prior to unrest in early October, the Euro Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor pointed out in a report that Israeli incitement and violations against Arabs in Jerusalem have increased dramatically in 2015.
The report, titled “Fire under the Ashes: Provoking Muslims in Jerusalem,” warned that Israeli incitement against Muslims could trigger a conflict that would likely result in disastrous consequences.
“Among the provocative acts documented by Euro-Med researchers against Palestinians in Jerusalem were performance of Talmudic prayers near Muslim worshippers, beating, throwing rubbish, cursing, death threats and preventing worshippers from reaching the mosque,” the report said.
Since the beginning of unrest on early October 2015, 72 Palestinians have been killed and over 2,270 others injured with live ammunition or rubber-coated steel rounds used by Israeli forces in the West Bank and Gaza.
Over 3,000 Palestinians sustained suffocation due to intensive use of teargas and toxic gas by Israeli forces.
30 oct 2015
Without attention to the fact that Israel is an occupying force, cameras at al Aqsa mosque will easily become a tool of the occupier.
Israeli forces removed cameras Monday set up around the al Aqsa mosque by the Islamic Waqf – the Jordanian custodians of the Mosque, as per Israel and Jordan’s status quo agreement.
The Waqf installed the security cameras two days after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced that cameras would be placed in the compound to assure the world that Israel abides by al Aqsa’s status quo.
Netanyahu released a statement after the Israeli police intervention, charging that “professionals” are meant to coordinate the installation of cameras and that “the cameras will be installed according to arrangements that will be agreed upon by the various sides.”
The Palestinian News and Info Agency reported that as the police removed the cameras, a group of settlers forced their way onto the compound with police protection.
Settlers’ concomitant presence on Monday morning is not surprising; not only are settler incursions an almost daily occurrence into the al Aqsa compound, but the Waqf installed the cameras at Mughrabi Gate, which is where settlers usually enter the compound.
Though Netanyahu was quoted telling the Knesset that the transparency provided by cameras al Aqsa is “good for us” because “we have nothing to hide,” it is difficult to believe that the police’s quick response and the location of the cameras is coincidental. Rather, it seems that Israel will approach this new security mechanism the same way it treats all others in the area – with brute authority and to the benefit of right-wing Israelis.
After the incident, the Islamic Waqf released a statement condemning "Israel's intervention in the management of the mosque"' and added Israel’s confiscation of cameras is “proof that Israel wants to install cameras serving their own interests and does not want cameras exposing truth and justice."
Security cameras at al Aqsa were allegedly King Abdullah’s suggestion in last week’s talks between the U.S., Israel, Palestine, and Jordan. Kerry ardently supported the idea describing it as “an excellent” one.
Abduallah’s idea and Kerry’s support for it reflect politicians’ increasing tendency to propose security cameras as a solution to discriminatory policing. The Obama administration – of which Kerry is a part of – initiated a pilot project in the U.S. to fund body cameras in police departments as a way of combating U.S. police officers’ propensity to shoot-to-kill unarmed black citizens.
Though generally supportive, activists in the U.S remain wary of increased surveillance as an antidote to violent policing. Many call for additional stipulations to account for the power imbalance between civilians under arrest and officers. For instance, while Black Lives Matter activists support body cameras, they also demand civilians’ right to anonymity, ability review the footage themselves or with relatives, and freedom to release it to the public or have it deleted. The right for civilians to record the police unobstructed undergirds these requirements.
The Israeli police early expression of force around the cameras at al Aqsa and the Waqf’s assessment of these intentions indicate that if cameras are to be installed at the site, mechanisms to account for the political environment that gave rise to their demand must follow. Without attention to the fact that Israel is an occupying force, the cameras will easily become a tool of the occupier.
Israeli forces removed cameras Monday set up around the al Aqsa mosque by the Islamic Waqf – the Jordanian custodians of the Mosque, as per Israel and Jordan’s status quo agreement.
The Waqf installed the security cameras two days after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced that cameras would be placed in the compound to assure the world that Israel abides by al Aqsa’s status quo.
