16 nov 2014
A pro-Palestine demo was staged by the Austria-based Coordination
Council to Support Palestine on Saturday in front of Vienna’s Opera
House, demanding an end to the Israeli policy of tightening the noose on
Islamic sanctuaries in Palestine in general and in Jerusalem in
particular.
A consortium of anti-Israel organizations along with delegates of the boycott-of-Israel campaigns and youth activists partook in the protest.
The protesters waved the Palestinian flag and chanted: “Freedom to the Palestinian people.”
Chairman of the coordination council, Adel Abu Abdullah, said in a speech he delivered during the rally: “The Israeli occupation has not only been ceaselessly assaulting Islamic sanctuaries in Jerusalem and other occupied Palestinian cities, but also deliberately depriving Palestinians from their right to access such holy sites.”
He called on the international community to take up its responsibility and urge the Israeli occupation to halt its sacrilegious state vandalism and violations of Palestinians’ religious freedom.
Earlier, some 10 days ago, the Israeli occupation authorities had sealed off the gates of Muslims’ holy al-Aqsa compound before the Palestinian congregation before they ultimately re-opened it amid intense police harassment and tight age restrictions.
http://english.palinfo
A consortium of anti-Israel organizations along with delegates of the boycott-of-Israel campaigns and youth activists partook in the protest.
The protesters waved the Palestinian flag and chanted: “Freedom to the Palestinian people.”
Chairman of the coordination council, Adel Abu Abdullah, said in a speech he delivered during the rally: “The Israeli occupation has not only been ceaselessly assaulting Islamic sanctuaries in Jerusalem and other occupied Palestinian cities, but also deliberately depriving Palestinians from their right to access such holy sites.”
He called on the international community to take up its responsibility and urge the Israeli occupation to halt its sacrilegious state vandalism and violations of Palestinians’ religious freedom.
Earlier, some 10 days ago, the Israeli occupation authorities had sealed off the gates of Muslims’ holy al-Aqsa compound before the Palestinian congregation before they ultimately re-opened it amid intense police harassment and tight age restrictions.
http://english.palinfo
15 nov 2014
|
|
Norwegian volunteer physician Dr. Mads Gilbert has been banned by Israel from ever returning to the Gaza Strip.
Dr. Gilbert, who most recently spent time working in Gaza during Israel's devastating assault, this past summer, which left nearly 2,200 dead and some 11,000 injured, says that he was denied entry in October, when he tried to re-enter the Strip through Erez crossing. The Israeli foreign ministry has confirmed the ban, according to Ma'an, calling Dr. Gilbert a "Jekyll and Hyde" figure, apparently for his political activism on behalf of the Palestinian cause. Gilbert has been a vocal critic of Israeli policy against Palestinians, particularly in the Gaza Strip. |
By Khalid Amayreh in Occupied East Jerusalem
Binyamin Netanyahu's half-hearted undertaking to "maintain the status quo" at Jerusalem’s al Haram al-Sharif or Noble Sanctuary ought to be taken with more than a grain of salt. Netanyahu is notorious for his mendacity, dishonesty and deceit. His words are worth nothing.
This is not to say though that the Palestinians ought to reject any genuine effort to calm the situation in Jerusalem and the rest of occupied Palestine. We Palestinians are not eager to kill and get killed.
None the less, our long experience with this man (Netanyahu) shows that he cannot be trusted. Even his closest friends and allies attest to this fact. Indeed, for Netanyahu, sublime human ideals such as honesty, moral consistency and rectitude spell naivety and gullibility. They are signs of weakness.
That is why; it is only a matter of time, perhaps a few days or weeks, before Netanyahu reverts to his real mode, a mode of recalcitrance, provocation and intransigence.
Netanyahu didn't agree to "maintain the status quo" at the Aqsa Mosque because he believes in peace and reconciliation with the Palestinians. On the contrary, Netanyahu doesn't miss a chance to provoke Palestinians and other Muslims around the world.
