20 nov 2014
The Palestinian ministry of foreign affairs held the Israeli government and the extreme right in the Knesset fully responsible for what it said "the very grave escalation of the situation in occupied Jerusalem".
"The occupation government is waging a war against Jerusalem and the [Islamic] holy sites in order to Judaize them and separate them from their Palestinian surrounding," the ministry stated in a press release on Wednesday.
The ministry highlighted that the ugly killing of 16-year-old Mohamed Abu Khudair by burning him alive at the hands of Jewish settlers was a serious turning point in this escalation.
"What has strongly contributed to inflaming the situation is also the racist bills that have been adopted and proposed by leaders of the extreme right wing in Israel in order to perpetuate the occupation and change the nature of the conflict," the ministry added.
"The Israeli government's denial of the Palestinian people's rights and its intentional frustration of every chance to engage in serious talks as well as the official incitement, which is led by Netanyahu, would lead to the weakening of the trend of peace and negotiation in the whole region," the ministry warned.
The ministry also accused the Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu of persistently backing the options of escalation, suppression and mass punishment against the Palestinians, and using a violent strategy to deal with the serious deterioration in the situation.
The ministry demanded the Israeli government to stop its escalation of aggressive practices against Jerusalem, its Palestinian natives and the Aqsa Mosque and align itself with political solutions ending the current tension through recognizing the Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital and its people's right to self-determination.
"The occupation government is waging a war against Jerusalem and the [Islamic] holy sites in order to Judaize them and separate them from their Palestinian surrounding," the ministry stated in a press release on Wednesday.
The ministry highlighted that the ugly killing of 16-year-old Mohamed Abu Khudair by burning him alive at the hands of Jewish settlers was a serious turning point in this escalation.
"What has strongly contributed to inflaming the situation is also the racist bills that have been adopted and proposed by leaders of the extreme right wing in Israel in order to perpetuate the occupation and change the nature of the conflict," the ministry added.
"The Israeli government's denial of the Palestinian people's rights and its intentional frustration of every chance to engage in serious talks as well as the official incitement, which is led by Netanyahu, would lead to the weakening of the trend of peace and negotiation in the whole region," the ministry warned.
The ministry also accused the Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu of persistently backing the options of escalation, suppression and mass punishment against the Palestinians, and using a violent strategy to deal with the serious deterioration in the situation.
The ministry demanded the Israeli government to stop its escalation of aggressive practices against Jerusalem, its Palestinian natives and the Aqsa Mosque and align itself with political solutions ending the current tension through recognizing the Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital and its people's right to self-determination.
18 nov 2014
30-year-old Master Sergeant Zidan Sif was wounded in a fire exchange with the two terrorists; officer who shot terrorists recounts the wrenching details of the sordid event: 'It was me or them
A policeman who was critically wounded Tuesday morning in a terror attack at a Jerusalem synagogue in Har Nof succumbed to his wounds Tuesday night at the Hadassah Medical Center in the capital, raising the number of casualties in the attack to five.
Master Sergeant Zidan Sif, age 30 from Yanuh-Jat, joined the Israel Police in April 2011 and served as a traffic control inspector at the Jerusalem Police Department. He was one of the first two policemen to arrive at the scene and was shot in a fire exchange with the two terrorists. He was posthumously promoted to First Sergeant.
Sif left behind a wife, a four-months-old baby, parents and five siblings. His funeral will be held Wednesday in the Arab local council of Yanuh-Jat.
Four others worshipers who were praying at the Kehilat Bnei Torah synagogue - Rabbi Moshe Twersky, Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Goldberg, Rabbi Kalman Levine, and Aryeh Kupinsky - were killed, while six people were wounded, including another police officer.
'It was me or them'
At around 7am, the terrorists - wielding massive knives and a gun - entered the Bnei Torah synagogue on Harav Shimon Agasi Street, which includes both a synagogue and yeshiva (rabbinical seminary), and carried out attacks in more than one location. The two were killed following a gunfight with security forces who arrived at the scene.
"It was clear to me that if I stood outside at that point they would murder Jews inside the Yeshiva," said Superintendent A., the man who eliminated the terrorists behind the deadly Jerusalem synagogue terror attack on Tuesday morning. "It was me or them," A. said.
Traffic police were the first to arrive at the scene of the terror attack – 7 minutes after the first report of a shooting at the synagogue.
Superintendent A., who serves as a Forensic Laboratory Specialist in the Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), overheard reports of the incident on police communications and understood there was an officer wounded from the shooting. "It was absolutely clear to me that this was an unusual event," said the superintendent. Seconds later the superintendent saw the two terrorists yielding guns and knives and running from the synagogue towards police.
A. shot at the two terrorists and killed them. After their elimination, A. along with other police officers entered the synagogue and screened the site in order to determine if there were additional terrorists. "It started like a regular day," said A. "I drove to work with my colleague. We are Superintendent Laboratory Specialists in the Division of Identification and Forensic Science, and are used to arrive at the "after" scene.
"We were listening to communications, and heard the center report on many calls regarding a shooting on Agassi Street. The first situation that came to my mind was 'Merkaz HaRav' (a previous Jerusalem terror attack)," said A. "We arrived there as quickly as possible because it was clear to us that we are first of all policemen and only afterwards are we forensics officials,"
A. continued. A. and the police officer that accompanied him saw two police officers on one side of the stairs at the entrance to the synagogue and another officer on the other side of the entrance. "I asked the police officer, 'what happened?' and then I heard a shot fired, and we stayed close to the wall. I looked up, I saw that there were windows; we were scared we would get shot at through the windows," said A. "We sought shelter behind a car and we continued to hear shots fired. I started narrowing in. At the entrance, a police officer standing next to me got shot in his foot and fell to the ground. I realized I was at gun range. I was very, very focused," A. said. A. continued to relay the events leading up to the killing of the two terrorists:
"I aimed my gun while shooting towards the stairs, I saw two, two young men running, and they were pretty young. The first held a gun and a big meat cleaver knife and the second a meter's distance behind him holding a Machete with a knife that was also covered in blood. It was me or them. I shot at the first, I saw that he collapsed, shot at the second, and then he collapsed. I continued to fire. I realized I had no more ammunition."