Netanyahu released a statement after the Israeli police intervention, charging that “professionals” are meant to coordinate the installation of cameras and that “the cameras will be installed according to arrangements that will be agreed upon by the various sides.”
The Palestinian News and Info Agency reported that as the police removed the cameras, a group of settlers forced their way onto the compound with police protection.
Settlers’ concomitant presence on Monday morning is not surprising; not only are settler incursions an almost daily occurrence into the al Aqsa compound, but the Waqf installed the cameras at Mughrabi Gate, which is where settlers usually enter the compound.
Though Netanyahu was quoted telling the Knesset that the transparency provided by cameras al Aqsa is “good for us” because “we have nothing to hide,” it is difficult to believe that the police’s quick response and the location of the cameras is coincidental. Rather, it seems that Israel will approach this new security mechanism the same way it treats all others in the area – with brute authority and to the benefit of right-wing Israelis.
After the incident, the Islamic Waqf released a statement condemning "Israel's intervention in the management of the mosque"' and added Israel’s confiscation of cameras is “proof that Israel wants to install cameras serving their own interests and does not want cameras exposing truth and justice."
Security cameras at al Aqsa were allegedly King Abdullah’s suggestion in last week’s talks between the U.S., Israel, Palestine, and Jordan. Kerry ardently supported the idea describing it as “an excellent” one.
Abduallah’s idea and Kerry’s support for it reflect politicians’ increasing tendency to propose security cameras as a solution to discriminatory policing. The Obama administration – of which Kerry is a part of – initiated a pilot project in the U.S. to fund body cameras in police departments as a way of combating U.S. police officers’ propensity to shoot-to-kill unarmed black citizens.
Though generally supportive, activists in the U.S remain wary of increased surveillance as an antidote to violent policing. Many call for additional stipulations to account for the power imbalance between civilians under arrest and officers. For instance, while Black Lives Matter activists support body cameras, they also demand civilians’ right to anonymity, ability review the footage themselves or with relatives, and freedom to release it to the public or have it deleted. The right for civilians to record the police unobstructed undergirds these requirements.
The Israeli police early expression of force around the cameras at al Aqsa and the Waqf’s assessment of these intentions indicate that if cameras are to be installed at the site, mechanisms to account for the political environment that gave rise to their demand must follow. Without attention to the fact that Israel is an occupying force, the cameras will easily become a tool of the occupier.
29 oct 2015
Groups of Israeli settlers stormed Thursday the plazas of the Aqsa Mosque from the Magharibah gate under heavy police protection.
A guard of the Aqsa Mosque told Quds Press that Israeli Special Forces were deployed at the morning in the courtyards of the holy site after the Magharebah gate was opened at 7:30 a.m.
24 Settlers broke into and roamed the plazas of the Aqsa Mosque under intense protection of Israeli policemen amid tightened security measures and a state of alert among Muslim worshipers who tried to confront the settlers’ provocative tours near the southern mosque.
Muslim worshipers, including Jerusalemite women, confronted the settlers with chants of Allahu Akbar.
The Israeli policemen Thursday morning rounded up the Jerusalemite woman Zeina Amer after storming her house in Silwan town to the south of the Aqsa Mosque.
On the other hand, three Jerusalemite women: Jihad Ghazzawi, Huda Koumani and Heba Sarhan, who works as guard of the Aqsa, were released after being questioned for hours. The latter was given a court summons.
A guard of the Aqsa Mosque told Quds Press that Israeli Special Forces were deployed at the morning in the courtyards of the holy site after the Magharebah gate was opened at 7:30 a.m.
24 Settlers broke into and roamed the plazas of the Aqsa Mosque under intense protection of Israeli policemen amid tightened security measures and a state of alert among Muslim worshipers who tried to confront the settlers’ provocative tours near the southern mosque.
Muslim worshipers, including Jerusalemite women, confronted the settlers with chants of Allahu Akbar.
The Israeli policemen Thursday morning rounded up the Jerusalemite woman Zeina Amer after storming her house in Silwan town to the south of the Aqsa Mosque.
