15 jan 2019
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan suggested barring Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from returning to the West Bank after his next trip abroad, claiming the Palestinian Authority (PA) leader was “one of the main instigators of violence on the southern border.”
In an interview with Israel Radio, Erdan said Abbas was “responsible for the ongoing turmoil on the Israel-Gaza border through his ongoing economic pressure on Hamas as he tries to break the terror group’s grip over the enclave.”
He said, “The one really responsible behind the scenes for all that is happening is Abu Mazen (Abbas’s nickname). He is the one to move inspectors out of the Rafah Crossing, he is the one sanctioning Hamas in order to pressure Hamas — pressure that is bleeding over to us.”
Erdan added that the Israeli government should consider taking action against Abbas in the coming months as his policy is “undeniably to foment unrest and incite against Israel, whether directly or through sanctions on Hamas.”
He continued, “Maybe we should go as far as to consider one of the next times Abu Mazen leaves not to allow him to come back.”
Erdan criticized Abbas’s political approach, “He makes no contribution to the diplomatic process. He’s only doing damage with his attitude toward Hamas.”
Abbas has engaged in multiple measures against Gaza, such as withholding transfers of tax money, banning entry of fuel supplies, in order to pressure the Hamas movement, which is the de facto leading political party in Gaza, into giving up control of the Strip.
In an interview with Israel Radio, Erdan said Abbas was “responsible for the ongoing turmoil on the Israel-Gaza border through his ongoing economic pressure on Hamas as he tries to break the terror group’s grip over the enclave.”
He said, “The one really responsible behind the scenes for all that is happening is Abu Mazen (Abbas’s nickname). He is the one to move inspectors out of the Rafah Crossing, he is the one sanctioning Hamas in order to pressure Hamas — pressure that is bleeding over to us.”
Erdan added that the Israeli government should consider taking action against Abbas in the coming months as his policy is “undeniably to foment unrest and incite against Israel, whether directly or through sanctions on Hamas.”
He continued, “Maybe we should go as far as to consider one of the next times Abu Mazen leaves not to allow him to come back.”
Erdan criticized Abbas’s political approach, “He makes no contribution to the diplomatic process. He’s only doing damage with his attitude toward Hamas.”
Abbas has engaged in multiple measures against Gaza, such as withholding transfers of tax money, banning entry of fuel supplies, in order to pressure the Hamas movement, which is the de facto leading political party in Gaza, into giving up control of the Strip.
14 jan 2019
Israeli settlers closed off on Monday evening the western entrance Bethlehem’s southeastern town of Tekou’, in the southern occupied West bank.
Tekou’ Mayor, Taysir Abu Mufreh, said a horde of 50 Israeli settlers, escorted by Israeli forces flocked to the western entrance of Tekou’ town and prevented Palestinians from passing through the area.
As a result, tension has flared up among civilians who have attempted to reach their homes.
According to Abu Mufrih, settlers have recently intensified their arbitrary attacks against Palestinian locals, the latest of which occurred on Friday when settlers targeted Palestinian vehicles with stones.
Nearly 700,000 Israeli settlers have been residing in 427 settlement outposts built across the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, in violation of international law.
Settler violence against Palestinians and their property is routine in the occupied territories and is rarely prosecuted by the Israeli authorities.
Settlers' violence includes property and mosque arsons, stone-throwing, uprooting of crops and olive trees, and attacks on vulnerable homes, among others.
Tekou’ Mayor, Taysir Abu Mufreh, said a horde of 50 Israeli settlers, escorted by Israeli forces flocked to the western entrance of Tekou’ town and prevented Palestinians from passing through the area.
As a result, tension has flared up among civilians who have attempted to reach their homes.
According to Abu Mufrih, settlers have recently intensified their arbitrary attacks against Palestinian locals, the latest of which occurred on Friday when settlers targeted Palestinian vehicles with stones.
Nearly 700,000 Israeli settlers have been residing in 427 settlement outposts built across the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, in violation of international law.
Settler violence against Palestinians and their property is routine in the occupied territories and is rarely prosecuted by the Israeli authorities.
Settlers' violence includes property and mosque arsons, stone-throwing, uprooting of crops and olive trees, and attacks on vulnerable homes, among others.
13 jan 2019
The Egyptian authorities confirmed that the Rafah border crossing was opened on Sunday in one direction to allow passage of travelers from Egypt into the besieged Gaza Strip.
The Rafah border crossing was opened in one direction to allow entry of passengers, specifically humanitarian cases into Gaza.