At the end of his retelling of the event A. said, "I turned to my colleague, and I asked him for his cartridge. I switched cartridges. At that point, an officer in front of me got closer to the stairs. There were two other officers and policemen on my right side. We started to go up the stairway because the instinctive thought that comes to mind is that there are more terrorists inside and we must stop them. We went up the stairs and I saw a Haredi covered in blood. We went inside, I checked the stair hall with the suspicion that a terrorist would come out. My inner thoughts were that if a terrorist comes out of there it is me or him. One look inside and I saw lots and lots of blood. Haredis lying on the ground. Massacre.
And basically this is when my role in the incident ended." Magen David Adom released the recordings of the call made by an eye-witness to the Jerusalem synagogue massacre. Woman: "I saw shots fired, there were two terrorists. I ran away from there immediately, I saw blood." Woman: "In Har, Nof Agassi Street, Arabs, shots." Operator: "You said shots?" Woman: "Yes, I saw shots, there were two terrorists there. I saw that there were injured." Operator: "How many injured did you see?" Woman: "I didn't see, I ran away immediately, I saw blood, there were a lot of shots there." Palestinian sources named the terrorists as cousins Ghassan and Uday Abu-Jamal, from the Jabel Mukaber neighborhood of East Jerusalem. The two were related to a prisoner released in the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange.
An official Hamas statement said that the attack was a response to the death of bus driver Yusuf Hassan al-Ramouni, who was found hanged at a Jerusalem bus terminal Sunday night. An autopsy report confirmed the death was a suicide.
A policeman who was critically wounded Tuesday morning in a terror attack at a Jerusalem synagogue in Har Nof succumbed to his wounds Tuesday night at the Hadassah Medical Center in the capital, raising the number of casualties in the attack to five.
Master Sergeant Zidan Sif, age 30 from Yanuh-Jat, joined the Israel Police in April 2011 and served as a traffic control inspector at the Jerusalem Police Department. He was one of the first two policemen to arrive at the scene and was shot in a fire exchange with the two terrorists. He was posthumously promoted to First Sergeant.
Sif left behind a wife, a four-months-old baby, parents and five siblings. His funeral will be held Wednesday in the Arab local council of Yanuh-Jat.
Four others worshipers who were praying at the Kehilat Bnei Torah synagogue - Rabbi Moshe Twersky, Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Goldberg, Rabbi Kalman Levine, and Aryeh Kupinsky - were killed, while six people were wounded, including another police officer.
'It was me or them'
At around 7am, the terrorists - wielding massive knives and a gun - entered the Bnei Torah synagogue on Harav Shimon Agasi Street, which includes both a synagogue and yeshiva (rabbinical seminary), and carried out attacks in more than one location. The two were killed following a gunfight with security forces who arrived at the scene.
"It was clear to me that if I stood outside at that point they would murder Jews inside the Yeshiva," said Superintendent A., the man who eliminated the terrorists behind the deadly Jerusalem synagogue terror attack on Tuesday morning. "It was me or them," A. said.
Traffic police were the first to arrive at the scene of the terror attack – 7 minutes after the first report of a shooting at the synagogue.
Superintendent A., who serves as a Forensic Laboratory Specialist in the Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), overheard reports of the incident on police communications and understood there was an officer wounded from the shooting. "It was absolutely clear to me that this was an unusual event," said the superintendent. Seconds later the superintendent saw the two terrorists yielding guns and knives and running from the synagogue towards police.
A. shot at the two terrorists and killed them. After their elimination, A. along with other police officers entered the synagogue and screened the site in order to determine if there were additional terrorists. "It started like a regular day," said A. "I drove to work with my colleague. We are Superintendent Laboratory Specialists in the Division of Identification and Forensic Science, and are used to arrive at the "after" scene.
"We were listening to communications, and heard the center report on many calls regarding a shooting on Agassi Street. The first situation that came to my mind was 'Merkaz HaRav' (a previous Jerusalem terror attack)," said A. "We arrived there as quickly as possible because it was clear to us that we are first of all policemen and only afterwards are we forensics officials,"
A. continued. A. and the police officer that accompanied him saw two police officers on one side of the stairs at the entrance to the synagogue and another officer on the other side of the entrance. "I asked the police officer, 'what happened?' and then I heard a shot fired, and we stayed close to the wall. I looked up, I saw that there were windows; we were scared we would get shot at through the windows," said A. "We sought shelter behind a car and we continued to hear shots fired. I started narrowing in. At the entrance, a police officer standing next to me got shot in his foot and fell to the ground. I realized I was at gun range. I was very, very focused," A. said. A. continued to relay the events leading up to the killing of the two terrorists:
"I aimed my gun while shooting towards the stairs, I saw two, two young men running, and they were pretty young. The first held a gun and a big meat cleaver knife and the second a meter's distance behind him holding a Machete with a knife that was also covered in blood. It was me or them. I shot at the first, I saw that he collapsed, shot at the second, and then he collapsed. I continued to fire. I realized I had no more ammunition."
