17 jan 2015
The Euro-Mid Observer for Human Rights welcomed in a statement issued Saturday the decision made by the International Criminal Court (ICC) "to open a preliminary probe into the situation in Palestine".
The Euro-Mid Observer said that ICC General Prosecutor’s decision to open an inquiry into war crimes committed in the occupied territories gives hope for justice to thousands of victims of war crimes.
This decision would put an end to impunity for crimes against humanity that often causes further conflict and violence escalation, the statement said.
“We, in the Euro-Mid Observer, have long called for an independent investigation into crimes committed in the occupied Palestinian territories.”
The observer declared willingness “to cooperate with the General Prosecutor and to provide the needed evidence that will lead to credible and accurate results.”
The statement called on European countries to support ICC’s decision and to pressure the Israeli authorities to fully cooperate.
ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda decided Friday to open a preliminary examination into the situation in Palestine after accepting the jurisdiction of the ICC over Israeli crimes committed in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, since June 13, 2014.
The Euro-Mid Observer said that ICC General Prosecutor’s decision to open an inquiry into war crimes committed in the occupied territories gives hope for justice to thousands of victims of war crimes.
This decision would put an end to impunity for crimes against humanity that often causes further conflict and violence escalation, the statement said.
“We, in the Euro-Mid Observer, have long called for an independent investigation into crimes committed in the occupied Palestinian territories.”
The observer declared willingness “to cooperate with the General Prosecutor and to provide the needed evidence that will lead to credible and accurate results.”
The statement called on European countries to support ICC’s decision and to pressure the Israeli authorities to fully cooperate.
ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda decided Friday to open a preliminary examination into the situation in Palestine after accepting the jurisdiction of the ICC over Israeli crimes committed in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, since June 13, 2014.
Swedish foreign minister Margot Wallstrom said on Friday that Israel had annoyed close allies by overreacting to her country's recognition of the state of Palestine, saying its rhetoric over the issue had "overstepped all limits."
"It is unacceptable how they have been talking about us and everybody else," Wallstrom said in an interview in the daily newspaper Dagens Nyheter. "It has irritated not only us, but the Americans and everyone who has anything to do with them right now."
She stressed that Sweden supported Israel, Palestine and peace, but it was sharply critical of Israel's policies against the Palestinians.
"Israel is extremely aggressive against the Palestinians," she said.
"They have continued with their settlement policies, they have continued demolitions, they have continued with their occupation policies which entail a humiliation of Palestinians and makes the peace process difficult."
Relations between Israel and Sweden have worsened since Social Democrat premier Stefan Lofven used his inaugural address in parliament last year to announce that his country would recognize a Palestinian state.
For its part, Israel described the move as ill-considered and said it would not contribute to peace. It also called its ambassador back to Tel Aviv for consultation.
"It is unacceptable how they have been talking about us and everybody else," Wallstrom said in an interview in the daily newspaper Dagens Nyheter. "It has irritated not only us, but the Americans and everyone who has anything to do with them right now."
She stressed that Sweden supported Israel, Palestine and peace, but it was sharply critical of Israel's policies against the Palestinians.
"Israel is extremely aggressive against the Palestinians," she said.
"They have continued with their settlement policies, they have continued demolitions, they have continued with their occupation policies which entail a humiliation of Palestinians and makes the peace process difficult."
Relations between Israel and Sweden have worsened since Social Democrat premier Stefan Lofven used his inaugural address in parliament last year to announce that his country would recognize a Palestinian state.
For its part, Israel described the move as ill-considered and said it would not contribute to peace. It also called its ambassador back to Tel Aviv for consultation.
The United States joined Israel in condemning the International Criminal Court decision to open a preliminary probe into possible war crimes committed against Palestinians, blasting it as a "tragic irony."
ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said her office would conduct an "analysis in full independence and impartiality" into alleged war crimes by Israel, including those committed during last year's Gaza offensive.
Her decision comes after Palestine formally joined the ICC earlier this month, allowing it to lodge war crimes and crimes against humanity complaints against Israel as of April.
Nearly 2,200 Palestinians, overwhelmingly civilians, and 73 Israelis, almost all soldiers, were killed during last summer's Israeli assault on Gaza.
The US criticized the decision late Friday, saying it opposed actions against Israel at the ICC as "counterproductive to the cause of peace."