The crossing was closed by Egyptian authorities last Sunday after the Palestinian Authority (PA) pulled out its staff working at the Palestinian side of the border over disputes with the Hamas movement, which is the de facto leading political party in Gaza.
The crossing is in preparation to allow the entry of 53 truckloads of goods such as food, fuel, and oil into Gaza, as well as a number of buses transporting Palestinians stranded on the Egyptian side.
The Egyptian authorities pointed out that the Rafah crossing would not allow passage in both directions until a legitimate representative of the PA will be present to manage the crossing from the Palestinian side.
There are three crossings into the Gaza Strip and one of them is the Gaza-Egypt crossing known as the Rafah crossing in southern Gaza, which is specifically used for pedestrians.
Without access to the Rafah crossing, many Palestinians in Gaza must depend on the Israeli-controlled Erez crossing to exit the besieged territory.
The Rafah border crossing was opened in one direction to allow entry of passengers, specifically humanitarian cases into Gaza.
The crossing was closed by Egyptian authorities last Sunday after the Palestinian Authority (PA) pulled out its staff working at the Palestinian side of the border over disputes with the Hamas movement, which is the de facto leading political party in Gaza.
The crossing is in preparation to allow the entry of 53 truckloads of goods such as food, fuel, and oil into Gaza, as well as a number of buses transporting Palestinians stranded on the Egyptian side.
The Egyptian authorities pointed out that the Rafah crossing would not allow passage in both directions until a legitimate representative of the PA will be present to manage the crossing from the Palestinian side.
There are three crossings into the Gaza Strip and one of them is the Gaza-Egypt crossing known as the Rafah crossing in southern Gaza, which is specifically used for pedestrians.
Without access to the Rafah crossing, many Palestinians in Gaza must depend on the Israeli-controlled Erez crossing to exit the besieged territory.
11 jan 2019
Dozens of Israeli soldiers invaded, on Friday at dawn, villages in the central West Bank governorate of Ramallah, abducted three Palestinians, injured a photojournalist, and fired a rocket at a home. video
Media sources in Ramallah said the soldiers invaded villages in the western part of the governorate, before imposing a strict siege on Kafr Ni’ma and Bil’in.
They added that the soldiers stormed and ransacked homes, before abducting Mahdi Abu Rahma and Tareq Abu Rahma, from Bil’in, in addition to Jaber Abdo from Kafr Ni’ma.
The soldiers also fired small “Energia” rockets into the home of Mahdi Abu Rahma, in Bil’in, causing fire and damage to parts of his property, and furniture.
Palestinian photojournalist Haitham Khatib, from Bil’in, said that the soldiers surrounded his home, and shot him with a rubber-coated steel bullet as he approached his property.
On his Facebook page, Khatib said:
At 3AM this morning, an Israeli civilian marked bus, leading the way for military vehicles, entered my home village of Bil’in. People immediately began exiting their homes to find out what was going on.
I got into my car and pursued the military vehicles, to the neighboring village of Kufr Ni’ma, were the soldiers had gone.
Following this I returned to Bil’in in my car, finding Israeli soldiers surrounding my home and all over our streets. Dressed in my press vest and armed with only a camera, I attempted to get closer.
Israeli soldiers then shot me in my left leg, with a rubber coated steel bullet, they continued to fire at me several times as I quickly hid behind a wall.
After this I went to visit my neighbor, Mahdi Abu Rahma, discovering that he had been arrested after the Israelis had fired an electronic rocket-type munition at the house. Mahdi’s windows were shattered and his door damaged. His small children were in the home when this munition was fired by the soldiers.
I later discovered that Tareq Abu Rahma, had also been arrested.
The Israelis were shooting live ammunition, tear gas, sound grenades as well as other munitions. They continued firing as they left.
There was absolutely no explanation for what they did and we are still waiting for news on how many may have been arrested in Kafr Ni’ma.
Media sources in Ramallah said the soldiers invaded villages in the western part of the governorate, before imposing a strict siege on Kafr Ni’ma and Bil’in.
They added that the soldiers stormed and ransacked homes, before abducting Mahdi Abu Rahma and Tareq Abu Rahma, from Bil’in, in addition to Jaber Abdo from Kafr Ni’ma.
The soldiers also fired small “Energia” rockets into the home of Mahdi Abu Rahma, in Bil’in, causing fire and damage to parts of his property, and furniture.
Palestinian photojournalist Haitham Khatib, from Bil’in, said that the soldiers surrounded his home, and shot him with a rubber-coated steel bullet as he approached his property.
On his Facebook page, Khatib said:
At 3AM this morning, an Israeli civilian marked bus, leading the way for military vehicles, entered my home village of Bil’in. People immediately began exiting their homes to find out what was going on.