At the end of his retelling of the event A. said, "I turned to my colleague, and I asked him for his cartridge. I switched cartridges. At that point, an officer in front of me got closer to the stairs. There were two other officers and policemen on my right side. We started to go up the stairway because the instinctive thought that comes to mind is that there are more terrorists inside and we must stop them. We went up the stairs and I saw a Haredi covered in blood. We went inside, I checked the stair hall with the suspicion that a terrorist would come out. My inner thoughts were that if a terrorist comes out of there it is me or him. One look inside and I saw lots and lots of blood. Haredis lying on the ground. Massacre.
And basically this is when my role in the incident ended." Magen David Adom released the recordings of the call made by an eye-witness to the Jerusalem synagogue massacre. Woman: "I saw shots fired, there were two terrorists. I ran away from there immediately, I saw blood." Woman: "In Har, Nof Agassi Street, Arabs, shots." Operator: "You said shots?" Woman: "Yes, I saw shots, there were two terrorists there. I saw that there were injured." Operator: "How many injured did you see?" Woman: "I didn't see, I ran away immediately, I saw blood, there were a lot of shots there." Palestinian sources named the terrorists as cousins Ghassan and Uday Abu-Jamal, from the Jabel Mukaber neighborhood of East Jerusalem. The two were related to a prisoner released in the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange.
An official Hamas statement said that the attack was a response to the death of bus driver Yusuf Hassan al-Ramouni, who was found hanged at a Jerusalem bus terminal Sunday night. An autopsy report confirmed the death was a suicide.
PFLP claims responsibility for synagogue attack
Israeli forces arrested early Tuesday 21 Palestinians, including three minors, from the West Bank and Jerusalem, in addition to 14 members of the family of two Palestinian suspects in regard to an attack on a West Jerusalem synagogue. PFLP has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack.
According to reports by local sources and the Palestinian Prisoner’s Club (PPC), Israeli police raided various Palestinian neighborhoods in occupied East Jerusalem, where they abducted several Palestinians.
WAFA Palestinian News & Info Agency stated that police arrested Akram al-Shurafa, one of the Al-Aqsa Mosque guards, Taha Shawahna, who was also assaulted, Omar Abu al-Hawa, Mustafa al-Qawasmi and Ra’eda Abu Hadwan. Eight other Jerusalemites taken during the raid were unidentified.
In Hebron, Israeli forces kidnapped three minors near the entrance of Beit Ummar, to the north of Hebron. The youth were identified as Wasim Abu Maria, 14, Ahmad al-Slaibi and ‘Abdallah Abu Maria, age 15.
Forces raided several Hebron neighborhoods, setting up checkpoints at the entrances of Sa‘ir and Halhul bridge, to the north and northeast of Hebron, where they stopped and inspected Palestinian-registered vehicles and examined passengers’ ID cards.
Dozens of Israeli settlers attacked passing Palestinian vehicles with stones, on Tuesday, near the town of Tarqumia, to the west of Hebron.
Witnesses said that the settlers, backed by an Israeli army force, broke into a highway connecting the nearby town of Idna with the city of Hebron, where they blocked the road and pelting Palestinian vehicles with stones, causing damages.
No injuries were reported.
The assault came just hours after a similar attack by settlers on a Palestinian school in the village of Urif, to the south of Nablus, while they also blocked a nearby road.
At least four Palestinians, including a press cameraman working for Reuters News Agency, were injured on Tuesday during confrontations in Urif.
Three Palestinians were shot and injured by rubber-coated steel bullets, and were transferred to a nearby medical facility.
Abdul-Rahim Qusini, a press cameraman with Reuters News Agency, was reportedly hit with a stone during the confrontations and also taken to a hospital for medical treatment.
Cases of teargas suffocation were also reported.
In the Ramallah district, four Israeli military vehicles and three troop carriers raided the town of Silwan, to the northeast of the city, and kidnapped Nash’at Jum‘ah, age 20, after breaking into his family’s house.
Forces also raided Bil‘in village, where they took Majdi Burnat, 20, Samih al-Khatib, 19, and Muhammad Yasin, 20, after breaking into and ransacking their homes.
Meanwhile, in the Tulkarem district, forces raided Shwaika village, to the north of the city, where they abducted Ahmad Ikbariya after breaking into his family’s house.
Also on Tuesday, Israeli police took into custody around 14 members of the family of the two Palestinians suspected of an attack on a West Jerusalem synagogue facility.
WAFA correspondence further reports that hundreds of police officers raided and closed off Jabal al-Mukaber, where the houses of the two suspects are located, attacking two homes of Abu Jamal family with tear gas, stun grenades and rubber-coated steel bullets.
Forces took 14 members of Abu Jamal family, spurring clashes and injuring 22 others at the scene.
The two suspects were shot dead early Tuesday, by police, following the attack which killed five Israelis, according to WAFA. They were identified as Ghassan and Udayy Abu Jamal.
Indian news site, The Hindu, stated that the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) announced, via e-mail, that the two attackers are members of the group, and that “the attack was a natural response to the Israeli attacks on Jerusalem and on the Palestinians”.
Rabah Muhana, a senior PFLP leader from Gaza, said that “Palestinians should work hard on making the Israeli occupation of our territories illegal by unifying our efforts and ending the internal Palestinian division”.
Israeli forces arrested early Tuesday 21 Palestinians, including three minors, from the West Bank and Jerusalem, in addition to 14 members of the family of two Palestinian suspects in regard to an attack on a West Jerusalem synagogue. PFLP has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack.
According to reports by local sources and the Palestinian Prisoner’s Club (PPC), Israeli police raided various Palestinian neighborhoods in occupied East Jerusalem, where they abducted several Palestinians.
