26 july 2019
Israeli authorities demolished the Palestinian Bedouin village of Al-Araqib for the 148th time, today, the second time this week, while abducting village leader Sheikh Sayyah Al-Turi, Arab48 reported.
According to local residents, in the morning, occupation authorities bulldozed and destroyed homes and tents under the protection of occupation police forces.
Eyewitnesses also confirmed that police arrested Sheikh Sayyah Al-Turi, who had only been released from Ramla prison on Tuesday morning after being detained for seven months.
Al-Turi’s sentence was extended for 60 days after prison services conditioned his release on his forcible transfer and deportation from Al-Araqib to the city of Rahat. Israeli authorities demolished Al-Araqib for the 147th time the day before Al-Turi’s release.
The Bedouin village is one of 51 “unrecognized” Arab villages in the Negev and is constantly targeted for demolition ahead of plans to Judaize the Negev by building homes for new Jewish communities. Israeli bulldozers, which Bedouins are charged for, have demolished everything, from the trees to the water tanks, but Bedouin residents have tried to rebuild it every time.
Bedouins in the Negev must abide by the same laws as Jewish Israeli citizens. They pay taxes but do not enjoy the same rights and services as Jews, in Israel, and the state has repeatedly refused to connect the towns to the national grid, water supplies and other vital amenities.
Israeli authorities claim that the Bedouins are on the land illegally, as it is “state property”. However, the Bedouins’ ownership was registered as long ago as when they lived in the area under Ottoman rule. The State of Israel, established in 1948, does not recognize their title deeds.
In 1969, Israel called on Palestinian land owners to register their land with the authorities, but since then they have not accepted any of the applications made by Palestinian residents of the Negev.
According to local residents, in the morning, occupation authorities bulldozed and destroyed homes and tents under the protection of occupation police forces.
Eyewitnesses also confirmed that police arrested Sheikh Sayyah Al-Turi, who had only been released from Ramla prison on Tuesday morning after being detained for seven months.
Al-Turi’s sentence was extended for 60 days after prison services conditioned his release on his forcible transfer and deportation from Al-Araqib to the city of Rahat. Israeli authorities demolished Al-Araqib for the 147th time the day before Al-Turi’s release.
The Bedouin village is one of 51 “unrecognized” Arab villages in the Negev and is constantly targeted for demolition ahead of plans to Judaize the Negev by building homes for new Jewish communities. Israeli bulldozers, which Bedouins are charged for, have demolished everything, from the trees to the water tanks, but Bedouin residents have tried to rebuild it every time.
Bedouins in the Negev must abide by the same laws as Jewish Israeli citizens. They pay taxes but do not enjoy the same rights and services as Jews, in Israel, and the state has repeatedly refused to connect the towns to the national grid, water supplies and other vital amenities.
Israeli authorities claim that the Bedouins are on the land illegally, as it is “state property”. However, the Bedouins’ ownership was registered as long ago as when they lived in the area under Ottoman rule. The State of Israel, established in 1948, does not recognize their title deeds.
In 1969, Israel called on Palestinian land owners to register their land with the authorities, but since then they have not accepted any of the applications made by Palestinian residents of the Negev.
While Israel Police claims it is increasing its presence in Arab towns and villages and hiring more members of sector to the force; the level of violence in the sector remains high - and research by NGO points to deep-rooted discrimination as a core reason
More than one third (35.8%) of Arab citizens of Israel say they feel they lack personal safety in their own communities, according to a study conducted by the Abraham Initiatives, a non-profit organization that advances coexistence between Israel's Jewish and Arab citizens.
A parallel study conducted among Jewish Israelis put the percentage at just 12.8%.
More than one quarter (26.6%) of Arab citizens say they or a member of their family have been a victim of some form of violence, the study found.
The research was conducted over a period of one year by Dr. Nohad Ali and was presented this week to Knesset members, city mayors and police at a conference in Kafr Qassem, an Arab town east of Tel Aviv.
According to the study, 35.8% of Arab citizens say they feel they lack personal safety in their own communities. A parallel study conducted among Jewish Israelis put the percentage at just 12.8%.
