18 aug 2013
Al-Aqsa Foundation for Waqf and Heritage revealed that Jewish groups and rabbis are trying to persuade Jewish authorities to join an official association that aims to build a synagogue on a part of Al-Aqsa Mosque. Al-Aqsa Foundation published a photo showing that the Jewish groups want to build the proposed synagogue in the southeastern side of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Mahmoud Abu Atta, Al-Aqsa Foundation's media coordinator, said that the Registrar of Israeli Associations approved the registration of an official association that will work on building a synagogue on part of the Mosque.
The Foundation considered in a press statement on Sunday this scheme "very dangerous", and stressed that the occupation arms have escalated their steps targeting the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
It added in its statement that a number of rabbis in Jewish schools and synagogues started about seven months ago to establish a formal association primarily intended for the construction of a synagogue on part of Al-Aqsa.
The founders of the Jewish association said that thousands of Jews have been calling for establishing a synagogue in Al-Aqsa Mosque, so that it will form the starting point for the construction of a large synagogue, in preparation for the construction of the alleged temple.
Organizers of the Association said that such a synagogue "will be a symbol of the real Israeli control over the Al-Aqsa Mosque."
Al-Aqsa Foundation for Waqf and Heritage called on the Islamic nation to save Al-Aqsa Mosque from the Israeli schemes and plots.
Mahmoud Abu Atta, Al-Aqsa Foundation's media coordinator, said that the Registrar of Israeli Associations approved the registration of an official association that will work on building a synagogue on part of the Mosque.
The Foundation considered in a press statement on Sunday this scheme "very dangerous", and stressed that the occupation arms have escalated their steps targeting the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
It added in its statement that a number of rabbis in Jewish schools and synagogues started about seven months ago to establish a formal association primarily intended for the construction of a synagogue on part of Al-Aqsa.
The founders of the Jewish association said that thousands of Jews have been calling for establishing a synagogue in Al-Aqsa Mosque, so that it will form the starting point for the construction of a large synagogue, in preparation for the construction of the alleged temple.
Organizers of the Association said that such a synagogue "will be a symbol of the real Israeli control over the Al-Aqsa Mosque."
Al-Aqsa Foundation for Waqf and Heritage called on the Islamic nation to save Al-Aqsa Mosque from the Israeli schemes and plots.
Protection Against Earthquakes’ Plan Aims to Promote Settlement Activity, says Committee
The Islamic-Christian Committee to support Jerusalem and holy sites Sunday stated that the new Israeli regional structural plan to protect buildings from earthquakes aims to promote settlement construction in the city of Jerusalem. Hanna Issa, Secretary General of the committee, said that the plan -known as A38- aims to “make substantial changes to the construction in the old city of Jerusalem under the pretext of protecting buildings from earthquakes.”
Hanna claimed that Israel aims to obliterate any Arab presence in the holy city, as it continues with its settlement plans.
As US Secretary of State John Kerry and President Mahmoud Abbas are working to engage in direct peace talks, Hanna said that the “leaders of Israel in the current government are trying to destroy direct negotiations by their decisions to continue settlements’ construction, for they chose settlement over peace.”
The Islamic-Christian Committee to support Jerusalem and holy sites Sunday stated that the new Israeli regional structural plan to protect buildings from earthquakes aims to promote settlement construction in the city of Jerusalem. Hanna Issa, Secretary General of the committee, said that the plan -known as A38- aims to “make substantial changes to the construction in the old city of Jerusalem under the pretext of protecting buildings from earthquakes.”
Hanna claimed that Israel aims to obliterate any Arab presence in the holy city, as it continues with its settlement plans.
As US Secretary of State John Kerry and President Mahmoud Abbas are working to engage in direct peace talks, Hanna said that the “leaders of Israel in the current government are trying to destroy direct negotiations by their decisions to continue settlements’ construction, for they chose settlement over peace.”
Written by Stephen Lendman
Dispossessing East Jerusalem Palestinian Residents
Israel plans Judaizing Jerusalem entirely. It wants it exclusively Jewish. It's an international city. It's under a UN trusteeship. It doesn't matter.
Ethnic cleansing is official Israeli policy. Palestinian owned land is seized. Homes are demolished. Dispossessions follow.
Israel wants Arabs excluded. It wants Jerusalem at Israel's epicenter. It's a religiously important city for Christians, Muslims and Jews.
Zionists consider it Israel's historic capital. It's symbolic of Judaism's post-WW II revival and prominence. For Christians, it's where Jesus lived and died.
It's Islam's third holiest site. The Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount and Al-Aqsa Mosque rank after Mecca's Sacred Mosque and Madina's Mosque of the Prophet.
After Israel's 1967 annexation, East Jerusalem changed physically, culturally and spiritually. It did so under Israel's Judaization plan.
Settlements were established. They expanded and grew. They did so at the expense of core Palestinian rights. Land theft, dispossessions, and Judaizing Jerusalem entirely reflect official Israeli policy.
Municipal boundaries expanded. Doing so shifted the demographic balance toward a predominantly Jewish city.
On July 30, 1980, the Jerusalem Law annexed Jerusalem. It's unified as Israel's capital. It was done illegally. It was after Security Council Resolution 465 (March 1, 1980) declared:
"all measures taken by Israel to change the physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure or status of the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, or any part thereof, have no legal validity and that Israel's policy and practices of settling parts of its population and new immigrants in those territories constitute a flagrant (Fourth Geneva) violation....and also constitute a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East."
On July 9, 2004, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that "Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territory, including East Jerusalem, are illegal and an obstacle to peace and to economic and social development (and) have been established in breach of international law."
Israel flouts UN resolutions and court rulings routinely. It ignores ones contrary to its interests. It operates with impunity.
Washington's backing is firm. It's longstanding. It lets Israel get away with murder and lots more.
Total Jerusalem annexation is planned. It's ongoing at the expense of longtime Palestinian residents. Longstanding policy wants them out. Ethnic cleansing's removing them.
On August 15, Haaretz editors headlined "Attorney general without justice," saying:
Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein "approved using the Absentee Law in East Jerusalem."
It permits land theft. It enables property expropriation. It's "part of an effort to Judaize Palestinian neighborhoods."
It's "creat(ing) an artificial separation between the West Bank and Jerusalem."
It's affecting longtime Palestinian residents. They're being dispossessed from their own land and property.
In March 1950, Israel's Absentees' Property Law (APL) defined absentees as:
"person(s) who, at any time during the period between (November 29, 1947) and (May 19, 1948) has ceased to exist (and no longer were) legal owner(s) of any property situated in the area of Israel...."
APL transferred property owner rights to a Custodian of Absentee Property. He was made liable to the real owner for the value.
Returning land to its proper owners was prohibited. It still is. Israel calls them absentees. Doing so precludes their owning what's theirs.
In July 1950, The Development Authority (Transfer of Property) Law was enacted. It was a legal ploy to shield Israel from accusations of land theft and property on it.
Israel's Development Authority (DA) was established as an independent body. It was done to buy, sell, lease, exchange, repair, build, develop and/or cultivate seized property.
Transactions between Jews or Jewish entities alone are permitted. Under no circumstances may dispossessed Arabs return.
Israel's Land Administration (ILA) manages 93% of state land. Israel's Basic Law affirms that "ownership of Israel Lands, being the lands in Israel of the State, the Development Authority or the Keren Kayemet Le-Israel (KKL - Jewish National Fund, JNF), shall not be transferred either by sale or in any other manner."
Land's defined as "land, houses, buildings and anything permanently fixed to land."
It's part of Israel's public domain. ILA assures its use conforms with Israeli laws. It protects state lands. It supervises them.
It allocates them for public use. It plans, develops and manages state land reserves.
It decides who's welcome. It determines who isn't. It excludes Palestinians. It does so to make way for Jews.
It's part of Judaizing all valued Judea and Samaria areas. Arabs aren't welcome. They never were. They're not now. Israel wants them out.
APL "was problematic from the start," said Haaretz editors. It lets Israel "appropriate the property of Palestinians who were living outside the state's borders, mainly in refugee camps, without any possibility of entering Israel."
Applying it to Occupied Palestine "took place under completely different circumstances." Owners became "absentees."
They did so without leaving their residences. Even if they lived outside annexed territory, "they still had access to their property."
Former Attorney General Meir Shamgar ordered the law not be exercised. He did so because applying it under new circumstances constituted unjustifiable evictions and property rights violations.
Boaz Okon's a former Jerusalem District Court judge. He was a Supreme Court registrar. In 2006, he called APL "a legal trick not backed by reality." He said applying it's "a type of jurisprudence without justice."
Supreme Court Justice Asher Grunis asked why it shouldn't apply to settler-owned property in Israel. They live outside state borders, he said.
Former Attorney General Menachem Mazuz ordered the law not be used. Applying it in Occupied Palestine violates international law. It does so despite Israel designating state laws for East Jerusalem.
In contrast, "Weinstein is promoting 'jurisprudence without justice,' " said Haaretz editors.
Doing so violates fundamental Palestinian rights. It does it in "service (to) Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem." They've "taken over the property of these present 'absentees.' "
Weinstein's acting illegally. He'd "do better to shelve this procedure" entirely. Like his predecessors, he should "refuse to apply the law." Failure shows contempt for international law. It's standard Israeli practice.
A Final Comment
In 1972, Israel agreed to funding limits inside 1967 borders. US/Israel Binational Science Foundation terms said:
"According to the agreement between the US and Israeli governments, projects sponsored by the Foundation may not be conducted in geographic areas which came under the administration of the Government of Israel after June 5, 1967 and may not relate to subjects primarily pertinent to such areas."
Doing so violates international law. The same applies to land expropriation, property destruction, and dispossessions.
Israel operates lawlessly. It does so unaccountably. It does it at the expense of core Palestinian rights.
It does it because world leaders stay silent. It does it with longstanding Washington support. It does what can't be allowed to continue. For sure one day it won't.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
His new book is titled "Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity."
http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanII.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.
Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.
It airs Fridays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour
http://www.dailycensored.com/dispossessing-east-jerusalem-palestinian-residents/
Dispossessing East Jerusalem Palestinian Residents
Israel plans Judaizing Jerusalem entirely. It wants it exclusively Jewish. It's an international city. It's under a UN trusteeship. It doesn't matter.