WAFA Palestinian News & Info Agency stated that police arrested Akram al-Shurafa, one of the Al-Aqsa Mosque guards, Taha Shawahna, who was also assaulted, Omar Abu al-Hawa, Mustafa al-Qawasmi and Ra’eda Abu Hadwan. Eight other Jerusalemites taken during the raid were unidentified.
In Hebron, Israeli forces kidnapped three minors near the entrance of Beit Ummar, to the north of Hebron. The youth were identified as Wasim Abu Maria, 14, Ahmad al-Slaibi and ‘Abdallah Abu Maria, age 15.
Forces raided several Hebron neighborhoods, setting up checkpoints at the entrances of Sa‘ir and Halhul bridge, to the north and northeast of Hebron, where they stopped and inspected Palestinian-registered vehicles and examined passengers’ ID cards.
Dozens of Israeli settlers attacked passing Palestinian vehicles with stones, on Tuesday, near the town of Tarqumia, to the west of Hebron.
Witnesses said that the settlers, backed by an Israeli army force, broke into a highway connecting the nearby town of Idna with the city of Hebron, where they blocked the road and pelting Palestinian vehicles with stones, causing damages.
No injuries were reported.
The assault came just hours after a similar attack by settlers on a Palestinian school in the village of Urif, to the south of Nablus, while they also blocked a nearby road.
At least four Palestinians, including a press cameraman working for Reuters News Agency, were injured on Tuesday during confrontations in Urif.
Three Palestinians were shot and injured by rubber-coated steel bullets, and were transferred to a nearby medical facility.
Abdul-Rahim Qusini, a press cameraman with Reuters News Agency, was reportedly hit with a stone during the confrontations and also taken to a hospital for medical treatment.
Cases of teargas suffocation were also reported.
In the Ramallah district, four Israeli military vehicles and three troop carriers raided the town of Silwan, to the northeast of the city, and kidnapped Nash’at Jum‘ah, age 20, after breaking into his family’s house.
Forces also raided Bil‘in village, where they took Majdi Burnat, 20, Samih al-Khatib, 19, and Muhammad Yasin, 20, after breaking into and ransacking their homes.
Meanwhile, in the Tulkarem district, forces raided Shwaika village, to the north of the city, where they abducted Ahmad Ikbariya after breaking into his family’s house.
Also on Tuesday, Israeli police took into custody around 14 members of the family of the two Palestinians suspected of an attack on a West Jerusalem synagogue facility.
WAFA correspondence further reports that hundreds of police officers raided and closed off Jabal al-Mukaber, where the houses of the two suspects are located, attacking two homes of Abu Jamal family with tear gas, stun grenades and rubber-coated steel bullets.
Forces took 14 members of Abu Jamal family, spurring clashes and injuring 22 others at the scene.
The two suspects were shot dead early Tuesday, by police, following the attack which killed five Israelis, according to WAFA. They were identified as Ghassan and Udayy Abu Jamal.
Indian news site, The Hindu, stated that the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) announced, via e-mail, that the two attackers are members of the group, and that “the attack was a natural response to the Israeli attacks on Jerusalem and on the Palestinians”.
Rabah Muhana, a senior PFLP leader from Gaza, said that “Palestinians should work hard on making the Israeli occupation of our territories illegal by unifying our efforts and ending the internal Palestinian division”.
Israeli military sources stated Tuesday that Palestinian fighters opened fire at an Israeli military jeep driving on the Yitzhar settlement road, south of Nablus, in the northern part of the occupied West Bank.
The sources said Palestinian fighters, driving a car near the Qaduim illegal Israeli settlement, opened fire at the military vehicle, and fled the scene. The army reported no injuries among the soldiers.
Soldiers closed the Yitzhar-Nablus road, close to the Yitzhar illegal settlement, and stopped hundreds of Palestinian cars, while dozens of soldiers have also been deployed on the main road between Za’tara and Huwwara roadblocks.
Dozens of Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinians and their cars, and blocked the Yitzhar road preventing the Palestinians from using it.
The sources said Palestinian fighters, driving a car near the Qaduim illegal Israeli settlement, opened fire at the military vehicle, and fled the scene. The army reported no injuries among the soldiers.
Soldiers closed the Yitzhar-Nablus road, close to the Yitzhar illegal settlement, and stopped hundreds of Palestinian cars, while dozens of soldiers have also been deployed on the main road between Za’tara and Huwwara roadblocks.
Dozens of Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinians and their cars, and blocked the Yitzhar road preventing the Palestinians from using it.
Ghassan and Uday Abu Jamal
Palestinian president also calls for end to Israeli provocation on Temple Mount; clashes erupt in East Jerusalem as security forces move in to terrroists' home village.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday condemned the deadly attack at a synagogue in Jerusalem earlier in the day, and called for an end to what he said was Israeli provocation over the Temple Mount.
"The presidency condemns the attack on Jewish worshippers in their place of prayer, and condemned the killing of civilians no matter who is responsible," said a statement from Abbas' office.
"We condemn all acts of violence from all sources, and demand an end to the invasions of Al-Aqsa Mosque, the provocations of settlers and the incitement by some ministers in the Israeli government."
The statement said that, "It's time to end the occupation and to put an end to everything that makes violence and tension."
US Secretary of State John Kerry had demanded that the Palestinain leadership condemn the attack "to take serious steps to restrain any kind of incitement."
Meanwhile, clashes broke out Tuesday morning in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabel Mukaber, home to the two terrorists who carried out the brutal attack.
The violence erupted after Israeli security forces entered the neighborhood, to investigate the attack in which four people were killed and eight wounded.
Those considered close to the terrorists were questioned by the Shin Bet on Tuesday morning, in order to determine the extent of their involvement in the attack.