On the other hand, three Jerusalemite women: Jihad Ghazzawi, Huda Koumani and Heba Sarhan, who works as guard of the Aqsa, were released after being questioned for hours. The latter was given a court summons.
The Haredi Jews group issued an appeal Thursday declaring its total rejection of the Israeli break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque.
The translation of the Arabic appeal follows: “We, the Haredi public, have no interest in going up to the Temple Mount (al-Aqsa Mosque) at this time. We vehemently oppose doing so. Even more: Jewish law severely proscribes such an act — on penalty of spiritual excommunication.”
“Therefore you will never see Haredim ascending the mount, with the exception of one single family, acting on its own, which is condemned for the practice. So even if you have in your hand solid information about an Israeli desire to change the status quo at the Dome of the Rock — which is not true, as far as we know — this has nothing to do with the Haredi public. So please, stop murdering us.”
The appeal came only one week after nearly 100 Jewish rabbis issued a document preventing any Israeli break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque in light of the Palestinian ongoing and escalated protests throughout the country.
The translation of the Arabic appeal follows: “We, the Haredi public, have no interest in going up to the Temple Mount (al-Aqsa Mosque) at this time. We vehemently oppose doing so. Even more: Jewish law severely proscribes such an act — on penalty of spiritual excommunication.”
“Therefore you will never see Haredim ascending the mount, with the exception of one single family, acting on its own, which is condemned for the practice. So even if you have in your hand solid information about an Israeli desire to change the status quo at the Dome of the Rock — which is not true, as far as we know — this has nothing to do with the Haredi public. So please, stop murdering us.”
The appeal came only one week after nearly 100 Jewish rabbis issued a document preventing any Israeli break-ins into al-Aqsa Mosque in light of the Palestinian ongoing and escalated protests throughout the country.
28 oct 2015
Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, condemned on Tuesday the Zionist calls for raising the Israeli flag over the Aqsa Mosque.
Hamas’s spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said, in a brief statement, that “the statements of the Israeli deputy minister of foreign affairs Tzipi Hotovely on raising the Israeli flag over the Muslims’ holy Aqsa Mosque reveals the reality of Israeli intentions”.
The Hamas spokesman called on the Arab countries to bear their responsibilities in regards with Israeli aggressive practices against the Aqsa.
Hamas’s spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said, in a brief statement, that “the statements of the Israeli deputy minister of foreign affairs Tzipi Hotovely on raising the Israeli flag over the Muslims’ holy Aqsa Mosque reveals the reality of Israeli intentions”.
The Hamas spokesman called on the Arab countries to bear their responsibilities in regards with Israeli aggressive practices against the Aqsa.
27 oct 2015
Threatening to Take More Punitive Measures Against Palestinians in Occupied Jerusalem
As part of the continuing Israeli threats made by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against civilians in occupied East Jerusalem, particularly the decision to withdraw the Jerusalemite ID from thousands of Palestinian civilians, the Israeli forces have continued to implement more punitive measures and retaliatory acts against Palestinians in the city.
Under the pretext of security deterioration since early October, the Israeli authorities started imposing additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in occupied East Jerusalem and its suburbs and villages.
These measures included fixing iron detector gates and police checkpoints inside the Old City neighborhoods and at entrances leading to them. In a latest development, Israeli forces closed the entrances to a number of the city's suburbs and villages.
According to field investigations conducted by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) in occupied East Jerusalem, the checkpoints were distributed as follows:
· Al-Amoud gate: three checkpoints established at the entrance to al-Amoud gate;
· Al-Wad Road: 10 checkpoints with three iron detector gates mainly established by the end of al-Wad Road, al-Majles gate, and between al-Hadid and al-Qattanin gates;
· Al-Selsela gate: six checkpoints with an iron detector gate mainly established 100 meters away from al-Selsela gate, the road leading to al-Buraq Wall and the road leading to the Jewish Quarter "Misgav Ladach";
· Al-Bazar road: police officers stationed at the entrances leading to the Christian neighborhood and on Marcus road;
· Hebron gate: a checkpoint established at the entrance to Omer Bin al-Khattab yard and another checkpoint with an iron detector gate established inside the aforementioned yard;
· Al-Debagha market: a checkpoint established at the entrance to al-Debagha market that also leads to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre;
· Aqabet al-Khalediya: police officers stationed at the entrance to Aqabet al-Khalediya neighborhood;
· Al-Asbat gate: a checkpoint with an iron detector gate established in the yard outside the Old City walls;
· The Way of Sorrows: police officers stationed near al-Naqshabandiya Mosque;
· Aqabet Darweesh: police officers stationed at the entrance to Aqabet Darweesh neighborhood and others stationed on the roof of a house belonging to al-Salayma family.