Ethnic cleansing is official Israeli policy. Palestinian owned land is seized. Homes are demolished. Dispossessions follow.
Israel wants Arabs excluded. It wants Jerusalem at Israel's epicenter. It's a religiously important city for Christians, Muslims and Jews.
Zionists consider it Israel's historic capital. It's symbolic of Judaism's post-WW II revival and prominence. For Christians, it's where Jesus lived and died.
It's Islam's third holiest site. The Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount and Al-Aqsa Mosque rank after Mecca's Sacred Mosque and Madina's Mosque of the Prophet.
After Israel's 1967 annexation, East Jerusalem changed physically, culturally and spiritually. It did so under Israel's Judaization plan.
Settlements were established. They expanded and grew. They did so at the expense of core Palestinian rights. Land theft, dispossessions, and Judaizing Jerusalem entirely reflect official Israeli policy.
Municipal boundaries expanded. Doing so shifted the demographic balance toward a predominantly Jewish city.
On July 30, 1980, the Jerusalem Law annexed Jerusalem. It's unified as Israel's capital. It was done illegally. It was after Security Council Resolution 465 (March 1, 1980) declared:
"all measures taken by Israel to change the physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure or status of the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, or any part thereof, have no legal validity and that Israel's policy and practices of settling parts of its population and new immigrants in those territories constitute a flagrant (Fourth Geneva) violation....and also constitute a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East."
On July 9, 2004, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that "Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territory, including East Jerusalem, are illegal and an obstacle to peace and to economic and social development (and) have been established in breach of international law."
Israel flouts UN resolutions and court rulings routinely. It ignores ones contrary to its interests. It operates with impunity.
Washington's backing is firm. It's longstanding. It lets Israel get away with murder and lots more.
Total Jerusalem annexation is planned. It's ongoing at the expense of longtime Palestinian residents. Longstanding policy wants them out. Ethnic cleansing's removing them.
On August 15, Haaretz editors headlined "Attorney general without justice," saying:
Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein "approved using the Absentee Law in East Jerusalem."
It permits land theft. It enables property expropriation. It's "part of an effort to Judaize Palestinian neighborhoods."
It's "creat(ing) an artificial separation between the West Bank and Jerusalem."
It's affecting longtime Palestinian residents. They're being dispossessed from their own land and property.
In March 1950, Israel's Absentees' Property Law (APL) defined absentees as:
"person(s) who, at any time during the period between (November 29, 1947) and (May 19, 1948) has ceased to exist (and no longer were) legal owner(s) of any property situated in the area of Israel...."
APL transferred property owner rights to a Custodian of Absentee Property. He was made liable to the real owner for the value.
Returning land to its proper owners was prohibited. It still is. Israel calls them absentees. Doing so precludes their owning what's theirs.
In July 1950, The Development Authority (Transfer of Property) Law was enacted. It was a legal ploy to shield Israel from accusations of land theft and property on it.
Israel's Development Authority (DA) was established as an independent body. It was done to buy, sell, lease, exchange, repair, build, develop and/or cultivate seized property.
Transactions between Jews or Jewish entities alone are permitted. Under no circumstances may dispossessed Arabs return.
Israel's Land Administration (ILA) manages 93% of state land. Israel's Basic Law affirms that "ownership of Israel Lands, being the lands in Israel of the State, the Development Authority or the Keren Kayemet Le-Israel (KKL - Jewish National Fund, JNF), shall not be transferred either by sale or in any other manner."
Land's defined as "land, houses, buildings and anything permanently fixed to land."
It's part of Israel's public domain. ILA assures its use conforms with Israeli laws. It protects state lands. It supervises them.
It allocates them for public use. It plans, develops and manages state land reserves.
It decides who's welcome. It determines who isn't. It excludes Palestinians. It does so to make way for Jews.
It's part of Judaizing all valued Judea and Samaria areas. Arabs aren't welcome. They never were. They're not now. Israel wants them out.
APL "was problematic from the start," said Haaretz editors. It lets Israel "appropriate the property of Palestinians who were living outside the state's borders, mainly in refugee camps, without any possibility of entering Israel."
Applying it to Occupied Palestine "took place under completely different circumstances." Owners became "absentees."
They did so without leaving their residences. Even if they lived outside annexed territory, "they still had access to their property."
Former Attorney General Meir Shamgar ordered the law not be exercised. He did so because applying it under new circumstances constituted unjustifiable evictions and property rights violations.
Boaz Okon's a former Jerusalem District Court judge. He was a Supreme Court registrar. In 2006, he called APL "a legal trick not backed by reality." He said applying it's "a type of jurisprudence without justice."
Supreme Court Justice Asher Grunis asked why it shouldn't apply to settler-owned property in Israel. They live outside state borders, he said.
Former Attorney General Menachem Mazuz ordered the law not be used. Applying it in Occupied Palestine violates international law. It does so despite Israel designating state laws for East Jerusalem.
In contrast, "Weinstein is promoting 'jurisprudence without justice,' " said Haaretz editors.
Doing so violates fundamental Palestinian rights. It does it in "service (to) Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem." They've "taken over the property of these present 'absentees.' "
Weinstein's acting illegally. He'd "do better to shelve this procedure" entirely. Like his predecessors, he should "refuse to apply the law." Failure shows contempt for international law. It's standard Israeli practice.
A Final Comment
In 1972, Israel agreed to funding limits inside 1967 borders. US/Israel Binational Science Foundation terms said:
"According to the agreement between the US and Israeli governments, projects sponsored by the Foundation may not be conducted in geographic areas which came under the administration of the Government of Israel after June 5, 1967 and may not relate to subjects primarily pertinent to such areas."
Doing so violates international law. The same applies to land expropriation, property destruction, and dispossessions.
Israel operates lawlessly. It does so unaccountably. It does it at the expense of core Palestinian rights.
It does it because world leaders stay silent. It does it with longstanding Washington support. It does what can't be allowed to continue. For sure one day it won't.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
His new book is titled "Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity."
http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanII.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.
Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.
It airs Fridays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour
http://www.dailycensored.com/dispossessing-east-jerusalem-palestinian-residents/
The "Haaretz" newspaper reported Sunday that "the activation of the Absentee Property Law in East Jerusalem is part of the attempts to Judaize Palestinian neighborhoods, through confiscating Palestinian property rights in the city, and creating an artificial separation between the West Bank and Jerusalem." The newspaper pointed out that the law had been previously endorsed after so-called "War of Independence" (1948 Nakba) , where it aimed at allowing (Israel) to seize the property of Palestinians who were living outside the state, mostly in refugee camps.
It explained that "the law had been deactivated for a period and then was put into force again after the Six-Day War, following the occupation of the city of Jerusalem- with core changes: the real owners were deemed absent, even though they had not left their place of residence. The Attorney at the time "Meir Shamgar" ordered the law not to be exercised considering it exploitative and violating property rights.
The newspaper pointed to the hype that took place in Jerusalem in 2006 due to attempts to activate the law. Many bodies questioned about the "any property of the settlers who live abroad in the area of Israel," so the Attorney at the time "Menachem Mazuz" refused to activate the law.
It added that "activating the law in the areas unilaterally annexed by Israel following the the expropriation of them during the 1967 war is a violation of the international law; it has been applied to the east of Jerusalem notwithstanding,"
"Unlike his predecessors who were keen on the rule of law, human rights and the public interest, today's Attorney adviser Yehuda Weinstein is pushing forward a legal image without being lawful, violates the rights of the Palestinians, in service to Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem, which take over the property of these present 'absentees, '"
The newspaper "Haaretz" said Wednesday that Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein approved using the Absentee Law in East Jerusalem, allegedly to maintain "fabric of the Jewish nationhood" and to fend off Palestinians with security records,"
Weinstein authorized the Israeli authorities to exercise the law in East Jerusalem as a tool to punish those Palestinians, according to the newspaper.
It explained that "the law had been deactivated for a period and then was put into force again after the Six-Day War, following the occupation of the city of Jerusalem- with core changes: the real owners were deemed absent, even though they had not left their place of residence. The Attorney at the time "Meir Shamgar" ordered the law not to be exercised considering it exploitative and violating property rights.
The newspaper pointed to the hype that took place in Jerusalem in 2006 due to attempts to activate the law. Many bodies questioned about the "any property of the settlers who live abroad in the area of Israel," so the Attorney at the time "Menachem Mazuz" refused to activate the law.
It added that "activating the law in the areas unilaterally annexed by Israel following the the expropriation of them during the 1967 war is a violation of the international law; it has been applied to the east of Jerusalem notwithstanding,"
"Unlike his predecessors who were keen on the rule of law, human rights and the public interest, today's Attorney adviser Yehuda Weinstein is pushing forward a legal image without being lawful, violates the rights of the Palestinians, in service to Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem, which take over the property of these present 'absentees, '"
The newspaper "Haaretz" said Wednesday that Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein approved using the Absentee Law in East Jerusalem, allegedly to maintain "fabric of the Jewish nationhood" and to fend off Palestinians with security records,"
Weinstein authorized the Israeli authorities to exercise the law in East Jerusalem as a tool to punish those Palestinians, according to the newspaper.
Groups of Jewish settlers entered the holy Aqsa mosque compound on Sunday and strolled in its yards under heavy police protection. Aqsa guards said that the settlers broke into the mosque through the Maghareba gate and performed rituals, adding that Muslim worshippers protested the step and chanted Allah Akbar during the settlers’ tour.
They said that around 200 foreign tourists also entered the holy site "half-naked" and toured its plazas.
They said that around 200 foreign tourists also entered the holy site "half-naked" and toured its plazas.
17 aug 2013
The Palestinian ministry of culture in Gaza and the Beirut-based Al-Quds international institution warned of Israeli intentions to build a synagogue on parts of the Aqsa Mosque. Minister of culture Mohamed Al-Madhoun stated on Friday that the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) initially approved a plan submitted by a Jewish religious group to seize parts of the Aqsa Mosque compound for the building of a synagogue.
Madhoun affirmed that this plan is one of the most serious Judaization projects that target the Aqsa Mosque as the calls for allowing the Jews to perform their rituals inside the Mosque has escalated lately.
He accused the Israeli occupation regime of being involved in the conspiracies which some Arab countries are being exposed to and exploiting the consequent difficult situation in the region to execute its schemes and crimes against Jerusalem and the Aqsa Mosque.