Similarly, he doesn't miss a chance to embarrass some of his few friends who would risk their credibility and stature by giving him the benefit of the doubt.
True Netanyahu says he would maintain the status quo, but his interpretation of the "status quo" could be far-fetched. He is a master of prevarication and equivocation.
Indeed, does maintaining the status quo include putting an end to the provocative intrusion of millenarian Jewish fanatics into the exclusively Islamic shrine? I doubt it.
Netanyahu would claim, especially when addressing a western audience, that "Jews have the right to visit the holy place. He would add: "I can't understand why people from around the world can visit the Temple Mount whereas Jews are barred from accessing the holiest place in Judaism?"
But Netanyahu is consistently dishonest. First of all, the Haram al Sharif is not the holiest place for Judaism. There is simply absolutely no evidence proving beyond doubt that the ruins of Solomon’s Temple are located beneath the Haram al-Sharif. Israeli and western archaeologists have spent half a century trying to discover any evidence to that effect, but to no avail.
Second, the so-called "Jewish visitors" don't really come to "visit," they rather come to incite and riot and desecrate the sanctity of the holy place. They come in order to provoke Muslims into protesting against Jewish provocations, which in turn would give the Israeli security forces an excuse to shoot and kill innocent Palestinians.
True visitors of holy places all over the world must conduct themselves and show some respect to the place, especially in reference to those holding the place dear.
However, when these Talmudic-minded Messianic Jews "visiting” the mosque esplanade insist on holding provocative Talmudic rituals, inciting Jews to demolish the Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock, then the matter goes far beyond "mere visiting."
Would The Vatican authorities permit a tourist to visit if he or she voices their intention to blow up Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome? Would the Indian authorities allow a tourist to visit Taj Mahal if the tourist declares openly that the edifice would have to be destroyed?
Yet we have heard these Jewish fanatics say rather ad nauseam that they won't rest before seeing these marvelous Islamic shrines reduced to ruin. And, strangely enough, none of the fanatics has been detained or questioned for incitement.
Muslim vigilance
There is no doubt that the unexpectedly strong Muslim reactions forced Netanyahu to rethink his plans. This is why Muslims must keep their guard up. Netanyahu simply wants to arrogate Islam's third holiest place as stealthily as possible and as quietly as possible.
More to the point, Netanyahu is likely to cajole or bully some Palestinian, Arab and Muslim leaders for the purpose of winning them to his side.
However, Netanyahu must understand that when it comes to the Aqsa Mosque, these unelected leaders don't represent the Muslim masses.
http://english.palinfo
Binyamin Netanyahu's half-hearted undertaking to "maintain the status quo" at Jerusalem’s al Haram al-Sharif or Noble Sanctuary ought to be taken with more than a grain of salt. Netanyahu is notorious for his mendacity, dishonesty and deceit. His words are worth nothing.
This is not to say though that the Palestinians ought to reject any genuine effort to calm the situation in Jerusalem and the rest of occupied Palestine. We Palestinians are not eager to kill and get killed.
None the less, our long experience with this man (Netanyahu) shows that he cannot be trusted. Even his closest friends and allies attest to this fact. Indeed, for Netanyahu, sublime human ideals such as honesty, moral consistency and rectitude spell naivety and gullibility. They are signs of weakness.
That is why; it is only a matter of time, perhaps a few days or weeks, before Netanyahu reverts to his real mode, a mode of recalcitrance, provocation and intransigence.
Netanyahu didn't agree to "maintain the status quo" at the Aqsa Mosque because he believes in peace and reconciliation with the Palestinians. On the contrary, Netanyahu doesn't miss a chance to provoke Palestinians and other Muslims around the world.
Similarly, he doesn't miss a chance to embarrass some of his few friends who would risk their credibility and stature by giving him the benefit of the doubt.
True Netanyahu says he would maintain the status quo, but his interpretation of the "status quo" could be far-fetched. He is a master of prevarication and equivocation.