· Al-Sa'diya neighborhood: police officers stationed on the road leading to the neighborhood and others stationed on roofs of a number of houses seized by Israeli settlers in the neighborhood;
· Al-Sahera gate: police officers stationed in the yard outside the Old City walls.
Note: these checkpoints do not include police checkpoints that already exist at al-Aqsa Mosque gates
Checkpoints in the city's suburbs and villages were as follows:
· Al-Tour: Salman al-Faresi street, al-Hardoub's two neighborhoods are completely closed and two checkpoints are established near al-Muttale' Hospital and the main entrance of al-Hardoub neighborhood;
· Silwan: al-Rababa valley neighborhood is completely closed and two checkpoints are established in al-Rababa valley and al-Ein area;
· Al-Thawri neighborhood: the streets between Abu Tour and al-Thawri neighborhood is completely closed and two checkpoints are established on Hebron- Bethlehem street and the main entrance of the city;
· Ras al-Amoud: a checkpoint is established on the main street and another checkpoint is established between Ras al-Amoud and the neighborhoods of Qaddoum valley, Silwan and al-Mukaber Mountain;
· Al-'Issawiyah: the entrance to the French Hill; entrance to Hadasa-Hebrew University; Sub-entrance near a gas station are completely closed and there is a police checkpoint at the eastern entrance to the village.
· Sour Baher: the street to "Ramat Rachel" is completely closed and there are two police checkpoints at the entrance to Ghozail neighborhood and the main entrance to Sour Baher.
· Al-Jouz Valley: there is a police checkpoint at the intersection of the Interior Ministry Office.
· Al-Sheikh Jarrah: Kupat Holim Clalit is completely closed and there are two checkpoints near al-'Ayoun Hospital and al-Hayah Medical Center.
· Al-Mukaber Mountain: al-Farouq neighborhood; the entrance to the schools neighborhood; the entrance to "Armon HaNetziv" settlement are completely closed; and there are two police checkpoints to "Nahal Oz" and "Nof Zion" settlements.
· Um Touba: is completely closed in addition to closing three sub-entrances.
PCHR strongly condemns the collective punishment policy practiced by the Israeli government in occupied Jerusalem before the international community and:
· Emphasizes that East Jerusalem is an occupied city and all the measures taken by the Israeli authorities after the city was occupied in 1967 do not change its legal status as an occupied territory. Thus, displacing Abu Jamal family from Jerusalem is considered a forcible displacement and is part of the policy of collective punishment practiced against Palestinian civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt);
· The Israeli Supreme Court's decision to isolate Palestinian civilians residing in the city and its suburbs violates the basic rules of international humanitarian law and international human rights law; and
· Calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations under Article 1; i.e., to respect and to ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances. PCHR believes that the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community encourages Israel to commit more violations of the international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including measures to create a Jewish demographic majority in occupied East Jerusalem.
As part of the continuing Israeli threats made by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against civilians in occupied East Jerusalem, particularly the decision to withdraw the Jerusalemite ID from thousands of Palestinian civilians, the Israeli forces have continued to implement more punitive measures and retaliatory acts against Palestinians in the city.
Under the pretext of security deterioration since early October, the Israeli authorities started imposing additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in occupied East Jerusalem and its suburbs and villages.
These measures included fixing iron detector gates and police checkpoints inside the Old City neighborhoods and at entrances leading to them. In a latest development, Israeli forces closed the entrances to a number of the city's suburbs and villages.