The two terrorists, cousins Ghassan and Uday Abu Jamal, were close relatives of Jamal Abu Jamal, a Palestinian prisoner released by Israel as part of an agreement but rearrested two weeks ago. Checkpoints have been set up around Jerusalem, including at the entrance to the city.
Residents of Gaza Strip praised the brutal attack Tuesday. Fireworks were set off in celebration and from the mosques were heard chants of "Allahu Akbar" (God is most great) in honor of the attack. Islamic Jihad also issued a statement, calling the attack "a natural response to the crimes of the occupier."
Hamas also praised the attack and called for further "acts of revenge". An official Hamas statement said that the attack was a response to the death of bus driver Yusuf Hassan al-Ramouni, who was found hanged at a Jerusalem bus terminal Sunday night. While al-Ramouni's family claimed foul play, autopsy results confirmed police's suspicion of suicide on Monday afternoon.
http://www.ynetnews
Palestinian president also calls for end to Israeli provocation on Temple Mount; clashes erupt in East Jerusalem as security forces move in to terrroists' home village.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday condemned the deadly attack at a synagogue in Jerusalem earlier in the day, and called for an end to what he said was Israeli provocation over the Temple Mount.
"The presidency condemns the attack on Jewish worshippers in their place of prayer, and condemned the killing of civilians no matter who is responsible," said a statement from Abbas' office.
"We condemn all acts of violence from all sources, and demand an end to the invasions of Al-Aqsa Mosque, the provocations of settlers and the incitement by some ministers in the Israeli government."
The statement said that, "It's time to end the occupation and to put an end to everything that makes violence and tension."
US Secretary of State John Kerry had demanded that the Palestinain leadership condemn the attack "to take serious steps to restrain any kind of incitement."
Meanwhile, clashes broke out Tuesday morning in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabel Mukaber, home to the two terrorists who carried out the brutal attack.
The violence erupted after Israeli security forces entered the neighborhood, to investigate the attack in which four people were killed and eight wounded.
Those considered close to the terrorists were questioned by the Shin Bet on Tuesday morning, in order to determine the extent of their involvement in the attack.
The two terrorists, cousins Ghassan and Uday Abu Jamal, were close relatives of Jamal Abu Jamal, a Palestinian prisoner released by Israel as part of an agreement but rearrested two weeks ago. Checkpoints have been set up around Jerusalem, including at the entrance to the city.
Residents of Gaza Strip praised the brutal attack Tuesday. Fireworks were set off in celebration and from the mosques were heard chants of "Allahu Akbar" (God is most great) in honor of the attack. Islamic Jihad also issued a statement, calling the attack "a natural response to the crimes of the occupier."
Hamas also praised the attack and called for further "acts of revenge". An official Hamas statement said that the attack was a response to the death of bus driver Yusuf Hassan al-Ramouni, who was found hanged at a Jerusalem bus terminal Sunday night. While al-Ramouni's family claimed foul play, autopsy results confirmed police's suspicion of suicide on Monday afternoon.
http://www.ynetnews
Scene outside B'nei Torah after shooting
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told the media that his military forces would respond 'with a firm hand' to an attack by two Palestinians on a yeshiva (Jewish religious institution for study) in Jerusalem in which four religious Jews were killed. Another Israeli government official compared the attack to the Holocaust.
The two men allegedly entered the while prayers were in service with knives, axes and guns, and began attacking worshipers. Israeli police soon arrived on the scene and, after a brief shootout, killed the two men.
Six people were wounded in the attack, including two police officers, according to police spokesperson Luba Samri.
The two men who carried out the attack were identified as Ghassan Abu Jamal and his cousin Udayy from Jabal al-Mukabbir neighborhood of Jerusalem.
The institution that was attacked, Kehillet Bnei Torah, is known as a haredi (ultra-Orthodox) institute whose participants are followers of Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach. Auerbach gained infamy in early 2014 throughout Israel when he declared that his followers would “fight to the death” against the Israeli government if the government attempted to enforce the military draft on yeshiva students.
The attack on the religious institution follows months of attacks by right-wing Israeli Jews against Palestinians which went largely uninvestigated by the Israeli police. These include the brutal murder of 16-year old Mohammad Abu Khdeir in June, who was forced to swallow kerosene and then burned alive, according to autopsy reports. The killers were identified and charged, but were released from jail within two weeks of their arrest.
That incident was followed by dozens of others, carried out by Israeli civilians and soldiers throughout the West Bank and East Jerusalem, reaching a peak during the brutal Israeli military assault in July and August in which over 2100 Palestinians were killed, including over 400 children.
Most recently, on Sunday a Palestinian bus driver was hanged to death inside his bus – despite his body being covered with bruises, the Israeli police immediately ruled the death a suicide. Their ruling led to protests by Palestinians, who have no legal recourse in Israeli courts.
After Tuesday's shooting attack, Israeli Prime Minister blamed both Hamas and Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian President – whose Fateh party recently reached a unity agreement with Hamas. The two men involved in the attack did not claim affiliation with any Palestinian faction, but an alleged representative of Hamas praised the attack in Israeli media.
Large numbers of Israeli police were deployed into Palestinian neighborhoods in east Jerusalem following the attack. The police had already been deployed in many of these neighborhoods, where they have had an increased presence over the last several months.
Israeli official Yehuda Meshi Zahav told the Israeli paper Ha'aretz that, “...to see Jews with beards and pe’ot (sidelocks) wrapped in teffilin (phylacteries), surrounded by puddles of blood – I do not remember seeing such a sight. This is not a cliché, it’s the reality. We have only seen things like this happen in the Holocaust.”