Indeed, does maintaining the status quo include putting an end to the provocative intrusion of millenarian Jewish fanatics into the exclusively Islamic shrine? I doubt it.
Netanyahu would claim, especially when addressing a western audience, that "Jews have the right to visit the holy place. He would add: "I can't understand why people from around the world can visit the Temple Mount whereas Jews are barred from accessing the holiest place in Judaism?"
But Netanyahu is consistently dishonest. First of all, the Haram al Sharif is not the holiest place for Judaism. There is simply absolutely no evidence proving beyond doubt that the ruins of Solomon’s Temple are located beneath the Haram al-Sharif. Israeli and western archaeologists have spent half a century trying to discover any evidence to that effect, but to no avail.
Second, the so-called "Jewish visitors" don't really come to "visit," they rather come to incite and riot and desecrate the sanctity of the holy place. They come in order to provoke Muslims into protesting against Jewish provocations, which in turn would give the Israeli security forces an excuse to shoot and kill innocent Palestinians.
True visitors of holy places all over the world must conduct themselves and show some respect to the place, especially in reference to those holding the place dear.
However, when these Talmudic-minded Messianic Jews "visiting” the mosque esplanade insist on holding provocative Talmudic rituals, inciting Jews to demolish the Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock, then the matter goes far beyond "mere visiting."
Would The Vatican authorities permit a tourist to visit if he or she voices their intention to blow up Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome? Would the Indian authorities allow a tourist to visit Taj Mahal if the tourist declares openly that the edifice would have to be destroyed?
Yet we have heard these Jewish fanatics say rather ad nauseam that they won't rest before seeing these marvelous Islamic shrines reduced to ruin. And, strangely enough, none of the fanatics has been detained or questioned for incitement.
Muslim vigilance
There is no doubt that the unexpectedly strong Muslim reactions forced Netanyahu to rethink his plans. This is why Muslims must keep their guard up. Netanyahu simply wants to arrogate Islam's third holiest place as stealthily as possible and as quietly as possible.
More to the point, Netanyahu is likely to cajole or bully some Palestinian, Arab and Muslim leaders for the purpose of winning them to his side.
However, Netanyahu must understand that when it comes to the Aqsa Mosque, these unelected leaders don't represent the Muslim masses.
http://english.palinfo
Israeli Occupation Authorities (IOA) barred the Colombian Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin's visit to Ramallah to meet with her Palestinian counterpart Riyad al-Malki.
According to a statement by the Colombian Foreign Ministry, the Israeli government would only permit Holguin to visit Ramallah if she agreed to visit Israel on the same visit to the region.
Holguin arrived in the region for a tour in the Middle East, but wished to add Ramallah to her itinerary.
On November 3, the Colombian embassy in Israel asked the Israeli authorities to arrange entry for Holguin from Jordan to Ramallah via Israel. However, the Israeli response conditioned Holguin's visit to Ramallah to her visit to Israel too.
The Colombian Foreign Minister can only visit Ramallah if she also meets with Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, the Israeli response went on.
A senior official in the Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the report, stating that the directive was ordered by Lieberman.
Israel's unwillingness to allow her visit to Ramallah forced Holguin to meet with her Palestinian counterpart in Amman on Monday.
http://english.palinfo
According to a statement by the Colombian Foreign Ministry, the Israeli government would only permit Holguin to visit Ramallah if she agreed to visit Israel on the same visit to the region.
Holguin arrived in the region for a tour in the Middle East, but wished to add Ramallah to her itinerary.
On November 3, the Colombian embassy in Israel asked the Israeli authorities to arrange entry for Holguin from Jordan to Ramallah via Israel. However, the Israeli response conditioned Holguin's visit to Ramallah to her visit to Israel too.
The Colombian Foreign Minister can only visit Ramallah if she also meets with Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, the Israeli response went on.
A senior official in the Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the report, stating that the directive was ordered by Lieberman.
