27 nov 2017
Haaretz Hebrew newspaper quoted sources of the Israeli army as saying that Palestinian cities and villages in northern 1948 Occupied Palestine are not provided with emergency shelters.
Haaretz pointed out that the residents of the area along the northern borders with Lebanon, where Palestinians constitute 70% of the population, lack real protection. It added that the cities and villages in that area are suffering shortage of security and safety means in cases of wars or natural disasters.
Israeli Finance Ministry refuted claims made by Israeli war minister Avigdor Lieberman last week in which he alleged that he tried in 2016 to uphold a plan to allocate 1.5 billion shekels for providing security in that area up to ten years, and said that the plan, however, remained pending the approval of the ministry.
Heads of local authorities and representative personalities in 1948 Occupied Palestine stated that no single attempt has been made to set maps that would meet the protection needs in that zone.
The Mayor of Sakhnin town in 1948 Occupied Palestine, Mazen Ghanayem, said that “The town has no shelter which is appropriate for the case of war or earthquakes”.
Haaretz pointed out that the residents of the area along the northern borders with Lebanon, where Palestinians constitute 70% of the population, lack real protection. It added that the cities and villages in that area are suffering shortage of security and safety means in cases of wars or natural disasters.
Israeli Finance Ministry refuted claims made by Israeli war minister Avigdor Lieberman last week in which he alleged that he tried in 2016 to uphold a plan to allocate 1.5 billion shekels for providing security in that area up to ten years, and said that the plan, however, remained pending the approval of the ministry.
Heads of local authorities and representative personalities in 1948 Occupied Palestine stated that no single attempt has been made to set maps that would meet the protection needs in that zone.
The Mayor of Sakhnin town in 1948 Occupied Palestine, Mazen Ghanayem, said that “The town has no shelter which is appropriate for the case of war or earthquakes”.
Grandson of the late president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, and member of the South African parliament, Mandla Mandela, on Monday said that Palestine is being subjected to the worst version of apartheid.
Mandela said in press statements, "The settlements I saw here (the occupied West Bank) reminded me of what we had suffered in South Africa because we also were surrounded by many settlements and were not allowed to move from one place to another freely," Quds Press reported.
These statements were voiced during a joint press conference with the Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah. Mandela on Monday arrived in the Palestinian territories in a first-of-its-kind visit that is scheduled to last for four days.
Hamdallah, who received Mandela at his Ramallah office, stressed the strength of the bilateral relations between the two countries and praised South Africa's support for the Palestinian people and their just cause in international forums.
He briefed the African official on the situation in the Palestinian territories as well as Israel's violations against the Palestinians including the settlement expansion and displacement projects which constitute a major obstacle to realizing the dream of establishing a Palestinian state.
Hamdallah and Mandela also discussed ways of advancing cooperation between Palestine and South Africa.
Mandela said in press statements, "The settlements I saw here (the occupied West Bank) reminded me of what we had suffered in South Africa because we also were surrounded by many settlements and were not allowed to move from one place to another freely," Quds Press reported.
These statements were voiced during a joint press conference with the Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah. Mandela on Monday arrived in the Palestinian territories in a first-of-its-kind visit that is scheduled to last for four days.
Hamdallah, who received Mandela at his Ramallah office, stressed the strength of the bilateral relations between the two countries and praised South Africa's support for the Palestinian people and their just cause in international forums.
He briefed the African official on the situation in the Palestinian territories as well as Israel's violations against the Palestinians including the settlement expansion and displacement projects which constitute a major obstacle to realizing the dream of establishing a Palestinian state.
Hamdallah and Mandela also discussed ways of advancing cooperation between Palestine and South Africa.
26 nov 2017
The Palestinian Authority (PA) forces on Saturday handed over five Israeli settlers who crept into the occupied West Bank to the Israeli military forces.
According to the Hebrew-speaking Yedioth Ahronot daily, an Israeli settler was arrested in Bethlehem after he attacked a guard at a Palestinian archaeological site.
Four other settlers were arrested at a shopping mall in Nablus. The five arrestees were however returned to the occupation army shortly afterwards and without interrogation.
Observers said the move makes part of ongoing security cooperation between the PA and the Israeli army. Several settlers have gone unpunished by the PA forces despite their involvement in attacks against Palestinian civilians and anti-occupation activists.
According to the Hebrew-speaking Yedioth Ahronot daily, an Israeli settler was arrested in Bethlehem after he attacked a guard at a Palestinian archaeological site.