This is not the first terror attack at a Jewish seminary in Jerusalem. In March 2008, a Palestinian "terrorist" infiltrated the Mercaz Harav rabbinical seminary in the Old City and opened fire on a crowded study hall, killing eight people and wounding six others.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told the media that his military forces would respond 'with a firm hand' to an attack by two Palestinians on a yeshiva (Jewish religious institution for study) in Jerusalem in which four religious Jews were killed. Another Israeli government official compared the attack to the Holocaust.
The two men allegedly entered the while prayers were in service with knives, axes and guns, and began attacking worshipers. Israeli police soon arrived on the scene and, after a brief shootout, killed the two men.
Six people were wounded in the attack, including two police officers, according to police spokesperson Luba Samri.
The two men who carried out the attack were identified as Ghassan Abu Jamal and his cousin Udayy from Jabal al-Mukabbir neighborhood of Jerusalem.
The institution that was attacked, Kehillet Bnei Torah, is known as a haredi (ultra-Orthodox) institute whose participants are followers of Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach. Auerbach gained infamy in early 2014 throughout Israel when he declared that his followers would “fight to the death” against the Israeli government if the government attempted to enforce the military draft on yeshiva students.
The attack on the religious institution follows months of attacks by right-wing Israeli Jews against Palestinians which went largely uninvestigated by the Israeli police. These include the brutal murder of 16-year old Mohammad Abu Khdeir in June, who was forced to swallow kerosene and then burned alive, according to autopsy reports. The killers were identified and charged, but were released from jail within two weeks of their arrest.
That incident was followed by dozens of others, carried out by Israeli civilians and soldiers throughout the West Bank and East Jerusalem, reaching a peak during the brutal Israeli military assault in July and August in which over 2100 Palestinians were killed, including over 400 children.
Most recently, on Sunday a Palestinian bus driver was hanged to death inside his bus – despite his body being covered with bruises, the Israeli police immediately ruled the death a suicide. Their ruling led to protests by Palestinians, who have no legal recourse in Israeli courts.
After Tuesday's shooting attack, Israeli Prime Minister blamed both Hamas and Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian President – whose Fateh party recently reached a unity agreement with Hamas. The two men involved in the attack did not claim affiliation with any Palestinian faction, but an alleged representative of Hamas praised the attack in Israeli media.
Large numbers of Israeli police were deployed into Palestinian neighborhoods in east Jerusalem following the attack. The police had already been deployed in many of these neighborhoods, where they have had an increased presence over the last several months.
Israeli official Yehuda Meshi Zahav told the Israeli paper Ha'aretz that, “...to see Jews with beards and pe’ot (sidelocks) wrapped in teffilin (phylacteries), surrounded by puddles of blood – I do not remember seeing such a sight. This is not a cliché, it’s the reality. We have only seen things like this happen in the Holocaust.”
This is not the first terror attack at a Jewish seminary in Jerusalem. In March 2008, a Palestinian "terrorist" infiltrated the Mercaz Harav rabbinical seminary in the Old City and opened fire on a crowded study hall, killing eight people and wounding six others.
17 nov 2014
The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, on Sunday hailed the stabbing of an Israeli extremist settler near Jerusalem’s Buraq Wall, saying the move was quite anticipated and a "natural reaction".
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in a press statement Sunday afternoon the stabbing act is just the expected retort to Israel’s terror campaigns and vandalism against the Palestinian people and Muslims’ sanctuaries in Occupied Jerusalem.
Hamas’s statement came out following claims released by the Israeli police spokesperson that an Israeli settler sustained moderate injuries after he was stabbed by an Arab youth in the Old City of Jerusalem.
The attack, which observers also said was a normal reaction to Israeli settler vandalism, has been used as a pretext by the Israeli occupation army to step up assaults and mass-abduction campaigns in Occupied Jerusalem.
By-standers at the scene said the Israeli police have been cordoning off Jerusalem’s streets and pitched makeshift barriers in an attempt to crack down on the Palestinian civilian youngsters.
The policemen were further deployed at bus stations and launched provocative investigation operations against Palestinian passengers at and around the depots.
Israeli policemen broke into a number of Palestinian commercial stores allegedly in search for surveillance cameras.
The attack culminated in sealing off Muslims’ holy al-Aqsa Mosque with a chain of flying metal barriers meant to hound the peaceful Muslim congregation and deny them access into the Mosque to perform their religious prayers within.
http://english.palinfo
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in a press statement Sunday afternoon the stabbing act is just the expected retort to Israel’s terror campaigns and vandalism against the Palestinian people and Muslims’ sanctuaries in Occupied Jerusalem.
Hamas’s statement came out following claims released by the Israeli police spokesperson that an Israeli settler sustained moderate injuries after he was stabbed by an Arab youth in the Old City of Jerusalem.
The attack, which observers also said was a normal reaction to Israeli settler vandalism, has been used as a pretext by the Israeli occupation army to step up assaults and mass-abduction campaigns in Occupied Jerusalem.
By-standers at the scene said the Israeli police have been cordoning off Jerusalem’s streets and pitched makeshift barriers in an attempt to crack down on the Palestinian civilian youngsters.
The policemen were further deployed at bus stations and launched provocative investigation operations against Palestinian passengers at and around the depots.
Israeli policemen broke into a number of Palestinian commercial stores allegedly in search for surveillance cameras.
The attack culminated in sealing off Muslims’ holy al-Aqsa Mosque with a chain of flying metal barriers meant to hound the peaceful Muslim congregation and deny them access into the Mosque to perform their religious prayers within.
http://english.palinfo
The Israeli police kidnapped, on Sunday evening, two young Palestinian men during what the police claimed “a search for a person who stabbed a man in occupied East Jerusalem."
Palestinian sources said the police kidnapped a Palestinian near the Sahera Gate, while the second Palestinian has been kidnapped another in a bus, in East Jerusalem.