For his part, director of Al-Quds international institution Yasin Hamoud appealed to the organization of Islamic cooperation and the Arab League to intervene to stop this Israeli plan, which would trigger a new Palestinian intifada (uprising) in the occupied territories.
Madhoun affirmed that this plan is one of the most serious Judaization projects that target the Aqsa Mosque as the calls for allowing the Jews to perform their rituals inside the Mosque has escalated lately.
He accused the Israeli occupation regime of being involved in the conspiracies which some Arab countries are being exposed to and exploiting the consequent difficult situation in the region to execute its schemes and crimes against Jerusalem and the Aqsa Mosque.
For his part, director of Al-Quds international institution Yasin Hamoud appealed to the organization of Islamic cooperation and the Arab League to intervene to stop this Israeli plan, which would trigger a new Palestinian intifada (uprising) in the occupied territories.
16 aug 2013
About 35 settlers and 6 Israeli intelligence elements stormed on Thursday morning the Al-Aqsa Mosque from the Mughrabi Gate under the protection of the occupation police. Mahmoud Abu Atta, media coordinator for Al-Aqsa Foundation for Waqf and Heritage, said in press statements that 20 settlers stormed in the early morning hours the Al-Aqsa Mosque. They started touring the Mosque's courtyards when 15 other Israelis joined them later.
Meanwhile, six intelligence elements raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, Abu Atta added.
He pointed out that Al-Aqsa Mosque has been witnessing a state of high alert by the Israeli police, as well as a state of extreme anger among the Palestinian students, worshipers and the mosque guards, especially as the raids have continued for the fifth day.
More than one 1440 settlers and soldiers stormed the mosque during the past month, according to data gathered by the Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage (AFEH).
AFEH said in a press statement that the Al-Aqsa Mosque witnessed last July raids by nearly 1109 settlers, in addition to 18981 foreign tourists, 195 intelligence elements and 132 soldiers.
The foundation added that about 190 settlers have stormed the Mosque since the beginning of this week.
Meanwhile, six intelligence elements raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, Abu Atta added.
He pointed out that Al-Aqsa Mosque has been witnessing a state of high alert by the Israeli police, as well as a state of extreme anger among the Palestinian students, worshipers and the mosque guards, especially as the raids have continued for the fifth day.
More than one 1440 settlers and soldiers stormed the mosque during the past month, according to data gathered by the Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage (AFEH).
AFEH said in a press statement that the Al-Aqsa Mosque witnessed last July raids by nearly 1109 settlers, in addition to 18981 foreign tourists, 195 intelligence elements and 132 soldiers.
The foundation added that about 190 settlers have stormed the Mosque since the beginning of this week.
A new Jewish religious institution was recently established with aim of establishing a Jewish synagogue on parts of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage stated that the Israeli authorities approved the establishment of a new Jewish institution, consisting of Jewish rabbis, aiming at establishing a synagogue on parts of al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Foundation warned of the seriousness of this process, which indicates the Israeli escalation against the mosque.
Jewish organizations are making frantic efforts, both overtly and covertly, to complete the Judaization of al-Aqsa mosque and to take control of it, especially following the recurring invasions of al-Aqsa and the attacks on worshippers in an attempt to establish fait accompli regarding the mosque and divide it.
The Foundation warned of the seriousness of this process, which indicates the Israeli escalation against the mosque.
Jewish organizations are making frantic efforts, both overtly and covertly, to complete the Judaization of al-Aqsa mosque and to take control of it, especially following the recurring invasions of al-Aqsa and the attacks on worshippers in an attempt to establish fait accompli regarding the mosque and divide it.
15 aug 2013
Hebrew media sources revealed that the Israeli government seek to present a new law allowing it to confiscate lands and houses belonging to Jerusalemites who are charged of resisting the occupier. The Israeli Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein is due to present a new bill before the Supreme Court next month allowing the confiscation of Jerusalemite properties as a new punishment for those who are engaged in resisting occupation. The bill will enable the Israeli authorities to take control over the rest of the Jerusalemite properties, Haaretz Hebrew newspaper said.
Properties seized in East Jerusalem under the Absentees Property Law would not be returned to Palestinians with a security record or connection to hostile elements, under new procedures being drawn up by Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein’s office that were obtained by Haaretz.
Palestinians with security records won’t get back seized East Jerusalem property, the bill states.
Under the Absentees Property Law, any person who lived in a hostile country or in the area of "Eretz Yisrael" that was not under the State of Israel’s control, and owned property within the State of Israel, is considered an absentee owner and his property can be transferred to the Custodian of Absentee Property, the newspaper said.
The newspaper quoted lawyer Sami Irsheid as saying that there is no Palestinian family who has no relation with "hostile elements" according the Israeli occupation’s dictionary. Each Palestinian family has a detainee or a martyr, he stated.
The primary purpose of this law was to use the Absentees Property Law to confiscate as many Palestinian properties as possible.
Properties seized in East Jerusalem under the Absentees Property Law would not be returned to Palestinians with a security record or connection to hostile elements, under new procedures being drawn up by Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein’s office that were obtained by Haaretz.
Palestinians with security records won’t get back seized East Jerusalem property, the bill states.
Under the Absentees Property Law, any person who lived in a hostile country or in the area of "Eretz Yisrael" that was not under the State of Israel’s control, and owned property within the State of Israel, is considered an absentee owner and his property can be transferred to the Custodian of Absentee Property, the newspaper said.
The newspaper quoted lawyer Sami Irsheid as saying that there is no Palestinian family who has no relation with "hostile elements" according the Israeli occupation’s dictionary. Each Palestinian family has a detainee or a martyr, he stated.
The primary purpose of this law was to use the Absentees Property Law to confiscate as many Palestinian properties as possible.
Dozens of settlers stormed Thursday, Joseph Tomb in Nablus under the protection of Israeli Army Forces, which imposed a full closure on the eastern neighborhoods in the city, especially areas close to the tomb.
Witnesses reside near the tomb told Quds.com that settlers arrived to the tomb via busses, broke into the tomb and performed their religious rituals that lasted till the early hours of the morning.
It's worth mentioning that Israeli forces raided at dawn several neighborhoods in the city and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.
Witnesses reside near the tomb told Quds.com that settlers arrived to the tomb via busses, broke into the tomb and performed their religious rituals that lasted till the early hours of the morning.
It's worth mentioning that Israeli forces raided at dawn several neighborhoods in the city and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.
14 aug 2013
The Regional Committee of the Israeli Interior Ministry has approved the construction of another 900 settlement units in Gilo settlement east Jerusalem. Top Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, said that the PA is now mulling boycotting talks with Israelis due to resume on Wednesday.
A new round of the talks between Israelis and the Palestinian Authority is to resume in occupied Jerusalem on Wednesday amid Israeli plans to establish new settlement units in Palestinian territories occupied in 1967.
However, a Palestinian official said Abbas agreed to restart talks only after receiving a letter from Kerry guaranteeing that the basis of the negotiations will indeed be Israel’s pre-1967 borders.
The new construction plans of 900 housing units are in addition to the 1,200 settlement units approved on Sunday.
The plans for the construction of new settlements also received international condemnation.
A new round of the talks between Israelis and the Palestinian Authority is to resume in occupied Jerusalem on Wednesday amid Israeli plans to establish new settlement units in Palestinian territories occupied in 1967.
However, a Palestinian official said Abbas agreed to restart talks only after receiving a letter from Kerry guaranteeing that the basis of the negotiations will indeed be Israel’s pre-1967 borders.
The new construction plans of 900 housing units are in addition to the 1,200 settlement units approved on Sunday.
The plans for the construction of new settlements also received international condemnation.
Israeli settlers and elements of Shin Bet broke into al-Aqsa mosque on Tuesday from the Mughrabi Gate under tight security protection. Nearly 15 elements of Shin Bet (the Israeli Intelligence service) have stormed al-Aqsa mosque Tuesday morning, while another group, includes 15 settlers and 50 soldiers, broke into the mosque as part of the Israeli discovery tours in the mosque, Al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage said.
The foundation pointed out that a state of alert has prevailed in al-Aqsa mosque since Sunday where a large number of Israeli soldiers are deployed in its courtyards, while a state of anticipation has prevailed among the students.
The Israeli break-ins into al-Aqsa mosque came following the interior and environment committee of the Knesset's session, held on Sunday, to table a proposal calling for allowing the Jews to desecrate the Aqsa Mosque, a holy site for Muslims, to perform their rituals, especially during their religious days and festivals as part of the Israeli schemes to divide the mosque between Muslims and Jews as what happened with the Ibrahimi mosque.
For his part, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and the Holy Land, Sheikh Mohammad Hussein, warned of the serious implication of the Israeli government's decision to open the mosque gates to the Jewish settlers.
He pointed out that the Israeli break-ins and attacks into al-Aqsa mosque and Islamic and Christian holy sites have escalated. The Grand Mufti stressed the need for an Arab, Islamic and international interference, warning of religious war erupting in the region.
For his part, Dr. Najeh Bkeirat the director of manuscripts department at Al Aqsa Mosque accused the Palestinian Authority (PA) of providing cover to the Israeli continued break-ins to the mosque.
The Israeli escalated attacks against al-Aqsa mosque are due to the PA's decision to resume peace talks with the occupation, he added.
Bkeirat criticized the PA minor role concerning the Palestinian fateful issues, pointing out that talks resumption liquidated Jerusalem and Palestinian land issue.
The foundation pointed out that a state of alert has prevailed in al-Aqsa mosque since Sunday where a large number of Israeli soldiers are deployed in its courtyards, while a state of anticipation has prevailed among the students.
The Israeli break-ins into al-Aqsa mosque came following the interior and environment committee of the Knesset's session, held on Sunday, to table a proposal calling for allowing the Jews to desecrate the Aqsa Mosque, a holy site for Muslims, to perform their rituals, especially during their religious days and festivals as part of the Israeli schemes to divide the mosque between Muslims and Jews as what happened with the Ibrahimi mosque.
For his part, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and the Holy Land, Sheikh Mohammad Hussein, warned of the serious implication of the Israeli government's decision to open the mosque gates to the Jewish settlers.