The study also found that 80.3% of Arab citizens consider violence on their streets to be their most pressing problem, followed by the presence of firearms (77%) and finally the amount of crime (73.5%).
Ninety percent said it is easy to obtain weapons and 59.3% fear they will themselves be hurt by acts of violence - compared to just 19.6% of Jewish citizens.
The Abraham Initiatives has been hoping to raise awareness about the high percentage of Arabs among the annual rate of murder victims, which is sometimes three times higher than the percentage of the general population that is Arab.
Last year, the Abraham Initiatives says, there were 72 Arab citizens among the 123 victims of murder - a figure constituting 58.5% of the total number.
The Ministry of Public Security and the Israel Police have both announced they have set targets to improve policing in Arab communities. A special administrative unit has been formed and more police stations opened in Arab towns.
The Israel Police also increased the number of Arabs in the force most of whom are Muslims.
Nonetheless, the Abraham Initiatives' study found that the levels of violence remain high and can be attributed, the NGO says, to deep-rooted discrimination against Arabs in all aspects of Israeli society.
More than one third (35.8%) of Arab citizens of Israel say they feel they lack personal safety in their own communities, according to a study conducted by the Abraham Initiatives, a non-profit organization that advances coexistence between Israel's Jewish and Arab citizens.
A parallel study conducted among Jewish Israelis put the percentage at just 12.8%.
More than one quarter (26.6%) of Arab citizens say they or a member of their family have been a victim of some form of violence, the study found.
The research was conducted over a period of one year by Dr. Nohad Ali and was presented this week to Knesset members, city mayors and police at a conference in Kafr Qassem, an Arab town east of Tel Aviv.
According to the study, 35.8% of Arab citizens say they feel they lack personal safety in their own communities. A parallel study conducted among Jewish Israelis put the percentage at just 12.8%.
The study also found that 80.3% of Arab citizens consider violence on their streets to be their most pressing problem, followed by the presence of firearms (77%) and finally the amount of crime (73.5%).
Ninety percent said it is easy to obtain weapons and 59.3% fear they will themselves be hurt by acts of violence - compared to just 19.6% of Jewish citizens.
The Abraham Initiatives has been hoping to raise awareness about the high percentage of Arabs among the annual rate of murder victims, which is sometimes three times higher than the percentage of the general population that is Arab.
Last year, the Abraham Initiatives says, there were 72 Arab citizens among the 123 victims of murder - a figure constituting 58.5% of the total number.
The Ministry of Public Security and the Israel Police have both announced they have set targets to improve policing in Arab communities. A special administrative unit has been formed and more police stations opened in Arab towns.
The Israel Police also increased the number of Arabs in the force most of whom are Muslims.
Nonetheless, the Abraham Initiatives' study found that the levels of violence remain high and can be attributed, the NGO says, to deep-rooted discrimination against Arabs in all aspects of Israeli society.
25 july 2019
Ehud Barak, Stav Shaffir and Nitzan Horowitz
Meretz and Ehud Barak's recently established Israel Democratic Party are joined by Stav Shaffir - who has decided to leave Labor after its leader Amir Peretz ruled out political mergers with other left-wing factions - to form 'Democratic Camp' party
Israel's left-wing Meretz party and former premier Ehud Barak's Israel Democratic Party join forces ahead of September 17 elections to form a new political faction called "The Democratic Camp."
They are joined by Labor lawmaker MK Stav Shaffir, who has decided to leave the party after its leader Amir Peretz has ruled out any political mergers with other left-wing parties ahead of the September vote.
Meretz Chairman Nitzan Horowitz will lead the newly established faction with Shaffir being placed second on the party list and Barak all the way down at tenth place. Together, the group aims to pose a powerful contrast to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's conservative ruling Likud party.
With just a week left to present the final lists for the elections, all sides were concerned they might not get enough votes by themselves to cross the electoral threshold.
“The founders of this union believe the establishment of The Democratic Camp is the first and necessary step in the mission to steer the State of Israel in the right direction,” said the new party in an official statement.