Israeli Man Stabbed In Jerusalem; Police Kidnaps Two Palestinians Dozens of soldiers and police officers have been deployed in different parts of the city, especially in Bab al-‘Amoud area and the soldiers conducted searches of Palestinian homes, property and cars.
Israeli sources said a young man “believed to be an Arab” stabbed an Israeli man in the back using a screwdriver, and fled the scene; the wounded man is in his thirties.
According to Israeli daily, Haaretz, the man was stabbed near the Damascus Gate of the Old City, and ran away from the scene until running into Border Police officers in the Muslim Quarter, who then took him to a police station, before an Israeli ambulance transferred him to Shaare Zedek medical center.
At least eight Palestinians were abducted, late Saturday night and early Sunday, by the Israeli authorities in occupied East Jerusalem, whereas at least five others in the West Bank were summoned to appear for interrogation before the Israeli intelligence, say local sources.
Six Palestinians, identified as Islam and Rabah Odeh, Sharif Rajabi, Abud Abu Sbeih, Anwar Jamjoum and Kayed Kiswani, were taken during predawn raids across Jerusalem.
Later Sunday, Israeli police arrested two brothers from Bethlehem at their workplace in Jerusalem, under the pretext of ‘entering Israel without a permit.’ The brothers were identified as Adham, 19, and Mohannad Zawahra, 17.
Palestinian sources said the police kidnapped a Palestinian near the Sahera Gate, while the second Palestinian has been kidnapped another in a bus, in East Jerusalem.
Israeli Man Stabbed In Jerusalem; Police Kidnaps Two Palestinians Dozens of soldiers and police officers have been deployed in different parts of the city, especially in Bab al-‘Amoud area and the soldiers conducted searches of Palestinian homes, property and cars.
Israeli sources said a young man “believed to be an Arab” stabbed an Israeli man in the back using a screwdriver, and fled the scene; the wounded man is in his thirties.
According to Israeli daily, Haaretz, the man was stabbed near the Damascus Gate of the Old City, and ran away from the scene until running into Border Police officers in the Muslim Quarter, who then took him to a police station, before an Israeli ambulance transferred him to Shaare Zedek medical center.
At least eight Palestinians were abducted, late Saturday night and early Sunday, by the Israeli authorities in occupied East Jerusalem, whereas at least five others in the West Bank were summoned to appear for interrogation before the Israeli intelligence, say local sources.
Six Palestinians, identified as Islam and Rabah Odeh, Sharif Rajabi, Abud Abu Sbeih, Anwar Jamjoum and Kayed Kiswani, were taken during predawn raids across Jerusalem.
Later Sunday, Israeli police arrested two brothers from Bethlehem at their workplace in Jerusalem, under the pretext of ‘entering Israel without a permit.’ The brothers were identified as Adham, 19, and Mohannad Zawahra, 17.
15 nov 2014
Violent clashes broke out at dawn Saturday throughout Bethlehem and Jenin between Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) and Palestinian angry protesters.
In Jenin, a PIC reporter quoted local sources as reporting that Israeli soldiers were deployed in large numbers in different towns and villages to the east and south of the city.
In their turn, Palestinian youths threw stones and empty bottles at the invading soldiers who fired a barrage of tear gas bombs and rubber bullets towards them.
Several homes were raided and searched during the clashes while combing operations were carried out in the area.
In Bethlehem, violent clashes erupted late Friday and lasted till the early morning hours Saturday throughout different towns and refugee camps in the city.
More than ten people, from Bethlehem, were summoned during the clashes for investigation in Gush Etzion settlement.
In al-Khalil, IOF soldiers stormed at dawn Saturday the martyr Marwen Qawasma’s home where they carried out violent searches.
Local sources said that IOF troops were deployed in large numbers in the vicinity of the house before storming it. No arrests were reported during the raid.
Qawasma was killed by Israeli gunfire, along with Amer Abu Eisha, on September 23 on suspicion of being involved in the kidnapping and killing of three Israeli soldiers in al-Khalil.
A number of makeshift checkpoints were erected throughout al-Khalil, the sources added. One young man was summoned for investigation.
http://english.palinfo
In Jenin, a PIC reporter quoted local sources as reporting that Israeli soldiers were deployed in large numbers in different towns and villages to the east and south of the city.
In their turn, Palestinian youths threw stones and empty bottles at the invading soldiers who fired a barrage of tear gas bombs and rubber bullets towards them.
Several homes were raided and searched during the clashes while combing operations were carried out in the area.
In Bethlehem, violent clashes erupted late Friday and lasted till the early morning hours Saturday throughout different towns and refugee camps in the city.
More than ten people, from Bethlehem, were summoned during the clashes for investigation in Gush Etzion settlement.
In al-Khalil, IOF soldiers stormed at dawn Saturday the martyr Marwen Qawasma’s home where they carried out violent searches.
Local sources said that IOF troops were deployed in large numbers in the vicinity of the house before storming it. No arrests were reported during the raid.
Qawasma was killed by Israeli gunfire, along with Amer Abu Eisha, on September 23 on suspicion of being involved in the kidnapping and killing of three Israeli soldiers in al-Khalil.
A number of makeshift checkpoints were erected throughout al-Khalil, the sources added. One young man was summoned for investigation.
http://english.palinfo
11 nov 2014
Dalia Lamkus, 25
Almog Shiloni, 20
Israeli sources confirmed Monday that a 25-yet-old settler woman and an Israeli army soldier have been killed in two separate stabbing attacks, in Tel Aviv and the West Bank, while at least two others were injured. A Palestinian man, allegedly the attacker was shot and killed.