Israel's unwillingness to allow her visit to Ramallah forced Holguin to meet with her Palestinian counterpart in Amman on Monday.
http://english.palinfo
6 nov 2014
|
|
5 nov 2014
Palestinian officials to approach UN Security Council over Israeli attacks on al-Aqsa
Jordanian PM Abdullah Nassour has sent Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Jouda to call back their ambassador in Tel Aviv, in protest of escalating Israeli aggression, the attacks on al-Aqsa mosque and successive violations in Jerusalem.
The Jordanian mission, under direction of the MFA, took the required diplomatic action in presenting the complaint to the council.
Palestinian presidency spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh, on Wednesday, said that Palestinian authorities decided to immediately head to the Security council, to halt the attacks on al-Aqsa.
Abu Rudeineh said, via press release, that the Israeli occupation authority systematically and deliberately continues its violations of the sanctity of the the mosque, the third holiest place and first direction for all Muslims.
Abu Rudeineh reiterated that Israel flagrantly violates all international laws, norms and legitimacy, adding that the Palestinian Authority has often warned Israel that al-Aqsa Mosque is a "red line" which must not be crossed.
Still, according to the PNN, the occupation powers proceed in their extreme and daily attacks, as well as the promotion divisive policies in general -- showing that Israel is not in favour of peace, nor will adhere to international law, forcing Palestinians and Arabs into a state of revolt.
Earlier today, Israeli occupation forces raided Al-Aqsa mosque and demolished a Palestinian citizen's house under construction in the al-Toor neighborhood.
Local sources say that the raid caused clashes between worshipers at al-Aqsa and Israeli forces, adding that there were injuries in the worshiper queues.
Jordanian PM Abdullah Nassour has sent Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Jouda to call back their ambassador in Tel Aviv, in protest of escalating Israeli aggression, the attacks on al-Aqsa mosque and successive violations in Jerusalem.
The Jordanian mission, under direction of the MFA, took the required diplomatic action in presenting the complaint to the council.
Palestinian presidency spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh, on Wednesday, said that Palestinian authorities decided to immediately head to the Security council, to halt the attacks on al-Aqsa.
Abu Rudeineh said, via press release, that the Israeli occupation authority systematically and deliberately continues its violations of the sanctity of the the mosque, the third holiest place and first direction for all Muslims.
Abu Rudeineh reiterated that Israel flagrantly violates all international laws, norms and legitimacy, adding that the Palestinian Authority has often warned Israel that al-Aqsa Mosque is a "red line" which must not be crossed.
Still, according to the PNN, the occupation powers proceed in their extreme and daily attacks, as well as the promotion divisive policies in general -- showing that Israel is not in favour of peace, nor will adhere to international law, forcing Palestinians and Arabs into a state of revolt.
Earlier today, Israeli occupation forces raided Al-Aqsa mosque and demolished a Palestinian citizen's house under construction in the al-Toor neighborhood.
Local sources say that the raid caused clashes between worshipers at al-Aqsa and Israeli forces, adding that there were injuries in the worshiper queues.
4 nov 2014
According to recent Israeli and UK media releases, US President Barack Obama has threatened to drop the veto at the United Nations Security Council.
The United States has a long history of using this power to block anti-Israel measures and has, in response to continued Israeli rejection of US demands regarding the Middle East peace process (and just following an official denunciation of new plans for Israeli settlement expansion),.threatened to lift the ban on the veto.
"The prime minister told colleagues in recent days ...that his office's understanding of the issue and the government's take on it is that the Americans will not cast a veto against a resolution that reaches the Security Council," diplomatic correspondent for the Makor Rishon daily, Ariel Kahana, reportedly stated to the Algemeiner.
According to Maariv, Netanyahu told Jewish Home party members Naftali Bennett and Uri Ariel, among others in his political circle, that Obama plans to abandon Israel at the United Nations and that this will have many consequences.