Four other settlers were arrested at a shopping mall in Nablus. The five arrestees were however returned to the occupation army shortly afterwards and without interrogation.
Observers said the move makes part of ongoing security cooperation between the PA and the Israeli army. Several settlers have gone unpunished by the PA forces despite their involvement in attacks against Palestinian civilians and anti-occupation activists.
24 nov 2017
Hamas’s former chief, Khaled Mishaal, attributed the world’s apathy vis-à-vis the Palestinian cause to a set of intertwined causes, most notable among which being the Israel-U.S. pressure.
Speaking at a seminar staged by Al-Jazeera Center for Studies in Doha, Mishaal said the crises rocking the Middle East have resulted in declining support for the Palestinian cause.
“The nation’s enemies, with Israel being on top of the list, have been deliberately fueling sectarian and racial strife to divide the Arabs,” said Mishaal.
The Hamas leader also pointed out the ambivalence characterizing the world order, saying many superpowers, most notably the U.S., Russia, China, and India, are struggling to win the lion’s share.
“Every state has different interests and, therefore, a different position as regards the Palestinian cause,” explained Mishaal.
Commenting on the “Israeli factor”, Hamas’s former chief said Israel has been taking advantage of the weakness of the Palestinian leadership, internal division, and Arabs’ apathy vis-à-vis the cause.
“Israel has managed to establish strong bonds with a number of Arab States with the help of the U.S. President Donald Trump,” he stated.
Mishaal also attributed the declining back up for the Palestinian cause to the intra-Palestinian division.
He further warned of the upshots of the so-called “century’s deal” which he said aims to satisfy the U.S. and Israel by keeping pro-Israel regimes in power despite of the flagrant human rights violations perpetrated by such regimes.
“The U.S. has already received the deal. It just seeks to reproduce it, cover it up, and forward it to the world as an American peace project,” added Mishaal.
The Hamas leader also explained that the deal aims to prop up Israel’s sovereignty over Occupied Jerusalem and to eliminate the refugees’ right of return to their motherland instead of pushing for removing illegal settlements and establishing a Palestinian State on the 1967 borders. “A self-rule in the West Bank will, thus, be the utmost of what the Palestinians can get out of the deal.”
“Unfortunately, a number of Arab regimes have turned the Palestinian cause into a bargaining chip just to remain in power,” Hamas’s former chief concluded.
Speaking at a seminar staged by Al-Jazeera Center for Studies in Doha, Mishaal said the crises rocking the Middle East have resulted in declining support for the Palestinian cause.
“The nation’s enemies, with Israel being on top of the list, have been deliberately fueling sectarian and racial strife to divide the Arabs,” said Mishaal.
The Hamas leader also pointed out the ambivalence characterizing the world order, saying many superpowers, most notably the U.S., Russia, China, and India, are struggling to win the lion’s share.
“Every state has different interests and, therefore, a different position as regards the Palestinian cause,” explained Mishaal.
Commenting on the “Israeli factor”, Hamas’s former chief said Israel has been taking advantage of the weakness of the Palestinian leadership, internal division, and Arabs’ apathy vis-à-vis the cause.
“Israel has managed to establish strong bonds with a number of Arab States with the help of the U.S. President Donald Trump,” he stated.
Mishaal also attributed the declining back up for the Palestinian cause to the intra-Palestinian division.
He further warned of the upshots of the so-called “century’s deal” which he said aims to satisfy the U.S. and Israel by keeping pro-Israel regimes in power despite of the flagrant human rights violations perpetrated by such regimes.
“The U.S. has already received the deal. It just seeks to reproduce it, cover it up, and forward it to the world as an American peace project,” added Mishaal.
The Hamas leader also explained that the deal aims to prop up Israel’s sovereignty over Occupied Jerusalem and to eliminate the refugees’ right of return to their motherland instead of pushing for removing illegal settlements and establishing a Palestinian State on the 1967 borders. “A self-rule in the West Bank will, thus, be the utmost of what the Palestinians can get out of the deal.”
“Unfortunately, a number of Arab regimes have turned the Palestinian cause into a bargaining chip just to remain in power,” Hamas’s former chief concluded.
Former Dutch Prime Minister Dries Van Agt said that “Israel, for those who do not know, has a range of nuclear bombs, [and] is the most dangerous country in the Middle East.”