He pointed out that the Israeli break-ins and attacks into al-Aqsa mosque and Islamic and Christian holy sites have escalated. The Grand Mufti stressed the need for an Arab, Islamic and international interference, warning of religious war erupting in the region.
For his part, Dr. Najeh Bkeirat the director of manuscripts department at Al Aqsa Mosque accused the Palestinian Authority (PA) of providing cover to the Israeli continued break-ins to the mosque.
The Israeli escalated attacks against al-Aqsa mosque are due to the PA's decision to resume peace talks with the occupation, he added.
Bkeirat criticized the PA minor role concerning the Palestinian fateful issues, pointing out that talks resumption liquidated Jerusalem and Palestinian land issue.
13 aug 2013
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) waged Monday an arrest campaign across occupied West Bank where 17 Palestinians were arrested. The Israeli forces raided at dawn Monday many parts of West Bank, arresting 13 Palestinians from Qalqilya, Nablus and Ramallah, as well as three others from the southern West Bank and another detainee in occupied Jerusalem.
In Nablus, two brothers were arrested at Zatara military checkpoint where the Israeli soldiers stopped and searched the Palestinian vehicles heading towards the city of Ramallah.
Local sources said that the IOF stormed the city of Nablus where they fired a barrage of stun grenades and tear gas at the residents' houses. Violent clashes erupted between IOF troops and Palestinian youths who stoned the soldiers. As a result, Fourteen Palestinians were arrested including the liberated prisoner Khadr Sarkaji.
In the same context, Israeli forces arrested the 13-year-old Hussam Omar Abu Khalifeh after storming his house in Saf Street in Bethlehem city at a late hour.
In Jerusalem, Israeli occupation forces arrested Jihad al-Zogol under the pretext of attacking Israeli soldiers and throwing stones at settlers' cars during the storming of al-Aqsa mosque.
In Nablus, two brothers were arrested at Zatara military checkpoint where the Israeli soldiers stopped and searched the Palestinian vehicles heading towards the city of Ramallah.
Local sources said that the IOF stormed the city of Nablus where they fired a barrage of stun grenades and tear gas at the residents' houses. Violent clashes erupted between IOF troops and Palestinian youths who stoned the soldiers. As a result, Fourteen Palestinians were arrested including the liberated prisoner Khadr Sarkaji.
In the same context, Israeli forces arrested the 13-year-old Hussam Omar Abu Khalifeh after storming his house in Saf Street in Bethlehem city at a late hour.
In Jerusalem, Israeli occupation forces arrested Jihad al-Zogol under the pretext of attacking Israeli soldiers and throwing stones at settlers' cars during the storming of al-Aqsa mosque.
12 aug 2013
UJA-Federation in New York announced its intention to allocate $145 million for Judaization projects in Jerusalem, within the framework of a campaign to Judaize the holy city. Head of the Jerusalem International Center Hassan Khater said in a statement on Monday that there are 13 Jewish organizations specialized in the construction of the temple and the Judaization of Jerusalem, and that each one of them has its financial resources and its own role.
He warned that the Jewish Government and organizations have been joining their efforts to Judaize Jerusalem and the holy sites, taking advantage of the developments and the ongoing bitter conflicts in the Arab arena.
Khater called for providing a financial support for Jerusalemites to help them confront the Judaization projects.
He warned of the Knesset's interference in the affairs of Al-Aqsa Mosque and said it is "a serious and an unprecedented development", pointing to a number of bills submitted to the Knesset that aim to judaize the Mosque.
Head of the Jerusalem International Center also warned of the escalated settlement activity, the ongoing excavations under Jerusalem and the continued raids in the city's holy sites.
He warned that the Jewish Government and organizations have been joining their efforts to Judaize Jerusalem and the holy sites, taking advantage of the developments and the ongoing bitter conflicts in the Arab arena.
Khater called for providing a financial support for Jerusalemites to help them confront the Judaization projects.
He warned of the Knesset's interference in the affairs of Al-Aqsa Mosque and said it is "a serious and an unprecedented development", pointing to a number of bills submitted to the Knesset that aim to judaize the Mosque.
Head of the Jerusalem International Center also warned of the escalated settlement activity, the ongoing excavations under Jerusalem and the continued raids in the city's holy sites.
11 aug 2013
Bennett on Erekat: We'll not apologize for building in J'lem
Habayit Hayehudi Chairman Naftali Bennett said: "Erekat now says we can't build in our capital, in Jerusalem. The question is not why we're building in Jerusalem now. The question is why didn't we build until now. Habayit Hayehudi will keep fighting for building in our country, without apologizing."
Earlier Saeb Erekat, chief negotiator for the Palestinian team, said that Israel's new construction plans in the settlements are meant to undermine the peace talks, to be resumed on Wednesday.
Habayit Hayehudi Chairman Naftali Bennett said: "Erekat now says we can't build in our capital, in Jerusalem. The question is not why we're building in Jerusalem now. The question is why didn't we build until now. Habayit Hayehudi will keep fighting for building in our country, without apologizing."
Earlier Saeb Erekat, chief negotiator for the Palestinian team, said that Israel's new construction plans in the settlements are meant to undermine the peace talks, to be resumed on Wednesday.
45 Jewish extremists, protected by the Israeli police, stormed on Sunday morning Al-Aqsa mosque.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) raided at dawn the house of Omar Shalabi, secretary general of Fatah in Jerusalem, and arrested his 13-year-old son.
Local sources reported that the forces arrested the boy in a provocative way for unknown reasons.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) raided at dawn the house of Omar Shalabi, secretary general of Fatah in Jerusalem, and arrested his 13-year-old son.
Local sources reported that the forces arrested the boy in a provocative way for unknown reasons.
The interior and environment committee of the Knesset intends to table a proposal calling for allowing the Jews to desecrate the Aqsa Mosque to perform their rituals, especially during their religious days and festivals. The website of the Knesset said that the interior committee would discuss the opening of the Aqsa Mosque before the Jews during the holy month of Ramadan and the coming Jewish holidays.
The committee is expected to study a request filed by Jewish groups calling for opening all gates and entrances of the Aqsa Mosque before the Jews.
The issue of preventing the Jews from entering the Aqsa Mosque during the last holy month of Ramadan will also be debated during this session.
Representatives from the ministries of interior, tourism, public security in addition to other Jewish and Zionist groups were invited to participate in this meeting.
The committee is expected to study a request filed by Jewish groups calling for opening all gates and entrances of the Aqsa Mosque before the Jews.
The issue of preventing the Jews from entering the Aqsa Mosque during the last holy month of Ramadan will also be debated during this session.
Representatives from the ministries of interior, tourism, public security in addition to other Jewish and Zionist groups were invited to participate in this meeting.
10 aug 2013
"The city is undergoing a cultural renaissance," says Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, running for re-election, has big plans for Jerusalem, and none of them has anything to do with dividing it • He says his challenger, Moshe Lion, is supported by backroom wheeler-dealers and does not even live in the capital.
When Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat was asked in private conversations why he believed that after five successful years on the job, two wily, veteran politicians -- Yisrael Beytenu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman and Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri -- had decided to challenge his position as mayor with their candidate, Moshe Lion, he replied: "There were political wheeler-dealers who tried to find out from me whether they could get what they wanted in exchange for their support for me. My answer to them was an unequivocal 'no.' With me, it is all about transparency. I don't even approach the lines before the illegal line. They can't have their way with me."
He declined to provide further details, but added that he later heard that those same anonymous wheeler-dealers had ended up supporting another candidate.
* * * *
Earlier this week, sitting in the living room of his Jerusalem home in the neighborhood of Beit Hakerem, I tried to confront Barkat and find out more about the content of those private conversations. Barkat, as expected, spoke with great caution.
"I was asked to make appointments that I was not prepared to make, because my commitment is not to the political system, and not to this or that individual, but only to the residents of the city. Maybe some people want to go back to the way things once were. It won't happen with me," he says.
Recently, an alarming study suggested that one out of every 10 Israelis who file a request for a construction permit also offer a bribe along the way. Court records reveal that at least some of the clerks working in Jerusalem have been apprehended and prosecuted for such crimes. This study was even more significant in light of the recent Holyland affair (overg the construction of the enormous Holyland housing complex in the city), which saw two former Jerusalem mayors -- Ehud Olmert and Uri Lupolianski -- investigated on suspicion of taking bribes in exchange for advancing the project.
"Fortunately," Barkat says with half a smile, "the fool who can convince me to take a bribe has not been born yet."
"Every suspicion has been fully investigated," he says. "I encourage anyone who wants to complain of corruption to come forward. They will get my full support as well as the support of the entire city mechanism, the prosecution and the police."
Barkat prefers not to expand on Moshe Lion, the candidate running against him in the upcoming mayoral election.
"I have been a resident of this city for 53 years. My children grew up here. I have proved myself in the private sector, and I have proved myself in the public sector as well in the last five years. If you want, you can describe me now as a 'public entrepreneur,'" he says.
Lion, Barkat adds, is not a resident of the city. In Barkat's view, this makes his opponent, a one-time director-general of the Prime Minister's Office (during Benjamin Netanyahu's first term as prime minister in 1996), unsuitable for the position of Jerusalem mayor. Barkat argues that bringing a candidate in from outside the city doesn't look good.
"Tell me who your friends are, and I'll tell you who you are," Barkat says.
"Any semi-intelligent person knows that this is a case of someone hooking someone else up with a job -- a political deal intended to advance personal agendas.
"If that is not the case, then please explain to me why they went for a non-Jerusalem resident. I am from Jerusalem. Today, tomorrow, always. For me, Jerusalem is not a political appointment or a job -- it is my life's mission. For 12 years [as a city councilman before becoming mayor] I have been working for a salary of one shekel per year. Every day I wake up in the morning with only one thing driving me: the privilege of serving Jerusalem."
Five years ago, Barkat went up against Meir Porush -- currently an MK on behalf of United Torah Judaism -- and Russian-Israeli businessman Arcadi Gaydamak for the position of mayor. Gaydamak was viewed as a bit of an oddity in the Israeli political landscape: Despite his financial contributions during the 2006 Second Lebanon War and despite having purchased the city's soccer team Beitar Jerusalem, he won only 10,000 votes. Barkat, on the other hand, got 117,000 votes -- 52 percent of the total -- and won the election.