"This step was what Israel feared the moment Obama was re-elected and here it is happening today," the PM was said to have declared.
The United States has a long history of using this power to block anti-Israel measures and has, in response to continued Israeli rejection of US demands regarding the Middle East peace process (and just following an official denunciation of new plans for Israeli settlement expansion),.threatened to lift the ban on the veto.
"The prime minister told colleagues in recent days ...that his office's understanding of the issue and the government's take on it is that the Americans will not cast a veto against a resolution that reaches the Security Council," diplomatic correspondent for the Makor Rishon daily, Ariel Kahana, reportedly stated to the Algemeiner.
According to Maariv, Netanyahu told Jewish Home party members Naftali Bennett and Uri Ariel, among others in his political circle, that Obama plans to abandon Israel at the United Nations and that this will have many consequences.
"This step was what Israel feared the moment Obama was re-elected and here it is happening today," the PM was said to have declared.
Over 100 former high-ranking Israeli army members, police officers and spy chiefs have called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pursue peace with the Palestinians, media reported Monday.
"We, the undersigned, reserve IDF (army) commanders and retired police officers, who have fought in Israel's military campaigns, know first-hand of the heavy and painful price exacted by wars," 105 signatories said in a joint letter addressed to Netanyahu.
Excerpts of the letter were published by Ynet news website.
It called on Netanyahu to embark on a "courageous initiative" and make peace with Palestine and other Arab states.
"We fought bravely for the country in the hope that our children would live here in peace, but we got a sharp reality check, and here we are again sending our children out onto the battlefield," it said.
"This is not a question of left or right. What we have here is an alternative option for resolving the conflict that is not based solely on bilateral negotiations with the Palestinians, which have failed time and again.
"We expect a show of courageous initiative and leadership from you. Lead -- and we will stand behind you," said the letter.
The website said the letter was the brainchild of major general Amnon Reshef, a former armored corps commander.
Ynet said that Reshef was "sick and tired of a reality of rounds of fighting every few years instead of a genuine effort to adopt the Saudi initiative."
It was referring to the Arab Peace Initiative drawn up in 2002 by oil kingpin Saudi Arabia, which called on Israel to withdraw from occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in exchange for a normalization of ties with Arab countries.
Former president Shimon Peres made a similar appeal last week, saying: "It's a shame that the only peace initiative was an Arab initiative. Where is the Israeli peace initiative?"
US-brokered peace talks between Israel and Palestine have been frozen since April.
"We, the undersigned, reserve IDF (army) commanders and retired police officers, who have fought in Israel's military campaigns, know first-hand of the heavy and painful price exacted by wars," 105 signatories said in a joint letter addressed to Netanyahu.
Excerpts of the letter were published by Ynet news website.
It called on Netanyahu to embark on a "courageous initiative" and make peace with Palestine and other Arab states.
"We fought bravely for the country in the hope that our children would live here in peace, but we got a sharp reality check, and here we are again sending our children out onto the battlefield," it said.
"This is not a question of left or right. What we have here is an alternative option for resolving the conflict that is not based solely on bilateral negotiations with the Palestinians, which have failed time and again.
"We expect a show of courageous initiative and leadership from you. Lead -- and we will stand behind you," said the letter.
The website said the letter was the brainchild of major general Amnon Reshef, a former armored corps commander.
Ynet said that Reshef was "sick and tired of a reality of rounds of fighting every few years instead of a genuine effort to adopt the Saudi initiative."
It was referring to the Arab Peace Initiative drawn up in 2002 by oil kingpin Saudi Arabia, which called on Israel to withdraw from occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in exchange for a normalization of ties with Arab countries.
Former president Shimon Peres made a similar appeal last week, saying: "It's a shame that the only peace initiative was an Arab initiative. Where is the Israeli peace initiative?"
US-brokered peace talks between Israel and Palestine have been frozen since April.