"It is a tragic irony that Israel, which has withstood thousands of terrorist rockets fired at its civilians and its neighborhoods, is now being scrutinized by the ICC," US State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke said in a statement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier reacted angrily to the prosecutor's decision, calling it "scandalous" and "absurd" since "the Palestinian Authority cooperates with Hamas, a terror group that commits war crimes, in contrast to Israel that fights terror while maintaining international law, and has an independent justice system."
Gambian-born Bensouda had earlier stressed that "a preliminary examination is not an investigation but a process of examining the information available ... on whether there is a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation."
Bensouda will decide at a later stage whether to launch a full investigation.
Stalled US-led peace process
Israel began a massive crackdown on the West Bank on June 13 after the kidnapping of three Israeli teenagers, triggering a series of escalations that led to the seven-week Gaza war.
Palestine's move to join the ICC is also seen as part of a shift in strategy to internationalize its campaign for statehood and move away from the stalled US-led peace process.
Many Palestinians regard the process with suspicion as Israel has consistently increased settlement expansion and land confiscation during the talks, in addition to arrests and killings of activists.
The Palestinians were upgraded from observer status to UN "observer state" in 2012, opening the doors for them to join the ICC and a host of other international organizations.
Israel reacted swiftly on Friday, slamming the announcement.
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the sole purpose of the preliminary examination was to "try to harm Israel's right to defend itself from terror" and he said the decision was "solely motivated by political anti-Israel considerations."
Lieberman accused the court of double standards for not examining the mass killings in Syria or other conflict zones, investigating instead "the most moral army in the world."
Israel earlier this month delayed transferring some $127 million in taxes it collects on behalf of the Palestinians in retaliation for the attempts to press war crimes charges against Israel.
Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Malki welcomed the ICC's move.
"Everything is going according to plan, no state and nobody can now stop this action we requested," he told AFP.
"In the end, a full investigation will follow the preliminary one."
'Justice for victims'
Rights group Amnesty International welcomed the ICC's announcement saying it "could pave the way for thousands of victims of crimes under international law to gain access to justice."
But the initial probe could lead to an investigation into crimes "committed by all side," Amnesty stressed in a statement.
Friday's announcement is the second such initial probe by the ICC's prosecutor into the situation in Palestine.
The Palestinian Authority in 2009 lodged a complaint against Israel but the ICC prosecutor said in 2012 after "carefully considering legal arguments" it could not investigate because of the Palestinians' status at the UN.
At the time the Palestinians' "observer" status blocked them from signing up to the ICC's founding Rome Statute.
The ICC, which sits in The Hague in the Netherlands, is the world's first independent court set up in 2002 to investigate genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
But it can only probe alleged crimes in countries that have ratified the Rome Statute, or accepts the Hague-based court's jurisdiction for a certain time period, or through a referral by the UN Security Council.
Currently, chief prosecutor Bensouda is also running preliminary investigations in Afghanistan, Colombia, Georgia, Guinea, Honduras, Iraq and Ukraine.
While 123 countries have now ratified the Rome Statute, Israel and the United States have not.
ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said her office would conduct an "analysis in full independence and impartiality" into alleged war crimes by Israel, including those committed during last year's Gaza offensive.
Her decision comes after Palestine formally joined the ICC earlier this month, allowing it to lodge war crimes and crimes against humanity complaints against Israel as of April.
Nearly 2,200 Palestinians, overwhelmingly civilians, and 73 Israelis, almost all soldiers, were killed during last summer's Israeli assault on Gaza.
The US criticized the decision late Friday, saying it opposed actions against Israel at the ICC as "counterproductive to the cause of peace."
"It is a tragic irony that Israel, which has withstood thousands of terrorist rockets fired at its civilians and its neighborhoods, is now being scrutinized by the ICC," US State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke said in a statement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier reacted angrily to the prosecutor's decision, calling it "scandalous" and "absurd" since "the Palestinian Authority cooperates with Hamas, a terror group that commits war crimes, in contrast to Israel that fights terror while maintaining international law, and has an independent justice system."
Gambian-born Bensouda had earlier stressed that "a preliminary examination is not an investigation but a process of examining the information available ... on whether there is a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation."
Bensouda will decide at a later stage whether to launch a full investigation.
Stalled US-led peace process
Israel began a massive crackdown on the West Bank on June 13 after the kidnapping of three Israeli teenagers, triggering a series of escalations that led to the seven-week Gaza war.
Palestine's move to join the ICC is also seen as part of a shift in strategy to internationalize its campaign for statehood and move away from the stalled US-led peace process.
