18 aug 2014
At least 111 Palestinian children were killed during the first half of August due to Israeli carnages stepped up against the besieged Gaza Strip since July 7, official Palestinian human rights data revealed. Such a rate brings the total number of Palestinian children killed since the launch of the military offensive to 534 children, including 479 below the age of 18.
Department of Child Affairs in the Palestinian Information Ministry said the Israeli occupation troops nabbed dozens of Palestinian minors from different areas while hundreds of others were wounded in a series of attacks carried out by the occupation forces and extremist settler gangs.
About 230 Palestinian children are currently locked up in Israeli jails, the same sources added.
35 Palestinian children in the West Bank sustained wounds after they were shot by the Israeli occupation forces during raids and attacks on Palestinian peaceful pro-Gaza marchers.
A number of children were left wounded as Israeli settlers deliberately ran over them.
In al-Khalil, 21 Palestinian children sustained wounds due to heavy gunfire by the invading IOF patrols against Palestinian citizens who partook in non-violent anti-Israel rallies.
Department of Child Affairs in the Palestinian Information Ministry said the Israeli occupation troops nabbed dozens of Palestinian minors from different areas while hundreds of others were wounded in a series of attacks carried out by the occupation forces and extremist settler gangs.
About 230 Palestinian children are currently locked up in Israeli jails, the same sources added.
35 Palestinian children in the West Bank sustained wounds after they were shot by the Israeli occupation forces during raids and attacks on Palestinian peaceful pro-Gaza marchers.
A number of children were left wounded as Israeli settlers deliberately ran over them.
In al-Khalil, 21 Palestinian children sustained wounds due to heavy gunfire by the invading IOF patrols against Palestinian citizens who partook in non-violent anti-Israel rallies.
Israel was to end its export of poultry and dairy produce to the European Union from settlements considered illegal by the international community, Israeli and European officials said on Sunday.
The restrictions stem from directives issued by the European Commission in February and affect chicken and milk products from settlements in East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights and the occupied West Bank.
"In keeping with previous decisions, the EU no longer recognized the authority of the veterinary inspections services of Israel to approve the export of poultry and (dairy products), the origin of which are in settlements," a European official told AFP.
The official said that during discussions over implementation of the directives, the "Israelis were asked to put in place a system of distinguishing between the origins of dairy products and poultry."
"If that is put in place that won't affect poultry and dairy products exported from Israel," the official said, noting the new directives would be effective from September 1.
An Israeli official involved in the affair told AFP that the agriculture ministry had recently issued directives to poultry and dairy manufacturers to "prepare for the EU decision and separate manufacturing lines, to enable the continued export to the Europe" without including products from settlements.
The official said that Israeli export of products from settlements to Europe was not significant and catered mainly for Jews who observe religious dietary laws and eat kosher food.
Haaretz newspaper on Sunday cited officials in the foreign and agricultural ministries as saying the move would have minimal economic effect as the produce affected would now be channeled towards the local Israeli market.
Another Israeli official slammed the move as a European way to bypass problematic legislation that would single out Israel.
"The EU has for a long time tried to find ways to mark settlement produce, or even prevent its import to Europe, but failed to accomplish such regulation since it's legally problematic, and also involves breaching trade agreements," the official told AFP.
The EU, the official added, doesn't want to impose any universal regulations on products from "disputed areas" such as Cyprus, Western Sahara or Kosovo.
So instead it used the European Commission, which is a bureaucratic body, to enforce a political stance against Israel, he said.
Israel's settlement building is viewed as a key obstacle to a peace deal with the Palestinians.
When nine months of US-backed peace talks collapsed in April, officials in Washington placed a large portion of the blame on Israel pushing through plans for thousands of settler homes during negotiations.
The restrictions stem from directives issued by the European Commission in February and affect chicken and milk products from settlements in East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights and the occupied West Bank.
"In keeping with previous decisions, the EU no longer recognized the authority of the veterinary inspections services of Israel to approve the export of poultry and (dairy products), the origin of which are in settlements," a European official told AFP.