Meretz and Ehud Barak's recently established Israel Democratic Party are joined by Stav Shaffir - who has decided to leave Labor after its leader Amir Peretz ruled out political mergers with other left-wing factions - to form 'Democratic Camp' party
Israel's left-wing Meretz party and former premier Ehud Barak's Israel Democratic Party join forces ahead of September 17 elections to form a new political faction called "The Democratic Camp."
They are joined by Labor lawmaker MK Stav Shaffir, who has decided to leave the party after its leader Amir Peretz has ruled out any political mergers with other left-wing parties ahead of the September vote.
Meretz Chairman Nitzan Horowitz will lead the newly established faction with Shaffir being placed second on the party list and Barak all the way down at tenth place. Together, the group aims to pose a powerful contrast to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's conservative ruling Likud party.
With just a week left to present the final lists for the elections, all sides were concerned they might not get enough votes by themselves to cross the electoral threshold.
“The founders of this union believe the establishment of The Democratic Camp is the first and necessary step in the mission to steer the State of Israel in the right direction,” said the new party in an official statement.
Meretz lawmaker Tamar Zandberg
Meretz lawmaker Tamar Zandberg, a former party leader, called it a "dramatic move to strengthen the left" and a "significant boost to justice and equality as an alternative to the corrupt and messianic right."
According to the agreement reached overnight Wednesday, the Democratic Camp will not enter a right-wing coalition, while the party’s main trio - Horowitz, Shaffir and Barak - are expected to be the head decision-makers of the newly established faction.
Sources said that Barak didn’t ask for any kind of commitment to be made minister, nor does he intend to serve as an MK in case the Democratic Camp fails to become part of the next government.
“The Labor party now presents a clear ideological and social alternative to the right-wing bloc, which will enable us attract new electorate in order to replace Netanyahu,” the Labor party said in response to the merger.
Meretz lawmaker Tamar Zandberg, a former party leader, called it a "dramatic move to strengthen the left" and a "significant boost to justice and equality as an alternative to the corrupt and messianic right."
According to the agreement reached overnight Wednesday, the Democratic Camp will not enter a right-wing coalition, while the party’s main trio - Horowitz, Shaffir and Barak - are expected to be the head decision-makers of the newly established faction.
Sources said that Barak didn’t ask for any kind of commitment to be made minister, nor does he intend to serve as an MK in case the Democratic Camp fails to become part of the next government.
“The Labor party now presents a clear ideological and social alternative to the right-wing bloc, which will enable us attract new electorate in order to replace Netanyahu,” the Labor party said in response to the merger.
former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak
Two Israeli parties have formed an alliance to boost bloc against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party in September’s do-over general election.
Left-wing Meretz led by newly-elected leader Nitzan Horowitz, and the newly-formed Democratic Party led by former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak said on Thursday that they had built up an alliance called the Democratic Camp.
Such a union is not likely to pose a serious threat to Netanyahu’s Likud but it could act as a catalyst for further mergers among smaller parties, fractioning both the left-wing and right-wing vote.
Netanyahu won a fifth term in office in the April elections after his right-wing Likud Party won 35 of the Knesset's 120 seats. He had until 21:00 GMT on May 29 to form a cabinet that controlled at least 61 seats in the 120-member parliament.
But despite weeks of negotiations, he failed to bridge the gap between secular and religious allies.
Late in May, Israeli legislators voted by 74 to 45 to dissolve the Knesset, setting the regime on the path to a snap election due to take place in September 17.
Meretz barely passed the threshold in April snap elections. The Democratic Party, for its part, would not make it into the Knesset through the September’s vote, opinion surveys show.
“The initiators of the union believe that forming the Democratic Camp is the first and crucial step in the mission of bringing Israel back on track,” said a statement from the alliance on Thursday.
The union was facilitated by Stav Shaffir of Labor, who will win the second place on the list. Labor head Amir Peretz, who will receive the first place, rejected the notion of joining forces with Meretz.
The alliance will be led by Horowitz, with Barak taking the tenth place on the list.
On July 18, Gesher Party chair Orly Levy-Abekasis and Peretz also announced their joint run in the September election.
Netanyahu, whose fifth term in office has been jinxed, vowed at the time that his conservative party would win the new vote.