According to field investigations conducted by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) in occupied East Jerusalem, the checkpoints were distributed as follows:
· Al-Amoud gate: three checkpoints established at the entrance to al-Amoud gate;
· Al-Wad Road: 10 checkpoints with three iron detector gates mainly established by the end of al-Wad Road, al-Majles gate, and between al-Hadid and al-Qattanin gates;
· Al-Selsela gate: six checkpoints with an iron detector gate mainly established 100 meters away from al-Selsela gate, the road leading to al-Buraq Wall and the road leading to the Jewish Quarter "Misgav Ladach";
· Al-Bazar road: police officers stationed at the entrances leading to the Christian neighborhood and on Marcus road;
· Hebron gate: a checkpoint established at the entrance to Omer Bin al-Khattab yard and another checkpoint with an iron detector gate established inside the aforementioned yard;
· Al-Debagha market: a checkpoint established at the entrance to al-Debagha market that also leads to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre;
· Aqabet al-Khalediya: police officers stationed at the entrance to Aqabet al-Khalediya neighborhood;
· Al-Asbat gate: a checkpoint with an iron detector gate established in the yard outside the Old City walls;
· The Way of Sorrows: police officers stationed near al-Naqshabandiya Mosque;
· Aqabet Darweesh: police officers stationed at the entrance to Aqabet Darweesh neighborhood and others stationed on the roof of a house belonging to al-Salayma family.
· Al-Sa'diya neighborhood: police officers stationed on the road leading to the neighborhood and others stationed on roofs of a number of houses seized by Israeli settlers in the neighborhood;
· Al-Sahera gate: police officers stationed in the yard outside the Old City walls.
Note: these checkpoints do not include police checkpoints that already exist at al-Aqsa Mosque gates
Checkpoints in the city's suburbs and villages were as follows:
· Al-Tour: Salman al-Faresi street, al-Hardoub's two neighborhoods are completely closed and two checkpoints are established near al-Muttale' Hospital and the main entrance of al-Hardoub neighborhood;
· Silwan: al-Rababa valley neighborhood is completely closed and two checkpoints are established in al-Rababa valley and al-Ein area;
· Al-Thawri neighborhood: the streets between Abu Tour and al-Thawri neighborhood is completely closed and two checkpoints are established on Hebron- Bethlehem street and the main entrance of the city;
· Ras al-Amoud: a checkpoint is established on the main street and another checkpoint is established between Ras al-Amoud and the neighborhoods of Qaddoum valley, Silwan and al-Mukaber Mountain;
· Al-'Issawiyah: the entrance to the French Hill; entrance to Hadasa-Hebrew University; Sub-entrance near a gas station are completely closed and there is a police checkpoint at the eastern entrance to the village.
· Sour Baher: the street to "Ramat Rachel" is completely closed and there are two police checkpoints at the entrance to Ghozail neighborhood and the main entrance to Sour Baher.
· Al-Jouz Valley: there is a police checkpoint at the intersection of the Interior Ministry Office.
· Al-Sheikh Jarrah: Kupat Holim Clalit is completely closed and there are two checkpoints near al-'Ayoun Hospital and al-Hayah Medical Center.
· Al-Mukaber Mountain: al-Farouq neighborhood; the entrance to the schools neighborhood; the entrance to "Armon HaNetziv" settlement are completely closed; and there are two police checkpoints to "Nahal Oz" and "Nof Zion" settlements.
· Um Touba: is completely closed in addition to closing three sub-entrances.
PCHR strongly condemns the collective punishment policy practiced by the Israeli government in occupied Jerusalem before the international community and:
· Emphasizes that East Jerusalem is an occupied city and all the measures taken by the Israeli authorities after the city was occupied in 1967 do not change its legal status as an occupied territory. Thus, displacing Abu Jamal family from Jerusalem is considered a forcible displacement and is part of the policy of collective punishment practiced against Palestinian civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt);
· The Israeli Supreme Court's decision to isolate Palestinian civilians residing in the city and its suburbs violates the basic rules of international humanitarian law and international human rights law; and
· Calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations under Article 1; i.e., to respect and to ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances. PCHR believes that the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community encourages Israel to commit more violations of the international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including measures to create a Jewish demographic majority in occupied East Jerusalem.