Many Palestinians regard the process with suspicion as Israel has consistently increased settlement expansion and land confiscation during the talks, in addition to arrests and killings of activists.
The Palestinians were upgraded from observer status to UN "observer state" in 2012, opening the doors for them to join the ICC and a host of other international organizations.
Israel reacted swiftly on Friday, slamming the announcement.
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the sole purpose of the preliminary examination was to "try to harm Israel's right to defend itself from terror" and he said the decision was "solely motivated by political anti-Israel considerations."
Lieberman accused the court of double standards for not examining the mass killings in Syria or other conflict zones, investigating instead "the most moral army in the world."
Israel earlier this month delayed transferring some $127 million in taxes it collects on behalf of the Palestinians in retaliation for the attempts to press war crimes charges against Israel.
Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Malki welcomed the ICC's move.
"Everything is going according to plan, no state and nobody can now stop this action we requested," he told AFP.
"In the end, a full investigation will follow the preliminary one."
'Justice for victims'
Rights group Amnesty International welcomed the ICC's announcement saying it "could pave the way for thousands of victims of crimes under international law to gain access to justice."
But the initial probe could lead to an investigation into crimes "committed by all side," Amnesty stressed in a statement.
Friday's announcement is the second such initial probe by the ICC's prosecutor into the situation in Palestine.
The Palestinian Authority in 2009 lodged a complaint against Israel but the ICC prosecutor said in 2012 after "carefully considering legal arguments" it could not investigate because of the Palestinians' status at the UN.
At the time the Palestinians' "observer" status blocked them from signing up to the ICC's founding Rome Statute.
The ICC, which sits in The Hague in the Netherlands, is the world's first independent court set up in 2002 to investigate genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
But it can only probe alleged crimes in countries that have ratified the Rome Statute, or accepts the Hague-based court's jurisdiction for a certain time period, or through a referral by the UN Security Council.
Currently, chief prosecutor Bensouda is also running preliminary investigations in Afghanistan, Colombia, Georgia, Guinea, Honduras, Iraq and Ukraine.
While 123 countries have now ratified the Rome Statute, Israel and the United States have not.
Following the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to launch a preliminary investigation to determine “whether war crimes have been committed” during Israel’s last war Gaza in the summer of 2014, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman threatened that Israel “would act on dissolving the ICC," and considered the decision “provocative.”
Lieberman alleged that the ICC decision “only aims at attempting to impact Israel’s ability to defend itself.”
He added that Israel will not cooperate with any investigation, and will act on the international level to dissolve the ICC after describing the decision as hypocritical, and supportive of what he called “terrorism.”
Lieberman also alleged that the decision is an outcome of what he called anti-Israel moves that only aim at “harming Israel and its right to defend itself.”
The Foreign Minister went on to talk about Syria and how the court “failed to intervene,” adding that there is no comparison between the Israeli army, which he called the most moral army in the world, with what he labeled as “terror groups” in Gaza.
He called on his government to officially reject the decision, and refrain from any cooperation with it.
On Friday evening, Lieberman told Israel’s Channel 2 TV that Tel Aviv should act on removing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from his post, and engage in talks with some Arab countries to reach what he called “a peaceful resolution that does not harm Israel’s ability to defend itself.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also angered by the decision, and said that the ICC cannot conduct the investigation because “Palestine is not a sovereign state.”
The latest developments came after the ICC prosecutor Fatou Densouda declared she has opened a preliminary investigation of “possible” war crimes committed during the most recent Israeli war on Gaza.
She also vowed an independent and impartial preliminary investigation, adding that the move comes after the Palestinian Authority signed the founding treaty of the ICC in July of last year, and officially recognized its jurisdiction.
During the summer Israeli escalation on the Gaza Strip, the army bombarded dozens of thousands of Palestinian homes and residential towers, hospitals and clinics, UNRWA schools and facilities, media offices and dozens of other civilian facilities, in addition to destroying the infrastructure in the besieged coastal region.
The Ministry of Housing in Gaza recently said the number of homes that have been destroyed, and partially damaged, during the Israeli aggression on the coastal region is close to 124,000.
The Israeli bombardment and shelling killed at around 2137 Palestinians, including 578 children, 264 women, and 103 elderly, while wounded more than 11100, including 3374 children, 2088 women and 410 elderly.
Lieberman alleged that the ICC decision “only aims at attempting to impact Israel’s ability to defend itself.”
He added that Israel will not cooperate with any investigation, and will act on the international level to dissolve the ICC after describing the decision as hypocritical, and supportive of what he called “terrorism.”