This came in a speech delivered by Van Agt during a discussion session on the Palestinian-Israeli issue, organized by the “Youth Socialists in the city of Utrecht,” on Thursday. Van Agt explained, according to Al Ray, that “Israel seems to the world public opinion as if living under constant threat, as a small place among a number of Arab countries,” he said.
“The whole world is turning a blind eye to the siege imposed on the Palestinian Gaza Strip, including the Netherlands,” he said.
“The interest in the Palestinian cause has decreased significantly over the past few years,” said Agt, who went on to defend Palestinian rights after leaving politics.
“There are several factors, but the most important thing is that people are beginning to look at it as something natural, along with the disintegration of the Middle East,” he said.
Van Agt led the Dutch government between 1977 and 1982, a member of the Christian Democratic Union Party, with a book called “An uprising against injustice, and the tragedy of the Palestinian people.”
This came in a speech delivered by Van Agt during a discussion session on the Palestinian-Israeli issue, organized by the “Youth Socialists in the city of Utrecht,” on Thursday. Van Agt explained, according to Al Ray, that “Israel seems to the world public opinion as if living under constant threat, as a small place among a number of Arab countries,” he said.
“The whole world is turning a blind eye to the siege imposed on the Palestinian Gaza Strip, including the Netherlands,” he said.
“The interest in the Palestinian cause has decreased significantly over the past few years,” said Agt, who went on to defend Palestinian rights after leaving politics.
“There are several factors, but the most important thing is that people are beginning to look at it as something natural, along with the disintegration of the Middle East,” he said.
Van Agt led the Dutch government between 1977 and 1982, a member of the Christian Democratic Union Party, with a book called “An uprising against injustice, and the tragedy of the Palestinian people.”
Israeli minister Naftali Bennett has reiterated his call for the occupied West Bank to be formally annexed, speaking on Monday evening at an event organised by pro-settler news site Arutz Sheva.
Education Minister and Diaspora Affairs Minister, Bennett declared that Israel has “a very rare opportunity now”, referring to US President Donald Trump.
“[There is] a President who thinks different, who thinks open,” Bennett told the audience, according to Days of Palestine.
“It’s not enough to move the embassy to Jerusalem. It’s now 50 years since we liberated Judea and Samaria [the West Bank]. It’s time to recognize them as Israel. It’s time for sovereignty,” he added, using the term often used by the Israeli right to refer to annexation.
Describing himself, in his capacity as diaspora affairs minister, as “effectively the Minister of the Jews”, Bennett said: “We need to understand that the Jewish State is not only the state of the Israeli citizen, it’s a state where every Jew in the world has a stake here.”
Describing himself, in his capacity as diaspora affairs minister, as “effectively the Minister of the Jews”, Bennett said: “We need to understand that the Jewish State is not only the state of the Israeli citizen, it’s a state where every Jew in the world has a stake here.”
“Today, throughout the world”, Bennett continued, “there’s millions of Jews that need us to go and to reach out to them. And we’re doing more than we’ve ever done.”
Archive IMEMC post: 05/17/15 Bennett Wants to See Palestinians Become ‘Water Carriers and Wood Hewers’ for Jews
Education Minister and Diaspora Affairs Minister, Bennett declared that Israel has “a very rare opportunity now”, referring to US President Donald Trump.
“[There is] a President who thinks different, who thinks open,” Bennett told the audience, according to Days of Palestine.
“It’s not enough to move the embassy to Jerusalem. It’s now 50 years since we liberated Judea and Samaria [the West Bank]. It’s time to recognize them as Israel. It’s time for sovereignty,” he added, using the term often used by the Israeli right to refer to annexation.
Describing himself, in his capacity as diaspora affairs minister, as “effectively the Minister of the Jews”, Bennett said: “We need to understand that the Jewish State is not only the state of the Israeli citizen, it’s a state where every Jew in the world has a stake here.”
Describing himself, in his capacity as diaspora affairs minister, as “effectively the Minister of the Jews”, Bennett said: “We need to understand that the Jewish State is not only the state of the Israeli citizen, it’s a state where every Jew in the world has a stake here.”
“Today, throughout the world”, Bennett continued, “there’s millions of Jews that need us to go and to reach out to them. And we’re doing more than we’ve ever done.”
Archive IMEMC post: 05/17/15 Bennett Wants to See Palestinians Become ‘Water Carriers and Wood Hewers’ for Jews
21 nov 2017
Spokesman for the Palestinian presidency, Nabil Abu Rudeina, on Tuesday announced that contacts with the US have been suspended in response to the closure of the Washington office of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
Abu Rudeina said in a statement that the next stage is going to be crucial regarding the Palestinian-American relations, affirming that despite the challenges involved, they will remain faithful to the national interests.