Three Israeli groups stormed Tuesday morning al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of Israeli forces.
Israeli police forces intensified their presence in the Mosque compound, facilitating the entry of three Israeli groups, consisting of about 30 settlers, from the Israeli-controlled al-Magaribeh Gate.
For their part, Palestinians from Arab cities within the Green Line intensified their presence in the Mosque to foil Israeli schemes.
Israeli police have confiscated the identity cards of Palestinian women of all ages and some men before allowing their access into the holy site.
Meanwhile, two military checkpoints were erected in the Old City, making the citizens’ movement more difficult.
Israeli police forces intensified their presence in the Mosque compound, facilitating the entry of three Israeli groups, consisting of about 30 settlers, from the Israeli-controlled al-Magaribeh Gate.
For their part, Palestinians from Arab cities within the Green Line intensified their presence in the Mosque to foil Israeli schemes.
Israeli police have confiscated the identity cards of Palestinian women of all ages and some men before allowing their access into the holy site.
Meanwhile, two military checkpoints were erected in the Old City, making the citizens’ movement more difficult.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced his plan to control “all of the territory” and “live forever by the sword.”
The remarks were reported in Haa’retz newspaper, according to PNN, in an article by journalist Barak Ravid.
Mr Ravid wrote: “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that although he doesn’t want a binational state, “at this time we need to control all of the territory for the foreseeable future.”
MKs who took part in the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting – today (Monday) – reportedly told Mr Ravid that Netanyahu had turned to the politicians present and said: “You think there is a magic wand here, but I disagree. I’m asked if we will forever live by the sword – yes.”
The prime minister also spoke about possible plans to revoke Israeli citizenship or residency from the Arab residents of east Jerusalem.
He complained that there had not been any “progress” on the matter because of delays at the Justice Ministry, headed by Minister Ayelet Shaked (Habayit Hayehudi).
Dr Hanan Ashwari, a committee member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), said of the idea:
“This alarming escalation, an inhuman and illegal measure, must be immediately stopped.
” Should this be adopted, such a measure will transform the actual status of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to “non-existence,” and it will deprive them of the most basic rights and services, including shelter, healthcare and education.
“This would also provoke confrontations with serious ramifications throughout the region and beyond.”
The remarks were reported in Haa’retz newspaper, according to PNN, in an article by journalist Barak Ravid.
Mr Ravid wrote: “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that although he doesn’t want a binational state, “at this time we need to control all of the territory for the foreseeable future.”
MKs who took part in the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting – today (Monday) – reportedly told Mr Ravid that Netanyahu had turned to the politicians present and said: “You think there is a magic wand here, but I disagree. I’m asked if we will forever live by the sword – yes.”
The prime minister also spoke about possible plans to revoke Israeli citizenship or residency from the Arab residents of east Jerusalem.
He complained that there had not been any “progress” on the matter because of delays at the Justice Ministry, headed by Minister Ayelet Shaked (Habayit Hayehudi).
Dr Hanan Ashwari, a committee member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), said of the idea:
“This alarming escalation, an inhuman and illegal measure, must be immediately stopped.
” Should this be adopted, such a measure will transform the actual status of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to “non-existence,” and it will deprive them of the most basic rights and services, including shelter, healthcare and education.
“This would also provoke confrontations with serious ramifications throughout the region and beyond.”
26 oct 2015
Israeli settlement in foreground, with Sho'afat camp behind the Wall
The Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, in a recent Cabinet meeting, proposed revoking the residency rights of 80,000 Jerusalemites, which would mean that the people of Sho'afat refugee camp and Kafr Aqab, as well as other neighborhoods, would be cut off from the rest of Jerusalem.
The proposal was considered by the Israeli Cabinet in their recent meeting, but no decision was made.