During the campaign, an internal conflict within the ultra-Orthodox community prompted the prominent Gerer hassidim to shift their support from Porush to Barkat. At that point, the gap between Barkat and Porush stood at 24,000 votes, so clearly that was not the reason for Barkat's victory (contrary to claims made by Lieberman). The reason, apparently, was the high secular turnout as well as the changes Barkat had effected within the national religious sector.
"In the past, the national religious population would generally vote for the haredi [ultra-Orthodox] candidates," Barkat explains. "But now, the trend has completely reversed." Proving his point, Barkat presents the latest poll, which suggests that about 80% of the national religious population supports his candidacy.
In the last election, Barkat's victory was achieved in part by a clear, precise campaign, warning voters of the danger that a haredi mayor would pose to the character of the city. The campaign suggested that Porush wanted to win the mayor's post to impose his vision on the city. Today, things are a little more complicated. Barkat faces Lion, who is not haredi but does have the support of the haredim as well as the support of the political wheeler-dealers -- double support that Barkat sees as a double threat.
Q: Does the deal between Lieberman and Deri possess any real power?
"It is a back-channel deal that the public isn't buying. The residents of Jerusalem are smart enough to see things as they really are. This deal is based on an antiquated worldview that may be more suitable for party primaries or shady transactions."
When Barkat is asked whether he was concerned about the possibility of the haredi rabbis joining forces and collectively supporting a different candidate, he focuses his stare and reminds the inquirer that the combined force that exists in Jerusalem, and should be the force driving it, is a Zionist combination of secular, traditional and religious Zionist individuals who, according to his account, support him unwaveringly. What about the haredim? Many of them are also rooting for him, he notes, adding that he has never deprived any sector in the city.
According to Likud sources, last week Likud Director-General Gadi Arieli called Lion and asked him to remove the Likud-Beytenu logo from his campaign posters. Lion has been endorsed by Lieberman, the chairman of Yisrael Beytenu, and enjoys the support of certain Likud activists in Jerusalem, but he has not been officially endorsed by Netanyahu, who is Likud chairman as well as prime minister.
In addition, after Barkat, the party list includes a number of well-known Jerusalem Likud members: Kobi Kahlon, the brother of former Likud minister Moshe Kahlon; successful supermarket owner and businessman Rami Levy; and Meir Turjeman, a well-known figure and, up until recently, an opponent of Barkat's. Likud officials have decided not to hold a primary election to select a municipal candidate for the Jerusalem election and to refrain from running any candidates. So far, Netanyahu has not endorsed any of the candidates.
Meanwhile, to make it harder for Netanyahu to support Barkat, a local Likud branch has recently spearheaded a motion, filed with the party's top steering committee, to approve the merger between Likud and Yisrael Beytenu in the Jerusalem municipal elections. The decision is still pending the approval of the Likud's legal adviser, followed by Netanyahu's approval. If it passes, and Likud ends up selecting a candidate, this candidate will run on behalf of both Likud and Yisrael Beytenu.
Why has Netanyahu so far avoided publicly endorsing you?
"I'll start by saying that my relationship with him is excellent. He has remarked, more than once, that he is very pleased with the changes that this city is undergoing. He is a resident of Jerusalem; he knows the city. His wife is here, and his children are growing up here. I enjoy the prime minister's full support for the welcome changes happening in the city. The secret of the success of these changes is the cooperation between the government and the municipality. This is an opportunity for me to thank him for the support and the resources. He has also said very clearly that he does not endorse Moshe Lion. Will it go any further than that? That is up to him."
And thus, local and national politics collide. Jerusalem, because of its significance and centrality as Israel's capital, has never remained solely within the bounds of local politics. Barkat's and Netanyahu's joint course began many years ago. Barkat has voiced his faith in Netanyahu's ability to keep Jerusalem united many times along the way. Now that Netanyahu has relaunched peace talks with the Palestinians, raising once again core issues like the unity of Jerusalem for debate, Barkat continues to give Netanyahu his complete support. As everyone knows, Barkat has been very consistent in his strong opposition to dividing the city or handing over any part of its municipal territory to the Palestinians.
"I am not concerned," he says. "I know what the prime minister's position is, and what the government's position is, and of course what the majority of the public thinks about the centrality and unity of the city under any future deal, if there is such a deal."
How do you propose handling the Palestinian designs on Jerusalem?
"If the deal collapses because it hinges on the Jerusalem issue, so be it. It is better not to make any deal than to agree to a bad deal," Barkat says.
Jerusalem is the largest city in Israel. It possesses enormous economic potential, and its main growth engine rests on tourism. Some 4 million foreign tourists visit Jerusalem every year. The prime minister and the mayor have an identical goal: to raise the number of annual tourists to 10 million. Tourism represents the creation of jobs in a variety of areas and helps the city deal with the unflattering statistics indicating high rates of poverty in certain parts -- parts in which the state invests very few resources in efforts to improve.
This obviously affects the municipality, which, at the end of the day, ends up bearing the cost of the municipal tax exemptions handed out by the state to a relatively large portion of the population in the city. These exemptions amount to around 550 million shekels ($155 million) in lost municipal revenue annually, and the state does not compensate the municipality for this loss.
"The state decided that certain people, with lower socio-economic status, are exempt from paying municipal tax. I accept that. But the state needs to compensate the city so that it can close the consequent gap," Barkat says. Even though there is still no state compensation, Barkat boasts a balanced municipal budget.
A connection between the past and the future
Barkat's vision for the next five years is a new master plan focusing on unemployment and public transportation. He plans to build an enormous commercial center at the entrance to the city, the planning stage of which lasted three years and is now in the final stages of approval. The center will contain a million square meters (10.7 million square feet) in 13 35-story towers. The development cost is assessed at 1.2 billion shekels. In Barkat's vision, the center will be inaugurated at around the same time as the new fast rail connecting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Also in the works: the development of two light rail lines -- costing 15 billion shekels ($340 million) -- in addition to the line that is currently in service. This time, he promises, all the ills of the existing line will have been eliminated, and the development will be overseen by the city rather than an external company. Currently, in a city with a population of 800,000 people and tens of thousands of visitors and commuters, the light-rail train hosts some 130,000 passengers every day. The planned new lines will link Gilo to Givat Ram to French Hill and the Mount of Olives. A cable car will then take passengers from the Mount of Olives to the Western Wall and continue to the German Colony.
Barkat continues to make the case for what he believes is his successful mayoral term: During his term, the "First Station" (a central entertainment, culture and enrichment hub located in the old train station plaza) was built and Park Hamesila (Train Track Park) was established, as was the Jerusalem Arena adjacent to Teddy Stadium. The Beit Mazia theater was renovated, as was Hansen Hospital (once known as the Lepers' Home). Park Teddy was also built.
"Change starts first and foremost with the atmosphere," Barkat explains, immediately mentioning the changes that are currently apparent on the ground. In education, for example, there has been an increase in the number of students enrolled in public and religious public schools. Just this year, 26 new preschools have been opened in the religious Zionist sector. Barkat lifted district restrictions (no longer requiring children to enroll in institutions only in their district) allowing 89% of parents to enroll their children in the schools they wished.
Barkat becomes particularly emotional when he talks about the flourishing cultural scene in the city.
"Jerusalem's cultural centers have gone from survival mode to blossoming. Jerusalem is experiencing a cultural renaissance," he says.
"Residents of Jerusalem understand what a profound change culture has effected in this city in terms of atmosphere, quality of life and the economy. One of the reasons for the growth in the city is that Jerusalem has restored its role as a city of culture. We have surpassed Tel Aviv in terms of the number of cultural events, and today, the road to Jerusalem is no longer a one-way street."
Moshe Lion's headquarters responds
Lion's campaign headquarters issued a response saying that "Barkat chased after the haredim in the last election, and it was thanks to them that he won. He continues to woo them today with unprecedented promises worth tens of millions of shekels. At his meeting with Aryeh Deri on June 24, Barkat offered a list of promises to the haredi sector, like the position of deputy mayor and the independence of haredi education. Even Barkat's deputy, Yitzhak Pindrus of United Torah Judaism, said that Barkat has given the haredim more than any mayor before him.
"For five years, Moshe Lion worked as the chairman of the Jerusalem Development Authority, working closely with Barkat, and he saw up close [Barkat's] unsuccessful conduct and his disconnection from the residents of the city. Some 90,000 residents have left the city during his term. In education, there has been a decline of dozens of percentage points in eligibility for matriculation exams. The city is ranked 135th in the Meitzav list [a national education index]. The city suffers from dirt and neglect, and in the transportation department, the residents suffer from degraded roads and terrible parking problems. In addition, the price of housing has risen in the city more than any other city in the country."
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, running for re-election, has big plans for Jerusalem, and none of them has anything to do with dividing it • He says his challenger, Moshe Lion, is supported by backroom wheeler-dealers and does not even live in the capital.
When Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat was asked in private conversations why he believed that after five successful years on the job, two wily, veteran politicians -- Yisrael Beytenu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman and Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri -- had decided to challenge his position as mayor with their candidate, Moshe Lion, he replied: "There were political wheeler-dealers who tried to find out from me whether they could get what they wanted in exchange for their support for me. My answer to them was an unequivocal 'no.' With me, it is all about transparency. I don't even approach the lines before the illegal line. They can't have their way with me."
He declined to provide further details, but added that he later heard that those same anonymous wheeler-dealers had ended up supporting another candidate.
* * * *
Earlier this week, sitting in the living room of his Jerusalem home in the neighborhood of Beit Hakerem, I tried to confront Barkat and find out more about the content of those private conversations. Barkat, as expected, spoke with great caution.
"I was asked to make appointments that I was not prepared to make, because my commitment is not to the political system, and not to this or that individual, but only to the residents of the city. Maybe some people want to go back to the way things once were. It won't happen with me," he says.
Recently, an alarming study suggested that one out of every 10 Israelis who file a request for a construction permit also offer a bribe along the way. Court records reveal that at least some of the clerks working in Jerusalem have been apprehended and prosecuted for such crimes. This study was even more significant in light of the recent Holyland affair (overg the construction of the enormous Holyland housing complex in the city), which saw two former Jerusalem mayors -- Ehud Olmert and Uri Lupolianski -- investigated on suspicion of taking bribes in exchange for advancing the project.
"Fortunately," Barkat says with half a smile, "the fool who can convince me to take a bribe has not been born yet."