PNN correspondence reports that the Israeli Knesset, Sunday, approved a law which will ease immigration restrictions via conversion to Judaism (by authorizing Rabbis in 'Israel' to head conversion courts following rabbinate criteria).
The rabbinate of the Israeli state was, in fact, heavily criticized for having the strictest most 'discriminate' conversion criteria, where there are only 4 conversion courts.
However, Israeli ministers approved the bill (presented by Elazar Stern) despite the opposition of Netanyahu and others, as the bill goes to final reading.
Stern said that the "bill allows everyone to enter under the wings of Judaism," which will strongly contribute to the Jewish/ Zionist emigration into occupied Palestine.
Mr. Stern added: "The committee's approval of the bill is great news for the Jewish people. Thousands of Israelis will soon be able to convert in a dignified and considered Jewish manner. This is a rectification of a moral and values failing."
According to the PNN, there are some 364 thousand Israeli settlers who emigrated from Russia, have Jewish descendants, but are not considered Jewish. Therefore, Jewish agency leader Natan Sharansky welcomed the bill, saying it was "fundamental to emerge as many 'Israeli' immigrants as possible."
The rabbinate of the Israeli state was, in fact, heavily criticized for having the strictest most 'discriminate' conversion criteria, where there are only 4 conversion courts.
However, Israeli ministers approved the bill (presented by Elazar Stern) despite the opposition of Netanyahu and others, as the bill goes to final reading.
Stern said that the "bill allows everyone to enter under the wings of Judaism," which will strongly contribute to the Jewish/ Zionist emigration into occupied Palestine.
Mr. Stern added: "The committee's approval of the bill is great news for the Jewish people. Thousands of Israelis will soon be able to convert in a dignified and considered Jewish manner. This is a rectification of a moral and values failing."
According to the PNN, there are some 364 thousand Israeli settlers who emigrated from Russia, have Jewish descendants, but are not considered Jewish. Therefore, Jewish agency leader Natan Sharansky welcomed the bill, saying it was "fundamental to emerge as many 'Israeli' immigrants as possible."
2 nov 2014
Settlers trowing stones go free?
The Israeli ministerial committee for legislation is expected to approve a proposed law which imposes a prison sentence of 20 years against any Palestinian who throws stones toward Israeli vehicles.
According to Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency, the proposed law suggested by Israeli Minister of Justice, Tzibi Lvini, intends to raise the punishment of stone throwing at Israeli passersby up to twenty years, and five years for those who throw stones against Israeli forces .
Israeli news outlet Yedioth Ahronoth points out that the decision imposes an additional financial fine on families, as many participants in the current clashes in Jerusalem are minors, where the law does not allow to impose a severe penalties against them, such as high fines and long prison sentence.
The Israeli ministerial committee for legislation is expected to approve a proposed law which imposes a prison sentence of 20 years against any Palestinian who throws stones toward Israeli vehicles.
According to Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency, the proposed law suggested by Israeli Minister of Justice, Tzibi Lvini, intends to raise the punishment of stone throwing at Israeli passersby up to twenty years, and five years for those who throw stones against Israeli forces .
Israeli news outlet Yedioth Ahronoth points out that the decision imposes an additional financial fine on families, as many participants in the current clashes in Jerusalem are minors, where the law does not allow to impose a severe penalties against them, such as high fines and long prison sentence.
Israeli security backdropped by the Dome of the Rock mosque during Friday noon prayers in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Ras al-Amud on Oct. 31, 2014
Gaza crossings closed indefinitely
Politically far-right member of the Israeli Knesset Moshe Feglin entered al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem, on Sunday, while entry was restricted for Palestinians, according to witnesses. Border crossings in Gaza have been closed indefinitely.
AFP reports that, in renewed clashes with Israeli police on Saturday night, around East Jerusalem, police said 17 Palestinian protesters were detained, raising to 111 the number of arrests during protests since October 22.