Lieberman also alleged that the decision is an outcome of what he called anti-Israel moves that only aim at “harming Israel and its right to defend itself.”
The Foreign Minister went on to talk about Syria and how the court “failed to intervene,” adding that there is no comparison between the Israeli army, which he called the most moral army in the world, with what he labeled as “terror groups” in Gaza.
He called on his government to officially reject the decision, and refrain from any cooperation with it.
On Friday evening, Lieberman told Israel’s Channel 2 TV that Tel Aviv should act on removing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from his post, and engage in talks with some Arab countries to reach what he called “a peaceful resolution that does not harm Israel’s ability to defend itself.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also angered by the decision, and said that the ICC cannot conduct the investigation because “Palestine is not a sovereign state.”
The latest developments came after the ICC prosecutor Fatou Densouda declared she has opened a preliminary investigation of “possible” war crimes committed during the most recent Israeli war on Gaza.
She also vowed an independent and impartial preliminary investigation, adding that the move comes after the Palestinian Authority signed the founding treaty of the ICC in July of last year, and officially recognized its jurisdiction.
During the summer Israeli escalation on the Gaza Strip, the army bombarded dozens of thousands of Palestinian homes and residential towers, hospitals and clinics, UNRWA schools and facilities, media offices and dozens of other civilian facilities, in addition to destroying the infrastructure in the besieged coastal region.
The Ministry of Housing in Gaza recently said the number of homes that have been destroyed, and partially damaged, during the Israeli aggression on the coastal region is close to 124,000.
The Israeli bombardment and shelling killed at around 2137 Palestinians, including 578 children, 264 women, and 103 elderly, while wounded more than 11100, including 3374 children, 2088 women and 410 elderly.
16 jan 2015
The International Criminal Court's prosecutor, on Friday, opened an initial probe to see if war crimes have been committed against Palestinians, including during last year's war on Gaza.
"Today the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Fatou Bensouda opened a preliminary examination into the situation in Palestine," her office announced in a statement, adding it may lead to a full-blown investigation.
According to AFP, Bensouda said her office would conduct its "analysis in full independence and impartiality".
"A preliminary examination is not an investigation but a process of examining the information available in order to reach a fully informed determination on whether there is a reasonable basis to proceed with a (full) investigation," Bensouda said.
Depending on her findings, Bensouda will decide at a later stage whether to launch or quash the investigation, based on the initial probe.
Meanwhile, Palestinian ambassador to Russia, Faid Mustafa, told Ma'an News Agency that the Palestinian Authority had begun to prepare documents for lodging formal accusations against Israel.
President Mahmoud Abbas signed requests to join the ICC and 16 other conventions, following the UN Security Council's failure to adopt a resolution which might have opened channels for full Palestinian statehood.
The US branded the move as "counterproductive", while Israel responded by delaying the transfer of $127 million in taxes it collects on behalf of the Palestinians.
According to the UN, Palestine is slated to join the ICC on April 1st.
"Today the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Fatou Bensouda opened a preliminary examination into the situation in Palestine," her office announced in a statement, adding it may lead to a full-blown investigation.
According to AFP, Bensouda said her office would conduct its "analysis in full independence and impartiality".
"A preliminary examination is not an investigation but a process of examining the information available in order to reach a fully informed determination on whether there is a reasonable basis to proceed with a (full) investigation," Bensouda said.
Depending on her findings, Bensouda will decide at a later stage whether to launch or quash the investigation, based on the initial probe.
Meanwhile, Palestinian ambassador to Russia, Faid Mustafa, told Ma'an News Agency that the Palestinian Authority had begun to prepare documents for lodging formal accusations against Israel.
President Mahmoud Abbas signed requests to join the ICC and 16 other conventions, following the UN Security Council's failure to adopt a resolution which might have opened channels for full Palestinian statehood.
The US branded the move as "counterproductive", while Israel responded by delaying the transfer of $127 million in taxes it collects on behalf of the Palestinians.
According to the UN, Palestine is slated to join the ICC on April 1st.
The Israeli police evacuated Thursday evening the headquarters of Jerusalem Post in occupied Jerusalem after receiving a bomb threat through an email.
Israeli explosives experts searched the building without finding any bomb, Israeli media sources said.
The Israeli police cybercrime unit has opened an investigation in the incident, the sources added.
Israeli explosives experts searched the building without finding any bomb, Israeli media sources said.