"Every suspicion has been fully investigated," he says. "I encourage anyone who wants to complain of corruption to come forward. They will get my full support as well as the support of the entire city mechanism, the prosecution and the police."
Barkat prefers not to expand on Moshe Lion, the candidate running against him in the upcoming mayoral election.
"I have been a resident of this city for 53 years. My children grew up here. I have proved myself in the private sector, and I have proved myself in the public sector as well in the last five years. If you want, you can describe me now as a 'public entrepreneur,'" he says.
Lion, Barkat adds, is not a resident of the city. In Barkat's view, this makes his opponent, a one-time director-general of the Prime Minister's Office (during Benjamin Netanyahu's first term as prime minister in 1996), unsuitable for the position of Jerusalem mayor. Barkat argues that bringing a candidate in from outside the city doesn't look good.
"Tell me who your friends are, and I'll tell you who you are," Barkat says.
"Any semi-intelligent person knows that this is a case of someone hooking someone else up with a job -- a political deal intended to advance personal agendas.
"If that is not the case, then please explain to me why they went for a non-Jerusalem resident. I am from Jerusalem. Today, tomorrow, always. For me, Jerusalem is not a political appointment or a job -- it is my life's mission. For 12 years [as a city councilman before becoming mayor] I have been working for a salary of one shekel per year. Every day I wake up in the morning with only one thing driving me: the privilege of serving Jerusalem."
Five years ago, Barkat went up against Meir Porush -- currently an MK on behalf of United Torah Judaism -- and Russian-Israeli businessman Arcadi Gaydamak for the position of mayor. Gaydamak was viewed as a bit of an oddity in the Israeli political landscape: Despite his financial contributions during the 2006 Second Lebanon War and despite having purchased the city's soccer team Beitar Jerusalem, he won only 10,000 votes. Barkat, on the other hand, got 117,000 votes -- 52 percent of the total -- and won the election.
During the campaign, an internal conflict within the ultra-Orthodox community prompted the prominent Gerer hassidim to shift their support from Porush to Barkat. At that point, the gap between Barkat and Porush stood at 24,000 votes, so clearly that was not the reason for Barkat's victory (contrary to claims made by Lieberman). The reason, apparently, was the high secular turnout as well as the changes Barkat had effected within the national religious sector.
"In the past, the national religious population would generally vote for the haredi [ultra-Orthodox] candidates," Barkat explains. "But now, the trend has completely reversed." Proving his point, Barkat presents the latest poll, which suggests that about 80% of the national religious population supports his candidacy.
In the last election, Barkat's victory was achieved in part by a clear, precise campaign, warning voters of the danger that a haredi mayor would pose to the character of the city. The campaign suggested that Porush wanted to win the mayor's post to impose his vision on the city. Today, things are a little more complicated. Barkat faces Lion, who is not haredi but does have the support of the haredim as well as the support of the political wheeler-dealers -- double support that Barkat sees as a double threat.
Q: Does the deal between Lieberman and Deri possess any real power?
"It is a back-channel deal that the public isn't buying. The residents of Jerusalem are smart enough to see things as they really are. This deal is based on an antiquated worldview that may be more suitable for party primaries or shady transactions."
When Barkat is asked whether he was concerned about the possibility of the haredi rabbis joining forces and collectively supporting a different candidate, he focuses his stare and reminds the inquirer that the combined force that exists in Jerusalem, and should be the force driving it, is a Zionist combination of secular, traditional and religious Zionist individuals who, according to his account, support him unwaveringly. What about the haredim? Many of them are also rooting for him, he notes, adding that he has never deprived any sector in the city.
According to Likud sources, last week Likud Director-General Gadi Arieli called Lion and asked him to remove the Likud-Beytenu logo from his campaign posters. Lion has been endorsed by Lieberman, the chairman of Yisrael Beytenu, and enjoys the support of certain Likud activists in Jerusalem, but he has not been officially endorsed by Netanyahu, who is Likud chairman as well as prime minister.
In addition, after Barkat, the party list includes a number of well-known Jerusalem Likud members: Kobi Kahlon, the brother of former Likud minister Moshe Kahlon; successful supermarket owner and businessman Rami Levy; and Meir Turjeman, a well-known figure and, up until recently, an opponent of Barkat's. Likud officials have decided not to hold a primary election to select a municipal candidate for the Jerusalem election and to refrain from running any candidates. So far, Netanyahu has not endorsed any of the candidates.
Meanwhile, to make it harder for Netanyahu to support Barkat, a local Likud branch has recently spearheaded a motion, filed with the party's top steering committee, to approve the merger between Likud and Yisrael Beytenu in the Jerusalem municipal elections. The decision is still pending the approval of the Likud's legal adviser, followed by Netanyahu's approval. If it passes, and Likud ends up selecting a candidate, this candidate will run on behalf of both Likud and Yisrael Beytenu.
Why has Netanyahu so far avoided publicly endorsing you?
"I'll start by saying that my relationship with him is excellent. He has remarked, more than once, that he is very pleased with the changes that this city is undergoing. He is a resident of Jerusalem; he knows the city. His wife is here, and his children are growing up here. I enjoy the prime minister's full support for the welcome changes happening in the city. The secret of the success of these changes is the cooperation between the government and the municipality. This is an opportunity for me to thank him for the support and the resources. He has also said very clearly that he does not endorse Moshe Lion. Will it go any further than that? That is up to him."
And thus, local and national politics collide. Jerusalem, because of its significance and centrality as Israel's capital, has never remained solely within the bounds of local politics. Barkat's and Netanyahu's joint course began many years ago. Barkat has voiced his faith in Netanyahu's ability to keep Jerusalem united many times along the way. Now that Netanyahu has relaunched peace talks with the Palestinians, raising once again core issues like the unity of Jerusalem for debate, Barkat continues to give Netanyahu his complete support. As everyone knows, Barkat has been very consistent in his strong opposition to dividing the city or handing over any part of its municipal territory to the Palestinians.
"I am not concerned," he says. "I know what the prime minister's position is, and what the government's position is, and of course what the majority of the public thinks about the centrality and unity of the city under any future deal, if there is such a deal."
How do you propose handling the Palestinian designs on Jerusalem?
"If the deal collapses because it hinges on the Jerusalem issue, so be it. It is better not to make any deal than to agree to a bad deal," Barkat says.
Jerusalem is the largest city in Israel. It possesses enormous economic potential, and its main growth engine rests on tourism. Some 4 million foreign tourists visit Jerusalem every year. The prime minister and the mayor have an identical goal: to raise the number of annual tourists to 10 million. Tourism represents the creation of jobs in a variety of areas and helps the city deal with the unflattering statistics indicating high rates of poverty in certain parts -- parts in which the state invests very few resources in efforts to improve.
This obviously affects the municipality, which, at the end of the day, ends up bearing the cost of the municipal tax exemptions handed out by the state to a relatively large portion of the population in the city. These exemptions amount to around 550 million shekels ($155 million) in lost municipal revenue annually, and the state does not compensate the municipality for this loss.
"The state decided that certain people, with lower socio-economic status, are exempt from paying municipal tax. I accept that. But the state needs to compensate the city so that it can close the consequent gap," Barkat says. Even though there is still no state compensation, Barkat boasts a balanced municipal budget.
A connection between the past and the future
Barkat's vision for the next five years is a new master plan focusing on unemployment and public transportation. He plans to build an enormous commercial center at the entrance to the city, the planning stage of which lasted three years and is now in the final stages of approval. The center will contain a million square meters (10.7 million square feet) in 13 35-story towers. The development cost is assessed at 1.2 billion shekels. In Barkat's vision, the center will be inaugurated at around the same time as the new fast rail connecting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Also in the works: the development of two light rail lines -- costing 15 billion shekels ($340 million) -- in addition to the line that is currently in service. This time, he promises, all the ills of the existing line will have been eliminated, and the development will be overseen by the city rather than an external company. Currently, in a city with a population of 800,000 people and tens of thousands of visitors and commuters, the light-rail train hosts some 130,000 passengers every day. The planned new lines will link Gilo to Givat Ram to French Hill and the Mount of Olives. A cable car will then take passengers from the Mount of Olives to the Western Wall and continue to the German Colony.
Barkat continues to make the case for what he believes is his successful mayoral term: During his term, the "First Station" (a central entertainment, culture and enrichment hub located in the old train station plaza) was built and Park Hamesila (Train Track Park) was established, as was the Jerusalem Arena adjacent to Teddy Stadium. The Beit Mazia theater was renovated, as was Hansen Hospital (once known as the Lepers' Home). Park Teddy was also built.
"Change starts first and foremost with the atmosphere," Barkat explains, immediately mentioning the changes that are currently apparent on the ground. In education, for example, there has been an increase in the number of students enrolled in public and religious public schools. Just this year, 26 new preschools have been opened in the religious Zionist sector. Barkat lifted district restrictions (no longer requiring children to enroll in institutions only in their district) allowing 89% of parents to enroll their children in the schools they wished.
Barkat becomes particularly emotional when he talks about the flourishing cultural scene in the city.
"Jerusalem's cultural centers have gone from survival mode to blossoming. Jerusalem is experiencing a cultural renaissance," he says.
"Residents of Jerusalem understand what a profound change culture has effected in this city in terms of atmosphere, quality of life and the economy. One of the reasons for the growth in the city is that Jerusalem has restored its role as a city of culture. We have surpassed Tel Aviv in terms of the number of cultural events, and today, the road to Jerusalem is no longer a one-way street."
Moshe Lion's headquarters responds
Lion's campaign headquarters issued a response saying that "Barkat chased after the haredim in the last election, and it was thanks to them that he won. He continues to woo them today with unprecedented promises worth tens of millions of shekels. At his meeting with Aryeh Deri on June 24, Barkat offered a list of promises to the haredi sector, like the position of deputy mayor and the independence of haredi education. Even Barkat's deputy, Yitzhak Pindrus of United Torah Judaism, said that Barkat has given the haredim more than any mayor before him.
"For five years, Moshe Lion worked as the chairman of the Jerusalem Development Authority, working closely with Barkat, and he saw up close [Barkat's] unsuccessful conduct and his disconnection from the residents of the city. Some 90,000 residents have left the city during his term. In education, there has been a decline of dozens of percentage points in eligibility for matriculation exams. The city is ranked 135th in the Meitzav list [a national education index]. The city suffers from dirt and neglect, and in the transportation department, the residents suffer from degraded roads and terrible parking problems. In addition, the price of housing has risen in the city more than any other city in the country."