The official said that during discussions over implementation of the directives, the "Israelis were asked to put in place a system of distinguishing between the origins of dairy products and poultry."
"If that is put in place that won't affect poultry and dairy products exported from Israel," the official said, noting the new directives would be effective from September 1.
An Israeli official involved in the affair told AFP that the agriculture ministry had recently issued directives to poultry and dairy manufacturers to "prepare for the EU decision and separate manufacturing lines, to enable the continued export to the Europe" without including products from settlements.
The official said that Israeli export of products from settlements to Europe was not significant and catered mainly for Jews who observe religious dietary laws and eat kosher food.
Haaretz newspaper on Sunday cited officials in the foreign and agricultural ministries as saying the move would have minimal economic effect as the produce affected would now be channeled towards the local Israeli market.
Another Israeli official slammed the move as a European way to bypass problematic legislation that would single out Israel.
"The EU has for a long time tried to find ways to mark settlement produce, or even prevent its import to Europe, but failed to accomplish such regulation since it's legally problematic, and also involves breaching trade agreements," the official told AFP.
The EU, the official added, doesn't want to impose any universal regulations on products from "disputed areas" such as Cyprus, Western Sahara or Kosovo.
So instead it used the European Commission, which is a bureaucratic body, to enforce a political stance against Israel, he said.
Israel's settlement building is viewed as a key obstacle to a peace deal with the Palestinians.
When nine months of US-backed peace talks collapsed in April, officials in Washington placed a large portion of the blame on Israel pushing through plans for thousands of settler homes during negotiations.
Yesterday, at approximately 5:30 PM in the old city in al-Khalil (Hebron), settlers from the illegal settlement of Beit Hadassah threw rocks and water at Palestinians living on Shalala Street.
This is a regular occurance for Palestinian families living close to illegal settlements in al-Khalil. The majority of the time the Israeli military watches from a distance and does not do anything to intervene in the violence and property damage.
One Palestinian, a 35-year old man, documented the stone throwing only to be detained and then arrested by the Israeli military. The man was taken through a yellow gate to an area where Palestinians are restricted from, where the soldiers pushed him around.
The soldiers threw several stun grenades at Palestinians and internationals standing behind the yellow gate, trying to document what was happening through holes of the gate.
Two internationals walked through the checkpoint at the Ibrahimi mosque and down Shuhada street in attempt to find the Palestinian. A group of ten solders and an army jeep stood with two Palestinian men, the man who had been arrested was in handcuffs. A nearby soldier told the internationals that neither of the men was arrested but they were only bringing him the handcuffed man in for questioning, to gather evidence about the settlers who threw stones.
After approximately five minutes the solders blindfolded the Palestinian and started walking with him to a nearby army base, Beit Romano. When internationals asked why the man was being blindfolded an Israeli soldier stated, “Because I want to.”
The man was released earlier this morning.
This is a regular occurance for Palestinian families living close to illegal settlements in al-Khalil. The majority of the time the Israeli military watches from a distance and does not do anything to intervene in the violence and property damage.
One Palestinian, a 35-year old man, documented the stone throwing only to be detained and then arrested by the Israeli military. The man was taken through a yellow gate to an area where Palestinians are restricted from, where the soldiers pushed him around.
The soldiers threw several stun grenades at Palestinians and internationals standing behind the yellow gate, trying to document what was happening through holes of the gate.
Two internationals walked through the checkpoint at the Ibrahimi mosque and down Shuhada street in attempt to find the Palestinian. A group of ten solders and an army jeep stood with two Palestinian men, the man who had been arrested was in handcuffs. A nearby soldier told the internationals that neither of the men was arrested but they were only bringing him the handcuffed man in for questioning, to gather evidence about the settlers who threw stones.
After approximately five minutes the solders blindfolded the Palestinian and started walking with him to a nearby army base, Beit Romano. When internationals asked why the man was being blindfolded an Israeli soldier stated, “Because I want to.”
The man was released earlier this morning.