The Israeli police cybercrime unit has opened an investigation in the incident, the sources added.
15 jan 2015
The United Nations on Thursday called on Israel to unlock millions of dollars in taxes owed to the Palestinian Authority that were withheld after it decided to join the International Criminal Court.
A senior UN official told the UN Security Council that the freeze of about $127 million imposed on January 3 was in violation of the Oslo peace agreement between Israel and the PLO.
"We call on Israel to immediately resume the transfer of tax revenues," said UN Assistant Secretary-General Jens Anders Toyberg-Frandzen.
The United States and the European Union have criticized Israel's retaliatory move in response to the Palestinian application to join the ICC, which could investigate war crimes complaints against Israel.
The 15-member council was meeting to discuss the Middle East after rejecting in a vote last month a resolution on Palestinian statehood that had been strongly opposed by the United States.
The UN official told the council that recent developments had further reduced prospects for reviving Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
The Palestinians and Israel are "now engaged in a downward spiral of actions and counter-actions," warned Toyberg-Frandzen.
The council was meeting as Arab foreign ministers gathered in Cairo decided to make another attempt to win approval for a UN resolution on ending Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories.
Several Arab countries were tasked with what the Arab league described as "the necessary communications and consultations to submit a new Arab proposal to the Security Council."
The failed Arab-backed resolution set the end of 2017 as the deadline for a full Israeli withdrawal that would pave the way to Palestinian statehood.
The United States and Australia voted against but China, France and Russia were among eight countries that backed the resolution, leaving it just one vote short of the nine required for adoption.
The outcome spared the United States from resorting to its veto, a move that could have undermined its standing in the Arab world at a time when Washington is leading a campaign against Islamists in Iraq and Syria.
Five countries seen as having a more pro-Palestinian stance began their term at the Security Council this month -- Angola, Malaysia, New Zealand, Spain and Venezuela.
A senior UN official told the UN Security Council that the freeze of about $127 million imposed on January 3 was in violation of the Oslo peace agreement between Israel and the PLO.
"We call on Israel to immediately resume the transfer of tax revenues," said UN Assistant Secretary-General Jens Anders Toyberg-Frandzen.
The United States and the European Union have criticized Israel's retaliatory move in response to the Palestinian application to join the ICC, which could investigate war crimes complaints against Israel.
The 15-member council was meeting to discuss the Middle East after rejecting in a vote last month a resolution on Palestinian statehood that had been strongly opposed by the United States.
The UN official told the council that recent developments had further reduced prospects for reviving Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
The Palestinians and Israel are "now engaged in a downward spiral of actions and counter-actions," warned Toyberg-Frandzen.
The council was meeting as Arab foreign ministers gathered in Cairo decided to make another attempt to win approval for a UN resolution on ending Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories.
Several Arab countries were tasked with what the Arab league described as "the necessary communications and consultations to submit a new Arab proposal to the Security Council."
The failed Arab-backed resolution set the end of 2017 as the deadline for a full Israeli withdrawal that would pave the way to Palestinian statehood.
The United States and Australia voted against but China, France and Russia were among eight countries that backed the resolution, leaving it just one vote short of the nine required for adoption.
The outcome spared the United States from resorting to its veto, a move that could have undermined its standing in the Arab world at a time when Washington is leading a campaign against Islamists in Iraq and Syria.
Five countries seen as having a more pro-Palestinian stance began their term at the Security Council this month -- Angola, Malaysia, New Zealand, Spain and Venezuela.
14 jan 2015
Family members of Yoav Hattab, killed in an attack on a Paris grocery, before his funeral on January 13, 2015.
By Nir Hasson
The burial in Jerusalem of four French Jews murdered in last week’s terror attacks in Paris turned into an embarrassment when the victims’ families and the French Jewish community were asked to pay tens of thousands of shekels for the graves while the burial site itself was changed three times. Because the victims weren’t Israeli citizens, the burial wasn’t paid for by the National Insurance Institute. Nor, despite the funerals’ semi-official character, did the government ever declare them state funerals. Only after a day of discussions and farce was it decided that the state would cover the cost.
But according to Yehuda Meshi-Zahav, chairman of the Zaka rescue and recovery organization, the government wanted the victims interred in Israel and even pressured one family, which initially preferred to hold the funeral in France, to hold it in Jerusalem.
Once the decision was made to bury all four victims in Israel, the embarrassments proliferated. First, the Yemenite community’s burial society suggested that the four be buried on the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem, but it demanded 15,000 euros per grave.