He asked Hamas to take advantage of these brave positions, to commit to national legitimacy and not to allow anyone to interfere in the Palestinian internal affairs.
For his part, the Palestinian Authority (PA) Foreign Minister, Riyad al-Maliki, said in an interview with al-Arabiya TV channel, "Practically, they have frozen all Palestinian-American meetings by closing the office. We only made it official."
Hamas in a statement on Sunday condemned the US decision to shut down the PLO office and urged the Palestinian leadership to reject all pressures and support the steadfastness of the Palestinian people by achieving reconciliation and ending the division.
Hamas affirmed that the US State Department's refusal to renew the license of the PLO office in Washington and linking this decision to the cases filed recently against the Israeli occupation at the international Criminal Court (ICC) confirm that the US is completely biased to Israel.
PLO secretary, Saeb Erekat, on Saturday said that the Organization had been informed by the US Secretary of State of a decision not to renew the operating permission for the Washington office.
The US move was in response to the Palestinians' decision to join the ICC and submit files for investigation on several Israeli war crimes against the Palestinian people.
Abu Rudeina said in a statement that the next stage is going to be crucial regarding the Palestinian-American relations, affirming that despite the challenges involved, they will remain faithful to the national interests.
He asked Hamas to take advantage of these brave positions, to commit to national legitimacy and not to allow anyone to interfere in the Palestinian internal affairs.
For his part, the Palestinian Authority (PA) Foreign Minister, Riyad al-Maliki, said in an interview with al-Arabiya TV channel, "Practically, they have frozen all Palestinian-American meetings by closing the office. We only made it official."
Hamas in a statement on Sunday condemned the US decision to shut down the PLO office and urged the Palestinian leadership to reject all pressures and support the steadfastness of the Palestinian people by achieving reconciliation and ending the division.
Hamas affirmed that the US State Department's refusal to renew the license of the PLO office in Washington and linking this decision to the cases filed recently against the Israeli occupation at the international Criminal Court (ICC) confirm that the US is completely biased to Israel.
PLO secretary, Saeb Erekat, on Saturday said that the Organization had been informed by the US Secretary of State of a decision not to renew the operating permission for the Washington office.
The US move was in response to the Palestinians' decision to join the ICC and submit files for investigation on several Israeli war crimes against the Palestinian people.
20 nov 2017
An Israeli court recently issued a verdict ordering the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Palestinian prisoners to pay 62 million shekels ($17.6 million) in compensation to the families of Jewish settlers killed in a 2001 shooting attack.
According to Maariv newspaper, the verdict, which was issued by the Israeli district court in Jerusalem last Friday, accused the PA of funding and providing the means for acts of terrorism.
The ruling referred to a shooting attack that was carried out at the start of the second Intifada (uprising) by resistance fighters affiliated with al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades of Fatah.
Such Israeli steps raise a question whether the PA will respond and file compensation lawsuits against Israel with international courts over the death of hundreds of Palestinians at the hands of its troops and settlers in the West Bank and Gaza.
According to Maariv newspaper, the verdict, which was issued by the Israeli district court in Jerusalem last Friday, accused the PA of funding and providing the means for acts of terrorism.
The ruling referred to a shooting attack that was carried out at the start of the second Intifada (uprising) by resistance fighters affiliated with al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades of Fatah.
Such Israeli steps raise a question whether the PA will respond and file compensation lawsuits against Israel with international courts over the death of hundreds of Palestinians at the hands of its troops and settlers in the West Bank and Gaza.
19 nov 2017
Member of the Hamas Political Bureau, Khalil al-Hayya, on Sunday warned that the Palestinian cause is facing a dangerous liquidation project at all levels, stressing that achieving real reconciliation is the best way to confront it.
During an interview organized by the Palestinian Media Forum in Gaza, Hayya expressed Hamas's rejection of the repeated Israeli violations in Jerusalem aimed at imposing a new reality in the city.
He stressed that the best Palestinian response to the recent US decisions is to announce elections for the Palestinian National Council (PNC) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) within three months and hold general elections within a period not exceeding six months.
The Hamas official stated that the Palestinian factions will work during the Cairo meetings that will start on Monday to develop mechanisms for the implementation of the 2011 Cairo agreement and warned of US and Israeli pressures to thwart the reconciliation process.