17 aug 2014
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Sunday stormed Jalama and Arraba villages, north of Jenin, and clashed with young men. Local sources said IOF soldiers were deployed on the street between the villages of Arraba and Jalama, north of Jenin, and established a roadblock there.
The sources added that the troops at the roadblock interrogated 27-year-old Hisham Jarrar after intercepting his car, and handed him a summons for interrogation from the intelligence in Salem military post.
Afterwards, violent clashes broke out near the barrier when a group of angry young men from the villages hurled stones at the invading troops, who responded by firing tear gas grenades and rubber bullets.
In another incident, scores of Israeli soldiers raided Husan village, west of Bethlehem, after a Jewish settler was attacked with a Molotov cocktail as he was driving his car into the village.
Eyewitnesses told the Palestinian information center (PIC) that the IOF stormed the village after midnight and ransacked a house belonging to Hamamrah family, claiming that they were looking for a video recording from the surveillance cameras of a commercial store that could lead to the one who threw the Molotov cocktail at the settler.
The Israeli media had said on Saturday that a settler was seriously injured when a Palestinian young man threw a Molotov cocktail directly into his car and burned it entirely.
The head of Beitar settlement near the village issued a verdict ordering all settlers to never enter the village and warning of a severe penalty for those who disobey the orders.
Prior to Israel's war on Gaza, Husan village was one of the most important marketplace for Beitar settlers who used to buy their needs from the village at cheap prices, but now most of them refrained from entering it for fear of reprisal.
The sources added that the troops at the roadblock interrogated 27-year-old Hisham Jarrar after intercepting his car, and handed him a summons for interrogation from the intelligence in Salem military post.
Afterwards, violent clashes broke out near the barrier when a group of angry young men from the villages hurled stones at the invading troops, who responded by firing tear gas grenades and rubber bullets.
In another incident, scores of Israeli soldiers raided Husan village, west of Bethlehem, after a Jewish settler was attacked with a Molotov cocktail as he was driving his car into the village.
Eyewitnesses told the Palestinian information center (PIC) that the IOF stormed the village after midnight and ransacked a house belonging to Hamamrah family, claiming that they were looking for a video recording from the surveillance cameras of a commercial store that could lead to the one who threw the Molotov cocktail at the settler.
The Israeli media had said on Saturday that a settler was seriously injured when a Palestinian young man threw a Molotov cocktail directly into his car and burned it entirely.
The head of Beitar settlement near the village issued a verdict ordering all settlers to never enter the village and warning of a severe penalty for those who disobey the orders.
Prior to Israel's war on Gaza, Husan village was one of the most important marketplace for Beitar settlers who used to buy their needs from the village at cheap prices, but now most of them refrained from entering it for fear of reprisal.
Dozens of Israeli settlers attacked on Saturday Palestinian natives in the Shalala street and the alleys of the Old City of Al-Khalil. Local sources said that dozens of Israeli settlers stormed Shalala street and the Old City, embarked on beating citizens, and raided and damaged civilian homes under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces which had been largely present in those places.
A number of Israeli settlers spread out in the gold market and the old town, they physically attacked and verbally abused Palestinian natives.
The Israeli soldiers contributed in assaulting, breaking into some houses and terrorizing women and children, while elements of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron watched the incident but did not intervene, the sources added.
A number of Israeli settlers spread out in the gold market and the old town, they physically attacked and verbally abused Palestinian natives.
The Israeli soldiers contributed in assaulting, breaking into some houses and terrorizing women and children, while elements of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron watched the incident but did not intervene, the sources added.
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Deputy speaker of the Israeli Knesset Moshe Feiglin on Sunday morning toured the holy Al-Aqsa mosque compound under heavy escort by Israeli special forces.