Moreover, when Meshi-Zahav examined the proposed site, he concluded that it was “the worst one on the Mount of Olives” — a remote part of the cemetery that also suffers from security problems.
“There was a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office, and I told them, ‘You’ll be ashamed; it’s impossible to bring guests from abroad there,’” Meshi-Zahav said.
Due to his intervention, the deal with the Yemenite burial society was canceled.
Next, businesswoman Eva Zarfati, who owns a private plot at the Har Hamenuhot cemetery, offered to donate four grave sites in her plot. But problems were discovered in the legal permits for her plot, so the offer was rejected.
Finally, negotiations began with the Sephardi community’s burial society. Initially, the society offered to inter the victims for free on the Mount of Olives, but the government refused, possibly for security reasons. Later it offered a site at Har Hamenuhot.
But according to people involved in the issue, the asking price was 50,000 shekels ($12,700) per grave – 40,000 for the grave site and 10,000 for the funeral. The Sephardi burial society in Jerusalem negotiated over this with the Jewish burial society in France, and the money will apparently be paid by the French Jewish community rather than the families.
“There are no orderly regulations for who can order [a burial plot] on the state’s behalf or how much they pay, so all kinds of fixers come in and want to make a killing,” said Meshi-Zahav. “It’s a disgrace that the state announced the funeral and even pressured the families to have the burials in Israel, but in the end, for the most basic thing, the grave, they asked payment.”
Avraham Gilo of the Sephardi burial society responded that the society “buried them without settling the account. The price for this plot, for foreign residents, is around 90,000 shekels. We’ll ask 50 percent less, and maybe even less than that. But in the meantime we buried them without asking for money. They deserve it; they were murdered because they were Jews.”
Avraham Malachi, of the Yemenite burial society, denied that his society sought 15,000 euros. “There was a price, but not like that; we gave a fair price,” he said.
Jerusalem has very few cemetery plots left; most people today are interred in niches in multistory walls. Thus the few plots remaining sell for very high prices.
Avi Zana, director of the AMI foundation who was helping the families, described the situation as unpleasant. "When the decided on a state burial, they realized that everything was in the hands of the state and then they were asked to pay, it's very hurtful and makes no sense." According to Zana, two of the four families had a hard time deciding whether or not to go ahead with burial in Israel. "This is not an easy decision. Muslims who were killed in the attack were buried in France, if we decide to bury in France, then it is clear that our future is in France. There were senior members of the community who were asking if the Jews of France have two states. This is a crucial question, and the families took time to decide."
Before the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Eli Ben-Dahan announced Tuesday night that his ministry will bear the expenses, the Ministry of Religious Affairs stated that "further investigation by the ministry revealed that the victims' families in France refused cost-free options," and added that the could that the amount would have been paid by the French Jewish community, and not the families.
By Nir Hasson
The burial in Jerusalem of four French Jews murdered in last week’s terror attacks in Paris turned into an embarrassment when the victims’ families and the French Jewish community were asked to pay tens of thousands of shekels for the graves while the burial site itself was changed three times. Because the victims weren’t Israeli citizens, the burial wasn’t paid for by the National Insurance Institute. Nor, despite the funerals’ semi-official character, did the government ever declare them state funerals. Only after a day of discussions and farce was it decided that the state would cover the cost.
But according to Yehuda Meshi-Zahav, chairman of the Zaka rescue and recovery organization, the government wanted the victims interred in Israel and even pressured one family, which initially preferred to hold the funeral in France, to hold it in Jerusalem.
Once the decision was made to bury all four victims in Israel, the embarrassments proliferated. First, the Yemenite community’s burial society suggested that the four be buried on the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem, but it demanded 15,000 euros per grave.
Moreover, when Meshi-Zahav examined the proposed site, he concluded that it was “the worst one on the Mount of Olives” — a remote part of the cemetery that also suffers from security problems.
“There was a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office, and I told them, ‘You’ll be ashamed; it’s impossible to bring guests from abroad there,’” Meshi-Zahav said.
Due to his intervention, the deal with the Yemenite burial society was canceled.
Next, businesswoman Eva Zarfati, who owns a private plot at the Har Hamenuhot cemetery, offered to donate four grave sites in her plot. But problems were discovered in the legal permits for her plot, so the offer was rejected.
Finally, negotiations began with the Sephardi community’s burial society. Initially, the society offered to inter the victims for free on the Mount of Olives, but the government refused, possibly for security reasons. Later it offered a site at Har Hamenuhot.