Already, the 3 million Palestinians living in the West Bank have been severed from Jerusalem due to the Israeli construction of a massive Wall over the past 13 years. The Wall has annexed large sections of Palestinian land and made them a de facto part of the state of Israel, in direct violation of the responsibilities of an occupier under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Israel's government signed the Convention in 1957, requiring it to provide for the needs of civilian populations under occupation. The Convention also requires that an Occupying Power must not transfer any civilians into the land it has militarily occupied. But Israel has transferred over half a million people into settlements constructed on Palestinian land that was militarily occupied, then illegally seized, since the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and the Golan Heights began in 1967.
In Jerusalem, the Israeli Annexation Wall has been constructed in such a way as to annex as much of Jerusalem as possible for the Israeli state, while forcing the Palestinian population into smaller and smaller enclaves. Now, under the Israeli Prime Minister's proposal, residents of those enclaves would lose their residency rights altogether.
Israel has an identity card system for the residents of Jerusalem that is completely unique in the world. Jewish Israelis who live in Jerusalem or in paramilitary colonies in the West Bank are afforded full Israeli citizenship. But Palestinians who live on their ancestral land in Jerusalem are given a different kind of identity card, which ensures that they have far fewer rights than Jewish residents of the city.
If a Palestinian resident of Jerusalem, for example, were to travel abroad for more than a year, Israel would consider that person to be an 'absentee property owner', and would seize their land and home and annex it to Israel, denying the Palestinian owner the right to return to their home. The rule only applies to Palestinian residents of Jerusalem, and not to Jewish residents of the city.
According to the Israeli paper Yedioth Ahranoth, following the construction of new walls and barricades in recent weeks to further separate and segregate Palestinian residents of Jerusalem from Jewish residents, the Israeli Prime Minister told his Cabinet ministers, "We need to examine the possibility of canceling their [Palestinian Jerusalemites] residency. There needs to be a discussion about it."
Some Israeli ministers voiced opposition to the plan, not because they were concerned about the Palestinian Jerusalemites losing their residency rights, but because they believe such a division would "give up territory" that some Israelis believe should belong to Israel.
That claim is based on a military takeover of the land by Israeli forces. Neither international law nor signed agreements recognize military takeover of land as a legitimate way of expanding state territory.
The Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, in a recent Cabinet meeting, proposed revoking the residency rights of 80,000 Jerusalemites, which would mean that the people of Sho'afat refugee camp and Kafr Aqab, as well as other neighborhoods, would be cut off from the rest of Jerusalem.
The proposal was considered by the Israeli Cabinet in their recent meeting, but no decision was made.
Already, the 3 million Palestinians living in the West Bank have been severed from Jerusalem due to the Israeli construction of a massive Wall over the past 13 years. The Wall has annexed large sections of Palestinian land and made them a de facto part of the state of Israel, in direct violation of the responsibilities of an occupier under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Israel's government signed the Convention in 1957, requiring it to provide for the needs of civilian populations under occupation. The Convention also requires that an Occupying Power must not transfer any civilians into the land it has militarily occupied. But Israel has transferred over half a million people into settlements constructed on Palestinian land that was militarily occupied, then illegally seized, since the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and the Golan Heights began in 1967.
In Jerusalem, the Israeli Annexation Wall has been constructed in such a way as to annex as much of Jerusalem as possible for the Israeli state, while forcing the Palestinian population into smaller and smaller enclaves. Now, under the Israeli Prime Minister's proposal, residents of those enclaves would lose their residency rights altogether.
Israel has an identity card system for the residents of Jerusalem that is completely unique in the world. Jewish Israelis who live in Jerusalem or in paramilitary colonies in the West Bank are afforded full Israeli citizenship. But Palestinians who live on their ancestral land in Jerusalem are given a different kind of identity card, which ensures that they have far fewer rights than Jewish residents of the city.
If a Palestinian resident of Jerusalem, for example, were to travel abroad for more than a year, Israel would consider that person to be an 'absentee property owner', and would seize their land and home and annex it to Israel, denying the Palestinian owner the right to return to their home. The rule only applies to Palestinian residents of Jerusalem, and not to Jewish residents of the city.