A Ma'an reporter in Jerusalem said that Israeli police closed most of the main gates of the compound, denying all Palestinian women and men under 50 access to the holy place, as the right-wing Israeli politician entered from the Moroccan Gate. Witnesses said Feiglin along with a group of right-wing Israeli Jews and a cameraman toured the compound before they left through the Chain Gate, adding that Feiglin had performed religious rituals beside the Dome of the Rock Mosque. Witnesses highlighted that Feiglin and his group toured the compound barefoot, apparently out of respect for the foundations of the Jewish temple they believe lies underneath the area. |
Separately, right-wing lawyer Yehuda Glick also toured al-Aqsa Mosque compound along with a group of settlers. They tried to perform Jewish rituals near the Hutta Gate (Gate of Remission), but Israeli police forced them to leave.
Yehuda Glick is an American-born Israeli and the chairman of the Temple Mount Heritage Fund, an extremist Jewish organization focused on "strengthening the relationship between Israel and the Temple Mount."
He has been previously banned by Israeli authorities from entering the compound due to provocations while on the site.
Witnesses told Ma'an that Israeli police assaulted and detained a young Palestinian man outside the same gate.
Director of the Jerusalem office of the Palestinian Ministry of Endowments Sheikh Azzam al-Khatib and Director of Al-Aqsa mosque Sheikh Omar Kiswani jointly denounced the presence of Jewish extremists inside the Islamic holy place.
Because of the sensitive nature of the Al-Aqsa compound, Israel maintains a compromise with the Islamic trust that controls it to not allow non-Muslim prayers in the area. Israeli forces regularly escort Jewish visitors to the site, leading to tension with Palestinian worshipers.
The compound, which sits just above the Western Wall plaza, houses both the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa mosque and is the third holiest site in Islam.
It is also venerated as Judaism's most holy place as it sits where Jews believe the First and Second Temples once stood. The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.
Al-Aqsa is located in East Jerusalem, a part of the internationally recognized Palestinian territories that have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
Yehuda Glick is an American-born Israeli and the chairman of the Temple Mount Heritage Fund, an extremist Jewish organization focused on "strengthening the relationship between Israel and the Temple Mount."
He has been previously banned by Israeli authorities from entering the compound due to provocations while on the site.
Witnesses told Ma'an that Israeli police assaulted and detained a young Palestinian man outside the same gate.
Director of the Jerusalem office of the Palestinian Ministry of Endowments Sheikh Azzam al-Khatib and Director of Al-Aqsa mosque Sheikh Omar Kiswani jointly denounced the presence of Jewish extremists inside the Islamic holy place.
Because of the sensitive nature of the Al-Aqsa compound, Israel maintains a compromise with the Islamic trust that controls it to not allow non-Muslim prayers in the area. Israeli forces regularly escort Jewish visitors to the site, leading to tension with Palestinian worshipers.
The compound, which sits just above the Western Wall plaza, houses both the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa mosque and is the third holiest site in Islam.
It is also venerated as Judaism's most holy place as it sits where Jews believe the First and Second Temples once stood. The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.
Al-Aqsa is located in East Jerusalem, a part of the internationally recognized Palestinian territories that have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
15 aug 2014
The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) on Friday decided to release 46 Jerusalemites including three minors on bail. The Palestinian prisoner society said that the detainees are expected to be released from Ashkelon, Maskubiya and Ofek jails.
Since the murder of teenager Mohamed Abu Khudair, the Israeli police have arrested more than 600 Palestinians, mostly young men and minors, in occupied Jerusalem. Most of them were detained for allegedly taking part in angry rallies protesting his death.
Meanwhile, violent clashes erupted on Thursday throughout occupied Jerusalem, local sources reported.
The clashes broke out in Tur neighborhood after armed Jewish settlers opened fire at Palestinian citizens in the area under police protection.
Similar clashes broke out in Shuafat refugee camp where Israeli forces heavily and randomly fired tear gas and stun grenades at Palestinian homes and dozens of youths.
Since the murder of teenager Mohamed Abu Khudair, the Israeli police have arrested more than 600 Palestinians, mostly young men and minors, in occupied Jerusalem. Most of them were detained for allegedly taking part in angry rallies protesting his death.
Meanwhile, violent clashes erupted on Thursday throughout occupied Jerusalem, local sources reported.