Hayya affirmed that the development and activation of the PLO with the participation of all Palestinian factions will be the first issue to be addressed.
Hayya pointed out that the handover process of all government institutions in Gaza to the Palestinian Authority (PA) government has been completed successfully, calling on the PA to fully assume its responsibilities toward the Palestinian people in Gaza.
He added that Hamas will make every possible effort to pave the way for the government to undertake its duties in Gaza.
In response to the PA government's calls for working in accordance with the 2005 agreement on Rafah crossing, Hayya said that this agreement is no longer viable and that the crossing is under Palestinian-Egyptian administration and Israel has no right in it.
Regarding the security file, he noted that it was agreed in the 2011 agreement to separate the security file from the government's work due to the complications accompanying it.
Hayya concluded his talk by stressing that the reconciliation should be enjoyed by all Palestinians in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and the diaspora and by calling for ending the political arrest policy pursued by the PA against the West Bank Palestinians.
During an interview organized by the Palestinian Media Forum in Gaza, Hayya expressed Hamas's rejection of the repeated Israeli violations in Jerusalem aimed at imposing a new reality in the city.
He stressed that the best Palestinian response to the recent US decisions is to announce elections for the Palestinian National Council (PNC) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) within three months and hold general elections within a period not exceeding six months.
The Hamas official stated that the Palestinian factions will work during the Cairo meetings that will start on Monday to develop mechanisms for the implementation of the 2011 Cairo agreement and warned of US and Israeli pressures to thwart the reconciliation process.
Hayya affirmed that the development and activation of the PLO with the participation of all Palestinian factions will be the first issue to be addressed.
Hayya pointed out that the handover process of all government institutions in Gaza to the Palestinian Authority (PA) government has been completed successfully, calling on the PA to fully assume its responsibilities toward the Palestinian people in Gaza.
He added that Hamas will make every possible effort to pave the way for the government to undertake its duties in Gaza.
In response to the PA government's calls for working in accordance with the 2005 agreement on Rafah crossing, Hayya said that this agreement is no longer viable and that the crossing is under Palestinian-Egyptian administration and Israel has no right in it.
Regarding the security file, he noted that it was agreed in the 2011 agreement to separate the security file from the government's work due to the complications accompanying it.
Hayya concluded his talk by stressing that the reconciliation should be enjoyed by all Palestinians in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and the diaspora and by calling for ending the political arrest policy pursued by the PA against the West Bank Palestinians.
Political bureau member of Hamas, Ezzet Resheq, acclaimed on Saturday evening the anti-normalization conference held in Kuwait, dubbing it a key step to isolate the Israeli occupation and disclose its crimes against the Palestinians.
Resheq said the conference is a slap on the face of the Israeli leaders who have left no stone unturned to meddle in the Gulf’s home affairs and spark strife in the region.
“Boycotting the Israeli occupation—children’s murderer—is a national and humanitarian duty that the Arab governments and world’s free peoples should take upon their shoulders,” said Resheq.
“We hail our Kuwaiti brothers and sisters for hosting the anti-normalization conference. This is a sign of Kuwait’s unyielding pro-Palestine position,” the Hamas leader added.
Resheq also thanked the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement-Gulf (BDS) for staging the conference under the auspices of the Speaker of the National Assembly of Kuwait, Marzouk Al-Ghanim.
The so-called “Conference to Resist Normalization” with Israel in the Arab Gulf dovetails the 100th anniversary of the notorious Balfour Declaration.
Resheq said the conference is a slap on the face of the Israeli leaders who have left no stone unturned to meddle in the Gulf’s home affairs and spark strife in the region.
“Boycotting the Israeli occupation—children’s murderer—is a national and humanitarian duty that the Arab governments and world’s free peoples should take upon their shoulders,” said Resheq.
“We hail our Kuwaiti brothers and sisters for hosting the anti-normalization conference. This is a sign of Kuwait’s unyielding pro-Palestine position,” the Hamas leader added.
Resheq also thanked the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement-Gulf (BDS) for staging the conference under the auspices of the Speaker of the National Assembly of Kuwait, Marzouk Al-Ghanim.
The so-called “Conference to Resist Normalization” with Israel in the Arab Gulf dovetails the 100th anniversary of the notorious Balfour Declaration.
15 nov 2017
Hamas Movement is to reveal on Thursday the latest results of the investigation it had opened into the assassination al-Qassam commander Mohamed al-Zouari in Tunisia on December 15, 2016.