His coalition talks reached a stalemate over disagreements between ultra-Orthodox parties and Yisrael Beiteinu, a secular right-wing party led by former minister of military affairs Avigdor Lieberman, on a military conscription bill.
Following the Knesset decision in late May, Lieberman wrote on his Facebook page that Likud held responsibility for the repeat election because of its refusal to vote on a bill to draft the ultra-Orthodox.
Netanyahu, however, said Lieberman misled his voters and was dragging the entire Israel into a new election "after he was the cause of the previous one too, just because he wants a few more votes, which he won’t get. It’s just unbelievable."
Two Israeli parties have formed an alliance to boost bloc against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party in September’s do-over general election.
Left-wing Meretz led by newly-elected leader Nitzan Horowitz, and the newly-formed Democratic Party led by former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak said on Thursday that they had built up an alliance called the Democratic Camp.
Such a union is not likely to pose a serious threat to Netanyahu’s Likud but it could act as a catalyst for further mergers among smaller parties, fractioning both the left-wing and right-wing vote.
Netanyahu won a fifth term in office in the April elections after his right-wing Likud Party won 35 of the Knesset's 120 seats. He had until 21:00 GMT on May 29 to form a cabinet that controlled at least 61 seats in the 120-member parliament.
But despite weeks of negotiations, he failed to bridge the gap between secular and religious allies.
Late in May, Israeli legislators voted by 74 to 45 to dissolve the Knesset, setting the regime on the path to a snap election due to take place in September 17.
Meretz barely passed the threshold in April snap elections. The Democratic Party, for its part, would not make it into the Knesset through the September’s vote, opinion surveys show.
“The initiators of the union believe that forming the Democratic Camp is the first and crucial step in the mission of bringing Israel back on track,” said a statement from the alliance on Thursday.
The union was facilitated by Stav Shaffir of Labor, who will win the second place on the list. Labor head Amir Peretz, who will receive the first place, rejected the notion of joining forces with Meretz.
The alliance will be led by Horowitz, with Barak taking the tenth place on the list.
On July 18, Gesher Party chair Orly Levy-Abekasis and Peretz also announced their joint run in the September election.
Netanyahu, whose fifth term in office has been jinxed, vowed at the time that his conservative party would win the new vote.
His coalition talks reached a stalemate over disagreements between ultra-Orthodox parties and Yisrael Beiteinu, a secular right-wing party led by former minister of military affairs Avigdor Lieberman, on a military conscription bill.
Following the Knesset decision in late May, Lieberman wrote on his Facebook page that Likud held responsibility for the repeat election because of its refusal to vote on a bill to draft the ultra-Orthodox.
Netanyahu, however, said Lieberman misled his voters and was dragging the entire Israel into a new election "after he was the cause of the previous one too, just because he wants a few more votes, which he won’t get. It’s just unbelievable."
23 july 2019
The former PM says 'there's no place for protesters to be killed by their country's security forces' in response to an op-ed written by the left-wing politician, calling on Barak to apologize for his part in the killing of 13 Israeli Arabs
A former prime minister has apologized for his role in the violent thwarting of Palestinian riots that resulted in 13 Arab demonstrators being shot by police nearly two decades ago.
Ehud Barak, who has made a political comeback ahead of September's elections, now heads the Israel Democratic Party and hopes to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has recently become the longest serving primer in Israel's history.
"There is no place for protesters to be killed by their country's security forces," Barak said Tuesday in an Israel Radio interview. "I bear responsibility for everything that happened during my tenure as prime minister, including the October 2000 events,” he added.
"Once again I want to expresses condolences and apologize to the families whose pain must be infinite."
Barak was responding to an op-ed written by a parliament member from the left-wing Meretz party who called on him to apologize for the October 2000 killings, which came in the opening weeks of the Second Intifada, when he was serving as prime minister.
The episode - dubbed by the media as “the October events” - were a series of protests in Arab cities in northern Israel that swiftly turned violent, escalating into large-scale rioting by Israeli Arabs throughout the entire country.
This led to counter-protests by Israeli Jews, which resulted in clashes with the police and eventually in the deaths of 13 Arab demonstrators.