The clashes broke out in Tur neighborhood after armed Jewish settlers opened fire at Palestinian citizens in the area under police protection.
Similar clashes broke out in Shuafat refugee camp where Israeli forces heavily and randomly fired tear gas and stun grenades at Palestinian homes and dozens of youths.
A flock of extremist Jewish settlers on Friday morning paid a provocative visit to Khirbet Kerkafa in Akraba town, east of Nablus.
According to Palestinian student Muhammad Diriya, the settler gangs broke into the area pretending they were a tourist group visiting historical sites.
Dozens of Palestinians farmers and sheep herders spread throughout the area in anticipation of any sabotage attacks to be carried out by the settlers as they had done several times before.
In an another incident Thursday evening, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) maltreated Palestinian civilians and detained others at a military checkpoint on the road between Jenin and Nablus, north of the occupied West Bank.
Local sources said the Israeli occupation troops at Shavei Shamron checkpoint were seen stopping Palestinian vehicles and interrogating passengers and citizens at the roadside.
According to Palestinian student Muhammad Diriya, the settler gangs broke into the area pretending they were a tourist group visiting historical sites.
Dozens of Palestinians farmers and sheep herders spread throughout the area in anticipation of any sabotage attacks to be carried out by the settlers as they had done several times before.
In an another incident Thursday evening, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) maltreated Palestinian civilians and detained others at a military checkpoint on the road between Jenin and Nablus, north of the occupied West Bank.
Local sources said the Israeli occupation troops at Shavei Shamron checkpoint were seen stopping Palestinian vehicles and interrogating passengers and citizens at the roadside.
14 aug 2014
Mohammad Abdul-Karim Abu Eslayyim, 23
Palestinian medical sources have reported, on Thursday morning, that a young Palestinian man was killed after being rammed by a settler’s vehicle near an illegal Israeli settlement, in the central West Bank district of Salfit.
The sources said the Mohammad Abdul-Karim Abu Eslayyim, 23, from Hares village, near Salfit, was struck by the settler’s vehicle as he was trying to cross the road, close to the Borkan illegal settlement.
Israeli police officers and an Israeli ambulance arrived at the scene, but the Palestinian had been already dead; a Palestinian ambulance moved the slain Palestinian to the Salfit governmental hospital.
The Palestinian police said it is investigating the issue, in an attempt to determine whether the incident was a deliberate attack.
Unlike dozens of similar incidents that led to deaths and injuries of scores of Palestinians, including children and elderly in different parts of the occupied West Bank, the settler actually did not flee the scene.
On Thursday, August 7, a Palestinian child was seriously injured after being rammed by an Israeli settler’s vehicle, in the Old City of Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank.
On Wednesday, March 26, a 55-year-old woman was moderately injured, after being hit by a settler’s car in Teqoua’ village, east of the West Bank city of Bethlehem.
Palestinian medical sources have reported, on Thursday morning, that a young Palestinian man was killed after being rammed by a settler’s vehicle near an illegal Israeli settlement, in the central West Bank district of Salfit.
The sources said the Mohammad Abdul-Karim Abu Eslayyim, 23, from Hares village, near Salfit, was struck by the settler’s vehicle as he was trying to cross the road, close to the Borkan illegal settlement.
Israeli police officers and an Israeli ambulance arrived at the scene, but the Palestinian had been already dead; a Palestinian ambulance moved the slain Palestinian to the Salfit governmental hospital.
The Palestinian police said it is investigating the issue, in an attempt to determine whether the incident was a deliberate attack.
Unlike dozens of similar incidents that led to deaths and injuries of scores of Palestinians, including children and elderly in different parts of the occupied West Bank, the settler actually did not flee the scene.
On Thursday, August 7, a Palestinian child was seriously injured after being rammed by an Israeli settler’s vehicle, in the Old City of Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank.
On Wednesday, March 26, a 55-year-old woman was moderately injured, after being hit by a settler’s car in Teqoua’ village, east of the West Bank city of Bethlehem.