But according to people involved in the issue, the asking price was 50,000 shekels ($12,700) per grave – 40,000 for the grave site and 10,000 for the funeral. The Sephardi burial society in Jerusalem negotiated over this with the Jewish burial society in France, and the money will apparently be paid by the French Jewish community rather than the families.
“There are no orderly regulations for who can order [a burial plot] on the state’s behalf or how much they pay, so all kinds of fixers come in and want to make a killing,” said Meshi-Zahav. “It’s a disgrace that the state announced the funeral and even pressured the families to have the burials in Israel, but in the end, for the most basic thing, the grave, they asked payment.”
Avraham Gilo of the Sephardi burial society responded that the society “buried them without settling the account. The price for this plot, for foreign residents, is around 90,000 shekels. We’ll ask 50 percent less, and maybe even less than that. But in the meantime we buried them without asking for money. They deserve it; they were murdered because they were Jews.”
Avraham Malachi, of the Yemenite burial society, denied that his society sought 15,000 euros. “There was a price, but not like that; we gave a fair price,” he said.
Jerusalem has very few cemetery plots left; most people today are interred in niches in multistory walls. Thus the few plots remaining sell for very high prices.
Avi Zana, director of the AMI foundation who was helping the families, described the situation as unpleasant. "When the decided on a state burial, they realized that everything was in the hands of the state and then they were asked to pay, it's very hurtful and makes no sense." According to Zana, two of the four families had a hard time deciding whether or not to go ahead with burial in Israel. "This is not an easy decision. Muslims who were killed in the attack were buried in France, if we decide to bury in France, then it is clear that our future is in France. There were senior members of the community who were asking if the Jews of France have two states. This is a crucial question, and the families took time to decide."
Before the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Eli Ben-Dahan announced Tuesday night that his ministry will bear the expenses, the Ministry of Religious Affairs stated that "further investigation by the ministry revealed that the victims' families in France refused cost-free options," and added that the could that the amount would have been paid by the French Jewish community, and not the families.
Israeli border guard killed in gun accident
An Israeli border guard was accidentally shot dead on Wednesday at a base in southern Israel.
Israeli news site Ynet named the border guard as Sergeant Shani Avi Gronov, 19.
Gronov was accidentally shot as a gun held by a friend discharged and hit him in the head. He was taken to a medical center in Ashkelon where he was pronounced dead.
An Israeli border guard was accidentally shot dead on Wednesday at a base in southern Israel.
Israeli news site Ynet named the border guard as Sergeant Shani Avi Gronov, 19.
Gronov was accidentally shot as a gun held by a friend discharged and hit him in the head. He was taken to a medical center in Ashkelon where he was pronounced dead.
13 jan 2015
Several Israeli newspapers published Tuesday morning satirical cartoons of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, in total provocation to Muslims all over the world.
The cartoons depict Prophet Mohamed while holding a sign reading “I’m Charlie” aiming at showing solidarity with the French newspaper Charlie Hebdo that was subjected Thursday to a deadly attack.
Israeli media outlets claimed that the cartoon depicting Prophet Mohamed would be the front cover of Wednesday’s issue of Charlie Hebdo that is anticipated to sell 3 million copies translated into 16 languages.
The new edition of Charlie Hebdo, known for its satirical attacks on Islam and other religions, will include cartoons featuring the Prophet Mohammed and also making fun of politicians and other religions, according to Haaretz Hebrew newspaper that published in its turn the mentioned cartoons.
Walla Hebrew website has also published today the cartoons featuring the Prophet Mohamed, in addition to Yediot Ahranot and NRG website.
It is clear that Israeli papers work at exploiting France’s attack through showing solidarity with Charlie Hebdo especially after Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu’s participation in Paris march against terrorism and his calls on French Jews to immigrate to Israel.
The cartoons depict Prophet Mohamed while holding a sign reading “I’m Charlie” aiming at showing solidarity with the French newspaper Charlie Hebdo that was subjected Thursday to a deadly attack.
Israeli media outlets claimed that the cartoon depicting Prophet Mohamed would be the front cover of Wednesday’s issue of Charlie Hebdo that is anticipated to sell 3 million copies translated into 16 languages.
The new edition of Charlie Hebdo, known for its satirical attacks on Islam and other religions, will include cartoons featuring the Prophet Mohammed and also making fun of politicians and other religions, according to Haaretz Hebrew newspaper that published in its turn the mentioned cartoons.