A former prime minister has apologized for his role in the violent thwarting of Palestinian riots that resulted in 13 Arab demonstrators being shot by police nearly two decades ago.
Ehud Barak, who has made a political comeback ahead of September's elections, now heads the Israel Democratic Party and hopes to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has recently become the longest serving primer in Israel's history.
"There is no place for protesters to be killed by their country's security forces," Barak said Tuesday in an Israel Radio interview. "I bear responsibility for everything that happened during my tenure as prime minister, including the October 2000 events,” he added.
"Once again I want to expresses condolences and apologize to the families whose pain must be infinite."
Barak was responding to an op-ed written by a parliament member from the left-wing Meretz party who called on him to apologize for the October 2000 killings, which came in the opening weeks of the Second Intifada, when he was serving as prime minister.
The episode - dubbed by the media as “the October events” - were a series of protests in Arab cities in northern Israel that swiftly turned violent, escalating into large-scale rioting by Israeli Arabs throughout the entire country.
This led to counter-protests by Israeli Jews, which resulted in clashes with the police and eventually in the deaths of 13 Arab demonstrators.
Arab MKs hold a banner with faces of those killed during October 2000 riots
Barak's apology was met with a lukewarm response from members of both the Meretz party and the ruling Likud.
"Barak is desperate … his party is barely passing the threshold and his political comeback has failed,” said the Meretz party in a statement. “The main question is why Barak insists on staying in politics, knowing he won’t be prime minister again.”
"We are still waiting for Ehud Barak's apology for being the worst prime minister in Israel's history," said Likud's statement.
Barak's apology was met with a lukewarm response from members of both the Meretz party and the ruling Likud.
"Barak is desperate … his party is barely passing the threshold and his political comeback has failed,” said the Meretz party in a statement. “The main question is why Barak insists on staying in politics, knowing he won’t be prime minister again.”
"We are still waiting for Ehud Barak's apology for being the worst prime minister in Israel's history," said Likud's statement.
22 july 2019
A delegation of Gulf and Arab journalists and social media activists will flock to Israel in the coming days in response to an invitation from the foreign ministry.
The delegation includes reporters from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Egypt and it will cross into Israel via the Allenby Bridge for a series of meetings and events with Israeli officials and lawmakers.
"The delegation will visit Yad Vashem, the Knesset, and Jerusalem's holy sites," a statement from the Israeli foreign ministry read.
"The delegation will meet with members of the Knesset, officials from the foreign ministry and academics," the statement continues, and will "tour northern Israel, Haifa, Nazareth and Tel Aviv."
The statement adds that the aim of the invitation is to "expose the journalists, some of whom come from countries that Israel has no relations with, to Israeli positions on political and geographical issues, and give them a direct view of Israeli society in all its forms."
The delegation’s visit will be just weeks after Israeli journalists from six Hebrew media outlets were invited to Bahrain to cover the US-sponsored economic workshop.
The invitation marks the latest development in growing ties between Israel and the Arab world, especially the Gulf countries.
Last Thursday in Washington, Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz met publicly with his Bahraini counterpart Khaled Al-Khalifa.
The delegation includes reporters from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Egypt and it will cross into Israel via the Allenby Bridge for a series of meetings and events with Israeli officials and lawmakers.
"The delegation will visit Yad Vashem, the Knesset, and Jerusalem's holy sites," a statement from the Israeli foreign ministry read.
"The delegation will meet with members of the Knesset, officials from the foreign ministry and academics," the statement continues, and will "tour northern Israel, Haifa, Nazareth and Tel Aviv."
The statement adds that the aim of the invitation is to "expose the journalists, some of whom come from countries that Israel has no relations with, to Israeli positions on political and geographical issues, and give them a direct view of Israeli society in all its forms."
The delegation’s visit will be just weeks after Israeli journalists from six Hebrew media outlets were invited to Bahrain to cover the US-sponsored economic workshop.
The invitation marks the latest development in growing ties between Israel and the Arab world, especially the Gulf countries.
Last Thursday in Washington, Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz met publicly with his Bahraini counterpart Khaled Al-Khalifa.