An AFP photographer said that MK Feiglin visited the compound in the Old City district on Sunday, in spite of calls for restraint from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mr. Feiglin is a leading advocate for increased Jewish access to the compound, which is home to the mosque, though such access, so far, has been obtained primarily by aggressive surprise visits to the mosque, backed by armed escort.
Men and women under 40 have been banned from entering the mosque since, dawn prayer at around 4:30 a.m., witnesses told Ma'an News Agency. Additionally, several employees of the Ministry of Endowment who work inside the compound, as well as students there, were also reportedly denied entry by Israeli police officers.
Police, however, told AFP that no restrictions were in place.
Palestinian MK Ahmad Tibi says that Israeli PM Netanyahu’s request to try and calm the tension in the Old City is unacceptable.
He accused the Netanyahu government of being behind the ongoing escalation in the holy city.
While speaking to Ma’an, Tibi added that “the statement Netanyahu’s office released is unacceptable as I don’t agree to be viewed as an instigator if I go to the al-Aqsa Mosque.
“It is natural that I show (myself) in al-Aqsa, while the presence of extremist Jews there is provocative and instigative.”
Tibi described Netanyahu as “a thief who tries to help find stolen things which he himself stole.”
“The problem lies in the ruling party and the Likud lawmakers and their supporters. They are the ones who stir up the situation by storming al-Aqsa Mosque. They are the main cause of what is going on in addition to Netanyahu’s decision to shut down the al-Aqsa Mosque to Muslims.”
Al-Aqsa and adjacent neighborhoods have seen several months of violence, now, with the mosque compound serving as a rallying point right-wing Jewish attempts to take control of it and, in response, Palestinian resistance against these attempts.
Israel, on Thursday ordered a rare closure of the compound, after police clashed with local youth following the fatal shooting of Muataz Hijazi, a Palestinian suspected of trying to murder American-born extremist rabbi Yehuda Glick.
The area reopened the following day, with hundreds of additional police deployed by Israel, who continued with their ongoing policy of prohibiting entry for Muslim men under 50.
See: 11/01/14 Palestinian Uprising in Wake of Hijazi Assassination and Aqsa Closure, 28 Injured in Jerusalem
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli authorities closed Karm Abo Salem checkpoint and Beit Hanoun /Erez crossing borders, on Saturday evening.
Director of the crossing Munir Ghalban said on Saturday evening that "the Israeli occupation inform us of his sudden decision to close the crossings without giving any reasons, and did not specify the duration of the closure".
According to Al Ray, the official of the Political Bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), Moussa Abu Marzouq, said on Sunday morning that the Israeli entity violates the ceasefire understandings by closing the crossings.
He described it as "boyish behavior and irresponsible, and their justification is rejected." Marzouq pointed out that the closure is a collective punishment imposed on Gaza strip, which violates all international laws and conventions".
Israeli Channel 2 said that the decision to close the crossings came in response to rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.
Blockaded by Israel –- by air, land and sea –- since 2007, the Gaza Strip is associated with seven border crossings linking the region to the outside world.
Six of these crossings are controlled by Israel, while the seventh, Rafah, is controlled by Egypt authorities who keep it tightly sealed for the most part.
Israel sealed four of its commercial crossings with Gaza, in June of 2007, after Hamas wrested control of the strip, following elections.
Al Ray further reports that, currently, Israeli authorities allow the Kerem Shalom crossing – which links Gaza to both Israel and Egypt – to operate for commercial purposes. The Gaza-to-Israel "Erez" crossing, however, is generally devoted to the movement of individuals between Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
A truce deal recently brokered by Egypt, between Israeli and Palestinian groups in Gaza, calls for reopening the strip's border crossings, which, if implemented, would effectively end the seven-year blockade of the territory.
Gaza crossings closed indefinitely
Politically far-right member of the Israeli Knesset Moshe Feglin entered al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem, on Sunday, while entry was restricted for Palestinians, according to witnesses. Border crossings in Gaza have been closed indefinitely.