Israeli daily Haaretz said Dalia Lamkus, 25, from the illegal settlement of Teqoua’, near Bethlehem, died on Monday evening after being stabbed by a Palestinian, while a young settler was moderately injured in his abdomen, and a 50-year-old man suffered a mild injury to the face.
The incident took place, on Monday evening, near the Alon Shvot illegal Israeli settlement, in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc.
Israeli sources said that the attacker, later identified by the Israeli Internal Security Service as Maher Hamdi al-Hashlamoun, 31, is a former political prisoner, from Hebron, who was held by Israel for more than five years.
The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) said al-Hashlamoun was shot and killed by Israeli army fire, and by rounds fired by a guard of the Alon Shvot settlement.
On Monday evening, Israeli soldiers invaded several homes in Hebron, and kidnapped the brother of al-Hashlamoun, and his brother-in-law, in Ein Sara area in the center of the city.
Local sources said the soldiers invaded the home of al-Hashlamoun’s father, and ransacked it before kidnapping his brother, Mohammad, and invaded the home of his brother-in-law, Khaled an-Natsha, in the same area, and kidnapped him.
The soldiers also invaded and searched several homes belonging to relatives of al-Hashlamoun.
Medical sources in Hebron said dozens of residents suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation, and two were kidnapped by the soldiers, during clashes that took place in Hebron after the army invaded it.
In addition, soldiers clashed with dozens of Palestinians in Doura town, south of Hebron, and kidnapped a Palestinian identified as Hamza Ezzat Amro, 21.
Dozens of extremist Israeli settlers marched on a bypass road close to Gush Etzion settlement, and blocked Palestinian traffic while chanting “death to Arabs.”
The stabbing came just hours after an Israeli settler soldier, identified as Almog Shiloni, 20 years of age, from Modi’in illegal settlement (near Ramallah) was stabbed at a train station, south of Tel Aviv, and died of his wounds later on.
Israeli Ynet News said Sergeant Shiloni died of his wounds of Monday at night at the Tel HaShomer Israeli Medical Center.
Israel said the attacker has been identified as Noureddeen Abu Hashiyya, from Askar refugee camp, in the northern West Bank district of Nablus, and that he entered Israel without a permit.
Following the two incidents, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a meeting with his senior security officials at his home in occupied Jerusalem, and ordered a series of measures “to combat the increasing violence.”
The meeting included Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon, Israeli Army Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovich, Israeli Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein, and Shin Bet head Yoram Cohen.
He instructed the officials to increase the number of Israeli soldiers on the ground, and to demolish the homes of Palestinians responsible for attacks against Israel.
The latest development came amidst increasing tension and clashes in different parts of the country, mainly in occupied East Jerusalem, following escalated settlers attacks and invasions into the yards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
Almog Shiloni, 20
Israeli sources confirmed Monday that a 25-yet-old settler woman and an Israeli army soldier have been killed in two separate stabbing attacks, in Tel Aviv and the West Bank, while at least two others were injured. A Palestinian man, allegedly the attacker was shot and killed.
Israeli daily Haaretz said Dalia Lamkus, 25, from the illegal settlement of Teqoua’, near Bethlehem, died on Monday evening after being stabbed by a Palestinian, while a young settler was moderately injured in his abdomen, and a 50-year-old man suffered a mild injury to the face.
The incident took place, on Monday evening, near the Alon Shvot illegal Israeli settlement, in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc.
Israeli sources said that the attacker, later identified by the Israeli Internal Security Service as Maher Hamdi al-Hashlamoun, 31, is a former political prisoner, from Hebron, who was held by Israel for more than five years.
The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) said al-Hashlamoun was shot and killed by Israeli army fire, and by rounds fired by a guard of the Alon Shvot settlement.
On Monday evening, Israeli soldiers invaded several homes in Hebron, and kidnapped the brother of al-Hashlamoun, and his brother-in-law, in Ein Sara area in the center of the city.
Local sources said the soldiers invaded the home of al-Hashlamoun’s father, and ransacked it before kidnapping his brother, Mohammad, and invaded the home of his brother-in-law, Khaled an-Natsha, in the same area, and kidnapped him.
The soldiers also invaded and searched several homes belonging to relatives of al-Hashlamoun.
Medical sources in Hebron said dozens of residents suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation, and two were kidnapped by the soldiers, during clashes that took place in Hebron after the army invaded it.
In addition, soldiers clashed with dozens of Palestinians in Doura town, south of Hebron, and kidnapped a Palestinian identified as Hamza Ezzat Amro, 21.
Dozens of extremist Israeli settlers marched on a bypass road close to Gush Etzion settlement, and blocked Palestinian traffic while chanting “death to Arabs.”
The stabbing came just hours after an Israeli settler soldier, identified as Almog Shiloni, 20 years of age, from Modi’in illegal settlement (near Ramallah) was stabbed at a train station, south of Tel Aviv, and died of his wounds later on.
Israeli Ynet News said Sergeant Shiloni died of his wounds of Monday at night at the Tel HaShomer Israeli Medical Center.
Israel said the attacker has been identified as Noureddeen Abu Hashiyya, from Askar refugee camp, in the northern West Bank district of Nablus, and that he entered Israel without a permit.
Following the two incidents, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a meeting with his senior security officials at his home in occupied Jerusalem, and ordered a series of measures “to combat the increasing violence.”
The meeting included Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon, Israeli Army Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovich, Israeli Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein, and Shin Bet head Yoram Cohen.
He instructed the officials to increase the number of Israeli soldiers on the ground, and to demolish the homes of Palestinians responsible for attacks against Israel.
The latest development came amidst increasing tension and clashes in different parts of the country, mainly in occupied East Jerusalem, following escalated settlers attacks and invasions into the yards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.