The Movement said a press conference is scheduled to be held at noon Thursday in Beirut to declare the results of al-Zouari’s assassination in front of his home in the Tunisian southern province of Sfax last year.
Mohamed Al-Zouari was an aviation expert for Hamas’s armed wing, al-Qassam Brigades. He was shot multiple times outside his house.
Israeli secret service Mossad was blamed for carrying out the assassination of al-Zouari, who manufactured drones used by the Palestinian resistance during the 2014 Israeli aggression on Gaza.
The Movement said a press conference is scheduled to be held at noon Thursday in Beirut to declare the results of al-Zouari’s assassination in front of his home in the Tunisian southern province of Sfax last year.
Mohamed Al-Zouari was an aviation expert for Hamas’s armed wing, al-Qassam Brigades. He was shot multiple times outside his house.
Israeli secret service Mossad was blamed for carrying out the assassination of al-Zouari, who manufactured drones used by the Palestinian resistance during the 2014 Israeli aggression on Gaza.
The Palestinian MP and political expert, Mustafa al-Barghouthi, on Wednesday said that Israel has turned the West Bank into 225 separate small islands through the checkpoints and settlement outposts scattered everywhere in addition to the apartheid wall passing through its lands.
Following the Oslo Accords in 1993, the West Bank was divided into three areas: A, B and C. Area A comprises 18% of the West Bank and falls under the security and administrative control of the Palestinian Authority (PA).
Area B represents 21% of the West Bank and is administered by both the PA and Israel, while Area C, which covers 61% of the West Bank, is exclusively controlled by Israel.
Barghouthi affirmed that the Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian territories has increased by more than 100% since the US President Donald Trump took office in December 2016.
During an interview with the Anadolu agency in Istanbul, Barghouthi stressed that the current Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu has no desire to allow the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
"We are facing a dangerous Israeli project that must be met with strong and effective Palestinian unity," he added.
The Israeli government since the beginning of 2017 has issued many tenders for the construction of thousands of settlement units in the West Bank.
According to human rights organizations, Israel's settlement activity in 2017 is three times higher than that recorded in 2016.
Following the Oslo Accords in 1993, the West Bank was divided into three areas: A, B and C. Area A comprises 18% of the West Bank and falls under the security and administrative control of the Palestinian Authority (PA).
Area B represents 21% of the West Bank and is administered by both the PA and Israel, while Area C, which covers 61% of the West Bank, is exclusively controlled by Israel.
Barghouthi affirmed that the Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian territories has increased by more than 100% since the US President Donald Trump took office in December 2016.
During an interview with the Anadolu agency in Istanbul, Barghouthi stressed that the current Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu has no desire to allow the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
"We are facing a dangerous Israeli project that must be met with strong and effective Palestinian unity," he added.
The Israeli government since the beginning of 2017 has issued many tenders for the construction of thousands of settlement units in the West Bank.
According to human rights organizations, Israel's settlement activity in 2017 is three times higher than that recorded in 2016.
14 nov 2017
The Islamic Jihad Movement on Tuesday said that it will not give up its right to respond to the latest Israeli aggression that targeted a resistance tunnel east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.
The Islamic Jihad leader Khader Habib denounced the recent statements made by the US envoy to the Middle East, Jason Greenblatt, in which he warned the Islamic Jihad against responding to the Israeli tunnel attack that killed 12 resistance fighters from al-Qassam and al-Quds Brigades.
Habib in press statements accused the US administration of being blatantly biased toward the Israeli occupation and condemned the Palestinian Authority's silence vis-à-vis the Israeli repeated aggressions on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.
In his comment on the Islamic Jihad's threats to respond to the Gaza tunnel attack, Greenblatt said that such statements and actions are "harmful" to the Gazan people.
The Islamic Jihad leader Khader Habib denounced the recent statements made by the US envoy to the Middle East, Jason Greenblatt, in which he warned the Islamic Jihad against responding to the Israeli tunnel attack that killed 12 resistance fighters from al-Qassam and al-Quds Brigades.
Habib in press statements accused the US administration of being blatantly biased toward the Israeli occupation and condemned the Palestinian Authority's silence vis-à-vis the Israeli repeated aggressions on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.
In his comment on the Islamic Jihad's threats to respond to the Gaza tunnel attack, Greenblatt said that such statements and actions are "harmful" to the Gazan people.