Walla Hebrew website has also published today the cartoons featuring the Prophet Mohamed, in addition to Yediot Ahranot and NRG website.
It is clear that Israeli papers work at exploiting France’s attack through showing solidarity with Charlie Hebdo especially after Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu’s participation in Paris march against terrorism and his calls on French Jews to immigrate to Israel.
U.S. President Barck Obama Monday briefed the Israeli premier on Washington’s positions vis-à-vis the latest Palestinian request to join the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Barack Obama spoke by phone on Monday with the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu about ongoing nuclear talks with Iran and about the Palestinian move to join the ICC, the White House said.
"President Obama underscored that the United States does not believe Palestinian accession to the ICC is a constructive way forward," the White House said in a statement, reiterating the U.S. position that the Palestinian Authority is not a sovereign state and does not legally qualify to join the Rome Statute.
"The United States continues to strongly oppose actions by both parties that undermine trust, and encourages both sides to seek ways to deescalate tensions," the statement read.
Earlier, on Friday, the Palestinian delegation to the UN delivered the paperwork to Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, Stephen Mathias, asking for membership in the ICC.
The Palestinians moved quickly to join the court after suffering a defeat at the U.N. Security Council, which rejected a resolution that would have set a three-year deadline for the end of the Israeli occupation.
Barack Obama spoke by phone on Monday with the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu about ongoing nuclear talks with Iran and about the Palestinian move to join the ICC, the White House said.
"President Obama underscored that the United States does not believe Palestinian accession to the ICC is a constructive way forward," the White House said in a statement, reiterating the U.S. position that the Palestinian Authority is not a sovereign state and does not legally qualify to join the Rome Statute.
"The United States continues to strongly oppose actions by both parties that undermine trust, and encourages both sides to seek ways to deescalate tensions," the statement read.
Earlier, on Friday, the Palestinian delegation to the UN delivered the paperwork to Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, Stephen Mathias, asking for membership in the ICC.
The Palestinians moved quickly to join the court after suffering a defeat at the U.N. Security Council, which rejected a resolution that would have set a three-year deadline for the end of the Israeli occupation.
Turkish president Recep Erdogan criticized the participation of Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu in an anti-terror march in Paris while he is involved in state terrorism against the Palestinians.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas in Ankara, Erdogan said that Netanyahu should not have been allowed to attend the Paris march after nearly 2,500 Palestinians, mostly civilians, were killed in Israel's deadly attacks on Gaza last year.
"How can you see such a person, who has killed 2,500 people in Gaza and is practicing state terrorism, waving his hand in Paris as if people waited for him in excitement? How dare he go there?"
"You should first give an account for the children and women you have killed," Erdogan said, addressing Netanyahu.
The Turkish president also talked about the Palestinian cause and expressed his belief that Israel does not want an independent Palestinian state and sees it as a threat to its own existence.
"The Palestinian question, which is the main problem in the Middle East, is a bleeding wound for the human race," the president said.
He stressed that there would be no permanent solution to that problem if a Palestinian state was not established on the 1967 borderlines.
He also criticized the UN Security Council for not doing its part in dealing with Israel's arrogance, which he said has been causing increased tension in the region.
"Turkey's greatest desire is to see an independent Palestinian state on the pre-1967 borderlines, with Jerusalem as its capital," Erdogan said. "Turkey will continue to support the Palestinians to achieve this goal."
Speaking at a joint news conference with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas in Ankara, Erdogan said that Netanyahu should not have been allowed to attend the Paris march after nearly 2,500 Palestinians, mostly civilians, were killed in Israel's deadly attacks on Gaza last year.
"How can you see such a person, who has killed 2,500 people in Gaza and is practicing state terrorism, waving his hand in Paris as if people waited for him in excitement? How dare he go there?"
"You should first give an account for the children and women you have killed," Erdogan said, addressing Netanyahu.
The Turkish president also talked about the Palestinian cause and expressed his belief that Israel does not want an independent Palestinian state and sees it as a threat to its own existence.
"The Palestinian question, which is the main problem in the Middle East, is a bleeding wound for the human race," the president said.
He stressed that there would be no permanent solution to that problem if a Palestinian state was not established on the 1967 borderlines.
He also criticized the UN Security Council for not doing its part in dealing with Israel's arrogance, which he said has been causing increased tension in the region.
"Turkey's greatest desire is to see an independent Palestinian state on the pre-1967 borderlines, with Jerusalem as its capital," Erdogan said. "Turkey will continue to support the Palestinians to achieve this goal."