AFP reports that, in renewed clashes with Israeli police on Saturday night, around East Jerusalem, police said 17 Palestinian protesters were detained, raising to 111 the number of arrests during protests since October 22.
An AFP photographer said that MK Feiglin visited the compound in the Old City district on Sunday, in spite of calls for restraint from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mr. Feiglin is a leading advocate for increased Jewish access to the compound, which is home to the mosque, though such access, so far, has been obtained primarily by aggressive surprise visits to the mosque, backed by armed escort.
Men and women under 40 have been banned from entering the mosque since, dawn prayer at around 4:30 a.m., witnesses told Ma'an News Agency. Additionally, several employees of the Ministry of Endowment who work inside the compound, as well as students there, were also reportedly denied entry by Israeli police officers.
Police, however, told AFP that no restrictions were in place.
Palestinian MK Ahmad Tibi says that Israeli PM Netanyahu’s request to try and calm the tension in the Old City is unacceptable.
He accused the Netanyahu government of being behind the ongoing escalation in the holy city.
While speaking to Ma’an, Tibi added that “the statement Netanyahu’s office released is unacceptable as I don’t agree to be viewed as an instigator if I go to the al-Aqsa Mosque.
“It is natural that I show (myself) in al-Aqsa, while the presence of extremist Jews there is provocative and instigative.”
Tibi described Netanyahu as “a thief who tries to help find stolen things which he himself stole.”
“The problem lies in the ruling party and the Likud lawmakers and their supporters. They are the ones who stir up the situation by storming al-Aqsa Mosque. They are the main cause of what is going on in addition to Netanyahu’s decision to shut down the al-Aqsa Mosque to Muslims.”
Al-Aqsa and adjacent neighborhoods have seen several months of violence, now, with the mosque compound serving as a rallying point right-wing Jewish attempts to take control of it and, in response, Palestinian resistance against these attempts.
Israel, on Thursday ordered a rare closure of the compound, after police clashed with local youth following the fatal shooting of Muataz Hijazi, a Palestinian suspected of trying to murder American-born extremist rabbi Yehuda Glick.
The area reopened the following day, with hundreds of additional police deployed by Israel, who continued with their ongoing policy of prohibiting entry for Muslim men under 50.
See: 11/01/14 Palestinian Uprising in Wake of Hijazi Assassination and Aqsa Closure, 28 Injured in Jerusalem
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli authorities closed Karm Abo Salem checkpoint and Beit Hanoun /Erez crossing borders, on Saturday evening.
Director of the crossing Munir Ghalban said on Saturday evening that "the Israeli occupation inform us of his sudden decision to close the crossings without giving any reasons, and did not specify the duration of the closure".
According to Al Ray, the official of the Political Bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), Moussa Abu Marzouq, said on Sunday morning that the Israeli entity violates the ceasefire understandings by closing the crossings.
He described it as "boyish behavior and irresponsible, and their justification is rejected." Marzouq pointed out that the closure is a collective punishment imposed on Gaza strip, which violates all international laws and conventions".
Israeli Channel 2 said that the decision to close the crossings came in response to rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.
Blockaded by Israel –- by air, land and sea –- since 2007, the Gaza Strip is associated with seven border crossings linking the region to the outside world.
Six of these crossings are controlled by Israel, while the seventh, Rafah, is controlled by Egypt authorities who keep it tightly sealed for the most part.
Israel sealed four of its commercial crossings with Gaza, in June of 2007, after Hamas wrested control of the strip, following elections.
Al Ray further reports that, currently, Israeli authorities allow the Kerem Shalom crossing – which links Gaza to both Israel and Egypt – to operate for commercial purposes. The Gaza-to-Israel "Erez" crossing, however, is generally devoted to the movement of individuals between Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
A truce deal recently brokered by Egypt, between Israeli and Palestinian groups in Gaza, calls for reopening the strip's border crossings, which, if implemented, would effectively end the seven-year blockade of the territory.