9 aug 2013
Wadi Hilweh Information Center- Silwan monitored the Israeli violations against Jerusalemites in the city during the month of July in which several arrests took place as well as extremist settlers’ assaults in Al-Aqsa and on the properties of Jerusalemites.
The Information Center monitored the arrest of 35 Jerusalemites including minors and a woman where most of the arrests took place during clashes that broke out in the streets of Jerusalem and while suppressing peaceful protests.
The month of July also witnessed an Israeli escalation by violating the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque as dozens of settlers raided Al-Aqsa on occasion of the so-called “Destruction of the Temple”, in addition to organizing tours on the outside doors of Al-Aqsa and practicing religious rituals near them.
The occupation authorities ordered Zeina Amro, a teacher in Al-Aqsa education program (Masateb), to stay away from Al-Aqsa for three months claiming that she disrupts security and public safety, knowing that she was arrested while being in the Augusta Victoria hospital in Jerusalem; 25-year old Hussam Sider who is an employee of Al-Aqsa Mosque Reconstruction Committee was also ordered to stay away from Al-Aqsa.
The Israeli occupation forces also suppressed in July a protest for the prisoners and another one that was against the Prawer Plan and assaulted and attacked the participants and severely beat them using batons, sound bombs and Calvary units.
Demolition
In the context of demolitions in the Holy City, Al-Sharabati family in the old city executed the court’s decision and removed the tin plates from the top of their house in order to avoid evacuation, knowing that the family put the tin plates on the top of the house almost 20 years ago to protect the rooms from the rain.
The municipality also handed a demolition order to the family of Jerusalemite prisoner Khaled Shweiki to demolish the balcony of his house since it is built without a permit.
Assaults
Towards the end of last month, a Jerusalemite young man was shot in his foot in Sheikh Jarrah as verbal altercations broke out between him and an Israeli police man who was dressed in civil clothes and ended up shooting him.
Settlers continued their assaults on Jerusalemites and their properties as they damaged the windows of several cars at Lions gate and assaulted young men during the so-called “Destruction of the Temple” protest, knowing that the police was present at the scene but did not interfere and prevent the settlers or arrest them.
Lands and properties
In the context of attacks on lands and properties, a decision to evacuate Siam’s family from their house in the neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah was issued, in favor of the settlers. The family has been living in the house since the 1960’s but the Custodian of Absentee Property claims that the family has been living there since 1968 so that they don’t benefit from the protection rights; the Custodian of Absentee Propertyis ordering Siam family to pay 40 thousand NIS to freeze the evacuation.
Settlers also tried to seize a land and a house in the neighbourhood of Al-Tur at the beginning of July. They assaulted the residents as well as attacking 53-year old Sami Qalouni and Jamal Abu Steve and injuring them with wounds and bruises.
The settlers are also trying to seize a property that belongs to Al-Rweidi family in Al-Ein area in Silwan. The family was surprised when the settlers appealed the District court’s decision which confirmed the family’s ownership of the property that consists of 3 floors (5 residential apartments) and 30 individuals live in it; it is registered under the name of Jom’a Mohammad Salem Darwish Rweidi.
The Information Center monitored the arrest of 35 Jerusalemites including minors and a woman where most of the arrests took place during clashes that broke out in the streets of Jerusalem and while suppressing peaceful protests.
The month of July also witnessed an Israeli escalation by violating the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque as dozens of settlers raided Al-Aqsa on occasion of the so-called “Destruction of the Temple”, in addition to organizing tours on the outside doors of Al-Aqsa and practicing religious rituals near them.
The occupation authorities ordered Zeina Amro, a teacher in Al-Aqsa education program (Masateb), to stay away from Al-Aqsa for three months claiming that she disrupts security and public safety, knowing that she was arrested while being in the Augusta Victoria hospital in Jerusalem; 25-year old Hussam Sider who is an employee of Al-Aqsa Mosque Reconstruction Committee was also ordered to stay away from Al-Aqsa.
The Israeli occupation forces also suppressed in July a protest for the prisoners and another one that was against the Prawer Plan and assaulted and attacked the participants and severely beat them using batons, sound bombs and Calvary units.
Demolition
In the context of demolitions in the Holy City, Al-Sharabati family in the old city executed the court’s decision and removed the tin plates from the top of their house in order to avoid evacuation, knowing that the family put the tin plates on the top of the house almost 20 years ago to protect the rooms from the rain.
The municipality also handed a demolition order to the family of Jerusalemite prisoner Khaled Shweiki to demolish the balcony of his house since it is built without a permit.
Assaults
Towards the end of last month, a Jerusalemite young man was shot in his foot in Sheikh Jarrah as verbal altercations broke out between him and an Israeli police man who was dressed in civil clothes and ended up shooting him.
Settlers continued their assaults on Jerusalemites and their properties as they damaged the windows of several cars at Lions gate and assaulted young men during the so-called “Destruction of the Temple” protest, knowing that the police was present at the scene but did not interfere and prevent the settlers or arrest them.
Lands and properties
In the context of attacks on lands and properties, a decision to evacuate Siam’s family from their house in the neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah was issued, in favor of the settlers. The family has been living in the house since the 1960’s but the Custodian of Absentee Property claims that the family has been living there since 1968 so that they don’t benefit from the protection rights; the Custodian of Absentee Propertyis ordering Siam family to pay 40 thousand NIS to freeze the evacuation.
Settlers also tried to seize a land and a house in the neighbourhood of Al-Tur at the beginning of July. They assaulted the residents as well as attacking 53-year old Sami Qalouni and Jamal Abu Steve and injuring them with wounds and bruises.
The settlers are also trying to seize a property that belongs to Al-Rweidi family in Al-Ein area in Silwan. The family was surprised when the settlers appealed the District court’s decision which confirmed the family’s ownership of the property that consists of 3 floors (5 residential apartments) and 30 individuals live in it; it is registered under the name of Jom’a Mohammad Salem Darwish Rweidi.
Tens of thousands of Palestinian worshipers attended on Thursday morning the Eid of prayers at the Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The old city’s alleyways were congested with worshippers heading to Islam's third holiest site the celebrate the Eid and leaving the site after the Eid prayers.
Areas around the Mosque witnessed an intensive Israeli occupation security presence since the early morning hours.
The Imam called, in his Eid sermon, for unity in Palestine and Egypt as disunity only serves the enemy, stressing that the enemy wants to divide and corrupt the Mulims.
The worshipers, who were mostly from Jerusalem and 1948-occupied lands, pitched a tent, which they called Rabea al-Adaweyya tent, in solidarity with the pro-democracy demonstrators in Egypt who are camped at Rabea al-Adaweyya square.
Areas around the Mosque witnessed an intensive Israeli occupation security presence since the early morning hours.
The Imam called, in his Eid sermon, for unity in Palestine and Egypt as disunity only serves the enemy, stressing that the enemy wants to divide and corrupt the Mulims.
The worshipers, who were mostly from Jerusalem and 1948-occupied lands, pitched a tent, which they called Rabea al-Adaweyya tent, in solidarity with the pro-democracy demonstrators in Egypt who are camped at Rabea al-Adaweyya square.
8 aug 2013
The Hamas movement extended its felicitations to the Palestinian people and the Arab and Islamic world over the advent of the blessed Eidul Fitr. Hamas hoped in a press release on Thursday that the next Eid would bring with it liberation and victory and return for the Palestinian people and unity and progress for the Islamic Nation.
Hamas prayed that Allah would “bestow on us the greatest joy of all mainly the liberation of the land, the Aqsa, and the prisoners”.
Hamas prayed that Allah would “bestow on us the greatest joy of all mainly the liberation of the land, the Aqsa, and the prisoners”.
The Israeli regime is planning to build new illegal settlement units on Palestinian territory in East al-Quds (Jerusalem), despite widespread criticism, Press TV reports.
Palestinians have slammed the move by Israel to build a new settlement on occupied land in Jabal Mukaber, southeast of al-Quds, calling it a blatant violation of international law.
“This is part of intensifying the settlements in and around Jerusalem. Lately, in the last ten years, they took a decision in order to build settlements in the middle of the Palestinian-populated areas in Jerusalem,” said coordinator of Stop the Wall Campaign Jamal Juma.
Israel’s Housing Minister Uri Ariel and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat are planning to attend a ceremony to lay the foundation for the illegal settlement units.
“Now we are talking about 11 so-called outposts or settlements inside the Palestinian villages and the Palestinian neighborhoods,” Juma stated.
He also said there are about 90 buildings where Israeli settlers have already taken over in Muslim and Christian neighborhoods of the Old City.
More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East al-Quds.
Much of the international community regards the settlements illegal because the territories were captured by Israel in a war in 1967 and are hence subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbid construction on occupied lands.
On July 19, the European Union published new guidelines banning its 28 members from funding projects in Israeli settlements in East al-Quds, the West Bank and the Golan Heights, which the Tel Aviv regime occupied during the 1967 war.(Video on the link)
Palestinians have slammed the move by Israel to build a new settlement on occupied land in Jabal Mukaber, southeast of al-Quds, calling it a blatant violation of international law.
“This is part of intensifying the settlements in and around Jerusalem. Lately, in the last ten years, they took a decision in order to build settlements in the middle of the Palestinian-populated areas in Jerusalem,” said coordinator of Stop the Wall Campaign Jamal Juma.
Israel’s Housing Minister Uri Ariel and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat are planning to attend a ceremony to lay the foundation for the illegal settlement units.
“Now we are talking about 11 so-called outposts or settlements inside the Palestinian villages and the Palestinian neighborhoods,” Juma stated.
He also said there are about 90 buildings where Israeli settlers have already taken over in Muslim and Christian neighborhoods of the Old City.
More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East al-Quds.
Much of the international community regards the settlements illegal because the territories were captured by Israel in a war in 1967 and are hence subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbid construction on occupied lands.