According to the Israeli paper Yedioth Ahranoth, following the construction of new walls and barricades in recent weeks to further separate and segregate Palestinian residents of Jerusalem from Jewish residents, the Israeli Prime Minister told his Cabinet ministers, "We need to examine the possibility of canceling their [Palestinian Jerusalemites] residency. There needs to be a discussion about it."
Some Israeli ministers voiced opposition to the plan, not because they were concerned about the Palestinian Jerusalemites losing their residency rights, but because they believe such a division would "give up territory" that some Israelis believe should belong to Israel.
That claim is based on a military takeover of the land by Israeli forces. Neither international law nor signed agreements recognize military takeover of land as a legitimate way of expanding state territory.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to withdraw Israeli blue identity cards of Jerusalemites especially those residing in Shufat refugee camp, Kafr Aqeb, and Sawahreh districts, Hebrew sources revealed.
The sources disclosed that Israeli government decided, in its meeting two weeks ago, to withdraw thousands of IDs which equals quarter the number of the Jerusalemites.
Israeli Channel Two quoted an Israeli official as saying “withdrawing the blue cards of residents of Arab neighborhoods in Jerusalem is a political order and does not come within mere security measures”.
The sources disclosed that Israeli government decided, in its meeting two weeks ago, to withdraw thousands of IDs which equals quarter the number of the Jerusalemites.
Israeli Channel Two quoted an Israeli official as saying “withdrawing the blue cards of residents of Arab neighborhoods in Jerusalem is a political order and does not come within mere security measures”.
25 oct 2015
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum has said that the Palestinian people do not need a permission from Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu to pray in their Aqsa Mosque.
"[US secretary of state John] Kerry's remarks that 'Netanyahu is committed to allowing the Muslims to pray in the Aqsa Mosque' were ludicrous and meaningless," spokesman Barhoum stated on Saturday.
The spokesman expressed his belief that Kerry was trying to re-embellish Israel's Judaization plans in Jerusalem and find a way out for Netanyahu to escape the crisis his extremist and racist policies had caused.
"The Aqsa Mosque will remain for the Muslims and the Palestinians, and we do not need a permission from Netanyahu in order to pray in our Mosque because this is our sacred right and we will defend it regardless of the cost," he underscored.
"[US secretary of state John] Kerry's remarks that 'Netanyahu is committed to allowing the Muslims to pray in the Aqsa Mosque' were ludicrous and meaningless," spokesman Barhoum stated on Saturday.
The spokesman expressed his belief that Kerry was trying to re-embellish Israel's Judaization plans in Jerusalem and find a way out for Netanyahu to escape the crisis his extremist and racist policies had caused.
"The Aqsa Mosque will remain for the Muslims and the Palestinians, and we do not need a permission from Netanyahu in order to pray in our Mosque because this is our sacred right and we will defend it regardless of the cost," he underscored.
A horde of Israeli fanatic settlers on Sunday morning stormed Muslims’ the holy al-Aqsa Mosque via the Maghareba Gate, sparking further tension across Occupied Jerusalem city.
Local sources were quoted by a PIC journalist as reporting that at least 15 Israeli vandals broke into the holy al-Aqsa Mosque under heavy police escort.
The break-in was reportedly carried out moments before Israeli occupation troops were stationed across the al-Aqsa Mosque, which testifies to the evidently premeditated and malevolent nature of the break-in.
Tension has been running high across the occupied Palestinian territories as Israeli fanatic vandals and soldiers stepped up sacrilegious assaults on and around Muslims’ the holy al-Aqsa Mosque—the third holiest site in Islam.
Local sources were quoted by a PIC journalist as reporting that at least 15 Israeli vandals broke into the holy al-Aqsa Mosque under heavy police escort.
The break-in was reportedly carried out moments before Israeli occupation troops were stationed across the al-Aqsa Mosque, which testifies to the evidently premeditated and malevolent nature of the break-in.
Tension has been running high across the occupied Palestinian territories as Israeli fanatic vandals and soldiers stepped up sacrilegious assaults on and around Muslims’ the holy al-Aqsa Mosque—the third holiest site in Islam.