I got into my car and pursued the military vehicles, to the neighboring village of Kufr Ni’ma, were the soldiers had gone.
Following this I returned to Bil’in in my car, finding Israeli soldiers surrounding my home and all over our streets. Dressed in my press vest and armed with only a camera, I attempted to get closer.
Israeli soldiers then shot me in my left leg, with a rubber coated steel bullet, they continued to fire at me several times as I quickly hid behind a wall.
After this I went to visit my neighbor, Mahdi Abu Rahma, discovering that he had been arrested after the Israelis had fired an electronic rocket-type munition at the house. Mahdi’s windows were shattered and his door damaged. His small children were in the home when this munition was fired by the soldiers.
I later discovered that Tareq Abu Rahma, had also been arrested.
The Israelis were shooting live ammunition, tear gas, sound grenades as well as other munitions. They continued firing as they left.
There was absolutely no explanation for what they did and we are still waiting for news on how many may have been arrested in Kafr Ni’ma.
8 jan 2019
Israeli army jeeps invaded, on Tuesday morning, several towns in the southern West Bank governorate of Hebron, and summoned one Palestinian for interrogation, in addition to installing many roadblocks.
Media sources in Hebron said the soldiers invaded Doura town, south of Hebron, before storming and searching homes, and summoned a former political prisoner, identified as Eid Ibreiwish, for interrogation.
They added that the soldiers invaded many neighborhoods in Hebron city, in addition to the towns of Ethna and Yatta, and installed roadblocks at the entrances of the towns of Halhoul and Sa’ir, and Hebron’s northern entrance.
The soldiers stopped and searched dozens of cars, and interrogated scores of Palestinians while inspecting their ID cards.
Media sources in Hebron said the soldiers invaded Doura town, south of Hebron, before storming and searching homes, and summoned a former political prisoner, identified as Eid Ibreiwish, for interrogation.
They added that the soldiers invaded many neighborhoods in Hebron city, in addition to the towns of Ethna and Yatta, and installed roadblocks at the entrances of the towns of Halhoul and Sa’ir, and Hebron’s northern entrance.
The soldiers stopped and searched dozens of cars, and interrogated scores of Palestinians while inspecting their ID cards.
The Israeli occupation government suspended a fund transfer, from Qatar to Palestinian employees, in the besieged Gaza Strip, Israeli TV Channel 20 reported, on Monday.
Israeli authorities claim that freezing the payment came in response to the firing of a rocket, from Gaza, towards Ashkelon.
Former Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said: “It is shameful that [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu had recognized that Israel must not fund terror against itself.”
He added, according to Days of Palestine: “I hope that this decision is not related to the elections and that we will not see Netanyahu renew the flow of money to Hamas after April 9.”
The extremist right-wing politician continued: “Anyway, we have to make it clear that the siege will not be facilitate before the release of our soldiers and settlers,” referring to the Israeli soldiers who are being held as prisoners of war in Gaza.
Lieberman resigned from his position as Israel’s Minister of Defense in November, following a disagreement over a recently-signed ceasefire with Gaza.
Born in Moldova, Lieberman was one of the only ministers in the world who did not live in territory officially recognized as his own country. Originally under suspicion over charges of money-laundering and bribery, Lieberman was formally indicted in December of 2012, on lesser charges of fraud and breach of trust.
In 2014, his party was the focus of a corruption probe within the Israeli political spectrum, and, in November of the same year, Lieberman’s life was threatened with an assassination attempt.
Prior to moving to Israel from Moldova, Lieberman worked as a nightclub bouncer. When he moved into an Israeli settlement, he gained infamy when he was charged with beating up a 12-year old boy. He espoused extreme right-wing views, and became a member of the Yisrael Beitenu party, which he now chairs.
Netanyahu blocks Qatar funds to Gaza
The Israeli government on Monday suspended the transfer of Qatari funds to Palestinian employees in the besieged Gaza Strip, according to Israeli media.
Israel's TV channel 20 said that the third batch of the Qatari grant will not be transferred to Gaza based on an order by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu's decision coincided with Israel's bombing of three targets in the Gaza Strip on Monday.
Qatar has so far transferred two separate $15 million payments to the Gaza Strip to help employees and poor families who have been living under crippling blockade for about 13 years.
Israeli authorities claim that freezing the payment came in response to the firing of a rocket, from Gaza, towards Ashkelon.
Former Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said: “It is shameful that [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu had recognized that Israel must not fund terror against itself.”