On July 19, the European Union published new guidelines banning its 28 members from funding projects in Israeli settlements in East al-Quds, the West Bank and the Golan Heights, which the Tel Aviv regime occupied during the 1967 war.(Video on the link)
7 aug 2013
Israeli ID
A deceptive blue piece of paper
Jerusalem: a city considered a capital by two countries and a key issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. There is an ongoing ethnical cleansing of the city’s eastern parts that’s striving to remove the Arab population. The tool of the cleansing is a piece of paper, more specifically an ID card. We are now going to take a closer look on how.
Around 2002 the separation wall was being constructed, cutting off East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank. The Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem were therefore given the blue Israeli ID cards to be able to stay in the area. These cards however, do not make every Jerusalemite an Israeli citizen since the cards the Palestinians receive do not say “citizen” but only “resident”.
These cards might seem like an easy ticket to secure residency in the holy city, but it is far from easy to receive. As a Palestinian you are not allowed residency in East Jerusalem unless both your parents lived in the area. This might seem ironic in comparison to Israel’s birthright-policy stating that it is enough having one parent of Jewish decent to be entitled to live in the holy land. However, this is the case for the East Jerusalemites, something that has resulted in thousands of unregistered kids with one non-Jerusalemite parent that would otherwise be deported.
Along with this obstacle came another one in 1995 when the law called “Center of Life” was utilized by Israeli minister of interior. This law emerged from the ruling of Israeli High Court in a case from 1988, called the Awad-case. This was a case about the Jerusalemite Mubarak ‘Awad who went abroad to study in the US, when he later returned to Palestine and tried to renew his Palestinian ID he was dismissed, since the court considered his “Center of life” to be elsewhere than in Palestine. This case was later utilized and transformed into today’s Center of Life law.
Applied to the situation for the people living in East Jerusalem, this means that if a resident of East Jerusalem for example gets a job outside of Jerusalem, their centre of life is no longer considered Jerusalem and their IDs will be dismissed. Since the center of life law was passed, this has created thousand of displaced persons.
If any person manages to meet the strict criteria of the center of life policy, he/she will finally be given the blue piece of paper allowing residency in Jerusalem. The struggle will continue when the ID expires and needs to be renewed at the Ministry of Interior. The life of the Palestinian residents of Jerusalem goes on, depending entirely on a deceptive blue piece of paper.
This is how the demographics of Jerusalem keep changing. It’s not a spontaneous demographic change; rather, it has been planned and implemented from the highest levels.
A deceptive blue piece of paper
Jerusalem: a city considered a capital by two countries and a key issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. There is an ongoing ethnical cleansing of the city’s eastern parts that’s striving to remove the Arab population. The tool of the cleansing is a piece of paper, more specifically an ID card. We are now going to take a closer look on how.
Around 2002 the separation wall was being constructed, cutting off East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank. The Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem were therefore given the blue Israeli ID cards to be able to stay in the area. These cards however, do not make every Jerusalemite an Israeli citizen since the cards the Palestinians receive do not say “citizen” but only “resident”.
These cards might seem like an easy ticket to secure residency in the holy city, but it is far from easy to receive. As a Palestinian you are not allowed residency in East Jerusalem unless both your parents lived in the area. This might seem ironic in comparison to Israel’s birthright-policy stating that it is enough having one parent of Jewish decent to be entitled to live in the holy land. However, this is the case for the East Jerusalemites, something that has resulted in thousands of unregistered kids with one non-Jerusalemite parent that would otherwise be deported.
Along with this obstacle came another one in 1995 when the law called “Center of Life” was utilized by Israeli minister of interior. This law emerged from the ruling of Israeli High Court in a case from 1988, called the Awad-case. This was a case about the Jerusalemite Mubarak ‘Awad who went abroad to study in the US, when he later returned to Palestine and tried to renew his Palestinian ID he was dismissed, since the court considered his “Center of life” to be elsewhere than in Palestine. This case was later utilized and transformed into today’s Center of Life law.
Applied to the situation for the people living in East Jerusalem, this means that if a resident of East Jerusalem for example gets a job outside of Jerusalem, their centre of life is no longer considered Jerusalem and their IDs will be dismissed. Since the center of life law was passed, this has created thousand of displaced persons.
If any person manages to meet the strict criteria of the center of life policy, he/she will finally be given the blue piece of paper allowing residency in Jerusalem. The struggle will continue when the ID expires and needs to be renewed at the Ministry of Interior. The life of the Palestinian residents of Jerusalem goes on, depending entirely on a deceptive blue piece of paper.
This is how the demographics of Jerusalem keep changing. It’s not a spontaneous demographic change; rather, it has been planned and implemented from the highest levels.
The Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage (AFEH) castigated team players at the Spanish FC Barcelona sports club for visiting the Buraq Wall. AFEH said in a statement on Wednesday that a number of players were seen wearing the “Kippa” and offering Talmudic rituals at what the Israeli occupation falsely call the “Wailing Wall”, which is in fact part and parcel of the Aqsa mosque in occupied Jerusalem.
Zaki Eghbariye, the director of the foundation, addressed a message to the chairman of the club expressing disappointment over that visit.
Eghbariye said that Barcelona had millions of fans across the Arab and Islamic world but the team’s visit to the Buraq Wall and considering it a symbol of Jewish religion had infringed on Muslims’ creed and feelings including many of those fans.
The Barcelona football players had visited the Buraq Wall, the western wall of the Aqsa mosque, on Sunday morning wearing their team’s shirts and the “Kippa” amidst tight Israeli security measures.
Zaki Eghbariye, the director of the foundation, addressed a message to the chairman of the club expressing disappointment over that visit.
Eghbariye said that Barcelona had millions of fans across the Arab and Islamic world but the team’s visit to the Buraq Wall and considering it a symbol of Jewish religion had infringed on Muslims’ creed and feelings including many of those fans.
The Barcelona football players had visited the Buraq Wall, the western wall of the Aqsa mosque, on Sunday morning wearing their team’s shirts and the “Kippa” amidst tight Israeli security measures.
MP Jamal Al-Khudari, the head of the popular committee against the siege, warned of the seriousness of Israeli calls to storm al-Aqsa mosque from all its gates on Wednesday. These Israeli serious calls to storm the holy Islamic site coincide with the Israeli excavations under the mosque and the Israeli attempts to divide it as what happened with the Ibrahimi mosque, MP Al-Khudari said.
He stressed the need to intensify the Palestinian presence in al-Aqsa mosque and called on Palestinians in the West Bank and inside the Green Line to flock to al-Aqsa mosque in order to address such Israeli provocative calls.
He pointed out that these extremist calls are fully supported by the Israeli government especially that senior politicians will participate in storming al-Aqsa mosque.
Meanwhile, more than 70 Israeli settlers tried to storm al-Aqsa mosque from Silsila Gate, however the Israeli police prevented them from doing so where clashes have erupted between the two sides.
Local sources confirmed that group of settlers reached al-Aqsa mosque in a provocative attempt to break into it.
Jewish organizations have called for organizing a mass rally at the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday, demanding free access to and prayer in the Muslim holy site.
He stressed the need to intensify the Palestinian presence in al-Aqsa mosque and called on Palestinians in the West Bank and inside the Green Line to flock to al-Aqsa mosque in order to address such Israeli provocative calls.
He pointed out that these extremist calls are fully supported by the Israeli government especially that senior politicians will participate in storming al-Aqsa mosque.
Meanwhile, more than 70 Israeli settlers tried to storm al-Aqsa mosque from Silsila Gate, however the Israeli police prevented them from doing so where clashes have erupted between the two sides.
Local sources confirmed that group of settlers reached al-Aqsa mosque in a provocative attempt to break into it.
Jewish organizations have called for organizing a mass rally at the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday, demanding free access to and prayer in the Muslim holy site.
Israeli sources have reported Tuesday that Jerusalem City Council head, Nir Barkat, and Israeli Housing Minister, Uri Ariel, intend to place the cornerstone of a new settlement, in Jabal Al-Mokabbir, south of occupied East Jerusalem.
The sources said that the new settlement will be dedicated this coming Sunday, and will include dozens of units for Jewish settlers.
Palestinian researcher, specialized in settlements affairs, Ahmad Sob-Laban, stated that the Israeli “Construction and Planning Committee” authorized, on July 29, the construction of the new settlement in Jerusalem.
He added that the plan aims at building 63 units in three buildings, located close to a kindergarten in Jabal Al-Mokabbir.
The researcher said that this would be the second settlement to be built in the heart of Jabal Al-Mokabbir, as the first is called Nof Ezion, and added that Israel also illegally confiscated lands in Jabal Al-Mokabbir and Sur Baher to build the Armona Natzif settlement, west of the town.
“This is an old plan that was approved in 2008, a license to build foundations, parking lots, and infrastructure was granted”, Sob-Laban said, “The new issue here is authorizing new constructions for the settlement in the twon”.
He further stated that an Israeli company, known as Yumnah, is connected to financing and building various outposts in the heart of Arab neighborhoods in occupied East Jerusalem.
“This is a strategy meant at creating facts on the ground, to prevent any Israeli withdrawal from the occupied city”, the researcher added, “Those settlement activities aim at placing obstacles in front of any attempt to reach a peace agreement and a two-state solution”
The sources said that the new settlement will be dedicated this coming Sunday, and will include dozens of units for Jewish settlers.
Palestinian researcher, specialized in settlements affairs, Ahmad Sob-Laban, stated that the Israeli “Construction and Planning Committee” authorized, on July 29, the construction of the new settlement in Jerusalem.
He added that the plan aims at building 63 units in three buildings, located close to a kindergarten in Jabal Al-Mokabbir.
The researcher said that this would be the second settlement to be built in the heart of Jabal Al-Mokabbir, as the first is called Nof Ezion, and added that Israel also illegally confiscated lands in Jabal Al-Mokabbir and Sur Baher to build the Armona Natzif settlement, west of the town.
“This is an old plan that was approved in 2008, a license to build foundations, parking lots, and infrastructure was granted”, Sob-Laban said, “The new issue here is authorizing new constructions for the settlement in the twon”.
He further stated that an Israeli company, known as Yumnah, is connected to financing and building various outposts in the heart of Arab neighborhoods in occupied East Jerusalem.
“This is a strategy meant at creating facts on the ground, to prevent any Israeli withdrawal from the occupied city”, the researcher added, “Those settlement activities aim at placing obstacles in front of any attempt to reach a peace agreement and a two-state solution”