He added, according to Days of Palestine: “I hope that this decision is not related to the elections and that we will not see Netanyahu renew the flow of money to Hamas after April 9.”
The extremist right-wing politician continued: “Anyway, we have to make it clear that the siege will not be facilitate before the release of our soldiers and settlers,” referring to the Israeli soldiers who are being held as prisoners of war in Gaza.
Lieberman resigned from his position as Israel’s Minister of Defense in November, following a disagreement over a recently-signed ceasefire with Gaza.
Born in Moldova, Lieberman was one of the only ministers in the world who did not live in territory officially recognized as his own country. Originally under suspicion over charges of money-laundering and bribery, Lieberman was formally indicted in December of 2012, on lesser charges of fraud and breach of trust.
In 2014, his party was the focus of a corruption probe within the Israeli political spectrum, and, in November of the same year, Lieberman’s life was threatened with an assassination attempt.
Prior to moving to Israel from Moldova, Lieberman worked as a nightclub bouncer. When he moved into an Israeli settlement, he gained infamy when he was charged with beating up a 12-year old boy. He espoused extreme right-wing views, and became a member of the Yisrael Beitenu party, which he now chairs.
Netanyahu blocks Qatar funds to Gaza
The Israeli government on Monday suspended the transfer of Qatari funds to Palestinian employees in the besieged Gaza Strip, according to Israeli media.
Israel's TV channel 20 said that the third batch of the Qatari grant will not be transferred to Gaza based on an order by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu's decision coincided with Israel's bombing of three targets in the Gaza Strip on Monday.
Qatar has so far transferred two separate $15 million payments to the Gaza Strip to help employees and poor families who have been living under crippling blockade for about 13 years.
6 jan 2019
The Israeli occupation forces on Sunday evening cracked down on Palestinian drivers and civilians at the Anab checkpoint, set up west of Tulkarem, in the northern West Bank.
Local sources said Israeli patrols closed off the Anab checkpoint, blocking Palestinians’ free access out of and into the area.
Palestinians passing through the area have been subjected to intensive inspection.
Local sources said Israeli patrols closed off the Anab checkpoint, blocking Palestinians’ free access out of and into the area.
Palestinians passing through the area have been subjected to intensive inspection.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) decided Sunday to withdraw all of its employees from the Rafah crossing starting from Monday.
The Palestinian General Authority of Civil Affairs said that the decision came following tension with Hamas Movement.
The authority accused Hamas of reinforcing the internal division, saying that the group was behind the obstacles it has faced since being in charge of the crossing.
The Palestinian General Authority of Civil Affairs said that the decision came following tension with Hamas Movement.
The authority accused Hamas of reinforcing the internal division, saying that the group was behind the obstacles it has faced since being in charge of the crossing.
5 jan 2019
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Saturday evening abruptly blocked the movement of Palestinian citizens on Jenin-Haifa road, causing a traffic jam.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that the IOF soldiers stationed at the entrance to al-Yamun village in Jenin scrutinized the IDs of the Palestinians passing in the area.
The same sources said that the IOF further installed several military checkpoints on Jenin-Haifa road.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that the IOF soldiers stationed at the entrance to al-Yamun village in Jenin scrutinized the IDs of the Palestinians passing in the area.
The same sources said that the IOF further installed several military checkpoints on Jenin-Haifa road.
2 jan 2019
The Palestinian Health Ministry warned Wednesday that Gaza’s fuel crisis is threatening to bring its medical services to a halt.
“Medical services are about to stop within days due to the fuel crisis despite austerity measures taken by hospitals and health centers,” ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said in a statement.
Home to more than two million people, the Gaza Strip has been struggling with severe electricity shortages since 2006.
“Medical services are about to stop within days due to the fuel crisis despite austerity measures taken by hospitals and health centers,” ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said in a statement.
Home to more than two million people, the Gaza Strip has been struggling with severe electricity shortages since 2006.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) stormed Wednesday afternoon the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia, and erected a military checkpoint at the entrance to Ezzun town.
Local sources told PIC reporter that Israeli forces stormed the city from its southern entrance and were deployed near the local mosque.
According to the sources, Palestinian youths stoned the IOF troops without causing any injuries.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces erected a military checkpoint at the northern entrance to Ezzun town and blocked locals’ movement in both directions.
Local sources told PIC reporter that Israeli forces stormed the city from its southern entrance and were deployed near the local mosque.
According to the sources, Palestinian youths stoned the IOF troops without causing any injuries.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces erected a military checkpoint at the northern entrance to Ezzun town and blocked locals’ movement in both directions.
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